Season 8 [1997]
Sci Fi Channel
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Due to an extensive letter writing campaign by MST3K's fans, the Sci Fi Channel (now known as SyFy) picked up the show and ran it for seasons 8-10 [1997-99].
0801 - Revenge of the Creature [1955]

  
The Creature from the Black Lagoon has been captured by scientists and transported to an aquarium in south Florida. Once there he becomes attracted to the lovely female scientist, manages to escape, kidnap her, and heads to Jacksonville. Where else?
Bill Corbett's first appearance as Crow. As such, he was not as experienced at puppeteering and Crow looks like he's having a stroke at times during this episode. Kevin Murphy's first appearance as Prof. Bobo. The first episode with Sci Fi, you'll note a lot of changes. The movie features Clint Eastwoord's first screen appearance.
0802 - The Leech Woman [1960]

   


On a journey to Africa, an emotionally disturbed woman witnesses the secret of restoring lost youth - unfortunately, it entails regularly sacrificing young men. There's plenty of them around so that shouldn't be a problem.
0803 - The Mole People [1956]

       

A party of archaeologists discovers the remnants of a mutant five-millennia-old Sumerian civilization living beneath a glacier atop a mountain in Mesopotamia.

This episode features the first special guest appearance: Robert Smith, a star running back of the Minnesota Vikings.
0804 - The Deadly Mantis [1957]

      

A giant prehistoric praying mantis, recently freed from the Arctic ice, voraciously preys on American military at the DEW Line and works its way south.

This episode marks the first appearance of The Widowmaker, Pearl's VW astro-bus. The film itself isn't too bad, actually.
0805 - The Thing That Couldn't Die [1958]

  

A psychically gifted young woman discovers a centuries-old crate buried on her aunt's ranch. Opening it, her family discovers the living head of Gideon Drew, a 16th century devil worshiper who was beheaded by Sir Francis Drake. Great conversation piece.

This episode features Bill Corbett's first appearance as Brain Guy. It also introduces the Observers.
0806 - The Undead [1957]

              

A beautiful woman is sent back in time via hypnosis to the Middle Ages where she finds she is suspected of being a witch, and subject to being executed.

I just watched this one recently and it is very funny - Doc. Bill Corbett (Crow) had this to say about the episode: Next time you have the notion to defend Roger Corman as a good director, watch this movie and repent. [Because of a hysterical scene near the end of the film], for months, people are still walking around the Best Brains office suddenly yelling "STAY!" at the top of their lungs with no warning.
0807 - Terror from the Year 5000 [1958]

   

Prof. Erling and his financial backer Victor build a prototype time machine to snatch objects from the past. Latest find, a statuette, radiometrically dates to 5200 AD! Wait, what? How does that work?

The song in one of the host segments, "When I Held Your Brain in My Arms", was an immediate hit among fans.
0808 - The She-Creature [1956]

              

A mysterious hypnotist reverts his beautiful assistant back into the form of a prehistoric sea monster that she was in a past life.

Paul Blaisdell was a master make-up artist, around this time period, and known for a variety of monster costumes. The she-creature is considered one of this best.
0809 - I Was a Teenage Werewolf [1957]

       

A hypnotherapist uses a temperamental teenager as guinea pig for a serum which transforms him into a vicious werewolf.

Much of the host segments center around Alien. Servo acquires a cute facehugger.
0810 - The Giant Spider Invasion [1975]

           

A black hole hits North Wisconsin and opens a door to other dimensions. Giant 15 meter spiders emerge with an appetite for human flesh! Dr. Jenny Langer and Dr. Vance from NASA try to save the world.

Most of the giant spiders in this film are made up of VW Beetles with puppet legs attached and a bunch of puppeteers crammed inside.
0811 - Parts: The Clonus Horror [1979]
aka The Clonus Horror
           
A young man escapes from a government-run project called 'Clonus'; a politicians scheme to clone themselves, assuring immortal life.

Director, Robert S. Fiveson, and producer, Myrl Schreibman, sued Michael Bay for plagiarism stating The Island was a Clonus ripoff. It was settled out of court ...probably for more then this film ever made. Mike impersonates Peter Graves in the final credits promising an upcoming "Biography" on the life of Peter Graves. To the surprise of the MST3K's crew, Biography featured Peter Graves a week later. Peter hated MST3K, btw.
0812 - The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!? [1964]

        

Jerry falls in love with a stripper he meets at a carnival. Little does he know that she is the sister of a gypsy fortune teller, who he had scoffed at earlier, and that gypsy now turns him into a zombie on a killing spree.

The movie cost $38,000 to make and was nominated for 3 Golden Turkey awards but failed to pick one up. First MST3K episode broadcast in stereo.
0813 - Jack Frost [1965]
aka Frosty
        

A fairy-tale about a conceited young man and a young woman with a tyrannical step-mother, who must overcome magical trials in order to be together.

The film, made in Russia, is a mish-mash of various Slavic fairy tales and folklore. It's also one of the highest rated films that MST3K has riffed.
0814 - Riding with Death [1976]

   

A satellite explosion and the accompanying radiation turns an ever-so mellow and dimwitted Agent Sam Casey invisible in this made-for-TV thriller.

Features Jim Mallon's final appearance as Gypsy.
0815 - Agent for H.A.R.M. [1966]

   

Wimpy secret agent who looks like Dr. Smith from Lost In Space helps protect a scientist from a generic Iron Curtain country who has developed a gun that shoots boogers at people from a evil guy who looks like Pee-Wee Herman.

Features Patrick Brantseg's first appearance as Gypsy marking the replacement of all of the original on-screen regulars. The film was originally produced as a TV pilot but was released theatrically. First MST3K episode directed by Mike Nelson.
0816 - Prince of Space [1959]

           

When an alien force tries to invade Earth to steal a powerful new rocket fuel, a mysterious hero intervenes.

Mike is replaced by Robot Mike for one of the theater segments. "heh heh heh heh heh heh."
0817 - The Horror of Party Beach [1964]

              

Sea creatures created from radioactive sludge terrorize a beach community because ...why not?

This film is a personal favorite of Stephen King. Movie patrons had to sign a "Fright Release" before entering to release a theater's liability in case of death. There were actually scenes cut for violence in the UK. One look at that picture tells me this was a truly terrifying film to behold. I mean, how many hot dogs can be eaten at one time?
0818 - Devil Doll [1964]

        


An evil hyponotist / ventriloquist, with a dummy who ain't so dumb, plots to gain an heiress' millions.

"Does this bug you? I'm not touching you!" Loaded with some hysterical riffs, this is one of my favorites - Doc. Tom Servo spends the latter part of the film as a toaster struddle with great gams.
0819 - Invasion of the Neptune Men [1961]

              

Clumsy invaders from Neptune are thwarted by hero Space Chief and a nondescript group of microshort-wearing Japanese kids.

Kevin Murphy has stated that the filmmaker's choice to use actual WWII file footage in what is ostensibly a children's film, is reprehensible.
0820 - Space Mutiny [1988]

        

A pilot is the only hope to stop the mutiny of a spacecraft by its security crew, who plot to sell the crew of the ship into slavery.

In an intersting film continuity error, a prominent member of the Southern Sun's bridge crew is killed during a bar scene but miraculously appears in the next scene alive and well at her console. She then disappears completely. This episode is regarded by many fans to be the best episode of the Sci-Fi Channel era and number 2 overall.
0821 - Time Chasers [1994]

              

An inventor comes up with a time machine, but must prevent its abuse at the hands of an evil C.E.O.

This movie didn't show a profit until MST3K paid for the licensing fees to use it on the show.
0822 - Overdrawn at the Memory Bank [1983]

              

The mind of a computer programmer (forced to take a virtual vacation) is removed by a totalitarian government and accidentally trapped in a virtual reality simulation. He must find a way out before his mind cube expires.

I was surprised to find out this was considered a terribly bad movie. I remember seeing it when it came out and I, too, thought it was ridiculous but, overall, good, goofy fun. - Doc
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