History Recap / MysteryScienceTheater3000S10E12Squirm

Being the final short riffed on the Satellite of Love (on cable TV), ''Film/ACaseOfSpringFever'' is the nuttiest by far. In the short, the grumpy Gilbert can't go golfing with his friends because he has to repair the springs in his sofa, angrily wishing never to see another spring so long as he lives. In pops "Coily the Spring Sprite", an animated critter who grants his wish, and makes all the springs in the world disappear. Gilbert gradually discovers that springs are vital for everyday objects to work, as he finds that he can't make calls, check his watch, or even start his car. He apologizes to Coily for his wish, prompting the little Spring Sprite to bring all the springs back. From there, the short turns educational as Gilbert preaches to his friends everything there is to know about springs, much to their frustration.

Being the final short riffed on the Satellite of Love (on cable TV), ''Film/ACaseOfSpringFever'' is the nuttiest by far. In the short, the grumpy Gilbert can't go golfing with his friends when he has to repair the springs in his sofa, angrily wishing never to see another spring so long as he lives. In pops "Coily the Spring Sprite", an animated critter who grants his wish, and makes all the springs in the world disappear. Gilbert gradually discovers that springs are vital for everyday objects to work, as he finds that he can't make calls, check his watch, or even start his car. He apologizes to Coily for his wish, prompting the little Spring Sprite to bring all the springs back. From there, the short turns educational as Gilbert preaches to his friends everything there is to know about springs, much to their frustration.

* EndOfAnEra: The final short film riffed before the main feature. Shorts are still riffed on the Gizmoplex, but seperate from the films.

!!The [=MST3K=] treatment of ''Squirm'' provides examples of:

!!The ''[=MST3K=]'' presentation of ''A Case Of Spring Fever'' has examples of:
* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: In-universe, Mike and the Bots interpret Coily as an all-powerful EldritchAbomination.
* BrickJoke: Early on, Crow asks where Coily fits into God's plan. Later, as Gilbert won't shut up about springs.
-->'''Gilbert:''' Why, it's practically impossible to name a single thing in which some sort of spring isn't essential in one way or another. ''(looks up)''\\
'''Crow:''' Oh look, God has a spring!
* CallBack, RunningGag: Coily was the inspiration for Willy the Waffle way back in [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S03E17VikingWomenAndTheSeaSerpent Season 3]]; they'd been wanting to riff the short since back then and simply weren't able to get the rights until the show's final season. Also, references to Coily (along with his spring sound) are imitated in a host segment ("Mikey the Mike Sprite, they call me") and in ''Squirm'' itself.
** Kevin even quotes the "No springs!" after a goofy spring sound effect in the short ''Film/OneGotFat'' released through ''Podcast/RiffTrax''.
* DisproportionateRetribution: Coily removing all springs from the world just because of what Gilbert said.
-->'''Mike:''' So, ''one'' clod says ''one'' thing and the whole world pays?
* EasilyForgiven: Coily reversing the wish.
-->'''Servo:''' So, Coily waited all eternity for this moment, and he backs down almost instantly?
* EvilLaugh: Coily's laugh comes off this way.
-->'''Servo:''' ''(as Coily)'' You'll be the first to die!
* EndingFatigue: Discussed InUniverse, as the short keeps going after Coily reverses Gilbert's wish.
-->'''Servo:''' Shouldn't this be over?
** According to Mary Jo Pehl, this is one of the reasons why they put off featuring this short on ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' for so long, because they weren't sure if the 2nd half provided enough riffing material.
* FanDisservice:
-->'''Servo:''' ''(amused and disgusted at the same time)'' More gray asses!
* IndecisiveParody: Sort of. The first half of the short is teaching the main character how important springs are, but then the second half has him preaching non-stop about how important springs are to his friends, who are clearly annoyed by him.
* ItsAWonderfulPlot: Both the short itself ("Merry Christmas, you wonderful old couch!") and the following host segment it inspires, where Mikey the Mike Sprite tries to show the Bots the horror of a world without Mike. It backfires -- Tom and Crow aren't really too bothered by life without Mike. Eventually Mikey starts badgering the bots into at least half-heartedly pretend they have learned their lesson and wish for Mike to come back.
** Mike does care about his socks, though. "No Mike's socks!" ''(whistle)''
* OddJobGods: Parodied when the trio invoke Mikey, the Mike sprite, and Mike's Socksy, the Mike's socks sprite. (Each one is credited separately to Patrick Brantseg at the end.)
* SoundtrackDissonance: When Coily returns the universe to normal, "Perpetuum Mobile" by Johann Strauss II plays. Mike and the bots wonder if a circus is next door.
* TechnologyMarchesOn: Invoked in the riffing itself -- [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooke%27s_law Hooke's Law]] aside[[note]]Coily thankfully only seems to have dominion over mechanical springs, not fundamental properties of elasticity[[/note]], a decent number of the mentioned uses for springs have since been made obsolete thanks to computer technology, so the lack of them wouldn't be ''quite'' as inconvenient as it would in the 1950s.
-->'''Servo:''' ''(as Gilbert)'' I'll show Coily. I'm gonna digitize everything.
* UnfortunateNames:
** "Coily? Eww."
** The rough cut of ''Film/ItLivesByNight'' combines this with SerialEscalation: Mike, Kevin, and Bill come up with TheLongList of scatological sprites like "Fecey", "[=BMey=]", and many more.
** They also get into ProductPlacement problems. "I'm Coily with a Y." "I'm Coilee with an EE."

* PreppyName: When editor Brian Smedley-Aston's name comes up, Mike chimes in with "Oh, of the failed career Smedley-Astons."

* BehindTheBlack: "Oh, I didn't see you."

%% * 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.

->''"Squirm".''.\\
'''Mike:''' Well... I don't know why, but okay! ''([[LiteralistSnarking Mike and the 'Bots wriggle in their seats.]])''

->[[TheStinger "You gonna be the worm face!"]]

* Servo is afflicted with Severe Southern Belleness. Mike and Crow administer Yankee behavior modification to snap him out of it.

* Crow dresses up as the sister from the film, complete with mile-high high-heels. Pearl puts a three-foot bungee jump attraction in her fair.

* Crow wishes Mike never existed, which summons Mikey the Mike Sprite to grant that exact wish. Mikey expects the 'Bots to take back the wish, but they really don't care that he's gone and he has to make them beg for Mike's return to existence.

* Crow wishes Mike never existed, which summon Mikey the Mike Sprite to grant that exact wish. Mikey expects the 'Bots to take back the wish, but they really don't care that he's gone and he has to make them beg for Mike's return to existence.

* The crew goes through the checklist for their annual safety check and are reassured at their likelihood to die due to the 'Bots using all their emergency supplies for pranks.

* {{Bowdlerize}}: The MST3K cut removes some of the more graphic scenes from the movie, including close-ups of the worms burrowing into Roger's face and the shot of Naomi's form covered in worms.

* LethalChef: Pearl's recipe for pickles involves cucumbers and Windex. Bobo's Ape Hair is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, battered and fried. Brain Guy only learns these facts [[IAteWhat after consuming the foodstuffs in question]].

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: [[invoked]] According to Mike and the Bots, Mick isn't just interested in antiques as a hobby, he's obsessed with them.

* AscendedMeme: The MondeGreen of "Shot him in his face" from the theme song makes it into a host segment, when Servo and Crow say that the flares and fire extinguishers were all shot off in Mike's face.

'''Mike:''' Well... I don't know why, but okay! ''([[LiteralMinded Mike and the 'Bots wriggle in their seats.]])''

* FailedASpotCheck: Mike somehow never noticed that the Bots were raising an enormous pig on the S.O.L. to enter into Pearl's livestock competition, complete with all necessary accommodations, such as a silo.
-->'''Mike:''' "Wh-where've you guys been keeping him?"
-->'''Servo:''' "Around the feed lot. He was our biggest!"
-->'''Mike:''' "Wait, we have a feed lot?"
-->'''Crow:''' "...Do you even ''live'' here?"

* LethalChef: Pearl's recipe for pickles involves cucumbers and Windex. Bobo's Ape Hair is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, battered and fried.

** Subverted with Mike's electrically fried worms. The bots react with disgust as he tries one, but it turns out they are ''delicious''.

* RunningGag: "Mr. Beardsley?"

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
--> "I just don't want you to be disappointed if he doesn't come."
--> '''Crow''': Mother, that's private!

* CallBack, RunningGag: Coily was the inspiration for Willy the Wonderful Waffle Guy way back in [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S03E17VikingWomenAndTheSeaSerpent Season 3]]; they'd been wanting to riff the short since back then and simply weren't able to get the rights until the show's final season. Also, references to Coily (along with his spring sound) are imitated in a host segment ("Mikey the Mike Sprite, they call me") and in ''Squirm'' itself.

* CallBack: When the fried worms turn out to be a hit with the SoL crew, Mike turns to Crow and says they need a dipping sauce (like he made to go with Servo's blossomed and fried head [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S10E07TrackOfTheMoonBeast a few episodes back]]), to which Crow gives an enthusiastic "Check!"