[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_201_8.png]]
[[caption-width-right:320:"Hi! The name's Merlin, and I would ''love'' to see you in this Camaro!"]]

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mst3k_dead_talk_back.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:320:Isn't this a Mahler symphony?]]

Film shown: ''Film/TheDeadTalkBack''.

An odd case of being one of the "newest" films riffed by the show. While it was shot in 1957, it was never released until 1993, a year before the episode aired.

It was shown alongside ''The Selling Wizard'', a short sponsored by Anheuser-Busch to demonstrate and sell grocery store refrigeration units with the help of a literal "selling wizard". Or as the SOL crew calls her, a "pizza dominatrix".

The episode is available in the Gizmoplex [[https://www.gizmoplex.com/mst3k/season:6/videos/mst3k-122-thedeadtalkback here]].
!!The Segments:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Prologue ]]

* It's time for the SOL crew to perform a fire drill. As they march in a circle around the bridge, Crow points out that there's no place to go, but Mike admits that code is code.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Segment 1 ]]

* Dr. Forrester demonstrates his new technique of "pinpoint marketing", shilling a random product modelled after a single person to the person in question. His demonstration includes sending the SOL crew a new product of dubious intent: Nelson Cigarettes ("For the rugged individual trapped in space!"). Mike takes personal offense at having his image used to sell cigarettes to him, but the 'Bots think he looks so cool now.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Segment 2 ]]

* The 'Bots host "The Dead Talk Back", a radio show where they take callers from beyond the grave. Much to Mike's shock, Abe Lincoln and Winston Churchill call into the show, but they only want to discuss the Buffalo Bills.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Segment 3 ]]

* Mike and the 'Bots dress as Music/TheGratefulDead to become the Satellite of Love's newest music sensation. Their only song consists of two short lyrics and Crow performing an hour-long guitar Jerry Garcia solo that continues into the remaining host segments and the credits.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Segment 4 ]]

* Inspired by the interrogation process in the film, Dr. Forrester interrogates Mike. It's actually Frank who cracks. Before it's even explained what the interrogation is about.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Segment 5 ]]

* Mike tries to read a letter despite Crow's solo, Tom's ranting, and Gypsy's next fire drill filling the bridge with noisy chaos. Dr. Forrester practices some archery with Frank, taking careful steps not to hit the apple.

!!The Mystery Science Theater 3000 presentation of ''The Selling Wizard'' contains the following tropes:
* FauxHorrific: The Selling Wizard doesn't speak and is mostly all smiles, but she glowers at the camera when she thinks the narrator isn't going to show ''enough'' different refrigerator models.
-->'''Servo:''' The pizza dominatrix!\\
'''Mike:''' [...] That was close. She was mad!
* MsFanservice: The titular Wizard is ''supposed'' to be be a case of SexSells, but the [[TheVoiceless mute]], dazed-looking woman in the plaid vest, bow tie, and cape looks more like a waiter/StageMagician than a sexy sorceress.
* SexSells: Presumably what the filmmakers were going for with the titular "Selling Wizard".
-->'''Narrator:''' (''over a shot of the Wizard's legs slowly walking out of frame; in a stoic tone'') Gentlemen, if you ''please!''\\
'''Mike:''' (''in the same tone'') You filthy degenerates!

!!The Mystery Science Theater 3000 presentation of ''Film/TheDeadTalkBack'' contains the following tropes:
* ActuallyPrettyFunny: Mike and the 'bots find the older lady's joking about how her photos look ''too much'' like her pretty funny.
* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: "Probably blew their budget on all those bongo players. I just said a lot of Bs."
* AnnoyingArrows: Frank gets numerous arrows through his chest and [[MajorInjuryUnderreaction just laughs them off]].
* CallBack:
** When Frank cracks, he admits ''he'' [[Film/TheBeatniks killed that fat barkeep]].
** From the ''Speech: Using Your Voice'' short from ''Earth Vs. the Spider'' [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S03E13EarthVsTheSpider episode]].
--->'''Servo:''' Plenty of lip and tongue action!
* ContinuityNod: Mike is folding Crow's Nice Brown Pants while the latter is doing his Jerry Garcia solo.
* CreditsGag: Crow's Jerry Garcia solo plays during the episode credits.
* FauxHorrific: The bongo players.
-->'''Crow:''' Thank God you're here, officer! They just came in and started that!
* FridgeLogic: Invoked. Gypsy leads the crew through a fire drill. Servo begins to call out the ridiculousness of practicing their escape plan when they're trapped in space with no way back to earth, but gets drowned out. As they troop back and forth on the bridge:
-->'''Crow:''' There really is no place to go!\\
'''Mike:''' Well, still. We gotta meet code.\\
'''Gypsy:''' No talking in line!
* MisappliedPhlebotinum: The entire joke of the radio show skit. Crow and Servo manage to get Krasker's afterlife two-way radio working, and immediately use it for a sports talk radio show. Mike spends the entire sketch flabbergasted as UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln and UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill call in from beyond the grave, and not even ''they're'' interested in anything besides who'll win the Super Bowl that year.
* NotMeThisTime: Invoked:
--> '''Detective:''' What [were you arrested] for?
--> '''Crow:''' ''(as Krueger)'' "Crossbow killing... but I had nothing to do with ''this'' one!"
* NotWhatItLooksLike: After a point in the investigation, all of the suspects involved with the case are gathered into the boarding home. Tom has a different interpretation:
-->'''Lieutenant Lewis''': (narrating) It was at this point that our case took a strange turn.
-->'''Tom Servo''': (as Lieutenant Lewis) All the suspects moved into my house.
* OverlyLongGag: Crow's Jerry Garcia solo. It's so overly long in fact, that shortly after Cambot goes through the door, he comes ''back out'' so Mike can drag Crow into the theater. Also, Gypsy, as a Deadhead, describing the Dead's previous concert at Alpine Valley. "...into 'Sugaree', into 'Dark Star', into 'Sugaree', into 'Dark Star'...!"
* RhetoricalQuestionBlunder: Lieutenant Lewis as the narrator talking about Krasker's research.
-->'''Lewis:''' ''(narrating)'' Incredible?\\
'''Mike:''' Not really.\\
'''Lewis:''' Unbelievable?\\
'''Crow:''' No.
* RunningGag: Crow, as Jerry Garcia, plays on through all the remaining segments and [[CreditsGag the episode credits]].
* SkewedPriorities:
** Much to Mike's growing frustration, Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill would rather talk shop with Crow and Tom about the Bills, rather than acknowledge the fact that ''they are able to call in from the afterlife''.
** When Dr. Forrester's attempted interrogation of Mike results in Frank [[SanitySlippage having an abrupt mental breakdown]], Crow decides to just start up his Jerry Garcia solo again:
--->'''Crow''': ...well, I guess that really doesn't concern me! (starts noodling)
* SomethingWeForgot: After the crew's stint as "The Dead" grinds to a complete halt due to [[EpicRocking Crow's extended Jerry Garcia-style solo]], it eventually gets to the point where Movie Sign is called, and everyone ''but Crow'' rushes off.[[note]]This is also a rare instance of the Hallway Sequence getting messed with, as it gets to the fifth door before reversing back to the bridge, where Mike has to literally grab Crow.[[/note]]
* SpellMyNameWithAThe: "Oh, thank you, the dead."
* ShoutOut:
** Servo spots the Mads sign flashing: "Uh, guys, [[ComicStrip/KrazyKat Ignatz and Krazy Kat]] are calling."
--->'''Dr. Forrester:''' Oh, give it a rest, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Adair Red Adair]].[[note]]Red Adair, a famous oil well firefighter -- the 'Bots are wearing firefighter hats.[[/note]]
** [[Music/TheRollingStonesBand "Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste...!]]"
** Multiple references to Music/TheGratefulDead, like Mike calling Crow Captain Trips. "Freak freaking freely, dude."
** Mike freaking out at the 'Bots: [[WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunks "Simon, Theodore, ALVIIIIIIIIN!"]]
* TakeThat: Winston Churchill slams the Buffalo Bills' (especially then-quarterback Jim Kelly's) chance of having a Super Bowl ring.[[note]]He did say Kelly was a fine QB and a great patriot, however.[[/note]] At the time, they'd just lost their fourth straight Super Bowl.
* TargetAudience: Dr. Forrester invents pinpoint marketing, entire advertising campaigns targeted at and ''named after'' the single person they're trying to sell to. [[SmokingIsCool Nelson cigarettes]] ("For the spirit of Nelson in all of us!") fail to penetrate the market because spokesman Frank just woke up and Mike doesn't like smoking, despite the 'Bots' attempts at peer pressure.
* TemptingFate: One host segment sees Crow and Tom starting up a radio call-in program, "The Dead Talk Back", in order to allow dead spirits to contact them, something Mike repeatedly says won't work... until Abraham Lincoln calls up.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Invoked as the film credits roll, even though it was the title of the film:
-->'''Crow:''' Hey, I just realized -- they never talked to the dead!\\
'''Mike:''' No...! Never got around to that.
* WilliamTelling: Parodied in the final host segment, with Dr. Forrester repeatedly missing the apple that Frank has and instead filling [[TheyKilledKennyAgain Frank's]] chest [[HumanPincushion full of arrows]].

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->''[[TheStinger [Woman covers eyes]]]'' [[TheStinger "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"]]
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