Mystery Science Theater 3000 experiment #514: Teen-Age Strangler (with short, Is This Love?)
Original Comedy Central airdate: November 7, 1993.
Part of the MST3K Collection, Volume 10.2. An un-MSTed version from Something Weird Video is also available.
Short! In an unidentified college, we focus on two engaged couples. One is taking it slowly, the other (the main characters) want to get married right away. Despite the doubts expressed by the sensible couple, and the not-so-sensible daughter's parents, they run off to get married. Don't worry, I'm sure the man's professional football aspirations will ensure a long and happy marriage.
Movie! In the greatest feature film ever filmed on location in Huntington, West Virginia, someone is going around strangling teenage victims. Suspicion quickly falls on the local street gang called the Fastbacks, specifically, a young man named Jimmy, whose family relocated to West Virginia because he was blamed for stealing bikes in another community. It was actually Jimmy's little nerd of a brother Mikey (played by the excellent John Humphreys) who stole the bikes that forced the Walton family to pack up and flee to Huntington. With help from his girlfriend Betty, as well as a large group of their peers (including the other Fastbacks), Jimmy manages to find out the identity of the real teenage strangler: the high school janitor. But, first, everyone at the local malt shop has time to sing and dance to a local hit called "Yipe Stripes". Lady Gaga is making plans to remake the song at some point, or at least she should!
Oh, and apparently, the actor who played the teenage Jimmy was reportedly 47 years old at time of production?
We open the show with newcomer Mike Nelson on the Satellite of Love, utilizing a handful of calling cards to call his Grandma back on Earth...but he only gets her answering machine...which disconnects before he can finish telling his grandmother about his plight! The invention exchange sees Dr. Forrester strapping TV's Frank into the "Frank-N-Forcer", a large bouncing harness suspended over a bed of nails designed to keep him out of trouble. Mike and the 'Bots introduce the Waiter Baiter, a large mechanical arm designed to get the attention of those busy waiters. Inspired by the short, Mike and company discuss Hollywood romances, but Tom Servo bursts into tears when Nelson mentions Burt and Loni. Mike, who is also down with what's happening with today's youth, keep Crow and Tom from rumbling by "rapping" with them. Later, Crow and Servo trick Mike into transfroming into Mikey from the film with a special contraption they set up. He didn't steal no bicycle, neither! At the end, Mike sings his rendition of "Yipe Stripes", and Frank gets sick from bouncing around too much.
Highly recommended episode.
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