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Mystery Science Theater 3000

The Giant Spider Invasion

Season 8, Episode 11, Aired May 31, 1997

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9.3

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Giant spiders from space invade rural Wisconsin, while the SOL crew is attacked by pods which make Pearl and Observer into mindless drones.

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Cast & Crew

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Michael J. Nelson

Mike Nelson
Mary Jo Pehl

Pearl Forrester
Jim Mallon

Gypsy
Kevin Murphy

Tom Servo & Professor Bobo
Bill Corbett

Crow T. Robot & Observer

Fan Episode Reviews (3)

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Easily one of the best.

10

"Perfect"

By Rattrap007, Jun 28, 2008

This is easily one of my all time favorite episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000. The movie is so laughable on it is own, but add Mike and the bots and it becomes pure gold. The constant lines of "Packers!! Woo Go Packers!" and "Packers won the Super Bowl!" are hilarious. The giant spider at the end is one of the goofiest monsters in a film they've watched. The bad thing about this film is it makes you want to avoid Wisconsin. Seems that the state has lots of unwashed masses with lots of unappealing sweat and filth covering their bodies. I know this is not true.moreless
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Too much Pearl

7.0

"Good"

By jamoon2006, Mar 11, 2008

"Giant Spider Invasion" is an example of good, but not great, MST3K.

The movie is pure cheese - it features TV vets Alan AND Barbara Hale ("Skipper" and "Della Street" respectively) in a story of a drunken redneck town beseiged by "giant" (?) spiders from space. Alan Hale is the constantly eating sheriff and Babs is a "Nassau" scientist who's trying to stop the bugs in their tracks. It's a hoot and a half, especially when a drunken posse takes up arms to fight off the spiders. And the riffs are right on. Like other episodes with TV legends, the obvious "Gilligan's Island" and "Perry Mason" jokes are kept to a minimum, but the crew has a field day with the hygene and morally challenged townsfolk cavorting around before the arachnids arrive.

The problem with this one is the same that many of the early Sci-Fi Channel MST3K episodes experienced - the host segments. Having left the odd sketch comedy bits and invention exchanges of Comedy Central behind, the Sci-Fi shows had a story arc to the host segments. In this case, it's an "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" parody with Pearl and Observer falling under the control of nefarious pods. Maybe it's my dislike of Mary Jo Pehl as a performer, but the Pearl & Co. antics grow old very quickly. In my opinion, Mike and the Bots spent too much time out of the theater this week.moreless
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The great state of Wisconsin, subjugated by wandering puppets. A monster movie with no monsters in it.

9.7

"Superb"

By Lokar, Feb 08, 2006

Evil spiders wander around tearing up property and killing people as part of some sort of divine retribution. We know this because the arachnid rampages are interspersed with non sequitur shots of a preacher yelling. You didn't expect us to actually get to know any of the characters, did you?

Features an intensely ugly cinematic style that makes you think you need to take window cleaner and a paper towel to the t.v. No acting talent remotely in the vicinity. Not to mention instead of calling out the authorities, they could have just hauled out giant tanks of *bug spray*. Or a giant shoe. Maybe even just cut the spiders' legs and watch them stumble. Any takers? Hello?

Unfortunately, they save the people, most of 'em anyway, and the only thing that will keep your poor noggin from being fried is the steady stream of jokes from Mike and company.

Watch it with the lights on. Oh, it's not in the least bit scary; you just don't want to trip over anything on your way to the bathroom.

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (32)
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- Mike: Is this gonna be another case of a scientist declaring martial law? Crow: Where's John Agar when you need him?
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- Ev: (to Dan) You look like you could use a drink. Tom: And a shower, and a job!
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- (as Dr. Langer first appears) Crow: A showered person, thank God! Tom: Guys, it's Della Street! Mike: (as she picks up a phone) It's the hotline to Paul's operatives.
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- (a spider comes out of one of the rocks) Mike: (as Tom hums 'The Stripper') Charlotte's doing bachelor parties now.
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- Crow: (as the giant spider melts after getting hit with a bomb) It came from Planet Gross Out.
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- Tom: (describing Alan Hale) He could do a one-man show playing Queen Victoria.
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- Crow: You can see why Frank Lloyd Wright wanted to live in Wisconsin.
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- Tom: (as a spider climbs Dan's leg) I attempted the north face of Mount Cheesehead.
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- Mike: (seeing the radioactive cows) Cow tipping gone horribly wrong.
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- Sherriff Jones: (on phone) Your car won't start? Crow: Then you might be a redneck!
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- Mike: (after an inaudible exchange) The movie that takes the bold step of not including the audience.
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- Tom: This isn't a very good remake of Sabrina.
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- Crow: (as Vance climbs stairs) Why can't colleges be in ranch homes?
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- (as Dan gets ate) Tom: Does it matter that the spider ate him with his butt? Mike: No, I think it seems suitable, uh, for this guy.
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- Tom: (as Vance takes a piece of paper) 'Dear Chunkhead...' Well, thats not nice.
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- Crow: Bill Rebane's trademark: a shot of a pair of crumpled underpants.
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- Mike: These people are the back bone of your casino-based economy.
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- Mike: (as Dan picks up some bones) Alas, poor Yoric. Woo-eee!
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- Tom: (as Vance ponders something) Thoughtful or hungry, you decide.
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- Crow: (over a smiling closeup of the sherriff) Pudding!
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- Mike: (as Vance runs) His Haggar pants have a waistband with repressed memories.
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- Vance: We've tried to brainstorm it. Mike: We tried scrubbing it out.
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- Ev: Where the hell are you going? Dan: Into town! Ev: What the hell for? Mike: Promise Keepers!
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- Crow: (seeing a dark room) Film extra-noir.
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- Tom: (seeing the Kester house) Ah, Brett Farve at home.
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- Preacher: Hellfire and brimstone, that is what is in store for you! Crow: Dennis Rodman, listening?
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- Dan: (to Ev) You're so dumb you wouldn't know rabbit turds from Rice Krispies! Crow: Snap, Crackle, Poop!
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- Mike, Crow, and Tom: (at various times) Packers! Whoo! Packers won the Super Bowl! Go, Packers! Packers!
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- (during Dr. Langer's class) Mike: Bra snap. Toke. Bra snap. Bra snap, toke. Crow: Petting. Toke. Kiss. Grope. Bra snap. Snooze. Spitball.
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- Tom: If you see only 10,000 movies this year, make sure this isn't one of them!
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- (talking about the 'diamonds') Billy: Where'd you find them? Dan: Let's, uh, just say they, uh, fell out of the sky. Crow: Ah, ha! Well met, my friend! This battle of wits is over!
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- (Helga brings Dan his back brace) Mike: (as Dan unbuttons his shirt, revealing his long johns) Oh, he's pink! Tom: I don't know how, but I just became sterile! Crow: Go, spiders! Go, spiders! Go, go spiders!
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NOTES (1)
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- This episode is included in volume 10(both the original and the 10.2 version) of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection from Rhino Home Video.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- The sub-plot in this episode with Mike the bots, Pearl, Bobo, and Brain guy involving staying awake or be replaced by evil clones references the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
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