New on DVD
It might have run for years on Comedy Central and the Sci-Fi Channel, spawned a feature film, and inspired thousands to trek to the frozen steppes of Minnesota for conventions and live shows, but Mystery Science Theater 3000 always just looked like something that a few underemployed comedians tossed together in their garage; thus its appeal. Sticking a host and a couple puppeteer-animated robots in silhouetted seats to mock some Z-grade film was never the most inspirational concept, as becomes clear when watching the show’s 20th anniversary DVD set. The whole thing could have used a third more jokes, not to mention skits substantially less jerry-rigged, and much less space filled by teeth-grindingly bad cinema. But that would have been a different show, something more than a barely gussied-up cable-access lark…
Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition was released on DVD this week. I reviewed it in this week’s “The Screener” column at PopMatters.
Chris Barsanti 