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Big news for MST3K buffs — one of the most leg­endary episodes of this show is about to receive an unex­pected but wel­come spe­cial edi­tion release.  This two-disc set will include the orig­i­nal MST3K episode for Manos: The Hands Of Fate plus a pre­sen­ta­tion of the film itself.  If that’s not enough, there will be scads of extras: poten­tial high­lights include a seg­ment in which show staff look back at the episode and a doc­u­men­tary on the mak­ing of Manos itself!  This set will be released on September 13th and is likely to be a major event for bad movie fans.  Read on for all the Torgo-riffic details…

SHOUT! FACTORY TO RELEASE

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000:

“MANOS” THE HANDS OF FATE SPECIAL EDITION

IN STORES SEPTEMBER 13

To fur­ther cel­e­brate the laugh-fest that is Mystery Science Theater 3000, Shout! Factory, in asso­ci­a­tion with Best Brains Inc., have announced the September 13 release of the 2-DVD set Mystery Science Theater 3000 “Manos” The Hands Of Fate Special Edition.

Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and oppo­site reac­tion. Sure, there’s math to back that up, but the far more com­pelling proof is in the treat­ment accorded “Manos” The Hands Of Fate by those physi­cists of com­edy at Mystery Science Theater 3000. Consider this leg­endary low point in film his­tory, widely regarded as the worst film ever made, which depicts a fam­ily that gets lost en route to a vaca­tion and stum­bles into the lair of a cult. Since Satellite of Love cap­tive Joel Robinson and his robot side­kicks Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot react to movies, it fol­lows that this par­tic­u­lar episode must be a glo­ri­ous high point in Mystery Science Theater his­tory. Glorious it is, as the film’s char­ac­ters bat­tle a half-man, half-goat and an evil man in a robe, and the mem­bers of the SoL bat­tle ter­ri­ble writ­ing and acting.

Disc 1 of the set includes Mystery Science Theater 3000 “Manos” The Hands Of Fate, and bonus fea­tures Group Therapy, wherein Joel, Trace, Frank & Mary Jo relive the hor­ror; MST Hour wraps; and an exclu­sive mini-poster by artist Steve Vance. Disc 2 offers the orig­i­nal “Manos” The Hands Of Fate fea­ture film, and bonus fea­tures Hotel Torgo, a doc­u­men­tary on the mak­ing of “Manos” The Hands Of Fate; Jam Handy To the Rescue!: a Ballyhoo pro­duc­tion; Hired!, (fea­tur­ing parts 1 and 2 together at last); and more!

Mystery Science Theater 3000 is a true cult clas­sic. Its high-camp ren­di­tion of B-movies from every genre to the small screen makes it one of the most mem­o­rable pop cul­ture shows of our time.

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 series was cre­ated by Joel Hodgson and pro­duced by Jim Mallon. After a year on KTMA TV in Minneapolis , its national broad­cast life began in 1989 on the Comedy Channel (later to become Comedy Central), where it ran for seven sea­sons. The show’s final three sea­sons aired on the Sci-Fi Channel.  The premise of the series fea­tures a hap­less man who is trapped by mad sci­en­tists on a satel­lite in space and forced to watch old B-movies of ques­tion­able worth. To keep sane, he’s built two robot side­kicks, and together they do a run­ning com­men­tary on the films, affec­tion­ately mock­ing their flaws with inspired wise­cracks and act­ing as a demented movie the­ater peanut gallery. Series cre­ator Hodgson orig­i­nally played the stranded man, Joel Robinson.  When he left in 1993, series head writer Mike Nelson replaced him as the new B-movie vic­tim Mike Nelson, and con­tin­ued in the role for the rest of the show’s run.  The for­mat proved to be pop­u­lar and remark­ably durable. During its 11-year run and 198 episodes (includ­ing one fea­ture film), MST3K attained a loyal fan base and crit­i­cal acclaim. The series won a Peabody Award in 1993, and was nom­i­nated for writ­ing Emmys® in 1994 and 1995.