"Quit blacking out, I can't see anything!"
The Boatniks, okay!
Films watched: General Hospital (short) and The Beatniks
The short was the second of three 1960s segments from the soap opera General Hospital to air on the series.
The episode is available in the Gizmoplex here
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The Segments:
Prologue- A crueler-than-usual Joel introduces Crow and Servo to rock-paper-scissors, much to his victory and the Bots' distress. He gets a warning from Magic Voice for his roughhousing, but after suggesting a game of mumbley-peg, Gypsy tackles him.
Segment 1
- Joel and the Bots return with injuries and complaints, during which we learn Joel was punishing Servo and Crow for shoving a dead thing in his pillowcase. For this week's Invention Exchange, the Mads dress up as Good Luck Trolls to get popular with the ladies. Joel demonstrates Pocket Pool, with green felt underwear and balls in his pants.
Segment 2
- Joel and the 'Bots complain about how the supposed beatniks in today's experiment aren't beatniks at all. They then tell the signs of how someone is or is not a beatnik.
Segment 3
- The 'Bots are having a slumber party and fangirling over Tony Travis. Overhearing their gossip, Joel mentions that he and Tony went to high school together and saved his phone number. When they dial his number, the crew finds out that Tony is a debt-ridden has-been working in a dinky taco joint and living with roommates with kids. The 'Bots' hopes are dashed, but their affection soon leans towards Mooney.
Segment 4
- With help from Crow and Joel, Servo acts out the life and times of a 1950s rock star, going through his humble beginnings, his romances, his stardom, and his fall from grace.
Segment 5
- Joel and Servo read the letters while Crow, pretending to be Mooney, chases Gypsy with a knife. The first letter asks if "dickweed" is a swear, to the two's approval that is not. Crow then stabs Servo, who melodramatically asks Joel to take care of a few things for him. In Deep 13, Frank tries to push the button with his four huge fingers.
The MST3K presentation of General Hospital (Part 2) contains examples of:
- Accidental Aesop: Played for laughs: The moral Joel and the 'Bots take away from the installment is that booze makes parties better.
The MST3K presentation of The Beatniks contains examples of:
- Bait-and-Switch: Clayton and Frank try to end the episode by pushing the button, but the huge fingers on their troll costumes keep them from doing so. Frank suddenly gets an idea and removes a glove, seemingly intent to press the button with his bare finger...but instead smacks the keyboard with the empty glove. It works.
- Broken Pedestal: The bots idolize Tony Travis... until they learn he works at a dinky taco joint and shares a place with about a dozen guys and some kids. They then decide to swoon over Mooney.
- Call-Back:
- The very first riff of the film, right out the gate: "Hey, it's Daddy-O!"
- As part of the sketch in Segment 4, Servo is cast in Daddy-O, but is fired because he can't do the fruit-slapping scene with his nonfunctional arms.
- Cool and Unusual Punishment: "Shut up, Frank, or I'll let the dog play with you!"
- Final Speech: Parodied, after Servo gets stabbed by Crow:Servo: Take care of my... turtle.Joel: I will, Tommy!Servo: Stop my milk... delivery.Joel: Okay, I will do it.Servo: Pick up... my... mail. Cancel... subscription to... National Review.Joel: Okay?Servo: Continue... to tape... Baywatch for me.Joel: Alright.Servo: Take my... step aerobics class... every... Tuesday.
- I Thought That Was: As Joel and the 'Bots explain to the audience by channeling a Jeff Foxworthy routine, there are no beatniks in The Beatniks. (You want The Rebel Set, four episodes later.)
- Literal-Minded:Eddie: (referring to Mooney) You can thank gun-happy over here, we're in real trouble now!Joel & the 'Bots: Thank you, gun-happy!
- Mama Bear: Gypsy when Joel gets a little rough with Tom and Crow.Gypsy: My babies!
- Mundane Made Awesome: The diner's vaunted "Dish of Ice Cream" attracts everyone's attention.Eddy: Lea-ther coat!Servo: Dish! Of! Ice cream!
- Poor, Predictable Rock: Joel teaches the bots Rock–Paper–Scissors, taking advantage of the fact that they can't change their hands and so he always knows how to win. Unfortunately for him, he gets a little rough...Gypsy: [rushes in from offscreen with a shriek and tackles Joel] Gypsy crushes Joel!
- To be fair to Joel, he was punishing the bots for a Noodle Incident.
Joel: Yeah, well, you should ask these little "charmkins" what I found oozing out of my pillow case this morning!Tom: Aw, you little baby, it could've been a lot worse!Crow: Yeah, at least we killed him before we stuffed 'im in there. - Overly Narrow Superlative: "This is the best Tony Travis movie I've seen!"
- Repetitive Audio Glitch: During the bots' sleepover, they're listening to one of Tony's records... but, unbeknownst to them, it won't get past the first lyric:Record: Leather coat... (SKRRRT) Leather coat... (SKRRRT) Leather coat... (SKRRRT)
- Running Gag: Yelling in surprise at the poor editing resulting in objects and people jumping around mid-scene.Joel: I think they might need to hire a continuity director.
- The phrase "Shut up, Iris" becomes a recurring gag for the series.
- Spinning Paper: During the sketch that chronicles the rise and fall of Tom Servo's pop icon career. Joel simply has several Variety mock-ups pre-mounted on poles that he just grabbed from behind the desk and spun by hand, while making whirly sounds with Tom and Crow.
- Stereo Fibbing: Joel and Tom respond in this manner to the "Is 'dickweed' a swear word?" letter.
- Unusual Euphemism: Mooney likes to use his own name as a Deadly Euphemism. But even in The '50s, to "moon" someone had an entirely different meaning, meaning a screw-up on the part of the writers.Mooney: (threatening) I'm gonna moon you.
Servo: You know, hang my butt out! - With Lyrics: Servo sings "Meet George Jetson!" to a recurring riff in the jazz soundtrack a few times.
