Editing Mystery Science Theater 3000 (section)

==Reception and legacy==
In 2004, the show was listed as {{Numero|11}} in a featured ''[[TV Guide]]'' article, "25 Top Cult Shows Ever!", and included a sidebar which read, "Mike Nelson, writer and star (replacing creator Joel Hodgson), recently addressed a college audience: 'There was nobody over the age of 25. I had to ask, "Where are you seeing this show?" I guess we have some sort of timeless quality.'"<ref name="tvg-cult">{{cite journal|title=25 Top Cult Shows Ever!|journal=TV Guide|issue=May 30 – June 5, 2004|page=32|issn=0039-8543}}</ref> Three years later, ''TV Guide'' rewrote the article, and bumped ''MST3K'' to #13.<ref name="tvg-cult2">{{cite web|title=TV Guide Names the Top Cult Shows Ever|date=June 29, 2007|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/top-cult-shows-40239.aspx|access-date=August 24, 2007|archive-date=August 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812080754/http://www.tvguide.com/news/top-cult-shows-40239.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, the show was listed as one of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All-Time" (it was also chosen as one of the magazine's top 10 shows of 1990).<ref name="Poniewozik">{{cite magazine|url=http://time.com/3103672/mystery-science-theater-3000/|title=The 100 Best TV Shows of All-''Time''|first=James|last=Poniewozik|author-link=James Poniewozik|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=4 March 2010|date=6 September 2007|archive-date=April 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405081829/http://time.com/3103672/mystery-science-theater-3000/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine| url = https://ew.com/article/1991/08/16/cables-mystery-science-theater/| title = Cable's "Mystery Science Theater"| magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]]| date = August 16, 1991| access-date = November 5, 2020| archive-date = November 16, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201116230248/https://ew.com/article/1991/08/16/cables-mystery-science-theater/| url-status = live}}</ref>
In 2012, the show was listed as #3 in ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s "25 Best Cult TV Shows from the Past 25 Years", with the comment that "''MST3K'' taught us that snarky commentary can be way more entertaining than the actual media."<ref>{{cite magazine | title = 25 Best Cult TV Shows from the Past 25 Years | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date  = August 3, 2012  | pages = 37}}</ref>

The 2017 relaunch was met with critical acclaim; as of 2025, the first revival season has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/14/15295130/netflix-mystery-science-theater-3000-review-mst3k | title = NETFLIX'S MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 REVIVAL IS AS FUNNY (AND NECESSARY) AS THE ORIGINAL | first = Noel | last = Murray | date = April 14, 2017 | access-date = April 17, 2017 | website = [[The Verge]] | archive-date = April 16, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170416233229/http://www.theverge.com/2017/4/14/15295130/netflix-mystery-science-theater-3000-review-mst3k | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url = https://www.wired.com/2017/04/netflix-mst3k-review/ | title = Fear Not, Superfans: Netflix's Mystery Science Theater 3000 Reboot Nails It | first = Brian | last = Raftety | date = April 14, 2017 | access-date = April 17, 2017 | magazine = [[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] | archive-date = April 16, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170416213704/https://www.wired.com/2017/04/netflix-mst3k-review/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.villagevoice.com/film/mst3ks-return-is-good-enough-that-you-should-really-just-relax-9878400 | title = MST3K's Return Is Good Enough That You Should Really Just Relax | first = Alan | last = Scherstuhl | date = April 14, 2017 | access-date = April 17, 2017 | website = [[The Village Voice]] | archive-date = April 16, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170416223431/http://www.villagevoice.com/film/mst3ks-return-is-good-enough-that-you-should-really-just-relax-9878400 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/mystery_science_theater_3000_the_return/s01| title =  Season 1—Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return| website = [[Rotten Tomatoes]]| access-date = April 11, 2025| archive-date = August 13, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200813115118/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/mystery_science_theater_3000_the_return/s01| url-status = live}}</ref>

===Reactions by those parodied===
The reactions of those parodied by ''MST3K'' have been mixed. Some notable negative reactions include that of [[Sandy Frank]], who held the rights to several ''[[Gamera]]'' films parodied on the show. He said he was "intensely displeased" by the mockery directed at him. (The crew once sang the "Sandy Frank Song", which said that Frank was "the source of all our pain", "thinks that people come from trees", [[Steven Spielberg]] "won't return his calls", and implied that he was too lazy to make his own films.) Because of this, Frank reportedly refused to allow the shows to be rebroadcast once ''MST3K''{{'}}s rights ran out.<ref name="sn-hist14">{{cite web|url=http://www.mst3kinfo.com/history/page14.html|title=Part 14: Battles on Many Fronts (1996)|website=The Almost but Still Not Quite Complete History of MST3K|publisher=Satellite News|access-date=2006-08-17|archive-date=June 18, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618194536/http://www.mst3kinfo.com/history/page14.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, this may in fact be a rumor, as other rumors indicate that the ''Gamera'' films distribution rights prices were increased beyond what Best Brains could afford as a result of the show's success. According to [[Shout! Factory]], the Japanese movie studio [[Kadokawa Pictures]] were so horrified with MST3K's treatment of five ''Gamera'' films that they refused to let Shout release the episodes on home video. Brian Ward (one of the members of Shout! Factory) explained to fans on the forums of the official Shout! Factory website that they tried their best to convince them, but "the Japanese take their ''Gamera'' films very seriously and do not appreciate them being mocked".{{Citation needed|date=December 2023|reason=Link to this forum?}} However, eventually Shout was able to clear the episodes for a special 2011 release due to the rights in North America shifting away from the Japanese to another North American entity that had no such qualms.<ref name="MST3KInfo">{{cite web|last=Cornell|first=Chris|date=2010-11-25|url=http://www.mst3kinfo.com/?p=8126|title=Turkey Day Surprise from Shout|access-date=2011-01-17|archive-date=November 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128035717/http://www.mst3kinfo.com/?p=8126|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kevin Murphy has said that [[Joe Don Baker]] wanted to "beat up" the writers of the show for the relentless riffing Baker received during ''[[Mitchell (film)|Mitchell]]''.<ref name="do-mitchell">{{cite web|last=Finley|first=Stephen F.|date=June 25, 1999|url=http://www.mst3kinfo.com/daddyo/di_512.html|title=512 – Mitchell|website=Daddy-O's Drive-In Dirt|publisher=Satellite News|access-date=2006-08-17|archive-date=July 13, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060713023014/http://www.mst3kinfo.com/daddyo/di_512.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="impress">{{cite web|last=Chandler|first=Rick|url=http://www.msties.com/spotlite/mst3kend.htm|title=MST3K Touches Down For Good|website=Impression Magazine|publisher=Reprinted by MSTies Anonymous|access-date=2006-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618104645/http://msties.com/spotlite/mst3kend.htm<!--Bot retrieved archive-->|archive-date=2006-06-18}}</ref> Murphy later stated that Baker probably meant it in a joking manner, although Mike Nelson has said that he had deliberately avoided encountering Baker while the two happened to be staying at the same hotel.<ref name="KPBS">{{cite web|last=Cavanaugh|first=Maureen|date=2006-08-30|url=http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kpbs/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=961328&sectionID=540|title=Host of Mystery Science Theater 3000 moves to San Diego|format=MP3|website=These Days|publisher=[[KPBS-FM]]|access-date=2006-09-13|archive-date=September 26, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926224508/http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kpbs/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=961328&sectionID=540|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Jeff Lieberman]], director of ''[[Squirm (film)|Squirm]]'', was also quite angry at the ''MST3K'' treatment of his film.<ref name="Squirm">Jeff Lieberman, director. (1976). "Director's Commentary", ''[[Squirm (film)|Squirm]]'' (NTSC) [DVD], MGM. Released August 26, 2003.</ref>

Director [[Rick Sloane]] was shocked at his treatment at the conclusion of ''[[Hobgoblins (film)|Hobgoblins]]'', in which Sloane himself was mercilessly mocked over the film's end credits.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/12169/rick-sloane-talks-hobgoblins/| title = Rick Sloane Talks Hobgoblins - Dread Central| date = June 23, 2009| access-date = December 19, 2019| archive-date = September 4, 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190904161050/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/12169/rick-sloane-talks-hobgoblins/| url-status = live}}</ref> In a 2008 interview, however, Sloane clarified his comments, saying that "I laughed through the entire ''MST3K'' episode, until the very end. I wasn't expecting the humor to suddenly be at my own expense. I was mortified when they dragged out the cardboard cutout and pretended to do an interview with me. I was caught off guard. I had never seen them rip apart any other director before on the show." However, he credits the success of the ''MST3K'' episode with inspiring him to make [[Hobgoblins 2|a sequel to ''Hobgoblins'']], released in 2009.<ref name="Borntreger">{{cite web|last=Borntreger|first=Andrew|date=February 2, 2008|url=http://www.badmovies.org/interviews/ricksloane/|title=Interview with Rick Sloane|website=BadMovies.org|access-date=2021-11-26|archive-date=February 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210144352/http://www.badmovies.org/interviews/ricksloane/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Others, however, have been more positive: Robert Fiveson and Myrl Schriebman, producers of ''[[Parts: The Clonus Horror]]'', said they were "flattered" to see the film appear on ''MST3K''.<ref name="mstrev-fiveson">{{cite web|url=http://tom-servo.home.mindspring.com/special-events_interview_fiveson-schreibman.html|title=An Interview with Fiveson & Schriebman|publisher=The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Review|access-date=2006-08-17|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824194246/http://tom-servo.home.mindspring.com/special-events_interview_fiveson-schreibman.html|archive-date=2006-08-24}}
Original discussion was started under the thread "Interview with Robert Fiveson" on Proboards on July 29, 2005.</ref> Actor [[Miles O'Keeffe]], the star of the film ''[[Ator 2 - L'invincibile Orion|Cave Dwellers]]'', called Best Brains and personally requested a copy of the ''MST3K'' treatment of the film,<ref name="KPBS"/> saying he enjoyed their skewering of what he had considered to be a surreal experience; according to Hodgson, O'Keeffe said his friends always heckled his performance in the film when it was on, and he appreciated the ''MST3K'' treatment.<ref name="wapost finetv">{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1991/11/27/mst3k-means-fine-television/582a1a46-a971-4aed-9982-526243f0f0b6/ | title = 'MST3K' MEANS FINE TELEVISION | first = Tom | last = Shales | date = November 27, 1991 | access-date = May 20, 2016 | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | archive-date = June 24, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160624131405/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1991/11/27/mst3k-means-fine-television/582a1a46-a971-4aed-9982-526243f0f0b6/ | url-status = live }}</ref> In the form of an essay and [[E. E. Cummings]]-esque poem, Mike Nelson paid tribute to O'Keeffe with a humorous mix of adulation and fear.<ref name="aceg-okeeffe">{{cite book|last=Beaulieu|first=Trace|title=The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Amazing Colossal Episode Guide|page=37|chapter=Miles O'Keefe: A Tribute|display-authors=etal}}</ref>

[[Rex Reason]], star of ''[[This Island Earth]]'', made appearances at several ''MST3K'' events and credits ''MST3K'' with introducing the film to a new generation. The crew of ''[[Time Chasers]]'' held a party the night the ''MST3K'' treatment of their film aired and, while reactions were mixed, director [[David Giancola]] said, "Most of us were fans and knew what to expect and we roared with laughter and drank way too much. I had a blast, never laughed so hard in my life."<ref name="mstrev-giancola">{{cite web|date=May 2005|url=http://www.d1041111.dotsterhost.com/mst3k/special-events_interview_david-giancola.html|title=An Interview With David Giancola|publisher=The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Review|access-date=2006-08-17|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904020130/http://www.d1041111.dotsterhost.com/mst3k/special-events_interview_david-giancola.html|archive-date=September 4, 2007 }}
Date is based on information on the discussion thread "David Giancola Interview".</ref>

Actor [[Adam West]], star of the 1960s ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' TV series, co-starred in ''[[Zombie Nightmare]]'', another film ''MST3K'' mocked. West apparently held no grudges, as he hosted the 1994 "Turkey Day" marathon in which the episode featuring ''Zombie Nightmare'' had its broadcast premiere. [[Mamie Van Doren]] (who appeared in episode 112, ''[[Untamed Youth]]'', and episode 601, ''[[Girls Town (1959 film)|Girls Town]]''), [[Robert Vaughn]] (star of episode 315, ''[[Teenage Caveman (1958 film)|Teenage Cave Man]]'', which he called the worst movie ever made) and [[Beverly Garland]] (who had appeared in many ''MST3K''-featured [[Roger Corman]] films) also hosted at the marathon.

===Awards===
In 1993, ''MST3K'' won a [[Peabody Award]]<ref name="The Peabody Awards"/> for "producing an ingenious eclectic series": "With references to everything from [[Marcel Proust|Proust]] to ''[[Gilligan's Island]]'', ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' fuses superb, clever writing with wonderfully terrible B-grade movies".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peabody.uga.edu/archives/|title=The Peabody Awards|access-date=2007-07-10|publisher=[[Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication]] at the [[University of Georgia]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708130947/http://www.peabody.uga.edu/archives/<!--Bot retrieved archive-->|archive-date=2007-07-08}}</ref> In 1994 and 1995, the show was nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program, but lost both times to ''[[Dennis Miller Live]]''.<ref name="emmys">{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominations/award-search?search_api_views_fulltext=mystery+science+theater+3000&submit=Search&search_api_views_fulltext_1=&search_api_views_fulltext_3=&search_api_views_fulltext_2=&search_api_views_fulltext_4=&field_nominations_year=1949-01-01+00%3A00%3A00&field_nominations_year_1=2015-01-01+00%3A00%3A00&field_nomination_category=All|title=Mystery Science Theater 3000|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=3 August 2011|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924035324/http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominations/award-search?search_api_views_fulltext=mystery+science+theater+3000&submit=Search&search_api_views_fulltext_1=&search_api_views_fulltext_3=&search_api_views_fulltext_2=&search_api_views_fulltext_4=&field_nominations_year=1949-01-01+00%3A00%3A00&field_nominations_year_1=2015-01-01+00%3A00%3A00&field_nomination_category=All|url-status=dead}}</ref> Every year from 1992 to 1997, it was also nominated for [[CableACE Award]]s.<ref name=CableAce>{{cite book|editor1-last=Weiner|editor1-first=Robert G.|editor2-last=Barba|editor2-first=Shelley E.|title=In the Peanut Gallery with Mystery Science Theater 3000 Essays on Film, Fandom, Technology and the Culture of Riffing|date=2011|publisher=McFarland & Co., Publishers|location=Jefferson|isbn=9780786485727|page=7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GY_AgrQXEM4C&q=cableace+award+mystery+science+theater+3000&pg=PA7|access-date=5 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Lavery|first1=David|title=The Essential Cult TV Reader – Essential Readers in Contemporary Media and Culture|date=2015|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=9780813150208|pages=181–182|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6a8eBgAAQBAJ&q=cableace+award+mystery+science+theater+3000&pg=PA181|access-date=5 April 2015}}</ref> Its DVD releases have been nominated for [[Saturn Award]]s in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2018.

The revival's first season was nominated for a Best Presentation on Television [[Saturn Award]] and an OFTA Television Award nod for Best Variety Program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theslanted.com/2018/09/30811/mst3k-season-2-netflix-premiere-date/|title='MST3K: The Return' Season 2 gets Thanksgiving debut|website=Slanted|date=September 4, 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=July 18, 2020|archive-date=July 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718193813/https://theslanted.com/2018/09/30811/mst3k-season-2-netflix-premiere-date/}}</ref>

===Influence===
Through ''MST3K'', many obscure films have been more visible to the public, and several have since been considered some of the [[List of films considered the worst|worst films ever made]] and are voted into the Bottom 100 on the [[Internet Movie Database]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.denofgeek.us/movies/mystery-science-theatre-3000/21863/looking-back-at-mystery-science-theatre-3000 | title = Looking back at Mystery Science Theatre 3000 | website = [[Den of Geek]] | date = July 4, 2012 | access-date = December 3, 2015 | first = Pete | last = Dillon-Trenchard | archive-date = December 8, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208133556/http://www.denofgeek.us/movies/mystery-science-theatre-3000/21863/looking-back-at-mystery-science-theatre-3000 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Of note is ''[[Manos: The Hands of Fate]]'', which was riffed on by ''MST3K'' in its fourth season. ''Manos'' was a very low-budget film produced by Hal Warren, a fertilizer salesman at the time, taking on a dare from a screenwriter friend to show that anyone could make a horror film. The film suffered from numerous production issues due to its limited filming equipment, and many critics describe the result using a riff from ''MST3K'', in that "every frame of this movie looks like someone's last-known photograph".<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.avclub.com/read-this-the-battle-over-the-infamous-cult-classic-ma-1798284742 | title = Read this: The battle over the infamous cult classic Manos: The Hands of Fate | first = Joe | last = Blevins | date = September 25, 2015 | access-date = November 26, 2021 | website = [[The A.V. Club]] | archive-date = August 15, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220815104028/https://www.avclub.com/read-this-the-battle-over-the-infamous-cult-classic-ma-1798284742 | url-status = live }}</ref> The ''MST3K'' episode featuring ''Manos'' was considered one of its most popular and best episodes, and brought ''Manos'' into the public light as one of the worst films ever produced. The film gained a cult following, and an effort was made to restore the film to high-definition quality from its original film reels.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.playboy.com/articles/the-battle-over-the-worst-movie-ever | title = The Battle Over the Worst Movie Ever | first = Jake | last = Rossen | date = September 24, 2015 | access-date = December 3, 2015 | website = [[Playboy]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151203144617/http://www.playboy.com/articles/the-battle-over-the-worst-movie-ever | archive-date = December 3, 2015 | url-status = dead }}</ref> ''MST3K'' also riffed on three films directed by [[Coleman Francis]]: ''[[Red Zone Cuba]]'', ''[[The Skydivers]]'', and ''[[The Beast of Yucca Flats]]'', which brought awareness of Francis' poor direction and low-budget films, similar to that of [[Ed Wood]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/coleman-francis/coleman-francis-the-real-worst-director-in-film-hi/ | title = Coleman Francis: The Real Worst Director in Film History | first = Jim | last = Vorel | date = December 2015 | access-date = November 26, 2015 | website = [[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] | archive-date = April 24, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220424162749/https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/coleman-francis/coleman-francis-the-real-worst-director-in-film-hi/ | url-status = live }}</ref> ''MST3K'' also brought to the limelight lackluster works by [[Bert I. Gordon]], primarily giant monster B-movies, that gained attention through the show, and many Japanese [[kaiju]] movies imported and dubbed through producer [[Sandy Frank]] (jokingly referred to as "the source of all our pain"), particularly those in the ''[[Gamera]]'' series.<ref name="paste 25eps"/>

''MST3K''{{'}}s riffing style to poke fun at bad movies, films, and TV shows, have been used in other works.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/01/nyregion/box-office-duds-have-a-following-too.html?_r=0 | title = That Awful Film, Incredibly, Has a Following | first = Chris | last= Burube | date = February 1, 2013 | access-date = May 20, 2016 | website = [[The New York Times]] }}</ref> In 2003, the television series ''Deadly Cinema'', starring [[Jami Deadly]], debuted, which featured the cast making fun of bad movies, ''MST3K''-style. In 2004, the [[ESPN Classic]] series ''[[Cheap Seats (TV series)|Cheap Seats]]'', debuted, which featured two brothers making fun of clips of old sporting events, ''MST3K''-style, and is noteworthy for containing an episode in which Mike, Crow, and Tom Servo briefly appeared in a cameo to make fun of the hosts' own skits. In 2008, the internet and direct-to-DVD comedy series ''[[Incognito Cinema Warriors XP]]'', debuted, which used the same "host segment-movie segment" format the show established, while featuring completely original characters and plot. ''ICWXP'' gained a similar cult following, even earning the praises of former ''MST3K'' host Michael J. Nelson.<ref>[http://blogs.pitch.com/wayward/2011/03/rikk_wolf_on_incognito_cinema_warriors_xp.php Rikk Wolf on How Incognito Cinema Warriors makes Terrible Movies Better] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318085914/http://blogs.pitch.com/wayward/2011/03/rikk_wolf_on_incognito_cinema_warriors_xp.php |date=March 18, 2011 }}</ref> In 2010, the television series ''[[This Movie Sucks!]]'' (and its predecessor ''[[Ed's Nite In]]''), starring [[Ed the Sock]] and co-hosts [[Liana Kerzner|Liana K]] and [[Ron Sparks (comedian)|Ron Sparks]], debuted. It features the cast making fun of bad movies. Creator [[Steven Kerzner]], however, was quick to point out that ''MST3K'' was not "the creator of this kind of format, they're just the most recent and most well-known".<ref>[http://www.hamiltonmountainnews.com/news/article/211346 Mohawk students help bring Ed back to TV]{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Hamilton MountainNews, May 27, 2010 (Article by Gord Bowes)</ref> In 2011, the theater silhouette motif was parodied by golf commentator and talk show host [[David Feherty]] in an episode of ''Feherty''. He is shown sitting in front of a large screen and "riffing" while viewing footage of golfer [[Johnny Miller]] and is joined in the theater by his stuffed rooster (Frank) and his gnome statue (Costas).

Further, the riffing style from ''MST3K'' is considered part of the influence for [[Audio commentary|DVD commentaries]] and successful [[YouTube]] reviewers and [[Let's Play (video gaming)|Let's Play]]-style commentators.<ref name="time madness"/> DVD releases for both ''[[Ghostbusters]]'' and ''[[Men in Black (1997 film)|Men in Black]]'' used a similar format to Shadowrama for an "in-vision" commentary features.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.avclub.com/now-with-extra-farts-25-1-2-gimmicky-dvd-commentary-tr-1798222321 | title = Now with extra farts! 25 1/2 gimmicky DVD commentary tracks | date = November 10, 2010 | access-date = December 3, 2015 | author = The A.V. Club Staff | website = [[The A.V. Club]] | archive-date = October 26, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171026121409/https://www.avclub.com/now-with-extra-farts-25-1-2-gimmicky-dvd-commentary-tr-1798222321 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.homemediamagazine.com/blu-ray-spotlight/men-black-blu-ray-review | title = Men in Black (Blu-ray Review) | first = John | last = Gaudiosi | date = June 22, 2008 | access-date = December 2, 2015 | website = [[Home Media Magazine]] | archive-date = December 8, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208141842/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/blu-ray-spotlight/men-black-blu-ray-review | url-status = live }}</ref> The concept of [[social television]], where [[social media]] is integrated into the television viewing experience, was significantly influenced by ''MST3K''.<ref name="thr 2018"/><ref>{{cite book | title = Social Interactive Television: Immersive Shared Experiences and Perspectives: Immersive Shared Experiences and Perspectives | first = Pablo | last = Cesar | year = 2009 | page = 3 | isbn = 978-1605666570 | publisher = IGI Global }}</ref> This social media practice of [[Twitter|live-tweeting]] riffs and jokes on broadcast shows, such as for films like ''[[Sharknado]]'', has its roots in ''MST3K''.<ref name="usatoday 25th"/><ref name="rollingstone ks"/><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/11/the-triumphant-return-of-mystery-science-theater-3000/415323/ | title = Jumping the Snark: The Timely Return of Mystery Science Theater 3000 | website = [[The Atlantic]] | first = Megan | last = Garber | date = November 11, 2015 | access-date = December 8, 2015 | archive-date = December 8, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208231828/http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/11/the-triumphant-return-of-mystery-science-theater-3000/415323/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.avclub.com/syfy-s-sharknado-series-proves-schlock-cinema-belongs-o-1798281971 | title = Syfy's Sharknado series proves schlock cinema belongs on TV, not in theaters | first = Joshua | last = Alston | date = July 20, 2015 | access-date = November 26, 2021 | website = [[The A.V. Club]] | archive-date = November 26, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211126154830/https://www.avclub.com/syfy-s-sharknado-series-proves-schlock-cinema-belongs-o-1798281971 | url-status = live }}</ref> The ''MST3K'' approach has inspired Internet movie critics to create comedic movie reviews approaches, such as through [[RedLetterMedia]] and [[Screen Junkies]] which are considered more than just snarking on the movie but aim to help the viewer understand film and story techniques and their flawed use in poorly-received films.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/04/the-enduring-legacy-of-mystery-science-theater-3000/ | title = The Enduring Legacy of Mystery Science Theater 3000 | first = Clint | last = Worthington | date = April 19, 2016 | access-date = April 19, 2016 | website = [[Consequence of Sound]] | archive-date = April 19, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160419200155/http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/04/the-enduring-legacy-of-mystery-science-theater-3000/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Public performances of live riffing have been hosted by various groups in different cities across the U.S. and Canada, including Cineprov (Atlanta, Georgia), Master Pancake Theater (Austin, TX), The Gentlemen Hecklers (Vancouver, BC Canada),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archives.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/the-last-reel-mst3ks-joel-will-riff-no-more-forever/Content?oid=2827819|title=The Last Reel: MST3K's Joel Will Riff No More Forever|last=Mutert|first=Emilie|website=SF Weekly|access-date=2017-03-18|archive-date=March 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319022754/http://archives.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/the-last-reel-mst3ks-joel-will-riff-no-more-forever/Content?oid=2827819|url-status=dead}}</ref> Counterclockwise Comedy (Kansas City, Missouri), FilmRoasters (Richmond, Virginia), Moxie Skinny Theatre 3000 (Springfield, Missouri), Riff Raff Theatre (Iowa City, Iowa), Twisted Flicks (Seattle, Washington), and Turkey Shoot (Metro Cinema at the Garneau, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada).<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.comedynews.org/general/raspberry-brothers-and-the-many-spawn-of-mst3k--the-comics-comic/link/1114/| title = Raspberry Brothers and the Many Spawn of MST3K| access-date = February 23, 2012| archive-date = May 21, 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130521051303/http://www.comedynews.org/general/raspberry-brothers-and-the-many-spawn-of-mst3k--the-comics-comic/link/1114/| url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/2011/may/11/filmroasters-fry-byrd-ar-1026698/ |title = FilmRoasters Fry at the Byrd |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202014743/http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/2011/may/11/filmroasters-fry-byrd-ar-1026698/ |archive-date=2 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2001-08-10/82628/| title = The Sensational Saga of Mr. Sinus| access-date = February 23, 2012| archive-date = October 12, 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121012052917/http://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2001-08-10/82628/| url-status = live}}</ref>

The [[Center for Puppetry Arts]] crowdfunded<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.power2give.org/campaigns/898| title = They Belong in a Museum! Help Secure Mystery Science Theater 3000 Puppets - power2give| access-date = March 21, 2020| archive-date = February 17, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220217100448/https://www.power2give.org/campaigns/898| url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://vimeo.com/297086316| title = Mystery Science Theater 3000 posted by Center for Puppetry Arts on Vimeo}}</ref> and successfully acquired Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot in 2019.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://puppet.org/history/| title = The History of the Center for Puppetry Arts| newspaper = Center for Puppetry Arts| access-date = March 21, 2020| archive-date = March 21, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200321190122/https://puppet.org/history/| url-status = live}}</ref>

===Fandom===
''MST3K'', broadcasting during the emergence of the [[Internet]] for public use, developed a large fan base during its initial broadcast; which has continued to thrive since then.<ref name="wired history"/> The show had already had its postal-based fan club, which people could write into and which some letters and drawings read on subsequent episodes, and the producers encouraged fans to share recordings of their episodes with others.<ref name="wired history"/> At its peak, the "MST3K Fan Club" had over 50,000 members,<ref name="nytimes scifi"/> and Best Brains were receiving over 500 letters each week.<ref name="wapost dflicks"/> Fans of the show generally refer to themselves as "MSTies".<ref name="wired history"/> [[Usenet newsgroup]]s rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc and rec.arts.tv.mst3k.announce were established in the mid-1990s for announcements and discussions related to the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.som.yale.edu/faculty/dm324/wom2.pdf |title=Using Online Conversations to Study Word of Mouth Communication |last=Godes |first=David |author2=Dina Mayzlin |date=August 2003 |pages=10–11 |access-date=15 September 2010 |quote=We found 169 different groups that contained messages about the shows in our sample ... Table 3 ... 20 Top Newsgroups in the Sample ... rec.arts.tv 9,649 ... rec.arts.tv.mst3k.mis 578 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408190345/http://www.som.yale.edu/faculty/dm324/wom2.pdf |archive-date=April 8, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/1995-07-14/533762/|title=The Information Dirt Road|last=Lieck|first=Ken|date=July 14, 1995|work=[[The Austin Chronicle]]|quote=<nowiki>groups where obsessos of all types get together and exchange information about their favorite TV shows (news:alt.tv.brady-bunch, news:rec.arts.tv.mst3k)</nowiki>|access-date=15 September 2010|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126154827/https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/1995-07-14/533762/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=A MSTie Farewell to Mike, The 'Bots and Bad Flicks|last=Werts|first=Diane|date=May 14, 1996|work=[[Newsday]]|pages=B.53|quote=new MST feature flick which just ended its NYC run and should hit the burbs soon check the Internet newsgroup rec.arts.tv.mst3k|location=Long Island, N.Y.}}</ref> A type of [[fan fiction]] called MiSTings, in which fans would add humorous comments to other, typically bad, fan fiction works, was popular on these groups.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.avclub.com/cheap-seats-superstars-1978-1798229649 | title = Cheap Seats, "Superstars 1978" | date = January 29, 2012 | access-date = November 26, 2021 | first = Noel | last = Murray | website = [[The A.V. Club]] | archive-date = November 26, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211126154826/https://www.avclub.com/cheap-seats-superstars-1978-1798229649 | url-status = live }}</ref> The fan-run website ''Satellite News'' continues to track news and information about the show and related projects from its cast members.<ref name="avclub turkey day"/><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/mst3k-creator-hints-at-online-reboot-20140423 | title = 'MST3K' Creator Hints at Online Reboot | first = Ryan | last = Reed | date = April 23, 2015 | access-date = December 2, 2015 | website = [[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]] | archive-date = December 8, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208191656/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/mst3k-creator-hints-at-online-reboot-20140423 | url-status = live }}</ref> Another fan site, ''The Annotated MST'', attempts to catalog and describe all the obscure popular culture references used in a given episode.<ref name="avclub annotated"/>

In addition to the show's fandom, a number of celebrities have expressed their love for the show. One of the earliest known celebrity fans was [[Frank Zappa]], who went so far as to telephone Best Brains, calling ''MST3K'' as "the funniest fucking thing on TV" (according to Beaulieu).<ref name="wired history"/> Zappa became a friend of the show, and following his death, episode 523 was dedicated to him. Other known celebrities fans include [[Al Gore]], [[Neil Patrick Harris]], [[Penn Jillette]], and [[Patton Oswalt]] (who would later become TV's Son of TV's Frank in the revival).<ref name="wired history"/>

Filmmaker [[Jordan Vogt-Roberts]] (''[[Kong: Skull Island]]'') also praised ''MST3K'':

<blockquote>"Mystery Science Theater built something artful, endearing and comedic on top of the foundation other people's work. It had merit to itself."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/kong-skull-island-cinema-sins-jordan-vogt-roberts/|title=Skull Island Director Tears Into CinemaSins|date=2017-08-15|website=ScreenRant|access-date=2019-08-07|archive-date=August 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807054436/https://screenrant.com/kong-skull-island-cinema-sins-jordan-vogt-roberts/|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>

There were two official [[fan conventions]] in [[Minneapolis]] (run by the series' production company Best Brains) called "ConventioCon ExpoFest-A-Rama" (1994) and "ConventioCon ExpoFest-A-Rama 2: Electric Boogaloo" (1996). At least 2,500 people attended the first convention.<ref name="wired history"/>