Line #59 WebVideo/IncognitoCinemaWarriorsXP


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/incognito_tv_tropes_2609.JPG]]
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3	->"''WE'VE GOT ZOMBIE SIGNAL!''"
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5	''Incognito Cinema Warriors XP'' -- ICWXP for short -- is a show which [[DirectToVideo debuted on DVD in 2008]], and as of 2011 is becoming a series of [[WebOriginal videos-on-demand]]. Somewhere between SketchComedy, improv, and late-night movie anthology, it shows some of the worst films imaginable -- or at least the kind of crappy [[BMovie B-movies]] an underfunded independent production can afford the rights to -- intercut with framing sequences following the life of Rick Wolf ([[TheDanza Rikk Wolf]]), a member of a zombie-fighting military branch known as CORPS, who takes refuge in the "Cine-A-Sorrow Theater" and is trapped there by [[MadScientist mad scientist]] Dr. Harrison Blackwood (Rob Atwell, a reference to the hero of the 1980s TV show adaptation of ''Series/{{War of the Worlds\|1988}}''.). During the movies, Rick, Topsy Bot 5000 (Atwell, later Gregory Wyatt Tinnen, LATER later Nick Evans), and Johnny Cylon (Zach Legler), two robots Blackwood created to run the theater, mercilessly [[{{MST}} riff]] on the [[SoBadItsGood comically low quality]], portrayed in "Shadowrama" as they sit in the balcony of a theater showing the movies.
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7	Sound familiar?
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9	In spite of its borrowed premise ([[LampshadeHanging Blackwood mentions he got the idea for torture-by-movie from]] [[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 an old cable show]]), it does stray from "[[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 that other show]]" in some places, being explicitly not aimed at young audiences (there's a warning that it may not be appropriate for those under 13 on the back of the box) and tackling films with more "mature" content than the MST crew usually saw.
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11	The show has been evolving remarkably quickly. The first episode featured a laugh track during the host segments, which was swiftly dropped in time for the second. By episode three, the show had introduced Professor Zedekiah "Zed" Logan (Rob Atwell, later Nick Evans), a sophisticated sentient zombie head (that still craves human flesh), and episode four saw the replacement of Blackwood and the swift introduction of a new villain Jonathan Kincaid (Tinnen) and an accompanying story arc. And this is all in the first four episodes.
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13	As of season two, the show has switched to a half-hour format, riffing shorts rather than entire movies, with a ''much'' quicker production time and a stronger emphasis on story. Although, they plan on riffing a feature-film for the Season 2 finale[[note]]Originally meant to be ''{{Film/Starcrash}}'' but upon discovering their inspirations, ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'', were planning to use it for Season 11, they planned to switch it to ''[[Film/Slipstream1989 Slipstream]]'', although the actual film is still unconfirmed[[/note]]. Sadly, it has also [[https://agonywolfmedia.com/contact-and-faqs/ been confirmed]] that Episode 206 will be the final episode of the series, citing the movie-riffing landscape changing since 2008 and the legal gray-area of using public domain media. While Episode 206 is still planned for release, there has been no updates on it and no updates to the series since 2017.
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15	The official website is [[http://www.icwxp.com here]] and most of Season 1 was also available as VOD downloads at Podcast/RiffTrax but have since been removed. They also have a Website/YouTube channel dedicated to Main/LetsPlay (called ''Let's Roasts'') called [[https://www.youtube.com/c/RobotCo-Op Robot Co-Op]]. Although, they have since transitioned to {{Website/Twitch}} streaming.
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17	[[WMG:''ICWXP'' provides examples of:]]
18	* ActorAllusion: Rick and the bots get a lot of mileage out of Creator/JonathanBanks playing the boyfriend in "Linda's Film on Menstruation", making a plethora of ''Series/BreakingBad'' and ''Series/BetterCallSaul'' jokes.
19	* AlternateDVDCommentary
20	* AmazingFreakingGrace: Rick and the 'bots do this in wolf howls when the werewolf dies in ''Werewolf in a Girl's Dormitory''.
21	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Blackwood is [[DisproportionateRetribution dragged off for brainwashing]] by Ludivico because some of his politics didn't line up, and he made personal calls on company time. He also stole office supplies. Guess which gets treated as a more serious offense.
22	-->'''Kincaid:''' Seriously, there's like a whole box of paper clips missing.
23	* ArtEvolution: Each puppet is an improvement over the last. Cylon and Topsy have LED lights for mouths and static eyes. Zed's mouth moves remarkably well, but he's still just a head in a jar (and his eyes don't move either.) The most recent bot, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEv6z4FGIsU Flux Namtari]], has a functioning mouth ''and'' arms. Also, [[http://www.icwxp.com/Updates.html Cylon is having functioning legs added]].
24	* AttractiveBentGender: Kincaid feels this way about Topsy. See CreepyCrossdresser below.
25	-->'''Kincaid:''' How much for the blonde?
26	* AudibleSharpness: When the spikes come out of the rest of the logo during the theme song.
27	* BadassBoast: Rick declaring he can fight his way out of the theater (which is surrounded by zombies) in the first episode. Unfortunately, Blackwood takes him up on it, and while Rick does kill a decent number of zombies eventually OhCrap sets in and he backs down.
28	* BrainInAJar: Zed, of the "whole head" variety.
29	* BreakingTheFourthWall: In ''Bride of the Gorilla'', but unfortunately, unlike on ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'', there is no in-universe audience for them to be talking to. The bots do it once and Rick immediately asks them to stop because the poor wall is shaky enough as is. [[HypocriticalHumor He then promises us it won't happen again.]]
30	** By episode three, it's been firmly established through the FourthWallMailSlot that the content we're seeing is being broadcast to other zombie survivors, thus rebuilding the wall.
31	* CensorBox: Whenever the episode's movie gets pornographic (though this has only popped up during ''Film/LadyFrankenstein''), a censor box appears. It doesn't entirely cover the offending content, but darkens that area of the screen enough to be able to tell what's going on without actually seeing any privates.
32	* ChainsawGood: In episode one, Rick uses these to take out a large number of zombies when Blackwood takes him up on the aforementioned BadassBoast.
33	* TheCorrupter: This seems to be part of Blackwood's goal, as he's happy to see Rick turn Darrell out to the zombies in episode two and Rick and the bots tormenting Zed in episode three. (Of course, the zombies won't touch Darrell and Zed makes no secret of his desire to eat the three.) There's also episode three's car...demon...hallucination...thing. Both are laughably bad at it.
34	* CreepyCrossdresser: Topsy in episode four, pretending to be a hooker.
35	* DarkerAndEdgier: In comparison to [[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 that other show]], since it mainly riffs adult-rated horror films featuring tons of sex and nudity, something ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' couldn't get away with on basic cable.
36	* DartboardOfHate: Rick is seen to have one of Blackwood in promotional materials. He removes Blackwood's picture when he's dragged off in Episode 4.
37	* DeadpanSnarker: The entire cast, save Blackwood.
38	* DespairEventHorizon: Rick reaches it in episode 202, deciding he'd rather get torn apart in a LastStand against the zombie hordes than go on as usual. [[spoiler: The hordes turn out to be one lone zombie, who was cosplaying as a ''Franchise/StarTrek'' officer when he was bitten.]]
39	* DoItYourselfThemeTune: Rikk Wolf does the vocals on both versions of the theme song.
40	* DoubleVision: Topsy and his [[RoboFamily grandfather]] utilize the same puppet, so they appear together via split-screen. (Topsy's grandfather's puppet uses the Blackwood beard.)
41	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The LaughTrack in episode one, as well as the presence of a more ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''-like seating arrangement.
42	* EvilInc: The Ludivico Corperation. It's right there in the name.
43	* ExpositoryThemeTune
44	* ForcedTransformation: Episode one ends with Topsy turning Rick into a gorilla, and episode four ends with Topsy turning Cylon into a werewolf. By the creator's admission, it's basically the same joke twice, but the DVD for episode four's movie (''Werewolf in a Girl's Dormitory'') came with instructions for creating a werewolf and they felt obligated to use it.
45	* FourthWallMailSlot: OnceAnEpisode, as exemplified by [[http://www.myspace.com/icwxp/videos/video/42971391 this vid.]]
46	* FunWithAcronyms: CORPS: Command of Re-Animate Processing and Suppression.
47	* TheGogglesDoNothing: Not even allow you to see. Blackwood has to peer out from under them and seems to switch between wearing them over his eyes and over his head at random.
48	* HopeSpot: A brief one in episode four. Kincaid is not a member of the CORPS Evac Team.
49	* ImAHumanitarian: Zed.
50	* LampshadeHanging: On ''[[BetterThanABareBulb everything]]'', from the absurdity of the premise to Blackwood's affinity for buttons that are flashing lights.* LaserGuidedAmnesia: In spite of five years passing between 104 and 201, the last thing Rick remembers is the last scene of 104 when he comes out of the torture machine. The brain-probing torture-by-movie device he spends most of the five years between in is implied to have something to do with it.
51	* {{Leitmotif}}: Whenever Zed switches from condescending sophistication to ravenous flesh-craving undead, it's accompanied by suitably deranged heavy metal music playing over his (heavy-metal-esque screaming) dialogue.
52	* MadScientist: Blackwood.
53	* MakeWayForTheNewVillains: Kincaid, to Blackwood.
54	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Episode 203 suggests that CORPS was suppressing a zombie infestation they caused: Ludivico had established a successful quarantine of Kansas City, with CORPS somehow letting the zombies back in when they came in. (Assuming the Ludivico goon wasn't lying, of course)
55	* NotUsingTheZWord: The military (and the show's wiki) calls them "reanimates" (mostly to accommodate the R in CORPS), though the characters themselves don't shy away from calling them zombies.
56	* OffTheShelfFX: Of the kitbashing variety, as well as the "surprisingly effective" one (mostly thanks to the paint jobs, which make it hard to tell that the bots are of this variety.)
57	* RedshirtArmy: Kincaid reveals that CORPS has become one of these in episode four.
58	-->'''Kincaid''' (''on phone'')''':''' What's that? You're a mile away? [[LampshadeHanging And you say you saw that plot point coming?]]
59	* TheRemake: Kind of. Episode one, ''Bride of the Gorilla'', now discontinued, is getting a five-minute reriffing on the episode 201 DVD.
60	* {{Retcon}}: The viewscreen button on the wall that shows up in episode three to allow for the Crimson Executioner bit. Apparently it's been their the whole time and Rick just never noticed it. Also, the door sequence changes in episode four.
61	** The show goes nuts with these in episode 202, with the Ludovico logo changing and the nasal air spray on the wall. Hell, Rick tries to toss away the latter ''and his throw gets retconned.'' [[LampshadeHanging And not only is this all pointed out, but the word "retcon" is even used.]]
62	* RevolvingDoorCasting: Topsy suffers the brunt of this, but Zed isn't exactly well-off either (to the point of being rendered mute in 201, justified by five years of decay.)
63	* RunningGag: Each episode has at least one that spans only that episode--"I forgot there's no staaaaaairs" (when someone walks out a door), "The greatest acrobat in the world!" (when the character initially given the line makes a blunder) and the awesomeness of Lucky Strike cigarettes are prime examples.
64	* SelfDestructMechanism: Topsy and Cylon apparently have these built in. Blackwood is notably disappointed that they don't work in the first episode.
65	* SharedUniverse: Potentially part of the Reviewaverse due to WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd appearing as a co-riffer for Rick and Topsy's riff of Super Mario Odyssey's trailer. Considered potentially part of it because either AVGN time traveled to get there, thus making the show an alternate future of the Reviewaverse (and making it confirmed as part of the Reviewaverse), or used inter-dimensional travel, therefore making the setting of the show just an alternate universe separate from the Reviewaverse.
66	* ShockParty: Rick and the Bots throw one for Topsy's [[RoboFamily grandfather]] who has just had heart surgery, which causes him to die from the shock. (Yes, a robot had a heart attack. [[MST3KMantra Best not to dwell on these things too much.]])
67	* ShoutOut: Kincaid works for the [[Film/AClockworkOrange Ludivico]] Corperation. This is promptly LampShaded when Rick wonders why Kincaid is making him watch bad movies.
68	** Harrison Blackwood and Jonathan Kincaid also both share names with characters from the 1980s [[RecycledTheSeries TV show sequel]] to the 1953 film adaptation of ''[[Film/TheWarOfTheWorlds1953 War of the Worlds]]'', in tribute to the character of Dr. Clayton Forrester on ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' (who shares his name with the hero of the original film.)
69	** Zed Logan's name is a shout out to Creator/SeanConnery's character in ''Film/{{Zardoz}}'' and Creator/MarvelComics' ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}.
70	** The two additional CORPS agents that show up in the live-action version of the opening have name tags reading [[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 Nelson and Murphy]]. You can't really see the tags, but it's the thought that counts.
71	* SnarkyNonHumanSidekick: Topsy and Cylon.
72	* SpiritualSuccessor: To [[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 "that other show"]].
73	* StableTimeLoop: Blackwood claims to be broadcasting from prehistoric times at the end of episode three, in order to create a cave painting that will inspire one of his inventions when he sees it in a museum in the present day.
74	* TheStinger: As part of it's attempt to be as ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''-like as possible.
75	* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Subverted to hell and back with Kincaid, who actually knows what he's doing and can manipulate the theater more efficiently than Blackwood ever could.
76	* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: One of Blackwood's stock intercom announcements that play over the door sequences in episode four asks the theater visitors to "please remember that the blast doors are for your safety, not to trap you inside some sick experiment."
77	* TakeThat: Almost any pop cultural riff in any episode is bound to be this, but bonus points go to episode four for spending an entire [[strike:host]] story segment making fun of ''Series/GhostAdventures''.
78	* TheThingThatWouldNotLeave: Darrell from ''Film/LadyFrankenstein.''
79	* TimeSkip: Five years pass between season one and season two.
80	* TooSpicyForYogSothoth: Darrell isn't desirable zombie fodder, which is why Rick has no qualms about locking him out of the theater at the end of episode two.
81	** Unfortunately for Darrell, he runs into his zombified mom - who is apparently used to Eau Du Darrell and has no problems digging in.
82	* UnfortunateName: From the Victory Garden short, commenting on the name of the young son's name:
83	--> '''Cylon:''' So his name is "Dick Holder?" ...Ouch.
84	* UnusualEuphemism: ''Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory'' gives us "coming of age", a euphemism so unusual that Rick and the 'bots can't even figure out what it means. The three have fun finding increasingly more bizarre usages for it over the course of the episode.
85	-->'''Doctor in film:''' In my report from the coroner, he said the girl was assaulted by wolves, and she died of the injuries inflicted.
86	-->'''Cylon:''' Hm. Maybe she's just coming of age.
87	* VanillaEdition: And ''how''. Episode one didn't even have ''scene selection''. (This, of course, is lampshaded on the menu.) Episode four averts the trend, however.
88	* {{Webisode}}: [[http://www.icwxp.com/Vids.html Several]], to fill the gap in between actual episodes.
89	* WithLyrics: During a bit of background music from ''Film/BloodyPitOfHorror'':
90	-->''It's the worst film ever made / ever made / ever made \
91	You will want to kill yourself / with a knife / with a spork''
92	* WorldOfWeirdness: Zombies and robots, nuff said. Would make sense if it is part of the Reviewaverse since the Reviewaverse has always been ''really'' weird.
93	* XDaysSince: One of Blackwood's stock intercom announcements that play over the door sequences in episode four remarks that it's been three days since the last movie-related suicide, and asks the viewers to keep up the good work.
94	* ZombieApocalypse: The premise of the show is that the leader of a zombie fighting squad escapes being massacred by a zombie hoarde by escaping into an abandoned movie theater...and as this is an ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''-style riffing show, you can probably guess where this is going.

Context WebVideo / IncognitoCinemaWarriorsXP