MST3K #303: Pod People

Mystery Science Theater 3000 experiment #303: Pod People.
Original Comedy Central airdate: June 15, 1991.
Part of the second MST3K DVD set, which looks to be out of stock at Amazon...

Chief? McCloud!!

This episode showcases a trainwreck of a film where an unsuspecting rural family, an unlikeable trio of poachers who constantly argue with one another, and a really bad pop band on vacation are all on a collision course with wackiness in a foggy region. A meteor crashes in the area, and a stash of glowing eggs are found by one of the poachers and a youth named Tommy from the unsuspecting and somewhat unlikeable rural family. An alien mother goes on the hunt looking for her eggs and offspring, killing off several characters. Tommy's egg hatches into something he dubs Trumpy, who unlike his mother, is not at all homicidal. Trumpy's mother eventually comes to the house, and Tommy escapes with Trumpy in tow, not willing to let all of the mean adults shoot his goofy looking pet. After all, Trumpy can do magical things. The ending is kind of depressing, not to mention foggy.

We open on the Satellite of Love where Joel, Servo and Crow are hosting an "arts chautauqua" where Crow debuts a monologue from his one-robot show Robot on the Run, and Tom Servo breaks down in hysterics during his own spoken word piece. The invention exchange is a musical one: Joel demonstrates his explosive new guitar chord, and the Mads debut their concept of public domain karaoke. Inspired by the crappy band in the recording studio, Joel and the 'Bots sing "Idiot Control Now", and Joel declares that it stinks. A wall of keyboards is set up and Joel explains to Tom and Crow about how they can create New Age music simply by holding down two keys for hours on end. Somehow, Windham Hill doesn't come through with a recording contract for "Music from Some Guys in Space". After a wild demonstration of the magic Trumpy can perform, Joel and the 'Bots sing a sad ballad, "Clown in the Sky", and the Mads cheerfully help out by saying that it also stinks.

Another fan favorite, and a great episode to me personally. Highly recommended.

MST3K: Mr. B's Lost Shorts

Mystery Science Theater 3000 presents: Mr. B's Lost Shorts.
Available on the sixth MST3K collection.

Featuring for your perusal...

Mr. B Natural, from experiment 319, War of the Colossal Beast.
X Marks the Spot, from experiment 210, King Dinosaur.
Hired! (Part One), from experiment 423, Bride of the Monster.
Design for Dreaming, from experiment 12 to the Moon (also available on Shorts, Volume 3).
Johnny at the Fair, from experiment 419, The Rebel Set.
Are You Ready for Marriage?, from experiment 616, Racket Girls.

Next to Manos, Mr. B Natural is arguably MST3K's most memorable film, and just about every MSTie is very familiar with Betty Luster's over the top performance as the androgynous "hep pixie" embodying the spirit of fun in music. Evidentally, his/her day job is shilling for the now-defunct C.G. Conn company, and persuading awkward teenagers named Buzz into taking up the trumpet. As you all know, playing an instrument increases confidence around teenage girls. Or something.

Sadly, Mr. B doesn't appear in the rest of the shorts, so we do not get to see his/her influence over short films concerning reckless driving in New Jersey (and death), learning how to become a more efficient Chevrolet salesman, surreal showcases for new General Motors products, Johnny getting lost at a fair, or helping a young couple in love recognize that waiting to get engaged would definitely be a good idea. But, you know, Mr. B Natural is there, subtlely influencing everyone involved. Why did Johnny get lost? Blame Mr. B! How did Joe Doakes from New Jersey die in a car accident? That was Mr. B's doing.

This disc is definitely the best of the MST3K shorts collections, so get it while you can. Highly, highly recommended!

The mini Turkey Day marathon is over. My next post will be a review of an actual movie.