🎶Hava nagila, hava giant-gila!🎶
Film watched: The Giant Gila Monster
The movie was included in the 10th volume of Rhino Video's collections of the series, replacing Godzilla vs. Megalon after the rights to release that film were lost.
The episode is available in the Gizmoplex here
.
The Segments:
Prologue- Joel has grafted Crow's head onto Tom's to make them the Thing with Two Heads. They struggle to cope with the pain of their situation, but they lighten up when Joel compares them to the new Odd Couple.
Segment 1/Invention Exchange
- Joel has created a radio which only picks up stations heard in movies and TV. After punishing Frank for a false report of his death and promotion, Dr. Forrester presents punching bags with Renaissance Faire characters depicted on them, like the Rat Catcher, the Mug Maker, and the Harlequin.
Segment 2
- Crow and Tom stop by a broom closet that Joel has converted into a malt shop. Joel pouts when they derail his script, and Gypsy accidentally tears the shop down when Joel calls for her.
Segment 3
- Inspired by the funny drunkard from the film, Joel and the 'Bots wax nostalgic for the days when public intoxication was funny. The 'Bots also roleplay the different kind of funny drunks, but get a bit too into their roles.
Segment 4
- Tom's respectful Servo on Cinema presentation about Ray Kellogg is interrupted by Joel and Crow, who showcase a montage of "leg up" positions from the film as Tom cries.
Segment 5
- Joel and the 'Bots are hot new rock band Hee-La (basically Spy-Dor from Earth vs. the Spider) and they discuss their setlist. The first fan letter has Crow labeled as "Art" in its drawing, and the second letter is from Frank, who gets brained with a flail by Dr. F for being a kiss up.
The MST3K presentation of The Giant Gila Monster contains examples of:
- Accidental Misnaming: A letter read by Joel has Crow labeled "Art", which would become his nickname given by Pearl.
- The Alcoholic: Discussed as a comic device and parodied; when Crow and Servo begin to do impressions of their favorite "types" of funny drunks, such as "the 'I love you' guy" or "the party animal", they quickly go to much darker places than they intended (breaking down sobbing and having a stroke, respectively). Joel eventually realizes the segment might have accidentally turned into an after-school special.
- During the film: "Who put sodi pop in my sodi pop?!"
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Fed up with Tom and Crow derailing his malt shop skit, Joel petulantly decides to have Gypsy come in to do it instead. No sooner does she arrive, she takes out the set, and everyone else by accident.
- Big "SHUT UP!": Servo loses it during one of Chase's songs:Servo: Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UUUUPPPPP!
- Coincidental Broadcast: Joel's Invention Exchange is a radio that plays nothing but these.
- Gargle Blaster: Parodied: The bottle of liquor that's used as a prop during the "funny drunk" segment is blatantly a bottle of A1 Steak Sauce.
- Got Me Doing ItJoel: (as the Gila Monster) Sing whenever I sing whenever I — oh, now I'm doing it!
- I'll Kill You!: When Chase is singing to his sister:Crow: (through gritted teeth as the sister) I'm gonna kill him!
- Inelegant Blubbering:
- The bots and Joel upon seeing that the braces that Chase's little sister needs are, in fact, leg braces to help her walk. Their reaction is Played for Laughs, but it still comes off as somewhat heartfelt.Crow: (tearfully) Tuggin' on the heartstrings, this ain't fair...!
- When Tom starts having a stroke during the "funny drunk" segment, Crow can't control himself:Crow: OH MY GOD, my only friend is having a stroke! (starts violently sobbing) Oooooh, Tommy, Tommy...
- The bots and Joel upon seeing that the braces that Chase's little sister needs are, in fact, leg braces to help her walk. Their reaction is Played for Laughs, but it still comes off as somewhat heartfelt.
- Informed Attribute: Joel takes the monster's size to be this:Joel: (as the Gila monster) Oh, I'm big, I'm big, there's just no way to describe how incredibly huge I am...
- Mood Whiplash: The "funny drunk" segment takes a hard left when Tom starts having a stroke. It only gets worse when Gypsy gives Joel "a big, sloppy wet one".Servo: (slurring) Hey, everybody, it's almost midnight! (hiccups; chuckles) Guess I'll see you next year! (hiccups, starts violently gagging before collapsing)
- Running Gag:
- Making explosion noises every time the hero's jalopy visibly jumps while chasing the Gila monster with a load of nitroglycerine.
- Singing the theme to The Munsters when a jalopy appears.
- Making Mel Blanc style "putt-putt" gasping noises whenever said vehicles start or stop.
- References to that stupid "Sing Whenever I Sing" ('My Baby She Rocks') song.
- Joel's imitation of the titular lizard with that "BLBLBLAAAHHHH" noise.
- Joel as the lizard making commentary on the Special Effects Failure, his status as a monster, the other characters, singing that "Sing Whenever I Sing" song, etc....all with a hilarious Don Rickles type voice.
- And all that jazz about "SKID MARKS."
- Something is always out of the sheriff's jurisdiction.
- The sheriff being basically useless.
- Characters constantly putting their knee up on things.
- The French girl & Jerry Lewis movie references.
- Chase having his crazy mother chained in the shed.
- Chase and his actual, in-movie mom (who isn't stuck in a shed) seeming to be "awfully close" (Cue 'Oedipus' jokes).
- Shout-Out:
- Just before the car crashes into the Gila monster:Servo: The horror! The horror!
- Immediately after the crash, Servo drops a Local Hero referenceServo: (as the Gila monster) I'm still here, Happer. You craphound!
- In reference to the monster's constant tongue-flicking:
- When young Missy is trying to pretend she actually enjoys Chase's singing:
- When Chase is about to sing the "Laugh Children Laugh" song to his sister while playing the ukulele, Servo cuts in with "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" in imitation of Tiny Tim.
- Just before the car crashes into the Gila monster:
- They Killed Kenny Again: TV's Frank gets struck by a mace.
- Very Special Episode: Discussed: After the "funny drunk" skit goes Off the Railsnote to the point where Joel calls it off due to being uncomfortable, Tom asks if they accidentally turned it into an afterschool special; Joel in turn decides to do "the poignant, thoughtful ending".
Old Man Harris: (bitterly drinks while soda jerk laughs)
