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2014
05.01

Sketches from Joel Hodgson’s notebook used to pitch Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Mallon: Joel had three or four drawings on a yellow pad, and he said, “You know how they have these hosted movies? How about instead of having the host at the commercial breaks, we have the host be in the movie?”

Hodgson: It was an idea I’d had tucked away in the back of my mind since high school: On Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album, there are illustrations in the liner notes. And for the song “I’ve Seen That Movie Too,” it’s got little silhouettes watching a movie. I remember going, “Someone should do a show like that. Run a movie and have these people in silhouettes say stuff.”

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Definitive Oral History of a TV Masterpiece, Wired

Joel Hodgson MST3K Pitch Drawings - Mystery Science Theater 3000

Joel Hodgson MST3K Sketch Details - Mystery Science Theater 3000
“Detail of drawing, highlighted: the multiple doors behind the set, (Left) and also the split in the set: MOVIE SIGN!” – Joel

MST3K Door Sketches by Joel Hodgson - Mystery Science Theater 3000