Editing Mystery Science Theater 3000 (section)

====Cast changes====
Weinstein left the show after the first Comedy Channel season, reportedly in disagreement with Hodgson about moving toward using scripted rather than ad-libbed jokes.<ref name="paste 25eps"/> Murphy replaced him as the voice of Tom Servo, portraying the 'bot as a cultured individual, while Dr. Erhardt was replaced with TV's Frank (Conniff).<ref name="wired history"/>

Hodgson decided to leave the series halfway through Season Five due to his dislike of being on camera and his disagreements with producer Mallon over creative control of the program.<ref name="mst3kinfo">{{cite web|last=Henry|first=Brian|url=http://mst3k.com/mstfaq/wbrains.html|title=MST3K FAQ – West Brains: Aliens in L.A|publisher=MST3K Info Club|access-date=2007-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070414091957/http://www.mst3k.com/mstfaq/wbrains.html<!--Bot retrieved archive-->|archive-date=2007-04-14}}</ref><ref name="onion">{{cite news|last=Phipps |first=Keith |title=Joel Hodgson |newspaper=The A.V. Club |date=1999-04-21 |url= https://www.avclub.com/joel-hodgson-1798207993/amp|access-date=2021-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010033221/http://www.avclub.com/content/node/23008 |archive-date=October 10, 2007 }}</ref> Hodgson also stated that Mallon's insistence on producing a feature film version of the show led to his departure, giving up his rights on the ''MST3K'' property to Mallon.<ref name="wapost ct">{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/29/AR2008122902492.html | title = Web TV Review: Classic 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' Cast Returns for 'Cinematic Titanic' | first = Tom | last = Shales | date = December 29, 2008 | access-date = December 1, 2015 | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | archive-date = December 11, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151211000246/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/29/AR2008122902492.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Hodgson later told an interviewer: "If I had the presence of mind to try and work it out, I would rather have stayed. 'Cause I didn't want to go, it just seemed like I needed to."<ref name="avclub 2008">{{cite web | url = https://www.avclub.com/the-mystery-science-theater-3000-reunion-interview-joe-1798215131 | title = The Mystery Science Theater 3000 reunion interview: Joel Hodgson, Trace Beaulieu, and Jim Mallon | first = Keith | last = Philps | date = November 3, 2008 | access-date = November 26, 2021 | website = [[The A.V. Club]] | archive-date = November 26, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211126150321/https://www.avclub.com/the-mystery-science-theater-3000-reunion-interview-joe-1798215131 | url-status = live }}</ref> Though they held casting calls for a replacement for Hodgson on camera, the crew found that none of the potential actors really fit the role; instead, having reviewed a test run that Nelson had done with the 'bots, the crew agreed that having Nelson (who had already appeared in several guest roles on the show) replace Hodgson would be the least jarring approach.<ref name="wired history"/>  The replacement of Joel by Mike would lead to an oft-jokingly "Joel vs. Mike [[Flaming (Internet)|flame war]]" among fans, similar to the "Kirk vs. Picard" discussions in the ''[[Star Trek]]'' fandom.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/after-a-couple-of-years-no-one-will-even-remember-16-1798242088 |title="After a couple of years no one will even remember": 16 pop-culture windows into the world of 1993 |date=November 4, 2013 |access-date=November 26, 2021 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |author=''The A.V. Club'' Staff |archive-date=November 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126150323/https://www.avclub.com/after-a-couple-of-years-no-one-will-even-remember-16-1798242088 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Conniff left the show after Season Six, looking to get into writing TV [[sitcom]]s in Hollywood.<ref name="wired history"/><ref name="OC weekly">{{cite web | url = http://www.ocweekly.com/film/mst3ks-legacy-will-live-on-6394752 | title = MST3K's Legacy Will Live On | first = Wyn | last = Hilty | date = August 5, 1999 | access-date = December 3, 2015 | website = [[OC Weekly]] | archive-date = December 8, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208141232/http://www.ocweekly.com/film/mst3ks-legacy-will-live-on-6394752 | url-status = live }}</ref> TV's Frank was soon replaced on the show by Dr. Forrester's mother, [[Pearl Forrester|Pearl]] (Pehl).