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Bring Back MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000

Created by Joel Hodgson & Team MST3K

You did it: you brought back MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000! Thanks to you, MST3K will be able to shoot FOURTEEN NEW EPISODES next year, including a new holiday special!

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Next Tuesday A.D… the MST3K CAST REUNION, LIVE! Plus: Production and Reward Updates!
almost 8 years ago – Thu, Jun 23, 2016 at 12:11:33 AM

Dear MST3K Revival Leaguers,

Joel again. I'm just coming up for air after about a month of very busy but fun writing on the new season, and I’m happy to report... it’s looking good! When I'm working on scripts, it's very hard for me to "shift gears" and think about anything else… so now that I'm taking a few days to breathe, I thought I could maybe say hello, and let you know what's going on.

But first, I want to make sure to share a Very Important Announcement...

Join the MST3K CAST REUNION… LIVE, next Tuesday night!

A few months ago, I told you that our friends at RiffTrax -- Mike, Kevin and Bill -- had organized a "MST3K Cast Reunion" event in Minneapolis, back where it all started. And now, it's almost time!

In the not-too-distant future – next Tuesday night, A.D. – we'll have almost the entire original cast back together: Mike, Kevin, Bill, Trace, Frank, Mary Jo, Bridget and me, all riffing live on stage for a special one-night event. And you know, to get him ready for his new job as the host of MST3K, I'm even taking Jonah Ray with me.

We'll be filming the whole thing live in front of a big crowd at the State Theatre, in Minneapolis, and I think the theater is completely sold out. But listen, don't worry: If you want to join us next Tuesday night, you still can. That's because, thanks to the magic of live digital cinema events...

Our MST3K Cast Reunion will be broadcast live to hundreds of movie theaters around the country… and you can get your tickets right now.

I hope you'll come out and join us… but if you need more convincing first, here's a special trailer, with an exclusive message from Mike, Kevin and Bill: 

Now, how about some updates about how the new season is coming along?

Quick Progress Updates

WRITING
We're getting close to finishing the first pass on all fourteen scripts for the new season. As soon as we get those finished up, I think I'll be able to tell you a little bit more about our process, and what it's been like writing with the new team. Elliott has been doing a great job so far, so don't worry about him. And just in case you're wondering... these new movies are really cheesy, which means it’s going to be great.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES
Also, I know it's been a little while since I shared any new details or artwork from behind-the-scenes, so I'm looking to see what we can share with you. The team has been working a lot on the details for the new version of MST3K's show open, but I want to keep most of that a surprise until you see it. I've got a couple other things I might be able to share soon, though.

DISTRIBUTION
I'm not allowed to share any specifics just yet, but I can tell you that we're getting close to finishing our negotiations to give MST3K a new home. So, it shouldn't be too much longer before I can tell you where. But you know, again, I'm just so grateful for all of your support, because without it, we wouldn't be on the home stretch of writing a new season… we'd still be waiting with "baited breath" just to get started!

REWARDS
Our Kickstarter team is actually finishing up a very detailed update about all of your Kickstarter Rewards, so we'll have all of the details you've been waiting for next week. We'll also show you some pictures of what almost all the rewards will look like, to help you make the right choices! Then, I think we're going to start sending out your Reward Order Forms the week after, right after July 4th.

LICENSING
Also, I know our first order of business is getting you all of the neat Kickstarter rewards we promised, but I'm happy to tell you that we're also starting to think about what comes after that, which is why -- as a few of you already saw in the news -- Shout! Factory has hired a very bright guy named Elie Dekel to handle licensing. I've got a lot of ideas of what I'd like to see MST3K do in the future, and Elie has a lot of experience making big ideas happen, so I'm glad he'll be working with us. And of course, we’re going to keep all of you in the loop as we develop and grow this aspect of the show and brand.

So yeah, there's a quick look at some of what's been happening behind the scenes at Shout Factory and Alternaversal… but there's a lot more coming up, so look for another update next week.

In the meantime, I thought maybe we could help get Elie started. 

So, what do you think, MSTies: What kind of MST tchotchkes and merchandise would you like to see made? Let us know in the comments on this update, and we'll pass it all along!

Cheers and Thanks,

 Joel

Meet our New Head Writer… Elliott Kalan!
almost 8 years ago – Fri, May 20, 2016 at 11:26:15 PM

Dear MST3K Revival League,

This just in: I can finally share that big introduction I've been waiting to tell you about!

I am happy to confirm that the incredible Elliott Kalan has officially joined Mystery Science Theater 3000 as our new head writer.

To a lot of you, Elliott's name is familiar because he was the former head writer from The Daily Show, but he's written lots of other great stuff too. He was at the top of my wish list, so I'm really happy to have him on board. 

Also, I think Elliott’s happy to be getting a break from topical, daily, humor, and is enjoying snuggling into cracking wise on some nice ripe cheesy movies. And I'm even happier to tell you that he's a few months into the job and he still hasn't quit, so… I think we found a good one!

Now, one thing I want to tell you: even though Elliott was also head writer at The Daily Show, it doesn't mean that we're planning to make MST3K more political. He'll explain for himself, but one thing I like about Elliott is that he's really "one of us." Elliott has been a MSTie since he was a teenager, and even more importantly – at least to me – he’s really fun to write with.

Anyway, since Elliott has joined MST3K to help supervise the writing, I thought it might be nice to let him write the rest of this update, and introduce himself to all of you.

Take it away, Elliott!

Hi MSTies and MSTettes!

I’m Elliott Kalan, and I’ll be performing head writerly duties for the new Mystery Science Theater 3000. You may know me as the former head writer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, or as co-host of the bad movie podcast The Flop House, or as the writer of Marvel’s Spider-Man and the X-Men miniseries. Or you may not know me at all, which is okay, too.

Whatever the case, it’s nice to finally meet you! 

And yes, that means I’ve had the amazing privilege of working for Jon Stewart, Spider-Man, and now Mystery Science Theater. I’m the luckiest man in recorded history. Feel free to hate me for it. Even I kind of hate me for it. I’m so honored and so thrilled to be working with Joel and Jonah and everyone else on Team MST3K. This has literally been my dream job since I was an adolescent. Other kids were sneaking out of the house to go drink beer in the park. I was sneaking into the basement to watch the midnight MST3K rerun on Comedy Central.

For roughly two decades I’ve rued the fact that I was too young and too not-in-Minnesota to work on this show. But now it’s finally happening! This is so exciting! All those hours reading and rereading the Amazing, Colossal Episode Guide are finally paying off! 

It’s been a blast working so far, and while I can’t tell you what we’ve got planned I will sum up most of it in one word: silliness. Like, a lot of it. Which is a huge relief to me – after more than a decade of looking into our nation’s political system, it’s nice to only have to look at the worst movies we can find. 

Which is not to say these movies aren’t bad. They’re terrible. Just not as soul-crushing as, say, Congress. 

Thank you so much to everyone who supported the Kickstarter and, as a happy side effect, made one of my lifelong dreams come true. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. All I can promise in return is that I will try to make this show even goofier than you thought was possible. To me, that is a solemn trust.

Thanks!

Elliott

Okay, hi everyone. It's Joel again.

Now that you've met Elliott... what do you think, sirs? Pretty good, right? If you've got questions for him, go ahead and ask them in the comments. Or on Twitter, if that's your thing.

That's pretty much it for this update, but we're finally making progress on some of the big issues that have been keeping us from sending out your Reward Order Forms… so yeah, we should have more news about that soon. 

Cheers and Thanks,

 Joel

You heard Joel, people: there's a new boss in town! And also, we've hired some new guy to come up with more riffs for me. How about giving him a big hello?

Just post this message to Twitter & Facebook right now:

BIG NEWS! Mr. @ElliottKalan (head writer for Jon Stewart’s @TheDailyShow) has signed on as @MST3K's new head writer! http://mst3k.com/kalan

The Return of... Cambot!
almost 8 years ago – Sat, May 07, 2016 at 05:44:44 PM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

The Return of... the Satellite of Love!
almost 8 years ago – Fri, Apr 29, 2016 at 11:39:06 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

A Moment of Silence
almost 8 years ago – Sun, Apr 24, 2016 at 12:02:51 AM

I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Patton Oswalt’s wife, Michelle McNamara. The thoughts and prayers of all of us at MST3K are with him and his family.  

Under the circumstances we will posting the backer update later next week.

Sincerely,

Joel