Rifftrax Live: MST3K Reunion Show [Fathom Event Review]

The year was 1988. The place was a Minnesotan public access channel known as KTMA.
From these humble beginnings would come an American Comedy Icon - Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Mike J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett, Joel Hodgson, Frank Conniff, Trace Beaulieu, Mary Jo Pehl, Bridget Jones Nelson, and new comer Jonah Ray.  

The first short - "The Talking Car"
There was more than 1 talking car in this 1960s nightmare inducing short.

Sure it has been done before... but is it still
very funny. Some jokes were new
some old, or just revised.

MST3K would last for a total of 11 seasons (counting the KTMA years). If began on the Comedy Channel/Comedy Central and lasted there until 1997. The Sci-Fi Channel then picked them up through 1999. The show would produce 197 episodes and a feature length film.

Between 1999 and 2006 the cast and crew of MST3K would work on various other projects such as The Film Crew and Cinematic Titanic.

In 2006 Mike, Bill, and Kevin came together to form Rifftrax where they would no longer simply tackle old bad movies... now they would riff on popular blockbusters and more.

And now, after being off the air for more than 16 years, MST3K is returning with a season of 14 brand new episodes. Jonah Ray, Felicia Day, and Patton Oswalt will star.

But tonight.
Tonight was the MST3K Reunion Show. Crowd funding has really been a boon for Rifftrax and MST3K. This is the 20th Live Show Rifftrax has done, and I've been to most. Tonight was also the 10 year anniversary of Rifftrax.

Tonight's show brought back all the old crew; Trace, Joel, and Frank.
It brought back Mary Jo Pehl and Mike's wife Bridget.
It was hosted by the Rifftrax crew; Mike, Bill, and Kevin.
And the Noob; Jonah Ray.

They riffed:
- The Talking Car

Fairly certain that joke appears in both the original riff and today's.

- A Word to the Wives
- More Dates for Kay
- Americans at Work (Barbers)
- Shake Hands with Danger
- At Your Finger Tips: Grasses
- Stamp Day for Superman

I hope I didn't miss any...
And there was a 10th anniversary snippet reel of Rifftrax which was quite funny too...

Oh yeah... my star rating. Well, since I laughed myself silly I think there is only choice here.

5 out of 5 stars
Crazy huh?
Two 5 star ratings in two days.

I'm not sure I stopped laughing.
It was absolutely great.

Each group got to do a video and there were combo groups and then at the end the entire collected reunion came together for some serious riffing.

The stars of the show were More Dates for Kay (wow was that a terrifying film from the 1950s) and At Your Fingertips: Grasses - which while it is one they've done before, it is such a maddening little piece of crap Americana it deserves every riffing it gets.

And of course, you will never get the Shake Hands with Danger theme song out of your head.
It is incessant.

If you missed the show tonight, I really suggest you see it when the encore show broadcasts on July 12th. It is well worth it. You will laugh yourself silly. Check you local theater if they host Fatham Events.

And remember cornisgrass.

I cannot wait for the new season!