Save _Mystery Science Theater 3000_
                         Frequently Asked Questions

     This FAQ was created to help answer many questions about the announcement 
that Comedy Central plans to not continue airing Mystery Science Theater 3000.  
While much of the information in here is based on conversations with people 
directly involved, some of it is also personal opinion, and should be taken as 
such.  The suggestions regarding what can be done are guidelines only, and are 
based on the opinions of myself and others involved.
     This FAQ should appear in all places where MST3K is discussed.  If you are 
part of an online (or offline) MST3K discussion group and you do not see this 
FAQ, please put it there (but please e-mail me first, see below).  The more 
widespread this document is, the better our chances of saving MST3K.
     This version is edited and modified by Matthew Duhan (fRiNgE@cybercom.net) 
based greatly on discussions with Jamie Plummer (jcp9j@fermi.clas.virginia.edu) 
and others.  Great thanks go to Jamie Plummer (jcp9j@fermi.clas.virginia.edu) 
for organizing much of this, Julie Walker (juliewa@aol.com) for letting us know 
that we can make a difference, Chris Cornell (MSampo@aol.com) for helping out 
on the AOL areas, and Mike Harney (73473.531@compuserve.com) for helping out on 
the Compuserve areas.  We still need someone to help on Prodigy.  If you can, 
please e-mail me at fringe@cybercom.net.  Thanks.
     Extra special thanks go to Julie Walker, Jim Mallon, and all the people at 
Best Brains, Inc for providing a wonderful show and valuable information.  And 
for allowing this FAQ to circulate and not giving up hope.

_Mystery Science Theater 3000_, its characters and situations are copyright 
1995 Best Brains, Inc.  This publication is not meant to infringe on any 
copyrights held by Best Brains, Comedy Central or its employees.  This FAQ is 
free to distribute not-for-profit as long as this notice remains intact.  If 
you would like to reprint any part of this publication, please drop me a line, 
so I can add it to the FAQ.  No part of this publication may be reprinted, in 
whole or part, for profit or in hard printed form without express written 
permission of the maintainer, Matthew Duhan (fRiNgE@cybercom.net).

Last updated: December 12, 1995


Q: Just what the sam hill is going on here?
A: According to a press release from Best Brains dated December 3, 1995, Comedy 
Central has decided not to continue with the television show Mystery Science 
Theater 3000.

Q: WHAT??  Are you sure?
A: Yes, unfortunately.  The press release is real, and has been confirmed.

Q: Well, where is this press release?
A: Right here.

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release.
December 3, 1995

Contact Julie Walker
612-941-8024

Best Brains to tape last Mystery Science Theater 3000 for Comedy Central.

The final episode of the Peabody Award winning series Mystery Science Theater 
3000 (MST 3K) will be taped on December 22.  The program which features Mike 
Nelson and robots Tom Servo and Crow lampooning the worst movies ever made, 
will finish its commitment for Comedy Central this month.

According to Producer Jim Mallon, "Comedy Central has indicated to us that they 
will not be renewing the series." Contractually, Best Brains, Inc. which owns 
the copyright on the series will be free to negotiate for new episodes with a 
different network beginning in January of 1997.

Fans of the series will have a feature film, book, CD-ROM, and a second 
convention to look forward to.  In April of 1996 Gramercy Pictures will be 
releasing Mystery Science Theater 3000:  The Movie  which was shot last summer 
in Minneapolis.  Also in the spring, Bantam Books will be publishing the  
Mystery Science Theater 3000:  The Amazing Colossal Episode Guide, the 
definitive review of all the episodes and  Voyager will be publishing a MST 3K 
CD-ROM .  Over 4000 people are expected to attend the 2nd Conventio-con Expo-
fest-a-rama  which will be held on Labor Day in Minneapolis.

The show which began on UHF station KTMA in Minneapolis in 1988 has shot 132 
episodes in the course of its 7 season run.  Over 60,000 fans have registered 
with its Info Club and some 2000 fans attended its first convention in 1994.

In addition to the Peabody Award MST 3K has garnered two Emmy and six Cable Ace  
nominations. 


Q: Well, WHY did Comedy Central do this?
A: We don't fully know.  While executives at CC have cited "low ratings" as the 
reason, it is also believed that part of the decision was due to the fact that 
CC recently got a new president, Doug Herzog.  And fans know that there has 
been trouble between CC and BBI several times in the past.

Q: Well, what can I do about it?
A: PLENTY!  You can start by writing or faxing Comedy Central!
Do NOT e-mail Comedy Central, as they ignore e-mail.  Also, please try not to 
call, as we want to be as polite as possible, and calling can interrupt people.
Let me repeat as this is important.  BE POLITE!

Q: Where should I write or fax?
A: Write or fax to Doug Herzog, president of Comedy Central, asking him to 
reconsider his decision to cancel MST3K, and to pick up more episodes for 
season 7 (through December 1996).  Above all, please be polite and courteous.

Doug Herzog
Comedy Central
1775 Broadway
New York, NY 10019

Phone: (212) 767-4071
Fax:   (212) 767-8590

Q: Is there anyone at Comedy Central that is for MST3K?
A: We're not sure, but you can try e-mailing Vinnie Favale at 
vinnief328@aol.com.

Q: Should I write other networks as well?
A: For now, it is best to focus our efforts on Comedy Central.  While BBI will 
be free to negotiate with other networks beginning in 1997, they (and we) would 
like more episodes in the meantime.  The best way to do this is to ask CC to 
agree to purchase more episodes for 1996.

Q: Should I mail/fax/e-mail Best Brains?
A: No.  BBI is swamped right now with letters of support.  This plus filming 
season 7 episodes plus dealing with orders from the fan club plus other work is 
overwhelming them.  Think about it, won't you?  Thank you.

Q: So what else can I do?  Who else can I write?
A: There are several other people you can write to try to convince CC to bring 
back more MST3K.

Save MST Cabal
PO Box 1644
Flagstaff, AZ 86002

Tom Shales
Washington Post
1150 15th St., NW
Washington, DC 20071

Glenn Kenny
Sci Fi/Fantasy
TV Guide
Radnor PA 19088

Viewers for Quality Television
c/o Dorothy Swanson
PO Box 195
Fairfax Station, VA 22039
(703) 425-0075


Q: What about organized events?
A: These are currently in the planning stages.  We are trying to set up a 
listserver that people can subscribe to in order to be notified of events such 
as a CC phone-a-thon or fax-a-thon.  Details will be forthcoming.

In addition, the possibility of boycotts are being discussed.  Again, people 
will be notified when we have more information.

Q: I think BBI should quit while they're ahead!  They're money-grubbers, aren't 
they?  Hasn't the show declined in quality?
A: Not really, as with anything, the show overall is improving over time and 
evolving.  Saying it's bad is your opinion, but many do not agree.  And 
consider that if BBI were really just trying to make money, they wouldn't have 
had to lay off people recently, would have gone to a bigger network already, 
and wouldn't have asked us to help bring back MST3K.

Q: Wasn't BBI the ones who wanted to quit?
A: Absolutely not.  BBI has said that they very much want to continue making 
Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Q: Should BBI seek another network?
A: That depends.  If CC agrees to make more episodes, that will help.  In the 
long run, however, I think that BBI can do better than CC, which consistantly 
has problems with the show.

Q: Are any other networks interested?
A: Yes, BBI has discussed the possibility of making MST3K with several other 
networks.  According to the contract with CC, BBI is allowed to discuss options 
elsewhere, but no new episodes can be made until 1997.

Q: Is there an online version of this information?
A: Right now, the best place to check is Jamie Plummer's www page at 
     http://fermi.clas.virginia.edu/~jcp9j/canceled.html
I will also be converting this document to HTML at 
     http://www.cybercom.net/~fringe/savemst.html

Q: If I have a correction or additional information to add, who do I send
it to?
A: E-mail it to Matthew Duhan (fRiNgE@cybercom.net) with "FAQ" in the Subject: 
line.

I will try to update this FAQ as often as possible, so be sure to check the 
Last Updated date at the top.

Thanks to Best Brains, Inc., the authors of the First Amendment, and every 
MSTie everywhere!

_Mystery Science Theater 3000_, its characters and situations are copyright 
1995 Best Brains, Inc.  This publication is not meant to infringe on any 
copyrights held by Best Brains, Comedy Central or its employees.  The 
information herein is subject to being wrong.  This FAQ is free to distribute 
not-for-profit as long as this notice remains intact.  If you would like to 
reprint any part of this publication, please drop me a line, so I can add it to 
the FAQ.  No part of this publication may be reprinted, in whole or part, for 
profit or in hard printed form without express written permission of the 
maintainer, Matthew Duhan (fRiNgE@cybercom.net).