J. Elvis Weinstein

J. Elvis Weinstein

Born: May 21, 1971
in Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA
Joshua Stuart Weinstein began his stand-up comedy career at age 15 in Mpls. Minnesota. At 17, he was one of the founding writer/performers of the cult sci-fi comedy TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) as the original voice/puppeteer of robots Tom Servo and Gypsy, and the role of Dr. Lawrence Erhardt. He adopted the name "J. Elvis Weinstein" to avoid confusion with another writer named Josh Weinstein (known for his work on The Simpsons).

Since moving to Los Angeles, he has worked as a writer/producer on a wide range of network TV comedy, including Freaks and Geeks, Malcolm and Eddie, Dead Last, and My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star. He was also the Head Writer on America's Funniest Home Videos and Later with Greg Kinnear. In 2008 he reunited with his MST3K co-stars to form Cinematic Titanic, which toured U.S. Theaters as a live show and produced 12 DVDs, now available as a box set.

Weinstein has written and directed three films – two feature documentaries (I Need You to Kill and Michael Des Barres: Who Do You Want Me to Be?) and a comedy short (The Mediocre Samaritan). As a performer, he continues to perform stand-up, co-hosts the podcast Thought Spiral with comedian Andy Kindler, and recently co-starred in the feature film The Fiddling Horse.

Movies for J. Elvis Weinstein...

Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000
Character: Dr. Laurence Erheardt/Tom Servo
Released: May 6, 2022
Type: TV
The cult hit is back AGAIN! Captured by mad scientists, returning host Jonah and new host Emily survive a blitz of cheesy B movies by riffing on them with their funny robot pals.
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The Fiddling Horse
Title: The Fiddling Horse
Character: Philip Ainsworth
Released: October 16, 2019
Type: Movie
Leslie inherits a horse and, in an attempt to elevate her failing status within her high society circle, trains it to race while secretly executing a long-con with an ex celebrity jockey.
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Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000
Character: Dr. Laurence Erhardt
Released: April 14, 2017
Type: TV
The cult hit returns! Captured by mad scientists, new host Jonah survives a blitz of cheesy B movies by riffing on them with his funny robot pals.
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Cinematic Titanic: The Astral Factor
Title: Cinematic Titanic: The Astral Factor
Character: J. Elvis Weinstein
Released: October 16, 2016
Type: Movie
Made for television in 1978, The Astral Factor features a convicted murder who learns to use the power of his mind to move objects and make himself invisible. he escapes from prison and hunts down the women whom he believes have wronged him. He is pursued by a dogged police lieutenant.
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Cinematic Titanic: Rattlers
Title: Cinematic Titanic: Rattlers
Character: Self
Released: July 17, 2012
Type: Movie
Something is very wrong in the Southwestern desert! It starts when rogue rattlesnakes attack two young boys, and it goes downhill from there. The local authorities summon herpetologist Dr. Tom Parkinson to investigate why the snakes are being such jerks. With the help of photographer and fledgling feminist Ann Bradley, the two of them embark on a haphazard and half-assed investigation – and romance. The hunt leads them to a nearby army base and its uncooperative commanding officer, Colonel Stroud. But when marauding rattlers kill two soldiers, the medical officer on the base can no longer keep silent and reveals the terrible secret, unleashing a chain of events, which lead to all kinds of explodey 1976 action, putting an end to the deadly rattlers. Maybe...
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Cinematic Titanic: War of the Insects
Title: Cinematic Titanic: War of the Insects
Character: Self
Released: December 2, 2011
Type: Movie
The bugs shall inherit the earth! Or so says Annabelle, the hottest, the sexiest, and by far the craziest psycho blonde chick to hit Japan since WWII. Deeply embittered about the whole man's-inhumanity-to-man thing, she enacts a diabolical plot to unleash a swarm of mutant insects on the world that will destroy all living creatures except creepy crawlers. Ensnared in all this madness is a philandering island-hopping bug collector and his compliant and slightly pregnant wife, a humorless doctor from the mainland, and a United States airman named Charlie, whose way of starting a conversation is to hysterically scream "Genocide!" and then go off his rocker like the dedicated military professional he is. If you want to watch a story where everybody gets their nuclear holocaust on in the grand tradition of radioactive Japanese monster movies, this is the film for you!
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Cinematic Titanic: Danger on Tiki Island
Title: Cinematic Titanic: Danger on Tiki Island
Character: Self
Released: June 15, 2010
Type: Movie
An atomic bomb test in the South Pacific creates an isolated world of terror. Strange things are happening on this remote island in the Pacific, where a Peace Corps volunteer, a researcher and his love-starved lady arrive to find that nearby atomic testing has mutated some of the plants. It that weren't bad enough, a monster terrifies the villagers in its lust for blood. The man-beast must be stopped - but how? With sarongs a-plenty, this film was a staple at drive-ins in its day. Now experience it live with Cinematic Titanic.
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Cinematic Titanic: The Alien Factor
Title: Cinematic Titanic: The Alien Factor
Character: Himself
Released: February 23, 2010
Type: Movie
Warning: Baltimore is no longer safe. Meet Leemoid, Zagatile and Interbyce. They're the three aliens whose spaceship has crashed in a small town outside of Baltimore. Soon the town folk are turning up mutilated and dead - and even in polyester pants. Then a stranger arrives to save the day. But is he who he says he is? And what about all the polyester pants? See this film they way it was meant to be seen - on the big screen live with Cinematic Titanic.
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Cinematic Titanic: East Meets Watts
Title: Cinematic Titanic: East Meets Watts
Character: Self
Released: December 16, 2009
Type: Movie
Kung Fu hits the streets! Young Larry Chin arrives from China looking for his long-lost brother and stumbles into some shady characters that'd just as soon see him go home - or get dead. He crosses paths with Stud Brown, and the two become an unlikely duo as they fight to clean up the 'hood, and make time for some lady loves they meet along the way. And hang on tight for the surprise twist ending. It's all living color kungsploitation glory, live with Cinematic Titanic.
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Cinematic Titanic: Blood of the Vampires
Title: Cinematic Titanic: Blood of the Vampires
Character: Self
Released: March 19, 2009
Type: Movie
The Escodero family is cursed!The mother, whom the Escodero children assumed to be dead, is actually an undead vampire who lurks in a secret basement/dungeon hidden from the rest of the house. When the kids discover this dark truth, all hell breaks loose...literally! The mother bites the son, who grows fangs and becomes consumed with blood lust. Meanwhile, all this vampire activity wreaks havoc on the daughter's romance with her handsome, dashing fiance. It all leads to a foray into the occult that ultimately proves true love can live on forever, but not before a mob of angry villagers and avenging priests take on the Devil himself in a climactic battle between good and evil. Set in nineteenth century Mexico and performed by a Filipino cast, "Blood of the Vampires" has something for everyone: blood-soaked action for the guys, tender romance for the ladies, and unleashed demonic rage for the frightened child within us all.
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Cinematic Titanic: Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks
Title: Cinematic Titanic: Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks
Character: Himself
Released: November 24, 2008
Type: Movie
Things get a bit randy in this version of Mary Shelley's immortal classic about... immortality. Just as our resident mad scientist is about to bring his creature back to life, he is forced to use a sub-standard brain. The Cinematic Titanic crew offer more hilarious commentary as they set their sights on a Frankenstein's castle chock full of angry villagers, grave robbers, and skinny dippers.
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Cinematic Titanic: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Title: Cinematic Titanic: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Character: Himself
Released: November 20, 2008
Type: Movie
The children of Mars are in a funk, and nothing on the red planet seems to be able to cheer them up. Martian King Kimar comes up with the only reasonable solution: kidnap Santa Claus from Earth's North Pole and bring him to their planet to make toys for their joyless, listless little green kids. Meanwhile, two Earth children get wise to the plan and are abducted along with Santa to prevent them from talking to the authorities. Luckily for them, Dropo, the Jerry Lewis of the fourth planet from the sun, is there to help them. The fiendish plot doesn't go according to plan, and there's plenty of intrigue, double-crossing, mistaken identity and stock footage for kids of all ages and planets to enjoy. Poorly conceived, sloppily made, and unfailingly bizarre, "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" is the ultimate Christmas movie-riffing classic (as fans of MST3K know) which is why Cinematic Titanic chose to revisit, re-riff, and release this holiday hamfest with all new jokes. Merry Crap-mas!
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Cinematic Titanic: Legacy of Blood
Title: Cinematic Titanic: Legacy of Blood
Character: Self
Released: October 9, 2008
Type: Movie
The Dean family patriarch has died and left a fortune to his children and servants. The occasion soon turns grim when they discover they must all must spend an entire week at the family estate - together. It's all the same old family routine: backbiting, billiards, rumors and innuendo, canings, pantsuits and ham - until one by one, they start turning up dead.
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Cinematic Titanic: The Wasp Woman
Title: Cinematic Titanic: The Wasp Woman
Character: Self
Released: August 7, 2008
Type: Movie
Cinematic Titanic is the new "show" from the original MST3K cast.
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Cinematic Titanic: Doomsday Machine
Title: Cinematic Titanic: Doomsday Machine
Released: June 19, 2008
Type: Movie
American spies discover the Chinese have built a weapon capable of destroying planet Earth, a "doomsday machine" if you will, and that they plan to use it within a matter of days. Will the human race survive?
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Cinematic Titanic: The Oozing Skull
Title: Cinematic Titanic: The Oozing Skull
Released: December 21, 2007
Type: Movie
In the far-off land of Kalid, President Amir lies on his deathbed. If this revered head-of-state dies, the brutal dictatorship that he has so lovingly cultivated will fall into a dark age of uncertainty and chaos. And so, in this moment of crisis, his loyal staff are left with no alternative but to choose the only logical and sensible course of action—to transfer Amir's brain into a younger, healthier, and most importantly, living body. Enter Doctor Robert Trenton, a mad scientist of the traditional 'they all laughed at me and now I'll show them' school. He, along with his assistant, Dorro, a little man with a big appetite for evil, and Tracy, a conniving beauty with a heart that's harder than her leathery, over-tanned skin, concoct a deliriously diabolical plan involving murder, body-napping, skullduggery, and oozy, gooey brains.
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Title: Cinematic Titanic
Released: December 21, 2007
Type: TV
Cinematic Titanic is a project by Mystery Science Theater 3000 creator and original host, Joel Hodgson. The project involves "riffing" B-movies, in a manner similar to that of MST3K. Joining Hodgson are many of the original MST3K cast, as well as some cast members who joined later in the show's run. These include Trace Beaulieu, J. Elvis Weinstein, Frank Conniff and Mary Jo Pehl. It was first performed live on December 7, 2007 and first aired on December 22, 2007. On February 16, 2013, it was announced that the touring portion of Cinematic Titanic was going on an indefinite hiatus. According to an email sent out to members of the site, due to "5 people living in 5 different cities with different lives and projects, it has become increasingly difficult to coordinate our schedules and give Cinematic Titanic the attention it requires to keep growing as a creative enterprise and a business." The final tour began on September 23, 2013.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Women of the Prehistoric Planet
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Women of the Prehistoric Planet
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: February 20, 1990
Type: Movie
Our intrepid hosts are trapped between Isaac Asimov's Literary Doomsday Device and Robert Ito from Quincy M.E. (1976) in a fur caveman outfit.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Corpse Vanishes
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Corpse Vanishes
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: December 9, 1989
Type: Movie
Joel introduces the chiro-gyro at the invention exchange while the Mads show off their flame-throwing flower. In the theater, Joel and the Bots get the third installment of 'Radar Men from the Moon' before the Bela Lugosi film 'The Corpse Vanishes'.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Mad Monster
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Mad Monster
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: December 2, 1989
Type: Movie
In the theater, the crew watches as a mad scientist transforms his assistant into a werewolf, whom he sics on all those who mocked him, in "Mad Monster" (1942). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Joel swaps Crow and Servo's heads. This episode features the short "Radar Men from the Moon, Chapter Two: Molten Terror."
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: November 25, 1989
Type: Movie
For the Invention Exchange, Joel presents a safety device for motorcyclists. The Mads, anticipating the Mad Scientists' Convention, show off their device for getting rid of unwanted guests. For the day's experiment, Joel and the bots are forced to watch the first tedious chapter of "Radar Men from the Moon" (1952), with Commander Cody, as Joel explains to Tom Servo what a serial is. Their feature film is the cheesy Mexican horror flick, "The Robot vs the Aztec Mummy" (1958). Meanwhile, the threesome do their best to fend off an attack on the Satellite of Love by demon dogs, who are attracted to the spaceship's bone-like shape.
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Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Dr. Laurence Erhardt
Released: November 25, 1989
Type: TV
A stranded spaceship pilot captured by mad scientists survives a blitz of cheesy B movies by riffing on them with his funny robot pals.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Crawling Eye
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Crawling Eye
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Dr. Lawrence Erhardt
Released: November 18, 1989
Type: Movie
In the first national broadcast of Mystery Science Theater 3000, the Mads have moved into Deep 13, Joel has spruced up the Bots, and Forrest Tucker sleepwalks his way through this week's literally eye-popping film.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Legend of Dinosaurs
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Legend of Dinosaurs
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsy (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: May 28, 1989
Type: Movie
Joel and the 'Bots suffer through a dreary '70s dinosaur movie from Japan. Where's Doug McClure when you need him?
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Last Chase
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Last Chase
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsy (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: May 21, 1989
Type: Movie
This week's film features two intrepid heroes fleeing their Orwellian futuristic society in a souped-up racecar – but Joel and the 'Bots are more interested in reading fan mail from their adoring public.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Hangar 18
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Hangar 18
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsy (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: May 14, 1989
Type: Movie
The crew discover disturbing secrets in Crow's memory bank while watching a film about bland government officials investigating, and then trying to cover up, a flying saucer crash.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Million Eyes of Sumuru
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Million Eyes of Sumuru
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsy (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: May 7, 1989
Type: Movie
As groovy femme fatale Sumuru plots world domination, Joel gets even with the 'bots for locking him out of the ship.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Time of the Apes
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Time of the Apes
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsy (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: April 2, 1989
Type: Movie
Adapted (i.e., shredded and stitched into incoherence) from the 1974 Japanese series Saru No Gundan, Time of the Apes follows the travails of a scientist and two small children who are accidentally frozen and thaw into a future ruled by apes. Meanwhile, Crow and Servo have locked Joel out of the Satellite of Love.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: City on Fire
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: City on Fire
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsy (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: March 19, 1989
Type: Movie
This week's experiment is disastrous disaster film City on Fire (1979), which assures viewers the events depicted could happen in any city, anywhere. Even, as Tom points out, while we're watching this.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Superdome
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Superdome
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsy (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: March 12, 1989
Type: Movie
Servo writes a letter to his uncle in which he recalls many fond memories of his time aboard the satellite. Meanwhile, the crew are subjected to a TV drama about a New Orleans Super Bowl full of intrigue, romance, and catfish.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Mighty Jack
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Mighty Jack
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsy (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: March 5, 1989
Type: Movie
The 007-ish exploits of Mighty Jack – a government organization created to defeat the notorious crime syndicate known as 'Q' – took everything that was bad about espionage movies and threw the rest out.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: SST: Death Flight
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: SST: Death Flight
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsy (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: February 19, 1989
Type: Movie
Joel, Crow, and Servo sit through a star-studded TV movie about a doomed SST flight while Gypsy goes through some interesting changes.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Fugitive Alien
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Fugitive Alien
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsy (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: February 5, 1989
Type: Movie
With Crow disassembled, Joel and Servo are left by themselves to tackle Part 1 of this baffling Japanese sci-fi epic.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Humanoid Woman
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Humanoid Woman
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsy (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: January 29, 1989
Type: Movie
A Russian film about a bug-eyed alien babe is the backdrop for a variety of antics aboard the Satellite of Love.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Cosmic Princess
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Cosmic Princess
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsy (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: January 22, 1989
Type: Movie
The stranded crew of the Satellite of Love have no sympathy for the stranded crew of Moonbase Alpha when they take in two repackaged episodes of Space: 1999.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Phase IV
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Phase IV
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsum (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: January 15, 1989
Type: Movie
This week's film is a deep sci-fi story about ants that leaves Crow wishing he'd brought a pair of boots into the theater.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera vs. Guiron
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera vs. Guiron
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsum (voice) / Dr. Erhardt
Released: January 8, 1989
Type: Movie
As two Earth boys plead for Gamera to rescue them from a planet of cannibals, Crow experiences a wonderful dream in which he turns the tables on the Mads.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera vs. Zigra
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera vs. Zigra
Character: Tom Servo / Gypsum (voice) / Dr. Erhardt / Russian Comedian
Released: December 31, 1988
Type: Movie
Crow gets unfrozen just in time for yet another Gamera film, and we meet the Mads for the first time.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera vs. Gaos
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera vs. Gaos
Character: Tom Servo / Gypsum (voice)
Released: December 18, 1988
Type: Movie
Tom Servo gets his new "Mighty Voice" and a chance to use it during another Gamera film. Crow is still frozen.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera
Character: Tom Servo / Gypsy (voice)
Released: December 11, 1988
Type: Movie
Crow is a frozen Christmas tree and Tom is busy, so Joel has to watch the original Gamera film all by himself.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera vs. Barugon
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera vs. Barugon
Character: Tom Servo (voice)
Released: December 4, 1988
Type: Movie
The historic first meeting between Gamera and the crew of the Satellite of Love.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Star Force: Fugitive Alien II
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Star Force: Fugitive Alien II
Character: Tom Servo (voice) / Gypsy (voice)
Released: November 27, 1988
Type: Movie
Today's experiment features real humans from Japan and a budget that must've been tens of dollars.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Revenge of the Mysterons from Mars
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Revenge of the Mysterons from Mars
Character: Tom Servo / Gypsy (voice)
Released: November 24, 1988
Type: Movie
Joel and his faithful robot companions celebrate Thanksgiving by scarfing down a chopped up Captain Scarlet serial repackaged as a TV film.