MST3K: Episode 1007 - Track of the Moon Beast

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

Episode 1007: Track of the Moon Beast

First aired: Sci-Fi Channel on 13 June 1999
Availability: MST3KVideos.com fan copy

Definitely NOT the right track.

This episode is another one of those that I missed when the show was on the air. It aired 11 times from 1999 to 2003, but for whatever reason, I missed them. The only reason I've seen it now is that I obtained a fan copy as part of my project to watch all the episodes. So, I have no one to blame but myself.

Actually, this episode is a good one. Track of the Moon Beast is a pretty bad film, but not stick an icepick in your eyeballs bad. The riffing is great. And the Host Segments feature one of my favorites: the VH1 Behind the Music kinda segment on The Band That Played "California Lady."

Getting hit in the head by a moon rock.

I first saw the segment of The Band That Played "California Lady" on Play MST For Me, which is now part of the Play MSTie For Me Triple Decker DVD. It was great! Still is, by the way.

Seeing The Band That Played "California Lady" actually in context doesn't really change anything. There's the "Oh, this is where that skit comes from" moment, but seeing it neither adds to nor subtracts from Mike's bit. It's great, and by itself, gives the episode a bump up.

Actually, though, the whole episode is good. From the renaming of one of the characters to "Johnny Longbone" to Johnny Longbone's stew ("... *sigh* ... onions ...") to the whole "we gotta save him, oh, wait, let's kill him instead" attitude... this episode is a winner.

The cast.

Some 70s guy digs for rocks and such but one night gets hit in the head by a meteorite from the moon and turns into a giant killer lizard-man, but only when the moon is fully, which happens for about 29 days in a row, but his friends, including stew-master Johnny Longbone, decide he's not to blame for his wild killing sprees, but then a doctor tells him that he can't help him and that he'll eventually spontaneously combust or something, so he climbs a hill but Johnny Longbone goes after him and kills him with a bow and arrow ... actually, with the arrow since the bow was just used for deliver. The end.

The Moon Beast gets killed.

You noticed there was no mention of The Band That Played "California Lady," huh? That's because the segment where the band plays "California Lady" has nothing to do with anything, except for 70s Guy to tell Johnny Longbone he has a headache. I don't think they were implying the song gave it to him.

The other Host Segments are fun, but kinda pale to The Band That Played "California Lady." So, I suppose you can tell I liked that segment, huh?

How I missed all the airings of this episode, I just don't know. Bad luck, I suppose.

The other day, I mentioned that I hadn't seen Episode 1005: Blood Waters of Dr. Z until this project, but didn't care for it. Not the case here. I missed it during the broadcast run, but love this episode.

As a film, Track of the Moon Beast is awful. As part of an episode of MST3K, it's a winner.

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