I guess this is the right board to bring this up on, seeing this is a "cult" show, but please forgive me if it's not.

I try to collect all the MST3K dvd's that are out on the market, the box sets, singles dvd's, and whatnot.

I haven't been over to Ebay until recently and I notice that a few sellers over there have the MST3K shows by the season on dvd's. I'm taking it that they're probably ones ripped to dvd+r/dvd-r, but it doesn't state it? Does anyone out here know how these are, or what they're like? I would have included a link to one of them over on Ebay, but they seem kind of shady, and I don't want to violate any rules on the board with that stuff. As it is, I hope I'm not violating anything by posting this? I thought it was just 1 or 2 sellers that are selling them, but I noticed at least a half dozen different sellers have them up for sale or auction, from all different seasons of MST3K. Are these possibly people who just taped them when they were on tv at the time, then are now ripping them onto a dvd? About roughly a year ago, about the last time I was on Ebay, as I was selling on there at the time, I did not notice them on there, so I figuere this is something somewhat recent? So I'm figuering someone must have started selling them like that, and others caught on and followed suit? One seller claims to purchase his because they are the best looking ones on Ebay, and the others are inferior, but none of the sellers really describe the format. But that's the way some people do business on there, which are the kind of people I try to steer clear of. Seeing how Ebay doesn't allow bootleg material on there, I'm wondering how they're getting away with it if that's indeed what they are?

I don't believe these are sold anywhere, legit wise at least, in any country, but I wanted to see if anyone out here can shine some light on this for me, and what's their advice towards purchasing one?

It would be a great idea to release these by the season, but it would be a costly one, seeing how many dvd's it would take for any particular season.

Thanks,

Dean

I dunno how long this thread will last, but I can answer your question... ;)
Those are boots. They were everywhere on VCD years ago, and later have been upgraded to DVD-Rs. The quality for the most part is good (by boot standards; not talkin' crystal clear anamorphic stuff here), but lowers on the rarer episodes, especially the public access season. Google around for the "MST3K digital archive project" for more info on these than you'll ever care to know.
MST3K (Best Brains) themselves have publically said they have no objections to trading, etc. of dubs of any episodes that haven't been released by Rhino.
The show can't be released by season legitimately, because many of the rights to the movies prevent a lot of episodes from being released at all. It's a big ol' mess, as I understand it.

IIRC, the original episodes included "keep circulating the tapes" in the credits crawl. Best Brains have always had a pretty relaxed attitude about it though I imagine Rhino feels otherwise (not to mention the rights holders of the films themselves).

What annoys me about the Rhino sets is that they seem to deliberately bundle classic Joel episodes with lesser Mike episodes. I never cared much for the Mike years and it's annoying that I can't get CATALINA CAPER on its own.

Well, I think CATALINA CAPER was included in the Vol. 1 boxed set because it was a Crown-International flick. Rhino owns the C-I library, so it was easiest to include that so they could add the uncut original version of the film on the flipside of the disc.

I personally am glad that the sets are coming out in short intervals. I believe Vol. 4 came out in August and Vol. 5 came out in October, or something thereabouts. I hope 2005 sees more coming out; there are tons more "public domain" episodes which could hit DVD. I was floored Rhino was able to put out the GIRL IN GOLD BOOTS episode; I thought Image licensed that film, so maybe they have an agreement with them or Ted V. Mikels?

There was too much great, funny stuff to off handedly dismiss the Mike years? In fact, even though I do agree in liking Joel better, I'd definitely go so far to say that many of the Mike episodes were better than many of the Joel episodes (even excluding season 1 & the public access shows).

I don't dismiss Mike completely, I just prefer Joel. I think Mike was great playing sundry characters [Torgo, Steve Reeves, the Amazing Colossal Man, Morrissey], but I think the writing took a bit of a downturn after Joel left the show. I never saw much of the Sci-Fi Channel years, but I hear it got pretty terrible towards the end after Frank Conniff and Tracy Beaulieu had departed.

But the DVD sets are not as mixed as I thought. Vol 1 with CATALINA CAPER is the only one that puts a Joel episode with 3 Mike episodes. Vols 4 & 5 are all late series episodes. Vol. 6 looks to be all Joel and includes "Mr. B's Lost Shorts".

Details here:

http://www.mst3kinfo.com/satnews/dvds/index.html

Personally, I'd love to see more of the Sandy Frank episodes which had some of the best riffing, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that SF was none too pleased to have his movies mocked and won't renew MST's rights to the films.

"Off to meet my doom mom! See you after school."

I usually don't watch much of the closing credits on movies, but on the newer MST3K: THE ESSENTIALS I did. On the SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS, I noticed the "keep circulating the tapes", at the end of the scrolling credits.

I never caught onto MST3K until the Mike years. Sci-Fi is when I started watching them, not on Comedy Central. But after seeing the Joel ones on dvd, and some on tapes, I have to say I like Joel more. As for the last seasons, what can I say? I'm not very fond of the Mary Jo Pehl(?) ones myself.

I recommend the new MST3K: THE ESSENTIALS for people who haven't seen these. I had MANOS: THE HANDS OF FATE already on dvd, but never saw SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS until now. This dvd also includes a little bit over 30min., of MST3K blooper reel. Affectionately know as the Poopie Reels.

Also, thanks for clearing that up for me about the season dvd's that are being sold elsewhere. I'll probably just be sticking to the legit releases and hopefully they'll be putting out more in 2005?

Dean

Is the short film "B Natural" out on dvd officially? This one caused me nightmares...

marc

If you're refering to the one on MST3K: VOL. 6, that Lisa mentioned in a previous post on this topic (see above), it is MR. B'S LOST SHORTS. Which, if you click on the link Lisa provided, and go to the MST3K: VOL. 6 set, it says that MR. B NATURAL is included on it. :)

Hope that helps?

Dean

Mr. B Natural was one of the short films MST3K did on their show, which, according to Lisa's link, is featured in Mr B's Lost Shorts in set 6. I don't have it, though, so I can't verify that.

I can confirm that B Natural is certainly on MST3K Vol 6 and is included on the Mr B's lost shorts disk as John mentions above.

And yes, I can see why it causes you nightmares!

Steve

What's so scary about Mr. B Natural?

A sexually ambiguous man/woman dressed in a Peter Pan outfit who behaves as if he/she is high on cocaine while unexpectedly appearing in the bedrooms of post-pubescent children and hiding out in high school lockers.

And plays an imaginary tuba...

:(

At the last official MST3k Convention there was a guy dressed as Torgo B. Natural. Torgo face and hat Mr. B. Natural tights, with big knobby knees... very frightening.


--Ian

The Horror.......the horror!!!! :blink: