Season 2: It’s All About the Kicks, Baby

The season ran from 9/22/90 to 2/21/91: While nothing here warranted a “Best in Show” award and it was an uneven season all told, year 2 produced a couple of rock-solid favorites, chief among them Ring of Terror and Wild Rebels. This was the year of Robert Lippert, Ross Hagen, Godzilla and a trio of biker flicks. We also received our first introduction to the giant world of Bert I Gordon (King Dino) and a short that wasn’t part of a serial (X Marks the Spot). Godzilla vs Megalon won most hearts, Lippert bored them (rock climbing) and an unholy mess of a skit –Joey the Lemur- left a mark (me, I got a kick out of it).

But the biggest change was the arrival of TVs Frank as Dr. Fs beloved sidekick and Kevin Murphy taking on the role of Tom Servo. While I loved Josh Weinstein, Frank and Kev became vital cogs in the continuing growth and success of the show.

MST in 1990
Though the Turkey Day Marathon was a year away, there was an MST 24 hour Labor Day (9/1/90) event that aired a few weeks before the season officially began.

A few debuts: The birth of the stinger (Rocket Attack USA), Mole People, Jerry and Sylvia join the cast as assistants to Dr. F and TV Frank. The Hexfield view screen is added and, playing Valeria, Mike Nelson makes the first of several cameos on screen.

What else was going on in 1990?
* "Buster" Douglas knocks out Mike Tyson to win the World Heavyweight Boxing crown. 8 months later he will lose the title to Evander Holyfield.
* Nelson Mandela is released from Victor Verster Prison after 27 years behind bars.
* Mikhail Gorbachev is elected as the first executive president of the Soviet Union.
* Future Twilight star Kristen Stewart is born on April 9th. Years later Mike, Bill & Kevin will make fun of her and her flick for their Rifftrax project.
* The Traveling Wilbury’s (Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne) win the “Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group” Grammy for Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1

My Top 5 Season 2 experiments
1. Ring of Terror (#58)
2. Wild Rebels (#59)
3. Godzilla Vs. the Sea Monster (#61)
4. King Dinosaur (#87)

5. Rocketship X-M

Award Breakdowns
Gold: 4 total
Ring of Terror, Wild Rebels, King Dinosaur, Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster
Silver...ish: 3 total
Rocket Attack USA, Godzilla vs. Megalon, Rocketship XM
Bronze: 4 total
Jungle Goddess, Catalina Caper, 1st Spaceship on Venus, Lost Continent

Tin Foil: 2 total
Hellcats, Sidehackers

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