Rifftrax Favorites: 2014 to 2020

I haven't done write-ups on Rifftrax releases since late 2014, so here's a quick look at the downloads that made me laugh over the past 6 years. In order of release (unless there's a sequel) - these are for the main riff team of Mike, Bill, and Kevin

R.O.T.O.R.
Release date: October 3, 2014
This fan-favorite was a blast, while the ridiculous (maybe self-awarely bad) RoboCop ripoff does a lot of the heavy lifting (from Shoeboogie to cashiers in boxes), the guys add a lot of laughs through their comments. And it could have been even better - I felt they missed a few - the hillbilly mechanic looks like Dr. Phil. Captain Coldiron spells his name with a "y" so it reads like Coldy Ron, surprised they didn't run with that. And I was also surprised they gave a pass to the conversation between Coldy Ron and Muscle Woman, when she tells him that they can't stop R.O.T.O.R, and then a few minutes later asks... "Do you think we can stop him?" But hey, despite my nitpicks, ROTOR is packed with quality quips.

Godzilla (1998)
Release date: October 31, 2014
It's a winner! This is something rarely if ever said about the movie, but for the Trax, I was laughing steady throughout. I wish I could have seen it with a crowd, but as it is, I had a good time with the studio version, which starts off with a cute quip while the credits roll and the title pops on screen - Godzilla... "Some would say he does not appear in this film" and later when a man in a hospital says... "Gojira", Bill adds "Which we believe translates to "Gamera", lmao. From Broderick's fidgety performance to GINO, the guys kicked this monster's tail.

 

The Hideous Sun Demon
Release date: March 20, 2015
The Hideous Sun Demon was another movie I'd long wanted to see riffed. And while the release doesn't receive The Room levels of love, I enjoyed it, especially down the stretch when the manhunt begins. Here you get yelling cops (inches from one another) and Susie and her mother of the year. Both were a hoot.

Julie and Jack
Release date: July 17, 2015
Before Birdemic, came J&J, a movie that strives to offer a deeply philosophical examination on the nature of love... and pretty much bungles it. James Nguyen's debut establishes many of those delightful Nguyenisms viewers have come to know and love - there's tech sales B.S. and repulsive men who romance repulsively, he even throws in a bonus - uncomfortable Tippi Hedrin hugging! J&J might be the 3rd best Nguyen Trax, but that just means its 3rd level wonderful.   

Hillbillys In a Haunted House
Release date: May 20, 2016
Jeepers this was fun, and a nice change of pace from the usual dreck they riff on. The movie's bubbly, well shot, we get a crisp colorful print, a lovely cast (Lon Chaney Jr, John Carradine, and Basil Rathbone play spies), and heavily reverbed music (provided by several name country/western stars). All of that seems to have had a positive effect on the boys, who sound in good spirits, maybe happy to have a movie that's easy on the eyes? 

The South is an old familiar target, but while they're picking low-hanging fruit, it's funny fruit. Not a Top 50 effort, it's still a good time Trax, the kind that puts me in a good mood (the polar opposite of "Maniac") and that counts for something. Plus it has a scene where Lon, John, Basil, and Linda Ho stare at Jeepers, who's watching a TV, which doesn't sound hilarious, but it is.

Replica
#27 in Mighty Jacks Top 50

Release date: February 10, 2017
Oh joy, another entry in the Nguyen-verse, and for me, it's equally as funny as Birdemic. There are a lot of callback riffs, so I'd recommend watching the first 2 Trax before this. As with others in the thematic trilogy, there are mundane car maneuvers, techy business sales, crap FX, nods to Hitchcock (its Vertigo here), and awkward, wooden acting, which unbelievably is even worse than what we saw in Birdy and J&J. A kidney operation is also a key plot point, and to top it off... cloning! And all of it's mined for epic laughs 

 

Day of the Animals
#10 in Mighty Jack's Top 50

Release date: March 24, 2017

"This is just like that scene when Air Bud attacked that guy with Lou Gehrig's Disease." - Mike, Kev, and Bill were riffing on all cylinders with this one, like hotshots! The picture, about animals acting hostile due to climate change, stars an (eventually) shirtless Leslie Nielsen as a supreme asshole who becomes progressively more asshole-ish with each passing minute. He fights a bear and attacks a kid and, yes, attempts even worse. Despite his darkness, the riffing is a ray of... well, darkness, but it's an enjoyable dark. Great cast + crazy story + ace riffing = perfection.

Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
#5 in Mighty Jacks Top 50

Release date: July 5, 2017 (Studio version March 22, 2016)

I've been told that the studio and live releases offer similar riffs, but with the live version, you get Manners in School, with the memorable Chalky. This short is delightfully dark, and the ineptly made movie (with Soul Taker, Future War favorite Robert Z'dar) is a gift - how can the riffing fail with "hamper man", a shouting crime boss, awkward flirting and filthy sex talk, other-dimensional line reading, and well hell, honestly all the dialogue and acting and action is an absolute treasure... the audiences uproarious reactions are proof of that.

Oblivion
Release date: September 29, 2017

Oblivion 2: Backlash
#36 in Mighty Jack's Top 50 (both films)

Release date: March 9, 2018
Classic Rifftrax. The movies were hilarious on their own, the riffing adds the icing to the cake. But "great Scotty!" George Takei takes scenery-chewing to a whole new low ("Sensors detect nothing but shame Captain, endless expanses of shame" - Bill). That's just one of these sci-fi westerns' many cheesy charms. The colorful cast, and past roles for a few, make this a breeze for the boys

Invasion of the Animal People
#28 in Mighty Jack's Top 50

Release date: February 9, 2018
Brilliant! This is like an old-School MST3K episode. In that, you have a painfully bad B&W movie hit with loads of funny reference style-riffing, misheard lines, and bits like Bill's shock over newspaper headlines (an old gag but an effective one here). Watch it with a short to add to the MST3K vibe and you got heaven (wrapped in hell). 

A Talking Cat!?!
#6 in Mighty Jack's Top 50

Release date: July 26, 2018
The movie is absolutely glorious, a riffers paradise of clumsy plot ticks, quirky characters, and a disinterested Eric Roberts as the voice of the mystical, magical, philosophical cat. It doesn't hurt that a child actor I grew up watching, Johnny Whitaker, is in the cast. The workover is just as glorious, whatever the movie gives them, and it gives a LOT, the guys take it and run, from interrobangs to cheese puffs, and of course, that darn cat - they also add character traits on top of that (a teen reading Hop on Pop) just to make the movie even sillier than it is.

Santa's Summer House
Release date: December 14, 2018

From the director of A Talking Cat!?! and filmed in the same location - though there are a few differences - for example, butter cookies take over from cheese puffs, and instead of a cat, we get the Claus's imparting wisdom to a few disenchanted souls. It stars three martial artists (Cynthia Rothrock, Gary Daniels, and Future War's Daniel Bernhardt), none of whom get to spin-kick a single face (no matter how deserved). Aside from that novelty, the riffing is fantastic - maybe not as glorious as Cat, but still, pretty glorious. 

Attack of the Super Monsters
#15 in Mighty Jack's Top 50

Release date: December 27, 2019
"The monsters say they won't kill us if we'll be their slaves..." - "A deal Amazon makes with every new employee" - Jem/Mike.

A mix of live-action with animation, where the trash-talking dinosaurs aren't the freakiest thing about it, that goes to the bits where a guy merges with his sister, wow! The basic plot elements are repeated in 4 segments, but if you handled Prince of Space and Neptune Men, this will be a piece of cake - Super Monsters is an essential - hilarious movie, hilarious riffing, from deep cuts to cute commentary, it's an all-around win.

Ninja Warlord

Release date: March 20, 2020

"I want my look to be 'Tom Wolfe goes to the opera'" - Mike
Within a week's span, Rifftrax released two martial arts gems, this was the first - and it's like a Hong Kong version of The Quiet Man, in that it features a fighter who retires and returns home after a tragedy in the ring. Unlike The Quiet Man, Warlord veers off into a tale of unjust fish taxes! Good Trax, but it gets even better with the next offering.

Lovely But Deadly
#19 in Mighty Jack's Top 50

Release date: March 27, 2020
"Arthur!?" -- "I don't think these are the Joker stairs!" - Woman/Kevin

Kung fu chick, who hardly does any kung fu, teams up with a boom mic to fight dastardly drug kingpins. Lovely, lovely Rifftrax, very funny quipping, and a movie that's chock full o' dumb ("Back home I used to rub the throat of an old possum like this so it would take its medicine" - an actual line of dialogue from the movie). Kevin sings "Under the Sea" for a big laugh, with further big laughs to be had to the bitter, lovely end.

BTW - I like the original movie poster, so I'm using that rather than the Rifftrax version. Click to see a larger image.

Gymkata

Release date: October 16, 2020

"This is way easier than kicking guys, guns rule!" - Kevin as our hero 

2020 was a good year in the marriage of martial arts and humor, and how cool was it to finally have Gymkata (referenced in many an MST experiment) join the Rifftrax lineup. The flick was helmed by the director of "Enter the Dragon", and starred gymnast Kurt Thomas as the best character named Cabot, since "Outlaws" Cabot. He's joined in this adventure by actors Tetchie Agbayani and Buck Kartalian (the Mel Brook's looking guy from Octoman and CTs Legacy of Blood).

The quips were strong at the start, and while we don't hear a "Hi-Keebah" call-back, we do get that other iconic battle cry (see the title) and even a "PACKERS!" is thrown in for good measure. They have fun with the amusing parts of the movie (gymnastic equipment suddenly and conveniently finding it's way on screen) and the catch phrase "Yakmala!" While the final third, with all that running and fighting, doesn't give them a lot to work with, the guys still manage a good laugh here and there. This was a 'just the jokes' release, and it lived up to expectations.

Others I remember as enjoyable: Hawk the Slayer, Arachnia, Radical Jack, The Psychotronic Man, Death Promise, Pressure Point, Star Games, Kill and Kill Again, The Wonderful Land of Oz, Missile X: The Neutron Bomb Incident, Omega Cop, Zombie: I Eat Your Skin, Lycan Colony

Some Thoughts on the Actors in Frost

While the movies on MST3K are, for the most part, considered the worst you can find, in some cases, there's actually been some talented folk working on these things - award-winning actors, and composers... The cinematographer on The Crawling Hand was an Oscar winner, as were the songwriters who wrote the tunes heard in I Accuse My Parents (they won 3!)

The point being, you never know what gems you might find on MST... which takes me to Jack Frost, which I've seen unmsted and in its original language, under its proper title Morozko. If you subscribe to MUBI, you can watch it there (and you'll discover that Nastenka has an even more high-pitched, girlish voice than what was dubbed for her on the English language version)... https://mubi.com/films/jack-frost-1964 - I also founded it posted at YouTube.

There's some interesting casting in the film - the witch Baba Yaga was played by a man, who was famous for the role, as he (Georgi Millyar) played the character in many other productions.

And just who is Father Mushroom?

Credited to G Borisova. Some sources say it was played by a 14-year-old girl and voiced by Mikhail Yanshin, a male character actor who stood 5'7. Height is important to note because Father Mushroom is diminutive (he looks smaller than 5'7 to me), but also, does that look like a girl to you, hell of a makeup job if it is? Some say G stands for Galina Borisova, who was a popular mezzo-soprano opera singer, but she was born in '41 which would have made her 23 (no info on her height was available). Others say it's actress Galina Alexsveena Borisova, who was born in 1950 and would have been the right age, but databases disagree on the credit. Somewhere the truth is out there, but hell if I can find it.

BTW, Father Mushroom's actual name is Starichok-Borovichok, who is often referred to as 'good old man', who, though powerful, is not omnipotent, and is under the service of the master of the forest, Leshiy.

As for Eduard Izoto (Ivan), it sounds like he had a difficult time later in life. He served a prison sentence and struggled with ill-health... Wiki (one Russian site, translated but difficult to read, says he suffered several strokes)

But the cast member who stands out for me is this performer...
  

She's Inna Churikova, one of Russia's most renowned and respected actresses. But back in 1964, she was a relative newbie, at age 20, working in only her second credited motion picture, playing the part of Nastenka's spoiled step-sister. When this experiment debuted I wasn't aware of who she was or anything about her career. I might have thought that she wasn't bad for what she was asked to do, but I had no idea I was watching someone who would later become one of my favorite actors.

BTW, the above scene is what got her the part, and according to this wonderful article at Moscow Seasons, she cried after seeing the picture and considered leaving the business. Thankfully, she stuck with it.

I also host an Alt Oscar Blog, and that's what's occupied my time since I stopped reviewing at Mighty Jacks in 2014. And on that Blog (The Felix) I've given Inna 3 Best Actress nominations. In 1994 for The Year of the Dog, in 1983 for her towering performance in Vassa, and in 1970, where she won my award for her work in The Debut... in which she plays an actress who is offered a role she assumes will be for Baba Yaga, as she's always asked to play this part, and she thinks they're pulling her leg when she finds out they actually want her to play Joan of Arc.
  

Inna's an amazing performer, and to any die-hard film buff, I'd highly recommend seeking out her films.

BTW the DVD release I watched years ago included a short interview with the actress who played Nastenka, Natalya Sedykh. She was older, of course, still very thin, still with those large eyes, though her hair was strawberry blonde.

She was performing ballet at the Bolshoi Theater when Director Aleksandr Rou saw her and asked her to be in his film. She said she was very scared at first, and noted that Rou was naive but wise at the same time, and very kind.

Beatles Riffs From KTMA to Season 3

Ward E at the Info Club has a list but stopped updating it ages ago, so in 2006 we at the old (dead) forum decided to pick up the ball and run with it. Here are the results.

Note: Even if Ward E recorded a riff, we went through every episode to hear it for ourselves and record them in our own words, we didn't cut and paste and transfer it. 

Thanks to sol-survivor for gathering these up and sending them to me, so that all the hard work we did could be preserved here.



K01 Invaders From the Deep

* None - though during the movies end credits you hear an instrumental version of Yellow Submarine, but neither Joel or Crow make any comments on this

K02 Revenge of the Mysterons From Mars

None heard

K04 Gamera vs. Barugon
None that I heard

K05 Gamera

None

K06 Gamera vs. Gaos 

* While getting his voice changed Tom sings "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (Big Quiet)

* After Joel says... "Here comes the sun". Servo adds a "Do, da, do do" and sings a few more lyrics.

K07 Gamera vs Zigra

None that I heard

K08 Gamera vs. Guiron
* As reporters gather near the end of the film, Crow says "Gameron-mania!" (they used to mispronounce Gamera's name), then Servo responds, "Not the real flying turtle but an incredible simulation" - This is a spin on the tagline for the theatrical musical that ran from '77 to '79, Beatlemania, which touted "Not the real Beatles but an incredible simulation"

K09 Phase IV
None that I heard

K10 Cosmic Princess

* During an explosion at about the 48 min mark, Servo makes a comment about the shapeshifter becoming Liza Minelli when she's mad, then Crow says, "What do you think? Liza Minelli - real or an incredible simulation?" - KTMA was sure into Beatlemania

K11 Humanoid Woman
* Humanoid Woman talks about change on the planet and Joel says "Talking about a revolution", Crow adds "We all want to change the world"  

* After the death of a woman, Neeya cries, and Crows quips, "And my android gently weeps"

* TV's Cowboy also noted that at around the 44 min mark, you get a reference to the Rutles    

K12 Fugitive Alien
* We are shown a magnetic field that inspires Tom and Joel to sing a twisted version of "Strawberry Fields"...
Let me take you down cuz I'm going to Magnetic fields, nothing is real
No refrigerator to stick on.
Living is easy when you're a magnet
Holding up some kid's artwork
It says I love you mom but you really can't believe it
It doesn't matter anymore

* Joel and Servo again sing a song the Beatles recorded (but didn't write) during a starship battle... "Shake it up baby, twist and blow 'em up. Shake it shake it shake it baby now. Shake it baby. Turn them inside out, inside out. Wooooh! Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ahhh!"

K13 SST Deathflight
None that I heard (ash2)

K14 Mighty Jack
* At about 1:18 into it, as Fritz is about to point a gun at his father, Servo says "It’s Adam West, isn’t it?" and Crow responds with the Beatlemania slogan, "No, an incredible simulation"

K15 Superdome
None that I heard

K16 City on Fire
None that I heard

K17 Time of the Apes

* At around an hour and 15, when the ape leader speaks of harmony between man and ape, Tom says "Ebony and Ivory?" (which is the title of a McCartney/Wonder collaboration)

K18 Million Eyes of Su Muru
* Joel says "Sexy Sadie" as a woman puts on stockings

* Joel sees Hyde-White and says... "He's a clean old man, isn't he". Then Servo sings... "It's been a Hard Days 6 weeks"

K19 Hangar 18
None that I heard (MJ)

K20 The Last Chase
People scream and Crow shouts... "Beatlemania!"
Then Joel and Tom sing...
Joel: "Close your eyes and I'll kiss you, tomorrow I'll miss you..."

Servo: "I wanna hold your head"

Joel: "Oh please say to me you'll let me be your man"
Servo: "Baby, you can turn in my car"
Joel: "Paperback Writer"


K21 Legend of the Dinosaur
* During the opening segment the Mads attempt a "Joel is dead" campaign (complete with "Abbey Road" LP with J&TB on the cover)

* There a familiar-sounding baseline that gets Servo and Joel singing a variation of "Come Together"

* Crows weather report which uses the lines "Wuggy, Tuggy, etc" was something John Lennon wrote as a schoolboy in one of his journals. This was also an old joke said by radio comedian Harry Morgan and others, I'm not sure which inspired Crow's riff. (Merlin & MJ)

101 The Crawling Eye
* When a character stabs an eye controlled man, Joel says “Hands across the letter opener” – Which could be a nod to Paul McCartney’s “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”, where he sings… ”Hands across the water, hands across the sea”. But Joel could also be referencing the non-Beatle event, Hands Across America (1986)

102 Robot vs the Aztec Mummy
None

103 Mad Monster
None

104 Women of the Prehistoric Planet
I didn’t hear one

105 The Corpse Vanishes
* When Mike refuses to give the reporter a ride to Lamonts, Crow says "But she's got a ticket to ride". Servo adds, "She don't care"

106 The Crawling Hand
* When a man says "Only 4 people can handle this job", Joel responds with "The Beatles?"

* After Alan Hale tells Paul that he had a hard night, Crow says "A Hard Day's Night"

* Alan Hale yells out Paul's name to which Joel says "George, John, Ringo? Ahh who am I kidding they won't get back together" (All Compiled by ChibodeeCrocket)

107 Robot Monster
* During the credits, the name John Mylong pops on screen... Tom quips, "From the comedy team of My Long and Winding Road"

108 Slime People
None

109 Project Moonbase
* During the beginning of the movie there's scrolling text telling the viewer important dates that will happen in the future, and Servo adds "In 1963 the Beatles first appear on Ed Sullivan".

* A radio transmission is heard where a woman is saying "You must get back you must" to which Servo adds "You must get back to where you once belong Jojo"
(ChibodeeCrocket)

110 Robot Holocaust
* In one scene Servo says that one of the characters has a robo shanker or something and this exchange takes place...
Crow- He used to play with the Beatles
Servo- Who Robo Shanker? (ChibodeeCrocket)

* When the future Avocado Dad is being tortured, Valeria asks what level was used. When she learns it was 7, she says to take it to 9. Servo then says "Number 9, Number 9, Number 9." (sol-survivor)

* Also, with 14:43 remaining on my DVD, as The Dark One reveals the head on a "tulip bulb", Servo intones "I am the Eggman!" (Big Stoopid)

111 Moon Zero Two
* During the cartoon opening - Servo asks... "Are those the Blue Meanies?" then continues speaking with a Liverpudlian accent.

* When a woman says - "That's what the man said". Tom responds... "Don't you listen to what the man said"

112 Untamed Youth
None that I heard

113 Black Scorpion
None: Though Crow does an Ed Sullivan imitation and introduces a band called "The Roaches". This might have been related to the Beatles.

201 Rocketship X-M

None heard (sol-survivor)  

202 Sidehackers
* During one of the motorcycle montages, Crow says "Baby you can drive my death!!" (ChibodeeCrocket)

203 Jungle Goddess
None that I heard

204 Catalina Caper
* During the skit on the '60s, Joel mentions subliminal messages and Tom says... " Turn me on, dead man"

205 Rocket Attack USA
None - Nope, not even one Back in the USSR quip!

206 Ring of Terror
None that I heard

207 Wild Rebels
I didn't catch any. But when Rod strummed that single, out of key, chord... I thought a comment on the opening chord of "A Hard Days Night" would be in order (or even if they broke into song).

208 Lost Continent
* At the end when we see the shelters on the island in disarray during the earthquake, one of the guys says “Helter Shelter”

209 Hellcats
* Biker chick: "I don't need your help" - Crow: "Well you misspelled Skelter" (References Charles Manson, who was quoting the Beatles song "Helter Skelter")

210 King Dinosaur
* While the scientists record on a reel to reel: "Aw, they taped over the Beatles Berlin tapes" - Crow

211 First Spaceship on Venus
* As astronauts leave the ship, Crow says - "We're more popular than the Beatles"

* Servo sings "Somewhere in the black mountain hills of some alien planet..."

* After a guy says, "Listen!" - Tom adds... "Do you want to know a secret?"

212 Godzilla vs. Megalon
* As the military goes after Megalon, Servo notices the heavy security...
Joel: "They're going all the way to make sure McCartney doesn't bring any more dope into the country"
Crow: "You mean Linda?"
Joel: "That's probably it" (ChibodeeCrocket & MJ)

213 Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster
* Sung during the Godzilla Genealogy Bop:
Crow: "Then Ron met Yoko Ono, and they began to spawn - a couple of hundred horrible things as green as Forrest Lawn" (ChibodeeCrocket)

301 Cave Dwellers
* During the opening credits, the guys discuss assassins and Crow mentions Mark David Chapman.

302 Gamera
* During the press conference, the guys do this exchange from the movie "A Hard Days Night" 

Joel: Are you a mod or a rocker?
Tom: I'm a mocker! (ash2)

* Before an interview begins, Crow says "Yoko" (in relation to Japanese woman) 

303 Pod People
* While the band heads out to the forest, music plays and Tom says... "You know, Ringo did some bad songs, but this is embarrassing! (MJ)

* During one of the McCloud riffs, we hear the name, Ringo? (MJ)

304 Gamera vs Barugon

* While a woman plays music...

Joel - "Hey, didn't George Harrison write this song?"
Crow - "Yeah, My Sweet Warlord"
Joel - "33 and a Third I think"
Note: In an interview, Joel spoke of listening to a song on this album, titled Crackerbox Palace (1977), in it, George quotes a line from Mel Brooks, this pop culture reference inspired Joel, it was something he drew on with MST3K

305 Stranded in Space
* When the old bookstore owner tells Neal... "There was nothing prior to the perfect order worth remembering or recording", Joel adds, "Except the Beatles!"

306 Time of the Apes
* As Catherine speaks to the Top Ape at the end, Crow worries.... "She's not going to sing Ebony and Ivory is she?"

307 Daddy-O
* When Daddy-O and his gal break into Bruce's gym...
Crow: "They came in through the bathroom window"
Tom: "Protected by a silver spoon"

308 Gamera vs. Gaos
* During a scene at the airport... Joel: "Hey there's Paul McCartney"... Servo: "Hey, is he holding?"

309 Amazing Colossal Man
None

310 Fugitive Alien
* When the name Rita is called, the guys answer, "Meter Maid" (about 5 times during the course of the movie). Crow adds a "Where would I be without you" at one point.

* Ken: "Listen" - Tom: "Do you want to know a secret"

* Tom does a twist on Rocky Raccoon… “Somewhere in the black mountain hills in some alien planet”

311 It Conquered the World
* "And maybe I'm amazed at the way you love me all the time" - Crow

312 Gamera Vs Guiron
* After a little girl is scolded...
"I'll show her, I'm gonna grow up to break up the Beatles" - Crow

* While the boys are whisked to housewares, Joel says... "Number 9, Number 9, Number 9..."

* When the space-chicks put a razor to Akio's head. Crow notices... "She's cutting his hair with the Yellow Submarine"

* During Joel's skit where he saws Crow in half. The real Crow pops in and says "Maharishi Yogi's on line 1"

* Joel: "Here comes old flat-top" - Servo: "shush George Harrison will sue you" around 27:50 (ash2)
Note: John wrote the song, but there was an interview where George talked about suing everyone who was selling bootlegs, etc, might be a reference to that. Also, George sued Ringo once for recording a song without permission

313 Earth vs. the Spider

None 

314 Mighty Jack
* During one of the submarine scenes, Crow states "Yeah Yeah we all live in a yellow submarine" (ChibodeeCrocket)

* There is also a riff about the gal in her Sgt. Peppers suit

315 Teenage Caveman
* Bad guy argues with 2 men as our Teen builds his cave. The bad guy snarls... "fool!" and Tom adds... "Fool on the hill"

316 Gamera Vs. Zigra
* As the Zigra woman chases kids, a man says "That's Loralee Warren" - Servo: "But everyone knew her as Nancy"

* During the "AAAA" scene, Tom says "Okay, so they don't like Yoko Ono, what's the point?"

* When that mini-sub is damaged, Servo sings "We all DIE in a yellow Bathysphere"

317 Viking Women and the Sea Serpent
* During the Home Economics short, as the girls walk side by side...
Joel: "Hey it's Abbey Road"
Servo: "Boy you gotta carry that weight"

318 Star Force: Fugitive Alien II
* Tami says to Ken, "Does the name Rita mean anything to you?", and Joel answers, "Uh, It's a Beatles song?"

* As the camera pans over each of the crew's faces, Servo says... "George, Paul, John! Pete Best"

* A voice says "I'm with you" and Tom adds, "And without you" then chuckles.

* Servo sings a bit of the Beatles, "A Little Help From my Friend", but he does it like Joe Cocker.

* and of course there a lot of Rita Meter Maids

319 War of the Colossal Beast
* Glen is chained up and Servo recites lyrics from a song the Beatles covered... "My baby's got me locked up in chains! And they ARE the kind that you can see!" (Diamond Joe)

* After discussing Glen's growth rate, Joel says... "He blew his mind out in a car" (MJ)

320 The Unearthly
* As Joel goes on and on reading instructions during the game skit, Crow speaks in an English accent, in a line from the film "A Hard Days Night... "Please Mr, can we have our ball back?"

* When the killer/cop stands before Carradine, he says "I've got the gun". Crow adds... Warm gun, makes me happy"

321 Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
None that I heard

322 Master Ninja I
None

323 Castle of Fu Manchu
* While imprisoned by Fu, the woman asks the Doctor... "Do you think you can do it?" and Servo adds... "In the road?"

324 Master Ninja II
* During the opening credits as ninjas fight, Joel strikes a pose and says "I feel like a band on the run"

* In the first half, when we see the plant manager with the bristly mustache. Crow quips... "I am the Walrus. Uh, I think"

* Ricky Nelson's song "Garden Party" is quoted by Joel, "Yoko brought her walrus"

* During the scene with the Senator's daughter is kidnapped, Servo riffs, "Hey, the man in mack with the multi-colored mirrors on his hobnail boots!" (This comes from the song "Happiness is a Warm Gun")

* Ninja: "I should have known better" - Servo: "With a girl like you"

Part 1 * Part 2 * Part 3 * Part 4

Beatles Riffs: The Sci-Fi Era

801 Revenge of the Creature
* Early in the picture, we see the name 'Rita' stenciled on the side of the boat. Mike sings... "Lovely Rita, Meter.... barge"

802 Leech Woman
None

803 The Mole People
None

804 The Deadly Mantis
* When Nick throws his newspaper, Crow says... "Oh damn! Another 10,000 holes in Blackburn Lancashire"

* When the fighters take off, M&TB all sing "Jet! Oooooo"

805 The Thing That Wouldn't Die
None

806 The Undead
None

807 Terror From the Year 5000
* "Ladies and gentlemen, the Beatle!" - Crow, as Dr. Hedges gets off the plane

* As guy sneaks out of the house with suitcase.... Tom: "Heeeee" - Mike: "He was a small oily man" (Sung to the tune of "She's Leaving Home")

* And Servo quotes A Hard Days Night movie when he says, "The Bartender's a clean old man, isn't he?"

808 The She Creature
* "Is this the Mr. Kite everyone always does stuff for the benefit of?" - Servo

* As a guy lists party guests, Crow adds... "John and Yoko will stop by"

809 I Was A Teenage Werewolf
None that I heard

810 Giant Spider Invasion
* Servo- "Isn't this when all those giant spider singers came over from England"

* When the Charles Manson jeweler walks to his walk to his car Tom sings, "Helter Skelter, do, do do..." then after he drives off Servo adds... "Have you seen the little piggies" (Chibodee)

811 Parts: The Clonus Horror
ChibodeeCrocket with an assist from Ward E helped me with this one. During the Biography-like credits, Crow says... "But all was not as it seemed. The arrival of associate producer Peter "R.J." Deyell proved both groundbreaking and heartwrenching for the young Liverpudlians."

812: The Incredibly Strange Creatures...
* Jerry has a nightmare, a woman says "Help" 3 times after, and each one Mike sings -- "I need somebody. Not just anybody. You know I need someone."

813 Jack Frost
* At the end, Servo slips in a reference "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Wedding"

814 Riding With Death
* near the beginning we see a tape reel start and stop and Crow sings... "The long - and winding - road - that..."

* As William Sylvester shouts - "Hello? Hello?" into the phone. Mike responds... "I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello"

815 Agent For H.A.R.M
None

816 Prince of Space
* When that huge ugly monster is about to fall down Mike starts to sing "What would you do if I sang out a tune". More of a reference to the Joe Cocker version but since we included a similar riff from Zombie Nightmare then this one counts too. (Chibodee Crocket)

817 Horror of Party Beach
* Doctor Allen asks a series of questions while analyzing the monster's arm. Mke has Hank answer... "Uh, the Beatles?"

* When the guys are coming up with different names for Fingals Quarry', one of their suggestions is... "Ringo's Fiddle?"

818 Devil Doll
* "Am I a mod or a rocker?" Servo as Hugo

* "I wonder if Paul and Linda got that pot yet?" - Mike, as William Sylvester dials the phone

819 Invasion of the Neptune Men
* During one of the countless running scenes Mike starts singing "It's been a hard day's night" (Big Quiet)

* As a record plays backward, Crow chants - "Paul is a dead man, miss him, miss him (MJ)

* Because the Neptune ship looks like Thomas the Tank Engine, Servo does Ringo's voice - "Thomas was very cross with Japan and feels he must resort to carpet bombing" (MJ)

* Servo (as slow-voiced Neptunian probe/radio): I buried Paul (Diamond Joe)

820 Space Mutiny 

None heard (sol-suvivor)

821 Time Chasers
None

822 Overdrawn at the Memory Bank
* This one is really faint and it's hard to hear it even with headphones. Early in the movie right after the "UPS fashions of the future" line you can barely hear Mike sing "Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head" from A Day in the Life. (sol-survivor)

901- The Projected Man
* When Shiela answers the phone, Tom says, "George Harrison fan club; please hold"

* Servo has Sheila saying.... "I like Ringo best"

* During a crying jag - Mike quips, "Paul McCartney got married!"

* “One guy on the run” - Mike singing Paul's hit as projected man evades Police.
 

902 Phantom Planet
* While our captain and one of the Metaluna girls are walking through a cavern, Crow states "The Beatles are playing here tonight" (ChibodeeCrocket)

* "Rose and Valarie, screaming from the gallery!" - Servo. Comes from the song "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"

903 Puma Man
None: But when Puma walks along the banks of the river, it reminded me of a scene from "A Hards Days Night". had the guys sang "This Boy" or had Puma say "Hi Ringo", that would have fit

904 Werewolf
During the credit, Servo sings some McCartney... "Admiral Halsey notified me, he had to have a bath or he couldn't get to sleep"

905 The Deadly Bees
* During the credits, Crow sings... "A Taste For Honey' The novel in which this movie, was based"

The Beatles covered the song "A Taste Of Honey" on their album "Please, Please Me"

* "Turned down that annoying Beatles group again" - Crow, as secretary hangs up the phone and speaks to music agent.

906 Space Children
"A young Stu Sutcliffe" - Servo - Said as the camera pans across a group of children near the end of the movie.

907 Hobgoblins
None

 

908 Touch of Satan
* When our crowd of witch burners is running away Mike says "Let's go burn some Beatles records instead" (ChibodeeCrocket)

909 Gorgo
* When the guys in the sub try to capture Gorgo; Crow says, "If they don't let me up to go soon, it really will be a Yellow Submarine"

910 The Final Sacrifice
None 

911 Devil Fish
* “Good thing Yoko’s there” – Kevin (about a half-hour in, gal stands among a crowd of onlookers)

912 The Screaming Skull
* During constant knocking, Servo complains... "Hey! Do me a favor open the door and let him in - do; do do; do do..." And then later adds a few more 'Do-do's' from the McCartney song.

* As Jenni screams and screams and screams, Crow says, "Oh great, she's playing her Yoko Ono albums" (update by sol-survivor)

913 Quest of the Delta Knights
* "Rubber Soul font." – Crow as the credits play and we see a series of signs

1001 Soultaker
None that I heard

1002 Girl in Gold Boots
None that I heard, but eagle-eyed TV's Cowboy spotted the cover for Paperback Writer on the jukebox

1003 Merlin’s Shop of Mystical Wonders
* "Doesn't he know it's "Dig" a pony and "Shock" the monkey?" – Crow as guy attempts to bury monkey.

* Crow sings McCartney’s Band on the Run, with new lyrics - “Guy with a toy monkey on the run, the guy with a toy monkey on the run” as thief runs away with Merlin’s monkey.

* Guy in park tells Merlin “We got lots of stuff”, and Servo adds, “Mostly Ringo Hats”

1004 Future War
None

1005 Blood Waters of Dr. Z
* Near the end when the kidnapped gal screams, Mike says, "The Beatles are on Ed Sullivan!" (When she screams again, Bill adds... "Now it’s Herman’s Hermits")

1006 Boggy Creek II: And The Legend Continues
None that I heard

1007 Track of the Moon Beast
* Longbow tells the cop “Over the years I got to know Paul pretty well.” And Mike adds, “The other Beatles were kind of aloof.”

* Cathy says “Paul”, and Tom whispers, “Paul” is dead

* After Cathy screams, Mike throws in… “The Beatles!”

1008 Final Justice
During the credits, Servo mentions the Sun King, but he was referring to King Louis XIV, not the Beatles song (The name in the credit was Louis)
  

1009 Hamlet
* Mike says “Meet The Beatles” as 3 heads pose in darkness, looking like the album cover (but where’s Ringo? lol)

1010 It Lives By Night
* After a seizure at the hospital, Mike does Joe Cocker covering the Beatles “A Little Help From my Friends” ”What would you say if I sang out of tune…”

* Tom adapts a McCartney tune when he sings… “Bat on the run, bat on the run”

1011 Horrors of Spider Island
None that I heard

1012 Squirm
None that I heard

1013 Diabolik
* Near the beginning when we see leather-jacketed cops - "If Hitler had won and hired Stu Sutcliffe as his fashion designer."

* When Ginko discovers Diaboliks lifeless body, a guitar chord strikes and Tom sings “It’s been a Hard Days Night”

* Also – at Di’s cave hideout sitar music plays and Mike says, “Please get Ravi Shankar out of the living room”

Part 1 * Part 2 * Part 3 * Part 4

Beatles Riffs From Season 4 to Season 7

401 Space Travelers
About 18 minutes in, when the space capsule is making an odd sound, the bots mention that it sounds like such and such a song/band and Joel adds… “It sounds like the last chord in “A Day in the Life”, only they slowed it way down”

402 Giant Gila Monster
None that I heard

403 City Limits
* When one of the characters (I think it was Mick) said "Thank you Albert" Servo replies with "We're so sorry Uncle Albert". (ChibodeeCrocket)

* Near the beginning, Servo hears some music and says... "Sounds like Love Me Do" (MJ)

* A Beatles adjacent riff, found by sol-survivor... When Kim's character is offering aid to the Clippers, right after Joel's "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Goons" riff, one of the characters says "Lady, no one gives nothin' for nothin'" and Tom says "Except Billy Preston".
 

404 Teenagers From Outer Space
* When helmeted space teens emerge from the spacecraft, Joel says... "I am the egg man, Goo Goo Ga Joob"

* While the nurse gives Thor a shot, Joel sings... "Picture yourself on a train in the station "

* Near the end of the episode when Derek is meeting his father for the first time Derek mentions that if the people were to discover their leader is gone it would spark a revolution and that he isn't the only one with that book. Tom says "But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow". (sol-survivor) 

405 Being From Another Planet
* "Number 9, number 9" - Crow during credits

* And there this exchange about a band the Beatles signed to their record label, spoken when we see a burnt hand...
Joel: "Badfinger"
Servo: "I'll say"
Crow: "If you want it come and get it"

406 Attack of the Giant Leeches
* During the short as young Billy sneaks through a window, Joel sings: "She came in through the bathroom window"

* At the end while the guy is underwater looking for leeches, Servo warbles: "I'd like to be, under the sea..." (Maggs)

407 Killer Shrews
None that I heard

408 Hercules Unchained
None

409 The Indestructible Man
* During the short; men on horseback ride by and their head-dress is similar to something a nun might wear. Joel sings "Mother Superior jump the gun"

* Narrator: And then he gave us a most important answer" - Servo: "The Beatles"

410 Hercules Against the Moon Men
None

411 The Magic Sword
Mr. Atari says he didn't hear one but offered his own suggestion...
Servo: Sir George? Where are Sir John, Paul, and Ringo?
Crow: Sir Ringo? Nooooo!!!

And I thought when George conned Estelle into going into the cellar they could have made a Cavern Club pun "George, there's Beatles down here!" (Beetles/Beatles)

412 Hercules and the Captive Women
*During the 2nd Host Segments, Joel & Tom are playing Trivial Pursuit. In regards to a question about a Shakespear play, Servo keeps answering, "The Beatles"

* During the battle, Tom says - "Well, you say you want a revolution, huh?"
 

Image courtesy of Tom's Temple

 
413 Manhunt in Space
None

414 Tormented
* As Tom Stewart climbs to the top of the lighthouse, Servo sings, "The long and winding stairs"

* Tom Stewart: "You know how many records I'd have to sell to pay for that thing?" - Crow: "More than Elvis and the Beatles!"

* The blind lady says, "I know exactly what you are", and Joel adds a line from Lennon's Instant Karma - "You're a superstar, that's what you are"

415 The Beatniks
Mr. Baylis says to the singing 'Nik, "They've really got a hold on you?", and Servo responds by singing those words. The Beatles covered this Smokey Robinson song, titled... "You Really Got A Hold On Me"

416 Fire Maidens of Outer Space
As plane lands...
Joel: "It's the Beatles"
Bots: "AAAHHH!"
Joel: "It's been a hard days..."

417 Crash of Moons
During the General Hospital short
Woman: "well, he wanted to do it" -- Joel: "In the Road"

418 Attack of the The Eye Creatures

None heard (sol-survivor) 

419 The Rebel Set
None, but during the short, they had one they could have done one... When Johnny is running towards the camera, Servo does the usual "Run Von Ryan", but it also would have been the perfect spot for a joke about "A Hard Days Night". As Johnny's scamper resembles the Beatles running from fans at the beginning of that film

420 Human Duplicators
This one's a maybe, at the end as Kolos stands in the yard waiting to beam up, Crow has him say.... "I was at the airport. I was in a cab here... that's all I saw"... A member of the MST3K board says that this is similar to something George Harrison said after the final US tour when a reporter asked him if he got to see much of America.

421 Monster A-Go Go
* While high pitched notes play, someone says "Ravi Shankar's tunning up"

* When the monster happens upon a group of gals, they scream and Servo says "The Beatles!" like Ed Sullivan

422 Day the Earth Froze
During a song, Joel spots George Harrison's sitar teacher... "Hey it's Ravi Shankar"
 

423 Bride of the Monster
* When bearded Professor sneaks into Bela's house, Joel says, "Lenin?" and Tom softly replies.... "McCartney"

* Bela says "It was 20 years ago today" and Crow adds, "Sgt Peppers taught the band..."

424 Manos
None that I heard

501 Warrior of the Lost World
Servo sings "Eight Legs a Week", while Natasha and the Warrior walk through spiders. When Natasha is surrounded by guns, Tom laughs nervously and says “Uh, give peace a chance?”

502 Hercules
Joel's invention is Instant karma. Joel quotes the song in his intro and later Dr. F says… “Well we all shine on, don’t we Mr. Robinson” before he sends them the movie

503 Swamp Diamonds
"Lovely Rita, Meter Maid" - Servo (sung while lady cop talks with the Captain)

504 Secret Agent Super Dragon
After spy searches through a nightstand drawer, Joel says... "Only to find Gideon's Bible"

505 The Magic Voyage of Sinbad
“Hey, there’s George Harrison!” – Joel as ship sails into a city that recalls India

506 Eegah
Eegah drops Roxy off in his cave and Tom sings a few lines from a Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney duet... Arch Sr: "She's, mine" - Servo: "The doggone girl is mine"

507 I Accuse My Parents
None

508 Operation Double 007
* Bad guy says to another... "Oh, and lose the Ringo hat" - Servo

* While a dude with a bushy mustache (something something) knife wound, Crow says... "I am the walrus, koo koo ka...joo..."

* During the scene with the killer nun, Servo sings... "Mother Superior jump the gun!"

* Man answers the phone: "Hello, hello!"... Joel: I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello!"

* At the airport while the band plays, there are a few that are Beatle/Brit/Liverpool related... Servo sings - "Well shake it up baby..." from the Beatles cover, "Twist and Shout" (Chibodee) And Joel adds 2 more - "Man it's kind of like the British Invasion is waiting for a flight out" and - "They call it the Mersey Beat; in time you'll be screaming for mercy"

* Baddie says, "I warn you, be careful how you answer..." and Servo cries out, "The Beatles!"

509 Girl In Lovers' Lane
I didn't find any Beatles quips. But there was an opportunity as one of the prostitutes was named Sadie. And while she didn't make a fool of everyone, she almost made off with all of Danny's cash and managed to get a fry-cook fired Sexy Sadie, your the latest and the greatest of them all.

510 The Painted Hills
None that I heard

511 Gunslinger
Little Man: You gonna let it be?

Tom: Speaking words of wisdom? (Big Quiet)

512 Mitchell
None that I heard

513- The Brain That Wouldn't Die
* Kurt: Imagine... Mike: All the people living for today... (Big Quiet)

* In a sleazy bar with butch looking gals, Tom says, “Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a woman” (MJ)

514 Teen-Age Strangler
No riffs, but during the host segment about true love, John & Yoko are mentioned in a list of couples. And the Yipe Stripes girl in the movie name drops the Beatles.

515 - Wild World of Batwoman
* When we see a close up of a drummer playing, Mike says "Just when I thought this movie couldn't get worse Ringo is in it" (ChibodeeCrocket)

* When the SOL crew are thinking of a way to show cheating is bad, Crow wakes up all of a sudden and says "The Beatles" (ChibodeeCrocket)

When the robbery victim says "Come and get it", Servo quips, "The Badfinger murders". Badfinger was a band the Beatles signed to Apple. Paul wrote their big hit, "Come and Get It" (MJ)

* When Bruno VeSota walks up with Goober, Mike has the woman who greets them say... Are you the Beatles? Ah, you must be the Beatles" (MJ)

* During the seance, when the fake Chinese or Japanese is spoken, Crow says "Yoko no!" (MJ)

516 Alien From L.A.
Crow sings from "A Day in the Life" Woke up, fell out of bed...

517 Beginning of the End
During the final Host Segment, Mike uses a postcard of The Beatles to demonstrate the film's SFX. "The grasshoppers! Aahh! Are attacking The Beatles! Aahh!"- Mike (Big Quiet)

518 The Atomic Brain
When we see an airplane landing, Mike sings a little Back in the USSR… “Flew in from Miami Beach BOAC”

519 Outlaw
None heard (sol-survivor)

520 Radar Secret Service
None that I heard

521 Santa Claus
When Santa is covered by hundreds of letters, Crow says.. "Ha, ha, I'm more popular than Jesus!"

522 Teen-Age Crime Wave
None that I heard

523 Village of the Giants
* When the punk teens enter the Go-Go, Mike says - "Oh, I thought the Bugs were gonna be here". Might be a reference to the Beatles.

* "Hey, isn't that the Asian performance artist who broke up the Beau Brummels?" - Servo

* When blonde says to Opie "Why don't we"... Crow: "Do it in the road"

* During the spider scene, there is a guitar twang and Tom sings, "It's been a Hard Days Night"

524 12 To The Moon
Towards the end of the film... Dr. Heinrich: "Listen!" - Mike: "Do you want to know a secret"

And Crow sings a little Ebony and Ivory as two men speak to each other

601 Girls Town
* During Paul’s "Lonely Boy", Mike complains about the length of the tune and says… “A teen song from Bangladesh” - Which references the benefit concert organized by George Harrison in 1971

But no “Mother Superior jump the gun”?

602 Invasion USA
The reporter asks cowboy if he can ask him a few questions. Servo has the cowboy quickly answer... "The Beatles!"

603 The Dead Talk Back
None that I heard

604 Zombie Nightmare
* While the Zombie stalks its victims, some music pops on and Servo sings, "Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head", then Mike tacks on a few more lines from "A Day In The Life".

* Servo also sings a few lyrics from the Beatles "With A Little Help From My Friends" (what would you do, if I sang out a tune...) But he does it like Joe Cocker because the zombie's herky-jerky movements resemble Joe when he performs.

* Chibodee notes this reference to a band the Beatles discovered and signed to Apple records... During the opening credits when they show the band, Servo says "Hey I saw them open for Badfinger".

605 Colossus and the Head Hunters
* During a skit, Servo sings "Taxman"

* While long-haired, bearded men run, Mike says... "The Ringo Starr gang"

* At the Headhunters camp...
Mike: "Look at that, it's Paul McCartney's head on a pole"
Servo: "yay!"
Crow: "Don't get me down or anything. It's not like I'm being defiled"

* After the movie when they start to read the letters Gypsy sings a snippet of "Michelle" (sol-survivor)

606 The Creeping Terror
Mike sings these lines as a guy drives up a hill - "Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota there lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon"

607 Bloodlust
As Jondor walks by, Mike quips... "I shouldn't let Brian Epstein dress me"

608 Code Name: Diamondhead
* In the short, Crow notices that Admiral Halsey joins in the parade. Halsey was a real person, mentioned in a Paul McCartney tune. (Correction by sol-survivor)

* During the film, Crow makes a crack about Ravi Shankar P.I.  

609 Skydivers
None

610 Violent Years
None
 

611 Last of the Wild Horses
* Mike spots a horse with shaggy main and says... "That horse has a Beatles wig!"

* And the alt-universe Mads mention that they have the Beatles in their universe. (Big Quiet)

612 Starfighters
* During the opening credits the guys sing "JET! Ooooh, oooh"

* As a pilot looks upwards, Servo spouts, "And marshmallow skies"

* During the Servo chorus, we hear a bit of Blackbird in the lyrics "Take these broken wings and learn to fly..."

* "...38's in World War II, the 86's in Korea" - "V-8 and the One After 909" - Col. Hunt/Servo

Of Note: Mike makes a comment about "Run For Your Life", but he's referring to the Ben Gazzara TV drama which ran from 1965 to 1968, not the Beatles song.

613 Sinister Urge
None

614 San Fransico International
As politicians step off an airplane, Tom says, "Ladies and gentlemen, the parents of the Beatles!"

615 Kitten With A Whip
When the Politico goes to Jody's room, the door read 9 and Mike says..." Number 9. We are standing still. ", from the White Album track, "Number 9"

616 Racket Girls
* At the very beginning of the film, there is an extended scene of a wrestling match. Crow points out that "No wonder people went nuts over the Beatles, this was all they had." (Correction by sol-survivor)

* When Peaches and the creepy European guy are running behind the car, Mike riffs in a Euro-accent, "Hey, vy don't ve do it in the road? No one vill be vatching us." (Supplied by Mr. Atari)

* At about an hour and 15 minutes on my timestamp during one of the endless wrestling matches someone shouts "The Beatles." (ash2)

617 Sword and the Dragon
None that I heard

618 High School Big Shot
None: Not even a "Baby You're A Rich Man" sing-a-long

619 Red Zone Cuba
None that I heard

620 Danger! Death Ray!
Spoken while the naked girl works on her bad art... "Hey, she paints as good as Linda McCartney" - Crow

621 The Beast of Yucca Flats
* During the money short, dad picks up juniors budget and reads - Crow sez... "Helter Skelter, very nice"

* As the clock ticks, Mike and sings... "Woke up, got out of bed, dragged a comb across my head"

* Crow, speaking in the same drone as the narrator: "Father Mackenzie, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there"

622 Angels Revenge
None

623 Amazing Transparent Man
* During the "Days of Our Years" short, as the Reverend looms large near the camera, Servo says, "I'm bigger than Jesus"

* During the film Tom sings Paul McCartney's "Spies Like Us" several times.

624 Samson vs the Vampire Women
* When Queen Serena rises, right after the Magic Eye picture reference, Servo sings "Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head" from A Day in the Life. (sol-survivor)

The Movie: This Island Earth
None heard (sol-survivor)

701 Night of the Blood Beast
During Gypsy's song, she sings; "... Hello, hello, hello. I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello!"

702 Brute Man
None that I heard

703 Deathstalker and the Warriors From Hell
Near the end, as a note plays on, Crow notes... "They're playing the chord from "A Day in the Life"

704 The Incredible Melting Man
When the General gets off the plane Crow shouts "Woo hoo the Beatles... Oh there's nobody here"
 

705 Escape 2000
After spotting a character in a hat, Crow says... "It's real hard to find genuine Ringo caps anymore." (MJ)

and when a character (Trash or Strike) says, "Come on, Come On" and Mike adds... "Please please me!" (Wolf99x)

706 - Laserblast
Nothing specific, but Crow did make reference to a guy who played on a few of their songs when he said... "Billy Preston's getting a solo"

Part 1 * Part 2 * Part 3 * Part 4

MST3K LIVE: No Retreat, No Surrender

This has been billed as Joel's final tour, so even though the rest of the cast were new names to me, I had to go. It's the only MST live show I've been to and therefore is the only one I can gab about. It was also the last show I saw before the lockdown, that was it, no more nights out for a year. The featured movie was No Retreat, No Surrender, and it was prime riff material. Being a Bruce Lee fanatic, those parts of the picture were a kick, and the quips accompanying them made it all the funnier.

Now, unlike the Netflix series (where some fans have complained about it being too slick) the production values were scaled back (and some fans are complaining that it's not slick enough... irony?) Speaking for myself, I didn't come for a big production, sets, etc, but for big laughs - and it delivered. Frankly, I liked that it was a smaller production, as it brought back memories of that old school, lo-fi, cow town show that it used to be.

The Bots (Conor McGiffin as Servo, Nate Begle as Crow) were in fine voice, Emily Marsh as Crenshaw (and all-around puppeteer) brought a lot of spirited fun to the stage, unfortunately, while Yvonne Freese seems very personable and cool in those videos they post from time to time, Synthia was pretty grating (I'd like to see her bring it down a notch for season 13). Despite that, most of the skits were cute. I had some good laughs with Crow's safety song bit, and how they acknowledged the puppeteers at times ("I'm doing it, and without anybody's help!" celebrates Crow during one host segment, while he's receiving obvious help. Big laughs from the audience with that).

The venue was large, but not massive, they didn't offer tickets to the balcony, but the main floor was mostly full. The audience was really into the show, so there was a good energy all around. I stayed in my seat during intermission and watched a couple of the cast play around with cleaning up the stage while interacting with the crowd that was still there.

My only real complaint is why were none of these live shows (past and present) recorded so we could relive them again and again?

For information on recent tours, I'm including links to the MST3K Fandom Wiki

2017 - Watch Out for Snakes! Tour with Eegah and Argoman: The Fantastic Superman

2018 - 30th Anniversary Tour with The Brain and Deathstalker II

2019-20 - The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour with No Retreat, No Surrender and Circus of Horrors

2021-22 - Time Bubble Tour with Making Contact

Bridget and Mary Jo - Rifftrax Features

MST3K vets Bridget Nelson and Mary Jo Pehl have reunited on Rifftrax, and have been a highlight... The guys are great, but variety is the spice of life. Enter B&MJ, who have a different style, perspective, and riff delivery, they serve up something a little new. While they've done some amazing work on short films, I'm going to start with their feature-length releases (no specials)

Page 1 Index:
Cat Woman of the Moon * Gravity * Amazing Mr. X * Angel's Revenge * Deadly Instincts * Beyond Christmas * Junior Prom * Sherlock Holmes and the Woman in Green * She * Devil Girl from Mars * Freddie Steps Out * Rescue Me * Sherlock Holmes: Dressed to Kill * She Demons * Scared to Death * High School Hero * Fear * Vacation Days * Last Woman on Earth * Sherlock Holmes: Terror by Night * Strange Impersonation * Lady Mobster * Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon * Bride of the Gorilla * Frankenstein's Daughter * High School U.S.A. * Amanda and the Alien * What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? * Baby of the Bride * Earth Angel * Wonder Woman '84 * Mother of the Bride * Lucky Day * Before I Say Goodbye * Married Too Young * Teenage Space Vampires * He Sees You When You're Sleeping * Children of the Bride * Crime of Passion * The Brain That Wouldn't Die * Woman Who Came Back * I'll Be Seeing You * Page 2

Cat-Woman of the Moon

Release date: April 15, 2016

Their first full-length feature is a short little picture, later remade as Missile to the Moon, which was hilariously covered by Mike and Fred Willard (my preferred version).

The work on this one is more enjoyably amusing than full out hysterical, the ladies make kitty jokes and such ("Help!" - "A furry is giving me a hickey!" - Bridget, or "She's kissing him, but thinking of Morris" - Mary Jo) they point out the sexism, and Bridget nicely acknowledges that star Marie Windsor was the Queen of Bs... unfortunately, Marie's not as amazing here as she was in her noirs like The Killing and The Narrow Margin (her screaming is ear piercing, ouch), and B&MJ express some disappointment when she combs her hair and fixes her makeup during the flight. (ah 50s sci-fi, forward enough to anticipate women in space, but so stuck in the era as far as treatment and portrayal goes)

Gravity

Release date: June 9, 2016

B&MJ's second was a "just the jokes" release and since I don't own the movie, I'm not able to easily revisit this one. I do remember enjoying it, but to the degree, I can't be sure. 

The Amazing Mr. X

Release date: January 6, 2017
I wasn't sure about this one because I actually liked the movie (I'd seen it before), and thought I might focus on it instead of the jokes. But B&MJ made it work. I was often in stitches, "I love you Paul but you have a little dinghy." - Mary Jo (And there's a Trixie Belden reference, to boot, which was a favorite read of mine as a kid).

Angels Revenge
Release date: May 10, 2017

Mary Jo and Bridget take on a movie covered in a so-so episode of MST3K, but here we get bonus clips cut from the previous release. Riff-wise, Bridget throws in a good quip right from the start... "I hope I'm not dead and these are doctors trying to revive me". And it's fun to get the ladies' perspective (though they worked on the original - Molly Hodgdon is also present here as a contributing writer). The vibe is upbeat, with the duo laughing at the movie and at each other's jokes. I have to say Angel's never been a favorite, either here or there, but Mary Jo and Bridget do decent work.

Deadly Instincts

Release date: September 8, 2017

Sexism, inappropriate relationships with students, soapy butt soup, and a rapist alien creature who comes to Earth to breed... yeah, quite the unpleasant movie, but the riffer's power through and bring much laughter to this turd. "Is it gas or 'Old Spice Swagger', I can never tell?" - Bridget. I enjoyed it more on a second go-through, finding oodles of rib-ticklers to enjoy.

Beyond Christmas

Release date: December 15, 2017

"Yes, Jimmy is a little boys name, but I'm a big boy!" (just love the way Bridget delivers that line) 

Ah yes, now this was more like it. This was the gal's third Christmas special and it's a sweet movie with a warm holiday spirit, though that doesn't mean they won't go dark with the jokes if needed, which makes for a funny contrast. There's music, an appearance from TVs Frank (haha), and some g-g-ghosts! Also known by the title "Beyond Tomorrow" this makes for an outstanding Trax.

Junior Prom

Release date: April 27, 2018
This was the first of the Teen-Agers films for the duo, this 66-minute jewel sees Superman's Noel Neill playing it nerdy in glasses, there's kooky slang, jazz, and rigged elections. B&MJ are on point with their riff darts throughout, and get off on the right foot with cute quips during the cartoon credits.

Sherlock Holmes and the Woman in Green

Release date: June 8, 2018

The first of many excellent releases with Bridget & Mary Jo going brain to brain with Sherlock Holmes. Their copy of the film is colorized, and it's another quick watch (running only an hour and eight). There are laughs to be had, though they'll go on to do even better work on this series.

She

#43 in Mighty Jack's Top 50

Release date: July 18, 2018

"Do you know what it means, Tonya?" - "No..." - "but somebody just wet my pants" -Bridget. 

"She" (who must be obeyed) has been filmed several times over the years (including one by Hammer) this version features western star Randolph Scott, a Dr. Watson, and future congresswoman, Helen Gahagan, and is packed with laughs. 

Devil Girl From Mars

Release date: August 2, 2018

Based on a play, and it looks it (it's as near to a chamber piece as sci-fi comes). I wonder if they used the same design for the hilarious robot from stage to film? If so, I bet that thing took a tumble or two (or three) during the performance. 

The premise sounds zany -spacewoman comes to a tiny village for breeding stock- but it's so dry and static, and it takes a while before the Devil Girl ("Dynamite with a laser beam" - Bridget) even shows up. So B&MJ work mightily to keep things popping, but their relaxed, 'just chillin' with a movie' style saves the day - and once the bot makes its appearance, the laughs jump a notch ("when will the submarine surface?" -and- "I'm off to the can, I gotta drop an ICBM")

Freddie Steps Out

Release date: September 7, 2018

More mixed-up shenanigans from the teenage adults, who have to deal with mistaken identity and a baby who belongs to, someone (but everyone makes assumptions about who parented said child). That baby's a comedy gold mine (dig the soothing Black Sabbath music box), but all told I didn't enjoy this one as much as Junior Prom.

Rescue Me

Release date: September 21, 2018
I have to admit, I struggled with Rescue Me. It took several attempts to make it to the end (I was not laughing at the riffs, and the movie was like a trip to the dentist... I know, many of these riffed flicks are terrible, but this one was especially grating for me, the antagonists got on my last nerve, and the protagonists weren't much better)

Sherlock Holmes: Dressed to Kill

#11 in Mighty Jack's Top 50

Release date: January 4, 2019

And I love this Holmes even more than the first - pure wit and silliness from the ladies, and so much fun. It starts off with tinkle tinkle, slurping tea, and an appearance by Bartleby - all of that before we get to witless Watson,  whose a great source of amusement. The crime-solving duo's domestic lives are also a hoot... though seriously, it's all a joy -  plot points, dialogue, the sex and violence, and deductions and stinkies, none of it gets by the ladies notice without hilarious comment and name drops (Chumlee, lmao). Great 'Trax, I'd call this my favorite B&MJ to date.

She Demons

Release date: March 22, 2019

"To bad his waxing session was cut short" - Mary Jo - Demons is about a missing powder blue cashmere shorty... and shipwrecked people stuck on an island filled with Nazis and a mad scientist doing mad experiments... but mostly... powder blue cashmere shorty. While I kind of expected sharper work on this Richard E. Cunha flick, it's alright, enjoyable enough if not stellar.

Scared to Death

Release date: April 12, 2019
This was some kind of 80s romantic comedy monster mash-up. While the movie is dumb the riffing is quick and playful ("A Mary Jo peel-out", ha!), and locks into the film nicely ("He just got back from delivering flowers to every girl whose car he hit this week." - Bridget). It sets itself up for a verbal spanking (roller skating in a parking garage) which B&MJ happily obliges. I was also tickled to hear one of them refer to a woman's purse as a Dopp kit, I don't why, maybe because that was such a dad thing to say, my father never called them shaving kits as others did, it was always a Dopp, so thanks for that ladies. An unusual big laugh, but it did the job for me. 

High School Hero

Release date: May 3, 2019

Another Teen Agers movie, and this might be a case of diminishing returns, as I wasn't feeling this one. 

Fear

Release date: July 26, 2019

A B-noir spin on Crime and Punishment, which co-stars Chris Pine's grandmother as love interest and bad waitress ("You'll get your burger when I'm good and ready!" - Mary Jo) and a 24-year-old Darren McGavin in an uncredited role. Not a remarkable release, but solid.

Vacation Days

Release date: September 6, 2019

The 4th Teen Agers movie and while each Rifftrax release has been a little lesser than the one before, Vacation Days wakes the series up, it might even be the best of the bunch, though the flick recycles a lot of what came before (including another case of mistaken identity for Freddie - yeesh, how many Freddie's are there, it's like some kind of "Three Identical Strangers" situation.) The comedy draws from the absurdities of it all or creates absurdities of its own (turning the principal into some kind of sexy beast). The chemistry between Bridget & MJ is appreciable. 

Last Woman on Earth

Release date: November 15, 2019

With this release, Mary Jo & Bridget are joined by Matthew Elliott & Ian Potter. Matthew & Ian can really cram in the riffs with their own releases, even talking over dialogue so that it makes it difficult to hear what they are quipping on, whereas Bridget and Mary Jo are more relaxed and not so labored - would this teaming be an oil and water mix? Not so much, The Brits pull back a bit, allow for some space between riffs and room for 4 voices to each have their say. The chemistry felt a bit off, the rapport a little over scripted, almost as if they weren't in the same room together, which I imagine was true. Still, it's a curious film, open to capable riff-work, which gets stronger as it goes... the riffers also seem to be more at ease with each other, the timing improves.

Sherlock Holmes: Terror by Night

Release date: January 3, 2020
Another fun Holmes mystery, with Matthew J. Elliott contributing as head writer. Bumbling Watson is still a great source of humor, as was teasing the convoluted scheme, British reserve (love their version of the f-bomb, well, according to the ladies), and apparent British insensitivity to the bereaved. Not the comedy master-class Dressed to Kill was but I always enjoy these Holmesian Trax.

Strange Impersonation

Release date: January 10, 2020

"Why do women feel the need to beat themselves up over their acts of vindictiveness?" - Mary Jo - Hey, they're riffing an old Anthony Mann movie, y'know, the master of 50s psychological westerns? No one seems to notice this (no riffs address it) and it's not one of Mann's all-time greats, still, it was an added spice for me. This is not a western, closer to Mann's noirs, it features a woman scientist betrayed, blackmailed, and bothered by an annoying ambulance chaser named Rinse. The riffing put several smiles on my face, like them pointing out that Steven isn't really all that great a catch or how war-torn France makes a great honeymoon destination.

Lady Mobster

Release date: March 6, 2020

A soap opera Godfather with Susan Lucci - On the Mads Livestream, Mary Jo named Lady Mobster as a release she was particularly happy with, and Bridget loved it, so there you go. The made-for-TV movie allows for Soapy deep cuts, and plenty of -as Bill called it from the MST-days- Bridget & Mary Jo energy. BTW, Bridget's favorite riff... "Dying turned him into On Golden Pond Henry Fonda."

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon

Release date: April 17, 2020

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are back! "We've watched them walk through the credits on 4 movies, when are they going to admit they're lost?" - MJ  - Professor Moriarty and Nazis are the foes, and Watson's still the tool at hand (lol) - good times, as expected. As Bridget says, "There's no place like Holmes"

Side note: Mad Movies also took a crack at Secret Weapon and Dressed to Kill.

Bride of the Gorilla

Release date: May 29, 2020

Should have featured a special guest riffer, Professor Bobo, but ah well. This cheesy flick is perfect for a riffing, it's goofy, but plays it straight and doesn't wink at the camera. Raymond Burr's a joy as the cursed plantation owner, and Lon Chaney Jr. is in the cast for added B-movie fun. The gals observe and tease, it's like having a watch party with friends, a couple of very funny friends.

Frankenstein's Daughter

Release date: July 31, 2020

This flick has long been on my riffing want list, but unfortunately, the duo didn't knock it out of the park, and I'm not sure why,  because the movie does so much of the heavy lifting. The makeup and monster are hilarious, but the accompanying quips are only fair to middling.  Or maybe I just wanted something different, a few wicked jabs, some inspired pop culture references, I felt B&MJ were lobbing softballs

High School U.S.A.

Release date: August 14, 2020

A who's who of 80s TV stars (Michael J. Fox, Nancy McKeon), as well as some former young actors from the past (like Bob Denver & Tony Dow), this one's sharper than the previous release - loads of cute n' clever stuff here - from reference material (Apt Pupil, Mr. Muckle),  to funny lines about a blind teacher smelling cortisol. Oh, and what a kick to include Bridget and Mary Jo on the poster. Also, there's a connection between this and Joel Hodgson

Amanda and the Alien

Release date: October 2, 2020

Twisted little sci-fi comedy (our heroes, the murderers). The previous riffed flick was so very 80s, this one is pure 90s, the clothing, and music, and such. The humor's a little on the light side - so not marvelous, but enjoyable enough. Hmm, that sounds like faint praise, but no, you know, I liked it.

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Release date: October 23, 2020

Passable Trax on a not-so-passable remake of the classic, with the Redgrave sisters taking on the roles originated by Davis & Crawford. The best part of this offering was the skit at the end.

Baby of the Bride

Release date: December 11, 2020

Directed by a Hulk and co-starring The Flash, the movie was a chore, I really hate these forced soapy melodramas, stocked with irritating characters, but the riffs hit their marks more often than not, the old jokes were a hoot (especially the line about changing diapers for two)

Earth Angel

Release date: January 23, 2021

More made for TV inanity about a ghost who plays matchmaker. In addition to riffing on the movie, Bridget and Mary Jo riff one another, about their age, which is appropriate because there are a lot of teens in their 30s at the start of the picture, including Mark Hamill, Erik Estrada, and Cindy Williams. As a bonus, you have Roddy McDowell as an impatient angel... helper... something. It's a goodie.

Wonder Woman 1984

Release date: February 2, 2021

A just the jokes release - one of the longest, if not the longest movie the ladies have ever done, but they tough it out and never run out of steam - despite what a chore it is. The story contradicts other DC films, trips over its own logic, and I'm glad Bridget & MJ note something that bugged me, that no other critic or viewer has mentioned, but Steve kidnaps this other guy's life. Think about it, he's putting that life in danger, using that body to have sex, and that doesn't bother anyone? So good on the ladies for pointing that out (and yes, where are his friends and family?) WW84 is dumb and distasteful, but B&MJ make it funny by calling out irresponsible actions (accidentally nuking a family having a picnic, lol), the absurdity (conveniently remembering new superpowers), and the 80-isms ("This is GameStop, right?" - which, BTW, was founded in '84). They also offer up a few callbacks ("The Happening is happening") and a litter of cute kitty quips.

Mother of the Bride

Release date: May 7, 2021
"Bridget how do you tell the difference between emotions and allergies?" - Mary Jo.

Chinatown, Charles Manson, Fonzie Springsteen, and the Falklands are just a few of the riff sources to be found in this funny release, which sees the ladies return to the 'Of the Bride' series. I only wish they would have taken a few more shots at the annoying headband guy, what a tiresome -Nick from Family Ties- cosplayer he was.

Lucky Day

Release date: June 11, 2021
"He tried to take the football, I just, couldn't let that happen" - Bridget
This adaptation of a Mary Higgins Clark novel tells the tale of an aspiring actress/part-time curry agency (?) worker, who solves a mystery! “Bill is missing” might become the new "Lembach is staying", and one man's accent inspires some riff nods to The Room. Goofy, good time quipping ("Mary Jo, let's have some crackers with this red herring"), some highbrow references (Plato's Cave), a list of reasons to murder an old guy, and Mary Jo's eagle eyes (noticing the random person in the background, staring at the actors and camera in one scene) are just a few of the highlights. Note: I really dig the new logo, which I've clipped and used for the banner up top.

Before I Say Goodbye

Release date: August 27, 2021
After a 2-month break, the fabulous ladies of riffing return with a dry as toast Mary Higgins Clark story. And while the movie isn't the kick Lucky Day was, the release still provides plenty of laughs. Plot-wise, apparently, various characters did something to somebody for some reason... I dunno, so many names are bandied about that I lost the plot (MJ even kept count of a couple of them). Thankfully, you'll find silly wordplay, talkative coffee, budget-friendly accidents, and even a callback to a classic Rifftrax short to laugh about, and that's what matters most.

Married Too Young

Release date: September 17, 2021
"He looks like someone put Vincent Price in the dryer" - Bridget
Jackass parents, rash marriages, the doughy guy from Teen-Age Crime Wave, water and antifreeze, Ed Wood dialogue... this movie has it all, including Harold Lloyd Jr. as a mechanic, who marries, then breaks the law, which results in the parents getting a lecture in court, for fun! MTY was rock solid, steady, with big guffaws throughout ("Why pay extra for name-brand Police?" was one of many killer quips), the movie even makes the ladies lose it, as when a character asks Lloyd Jr. "Marriage make you stiff, dreamboat?"

Teenage Space Vampires

Release date: October 22, 2021

"Not Hemmingway's best novel, but I'm interested to see how it adapts to screen" - Bridget upon seeing the title

If this is what happens when Romania and Canada team up, then I say, team away! Boy, you gotta love the acting and the accents, which inspires "Werewolf" callbacks and an SNL catchphrase, "We are from France" - MJ. While it's not B&MJs steadiest - there are lulls - you get enough zingers to make it worth your while. 

Final Sacrifice is referenced, the trauma of Wonder Woman 1984 is revisited and the movie leaves itself open for much teasing - "He somehow got lost without moving" - Bridget, and, "The sound effects are just a Fisher-Price See 'N Say" - MJ.

He Sees You When You're Sleeping

Release date: December 10, 2021

"Meet a young Tonya Harding, she's going to be a handful" - MJ

It's a double scoop of Higgins Clark as mother and daughter team up for this very special 'dead guy helps ice skating kid', Canadian, mobster, Christmas, uh, thing.

Along with the plot n' dialogue (and the inconsistent ghost rules), the cast helps feed the funny ("What happens when you order Rob Lowe on Wish.com"). I also got laughs out of how the ladies try to inject some Christmas spirit into this Christmas movie (like the dogs barking Jingle Bells, lol). Laugh after laugh, Sleeping winds up another hilarious entry in the Higgins Clark cinematic universe.

Children of the Bride

Release date: February 4, 2022

"I knew this movie would blow chunks" - Mary Jo 

MJ complains early about how treacly these movies are, how unlikeable the characters... before admitting to getting sucked in and swept away by the stories, which is more than happens to me, especially for this, the first and the worst of the trilogy. 

I didn't think it was possible to get me to dislike these irksome people more than I already have, but this flick manages the trick - throw in the music by Yanni and, GAAH! Fortunately, B&MJ come to the rescue with their pinpoint, and often silly quipping. The 'old folks" jokes are still funny as hell, and the riff-staple of putting words in character's mouths works exceptionally well here, especially when coupled with cute observations ("Hi kid, have I ever mentioned you have the hair of a Roman emperor?" - Bridget). The movie is insufferable and only through the efforts of 2 of the best Riffers in the business was I able to endure the pain.

Crime of Passion

Release date: May 6, 2022

"Clippy's wish to become a real boy finally came true" - Mary Jo

It's been a while since the ladies gifted us with a feature-length riff, and they make their return in a special way, by tackling another from Mary Higgins Clark. The plot follows the pattern of the previous Clark flicks, you have a soap opera romance, a death, a wife who's hot on the case, suspicions, lies... but while the story is stale, the riffing remains fresh and funny, like when MJ asks, "Do you think there will be a murder" and Bridget responds, "Eh one of us is bound to snap."  Ha! This is a delight and goes well with a glass of Kroger brand cabernet - (good one Bridg).

The Brain That Wouldn't Die

Release date: July 29, 2022
Sophistry, a bain-marie, mad scientist hair (a nod to Dr. Forrester?), these are just some of the riff ingredients to be found in this re-do of a fan favorite flick.

Brains must be hot right now, the Mads tackled this one earlier in the year, and now the ladies take a crack at it - only they brave the whole darn thing, and IMHO B&MJ do better work with their uncut movie than MST did last week on Gamera vs. Jiger... though to be fair, Brain might be failure-proof, as all three versions are successes.

The added fun is that -along with new quips- they each bring their own style and personalities to the party - the Mads are more R-rated and political/topical, B&MJ more playful but still clever ("You could wear a mitten?" - MJ suggests when Kurt complains about this withered hand)

I think MST's take is the gold standard, but there's much to laugh about with this one - whether teasing the eras very large cars, or the movie's saxophone music (Bridget's comment about sinning, lmao), or taking over for the MC and welcoming folks to the "body beautiful pancake breakfast". Ha, so funny.

Plus, I love the poster art, seeing MJ back as Jan in the Pan

Woman Who Came Back

Release date: October 21, 2022
Pinwheels, arthritis and fuzzy shoulder pads are a few of the candy sweet Halloween offerings in this flick about Witch paranoia in a small town. 

So many laughs, most especially with those dialogue additions that are part and parcel of the craft of riffing - I just love how they both alter the intent of a scene, and fully embrace it, with quips that engage the spooky nature of the piece (or not, according to MJ, Woman's a scary movie that's not so scary). There's also the name drops and references (Colleen Hoover, Doc McStuffins, the IT Crowd), and grabby men who condescend to raise the ire of the duo. Despite the holiday darkness ("Oh you know that was pure coincidence." - "Her mother tripped into the woodchipper" - Dr. Adams/Bridget) this is a bright, feel-good release.

I'll Be Seeing You

Release date: March 3, 2023

"Catherine your meatloaf is art" - "And now I'm going to Jackson Pollock the toilet" - Mac/Bridget

Fertility clinics, a missing father and a stalker creep are at the heart of this Mary Higgins Clark mystery. Yes, she's back and that's cause for celebration! By now we know what these movies are all about, and we know what Bridget and Mary Jo will bring to the table... regardless, it's still as joyous as ever. Whether laughing at the silliness and being silly themselves ("Her name was "Boo"" - Bridg) or lusting after a ranch hand (that's so Mary Jo), the duo throw comedy darts that hit the bullseye time and again. MJ, Bridget and MHC are a match made in heaven - IBSY was downright hilarious, and while I want them to tackle other genres and styles of movie, I hope they never abandon this series, it's still so much fun.

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