MST3K Season 12 (i.e. THE GAUNTLET)!

[Doug Elrod]

Although this season had only six episodes, the overall amount of funny was considerably more than in Season 11, IMHO. I'm thinking they found a way to "dig deep", to borrow a phrase of Joel's. Several of this season's episodes (particularly, "Lords of the Deep", "The Day Time Ended", and "Ator the Fighting Eagle") would have fit comfortably into a mid-1990's season, which is saying something!

On the other hand, "Atlantic Rim" put out such overwhelming waves of badness that I felt *unprotected*, in spite of the riffs. This has happened once or twice for me with MST3K -- maybe it's just me.

In any case, if you've been waiting around for some new MST3K, I heartily recommend paying whatever it takes (which is probably a Netflix subscription) to see Season 12. And, judging from the end of "Ator the Fighting Eagle", it appears a Live Tour is in the offing (perhaps here: mst3klive.com). If the riff quality on that is up to the standards of this season, that should be a must-have ticket, too!

-Doug Elrod (***@cornell.edu)
P.S. If you happen to still be on CLU GULAGER ALERT, may I point you to Quentin Tarantino's new film, "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood". My alert didn't go off before the end credits (shame), but perhaps yours will earlier!

[Doug Elrod]

I should mention that the other two episodes are "Mac and Me" and "Killer Fish", each of which was a worthy candidate. I enjoyed these more than I generally liked Season 11, just not to the level of the "Lords of the Deep", "The Day Time Ended", and "Ator the Fighting Eagle".

-Doug Elrod (***@cornell.edu)
P.S. CONCEPTS!

[Joe Morris]

Post by Doug Elrod
Although this season had only six episodes, the overall amount of funny was considerably more than in Season 11, IMHO. I'm thinking they found a way to "dig deep", to borrow a phrase of Joel's. Several of this season's episodes (particularly, "Lords of the Deep", "The Day Time Ended", and "Ator the Fighting Eagle") would have fit comfortably into a mid-1990's season, which is saying something!

I agree. Binged them when they came out and had only rewatched
"The Day Time Ended" because it was so hilarious.
Best MST3K song ever? Maybe

Your post inspired me to watch Lords again. That had some
pretty solid laughs. Season 12 has a lot going for it.
Hope Patton sticks around!

[weary flake]

Post by Doug Elrod
Although this season had only six episodes, the overall amount of funny
was considerably more than in Season 11, IMHO. I'm thinking they found
a way to "dig deep", to borrow a phrase of Joel's. Several of this
season's episodes (particularly, "Lords of the Deep", "The Day Time
Ended", and "Ator the Fighting Eagle") would have fit comfortably into
a mid-1990's season, which is saying something!
On the other hand, "Atlantic Rim" put out such overwhelming waves of
badness that I felt *unprotected*, in spite of the riffs. This has
happened once or twice for me with MST3K -- maybe it's just me.
In any case, if you've been waiting around for some new MST3K, I
heartily recommend paying whatever it takes (which is probably a
Netflix subscription) to see Season 12. And, judging from the end of
"Ator the Fighting Eagle", it appears a Live Tour is in the offing
(perhaps here: mst3klive.com). If the riff quality on that is up to
the standards of this season, that should be a must-have ticket, too!
P.S. If you happen to still be on CLU GULAGER ALERT, may I point you
to Quentin Tarantino's new film, "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood".
My alert didn't go off before the end credits (shame), but perhaps
yours will earlier!

When I read about this I thought they had riffed The Gauntlet (1977);
how disappointing that it's only a title and not a riff on the movie
with the fortified bus running between two walls of gunfire heading
for the witness stand at the courthouse!

[Bice]

Post by weary flake
When I read about this I thought they had riffed The Gauntlet (1977);
how disappointing that it's only a title and not a riff on the movie
with the fortified bus running between two walls of gunfire heading
for the witness stand at the courthouse!

There's also a graphic rape scene in that movie, which the principal
of my high school didn't realize when he got a copy to show the entire
school during some sort of special assembly (it was probably the day
before Christmas break or something and they had nothing better to do
with us).

Anyway, I remember the film projector being stopped abruptly and the
principal going up on the stage to apologize to anyone who was
offended. A bit of a minor scandal at the time.

-- Bice

[weary flake]

Post by Bice

Post by weary flake
When I read about this I thought they had riffed The Gauntlet (1977);
how disappointing that it's only a title and not a riff on the movie
with the fortified bus running between two walls of gunfire heading
for the witness stand at the courthouse!

There's also a graphic rape scene in that movie, which the principal
of my high school didn't realize when he got a copy to show the entire
school during some sort of special assembly (it was probably the day
before Christmas break or something and they had nothing better to do
with us).
Anyway, I remember the film projector being stopped abruptly and the
principal going up on the stage to apologize to anyone who was
offended. A bit of a minor scandal at the time.

I apologize for mentioning it, I haven't seen the movie, only clips of
it. I was waiting for the movie to be riffed to see it. MST3K had
removed a rape from The Sidehackers to riff it way back in the second
season, and it didn't hurt the plot.

[Bice]

Post by weary flake

Post by Bice

Post by weary flake
When I read about this I thought they had riffed The Gauntlet (1977);
how disappointing that it's only a title and not a riff on the movie
with the fortified bus running between two walls of gunfire heading
for the witness stand at the courthouse!

There's also a graphic rape scene in that movie, which the principal
of my high school didn't realize when he got a copy to show the entire
school

I apologize for mentioning it, I haven't seen the movie, only clips of
it. I was waiting for the movie to be riffed to see it. MST3K had
removed a rape from The Sidehackers to riff it way back in the second
season, and it didn't hurt the plot.

Oh, no need to apologize to me. I thought it was hilarious at the
time. Looking back on it, I can't believe he didn't get fired.

-- Bob

[Doug Elrod]

Post by Bice
Oh, no need to apologize to me. I thought it was hilarious at the
time. Looking back on it, I can't believe he didn't get fired.
-- Bob

I once attended an academic seminar which showed ZARDOZ as an example of future society, or something. The discussion rapidly degenerated into giggling :-)

-Doug "Yes, ZARDOZ!" Elrod (***@cornell.edu)