Monday, May 24, 2021

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