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Syfy President: "'MST3K' Is 1-Note; Did You Watch More Than 15/20 Minutes?" [message #178441] Fri, 18 December 2009 05:52 Go to next message
Anonymous
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Originally posted by: jason.cinema

I should have known that Dave Howe, Syfy President, was cut from the
same cloth as his predecessor, Bonnie Hammer. All was typical
corporate speak (count the 'you knows' in this article, BTW), but then
you get near the end of the conference call when this question is
asked.

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/12/16/transcript-of-conferenc e-call-with-syfy-president-dave-howe-keep-an-eye-out-for-sha rktopus/36501

[quote]Michael Hinman: And just one quick question too about
Saturday movies because I didn’t bring it up somebody else did. You
know, has there ever been a thought about maybe bringing back Mystery
Science Theater 3000 and just marrying the two together? That’s just a
joke, I’m just kidding. But I think…

Dave Howe: I think I brought Mystery Science Theater up. I
mean it’s been a while actually since anybody – I used to get it all
the time, you know, MST3K because quite frankly that was the only
thing people ever associated with the network. And they’re, you know,
those people that don’t watch still think we’ve got MST3K on our –
clearly we haven’t the eight years I’ve been here.

We don’t have any plans to bring it back. You know, we’ve talked about
it in the past but not for four or five years. I think the thing about
MST3K is – and I’ll ask you the same question as I say to everybody
else is did you actually watch more than about, you know, 15 or 20
minutes? It’s one of those kind of one-note amusing things which I’m
not sure is sustainable for any length of time or any period of time.

So I don’t think it’s anything that we would necessary do again as an
ongoing thing but, you know, we may do it as an event or as a, you
know, one off special because I do think there’s some nostalgia around
it. And it was very funny.

Michael Hinman: Excellent. Well thanks Mr. Howe again.

Dave Howe: Thank you.

Jason
MST#16103
Re: Syfy President: "'MST3K' Is 1-Note; Did You Watch More Than 15/20 Minutes?" [message #178442 is a reply to message #178441] Fri, 18 December 2009 08:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Chris \"Sampo\&q is currently offline  Chris \"Sampo\&q
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Re: Syfy President: "'MST3K' Is 1-Note; Did You Watch More Than 15/20 Minutes?" (CONFESSION TIME!) [message #178443 is a reply to message #178442] Fri, 18 December 2009 11:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Doug Elrod is currently offline  Doug Elrod
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On Dec 18, 7:06 am, "Chris \"Sampo\" Cornell" <msa...@aol.com> wrote:
> In article
> <d9ab4635-961e-4097-8bf1-fb9efb7a6...@g1g2000pra.googlegroups.com>,
>> Dave Howe:
[snip]
>> I think the thing about
>> MST3K is ­ and I¹ll ask you the same question as I say to everybody
>> else is did you actually watch more than about, you know, 15 or 20
>> minutes? It¹s one of those kind of one-note amusing things which I¹m
>> not sure is sustainable for any length of time or any period of time.

> To be fair, he's not wrong. He's basing this view on the network's own
> internal focus grouping, I'm guessing. I think, for the average member
> of the public, he's right.

I guess the time has finally come to admit that we actually just
watched, at most, 15-20 minutes of the show. Of course, you yourself,
as a "super-fan", are in the high 19+ minutes. But that stuff you
said you knew about "Manos"? Through some cosmic coincidence, that
just happened to be in the 17 seconds you saw, that one time.
Naturally, I saw a good deal less of the show. Double-digits,
minutewise, which I guess puts me in the "cognoscenti" level.

-Doug Elrod (dre1@cornell.edu) ;-)
BTW, the recent two-part "Alice" on Syfy was actually pretty good.
How does *that* happen?
Re: Syfy President: "'MST3K' Is 1-Note; Did You Watch More Than 15/20 Minutes?" (CONFESSION TIME!) [message #178445 is a reply to message #178443] Fri, 18 December 2009 16:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Judith is currently offline  Judith
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Re: Syfy President: "'MST3K' Is 1-Note; Did You Watch More Than 15/20 Minutes?" (CONFESSION TIME!) [message #178447 is a reply to message #178445] Sat, 19 December 2009 14:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Chris \&quot;Sampo\&amp;q is currently offline  Chris \&quot;Sampo\&amp;q
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In article <JUJU-B26B8F.16512318122009@free.teranews.com>,
Judith <JUJU@withouta.net> wrote:

>> I guess the time has finally come to admit that we actually just
>> watched, at most, 15-20 minutes of the show. Of course, you yourself,
>> as a "super-fan", are in the high 19+ minutes. But that stuff you
>> said you knew about "Manos"? Through some cosmic coincidence, that
>> just happened to be in the 17 seconds you saw, that one time.
>> Naturally, I saw a good deal less of the show. Double-digits,
>> minutewise, which I guess puts me in the "cognoscenti" level.
>>
>> -Doug Elrod (dre1@cornell.edu) ;-)
>> BTW, the recent two-part "Alice" on Syfy was actually pretty good.
>> How does *that* happen?
>
> I'm with Doug here. I own recordings of all the eps from Season 2-10
> and I never watch more than 15 minutes of any of them. I'm getting
> older now and occasionally I'll absent-mindedly watch the *same* 15
> minutes the next time. But now I'm getting worried that I'm getting too
> uppity and am watching more than Sampo. I think I'd better cut it down
> to single digits...
>
> Judith

I admit it. At the 21 minute mark, I change to the nearest "According to
Jim" rerun I can find.

Sampo (feels good to get that off my chest)
Re: Syfy President: "'MST3K' Is 1-Note; Did You Watch More Than 15/20 Minutes?" [message #178449 is a reply to message #178442] Sat, 19 December 2009 18:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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Re: Syfy President: "'MST3K' Is 1-Note; Did You Watch More Than 15/20 Minutes?" (CONFESSION TIME!) [message #178563 is a reply to message #178447] Sat, 19 December 2009 22:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
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Originally posted by: Bill Livingston

Previously on "Scare Tactics", Chris \"Sampo\" Cornell wrote:
> Judith <JUJU@withouta.net> wrote:
>>> I guess the time has finally come to admit that we actually just
>>> watched, at most, 15-20 minutes of the show. Of course, you yourself,
>>> as a "super-fan", are in the high 19+ minutes. But that stuff you
>>> said you knew about "Manos"? Through some cosmic coincidence, that
>>> just happened to be in the 17 seconds you saw, that one time.
>>> Naturally, I saw a good deal less of the show. Double-digits,
>>> minutewise, which I guess puts me in the "cognoscenti" level.
>>>
>>> -Doug Elrod (dre1@cornell.edu) ;-)
>>> BTW, the recent two-part "Alice" on Syfy was actually pretty good.
>>> How does *that* happen?
>>
>> I'm with Doug here. I own recordings of all the eps from Season 2-10
>> and I never watch more than 15 minutes of any of them. I'm getting
>> older now and occasionally I'll absent-mindedly watch the *same* 15
>> minutes the next time. But now I'm getting worried that I'm getting too
>> uppity and am watching more than Sampo. I think I'd better cut it down
>> to single digits...

Wow, I guess I can finally admit that I watch with an egg timer set to
precisely 17.5 minutes. I always strive to be extremelt average.

> I admit it. At the 21 minute mark, I change to the nearest "According to
> Jim" rerun I can find.

Now you're just being elitist. You should immediately seek out the
nearest "Maury" or "Dr. Phil".

> Sampo (feels good to get that off my chest)

Bill L.
Here, apply this ointment as needed.
Re: Syfy President: "'MST3K' Is 1-Note; Did You Watch More Than 15/20 Minutes?" (CONFESSION TIME!) [message #178566 is a reply to message #178563] Sat, 19 December 2009 23:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Doug Elrod is currently offline  Doug Elrod
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On Dec 19, 9:38 pm, Bill Livingston <bil...@hiwaay.net> wrote:
> Previously on "Scare Tactics", Chris \"Sampo\" Cornell wrote:
> Wow, I guess I can finally admit that I watch with an egg timer set to
> precisely 17.5 minutes. I always strive to be extremelt average.

Ah, my favorite Denny's hot sandwich! (Warning: NEVER get the
extremelt well-done!)

>> I admit it. At the 21 minute mark, I change to the nearest "According to
>> Jim" rerun I can find.

Is there an "According to Jim: The Best Smoked Meats" episode?
Because you can't go wrong getting advice from JIM!

> Now you're just being elitist. You should immediately seek out the
> nearest "Maury" or "Dr. Phil".

You've just been declared the father of your own children! How do you
feel about that?

>> Sampo (feels good to get that off my chest)

By the time you lifted the TV *off* your chest, your lungs were aching
for air! (But, obviously, it's the surest way to "20-Minute Pecs"!)

> Bill L.
> Here, apply this ointment as needed.

Do you have any unguent? I think I feel an unguent-alleviating
condition coming on....

-Doug Elrod (dre1@cornell.edu) :-)
Enjoy the aroma of seasonal unguents (where appropriate)!
Re: Syfy President: "'MST3K' Is 1-Note; Did You Watch More Than 15/20 Minutes?" [message #178568 is a reply to message #178442] Sun, 20 December 2009 15:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken McElhaney is currently offline  Ken McElhaney
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On Dec 18, 7:06 am, "Chris \"Sampo\" Cornell" <msa...@aol.com> wrote:
> In article
> <d9ab4635-961e-4097-8bf1-fb9efb7a6...@g1g2000pra.googlegroups.com>,
>
>
>
>
>
>  "jason.cinema" <jason.cin...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I should have known that Dave Howe, Syfy President, was cut from the
>> same cloth as his predecessor, Bonnie Hammer. All was typical
>> corporate speak (count the 'you knows' in this article, BTW), but then
>> you get near the end of the conference call when this question is
>> asked.
>
>> http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/12/16/transcript-of-conferenc e-call-wi...
>> resident-dave-howe-keep-an-eye-out-for-sharktopus/36501
>
>> [quote]Michael Hinman:   And just one quick question too about
>> Saturday movies because I didn¹t bring it up somebody else did. You
>> know, has there ever been a thought about maybe bringing back Mystery
>> Science Theater 3000 and just marrying the two together? That¹s just a
>> joke, I¹m just kidding. But I thinkŠ
>
>> Dave Howe:          I think I brought Mystery Science Theater up. I
>> mean it¹s been a while actually since anybody ­ I used to get it all
>> the time, you know, MST3K because quite frankly that was the only
>> thing people ever associated with the network. And they¹re, you know,
>> those people that don¹t watch still think we¹ve got MST3K on our ­
>> clearly we haven¹t the eight years I¹ve been here.
>
>> We don¹t have any plans to bring it back. You know, we¹ve talked about
>> it in the past but not for four or five years. I think the thing about
>> MST3K is ­ and I¹ll ask you the same question as I say to everybody
>> else is did you actually watch more than about, you know, 15 or 20
>> minutes? It¹s one of those kind of one-note amusing things which I¹m
>> not sure is sustainable for any length of time or any period of time.
>
>> So I don¹t think it¹s anything that we would necessary do again as an
>> ongoing thing but, you know, we may do it as an event or as a, you
>> know, one off special because I do think there¹s some nostalgia around
>> it. And it was very funny.
>
>> Michael Hinman:   Excellent. Well thanks Mr. Howe again.
>
>> Dave Howe:          Thank you.
>
>> Jason
>> MST#16103
>
> To be fair, he's not wrong. He's basing this view on the network's own
> internal focus grouping, I'm guessing. I think, for the average member
> of the public, he's right. I've been saying for a while that, 10 years
> later, MST3K is the most fondly remembered TV show that nobody
> (statistically anyway) actually watched. The fan base that watched full
> episodes and never missed it is, and always has been, a mile wide and an
> inch deep. Ask a random stranger about the show, remind them about the
> silhouettes and the puppets, and a light of recognition will dawn, a
> smile will break on their face and they'll say "Yeah, I loved that
> show!" But then, you need to drill deeper. Ask them "Tell my about your
> favorite episode. What were the characters' names?" It's at that point
> that they will sheepishly admit that they saw it once, for 20 minutes,
> while at a friend's house. They laughed, they liked it, but for most of
> the general public it was never destination television. It's the same
> thing that Grammercy found out when the focus grouped the movie, and
> that's why the final product is 70 minutes long.
> The right people will get it. And there have never really been enough of
> the right people for this niche concept to achieve mainstream-level
> popularity. It's just very fortunate for us fans that so many other
> delivery methods have emerged that allow the concept to flourish at
> niche level.

And I agree. If you look at the "success" of Rifftrax and CT, it's
still a small audience comparative to what Scyfy (or whatever it calls
itself now) expects from an original program.

A better question though, is why should the Rifftrax group go back to
Scyfy? After all they seem to be enjoying enough success (i.e.
monetary income) from Rifftrax with no network to hassle with. Seems
to me that they are avoiding a lot of extra work for a little extra
money (if that).

Hammer made a mistake lo, these ten years ago and everyone has gone
their own way since. A "one-time" MST3K special? Well, if it consisted
of interviews and old footage I could see that happening. Anything
else? Probably not.

Ken
Re: Syfy President: "'MST3K' Is 1-Note; Did You Watch More Than 15/20 Minutes?" (CONFESSION TIME!) [message #178569 is a reply to message #178566] Sun, 20 December 2009 22:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jim Ellwanger is currently offline  Jim Ellwanger
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In article
<12b3457b-0741-47ff-a684-a5a2e23dbbe9@o28g2000yqh.googlegroups.com>,
Doug Elrod <dre1@cornell.edu> wrote:

> Because you can't go wrong getting advice from JIM!

Taking this completely out of context, I agree wholeheartedly with this
sentiment.

(And my advice is to ignore the comments of Mister Network Suit Who
Comcast Will Probably Fire Once They Take Over, because they just don't
matter. Instead, spend your energy laughing at your "MST3K" DVDs and
tapes, plus the works currently being produced by Rifftrax and/or
Cinematic Titanic. Thank you, won't you?)

--
Jim Ellwanger <usenet@ellwanger.tv>
<http://www.ellwanger.tv> welcomes you daily.
"The days turn into nights; at night, you hear the trains."
Re: Syfy President: "'MST3K' Is 1-Note; Did You Watch More Than 15/20 Minutes?" [message #178570 is a reply to message #178449] Mon, 21 December 2009 00:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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Re: Syfy President: "'MST3K' Is 1-Note; Did You Watch More Than 15/20 Minutes?" [message #178572 is a reply to message #178570] Mon, 21 December 2009 16:41 Go to previous message
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