You know, I didn't mind Pearl.

[Ward Fowler]

I saw one of their live shows when they performed at the Mesa Arts Center back in May-- "East Meets Watts." That was an excellent riff that needs to be put onto DVD.

That's one of the ones I saw. The other was Blood of the Vampire. Both were funny but East Meets Watts aka The Dynamite Brothers is probably the funniest one I've seen, including the dvds. I agree, it has to be put on DVD.

They're even funnier live. They really know how to feed off an audience's energy. Their warm up acts were pretty good too, particularly Frank Conniff's theme song for his new cartoon series, "Convoluted Man."

I agree, the live experience is completely different. You can tell that they're really enjoying themselves. I ordered my tickets well in advance so the first night we saw them my wife and I were lucky enough to get 3rd row center seats and I could see that they really were enjoying the audience reaction. And yeah, I didn't think I was going to stop laughing during Convuluted Man.

I was a bit taken aback when I saw Frank Conniff IRL. He looks like the bastard love child of Joe Don Baker & Arch Hall Jr.

Overall, it was a great experience, particularly seeing Trace Beaulieu's reaction when I walked up in my Torgo costume. (It's the only time I've ever worn it that people have known who I was supposed to be.)

That's awesome. But would the Master approve?
I'm curious. How did you feel when you met them? I was afraid I might freeze up because I've looked up to these people for 20 years. But they made me feel at ease because they were so darned friendly. Frank was a little shy, but he was still really nice. It really seemed surreal to talk to Joel, but again, he couldn't have been more kind.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Honestly, I did kinda freeze up a bit. The problem I have with meeting famous people is that I'm always worried that I'm wasting their time. I covered my panic by mostly speaking to them as Torgo. But they seemed pretty nice, particularly Trace, who even gave me a friendly punch on the shoulder as he left. (Trace Beaulieu joins the ranks of Wil Wheaton & Jeremy Bulloch as the nicest famous people I've ever met.)

Later, I was frustrated that I was so nervous that I forgot to ask Joel whatever happened to that movie I'd heard he & Frank were working on, Statical Planets.

 

[Tulin]

I didn't mind "Pearl" either.

As an American sitcom version of "Educating Rita", I thought it translated quite well, even if it was pretty much the last thing Mrs Danny Devito ever did.

Although what this discussion is doing in SF&F, I have NO idea!

 

[Myasishchev]

Fans of MST3K fame are likely familiar with Pearl Forester, mother to Clayton Forester who's "famous" for launching men into space with the intent of driving them crazy by making them watch terrible movies -in the end goal being to rule the world with the movie that pushed him over the edge.

At the end of MST's run on Comedy Central Clayton Forester came to a 2001-ian "demise"/rebirth and the show ended its CC run. It returned on the Science Fiction channel the following season somewhat retooled. The actor who played Dr. Forester did not return so the "big bad" was repalced with his mother -who was around in MST's last season on CC, replacing TV's Frank.

Many MST fans grumbled over the Sci-Fi era's host segments saying they were weaker than the CC era's and not liking Pearl.

Now, I'm not sure I entirely agree with that. Granted, I much prefer Dr. Forester and TV's Frank the Sci-Fi era has plenty of good host segments (I'd say the ones in "Time Chasers" are the best) and I didn't mind Pearl as much as others in the fandom seem to.

As for the henchmen. No one beats TV's Frank, and while Bobo is often annoying I don't mind him as much as the "dumb henchman" and Brain Guy almost never fails to make me laugh in the host segments.

So, who were YOUR favorite Mads?

After going on an MST3K kick lately, I had to change my mind about Clayton and Frank. I used to like them better, but I think I actually like Pearl, Bobo, and Brain Guy more nowadays. Not every segment's a winner, but God knows it wasn't when Beaulieu and Coniff were doing it, either.

As much as I like Corbett's Observer, however, I do have to agree that TV's Frank is unbeatable as a second banana... loved his guest spot in Soultaker.

 

[JuanBolio]

Really? Could you link to it? I'd like to see if it's me. I certainly didn't shoot anything and I don't recall anyone else with a video camera there. (But then, these things are so small now, who really knows?)

Well, if its not you, its some other guy with a damn good Torgo costume. He even had the theme music.

Hmm... just found it. Seems it isn't you - this was at the San Diego ComiCon, 2008.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aJRj2NuGas

 

[Trekker4747]

I didn't mind "Pearl" either.

As an American sitcom version of "Educating Rita", I thought it translated quite well, even if it was pretty much the last thing Mrs Danny Devito ever did.

Although what this discussion is doing in SF&F, I have NO idea!

Funny.

 

[Ward Fowler]

Honestly, I did kinda freeze up a bit. The problem I have with meeting famous people is that I'm always worried that I'm wasting their time.

My wife and I went out to eat before the show and I had a fair amount of after dinner scotch. That helped me not get too nervous. I even spoke with Mary Jo's husband for a while. He's a moderator over on the CT board. He encourages board members to come talk to him after the show.

Later, I was frustrated that I was so nervous that I forgot to ask Joel whatever happened to that movie I'd heard he & Frank were working on, Statical Planets.

From what I understand, Statical Planets has been relegated to the dustbin of projects.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

^Shame. It sounded funny.

Really? Could you link to it? I'd like to see if it's me. I certainly didn't shoot anything and I don't recall anyone else with a video camera there. (But then, these things are so small now, who really knows?)

Well, if its not you, its some other guy with a damn good Torgo costume. He even had the theme music.

Hmm... just found it. Seems it isn't you - this was at the San Diego ComiCon, 2008.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aJRj2NuGas

Yeah. It's not me. Actually, I think I have a much closer physical resemblance to the original Torgo. But I have to give him credit for the staff with the hand at the end. I have a staff too but mine has a skull at the end. It was something really cheap I picked up at a Halloween store the first night I wore the costume. Overall, it's one of the cheapest costumes I've ever put together. The coat & shoes came from Goodwill. The jumpsuit I bought for about $5 from a used uniform store. The hat is something my father has owned for about 20 years. (It's a very popular hat. Whenever he wears it, everyone asks him where he got it. After all this time, he doesn't remember at all.)