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The Worst We Can Find
Mst3k, Rifftrax, and the History of Heckling at the Movies
by Dale Sherman
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Book Presentation:
Had you tuned in to the small television station KTMA on Thanksgiving Day, 1988, you would have been one of the few witnesses to pop culture history being made. On that day, viewers in and around St. Paul, Minnesota, were treated to a genuine oddity, in which a man and his robots, trapped within a defiantly DIY sci-fi set, cracked jokes while watching a terrible movie. It was a cockeyed twist on the local TV programs of the past, in which a host would introduce old, cheaply licensed films. And though its origins may have been inauspicious, Mystery Science Theater 3000 captured the spirit of what had been a beloved pastime for generations of wags, wiseacres, and smartalecks, and would soon go on to inspire countless more.The Worst We Can Find is a comprehensive history of and guide to MST3K and its various offshoots—including Rifftrax, Cinematic Titanic, and The Mads Are Back—whose lean crew of writers, performers, and puppeteers have now been making fun of movies for over thirty years. It investigates how “riffing” of films evolved, recounts the history of these programs, and considers how a practice guaranteed to annoy real-life fellow moviegoers grew into such a beloved, long-lasting franchise. As author Dale Sherman explains, creative heckling has been around forever—but MST3K and its progeny managed to redirect that art into a style that was both affectionate and cutting, winning the devotion of countless fans and aspiring riffers.
About the Author:
Dale Sherman is a researcher and collector of pop culture, television, and movies. He has written books on topics such as KISS, MASH, End of the World movies, Mel Brooks, John Waters, and Quentin Taratino. His previous book was Four Scores and Seven Reels Ago: The U.S. Presidency through Hollywood Films. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife, Jill, daughter, and too many videos, books, movie posters, and pets.
See the publisher website: Applause Books
> From the same author:
Four Scores and Seven Reels Ago (2022)
The U.S. Presidency Through Hollywood Films
by Dale Sherman
Subject: Sociology
John Waters FAQ (2019)
All That's Left to Know About the Provocateur of Bad Taste
by Dale Sherman
Subject: Director > John Waters
Mel Brooks FAQ (2018)
All That's Left to Know about the Outrageous Genius of Comedy
by Dale Sherman
Subject: Director > Mel Brooks
Quentin Tarantino FAQ (2015)
Everything Left to Know About the Original Reservoir Dog
by Dale Sherman
Subject: Director > Quentin Tarantino
Armageddon Films FAQ (2013)
All That's Left to Know About Zombies, Contagions, Alients and the End of the World as We Know It!
by Dale Sherman
Subject: Genre > Disaster films
> On a related topic:
Hoodlum Movies (2018)
Seriality and the Outlaw Biker Film Cycle, 1966-1972
At a Theater or Drive-in Near You (2016)
The History, Culture, and Politics of the American Exploitation Film
The New Poverty Row (2011)
Independent Filmmakers as Distributors
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