So during the post-production updates from the Bring Back Mystery Science Theater 3000 Kickstarter, Joel asked the fans to fill out a survey of their favorite episodes. The top six would be featured in the 2016 Turkey Day Marathon (pending if the rights were available for streaming). Luckily the top six were all easily acquirable at that time as MSTies rushed to put down predictable selections like Manos, Final Sacrifice, Mitchell, and Space Mutiny. I recall my list being a bit more left of center. I put down my usual favorites like Prince of Space, Invasion of the Neptune Men, and Space Mutiny (this one didn't need my help, but I do adore it), but I had some that didn't even make the top one hundred, apparently, like 12 to the Moon and Teenage Crime Wave.
Anyway, the episodes selected were the ones I think everyone thought would be the ones selected. Maybe there were some minor detours, like Pumaman instead of Cave Dwellers or whatever, but it's hard to bat an eye at any of these. It's hard to argue with any of them (except Pod People, which I will argue about all fucking day), but this in general was very vanilla in terms of surprises. In general, the picks are great (with the exception of one), I just prefer more variety in my Turkey Day. I did find it interesting that the top six just happened to lean perfectly into the host switching format of Mike episode/Joel episode/Mike episode/ect. that Shout Factory adopted for the marathon since reintroducing it.
The bumpers this year sees Joel Hodgson and Jonah Ray co-hosting in a kitchen setting, with the idea being that they would introduce a Thanksgiving dinner course inspired by each episode. Joel jokes that he always intended for MST3K to stand for "Mystery Science Theater Three Kitchen," to which I respond that it would explain how he eats, but not how he breathes and other science facts. While it's fun to see Joel and Jonah work off each other, the main failing of the bumpers is that they really just tell the same joke over in over, in which Joel and Jonah are disgusted that whoever prepped the meals kept sticking DVDs in them for decoration. The only real laugh I got out of the gag is during the introduction to Mitchell, to which Jonah bluntly claims "I'm not sticking that in my DVD player." If anything, these bumpers give us more of an idea of Jonah as a host as the eleventh season hadn't aired yet, though I imagine selling us on the chemistry between Hampton Yaunt and Baron Vaughn, seeing how the trio would be doing the heavy lifting on the new series as opposed to Joel, who only had cameos and behind the scenes roles. However, Joel gets my favorite pun of the segments, when he introduces us to the Manos dish, which he dubs "'Manos' The Yams are Great!"
As for the episode journey, since these episodes were selected by fans voting for them, I imagine a lot people will be pleased with them. As mentioned before, I just find them a bit predictable, but I can't deny loving most of them. Pumaman is a fun start, though I hit a major low when it comes to Pod People, which is an episode I've never liked at all really. Final Sacrifice is a major step-up, though I don't consider it on the same level as the other, better episodes in this marathon. Mitchell, Space Mutiny, and Manos are an even streak of greatness. Though, if I may point out, Mitchell has been in so many Turkey Days that it's almost a meme.
The Pumaman (2nd Turkey Day)
Pod People (3rd Turkey Day)
The Final Sacrifice (2nd Turkey Day)
Mitchell (5th Turkey Day)
Space Mutiny (2nd Turkey Day)
"Manos" The Hands of Fate (3rd Turkey Day)
Average Rating (out of 4): 3.333
A minor note about this, in the aftermath of these episodes being shown, Joel gave backers a surprise gift that was hinted at during the Kickstarter but we heard little about since. He released the formerly lost first two KTMA episodes, Invaders from the Deep and Revenge of the Mysterons from Mars, as surprise digital downloads as a big thank you to all of us who contributed. Unfortunately, the KTMA version of Star Force: Fugitive Alien II was not among them, making it the sole lost episode today. But even if the episodes during the Turkey Day were regrettably safe, this particular Turkey Day was a blessing and I was thankful to have it.
For the record, Joel posted the top hundred episodes on the Kickstarter Update section. This is the cut and paste straight from there, and I'd also like to note that Deadly Mantis being ranked so low is a fucking crime (also, Hamlet is on it in the 70's. Who'd have thought?):
7. Santa Claus Conquers The Martians - (321)
8. Werewolf - (904)
9. Cave Dwellers - (301)
10. Time Chasers - (821)
11. Overdrawn At The Memory Bank - (822)
12. I Accuse My Parents - (507)
13. Eegah! - (506)
14. Gamera - (302)
15. Prince of Space - (816)
16. Hobgoblins - (907)
17. Laserblast - (706)
18. Soultaker - (1001)
19. Godzilla vs. Megalon - (212)
20. Jack Frost - (813)
21. Santa Claus - (521)
22. Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders - (1003)
23. The Brain That Wouldn't Die - (513)
24. The Touch of Satan - (908)
25. Teenagers From Outer Space - (404)
26. The Day the Earth Froze - (422)
27. Warrior of the Lost World - (501)
28. The Giant Spider Invasion - (810)
29. Catalina Caper - (204)
30. Fugitive Alien - (310)
31. Master Ninja I - (322)
32. Time of the Apes - (306)
33. Gamera vs. Guiron - (312)
34. Final Justice - (1008)
35. Boggy Creek II - (1006)
36. Riding with Death - (814)
37. The Sidehackers - (202)
38. Outlaw (Of Gor) - (519)
39. Future War - (1004)
40. Monster A-Go-Go - (421)
41. "Parts": The Clonus Horror - (811)
42. The Killer Shrews - (407)
43. The Giant Gila Monster - (402)
44. Deathstalker and the Warriors From Hell - (703)
45. Red Zone Cuba - (619)
46. The Girl in Gold Boots - (1002)
47. Alien From L.A. - (516)
48. Hercules Against The Moon Men - (410)
49. Diabolik - (1013)
50. Horror Of Party Beach - (817)
51. The Amazing Colossal Man - (309)
52. Danger! Death Ray - (620)
53. The Creeping Terror - (606)
54. Daddy-O + Alphabet Antics - (307)
55. The Incredibly Strange Creatures… - (812)
56. Lost Continent - (208)
57. Attack Of The Eye Creatures - (418)
58. Squirm - (1012)
59. Star Force: Fugitive Alien II - (318)
60. Zombie Nightmare - (604)
61. Hercules Unchained - (408)
62. Quest of the Delta Knights - (913)
63. The Beast of Yucca Flats - (621)
64. The Screaming Skull - (912)
65. The Magic Sword - (411)
66. The Mole People - (803)
67. Operation Double 007 - (508)
68. Wild, Wild World of Batwoman - (515)
69. The Beginning of the End - (517)
70. Magic Voyage of Sinbad - (505)
71. Agent for H.A.R.M. - (815)
72. Girls Town - (601)
73. Devil Doll - (818)
74. Hamlet - (1009)
75. Night of the Blood Beast - (701)
76. The Beatniks - (415)
77. Secret Agent Super Dragon - (504)
78. The Starfighters - (612)
79. Bride of the Monster - (423)
80. It Conquered The World - (311)
81. Rocketship X-M - (201)
82. The Crawling Eye - (101)
83. Moon Zero Two - (111)
84. Godzilla Vs. The Sea Monster - (213)
85. Gamera Vs. Zigra - (316)
86. Robot Holocaust - (110)
87. The Incredible Melting Man - (704)
88. Escape 2000 - (705)
89. Gamera Vs. Gaos - (308)
90. Gamera Vs. Barugon - (304)
91. Tormented - (414)
92. Samson vs. The Vampire Women - (624)
93. Angels' Revenge - (622)
94. Horrors of Spider Island - (1011)
95. Invasion of the Neptune Men - (819)
96. Devil Fish - (911)
97. Master Ninja II - (324)
98. The Deadly Mantis - (804)
99. San Francisco International - (614)
100. Wild Rebels - (207)
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