"Is that like Macks the Knife?"
"I think it's about a dog who changed his name."
"I think it's about a dog who changed his name."
Films watched: "X" Marks the Spot and King Dinosaur
X Marks The Spot, where a careless driver is killed in an accident and must plead his case in a heavenly courtroom, is notable for being the first short film featured on the show that was not an episode of a Film Serial, such as The Phantom Creeps or Undersea Kingdom.
The episode is available in the Gizmoplex here
, and on the MST3k YouTube channel here.
The Segments:
Prologue- Joel reads some beat poetry to the 'Bots, who sport beatnik beards.
Segment 1/Invention Exchange
- Joel's incredible invention is a pair of incredibly stinky sweat socks; make of that what you will. Frank accidentally flattens Dr. Forrester with a malfunctioning elevator and has to scoop him up with a shovel, so he's the invention this week, calling himself the "Pocket Scientist".
Segment 2
- Thanks to the short, Crow has an existential crisis and wonders whether he's qualified to tell people what to do, such as judging their driving habits.
Segment 3
- The film's animal star Joey the Lemur gets his very own song and educational bit. Joel gets rather carried away in the role.
Segment 4
- Joel is the star of the 'Bot's latest sketch, The Emotional Scientist, but he doesn't want to do it. Crow fills in for all of ten seconds, but their turmoil over the idea causes Joel to step back in.
Segment 5
- Since this is the fourth Robert Lippert film the crew have seen, Crow demands an explanation... but not with visual aids or a song; he's not worth it. Joel compromises by demonstrating a theremin. As Joel gets carried away, Crow and Servo read a letter from fans in Milwaukee, even showing off a scorecard they created. The Mads decide to go to a Kurosawa film festival.
The Mystery Science Theater 3000 presentation of "X" Marks the Spot has examples of:
- Curse Cut Short: By Joel, of all people, as the Judge is flipping through his book for Joe Doakes' name.Joel (as the Judge): Doakes... Doakes... I've got "Dickweed," "Dope," "Dumbsh-" Ah, here we go!
- Elmuh Fudd Syndwome: Judge/Commissioner Arthur W. "Fudd" McGee's case of it is roundly mocked. "Impwove twaffic conditions."
- Fictional Sport: Joke about how the running total of injuries and fatalities looks like a scoreboard.Tom: And at the half-time, wow, Injuries are ahead of Fatalities here in New Jersey!
- Hitler Ate Sugar: Parodied by the Bots after the judge in the short makes an ominous implication intended for Joe's guardian.Judge: That description fitted someone else I know... if you know who I mean.Crow: "Hitler? Uh, no, he drove a stick."
- Joisey: The short is mocked for being produced in the state, naturally.Judge: Born in New Jersey, eh?Crow: I thought I smelled something.
- Jury Duty: When the judge calls for the viewers to judge Joe, Joel quips "We're stranded in space and we still have to pull jury duty."
- Historical In-Joke: Joe supposedly ran down James Dean.
- Noodle Incident:Angel: I can't say Joe was out lookin' for trouble, but—Crow: But I did find him down by the waterfront dressed in a spartan costume goin', "Kitty! Kitty!"
- Not Bad: Even Tom is impressed with one of the car stunts, in which Joe's car narrowly misses two others skidding through a wet intersection.
- Not So Stoic: Joel blows up surprisingly early in the going. (Look who's talking.)Commissioner: Without knowledge, without malice... without thinking.
Joel: Without ENERGY! Would you wake up?! [pantomimes slapping the commissioner across the face] - Parallel Parking: An early scene has a Match Cut of a car fading into a narrow gap between two cars parked curbside. Tom Servo remarks, "Ah, parallel universe parking." The car's driver has to leave the space the old-fashioned way — as Crow puts it, "He uses the Braille system".
- Rousing Speech: Crow delivers one to the audience (and himself) after being inspired by the short. Bait and switched at the end, though, when he pulls a big "Why ME?" and abdicates all responsibility.
- Sarcasm Mode:Joe: I never hit-and-run!Joel: Well, that changes everything!
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here:
- Joel notes the angel is too happy to dump Joe. Almost word for word:Joel: (as the angel) The hell with you, I'm outta here. (angel fades away)
- During the Judge's ending speech, Joel and Tom bail early while Crow sticks around and takes it to heart.
- Joel notes the angel is too happy to dump Joe. Almost word for word:
- Serious Business: When the Judge questions the audience's qualifications as drivers to judge Joe, Crow takes it oddly seriously.
- What Would X Do?: When Crow wrestles with the questions the Judge asked, he ponders, "What would Joel do?", then tells himself he has to stand on his own two foot-like appendages.
The Mystery Science Theater 3000 presentation of King Dinosaur has examples of:
- Amusing Injuries: Dr. Forrester gets pancaked by an elevator. Harshly averted with the lizards and baby alligator forced to battle it out.
- Anything but That!: Upon seeing the opening credit "Lippert Productions", Joel and the Bots dredge up memories of other Lippert films they've been forced to watch.note
- Artistic License – Biology: Joel and the bots mistake the kinkajou in the film for a lemur.
- Bee Afraid: "Relax?! There's a bee the size of a moose over there, and you want him to relax?!"
- Borrowed Catch Phrase: Servo does Frank's strange throat noise during the invention exchange.
- Call-Back: Upon seeing the opening credit "Lippert Productions", Joel and the 'Bots dredge up memories of other Lippert films they've been forced to watch.
- Mighty Whitey: As usual, Joel and the 'bots pick up on The '50s-style arrogance, especially after the Nuke 'em ending.
- No Animals Were Harmed: Averted. The crew are dismayed, with the bots begging Joel call Betty White (an animal rights activist).Joel: You know, guys, lizards were hurt in the making of this film.
- The Scrappy: In-Universe example with Joel's puppet, "Joey the Lemur". Crow and Servo quickly get fed up with Joel's over-the-top obnoxious puppeteering. Fortunately, they don't take their frustrations out on the kinkajou that appears in the actual film.
- It also became one out of universe, to the point where the show itself spoofed it four seasons later in Last of the Wild Horses. It doesn't help that Joel blows his lines several times; apparently this was the best take they got and everyone just wanted to move on.
- And even worse, Joey has not yet appeared in the film by the time the sketch happens, making it pretty darn confusing on first viewing. They try to cover it up with Joel saying he read a film guide that says it'll happen. Of course, many fans have pointed out that the problem would have been resolved a lot more smoothly by simply flip-flopping the sketch with the following one, which doesn't relate to the film at all.
- And to top it off, there's no lemur in the film anyway. Joey is a kinkajou.
- Shout-Out: "I'm your boyfriend now!"
- Crow's spoken word/poetry is a reference to the song "Float On" by The Floaters (yes, that's really what their name is), consists of each band member saying their sign, their name, and what they're looking for in a woman, with "Float, float on" in between each member.
- Shown Their Work: Crow correctly points out that lizards don't stand erect. He later points out that iguanas are herbivores (which makes one playing the role of a Tyrannosaurus all the more ironic).
- Slurpasaur:
- Pointed out when Dick called the iguana a Tyrannosaurus rex.Dick: It resembles the Tyrannosaurus rex from Earth's prehistoric age.Servo: No, it doesn't.Crow: Sorry, no way.Dick: Tyrannosaurus rex, king dinosaur.Servo: That's a lizard from Pet World.Dick: This monster dominates just as similar ones dominated Earth 125 million years ago. It's like living in the past.Crow: It's an iguana!(later when Ralph and Patricia encounter the lizard)Patricia: What is it?!Crow: It's an iguana, now shut up!
- Lampshaded again when the "mammoths" show up.Servo: How did they get him to shake like that?Joel: They covered him with shag carpeting.Servo: Yeah. Poor elephant.
- Pointed out when Dick called the iguana a Tyrannosaurus rex.
- Soundtrack Dissonance: During the climax, the bots note that the musical score seems to be mocking the on-screen action (what with the muted trumpets going "Nah nah-nah NAAAH nah-nah NAAAH nah!" and all).
- That's Gotta Hurt: This is Joel and the bots' reaction to the reptile battles, which is made worse by the fact they're actual reptiles fighting to the death with each other.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Servo and Joel say "Oh, no!" when they see Robert Lippert's name in the credits ("Mars extending us a welcome!" "With some french-fried potatoes!") When Crow enters late, he asks what film they're watching. When they mention it's a Lippert film, Crow screams.
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight: One of the scientists laughs that there's nothing dangerous with the planet, and that there isn't any "race of super beings".Servo: (as scientist) All we've seen are giant mutated animals!
- Viewer Species Confusion: On the riffers' part — that's not a lemur, it's a kinkajou. They're actually not even related to lemurs, being more closely related to raccoons. It's probably the prehensile tail that did it.
- Visual Pun:Dr. Forrester: Okay, look at me. Take a long gawk at the pocket scientist!
- What the Hell, Hero?: Every time Dick pushes one of the girls down — which happens disturbingly often. Partly justified in that the women both qualify as The Load. The screaming load.
Patricia: AHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Ralph: (staggers to the ground)
