Editing Mystery Science Theater 3000 (section)

===Sci-Fi Channel era (1997–1999)===
[[File:Rifftrax crew sdcc 2009.jpg|thumb|right|Nelson, Corbett, and Murphy, the primary actors in the Sci-Fi channel era, as part of their [[RiffTrax]] panel in 2009]]
The show staff continued to operate for as long as they still had finances to work with.<ref name="nytimes scifi"/> ''MST3K''{{'}}s fan base staged a write-in campaign to keep the show alive.<ref name="paste 25eps">{{cite web | url = https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/the-25-episode-history-of-mystery-science-theater/ | title = The 25-Episode History of Mystery Science Theater 3000 | first = Jim | last = Vorel | date = August 10, 2015 | access-date = November 26, 2021 | website = [[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] | archive-date = November 26, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211126150319/https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/the-25-episode-history-of-mystery-science-theater/ | url-status = live }}</ref> This effort led the Sci-Fi Channel, a subsidiary of [[USA Networks]], to pick up the series. Rod Perth, then-president of programming for USA Networks, helped to bring the show to the Sci-Fi Channel, stating himself to be a huge fan of the show and believing that "the sci-fi genre took itself too seriously and that this show was a great way of lightening up our own presentation".<ref name="nytimes scifi">{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/02/tv/the-thing-that-mocked-the-movies.html | title = The Thing That Mocked The Movies | first = Neal | last = Karlen | date = February 2, 1997 | access-date = May 20, 2016 | website = [[The New York Times]] | archive-date = June 16, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160616234355/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/02/tv/the-thing-that-mocked-the-movies.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

Writing and production of the show remained relatively unchanged from the Comedy Central period. Before Season Eight commenced filming, Beaulieu opted to leave the show, feeling that anything creative that would be produced by Best Brains would belong to Mallon, and wanted to have more creative ownership himself.<ref name="wired history"/> To replace Dr. Forrester, two new sidekicks to Pearl were introduced: [[Professor Bobo]] (Murphy) and the [[Observer (Mystery Science Theater 3000)|Observer]], a.k.a. "Brain Guy" (Corbett). In addition, Corbett took over Crow's voice and puppetry and Best Brains staffer Patrick Brantseg took over Gypsy in the middle of Season Eight.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/patrick-brantseg/3000248017/| title = Patrick Brantseg| website = TVGuide.com| access-date = November 26, 2021| archive-date = November 26, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211126150319/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/patrick-brantseg/3000248017/| url-status = live}}</ref> With this replacement, the series' entire original cast had been turned over.

''MST3K'' ran for three more seasons on the Sci-Fi Channel. During the Sci-Fi era, Best Brains found themselves more limited by the network: the pool of available films was smaller and they were required to use science fiction films (as per the network's name and programming focus),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/26/arts/tv-notes-more-goofiness-for-misties.html|title=TV Notes – More Goofiness for Misties|author=Lawrie Muffin|date=June 26, 1996|access-date=May 20, 2016|website=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=June 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617032819/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/26/arts/tv-notes-more-goofiness-for-misties.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the USA Network executives managing the show wanted to see a story arc and had more demands on how the show should be produced.<ref name="wired history"/> Conflict between Best Brains and the network executives would eventually lead to the show's second cancellation.<ref name="wired history"/> Peter Keepnews, writing for ''[[The New York Times]]'', noted that the frequent cast changes, as well as the poorer selection of films that he felt were more boring than bizarre in their execution, had caused the show to lose its original appeal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/25/arts/television-radio-think-what-they-d-do-with-titanic.html|title=TELEVISION/RADIO; Think What They'd Do With 'Titanic'|author=Peter Keepnews|date=July 25, 1999|access-date=May 20, 2016|website=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=June 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617020233/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/25/arts/television-radio-think-what-they-d-do-with-titanic.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Another campaign to save the show was mounted, including several ''MST3K'' fans taking contributions for a full-page ad in the [[trade publication]] ''[[Daily Variety]]'' magazine,<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.mst3kinfo.com/satnews/MSTVarAd.pdf | title = Fan-Contributed Daily Variety Ad | date = 1999 | work = Satellite News  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20000831112722/http://www.mst3kinfo.com/satnews/MSTVarAd.pdf | archive-date = August 31, 2000 }}</ref> but unlike the first effort, this campaign was unsuccessful.<ref name="nytimes finalfrontier">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/arts/television/06newm.html|title='MST3K': The Final Frontier|author=Andrew Adam Newman|date=May 6, 2007|access-date=November 26, 2021|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126154826/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/arts/television/06newm.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The season 10 finale, ''[[Danger: Diabolik]]'', premiered on August 8, 1999, during which, in the show's narrative, Pearl Forrester accidentally sent the ''Satellite of Love'' out of orbit, with Mike and the 'bots escaping and taking up residence in an apartment near Milwaukee, where they continue to riff movies.<ref name="nytimes finalfrontier"/> A "lost" episode produced earlier in the season but delayed due to rights issues, ''[[Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders]]'', was the final season 10 episode of ''MST3K'' (and the last of the original run), broadcast on September 12, 1999.<ref name="paste 25eps"/> Reruns continued to air on the Sci Fi Channel for several years, ending with ''[[The Screaming Skull]]'' on January 31, 2004. The shows later moved to off-network syndication.