MST3K #402: The Giant Gila Monster

Mystery Science Theater 3000 experiment #402: The Giant Gila Monster.
Original airdate: June 13, 1992.
Part of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 10.2. Do not forget the ".2", I repeat, do not forget it!

The Giant Gila Monster was officially Rhino's last MST3K home video release before Shout! Factory took over last year. Apparently, Rhino had released the tenth MST3K DVD collection with an episode featuring one movie (Godzilla vs. Megalon) that they apparently didn't have the rights to use after all, which meant that the tenth set had to be recalled, and then re-released with the replacement episode, #402. In the meantime, Rhino did sell the episode as a stand-alone single disc, in an attractive cardboard sleeve that fits perfectly in the original box set (which is where I keep mine), for those who didn't want to invest $59.99 for just one new disc. There is a bonus feature included on the set instructing the viewer to discard the Godzilla disc and replace it with The Giant Gila Monster, written and performed by Joel Hodgson, Trace Beaulieu, and Frank Conniff, who also voiced Tom Servo for an absent Kevin Murphy.

Anyway, somewhere in the American southwest, a small town is being plagued by the title character, and the locals only realize the scope of the danger when the monster attacks and derails a freight train, which looks suspiciously HO scale to me. After the creature makes an uninvited appearance at the local sock hop, it's up to a young mechanic and hot rod racer named Chase (played by Don Sullivan, who also appears in the disc's extra in interview segments) to figure a way out to destroy the beast.

Also, for those who saw Watchmen, this film, a public domain one, appeared on one of Ozymandias' monitors in his base of operations. Maybe there's an all bad movie network on his world?

To open the show, Joel has converted Crow and Tom Servo into the thing with two heads, but the fun is stopped when TV's Frank announces the unexpected demise of Dr. Clayton Forrester, who as it turns out, isn't really dead, and Frank is going to be punished for this. But first, the invention exchange (Renaissance Festival character punching bags, and Joel builds a radio that broadcasts only plot points for TV shows and plot specific programming). Inspired by the malt shop, Joel turns empty closet space into his own malt shop, with a carton of Breyer's next to the bleach. Later, he and the robots discuss their favorite drunks, and Tom Servo hosts a chat show about film director Ray Kellogg (who directed this one) before Joel and Crow take over. And finally, while Dr. F. punishes Frank, Joel and the 'bots form their band Hee-la, pledging to perform the songs they do know, and then, the songs they don't know.

Highly recommended episode, and by the way...I sing whenever I sing whenever I siiiiing...I sing whenever I siiiiing whenever I siiiiing...