History Recap / MysteryScienceTheater3000S09E08TouchOfSatan

[[quoteright:314:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0908_The_Touch_of_Satan_9996.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:314:Softens your hands while you do the dishes]]

Film watched: ''Film/TheTouchOfSatan''


[[AC: Prologue]]
* Crow and Servo come a-wassailing, even though it's the middle of July and they have no idea what "wassail" is, which doesn't stop them from bugging Mike for some.

[[AC: Segment 1]]
* Mike manages to mollify the Bots with canned wassail, and discovers Pearl has gone on vacation and left an extremely condescending babysitter named Steffi in charge of Bobo, Brain Guy, and today's experiment.

[[AC: Segment 2]]
* Mike tries to start a walnut farm, but somehow wears himself out looking through a farm catalog. Meanwhile, Servo claims to have gotten into the pecan business.

[[AC: Segment 3]]
* Mike tries to see if Crow is a witch by piling rocks on him, but it doesn't seem to have any effect, to Crow's concern.

[[AC: Segment 4]]
* Mike discovers Servo has a homicidal grandma when she threatens him with a pitchfork.

[[AC: Segment 5]]
* Crow accidentally sells his soul to ''Stan'', and gets tied up in red tape trying to get it back. Steffi manages to get Brain Guy to bed, but Bobo proves to be more stubborn.

!!The ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' presentation has examples of:

* TheSeventies: It's very much a '70s movie, so there are many, but one blatant reference:
--> '''Crow''': Mike, what were you guys ''doing'' there in the 70s, making witch movies, inhaling huge clouds of marijuana, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking big ugly flared pants on]]...
--> '''Mike''': Well, we had to do ''something''.
* AccidentalMisnaming:
** Steffi calls Brain Guy "Brian."
--->'''Observer:''' No, it's Brain! I mean, Brain Guy! I mean, Observer! Oh, never mind.
** Steffi also calls Crow "Cow." After which Crow calls ''himself'' "Cow."
--->'''Crow:''' And I'm Cow.\\
'''Mike:''' Crow.\\
'''Crow:''' What?\\
'''Mike:''' You're Crow.\\
'''Crow:''' Yeah, I know. Of course, I'm Crow. I just said I'm Crow, ya great feeb.
** In real life, Mike Nelson accidentally called this episode ''A Touch of Satan'' instead of ''The Touch of Satan'' in the episode intro on the DVD.
** Servo accidently calls the [[TomeOfEldritchLore Necronomicon]] "Necromonicon".
* AccidentalMurder: Lucinda killing the cop is made to be this.
-->'''Servo:''' ''[as Lucinda]'' I suppose you're gonna blame me for this.\\
'''Crow:''' ''[also as Lucinda]'' I meant to ask him in for pie. I don't know what happened.
* AllAnimalsAreDogs: Steffi treats Bobo like a dog, who eventually gives up and does as he's told... until the end, when he keeps talking over the credits as Steffi hits him with a rolled-up newspaper. "No bark!"
* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Invoked. According to Brain Guy, Sam I Am from ''Literature/GreenEggsAndHam'' is a {{Jerkass}} trying to force others to like what he likes.
* AmazingFreakingGrace: "{{Public domain}}, we don't have to pay anyone! Hahahaha!"
-->'''Crow:''' You can't use "Amazing Grace" in a devil movie!
* AwesomeMcCoolname
-->'''Jody''': Who are you?
-->'''Mike''': My name is Margaret Rawhide Chew.
* CallBack:
** As early as the opening credits, the movie has enough of a [[TheSeventies '70s vibe]] that Mike puts Crow on "Creator/CluGulager alert". Gulager was previously riffed on in the late '70s series-turned-TV movies ''[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S03E22MasterNinja Master Ninja I]]'' and ''[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S06E14SanFranciscoInternational San Francisco International]]''. During the credits for fellow made-for-TV CompilationMovie ''[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S08E14RidingWithDeath Riding With Death]]'', Tom says "Oh, if Clu Gulager isn't in this,[[note]]He isn't[[/note]] it'll be very wrong."
** Upon realizing the leader of the AngryMob is played by Robert "Man of A Thousand Voices" Easton (who played the back brace-wearing Dan Kester in ''Film/TheGiantSpiderInvasion'') Servo lets out an enthusiastic, "You've been hittin' the ''BOOZE'' again!"
** When Mike climbs up the ladder to add more rocks to the pile, he's wearing socks and sandals, which was apparently just something Mike (the actor) did around the set. [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S08E04TheDeadlyMantis Servo was right]], he was in violation of the dress code. Makes you wonder about the sheer camisoles.
** When Melissa talks Jodie into staying at the farm after aforementioned murder:
--->'''Melissa:''' Then stay. Just ''one more day''.\\
'''Mike:''' Oh, you mean '''''[[Film/TheUndead STAY!!!]]'''''
* DealWithTheDevil: Subverted. Crow attempted to sell his soul to Satan for unworldly power, but he accidentally sold it to someone named Stan instead. Stan proceeded to sell it to Citigroup, meaning that Crow is gonna have to go through a lot of annoying paperwork and phone calls to get it back.
* DirectedByCastMember: Kevin Murphy wrote and directed the host segments. [[invoked]]
* DisproportionateRetribution: As Lucinda is stabbing a cop to death with a sickle:
-->'''Crow:''' ''(as Lucinda)'' Where's my bike?!? I reported it stolen ''eighty years ago!''
* DissonantSerenity: Mike accuses the AngryMob of this, calling it a "[[Radio/APrairieHomeCompanion Lake Wobegon]] witch-burning."
* DownerEnding: In the film.
-->'''Tom:''' So in the end, Satan wins, I guess?
-->'''Mike:''' Yep, pretty much a shut-out for Satan.
* DumbBlonde: Steffi, [[WeirdnessCensor who somehow fails to notice anything unusual]] about a talking gorilla (she seems to be under the impression he's a dog) and an "omnipotent" alien who carries his own brain around in a bowl. [[BabysitterFromHell On the other hand, she's]] ''[[BabysitterFromHell very]]'' [[BabysitterFromHell good at browbeating them into submission.]]
* FailedASpotCheck: The AngryMob quite clearly keeps chanting "Burn the witch," but Melissa and her mother are stunningly oblivious.
-->'''Mother:''' What is it, David?\\
'''Crow:''' It's people saying, "Burn the witch." You deaf?\\
'''Melissa:''' Papa, what is it?\\
'''Crow:''' People saying, "Burn the witch!" Do you have any deductive powers at all?!
* GenerationXerox: "So, this family has been pausing for centuries. It's a tradition."
%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.
* HereWeGoAgain: A variation on the usual gag toward the end of the movie -- [[BookEnds footage very similar to the beginning appears]], prompting Mike and the bots to lament that the movie's starting over.
--> '''Mike''': We're back at the beginning! This film is a Möbius strip!
* HypocriticalHumor: Bobo resents being treated like a pet, only to then get yelled at for chewing up Steffi's shoe, and shedding, and needing ''another'' tick bath.
* IAmAHumanitarian: "Honey, I found the Deputy's badge in my stew."
* ItTastesLikeFeet: Mike tells the bots they probably wouldn't like the canned wassail, as it tastes "kinda skunky". Given [[WayPastTheExpirationDate the expiration date is]] ''[[WayPastTheExpirationDate 1547]]'', that's probably a valid reason.
* LoopholeAbuse: Mike gets his debit card back because the song doesn't say it can't be ''canned'' Wassail. Servo even says this is what Mike did.
* MadeOfExplodium: When Great-Grandma's shack violently combusts.
-->'''Servo:''' You know, when you're at that age, you're just ready to go right up, the slightest spark can get it going, let me tell ya.\\
''(shortly after)''\\
'''Servo:''' Grandma must have exploded or something!\\
'''Mike:''' Grandma's flash-paper bathrobe turned out to be a mistake.
* {{Malaproper}}: Referenced in the film, after the gas station attendant's repeated use of the phrase "[[InsistentTerminology fromachidal maniacs]]".
-->'''Servo''': Is that right? Maybe I should check my ''dictionotomy''.
* ManChild: Brain Guy becomes this due to Steffi's browbeating. At the end of the show he goes to bed but only after making sure to get his SecurityBlanket ("his blanky"), pacifier ("his nook"), and teddy bear ("his friend" -- actually a [[Series/SesameStreet Cookie Monster]] doll).
* MistakenIdentity: Crow accidentally sells his soul to a guy named ''Stan''.
* NoIndoorVoice: "I sure love the yelling channel."
* NumberOfTheBeast: A joke that Melissa deliberately arranges her purchases at the market so she gets $6.66 in change.
** Near the end of the movie:
--->'''Mike:''' ''[as Jodie]'' Hey, the odometer's all 6's!
* OhCrap: While Mike and the Bots are musing on the DownerEnding, the credits suddenly skip forward, freaking them out as they hurry out of the theater.
* PoliceAreUseless: As Lucinda is killing the cop:
-->'''Crow:''' "Where's my bike?! I reported it stolen 80 years ago!"
* ProductPlacement: In the film.
-->'''Crow:''' Why do I suddenly feel hungry for '''''Carnation Ice Cream?'''''
* RefugeInAudacity: Making fun of the elderly in this episode are what mocking Creator/JoeDonBaker for [[YouAreFat being fat]] is to ''Film/FinalJustice''.
* RememberTheNewGuy: Servo's [[EvilOldFolks killer Grandma]].
* RunningGag:
** Jokes about walnuts(specifically the concept of a walnut ranch[[note]][[DontExplainTheJoke A ranch raises livestock, hence the jokes comparing walnuts and cattle]][[/note]]), pauses and Jodie's Maverick. And rednecks.
** "Stop it!"
** "This is where the fish lives."
** Crow suggesting Secret Santa gifts for Mike to get the family in the movie.
** Jokes about the frequent pauses in conversations.
** Jokes about old people vis-à-vis Lucinda.
* SceneryCensor: Melissa's topless scene is still in the ''[=MST3K=]'' cut, her breasts are just conveniently hidden by the seats. Though there is a split second glimpse of her nipples that remains in the episode.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: When the end credits suddenly go nuts, Mike and the Bots quickly vacate the theater in terror.
* ShoutOut:
** When Lucinda kills the police officer, there's a joke about calling Creator/HarveyKeitel in to "[[TheFixer fix]]" things, a la his character Winston "The Wolf" Wolfe in ''Film/PulpFiction''.
** Some demonic characters from ''Literature/TheScrewtapeLetters'' are referenced during the opening credits.
--->'''Crow''': "With Screwtape on kettledrum, Wormwood on harpsichord."
** To Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus, when the character Melissa shows a new friend her shed:
---> '''Crow''': If she had another one of those, she could be Melissa Two-Sheds Strickland.
--->''(later, when the shed is burning down)''
---> '''Crow''': Aw, now she's Melissa No-Sheds Strickland.
** Brain Guy's "friend" at bedtime is a little stuffed [[Series/SesameStreet Cookie Monster]].
* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: This is the only Sci-Fi era episode where Pearl doesn't appear.
* TakeThat:
** Famous people compared to Satan in this episode include Creator/DavidSpade and Michael Eisner.
** When Melissa's grandma-sister Lucinda sits in front of her mirror, an annoyed Crow complains that now "[[Film/{{Titanic 1997}} a withered old Billy Zane is going to come out and give her a withered old]] ''[[Film/{{Titanic 1997}} Coeur De La Mer]]''."
* TemporarySubstitute: Steffi the babysitter.
* UnfortunateNames: Lampshaded when lead actress Emby Mellay's name comes up in the opening titles.[[note]](Her actual full name is Emma Beth Mellay; "Emby" was a childhood nickname that she adopted for her acting career)[[/note]]
-->'''Servo''': Emby Mellay? That's not a name, it's a bad Scrabble hand.
* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: Bobo may be a talking ape, but Steffi's more focused on him [[AllAnimalsAreDogs chewing up her shoe]]... again.
* VisualPun: After Jodie leaves Ellen's Café, Crow asks, "What was Anne Heche doin' in there?" That riff got funnier after Ellen and Anne split up.
* WayPastTheExpirationDate: Mike's canned wassail for the bots turns out to have expired in the Year of Our Lord 1547.
-->'''Crow:''' "Yeah, that's a pretty old born-on date."
* WhatAnIdiot: InUniverse when Jody gets called out at the end with,"So we're both in the clutches of the Devil because you wanted seconds."
* WithLyrics: To AmazingFreakingGrace no less: "This song is in / The public domain / That's why we used it twiiice~"
** Servo also creates lyrics to the background music many times in the film.
--> '''Servo''': ''(singing)'' ...When there's just a touch of Satan in your heart!
----
->'''Melissa:''' [[TheStinger This is where the fish lives.]]
----

Film watched: ''Film/TouchOfSatan''

* UnfortunateNames:

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: When describing Luther's recipe for hard cider.
-->'''Crow:''' "Boy, I hope he said peanuts."

* SceneryCensor: Melissa's topless scene is still in the ''[=MST3K=]'' cut, her breasts are just conveniently hidden by the seats. Though there is a [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar split second glimpse of her nipples]] that remains in the episode.

** Upon realizing the leader of the AngryMob is played by the same actor who played the back brace-wearing Dan Kester in ''Film/TheGiantSpiderInvasion'', Servo lets out an enthusiastic, "You've been hittin' the ''BOOZE'' again!"

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: Called out.[[invoked]] Selling your soul to the devil will solve all your problems kids!

* AluminumChristmasTrees: The movie's opening credits play over shots of Jody driving in his car, and the crew (not knowing who he is yet) assume it's the Devil. After fairly standard terms like "onerous spinner of lies" Servo ends up calling him "Maverick-driving Clootie" which he claims is Scottish and that he looked it up. Clootie, or Cloots, is indeed a Scottish name for the devil, coming from the Scottish word "cloot" which means "cloven hoof."

-->'''Crow:''' "Yeah, that's a pretty old born-on date.

* TheSeventies: It's very much a 70s movie, so there are many, but one blatant reference:

** When Lucinda kills the police officer, there's a joke about calling Creator/HarveyKeitel in to "[[TheFixer fix]]" things, a la his character Winston the Wolf in ''Film/PulpFiction''.

** Steffi also calls Crow "Cow."

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: Called out. Selling your soul to the devil will solve all your problems kids! [[invoked]]

* ItTastesLikeFeet: Mike tells the bots they probably wouldn't like the canned wassail, as it tastes "kinda skunky". Given the expiration date is 1547, that's probably a valid reason.

* ManChild: Brain Guy becomes this due to Steffi's browbeating. At the end of the show he goes to bed but only after making sure to get his blankey, pacifier, and teddy bear.

* RefugeInAudacity: Making fun of the elderly is taken to the same extent in this episode as mocking Joe Don Baker for being fat is in ''Film/FinalJustice''.
* RememberTheNewGuy: Servo's killer Grandma.
* RunningGag: Jokes about walnuts(specifically the concept of a walnut ranch[[note]][[DontExplainTheJoke A ranch raises livestock, hence the jokes comparing walnuts and cattle]][[/note]]), pauses and Jodie's Maverick. And rednecks.

** Jokes about old people vis a vis Lucinda
* SceneryCensor: Melissa's topless scene is still in the [=MST3K=] cut, her breasts are just conveniently hidden by the seats. Though there is a [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar split second glimpse of her nipples]] that remains in the episode.

* TheSeventies: It's very much a 70s movie, so there are many, but one blatant reference:
--> '''Crow''': Mike, what were you guys ''doing'' there in the 70s, making witch movies, inhaling huge clouds of marijuana, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking big ugly flared pants on]]...
--> '''Mike''': Well, we had to do ''something''.

** When Lucinda kills the police officer, there's a joke about calling [[Film/PulpFiction Harvey Keitel]] in to "[[TheFixer fix]]" things.

---> (later, when the shed is burning down)

* UnfortunateNames

* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: Bobo may be a talking ape, but Steffi's more focused on him chewing up her shoe... again.

* WithLyrics: To AmazingFreakingGrace no less: "This song is in / The public domain / That's why we used it twice~"

* RunningGag: Jokes about walnuts, pauses and Jodie's Maverick. And rednecks.