Mystery Science Theater 3000 experiment #204: Catalina Caper (a.k.a. Never Steal Anything Wet).
Original airdate: October 13, 1990.
Available from Amazon as part of the first MST3K Collection.
This was the only intentional comedy film ever featured on MST3K. It was reportedly a difficult movie to write for, thanks to the "comedy" and the musical numbers, not to mention the somewhat confusing plot contained therein.
As an ancient scroll is stolen from a museum, teenager Don Pringle (Tommy Kirk) and his friends take a pleasure trip to Catalina Island, which includes a lot of dancing aboard a yacht while Little Richard serenades them with some of his lesser known hits. Don and his friends get caught up in the mystery about who stole the scroll, finding out that one of the parents of the boys along for the ride is responsible. Also, Don tries to woo away a girl he fancies from a vaguely tough Lyle Waggoner while some older gentleman (Robert Donner) with a talent for bad slapstick situation occasionally gets in the way, before revealing himself as a detective on the trail of the scroll.
The show opens with Tom Servo and Crow in their pajamas saying their prayers before bed, all to well known robots and cyborgs from the world of movies and TV. The invention exchange sees Dr. Forrester and TV's Frank demonstrating their armor plated cannon firing beachwear called, what else, Tank Tops. Joel counters with the Tickle Bazooka (both inventions were shown in the opening titles for a few episodes). Later, when prompted to talk about the '60s by the 'bots, Joel goes off on a long tangent which gradually turns into complaints about his parents sheltering him from events like Woodstock, or spanking him with a leather belt. Tom Servo takes center stage to sing the "Creepy Girl" song, complete with Joel and Crow slow dancing in the background. After the movie, Joel and the 'bots try to figure out exactly what happened in the movie with a very confusing chart.
Recommended episode, but not the best one they ever did.
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