Mystery Science Theater 3000 facts for kids

Mystery Science Theater 3000 (often called MST3K) was a funny TV show. It was made in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The show first aired in 1988 and ran until 1999. It started on a local TV station in Minnesota. Later, it moved to bigger channels like Comedy Central and then The Sci-Fi Channel.

The main idea of the show was about a man stuck in space. An evil scientist forced him to watch really bad movies. To keep himself company, the man built some robots. Two of these robots, named Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo, watched the movies with him. While the movie played, the man and his robot friends would make jokes and funny comments about what they were seeing.

What is MST3K About?

MST3K is a unique comedy show. It features a human host and two robot friends. They are trapped on a spaceship called the Satellite of Love. An evil scientist, Dr. Clayton Forrester, forces them to watch terrible B-movies. These are often old, low-budget films.

The main fun of the show comes from the characters making jokes. They "riff" on the movies as they play. This means they talk over the movie, making fun of the plot, acting, and special effects. It's like watching a movie with your funniest friends!

The Main Characters

The show had two main human hosts over its run.

• Joel Robinson: He was the first host, played by Joel Hodgson. He was the show's creator. Joel built the robots to keep him company in space.
• Mike Nelson: He took over as the host later on. Michael J. Nelson played Mike. He was also the show's head writer.

The robots were also very important:

• Crow T. Robot: This robot was often sarcastic and silly. Trace Beaulieu first played Crow, and later Bill Corbett took over.
• Tom Servo: This robot was known for his singing and funny observations. Josh Weinstein first played Tom Servo, and later Kevin Murphy voiced him.
• Gypsy: Another robot who helped run the ship. She was voiced by Jim Mallon and later Rebecca Hanson.

How MST3K Was Made

The show started small in Minnesota. It was first shown on a local station called KTMA-TV. The creators used everyday objects to build the robots. For example, Tom Servo's head was made from a gumball machine. Crow T. Robot's head was a bowling pin. This gave the show a homemade, charming look.

After its local success, MST3K moved to Comedy Central in 1990. This made the show popular across the country. Later, it moved to The Sci-Fi Channel in 1997. The show gained a large and loyal group of fans.

The Return of MST3K

Years after the show ended in 1999, fans still loved it. In 2015, Joel Hodgson started a Kickstarter campaign. This was to bring the show back. Fans donated a lot of money, and new episodes were made. These new seasons aired on Netflix starting in 2017. A new host, Jonah Heston (played by Jonah Ray), joined the crew. The show later moved to its own streaming platform called The Gizmoplex.

Why MST3K is Special

MST3K is famous for its unique style of comedy. It taught many people how to watch bad movies and find humor in them. The show also became known for its catchy theme song and funny catchphrases. It has influenced many other comedy shows and podcasts that make fun of movies.

The show won a Peabody Award in 1993. This is a very respected award for excellence in television. It showed that even a show about making fun of movies could be seen as high-quality entertainment.

Images for kids

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  The illustration for the song "I've Seen That Movie Too" in the liner notes of Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, from which Hodgson took inspiration for MST3K's theme and approach

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  MST3K cast and crew Pehl (left), Beaulieu, Hodgson, Weinstein, and Conniff, as part of the post-show project, Cinematic Titanic in 2011

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  The 'bots of MST3k as they appeared through the majority of its run: Gypsy (left), Crow T. Robot, and Tom Servo. The 'bots were created by Hodgson and fashioned out of common household objects.

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  Nelson, Corbett, and Murphy, the primary actors in the Sci-Fi channel era, as part of their RiffTrax panel in 2009

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  The cast of the 30th Anniversary Live Tour, from left: Grant Baciocco (controlling Crow T. Robot), Joel Hodgson, Jonah Ray, Deanna Rooney, Rebecca Hanson, and Tim Ryder (controlling Tom Servo)

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  Mystery Science Theater 3000's Mike Nelson (left) and Kevin Murphy, at "Exoticon 1" convention panel in Metairie, Louisiana, November 1998

See also

In Spanish: Mystery Science Theater 3000 para niños