In the not too distant future, the MST3K reboot will be coming to Netflix. Everyone who has ever watched the show knows that cultural references abound and are the backbone of the show's humor. Arguably, more references are made to other television shows or movies, but there are enough literary references to go around. In what I think is one of more ingenious inventions presented in the Invention Exchange, Joel and the bots present "Cereal Novels," where a book is attached to a cereal box. Because, seriously, how often do you find yourself reading the same crap on your cereal box?!
"You can start your day eating Lucky Charms, while reading Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow. It's magically obscure!"
Sorry, one of them is not The Pelican Brief, because, clearly, they already have that.
5. Minnesota Mayhem
by Ben Welter, The History Press, $19.99, ISBN: 9781609495978, Paperback
The first season of MST3K aired on Minneapolis on KMTA in 1988, so it goes without saying that references to Minnesota abound, not to mention creator Joel Hodgson's native Wisconsin.
"Oh yah, ya gotta dress for it, don't ya know."
4. Robot Builder's Bonanza
by Gordon McComb, McGraw-Hill, $30.00, ISBN: 9780071750363, Paperback
Why can't Joel and Mike stop the torture of sitting through all of these terrible B-movies, you ask? The answer is in the theme song, "He used those special parts to make his robot friends." So it goes to reason that some knowledge of basic robotics would be required, ergo, this book.
3. Waffles: Sweet, Savory, Simple
by Dawn Yanagihara, Chronicle Books, $16.95, ISBN: 9781452107035, Hardcover
I'll let Joel and the bots explain their love of waffles, because, after all, they do it best...
"Oh my god, my waffle! Oh the humanity!"
2. Everything You Need to Know About Snakes
by DK Publishing, $15.99, ISBN: 9781465402462, Hardcover
One of the most iconic lines in MST3K history comes in Season 5, Episode 6 with "Eegah." Starring the swarthy Arch Hall, Jr. and the larger-than-life Richard Kiel, this line is not actually spoken by anyone in the film--which is why Joel and the bots make a joke about it for the rest of the series.
"Who said that?"
So next time you're traipsing through the desert in your business suit or scuttling around in your dune buggy, remember to watch out for snakes!
You said it, Arch Hall, Jr., you said it.
1. The Art of the B-Movie Poster
edited by Adam Newell, Gingko Press, $39.95, ISBN: 9781584236221, Hardcover (coming in October 2016)
I think it's safe that, while the movies may be terrible, the posters are pretty stinkin' beautiful.
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Because I seriously love this show and want you to appreciate it too, here are some of my favorite lines from the show...
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