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The first nationally broadcast episode of MST3K (The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy) was on November 18, 1989. Seasons 1 thru 7 [1989-96] were broadcast nationally through Comedy Central / The Comedy Channel. The quality of the recordings may still be pretty bad in the earlier seasons but they improve with time.
0101 - The Crawling Eye [1958]
aka The Trollenberg Terror
A remote mountain resort in Switzerland is invaded by horrible alien creatures that like to decapitate humans. The beings are also in telepathic communication with people and inhabit a mysterious, radioactive cloud at the base of the Trollenberg mountain.
First time Jim Mallon appears as Gypsy. Even though this was the first episode produced for a mass audience, it was aired second. Crow: "My eyes are burning!" 0102 - The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy [1958]
aka The Aztec Mummy Against the Humanoid Robot
A mad doctor builds a robot in order to steal a valuable Aztec treasure from a tomb guarded by a centuries-old living mummy.
This episode features the inclusion of sound effects. Joel holds his hand over the mouth of a woman muffling her voice. Also, the sound of water streaming is played when we see a row of men with their back to us. They apologize for doing this and will never do it again. Even though this episode was the second one produced, it was aired as the first national episode on Nov. 18, 1989.
A mad scientist changes his simple-minded handyman into a werewolf in order to prove his supposedly crazy scientific theories - and exact revenge.
Watch for the Beverly Hillbillies parody during the swamp scene in the main feature. Very funny stuff.
This episode also contains the short
Radar Men from the Moon [1952],
Part 2 0104 - Women of the Prehistoric Planet [1966]
20 years after a space ship crash lands on a distant solar system, killing all hands except for a young boy named Tang, a rescue ship arrives. The crew is attacked by the native humanoids of the planet and one of the crew, a girl named Linda, falls in love with Tang.
Even though the production number is 0104, it was the last episode produced for season 1 due to rights issues. Let it also be known there's only one woman on that prehistoric planet ...and she's not FROM the prehistoric planet. The other women stay on the ship. The title was adjusted before release for marketing purposes. 0105 - The Corpse Vanishes [1942]
A scientist, aided by an old hag and her two sons, kills virginal brides, steals their bodies, and extracts gland fluid to keep his ancient wife alive and young.
For whatever reason, they choose to make the theater seat shadows green in this episode and the next. Although there are short films that are older, The Corpse Vanishes is the oldest feature film ever pariodied on MST3K. Tom Servo's head blows up for the first time.
After an astronaut's space capsule is detonated in orbit, a teenager finds a severed arm among wreckage on earth. Soon the thing returns to life to murder and possess the young man's mind.
This is the first national episode in which viewer mail is read on air. Producer Joseph F. Robertson used his own hand for the title character in the film. 0107 - Robot Monster [1953]
Ro-Man, an alien that looks remarkably like a gorilla in a diving helmet, has destroyed all but six people on the planet Earth. He spends the entire film trying to finish off these survivors, but complications arise when he falls for the young woman in the group. Love that bubble machine!
Watch for the sneeze and the giant dart in the theater. First film featured on MST3K that was filmed at California's Bronson Canyon. This popular filming location would show up in at least 7 more films featured on MST3K.
This episode also contains shorts
Radar Men from the Moon [1952],
Parts 4 & 5 0108 - The Slime People [1963]
After Los Angeles is invaded by an army of subterranean monsters, a small group of people must fight for survival in the deserted metropolis. And, I would imagine, the extensive use of fog saved a bundle on set decorating.
First black & white movie where a blue tint was used. This will continue into the 4th season. Kind of wish they'd stuck with it.
In the not-too-distant future of 1970, the United States is considering building bases on the Moon, and send a female colonel and two men to investigate. One of the men turns out to be a foreign spy, and the entire operation - and the future of the free world - is in danger. Also, the Dodgers have been traded back to Brooklyn.
Kevin Murphy: [The film is] openly and condescendingly hostile toward women as a gender. On behalf of all men everywhere, I heartily apologize for the fact that this movie was ever conceived.
This episode contains the two shorts
Radar Men from the Moon [1952],
Parts 7 & 8 0110 - Robot Holocaust [1986]
A highly unlikely band of heroes traverses a post-apocalyptic wasteland to rescue a scientist from the tyrannical Dark One and his army of robots.
This was the first color film presented for national broadcast.
Women of the Prehistoric Planet,
with its production number of 0104, was held till the end of the season due to rights issues.
This episode also contains the short
Radar Men from the Moon [1952],
Part 9 ...and, much to the MST3K crew's happiness, the last part. 0111 - Moon Zero Two [1969]
Special
A space salvage expert and his partner become involved with a group of criminals intent on hijacking a small asteroid made of sapphire. But first they must dispose of a miner with a claim. Little known to them, however, is the fact that the miner's sister has hired a salvage team to help locate her missing brother.
Mike Nelson stated in the Amazing Colossal Episode Guide that, when he was collecting everyone's thoughts and memories of past episodes, no one could remeber doing this one and it's considered by the staff to be a hoax. 0112 - Untamed Youth [1957]
Sisters Jane and Penny are arrested for hitchhiking on their way to Los Angeles when they stop for a quick skinny-dip in a rural town. Local agricultural magnate Tropp is a sponsor for a local prison work program and the women are put in the cotton fields to work off their sentences.
This episode generated the first negative review for the show in Gorezone magazine, which called it, "the most insulting show to (the Comedy Channel's) viewership," and complaining about Joel and the bots talking over Eddie Cochran's only song. That'll show 'em! 0113 - The Black Scorpion [1957]
Giant scorpions demolish Mexico City. They have been released from underground caverns by a series of volcanic eruptions, and it's up to Hank, an American geologist to stop them.
0101 - The Crawling Eye [1958]
0102 - The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy [1958]
0103 - The Mad Monster [1942]
0104 - Women of the Prehistoric Planet [1966]
0105 - The Corpse Vanishes [1942]
0106 - The Crawling Hand [1963]
0107 - Robot Monster [1953]
0108 - The Slime People [1963]
0109 - Project Moonbase [1953]
0110 - Robot Holocaust [1986]
0111 - Moon Zero Two [1969]
Special
0112 - Untamed Youth [1957]
0113 - The Black Scorpion [1957]