Line #22 Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S03E03PodPeople


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6800feb906ffaec34726686cd188aead.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Isn't that [[Film/{{Fame}} Nia Peeples]]' brother?]]
3
4	->''"Your film today is called ''Pod People''. It has nothing to do with pods, it has nothing to do with people, it has everything to do with '''hurting'''."''
5	-->--'''Dr. Forrester'''
6
7	Film watched: ''Film/PodPeople''
8
9	Naturally, this trainwreck provided perfect fodder for a thorough riffing by the ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' crew. In particular, much fun was had at the expense of the fictional pop band's performance of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Z_OWPe6fU "Burning Rubber Tires"]], whose [[IndecipherableLyrics unintelligible lyrics]] prompted Joel and the bots to misinterpret the chorus, "Hear the engines roar now", as "idiot control now", among others. In addition, the lead singer's after-song gesture of making the OK sign, smiling and saying, "It stinks" became a recurring in-joke. ([[ItMakesSenseInContext The OK sign makes more sense in Spain, where the film was produced, because there, the gesture is similar to "the finger".]])
10
11	The episode is available in the Gizmoplex [[https://www.gizmoplex.com/mst3k/season:3/videos/mst3k-050-podpeople here]].
12	----
13	!!The Segments:
14	[[AC:Prologue]]
15	* The Bots start up the episode by performing their one-bot shows, with Servo as the son of a poor Filipino merchant.
16
17	[[AC:Segment 1]]
18	* For this week's Invention Exchange, Joel shows off a hot new guitar chord, which [[MadeOfExplodium ends in failure]], while the Mads present the [[PublicDomainSoundtrack Public Domain Karaoke Machine]].
19
20	[[AC:Segment 2]]
21	* Playing the obnoxious singer and his background vocalists from the film, Joel and the Bots perform the incoherent song they sang, dubbed "Idiot Control Now". It stinks.
22
23	[[AC:Segment 3]]
24	* Crow is introduced to the wide world of new age music with Joel's wall of synths. Under Tom's narration, they perform as "Music from Some Guys in Space".
25
26	[[AC:Segment 4]]
27	* Joel has Crow and Servo dressed as "Trumpy" and lets them do "magic things" on the bridge, which understandably confuses the Mads.
28
29	[[AC:Segment 5]]
30	* While packing for a future experiment, Joel sings the haunting number "Clowns in the Sky". The Mads think it stinks.
31
32	----
33	!!The ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' presentation of ''Film/PodPeople'' has examples of:
34	* ActuallyQuiteCatchy: According to Kevin Murphy in the ''[=MST3K=] Amazing Colossal Episode Guide'', the producers of Creator/{{NPR}}'s ''[[https://www.hos.com Music From the Hearts of Space]]'' series enjoyed the "Music From Some Guys in Space" host segment and even sent them a few [=CDs=] of new age music.
35	* AlliterativeTitle: Since it shares the title with the movie.
36	* AshFace: Joel winds up with his face covered in soot when his guitar explodes. Crow and Tom Servo, on the other hand, are partially melted by the explosion. Fortunately, Joel pops some heads onto them just before they walk into the theater.
37	* AwesomeButImpractical: Joel's explosive new guitar chord from the invention exchange. Leaving aside the fact it destroys the instrument it's played on, it's so complicated that it takes two people to even play it. Joel has to use both hands to fret it, so asks Crow to strum the guitar for him.
38	* BerserkButton: Joel will put up with a lot, but don't do an Creator/AnthonyNewley impression around him.
39	-->'''Joel:''' Tom Servo, if you don't stop doing your Anthony Newley, I'm gonna throw you against the wall.
40	* BigEater:
41	-->'''Tommy:''' Now we can play.\
42	'''Crow:''' ''(as Trumpy)'' Like hell, more food!
43	* BreakingTheFourthWall: At one point, Servo directly apologizes to the audience for the film's convoluted plot. Considering [[SoBadItsGood the quality level of most of the movies on the show]], this should tell you something.
44	** After Servo mentions all of the places we've seen so far that don't link together at all, Crow puts it best...
45	--->'''Crow:''' We're as confused as you are, folks.
46	* CallBack: To ''[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S03E01CaveDwellers Cave Dwellers]]'': "Dad?"
47	** Crow calls Tommy [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S03E02Gamera "Kenny"]], only to be corrected by Joel.
48	* CatchPhrase: "I'm a virgin" and "It stinks!"
49	** "Trumpy, you can do magic things!"
50	** "Trumpy, you can do STUPID things!" ([[SarcasmMode For some unknown reason]], this phrase has garnered renewed popularity since 20 January 2017.)
51	* CelebrityResemblance: The riffers decide that the older poacher looks like Creator/LeslieNielsen, the one with glasses looks like Norm Abram from ''Series/ThisOldHouse'' and ''The New Yankee Workshop'' and the bearded one looks like SoftRock SingerSongwriter Dan Fogelberg.
52	* ContinuityNod: Joel's old grey jumpsuit from the KTMA season makes an appearance on a clothing rack during the MindScrew host segment.
53	* FaceOnAMilkCarton:
54	-->'''Joel:''' ''(as Tommy)'' Hey what gives? '''''I'm''''' on the milk carton.
55	* InnocentInnuendo: Quietly {{Lampshaded}} in the [[GratuitousEnglish weirdly-phrased lyrics]] of the "Sara" song.
56	-->'''Singer''': "I want to think that you will come at the end."\
57	'''Servo''': (''in a "did I just hear what I think I heard?" tone'') [[FlatWhat What]]?
58	* KillerRabbit: When the poacher starts smashing eggs, the crew speculate a giant chicken will be pissed.
59	-->'''Servo:''' ''(menacingly over a POV shot)'' Buk, buk, buk, cluck, cluck!
60	* KneelPushTrip: The film opens with a scene of some unpleasant poachers. When one of them crouches down behind the leader, Joel gets excited and stands up so he can pretend to push the leader over.
61	* LosingHorns: Mockingly imitated by Joel and the 'bots after Rick's "It stinks!"
62	* MadeOfExplodium: Joel's invention exchange is a new guitar chord that, when played, makes the guitar explode in his hands.
63	* MeanwhileBackAtThe: "Meanwhile, in ''yet another'' movie..."
64	* MindScrew: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMspcxr1Vi8 The third host segment.]] Judging by the Mads' reactions, it's even one in-universe.
65	* NewhartPhonecall: At one point, Rick picks up the phone, and Joel incorrectly guesses that he's going to re-enact a Creator/BobNewhart routine.
66	* NewAge {{Ambient}}: Parodied with ''Music From Some Guys in Space''.
67	* NotSoStoic: Joel gets annoyed when Servo does his impression of Anthony Newley.
68	* ProductPlacement: Mocked when they see a Sprite sticker on the side of the house.
69	* PublicDomainSoundtrack: Exploited by the mads' invention, a karaoke machine that only plays public domain songs so they don't have to pay any royalties.
70	* RockersSmashGuitars: Exaggerated with Joel's invention exchange, a complicated new guitar chord that makes the guitar explode. He specifically says it's a dynamic new way for rockers to end their concerts.
71	* RunningGag:
72	** "Chief?" "[=McCloud=]?"
73	** With a name like Smuckers...
74	** Pepperidge Farm remembers...
75	** The name "Trumpy" would continue to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BavuV6Rg61s#t=1m53s be invoked]] in the future as well.
76	** Crow giving Trumpy a voice based on that of Film/TheElephantMan. And thinking everything is potatoes.
77	** Commenting on one of the poachers looking like a Renaissance festival reject. Huzzah!
78	** "(X) on drums"
79	** Servo, imitating the alcoholic Uncle Bill, keeps offering Rick a laundry list of drinks.
80	** "And in yet ANOTHER film"...
81	** Which film we're currently in (A, B, C or D for dumb)
82	** Referring to Rick and his group as several different SoftRock bands (The Mike Curb Congregation, Music/TheCowsills, and implicitly Series/ThePartridgeFamily, by quoting a line from the show's first season theme song--"It all came together when Mom sang along").
83	* ShaveAndAHaircut
84	* ShootTheMoney: Invoked by the riffers InUniverse during the drive-to-the-mountains scene.
85	-->'''Crow:''' Look, we paid for the van, we're gonna ''film'' it!
86	* ShoutOut:
87	** Joel and Servo quote the song "Music/{{Tommy}} [[Music/TheWho Can You Hear Me?]]" at two different points when Tommy's mother is shouting for him. (Servo later misquotes "Go to the Mirror!", from the same ConceptAlbum.)
88	** Later, while Trumpy sends objects flying around Tommy's room via StopMotion reminiscent of a certain famous music video:
89	-->'''Servo:''' Somebody hit that kid on the head with a ''(singing)'' [[Music/PeterGabriel sledgehammer]]!
90	** Trumpy on the ceiling reminds Crow of Music/LionelRichie.
91	** As Joel and the 'Bots are "packing it all in" at the end:
92	--->'''Crow:''' We are [[Theatre/TheTempest the stuff dreams are made of]].\
93	'''Servo:''' Why, that's beautiful, Crow! Shakespeare?\
94	'''Crow:''' Ah, no. Advertising/BurmaShave ad.
95	** Joel points out early on that one of the guys working in the studio resembles [[Series/WKRPInCincinnati Andy Travis]].
96	** "[[Film/FasterPussycatKillKill Faster, Trumpy! Kill! Kill!]]"
97	** (''Servo in Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger voice'') [[Film/{{Commando}} "I like you Tommy. I'll kill you last."]]
98	* ShowerScene: One of the doomed backup singer/campers takes a shower (inexplicably while wearing a towel on her head) as Trumpy's mom runs amok. Joel and the 'bots [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] her decision to bathe while in a horror movie:
99	-->'''Joel:''' ''(singing, as Kathy):'' Hmmm-hmm-hmm-hmmm, I'm in the shower/Nothing will happen tooo meeeee!\
100	'''Crow:''' Doo-de-dooo-de-dooo, I'm naked and all alone in the shower and totally vulnerable and somebody could kill me, doo-de-doo-de-dooo...\
101	'''Servo:''' It's probably likely at this point in the film...\
102	'''Crow:''' My brain fell out, doo-de-doo-doo....
103	** And then, when the inevitable happens....
104	--->'''Sharon:''' Where's Kathy?!\
105	'''Servo:''' She's [[{{Slogans}} Zestfully]] dead.
106	* SoundDefect: They have fun in the theater when the movie tries to pass off synthesizer chirping as the sounds of actual birds.
107	-->'''Servo''': Syntho-birds.\
108	'''Crow''': Hey, it's a Casio forest!\
109	'''Joel''': They parked next to a data stream.
110	* SpoofedWithTheirOwnWords:
111	** The second and fourth host segments both involve the crew reenacting scenes from the movie. The "Idiot Control Now" segment exaggerates the original's indecipherable lyrics into outright word salad, but faithfully recreates the absurd dialogue outside the song itself ("Good? He's the ''best!''") Then the "Trumpy, you can do magic things!" skit basically plays the original completely straight.
112	** Servo notes that Rick's "You're all over the place!" (referring to his backup singers' vocals) serves as a LeaningOnTheFourthWall comment on the film's disjointedness.
113	** Similarly, when Tommy shows Trumpy how to do a jigsaw puzzle.
114	--->'''Tommy''': See, the pieces go together!\
115	'''Joel''': If only this ''movie'' were so lucky.
116	* StrangeMindsThinkAlike: The hunter that smashes Trumpy's mother's eggs is referred to by Joel and the bots as Norm Abrams, with Trumpy's mother being compared to a giant chicken. After she kills him, the scene cuts to the other hunter looking up:
117	-->'''Tom:''' ''(as the other hunter)'' Say, that sounds like Norm Abrams being killed by a giant chicken.
118	* StylisticSuck: The fourth host segment, in mockery of the movie.
119	* TakeThat:
120	** As the Mads are introducing their Public Domain karaoke machine:
121	--->'''Dr. Forrester:''' Now, what happens when you go into your favorite karaoke bar, and you want to hear, "I Wanna Know What Love Is" by Foreigner?\
122	'''Frank:''' People vomit?
123	** Joel and the 'bots mercilessly rib the "Sara" song that plays as the band drives to the mountains, calling it "[[PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy white]] {{reggae}}", attributing it to Music/{{Morrissey}}, then deciding it's actually by Music/RingoStarr.
124	--->'''Servo''': Boy, you know, Ringo did some bad songs, but this is really embarrassing.\
125	'''Crow:''' ''(after the line "What should I do?")'' Retire!
126	* ThatRemindsMeOfASong: "Clowns in the Sky".
127	-->'''Joel:''' Y'know, guys, it always hurts to close it all up, strike the set, wipe off the greasepaint, [[BreadEggsMilkSquick napkin up the blood and entrails]], and move on to another town.\
128	'''Crow:''' Uh-oh. I smell a song.
129	* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Crow!Trumpy has potatoes. [[ExtremeOmnivore He considers most]] [[AmbiguouslyEvil living things potatoes.]]
130	* ThatWasNotADream
131	-->'''Tom:''' ''(as one of the girls waking up)'' Oh, what a nightmare! I dreamt that I was a crappy actress in a horrible... monster... film... Wait a minute...
132	* WaxingLyrical:
133	** When Tommy asks if Trumpy's mother came from "on a star", Crow adds [[Music/BingCrosby "Can she carry moonbeams home in a jar?"]]
134	** When Sharon says "Wake up, Kathy" Servo adds [[Music/RodStewart "I think I got somethin' to say to you."]]
135	* WorstAid: Lampshaded by Joel and the Bots.
136	-->'''Rick:''' She isn't dead, is she?\
137	'''Brian:''' Don't think so, but she's in bad shape. Grab her legs.\
138	'''Crow:''' Yeah, move her spine around a lot!\
139	''(The riffers make cracking noises.)''\
140	'''Crow:''' Dope.
141	** Tommy's mother isn't much better:
142	--->'''Mother:''' A good night's rest, and she'll be right as rain!\
143	'''Joel:''' Yeah, ''that's'' what cures a crushed spine.
144	* WordSaladLyrics: "Idiot Control Now" consists mostly of mondegreens of the film's song "The Engines Roar" (aka "Burning Rubber Tires"), though "All I wanna feel now is the wind in my eyes" ''is'' an actual line from the original.
145	-->'''Joel''': With a pickle mind, we kick the nipple beer, steady as a goat, we're flying over trout..... [[note]] With a fickle mind, we kick her into gear, steady as she goes, my flying overdrive... [[/note]]
146	* [[YoureNotMyFather You're Not My Real Father]]: Said by Crow after Joel finishes "Clowns in the Sky".
147
148	----
149	->'''Technician:''' [[TheStinger Well?]]
150	->'''Rick:''' [[TheStinger (gives A-OK hand signal) It stinks!]]

Context Recap / MysteryScienceTheater3000S03E03PodPeople