sondramedia Senior Editor Brandon Schreur spoke to Thriller Science Theater 3000 host Jonah Ray. Ray mentioned the annual Turkey Day occasion (which is being held on November 28, 2024, on Shout! TV and The MST3K Channel), his experiences filming the present, and what the longer term would possibly maintain for Thriller Science Theater 3000.
The synopsis for the Turkey Day occasion reads, “Tune in to Shout! TV on 11/28 for the Thriller Science Theater 3000 Turkey Day Potluck of the Stars Marathon, hosted by Jonah Ray and that includes visitors David Dastmalchian, Mike Flanagan, Bryan Fuller, Mark Hamill, Matthew Lillard, and Kumail Nanjiani, and the Forged and Crew of MST3K.”
Click on right here for extra data on the MST3K Turkey Day occasion.
Brandon Schreur: I simply wished to say, I do know you haven’t made any new seasons not too long ago, however congratulations on the present. It’s certainly one of my favorites, I put it on on a regular basis. I like it.
Jonah Ray: Thanks. Yeah, I did the identical factor rising up, it’s all the time cool that folks try this to my episodes, now, which is sort of loopy to do.
Certain. I’ll inform you, it was Christmas 2020 I had COVID the entire time so I couldn’t go to any events or occasions or something. I simply watched your episodes the entire day and it turned it from a horrible day into a fantastic day.
Good, good. I actually want I may simply get everybody on the market and do a Clockwork Orange-style model of what you went via with my episodes, after which extra folks could be into it.
There you go. I’d be for it. To start out, I’m sort of interested by your relationship with Thriller Science Theater. Clearly, I do know you began round 2016/2017, however the present has been round for thus, so lengthy. At what age did you begin watching it and get entangled?
Once I began watching it, Comedy Central wasn’t obtainable the place I grew up. I grew up in Hawaii and we simply began getting increasingly more cable channels. I bear in mind MTV lastly confirmed up, then Comedy Central lastly confirmed up. I bear in mind, I beloved Comedy Central as a result of they’d present previous episodes of SNL, all these things I’ve all the time wished to observe. Then I bear in mind tuning in as soon as and simply seeing a black-and-white film. I went, ‘Oh, they’re taking part in previous motion pictures like each different channel.’ Then I heard the voices, I noticed the silhouettes, and I used to be like, ‘What’s going on?’ I assumed it was channels on high of one another, perhaps.
Then it went straight right into a sketch. I bear in mind instantly recognizing Joel Hodgson as a man from previous episodes of SNL, Letterman reruns, and clips. I used to be like, ‘Oh, it’s that prop comedian!’ I instantly grew to become obsessive about it as a result of, at that very same time, I used to be moving into weirdo comedy and was additionally moving into watching previous sci-fi horror motion pictures. I used to be beginning to do puppet stuff for my cousins’ birthday events. All of it sort of collided to turn into certainly one of my favourite issues.
Oh, positive. And I’m positive it should have been so nice to get the information that you will be on the present and be the brand new host. Thoughts-blowing, I’m positive.
Yeah, that’s one thing I don’t know the way a lot I’ve ever actually processed due to how insane it feels. It appears so outdoors of any sort of actuality that I might have ever anticipated in my life. I’ve had a really onerous life in comedy and I’ve gotten to do a variety of stuff that’s like issues that I appreciated rising up. I acquired to do a stand-up present with Kumail Nanjiani on Comedy Central and it’s like, ‘Oh, that’s just like the reveals that I used to observe.’ Or I acquired to do that different factor and it’s like, ‘That is like what I like.’ I’ve gotten to do a variety of issues which are just like the issues I appreciated.
Then, when Joel requested me to host the brand new model, it was like, ‘It is a one-to-one factor.’ This isn’t like Thriller Science Theater, it’s Thriller Science Theater. It’s nonetheless fairly mind-blowing the place I sort of go, ‘Did I get into Thriller Science Theater for the only real motive that I someway knew I used to be going to be in Thriller Science Theater?’ Time is a flat circle, I don’t know.
, all of it labored out in the long run.
Yeah, it’s actually mind-blowing and I don’t ever diminish it in my head for a second.
Certain, undoubtedly. What has the response appeared like because you’ve been part of the present? It’s been seven or eight years now, most likely. I’m assuming they such as you as a result of they introduced you again for extra seasons.
The individuals who make it like me, in fact. I knew, after I was introduced, there was going to be considerably difficult. Traditionally, a brand new host on MST has by no means actually gone over too easily. It went from Joel to Mike, in fact, and I used to be prepared for that as nicely. What’s wild is folks appear to love it and appear to love me, however the wild factor is that it didn’t really feel prefer it moved the needle a lot in my on a regular basis life. Now, because it’s been on so lengthy, now I’ll be out at a restaurant or a bar, going to see a band or one thing like that, and other people will come as much as me and be like, ‘Oh, after I was in center faculty…’ As a result of now they’re adults and time has handed. They’ll be like, ‘My dad and mom used to indicate me your episodes on a regular basis, you had been my first host.’ It’s bizarre, the delay that occurs, since you notice — I’m not working into kids whereas the present is occurring, however now that they’re older, they’ll go, ‘I used to observe it on a regular basis.’ Which makes me really feel historical, however it additionally makes me really feel good.
Because it does. I’m positive it being on Netflix helps, although, as a result of it’s so simply accessible.
It’s simply there! Yeah, I like that facet. It’s all the time there for folks to re-watch or discover. Individuals go, ‘I appreciated it and now I’m displaying my children.’ There’s that generational facet to it.
Certain, completely. I do know we have now the Turkey Day occasion that’s developing and coming again once more this 12 months. That’s all the time been actually in style. You’re concerned with internet hosting this 12 months and I simply acquired a listing, I feel yesterday, of all of the people who find themselves going to be concerned. There are a variety of actually cool names: Matthew Lillard, Mike Flanagan. It’s actually thrilling. What are you enthusiastic about with this 12 months’s occasion?
It’s humorous as a result of I really feel like Thriller Science Theater has all the time been its personal little area of interest, its personal little tradition. I feel it’s going to be enjoyable for everybody to see these those who they’ve recognized for a very long time [who are] throughout the tradition or they just like the present and so they need to discuss their favourite episodes.
One other enjoyable facet, I’ve a private reference to all the people who find themselves doing it. I assumed that was a pleasant little facet of getting or not it’s a Turkey Day factor, which is about family and friends getting collectively to have fun. I like that I used to be in a position to present that these are simply folks, despite the fact that they’ve accomplished these items, they’re simply associates and so they’re followers of the present, we will all be nerdy and benefit from the present. I feel it’s going to be a very enjoyable factor for folks to see.
I all the time used to like that. Anytime I learn an interview with an actor or a band, I might love after they would discuss different actors or different bands. I might be like, ‘I need to see what they like and if we have now comparable tastes.’ If Mike Flanagan, if his choose for an episode is what I choose, or Matthew Lillard or Kumail Nanjiani. I’m very excited.
No, completely. That’s one of many nice issues I’ve all the time beloved in regards to the present, too. On the floor, it appears area of interest and nerdy however the extra you discuss to folks, particularly on this enterprise, it looks like everyone seems to be a fan and everybody has experiences watching it whereas rising up and so they like it. It’s cool to see how many individuals reply to it so strongly.
And generally I’m nonetheless shocked. I labored with Matthew Lillard a few instances and it wasn’t till not too long ago when he was like, ‘Oh, I’ve acquired to say, I actually appreciated you on Thriller Science Theater.’ I used to be like, ‘You watched it?’ and he goes, ‘I like that present!’ I am going, ‘Why didn’t you carry it up? I might have been much less nervous assembly you.’
Precisely. I do know there was a crowdfunding effort for one more season that didn’t fairly make it again in 2023. It’s been a 12 months so I’m questioning if there have been conversations about doing extra Thriller Science Theater?
, there’s all the time one thing effervescent. There’s all the time conversations; there’s all the time one thing sort of being labored out. The present has gone away and are available again so many instances that it might be ever so onerous to say that something goes to be a comeback. MST3K is inevitable. And it all the time will likely be.
Certain. I’m crossing my fingers, ready for the subsequent one.
They’re nonetheless making unhealthy motion pictures, so you recognize.
That sort of leads into what I used to be going to ask you subsequent. How a lot does being part of Thriller Science Theater have an effect on your mind when watching motion pictures? Is it onerous to only put one on usually or are you all the time fascinated with commentary behind your thoughts?
Yeah. It’s prefer it’s turn into compulsive conduct the place it simply comes out of me, generally. Fortunately, I’ve someplace to channel it. My pal Doug Benson, he does a film interruption present as soon as a month at a theater in Los Angeles on the Dynasty Typewriter. So I can sort of maintain it in, we will go watch a film there, and I’ll get all of it out of my system. However it’s all the time sort of there.
I discover myself, now, seeing all of the gaps in motion pictures. I used to be rewatching The Princess Bride yesterday and I used to be like, ‘Oh, there’s a growth shadow on this scene.’ My eagle eye is now selecting aside my favourite motion pictures. Making a film is tough. I made a film that got here out this 12 months. There are very onerous issues you need to do. The truth that it will get made is a miracle, the truth that it’s watchable is past something. It’s not like we’re tearing it aside, however it’s sort of onerous to go, ‘Meh, he had his pencil within the different hand.’ Dumb stuff like that.
Oh, I’m positive. But it surely’s most likely nonetheless sort of enjoyable, I’m positive.
Oh, for positive. You’d need to ask the folks round me.
That’s truthful. I’m curious, I’m positive you most likely get requested what the worst film you needed to look ahead to the present is on a regular basis. I’m curious if there are any that you simply really, genuinely take pleasure in. I don’t know when you’ve gone again and rewatched any of them you needed to do for the present, however are there any that come to thoughts that it’s like, ‘, that wasn’t too unhealthy.’ As a result of, I’ll be trustworthy, I don’t hate Killer Fish. I sort of appreciated that film.
Yeah, Killer Fish is enjoyable, it trots alongside actually properly, and it’s not just like the worst film by far. I feel, I used to be actually blown away by The Masks, which was our Halloween episode. We had been watching it, we’d be within the author’s room watching it and going, ‘That is GOOD. It is a good film.’ It’s actually well-acted, it’s extremely shot. The three-D sequences, in fact, are actually foolish, however it’s like a very well-done film about habit. I went and watched it afterward and I used to be like, ‘It is a high quality movie. It is a very high quality movie.’
There are nonetheless some motion pictures I’m so glad I’ll by no means need to see once more. Like Mac and Me or Munchie, that was one other one which I completely despised.
I used to be simply rewatching the one Christmas one final evening and, hoo. That’s a nasty one.
Oh, Christmas Dragon or The Christmas That Virtually Wasn’t?
The Christmas That Virtually Wasn’t.
That one is attention-grabbing, too, as a result of it’s all about land possession after which it turns right into a courtroom drama.
They randomly begin taking part in with toys for like 20 minutes.
Yeah! And I feel one of many extra attention-grabbing ideas of that one, too, is like Santa has by no means handled kids who’re really alive, he solely is aware of them after they’re asleep. He has to take care of that, however then it’s additionally in regards to the start of the mall Santa. All from this weirdo Italian film about Santa dropping the deed to the North Pole. Like, dude, personal, don’t lease.
It’s a bizarre one. I’ve all the time puzzled this, however what number of instances do you need to watch a film for the present? Like, what number of instances did you need to watch The Christmas That Virtually Wasn’t earlier than you had been in there recording?
That’s a standard query and it’s one thing I all the time thought, too. It’s sort of onerous to say as a result of, every single day, you will have about 10-11 minutes of the film you need to get via. So, sure elements of the film you watch a variety of instances since you’re making an attempt to determine the place the jokes needs to be. Different instances, there’s not a lot you are able to do so that you simply sort of trot via like, ‘That’s the joke for that half, there’s an excessive amount of speaking to maneuver something in.’ It’s onerous to say as a result of, some elements, you would possibly watch 100 instances, different elements you would possibly watch 20 instances. General, you’re probably not positive how a lot you watched your complete factor. It’s a must to put these blinders on as a result of, when you get too eagle eye view of the job, you get too overwhelmed and go, ‘We’re by no means going to make it. We’re by no means going to make it via this film with what number of jokes we have now to put in writing.’ We simply go, ‘What’s on this 5 minutes, what’s on this 5 minutes?’
Certain. And I’m positive that’s really onerous work. I do know some folks can simply go, ‘Oh, you’re simply watching motion pictures the entire time,’ however to observe and rewatch one thing, particularly when it’s one thing unhealthy like this, I’m positive that may take it out of you.
It’s brain-melting. All of the writers will all the time have a ton of jokes or the right second, however there are these different moments the place it’s a two-minute-long struggle sequence or chase sequence. No one has that many jokes, in order that’s when the true work occurs and it’s like, ‘What are we going to speak about right here? We are able to’t simply have a bunch of jokes, we have now to have or not it’s a dialog or can we begin singing a track?’ It’s similar to any sort of comedy writing the place it’s like, ‘What’s the premise right here? How are we going to inform this second? What’s the scene? What’s the sketch?’
Certain, that is sensible. But it surely all seems in the long run, I like all of it. The songs and every thing.
Yeah, due to the facet of the factor — the film all the time retains on going, the practice retains on shifting alongside. If a joke is sort of so-so or a dud, it’s similar to, ‘Nicely, it doesn’t matter, the film continues to be going.’ It’s not going to cease and go, ‘That was unhealthy.’
And there’s all the time one other joke coming 30 seconds later.
Precisely, yeah.
There’s something else I’ve all the time puzzled, going again to fan responses. Regardless of it being within the theme track, do you continue to get folks asking you about the way you eat and breathe up there?
Sure. I bear in mind at a sure level the place somebody was mad at me as a result of they requested how I eat and breathe up there. I used to be like, ‘It’s best to actually simply chill out.’ They usually had been like, ‘Okay man, I used to be simply making an attempt to ask a query in regards to the present.’ I used to be like, ‘Oh no, I assumed we had been having a enjoyable rapport as two followers of the present.’
I wish to assume, although, that I’ve a little bit hydroponics backyard the place I’ve like little tomatoes or stuff like that. Or, what I might have is, from Large High Pee-wee, the place I’ve a plant that grows sizzling canines. That’s most likely what I’ve. That’s how I eat. How I breathe, I don’t know. I feel perhaps Tom Servo’s dome is an air-oxygen multiplier.
There you go. You have got an entire clarification.
It’s canon! Put it in, it’s canon!
Because of Jonah Ray for taking the time to debate Thriller Science Theater 3000.
