Anatomy of an episode

The Short

If a movie is not long enough to fill two hours, MST3K precedes it with a short film to make up the time. Shorts may be individual installments of old movie serials, industrial films (e.g. a promotional film on farming) or the types of films shown in school to highlight personal hygiene, manners, etc.

The Movie

This is the focus of the episode. The film could be science fiction, an old melodrama, a Japanese monster movie or episodes strung together from failed television series. The film could be anything.

Host Segments

This is where Joel/Mike interact with the 'bots and the MADs (Dr. Forrester, TV's Frank and Pearl Forrester). Quips are exchanged, and often skits are performed which somehow relate to some aspect of the film. The host segments are comprised of the prologue, the invention and segments two through four.

Prologue

A very brief visit to the Satellite of Love, just to check in before the show starts.

Invention Exchange

In this segment, directly preceding the movie, Joel (and for a few shows, Mike) and the MADs demonstrate gadgets or concepts.

Segments 2 - 4

Often these involve skits performed by Joel/Mike and the 'bots that relate to the movie. Besides the skits, these segments often depict life in general on the Satellite of Love. In the last segment of the show, letters to MST3K are read and overall reflections of the movie are given.

Stinger

A short clip from the film (about five seconds) that could be anything. Stingers are selected because of a particularly bizarre line, a stupid expression, or a character or scene that was noteworthy or tickled someone's funny bone for some unknown reason.

ack to Other Cool Sci-Fi Stuff.