MST3K: Episode 901 - The Projected Man

I'm watching all of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes in order. More about that here and here.

Episode 901: The Projected Man

First aired: Sci-Fi Channel on 14 March 1998
Availability: MST3KVideos.com fan copy

Projected at a skewed ratio

Mystery Science Theater 3000 was on the air nationally from November 18, 1989 - January 31, 2004. The last 4 years and change were reruns. Of the 14 years plus that it aired, Mike Nelson was host for 10 years (5½ seasons, and 4 years plus of reruns). So, it makes sense that when I began this project, I'd be more familiar with Mike's episodes than with Joel's.

It also makes sense that I'd have seen all of the Mike episodes. However, there were some I never saw. This is one of those.

Despite the fact that the show aired for nearly 6 years after this episode first aired, the episode as only broadcast eight times. Every time was on a weekend, and, though I can't confirm that I was traveling during all five weekends those eight broadcasts happened, it's quite likely.

Last season, he was The Great Vorelli; this season, he's a British Harvey Dent.

Getting a fan copy and watching it made this one a treat. Sort of.

It's an okay episode, but not a great episode. The movie is, well, almost watchable. It's not a good movie, but it's not an awful movie. It's not much worse than some of the Quatermass films TCM would carry.

Again, that's not to say this was a good film. MST3K could have done some Quatermass films and been well within their rights to do so.

The Great Vorelli develops a laser-powered transporter (like on Star Trek) but gets his funding cut so he transports himself with the help of girl that likes to run around in her underwear, but she screws it up and he ends up looking like Harvey Dent and starts killing people, but his friends stop him before he gets to the Pink Floyd power station to steal all the power and so he dies. The end.

Kinda looks like the cover of Pink Floyd's Animals doesn't it?

Her qualifications to assist in a major experiment? Blue underwear.

I'm not sure why this episode didn't tickle my fancy quite like other episodes. The fact that it was one of my "missing" episodes kinda filled me with anticipation. Maybe I set my sights too high.

Oh, the riffing if good, but not great. I did laugh ... okay, chuckle ... a bit, and I thought that some of the Host Segments were funny, and some were just kinda silly.

I didn't hate this episode, but it's not one of my favorites. Maybe after I see it a few more times, I'll have a better view of it.

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