Line #32 Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S06E23TheAmazingTransparentMan


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_217_6.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:"Is that a lung?"]]
3
4	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_218_6.png]]
5	[[caption-width-right:300:"Am I ''that'' amazingly transparent?"]]
6
7	->''"So, the leading causes of accidents are joy, sex, and old age?"''
8	-->--'''Mike Nelson''' on ''The Days of Our Years''
9
10	Film watched: ''Film/TheAmazingTransparentMan'' with the short ''Film/TheDaysOfOurYears''
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12	''Film/TheDaysOfOurYears'' is considered the most upsetting short ever shown on ''[=MST3K=]'' (after ''Film/CatchingTrouble'', of course). It focuses on a preacher who tells the stories of three different employees of his town's railroad, and how their split seconds of carelessness ruined their own lives, as well as those closest to them.
13
14	The episode is available in the Gizmoplex [[https://www.gizmoplex.com/mst3k/season:6/videos/mst3k-142-amazingtransparentman here]].
15
16	!!The Segments:
17
18	[[AC:Prologue]]
19	* Tom has collected a specimen for his science project: Crowtus Robotus Horribilus, A.K.A Crow stuffed in a giant bottle of ether.
20
21	[[AC:Segment 1]]
22	* As Crow is mounted to a wall with the rest of Tom’s preserved insects, Dr. Forrester and Frank are shown to have turned Deep 13 into a bed and breakfast they call “Auntie [=McFrank=]’s Tangleberry Inn”. After serving their guests, Ted and Barb, a breakfast of cold lo mein, Mike and the 'Bots don some costumes Dr. F sent up to them in [[https://youtu.be/H7fKab9XpW0?si=SzESCmU0CP0imx4s a terrifying display of “local color”]] that sends Ted and Barb fleeing.
23
24	[[AC:Segment 2]]
25	* Crow tries to remember the short’s lesson about “gentle pressure” when needing to talk to a welder, but promptly forgets it when he startles a blowtorch wielding Tom.
26
27	[[AC:Segment 3]]
28	* Frank calls the SOL crew to let them know that he’s finally been given a day off. He plans to see ''Squanto: A Warrior's Tale'', having bought an expensive ticket from a scalper. Dr. F rains on his parade when he reveals the film left theaters three weeks ago.
29
30	[[AC:Segment 4]]
31	* Mike shows off his new electric organ to Tom and Crow. When they aren’t interested and leave, Mike attempts to play "[[Series/TheSixWivesOfHenryVIII The Six Wives of Henry VIII]]". The 'Bots suddenly come back, leading to an incredibly awkward moment.
32
33	[[AC:Segment 5]]
34	* Inspired by the film, Mike and the 'Bots choose whether they would rather have an invisible army or get to blow up a county in Texas, before reading an invisible letter. In Deep 13, Dr. F and “Auntie [=McFrank=]” are enjoying teatime, until Frank is reminded of his ruined day off.
35	----
36
37	!!The counter-depressing ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' version of ''Film/TheDaysOfOurYears'' provides the following tropes:
38	* BlackComedy: Some of the riffs veer into this, such as Mike's comment on the railroad worker's heart problems:
39	-->'''Mike:''' Hey have a massive coronary on your own time.
40	* ChocolateBaby: Implied when Charlie is told that the baby has been born.
41	-->'''Crow:''' Charlie, does ''fur'' run in your family?
42	* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Mike misses the point of the Psalm at the start of the short, which is to pretty much enjoy your life while you have it.[[note]]Nelson is a devout Christian in real life, so it's likely he knew what the psalm really meant, but prioritized RuleOfFunny in the script.[[/note]]
43	* ContinuityNod: As the minister dispassionately narrates Joe's reckless driving:
44	-->'''Minister:''' The others? They were along for the ride, whether they liked it or not. Liked it? They hated it.
45	-->'''Mike:''' [[Film/TheBeastOfYuccaFlats Flag on the moon.]]
46	* DeathByAmbulance: Crow riffs on a speeding ambulance: "Ironically, the ambulance driver killed four people on the way there."
47	* DontSneakUpOnMeLikeThat: Crow casually [[IgnoredAesop ignores the warning of "gentle pressure"]] from the short and gets charcoaled by a startled Servo.
48	* EyeScream: Worth repeating, because it's the only time Mike and the bots are disturbed when watching the short.
49	-->'''Mike:''' You don't have to HOLD it there!
50	* IgnoredAesop: Mike reminds Crow to always use "gentle pressure" to not startle Servo, who just happens to be using a welding torch. [[DontSneakUpOnMeLikeThat Guess what happens?]]
51	* MindScrew: The minister at one point to Crow.
52	-->'''Minister:''' Whenever I do (visit the cafe) I'm often reminded of things that happened to people who weren't even there (accidents).\
53	'''Crow:''' Oh sure, I -- HUH?!
54	* RepetitiveName:
55	-->'''Minister:''' Yes, Joe was a pretty lucky guy. A good job as road electrical foreman, a wonderful girl who wanted nothing in the world more than to be Mrs. Joe.
56	-->'''Mike:''' So his name is Joe Joe?
57	* {{Retirony}}: Jokingly alluded to in the riffing:
58	-->'''Minister:''' If (George) could only hold out until retirement time.\
59	'''Crow:''' It's at five o'clock today.
60	* ShoutOut: ''Film/Plan9FromOuterSpace'' gets a couple.
61	* SinisterMinister: The Reverend, despite professing to love and care for all members of his flock, speaks with nothing but the utmost contempt for anyone who was killed horribly in an accident, blaming them for their own deaths. He also gets creepily involved in his congregation's lives while narrating; saying he was "flattered" to be part of someone else's fantasy ''really'' grosses out Mike and the bots. When an ambulance passes by, Mike comes to the not-unreasonable conclusion that the Reverend just killed someone.
62	* SpoofAesop:
63	-->'''Servo:''' Reverend, I'm having a CrisisOfFaith, what should I do?\
64	'''Crow:''' Get safety goggles, my son.
65	* ThisIsntHeaven: Alluded to during a dream sequence that films a couple making out through the flames of a fireplace.
66	-->'''Tom:''' ''They're in Hell!''
67	* ToiletHumor: As a guy is loaded onto an ambulance, a worker wearing saggy and soiled (in all the wrong places) overalls stands directly in front of the camera to observe.
68	-->'''Crow:''' I had a little accident too.
69
70	!!The ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' presentation of ''Film/TheAmazingTransparentMan'' contains these tropes:
71	* ActingForTwo: [[invoked]] Kevin Murphy is one half of the couple patronizing the bed in Deep 13 (his wife is played by Mary Jo Pehl). He is appropriately squicked out by Servo's antics ("Don't you give Mikey no matches!!!")... which he happens to voice.
72	* AmbiguouslyGay:
73	-->'''Ted:''' Clay... you and Auntie [=McFrank=]... are you...?
74	-->'''Forrester:''' ''[stiffening]'' Partners? ''[uneasily]'' Yes, we're... ''[Frank re-enters with "breakfast"]'' [[MoodWhiplash AH! Aha!]]
75	* AndCallHimGeorge: Mikey's response upon being told he can't have matches is to grab Crow by the neck and insistently stroke down hard on his fur, then finally begin throttling him (it was evidently a little too stressful on the Crow puppet, as its eyes accidentally pop out when the crew dashes for the theater).
76	* AuthorAppeal: According to Best Brains, Frank Conniff always declined to do drag in previous episodes, but for some reason "Auntie [=McFrank=]" was something that appealed to him.
77	* BigShutUp: "YOU SHUT UP, MIKEY! YOU SHUT UP!"
78	* BigWordShout: '''''SQUANTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!'''''[[note]]''A Warrior's Tale''. Poor Frank had been planning to see it for months -- he'd even bought the tickets in advance. Too bad it'd already left theaters weeks ago.[[/note]]
79	* BrickJoke: "'Gentle pressure', see?"
80	* DisguisedInDrag: "Auntie [=McFrank=]", bed-and-breakfast proprietress.
81	* InherentlyFunnyWords: ''Squanto: A Warrior's Tale''. The only reason it could have possibly been used, because the film itself is a drama that received mixed-positive reviews (save Creator/RogerEbert).
82	* NightmareFuelStationAttendant: [[PsychopathicManchild Mike]] [[KubrickStare as]] [[HillbillyHorrors "Mikey"]].
83	-->'''Mike:''' [[PyroManiac You people bring matches for Mikey?]]
84	** Watch Mike closely: He ''never'' blinks in that single shot.
85	* RunningGag:
86	** Jokes about guinea pigs and hamsters.
87	** Joey looking like Donald Nixon.
88	* ShoutOut: Tom and Mike's characters in the "local color" segment are at least inspired by [[Literature/OfMiceAndMen George and Lenny]]. And Llama!Crow... poor Llama!Crow.
89	* ThousandYardStare: Poor Llama!Crow looks like he's trapped in a perpetual 'Nam flashback.
90	* WholesomeCrossdresser: "Auntie [=McFrank=]". Notable in this is the only time Frank allowed himself to be in drag on the show; he'd refused previous attempts.
91
92	----
93	->[[TheStinger "You see? I touch it, does it no harm."]]

Context Recap / MysteryScienceTheater3000S06E23TheAmazingTransparentMan