The Best Episodes Directed By Joel Hodgson

Max ruefully considers his affection for Kinga while she openly declares her love for online soul mate, Neville LaRoy. Together they sing the hit song, “Our Love is On Wings (You Can’t See).” Jonah and the bots riff on Rock Hudson’s Avalanche. Movie Plot: Hanging over a new ski resort are charges of corruption and a big snow wedge that's been there for years. Original film made in 1978.

In the theater, the crew watches as a young woman and her singer boyfriend rescue her father from a giant caveman living in a California desert in "Eegah" (1962). Meanwhile, on the SOL, the bots alter Joel's face to resemble Arch Hall, Jr.

A wheelchair-bound boy and his family and friends help to protect an alien creature that has accidentally been brought to Earth.

In the theater, the crew watches as a vacationing family find themselves in the lair of a demon-worshipping cultist, his harem of brides, and his minion, Torgo, in "Manos: The Hands of Fate" (1966). Meanwhile, in Deep 13, Torgo shows up very late with a pizza delivery. This episode features the short "Hired! Part II" (1940).

Jonah and the bots realize the Mads have been stealing their ideas for Invention Exchanges. The Satellite of Love attracts a giant space squid, and Kinga and Max debut a promotional ad for their new venture, Dinosaur BBQ. Jonah and the bots riff on The Land that Time Forgot. Movie Plot: A small group of survivors is taken in by a German submarine after the vessel has sunk their ship. When a struggle ensues between the German officers and their captives, the U-boat, which is running out of fuel, comes across an uncharted island. Unfortunately for the passengers and crew, dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures roam the land and everyone must fight to survive. Original film made in 1975.

Jonah Heston is shanghaied during a space mission by Kinga, Dr. Forrester's ambitious daughter. Jonah does a major redesign on Gypsy. Tom Servo and Crow settle in with Jonah as they riff on Reptillicus! Movie Plot: Copenhagen is terrorized by a prehistoric beast that has regenerated itself from a recently discovered tail segment. Original film made in 1961.

Movie Plot: A really bad alien movie that features aliens with many eyes that land on Earth. On the SOL: Servo and Crow become best buddies / Servo needs to kiss someone / the crew celebrates Earl Holiman / the crew tries to prove that the movie's producers didn't care. In Deep 13: The mads use a Router Ouija Board to contact dead wood-workers / Larry Buchanan (the movie's director) confirms that nobody on the crew cared.

Pearl Forrester, Bobo and Brain Guy pay an awkward visit to Moon 13 revealing fractured family dynamics. Jonah starts working on a space suit. Jonah and the bots riff on Cry Wilderness. Movie Plot: Bigfoot's ghost brings a boy to where his father and a hunter have mistaken Bigfoot for a Bengal tiger. Original film made in 1986.

The Mads invest heavily in a new brand of coffee by a rising entrepreneur named Todd Hitler. Jonah breaks down for Crow how to properly create a mix tape for listening to on space trips. Jonah and the bots riff on Yongary. Movie Plot: An earthquake from an atomic blast rouses an amphibious colossus, which then attacks South Korea. Original film made in 1967.

Max finds a mysterious key that unlocks a gigantic, powerful robot he befriends and names Reptilicus Metallicus. Jonah sings a poignant song to Tom Servo illustrating the responsibility of magic powers. Jonah and the bots riff on Wizards of the Lost Kingdom. Movie Plot: A drunken warrior helps the son of a slain wizard fight a wicked sorcerer in the land of Axeholme. Original film made in 1985.

Kinga has decided to marry Jonah as a ratings stunt and asks Pearl to give her away. Jonah puts the finishing touches on his space suit. Jonah and the bots riff on The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t. Movie Plot: Children unite to help Santa Claus and his wife, whose heartless landlord wants the rent. Original film made in 1966.

In the theater, the crew watches as three women break out of jail and search for a hidden cache of stolen diamonds, emboldened by an undercover police officer, in "Swamp Diamonds" (1956). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Servo is inspired to ask one of his robot cohorts on a date. This episode also features the short "What to Do on a Date" (1951).

Crow and Tom don mysterious costumes inspired by the film and perform an unnerving parade. Jonah and the bots discuss how other popular movies could benefit from dinosaur attacks. Jonah and bots riff on The Beast of Hollow Mountain. Movie Plot: A Mexican cattleman's dispute with a rancher is settled by a tyrannosaur from the local swamp. Original film made in 1956.

Jonah and the bots are visited by the great space circus ring master, P. T. Mindslap, who wants to recruit the bots for his circus. A glitch in Kinga Chrome reveals a strange specter of another host with the bots. Jonah and the bots riff Carnival Magic. Movie Plot: A jealous lion-tamer kidnaps a magician's talking chimpanzee and hands the animal over for scientific experiments. Original film made in 1981.

It is Kinga’s wedding day and she coerces the Manager of the Hive Mind to fill the seats at Moon 13 with guests. Max, disheartened, receives a manly pep talk from Doug McClure. An unexpected guest officiates the wedding. Jonah and the bots riff on At the Earth’s Core. Movie Plot: An English scientist has invented a massive drill that can dig deep into the earth. Joined by his adventure-seeking American backer, he accidentally discovers an underground civilization of primitive humans who live in fear of telepathic flying monsters. Original film made in 1976.

A squad of three giant mecha fight off giant sea creatures that are attacking the United States east coast.

Jonah introduces a series of new robots to Tom and Crow with unexpected results. The Satellite of Love receives visitors Larry and Dr. Varno. Jonah and the bots riff on The Time Travelers. Kinga and Max celebrate the 200th episode of MST3K. Movie Plot: Research scientists experimenting with time warps are accidentally propelled forward into an unbearable future. Original film made in 1964.

In the theater, the crew watches as a rich runaway named Danny and a vagrant named Bix Dugan get into trouble in a small town in "The Girl in Lovers Lane" (1959). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Servo and Crow, inspired by the film, try to instigate a fight with Joel. This episode features the train song "What a Pleasant Journey."

Kinga and Max pitch several money-making ideas to big-time space venture capitalist Freak Masterstroke. The bots obsess over their newfound devotion to Starcrash character Akton. Jonah and the bots riff on Starcrash. Movie Plot: An outlaw smuggler and her alien companion are recruited by the Emperor of the Galaxy to rescue his son and destroy a secret weapon created by the evil Count Zarth Arn. Original film made in 1978.

Kinga seeks advice from Gramma Pearl but is rejected, and instead has to settle for Pearl’s clone, Synthia. Kinga’s new liquid medium, Kinga Chrome, continues to misfire while Jonah creates a training video with the bots for a grille and inn franchise. Jonah and the bots riff on Wizards of the Lost Kingdom 2. Movie Plot: A warrior, a boy and a wizard must unite three kingdoms of the future. Original film made in 1989.

An extended family living in the desert has numerous encounters with alien creatures and time travel.

In the theater, the crew watches as a crash causes an astronaut to become an irradiated mutant creature, who then terrorizes a nearby town in "Monster a Go-Go" (1965). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Gypsy doesn't understand Crow and Servo, and Crow and Servo don't understand the Piña Colada song. This episode features the short "Circus on Ice" (1954).

In the theater, the crew watches as the widow of a murdered sheriff steps up to fight outlaws in her rural town in "Gunslinger" (1956). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Servo sends Joel messages via the Gypsy Express.

In the theater, the crew watches as a delinquent teen catches his big break as a singer, only to have his career threatened by his resentful former gang in "The Beatniks" (1960). Meanwhile, on the SOL, Joel and the bots explain how to spot a genuine beatnik. This episode features the short "General Hospital (Segment 2)."

The bots subject Jonah to a Herculean trial as the defendant in “Court of Axe Appeal.” When Jonah introduces another new bot, M. Waverly, Tom and Crow make their feelings known. Jonah and the bots riff on The Loves of Hercules. Movie Plot: An evil Amazon wants Hercules to think she's the same queen he freed from between two trees. Original film made in 1960.