Our NEXT TWO BONUS CHALLENGES run until Sunday Night! Livestream Updates! Plus: NEW REWARDS COMING TOMORROW!
almost 3 years ago – Fri, Apr 30, 2021 at 01:04:04 AM

In Today's Update

•  PROGRESS REPORT: 80% of the way to 9 NEW EPISODES!
•  BONUS CHALLENGES: Can we finish them before Sunday night?
•  NEW REWARDS: Coming Tomorrow at 1pm PDT!
•  LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE: A Few Small Changes!

Dear MST3K Preservation League,

Hey there, it's Joel again.  

Before we get started, I just want to remind you that we've got our next LIVESTREAM SCREENING tonight at 5pm PDT/8pm EDT. We'll be watching Untamed Youth, with our old friend and special guest J. Elvis Weinstein, who was the original voice of Tom Servo and Dr. Laurence Erhardt! It should be a lot of fun, so I hope you'll come join us on Twitch, YouTube or Facebook.

Now, how about some updates?

PROGRESS REPORT

It's Thursday, April 29... and that means that tomorrow, we'll have just ONE WEEK LEFT before the end of this Kickstarter.  And you know, while I'm happy about how well things seem to be going, this final week is when things seem to get a lot more intense.

Right now, we're 80% of the way to our next goal, which will get us NINE EPISODES and allow us to organize TWICE AS MANY live events in the Gizmoplex for an entire year!

But before you get too excited, I've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that we're still a little bit ahead of where we were at this point in 2015... but the bad news is that, by the end of today, it looks like we could fall behind:

So, with just over one week left, I think we might need a few new moves if we want to stay in the game... which is why it's time to announce our next BONUS CHALLENGES.

Now, listen: Like I said from the beginning, I know that the last year has been difficult for so many of us, so I really want to make sure you don't feel pressured to make a pledge that you can't afford, or that might be uncomfortable for you downstream.

I hope that we'll be able to reach our final goal and make twelve new episodes for you – but even more important, I want you to make sure you're taking care of yourself. If you can't make a bigger pledge – or any pledge – right now, we'll make sure you can still get involved later, and won't have to miss anything.

On the other hand, if you can help us get closer to 12 episodes before time runs out, I want to give you some more incentives that might make it worth the effort. 

So yeah, how about some new Bonus Challenges? 

BONUS CHALLENGE #3: $3.75M TO UNLOCK OUR FIRST 3-D MOVIE... AND $3.8M TO UNLOCK FREE 3-D GLASSES!

Thanks to you, we now know that MST3K will soon have its own "virtual theater" – the Gizmoplex – where we can all hang out. But if we're going to really recreate the movie theater experience for you, I think it's time to try something new. So yeah, this season, for the first time, we want to riff our first 3-D MOVIE!

Of course, Kinga and Max aren't going to spring for anything too state-of-the-art, so we're not talking about brand new 3-D. No, friends: we're talking about the kind of 3-D that will feel right at home on MST3K – ultra-cheesy ANAGLYPHIC 3-D, with those red-and-blue glasses that got real popular starting in the 1950's! We've already got a couple possible 3-D movies selected (including one that is so bad, I think it might be the next Manos: The Hands of Fate). 

So, here's your next bonus challenge:

If we can reach $3.75M by Sunday night*, MST3K will riff our first 3-D movie... and, if we reach $3.8M, we'll add KINGAVISION 3-D GLASSES to all pledge levels at $75 and up for FREE!**

*Since I know you're gonna ask, that means Sunday at 11:59pm PDT.

**If you're not able to pledge that much, don't worry: We'll also make 3-D glasses available as an Add-On Reward and we'll release a version of the 3-D episode that works without 3-D glasses.

Also, if you're wondering why we're not using the newest 3-D movies, remember: anaglyphic 3D might not be the future we were promised, but it's probably the future we deserve.

BONUS CHALLENGE #4: 25K BACKERS TO UNLOCK TWO T-SHIRT DESIGNS + HOODIE UPGRADE

Thanks to Bonus Challenge #2, I'm pleased to report that we're now Kickstarter's 7th "Most Backed" Film & Video Project... and with a little work, we'll move up to #6.

So, here's your fourth Bonus Challenge:

If we can reach 25,000 backers by Sunday night*, we'll upgrade our T-SHIRT REWARDS to offer TWO DIFFERENT DESIGNS and we'll offer a HOODIE UPGRADE after the Kickstarter ends!

*This still means Sunday at 11:59pm PDT, in case you were wondering.

And I know you haven't gotten to see the t-shirt design(s) we're planning yet... but if we finish this challenge, I promise I'll give you a first look at those on Monday. I think they're looking pretty great, but I'm excited to see what you think, and hear your feedback.

New Rewards Coming Tomorrow

To help increase our chances of finishing Bonus Challenge #3 and reaching $3.75M by the end of this weekend, I also want to share this now, so you can plan ahead:

Tomorrow at 1pm PDT, we'll be releasing a few new Reward Levels and Add-On Rewards, including... 

• Our final copies of THE "BRINGING BACK MST3K" COFFEE TABLE BOOK from our last two seasons, including over 100 pages of photos, stories and behind-the-scenes explanations.
• More chances to grab the MST3K LIVE BACKSTAGE EXPERIENCE, including new options in Minneapolis, Seattle and San Diego!
• More options to build your MST3K CLASSIC EPISODE COLLECTION, including a digital download reward that includes over 120 CLASSIC EPISODES!

Plus, we'll also bring back another much-requested reward from Seasons 11 and 12 that we didn't think we'd be able to offer this time around. So, if those are interesting to some of you, I hope that'll also help us get closer to the Bonus Challenges and our final goal.

LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE UPDATES

Earlier this week, I shared our plans to host a lot of livestream events during our final week, and I'm excited that I'll get the chance to hang out with our cast, some special guests, and all of you. 

But you know, as some of you pointed out... if I'm going to join all of these livestream events and make it through next week to the end of our Kickstarter, it's probably a good idea to take a day off somewhere in the middle and rest.

So, I want to let you know about two small changes to our schedule:

1. Tomorrow's livestream for Quest of the Delta Knights will start at 7pm PDT/10pm EDT instead of 5pm PDT. 

I know that's a little bit late for those of us on the East Coast, but since it's a Friday night, I hope you'll stay up with us. And remember, for tomorrow's screening, we'll be joined by a very special guest: Mary Jo Pehl! And I don't want to spoil anything, but we might have a little surprise for her... and for you. So, I hope you'll join us!

2. We're moving our Sunday livestream event to Wednesday, so that we can get a little rest.

This way, instead of having livestream events six days in a row, we can do three days of livestreams, take Sunday off, and then do three more. It's just a little easier for all of us, and probably for you, too.

Anyway, when you make those changes and put all of our events together, here's the final lineup:

And you know, I hope everyone can join us at least once or twice for these events, because I think it'll really help give you a feel for why we're excited to plan so many special live events for the Gizmoplex. So... grab some popcorn and come hang out!

That's all for now, but I'm just finishing up another update I want to share with you, where I'll explain a few more details about our plans for remote production. I think that update will be especially helpful to anyone who still has concerns about how it'll all work.

Finally, don't forget that we've got... 

•  TWO NEW BONUS CHALLENGES to finish BY SUNDAY NIGHT! 
•  NEW REWARDS coming TOMORROW AT 1PM PDT! 
• Just over ONE WEEK LEFT to reach our final goal and 12 episodes.

So yeah, as usual, please remember to...

Hope to see you tonight for Untamed Youth!

Cheers & Thanks,

Joel

 

Sure, we could be raising money for my debut solo album (Servo Sings Sisqó), but right now, we're running out of time to #MakeMoreMST3K! If you want to beat Joel's next two Bonus Challenges and unlock FREE BONUS REWARDS, I've got a hot tip for you.

Just post ONE of these messages to your Facebooks, Instagrams or Twitters:

• Just over 1 WEEK LEFT, and the #MakeMoreMST3K Kickstarter is 80% of the way to unlocking NINE NEW EPISODES! To keep things moving, @JoelGHodgson just announced BONUS CHALLENGES to unlock our first 3D MOVIE and TWO SHIRT DESIGNS: http://ks.mst3k.com/update11 
• Breaking News: @JoelGHodgson just set a new #MakeMoreMST3K challenge: if we reach $3.75M by Sunday night, @MST3K will riff its first-ever 3D movie... and it’s SO BAD, Joel thinks it might be the next MANOS! Plus... free KINGAVISION 3D glasses! http://ks.mst3k.com/update11 
• We asked for #MakeMoreMST3K hoodies. Now let's make it happen: if we pass 25K backers by Sunday night, we’ll get TWO shirt designs to choose from AND an optional hoodie upgrade! More details in @JoelGHodgson's latest update: http://ks.mst3k.com/update11 
• TONIGHT! Join @JoelGHodgson + special guest @JElvisWeinstein for a live rewatch of UNTAMED YOUTH, on MST3K's YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook. Livestream starts at 5pm PT/8pm ET! Plus: livestreams all week long! Full schedule: http://ks.mst3k.com/update11 

10 DAYS LEFT. Join us for a WEEK OF LIVESTREAM SCREENINGS, our JACKBOX SHOWDOWN, and... MST3K's FINAL COUNTDOWN TELETHON: THE SEQUEL!
almost 3 years ago – Thu, Apr 29, 2021 at 07:50:11 PM

You're invited to a WEEK OF SPECIAL EVENTS!

•  Starting Thursday: FIVE MORE Livestream Screenings!
•  Monday, May 3: The MST3K Jackbox Showdown!
•  Friday, May 7: The Final Countdown Telethon: The Sequel!
   

Dear MST3K Preservation League,

Hey everyone. It's Joel again, with a few new updates for you. No time to waste, so let's get to it.

Miss the livestream last night? We're doing FIVE MORE!

We had our first livestream last night, and if you were one of the 5000+ folks who showed up to hang out with us on YouTube, Facebook or Twitch, I hope you had as much fun as we did. I was pleased to have a chance to introduce more of you to our newest cast members: Emily, Conor, Nate and Yvonne, and to show you the short riff they did for Turkey Day last year. We also answered some of your questions, and then for the "main event," we all watched Hobgoblins together and chatted all the way through. 

(I’ve gotta admit, I had never seen this episode before last night. But Emily suggested it, because it's one of her all-time favorites... and man, it was so fun to watch her watching it. Plus, the episode was really funny too, with some really great riffing throughout.  For some reason, the line “I’ve finally accomplished my dream of blowing up another human being” really made me laugh.)

If you couldn't join us last night, you can still see it here until the Kickstarter ends.

The whole thing was also a great example of why we’re so excited that the Gizmoplex will be a place with regular live events and screenings – not just with our cast, but where it's easy to watch episodes while talking with your friends. 

As one commenter put it on YouTube:

Exactly, Annette! That’s always been one of the most important ideas behind MST3K, and it’s also one of the big ideas behind the Gizmoplex.

(And look, I know there are still a lot of questions and guesses about what the Gizmoplex “is” and how it will work, but don't worry: I'm going to tell you more before the end of this week, and even give you a little look at some of what we're planning.)

But yeah: we had such a good time last night that we’ve decided we’re going to do a few more to keep everyone going as we head into the final week of this Kickstarter -- including the screening I promised when you completed Bonus Challenge #2, Quest of the Delta Knights, which we'll be watching this Friday night! 

I hope you’ll make some time to come out, because different members of our cast will be joining me for each episode. Also, for a few of the screenings, we'll have some very special friends and surprise guests joining in!

Here are the next few screenings we’ve got planned:

Also, if you paid close attention to that schedule of livestream watch-a-longs, you might have noticed that we don't have a screening planned for next Monday night. 

Well, that's because on Monday, we're going to "kickstart" the final week of our campaign by doing something extra special with some long-time friends of MST3K:

If you don't already know Jackbox, they make a really fun, and funny, set of party games – like Quiplash and Fibbage – that you can play online against your friends, which I think have a little bit of the same sense of humor that's always driven MST3K. 

During the live tour, our cast spent a fair amount of time on the tour bus playing a lot of rounds of Jackbox games, as we drove through the night toward your hometown. And also, truth be told, we've spent many a night at my house playing Jackbox Party Pack 7, and it's really helped us while away the hours during COVID.

Anyway, since MST3K's next season is going to feature two sets of hosts and robots riffing cheesy movies, we thought next week might be a perfect time to start a fun little competition – and we'd like all of you to be the judges! So yeah...

Next Monday night, join us online as Team Jonah and Team Emily face off live in our first-ever MST3K JACKBOX SHOWDOWN!

We're really fortunate that so many people at Jackbox are both friends and long-time MSTies, and were so enthusiastic about helping us put this together in time for the Kickstarter. In fact, a couple of their head writers will even join us to host the games!

And you know, if we're going to start our final week with a game night, it seems like we're going to need something even bigger to end the week – and to end this Kickstarter! Also, based on your comments, I think a lot of you really want us to do this again, so I'll go ahead and make it official:

Now, we still have ten more days before our Kickstarter ends, and I don't know what's going to happen between now and then. But what I do know is that – just like we did in 2015 – we want to spend the last few hours of this Kickstarter with you. 

We're still working out a lot of details, and lining up some fun surprises, special guest performers, and a few crazy last-minute rewards. 

I think it'll be a great way to end the month, and make one last "push" to get to our final goal and make a full season. Just as important, it'll give us the chance to hang out and laugh together, and for me and our cast to thank you for joining us to #MakeMoreMST3K.

(Also, if it's anything like our first end-of-Kickstarter telethon, things probably won't go quite the way we're expecting... and maybe that's a good thing.)

So yeah, I hope you'll make time to join us next Friday night, and "count down" to the end of the Kickstarter together. It'll be just like New Years' Eve... only, instead of Anderson Cooper, we'll have a bunch of robot puppets. And instead of Rihanna, we'll have Paul and Storm! And I don't know about you, but if you're like me – and I know I am – I know what I'd rather watch.

Anyway, that's everything for today, but we've still got a lot more planned for the next two weeks, including...

• New Bonus Challenges
• New Add-On Rewards
• Sneak Peek at our first reward designs!
• More answers about remote production
• More details about the Gizmoplex

And yes, since I know a lot of you are wondering, I'll even reveal the first few movies we're planning to riff in our new episodes!

So, yeah. There's a lot left to share and less than 10 days until our Kickstarter ends. 

I hope you'll make some time to join some of our screenings and events before then, because getting to hang out with all of you at these livestreams really is one of the best parts of this entire experience for me, and for our cast.

And remember, it's still going to take a real push over the next week if we want to reach our final two goals, so be sure to help out the cause and...

I hope I'll see a lot of you at our screening on Thursday night – and if you've got questions for me, our cast, or J. Elvis Weinstein, feel free to ask in the comments below! On Thursday, we'll look there first when we decide what questions to answer.

Cheers & Thanks,

Joel

People of the World: I’ve been instructed by people much more powerful than me (read: Kinga) to instruct you that you should tell THE WHOLE INTERNET to follow the instructions below. If you do this, I’ll be allowed to keep my mint condition He-Man figure collection. Please do this.

To make sure we can #MakeMoreMST3K, just post ANY of these messages to your Facebooks, Instagrams or Twitters:

• We've got TELETHON SIGN! On May 7, @JoelGHodgson & friends send off the #MakeMoreMST3K Kickstarter in THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: THE TELETHON: THE SEQUEL. Join us for surprise guests, performances & last-minute rewards! It's sure to live in internet infamy. http://ks.mst3k.com/update10 
• Time for a friendly competition: join @MST3K and @JackboxGames on MONDAY, MAY 3 for the official #MakeMoreMST3K JACKBOX SHOWDOWN. It's Team Jonah vs. Team Emily. YOU DECIDE WHO WINS! Details here: http://ks.mst3k.com/update10 
• With just TEN DAYS LEFT in the #MakeMoreMST3K Kickstarter, we're at 63% of our final goal to make TWELVE NEW EPISODES and TWELVE NEW SHORTS! Every pledge helps, and even $1 gets us closer to another FULL SEASON! Join us now... won't you? http://MakeMoreMST3K.com 
• Did you catch last night’s #MakeMoreMST3K livestream with @JoelGHodgson and the MST3K Live cast? Well, good news: We’re doing FIVE MORE live WATCH-A-LONG EVENTS, with more cast members and special guests! Get all the details: http://ks.mst3k.com/update10 

FAQ: Adjusting Pledge Levels & Add-On Rewards
almost 3 years ago – Thu, Apr 29, 2021 at 06:48:16 PM

Hey Everyone!

We've seen a lot of questions from backers who want to adjust their pledge level, increase the amount of their pledge, or change their Add-On Reward selections, but can't figure out how... and we totally get it. It's not the easiest thing to figure out, especially if you haven't used Kickstarter much.

Luckily, it's not as difficult as it seems... so we'll walk you through exactly what to do!

1. Make sure you're logged into Kickstarter.

If you're not logged in, scroll all the way to the top of the page, and you'll see the word "Log In" in the top right corner of the screen, right next to the search button.

If you are logged in, you'll see a circle icon with your "user picture" instead.  

2. Click this link to adjust your pledge.

Following that link will take you to a page where you can adjust your pledge and Add-On Rewards, which should look like this:

• If you just want to ADD AN EXTRA AMOUNT to your pledge, enter it in the box that says "Bonus Support" (1) and press the green "Pledge" button to update your pledge. 
• If you want to PLEDGE WITHOUT ANY REWARDS, you can select that option at the top (2). You'll still get backer updates, but we'll spend your full pledge making new episodes.
• If you want to CHANGE YOUR PLEDGE LEVEL, just scroll down (3) to see all of the other pledge levels that are still available.
• To CONFIRM YOUR NEW PLEDGE LEVEL, click the green "Pledge" button (4) to confirm the pledge level you've selected.

3. If Kickstarter won't let you select a new level...

A lot of backers have reported a problem where Kickstarter won't let them select a new pledge level, even if they click on it. 

This seems to be due to a strange Kickstarter glitch, which makes it impossible to click on the "radio button" in the top left corner of the pledge description:

If you're having trouble CLICKING on a new pledge level, just be sure to click on the right side of the box, and not the left side where the circular button is. It should work!

4. Click this link to change your Add-On Rewards.

Once you select the pledge level you want and click the green "PLEDGE" button – or click the link above – you'll be taken to a new page where you can review, add and adjust your Add-On Rewards:

• You'll see your CURRENT PLEDGE LEVEL at the top, under "Reward." If you need to go back and edit it, you can click the "Edit" link in the top right corner.
• Beneath your pledge, you'll see a list of ADD-ON REWARDS that can be added to your pledge level rewards. These should appear in order, starting with the least expensive.
• If you want to SELECT NEW ADD-ON REWARDS, just click the green "Add" button next to each reward you would like to add to your pledge. The total price of your pledge will adjust to reflect your selections.
• If you want to CHANGE ADD-ON REWARDS, just find the reward you want to adjust. You'll see the number of each reward that you've claimed next to it. You can ADJUST THE QUANTITY with the "+" and "-" buttons, or REMOVE THE ADD-ON by clicking on the trash can next to it.

When you're done making your selections, click the CONTINUE button at the bottom:

 5. Be sure to CONFIRM YOUR CHANGES!

When you're done adjusting your pledge and your Add-On Rewards, be sure to CONFIRM YOUR CHANGES! After you click CONTINUE on the Add-On Reward screen, you'll see this:

Just click the green "CONFIRM CHANGES" button, and you're all set!

(In rare cases, you might also see a SECOND confirmation screen. If you do, be sure to confirm again, until you see a screen that says your changes have been confirmed!)

You should get an email from Kickstarter confirming that your pledge has been adjusted, and that you'll now be billed for the new total amount on May 7, when our Kickstarter ends.
 

We've got SIX MOVIE SIGNS + GIZMOPLEX APPS! Next Up: $4.4M, NINE EPISODES, MORE LIVE EVENTS and the RETURN OF JOEL ROBINSON! Plus... New ALL DIGITAL Reward Level!
about 3 years ago – Sat, Apr 24, 2021 at 03:38:08 AM

• GOAL 2 REACHED:  We can now make SIX NEW EPISODES!
• Progress Report: 76% of the way to NINE EPISODES! 
• Bonus Challenge 2: Quest of the Delta Knights UNLOCKED!
• Experiment 85: New "All Digital" Reward Level Added
• Livestream Update: Join us Monday at 5pm PT / 8pm ET
• AND: Some "End of Week Thoughts" from Joel

Dear MST3K Preservation League,

Hey, it's Joel again.

Before the weekend gets going, I wanted to make sure that you heard the big news. After all, I know a lot of you are too busy to follow along, and keep tabs on how our Kickstarter is doing from day-to-day... and that's okay! 

But you know, even if you're not following along daily, I think you'll probably want to know about this: 

Yesterday, at 9:48pm EST, we passed our second big goal of $3.3M, which means...

Thanks to you, we'll get to make at least SIX NEW EPISODES of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and we'll also get to release GIZMOPLEX APPS that make it easier to watch them on your phones, tablets and TVs!*

And you know, even though I knew we were probably going to reach that goal sometime this week, it's still pretty amazing that it only took us sixteen days to get there. That's almost a whole week faster than during our first Kickstarter... and it means that we still have half the month left to reach our final two goals!

But hold on a second, because that's not all that happened last night. 

BONUS CHALLENGE 2: UNLOCKED!

On Wednesday evening, I explained that we were extending our second "Bonus Challenge" for an extra 24 hours, and that we had 24 hours left to reach 18,500 backers and move up the ranks to become Kickstarter's Seventh Most Backed "Film & Video Project" ever.  

As you can see above, you managed to do that too... with time to spare!  So, just like I promised, we're unlocking another bonus reward: 

Before our Kickstarter ends, you're all invited to join me for a live WATCH PARTY of a classic episode a lot of backers have been asking for: Quest of the Delta Knights! 

Plus, all backers at Level 150 and up will also get a FREE DOWNLOAD of the episode added to their other digital episode rewards!

So yeah, it looks like we're going to be watching Quest of the Delta Knights together... and I don't want to promise anything, but I can tell you there are a couple "special guests" I'm hoping will join us for that screening.  

We're still working out the date and time, but it'll be sometime before our Kickstarter ends on May 7th. And if you can't be with us in "real time," don't worry: I'll make sure that you can still rewatch it for a couple days afterward.

EXPERIMENT 85: OUR NEW "ALL DIGITAL" REWARD LEVEL!

Ever since our Kickstarter started, we've gotten a lot of emails asking us to add a new reward level for people who want digital copies of all of the new episodes, but don't want any of the Kickstarter-exclusive "merch" rewards that have to be sent in the mail, like our new shirts, posters, challenge coins or musical snow globes.

And you know, even though I think all of these rewards are gonna be really great this time around, I get it – especially for backers living abroad, who don't want to worry about what it'll cost to have all of their rewards shipped overseas.

Well, we wanted to wait until we knew we'd have at least six episodes, to make sure that an "All Digital" reward package would still give you a lot for your pledge... but since we've passed our second goal, I'm happy to announce the return of "Experiment 85":

So yeah, if you don't want any of the physical rewards, but you do want all of the digital goodies we've put together, this is probably the pledge level for you. (And you know, you can still get a snow globe as an Add-On Reward, if you want. I won't tell anyone.)

LIVESTREAM: MONDAY at 5PM PT / 8PM ET

If you haven't already, I hope you'll mark your calendar and join me on Monday evening at 5PM PT / 8PM ET for our first #MakeMoreMST3K Livestream. We're still working out the final details this weekend, but I think it'll be a lot of fun. Also, because I know some of you have been asking, you'll be able to join us on YouTube, Twitch and Facebook. 

Anyway, if you get a chance, be sure to RSVP on our Facebook Event page, so we can be sure to get enough soda pop to go around.

One last note before you start your weekend:

Since yesterday's update, I've been doing my best to read all of your comments and questions, and it's been really encouraging to see so much optimism and enthusiasm about the announcements we shared in our new video.

I'm especially happy to see everyone extending such warm welcomes to Emily, Nate, Conor and Yvonne. I know change can be stressful sometimes, especially when you're not sure what to expect... but I think you'll see pretty fast what a good "get" these guys are.  If you got to see them perform on our last tour, you already know how great they are. If you haven't, don't worry: I'll introduce you more over the next few weeks. 

Also, when you put them together with Jonah, Baron, Hampton and Rebecca – who have all settled into their roles really nicely over the last two seasons – I think you'll agree that we're lucky to have such a talented crew. 

(In fact, once you get to see us all perform together in the new episodes, maybe you won't even want Joel Robinson back. These guys are total pros.) 

Finally, I know that a lot of you still have questions and suggestions about our plans for "remote production," and I'm looking forward to telling you more about that too. 

I know some of you already trust us, and are excited to see how it all comes together. (We are too!) But I appreciate that you're giving us a chance and going along for the ride. 

I also know that some of you are a little nervous that we might not pull it off, and I just want to tell you: that's okay! I understand.  It's hard to imagine something you haven't ever seen before, and I don't think most people will be able to really understand what we're doing until they see it for themselves. (Sometimes, it’s hard for me to imagine something based on just a description, too... and I have a pretty good imagination.)

But if you're reading this, I really believe it's because you love MST3K, and you want the show to succeed. Maybe you feel confident, and maybe you feel scared, but either way, I know that it's because you care. So yeah, I hope you'll understand when I tell you that, if we want MST3K to keep going, we need to be willing to evolve and try new things.

Also, if you’ve ever made anything that you’re really proud of, you probably know that you don’t have all the answers when you start. That’s the fun part of the journey: believing that you can accomplish a task, and then making it happen. This has pretty much been the story of MST3K from the very beginning, and I really appreciate all the goodwill and trust folks have given us, going all the way back to our first episode at KTMA in 1988. 

I guess what I'm saying is that we are seeing all of your comments and questions, and I think there are some more things I can share over the next week or two that will help you understand what I have in mind, and how we're going to make it all work.  

It might take a little while to get to all of it, but I hope you'll give us a chance.  I think it's pretty exciting stuff...and, simply put, we can’t do it without you.

Anyway, I think that's all for today, you guys, but remember: we've still got two more weeks to get the rest of the way to our final goal, and a full season of new episodes. We've still got a lot more announcements and surprises to share. So, I hope we can all get some rest this weekend... because I think we're gonna need it.

Have a great weekend, and I'll see you on Monday.

Cheers & Thanks,

Joel

VIDEO MEGA-UPDATE: Plans for Season 13! The New Cast(s) of MST3K! And... JOEL might return to HOST MORE MST3K?
about 3 years ago – Fri, Apr 23, 2021 at 03:39:52 AM

•  Video Update: Major updates from Joel & the Cast
•  Season 13: Our plan to get started fast! 
•  Season 13: Meet Our Newest Host(s)... including Joel?!
•  Progress Report: Almost at $3.3M!

Dear MST3K Preservation League,

Hey, it's Joel again, back with that news I promised you, so.. let's get to it:

So, yeah. Those are the first "big announcements" we've been waiting to share. But like Emily said, that was a pretty long video – and I know some of you would rather just read "the highlights."

Let's talk about it! 

How We'll Make MST3K Sooner, Faster, Better... and Safer!

Just like we promised in our first video, we plan to get to work on new episodes as soon as our Kickstarter ends. And you know, even though it's possible to get back on a traditional set before COVID is more under control, we're starting to see a better way to do things. 

See, shows that are going back into studios and on set have all kinds of new costs and regulations to cover – and even if they do, there's still risk to their cast and crew. (Here's a crazy article with more details about why the entertainment business might never go all the way back to how it was before.)

Plus, we want to use your Kickstarter pledges to make as much new MST3K as possible, as soon as possible, so that you can start enjoying it!

But yeah, like Tom pointed out – just like when Netflix decided not to renew the show – these COVID challenges actually have a "silver lining," and they could be the push we need to get back to doing things our own way, instead of "the Hollywood way." 

That's why, at least for Season 13, we're excited to build on some of our past experiments with remote production – kind of like these shorts we made to help a local charity last Turkey Day. We were pretty happy with how those turned out, so with a bigger budget – and some time to do R&D (research and development, if you're not in "the biz") at the beginning – we can make the whole thing feel even more seamless before we start shooting.

Anyway, I guess what I want you to know is, this isn't just a "compromise" we have to make to get new episodes started before COVID restrictions get easier.

I'm actually really confident that remote production could make MST3K even better than before. 

Here are three reasons why:

1. It makes MST3K more sustainable and cost-effective. 

Like I said in our video, if this works the way we're expecting, this might actually be the most efficient and affordable way to make new episodes – even after Season 13! For one thing, we won't need to pay for expensive studio space, high-end equipment and crews, travel and lodging for cast members who live far away, or all sorts of other costs. (Since it’s Earth Day, I also want to highlight that this is better for the planet too!)

And, once we're up and running, finish our R&D, and own the equipment we need, it'll help us keep the costs as low as possible... which is an important part of shifting to a world where MST3K doesn't need network support to survive.

I know this stuff might be boring to some of you, but since you're the ones who are pledging to keep the show going, we want to make sure you know we're being smart and careful with our budget.

2. It gets MST3K "back to the basics" that a lot of you first loved. 

Part of what makes MST3K work is that we always reveal the context of how the show is made. It’s very direct and simple, with a "DIY" feel. We don't want to be too slick or "flashy," so we're always honest about how the show is getting made.

For the last two seasons, though, we experimented a little with doing things in a more "traditional" way -- studios in Hollywood, big physical sets, really experienced crews and production teams.  And I'm telling you: overall, it was a good experience, and it was good for MST3K's future. It was neat to see how all of that worked, and I also think having a few seasons that looked more "professional" – and ran on Netflix – helped introduce the show to hundreds of thousands of new people. So yeah, I think the Netflix series did what it needed to do.

But, like I said in the video, when you really think about it, MST3K isn't that complicated a show... and like Tom pointed out, most of the time you can't even see anyone's face. So, if we could make a show you enjoyed for local access and basic cable, we can make something you love even more now, by doing things our own way.

3. It gives MST3K more creative possibilities and freedom! 

This is the part that I'm most excited about... and I know it might not make sense at first, but the more we dig into it, the more I'm seeing how the shift to remote production actually gives us more creative freedom. It'll really let us do more to make the show fun and exciting, and to use our budget in ways that you'll be able to "feel" when you watch the show.

I'm already working on another update so that I can show you some concept art we've been developing for the last 3-4 months, to help our team visualize how this whole process will work. 

But the thing that really gives us some flexibility is that we'll have the option to include cast members, no matter where they are. Which brings us to our second big announcement...

Announcing The Next Host(s) of MST3K!

First of all, don't worry about Jonah: he's not going anywhere. 

But yeah, now that remote production lets us include more cast without getting everyone in one place, I'm excited to tell you about a big development we've got planned for Season 13.

For the first time ever, MST3K will feature more than one host!

Now, I think a lot of you saw this coming – especially if you made it out to join us for MST3K LIVE's The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour, and saw our incredible touring cast – but today, I can finally reveal the identity of the "mystery figure" in our Kickstarter graphic and make it official:

This season, Emily Marsh – the newest host of MST3K LIVE – will join Jonah Ray to take turns hosting new episodes.

Now, don't worry: Jonah will still be trapped on the Satellite of Love with Tom, Crow and GPC, who will still be voiced by Baron, Hampton and Rebecca.

But this time around, Kinga and Max have even bigger plans for global domination, and they involve having more than one test subject riffing movies, each from a different location.

Emily will be trapped in a new location with her own Tom, Crow and GPC, who will be voiced by their MST3K LIVE actors: Conor McGiffin, Nate Begle, and Yvonne Freese!

I really want to tell you more about Emily, Conor, Nate and Yvonne, but I don't want that to get lost in a 20-page update, so I'm already working on another update where I'll make some proper introductions, and tell you why I'm so excited to have them joining the show. 

(But again, if you joined us during our last live tour, you already know how great these folks are.)

Anyway, this'll make a lot more sense once I tell you more about Kinga's plans, but I think it's going to be a really fun development for Mystery Science Theater.  And... 

Yeah, you don't even have to ask, man. Let's make it official:

If our Kickstarter reaches our next goal ($4.4M), I'll put on the old jumpsuit and host a new episode as Joel Robinson!

And then...

If we reach our final goal ($5.5M) and can make a full season, I'll host two new episodes as Joel Robinson!

No, but that's a good question. After the last live tour, I said I wouldn’t be riffing on the road again, but that doesn't mean I'm ready to hang up the jumpsuit for good! As long as we get enough episodes, I'm happy to come riff on the series every now and then, and remind everyone how us old-timers do it. Especially if it looks like fun.

Also, as our show runner, it's good for me to know what it's like for Jonah and Emily to be hosting in this new production paradigm. That way, going forward, we can keep making the show even better and more efficient. 

So yeah, I think this could be pretty exciting, but I'll te–

Hey, that's okay – it's a lot to take in! 

But I'm really glad you asked, because I want to be really open about this:

We've already reached out to all of our former cast members to extend a standing invitation to come back to MST3K -- for a quick visit or for multiple episodes – any time they want. 

Those guys are all incredibly talented and funny, and were such an essential part of making MST3K what it is. So yeah, of course, we'd love to have them back on the show.

But – and this part is really important – a lot of MST3K alumni have their own movie riffing projects going on now, and want to stay focused on those. 

I know it's easy to get excited about the idea of "getting the band back together", especially when you miss the old days. But sometimes, Virginia, when a whole band is really talented, each of them ends up going in a different direction, and leading their own band – even though they still love each other, and you, very much. And hey, that's okay! If it worked for Ringo and Paul, it can work for us.  

And yes, I just made a Beatles analogy about MST3K. Dig it. 

Anyway, here's the bottom line:

As much as we'd love to have the whole original gang back on MST3K, we also want to be respectful. It's a personal choice, and we don't want to pressure anyone. 

Also, like Jonah says in today's video, more movie riffing for good for everyone. If you really think about it, movie riffing is a lot like the U.S. Constitution: a promising (but never perfect) living experiment that will keep evolving long after we're all gone! And, even though movie riffing started with Mystery Science Theater 3000, there's always room for other people to add their own unique "takes" and voices into the mix.

So yeah... I can't tell you what to do, but I hope you'll respect each of our original cast members, and let them make their own decisions without pressuring them. 

But if they ever want to come back, they know the door will always be open.

Wow, I hear you, man, but you know... I've got some bad news about that.

Anyway, there's a lot more I want to tell you – about remote production and our newest cast members – but we've got a lot of other Kickstarter surprises we need to keep working on, so I think it's better to save those for a future update. Before I go, I just want to give you a quick update on our Kickstarter. 

PROGRESS UPDATE

If you didn't watch the video, I'll just tell you that things are still looking really positive. 

Here's a quick look at how our new campaign is doing, compared to our original Kickstarter: 

As you can see, our "early lead" over the original Kickstarter has gotten a lot smaller, but we're still a little bit farther along than we were at the same point during that one, and If things keep going at the current pace we should pass our next goal this week – maybe even today! 

To keep us moving, remember:

BONUS CHALLENGE #2 ENDS TONIGHT! 

We're also really close to finishing Bonus Challenge #2 before the deadline at 11:59pm (PDT) tonight. If we can recruit just 350 more backers today – even with a $1 pledge! – we'll unlock our next Bonus Reward. If we do, you'll all be invited to a "watch party" for Quest of the Delta Knights before our Kickstarter ends and everyone who pledges at Level 150 or higher will get a free bonus download of the episode – and of the watch party – to keep!

I know that was a long update, so thanks for sticking with me. If you have questions or feedback, let us know in the comments below, and we'll try to answer as much as we can.

I'll have more news soon, along with more details about some of the fun livestream events we're planning for the rest of the month. Until then, remember...

And if you haven't already, be sure to mark your calendars for Monday, April 26 at 5pm PDT / 8pm EDT, so you can join us for our first #MakeMoreMST3K Livestream!

Cheers & Thanks,

Joel

Greetings, peons! It is I, Kinga Forrester, Queen of All Media. Since Joel has slipped up and revealed my newest plan for world domination, I demand that my will be done. Now get to work, or I'll find a way to hurt you! Virtually!

Just post ANY of these messages to your Facebooks, Instagrams or Twitters: 

• Big news, @MST3K fans: if the #MakeMoreMST3K Kickstarter reaches its third goal ($4.4M), original host @JoelGHodgson will return to HOST A NEW EPISODE! But we've only got 15 days left, so we need YOU. Get all the details and pledge now at MakeMoreMST3K.com!
• More big news from the #MakeMoreMST3K Kickstarter: For the first time, the show's new season will feature MULTIPLE hosts, as MST3K LIVE host @MarshEmily2 takes turns with @JonahRay... and now @JoelGHodgson might be hosting TOO?! Read all the details at http://ks.mst3k.com/update7 and pledge now!
• More big news from the #MakeMoreMST3K Kickstarter, as @JoelGHodgson announces that the next season will feature MULTIPLE casts, including MST3K LIVE's @marshemily2, @yifreeze, @NateBegle, and Conor McGiffin! Get the details at http://ks.mst3k.com/update7 and pledge now!
• Attention MSTies: Got plans for next Monday night? Good for you. Now cancel them, because you're hanging out with @JoelGHodgson and the cast of @MST3K for a special #MakeMoreMST3K Livestream Event at 5pm PT / 8pm ET.  More details at MakeMoreMST3K.com!
• We've got UPDATE SIGN! Joel just laid out his plans to #MakeMoreMST3K as soon as our Kickstarter ends. Help decide the fate of @MST3K by joining us now: even a $1 pledge helps! Get all the details at MakeMoreMST3K.com!