When should I introduce my niece to MST3K?

[Crossroads Inc.]

So currently I have a Seven year old niece. For my brother and his wife, we all grew up watching bad movies and "MST3K" in particular.
Me and my brothers have joked about being able to raise a new generation on all the classics of our childhood, Goonies, Giant Robo, Rocky and Bullwinkle, the Muppets. And of course "MST3K"

For those long time fans of the show, I am curious which episodes are probably best for a newcomer as wel las being good and understandable for someone around her age. Or conversely, if we should wait till she is older.

[Covenant]

Gamara and other kinds of kid-friendly movies are good, especially since the sources of humor are pretty obvious and they're interesting and fun on their own. They can be obscure at times (some of the humor is regional as well, several midwestern in-jokes for certain) and some of the movies can just be so incomprehensible that they are painful to watch even with the robots ripping it. I've been re-watched the MST3k episodes this year and gotten a lot more of the jokes than I did as a kid, that's for sure, but some of the really terrible movies rely on somewhat more sophisticated humor and might deal with more confusing topics.

But things about a giant mantis, or a giant flying spinning turtle, or other assorted kinds of monsters and people in rubber suits are a lot easier to grasp as a kid and were definitely the things that stuck with me as someone young.

I would also say that it's possible she just won't get it at that age, and would say it's okay to leave some things for later. If you really wanna be clever, get a Rifftrax of a more modern movie to set up the premise.

[adam_grif]

Seven years old? Probably a bit too young to get some of the jokes, and some may not be age appropriate.

But I find that people these days respond better to the Rifftrax commentaries on recent movies than to MST3k. The best are Batman & Robbin, Indy and the Crystal Skull and Jurassic Park. But again, probably not at 7 years old.

[TC Pilot]

Seven seems a bit young, but I would suggest starting in the Joel era. For years all I ever saw were Mike episodes, and when I finally saw Joel in the DVD releases... I just didn't think they were funny at all, but I thought they were a lot more aimed at younger audiences.

[Crossroads Inc.]

Seven seems a bit young, but I would suggest starting in the Joel era. For years all I ever saw were Mike episodes, and when I finally saw Joel in the DVD releases... I just didn't think they were funny at all, but I thought they were a lot more aimed at younger audiences.

Yeah all three of us have decided that when she starts it should be in the Joel era, he always did seem to be more childish and easy going, not as random or abstract in the sketches as mike. We are thinking of starting her on some of the godzilla movies, since she already knows Godzilla. But yeah seven may be a bit too young, not so much for the movies but for the jokes and riffing. Need to develop her sarcasm a bit to better appreciate things

[Mr Bean]

Joel is a lot more kind to younger audiences but you can still show them some of the Mike episodes. Seven is a bit young to get episodes like my favorite Space Mutiny. The first two seasons have quite a few decent episodes.

But hey what about Radar Men from the Moon? A short they ran during the first season which was one of those long running but terrible 50's Sci-fi shorts you could only see by watching other films. Which was both funny and most of the jokes were around a young age.

Still I'm thinking young age 12, not young age 7. Even that is pushing it.

[Nephtys]

You probably should start with kids movies that they occasionally do. One that comes to mind is Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, where it ends up that Mars is stealing X-MAS or something, and is full of Iranian people painted green.

[CaiusWickersham]

I prefer "Santa Claus" over "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians". It's more kid-friendly (and has its own charm) as a movie and the humor won't go over many people's head.

ETA: For now, avoid Manos: Hands of Fate or Monster a Go-Go. The badness. THE BOTS DO NOTHING!

[Admiral Valdemar]

Wasn't Santa Claus the Mexican one? I recall seeing a kid in that with a B-36 model on his wall. With the wings back-to-front. Shep would've cried.

[LadyTevar]

You'd be surprised how much sarcasm can be understood by a 7yr old, when raised in a house where that is normal behavior.

Then again, my nephews were watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail with their dad, just so they'd understand why the "VeggieTales: Joshua and the Big Wall" made daddy laugh so hard.

[Admiral Valdemar]

You have the advantage of a guy who does irony, Lady. I hear most Americans can't do irony intentionally.

Which is ironic. Unlike that Alanis Morissette song.

[Connor MacLeod]

I would definitely start with the Joel era. The reason he's so much more kid friendly is that alot of the MST3K featuring him tended to incorporate alot of his comedy stuff (the invention exchange was a result of alot of his gimmicky type comedy - I once saw him at a comedy show on TV as a kid.. mebbe it was on Letterman) and a fair part of it was I suppose what oyu could call "Minnesota" humor (hell you have to be from Minnesota to get some of the jokes at times... example a joke early on in the Eegah movie makes references to locales in MN.) That may be why some people don't get it. Mike's a bit more.. I dunno.. sarcastic, but I also do have to admit I like the Mike era more (though the Joel era has its moments too, like Mitchell).

I started watching MST3K a bit in the KTMA era (I ran across it once and watched. I still remember fondly the joke "MOUNT FUJI!" everytime a mountain was shown though I have yet to sit through all the KTMA eps to figure out which movie that was... I thought it was hilarious) and man imagine my suprrise and pleasure when I ran across MST3K on cable after a number of years. (I think i twas the MST3K Hour they used to do).

Anyhow, I think the things most likely to appeal to a kid are going to be the robots and gimmicks. Even if they don't get the refrences they might just enjoy the antics of the bots and such. Picking a Kid-friendly movie can probably help too. Or a kid friendly short.

Rifftrax I think is definitely more adult than MST3K.. start with MSt3K and move onto rifftrax later.

Edit: one warning. Avoid Sidehackers from the Mst3K Joel era. There's a few other Joel era ones to steer clear of with kids, I think. I remember reding in a guidebook I have somewhere they really regretted doing Sidehackers cuz it turned out to be more of a disturbing movie, and it later influenced how they would continue to pick movies.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Everytime someone pulls a gun out on TV or in a film, me and my brother will instinctively go "Hey, is that a GLOCK?".

[Connor MacLeod]

I found I started doing it to TV shows and movies alot too. It's actually been a big thing for me, and it and rifftrax have been something shared as a mutual interest between me and my GF (first VHS and now DVD)

hell, I even bought those Film Crew DVDs.