‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ returns with new episodes in April

"In the not too distant future," the cast of cult television favorite "Mystery Science Theater 3000" will return for fourteen new episodes, to be presented weekly on Netflix beginning April 14. Photo courtesy of Netflix/Twitter

Feb. 22 (UPI) — “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” a cult television favorite involving B-movies and dubbed-in wisecracks, will return for its 11th season in April, creator Joel Hodgson announced.

A Kickstarter campaign, through which fans contributed funding to underwrite production of the series, netted $5.7 million, a Kickstarter record. Fourteen new episodes will be produced for the Netflix Channel, the first episode to be presented on April 14.

The program, known to its fans as MST3K, began as a local television program in Minnesota in the late 1980s, and later aired on the Comedy Channel and Comedy Central. The premise of its 197 episodes involves a man aboard a spaceship, with only scratch-built robot friends and an available supply of bad movies – Hollywood B-pictures from the 1940s and 50s and also short films about hygiene and manners from the same era. The humor comes from the steady stream of commentary, wisecracks and alternative movie dialog supplied by the space travelers.

“Get ready for the Robot Roll-Call: MST3K is coming to Netflix April 14!” Netflix announced in a Twitter message, using a catchphrase from the program.

The Kickstarter campaign was launched in November to demonstrate the program’s viability to a generation that remembers it, as well as to a newer audience. The revival also reveals the influence “Mystery Science Theater 3000” had on comedians and television program creators, some of whom will be part of new show as cast and writers.

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