#BringBackMST3K · 3:20pm Dec 12th, 2015
We made history last night.
I can't believe I didn't say anything about it on here (shit, I dedicated a blog to Wes Craven dying), but last month, Joel Hodgson put up a Kickstarter page for a revival of Mystery Science Theater 3000. He requested about $2 million that, after Kickstarter fees and reward expenses, would go towards making three new episodes of a show that's obviously been a huge inspirational force in my life. His real hope was that A. it could make up to $5.5M to fund a full season of twelve episodes, and that B. it would send out a message to the world that we want it back.
Last night was the end of the campaign. $5,764,229. Plus $600K in add-on rewards, for a total of more than $6.3 million. Enough money to beat out Veronica Mars as the most funded TV/film project ever put to crowdfunding based on counted Kickstarter funds ALONE, and enough money to produce FOURTEEN episodes of the show. I put $85 towards the project and watched the five-hour, technical issue-ridden live telethon counting down the final hours. I watched the Grumps play a Manos game with Crow. I watched Dana Gould playing Dr. Zaius playing William Shatner reciting "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." Hell, Starbomb performed "Crasher-vania" live. And, at the very end, I saw Joel don his old jumpsuit and sing us off with the old theme tune as the number climbed past his final target.
And after it all, I went up to my room, found my DVD copy of the "Manos" The Hands of Fate riff, and cried tears of joy.
MST3K is coming back in full force, and I think we've spoken loud enough to send the message that we want it to stick around for a long, LONG time. This may be the happiest I've been in a good long while. I wish Joel and the new cast and crew the best of luck in their endeavors, and I'm excited to see what they produce.
And I didn't hear about it until it was over.
HELL. FUCKING. YES.
3613068 i heard about it but didin't realize it was an actual telemarathon to bring it back till after. glad it met the goal .
what!
THAT IS AMAZING!!!!!!
I was pretty pleased myself when I heard the final numbers. I lacked the money to contribute to it myself, but I did try to at least make a few more people aware of what was going on, and maybe some of them were able to chip in. Also, when Joel asked folks to follow their Twitter feed and Facebook pages -- so that they could prove to distributors that the fans were indeed out there -- I got several friends on board with the Facebook page. So there's that...
P.S. You know what I want for Christmas this year? I wanna decide who lives and who dies.
P.P.S. And for it to be a Patrick Swayze Christmas.
P.P.P.S. Just saved a copy of that Joel image.