MST3K

Oh my stars!
- Gypsy


Gypsy, also known as Gypsum and GPC/GPC 1/GPC 2, is one of the robotic companions built by Joel Robinson to keep him company during the Mystery Science Theater 3000 experiment.

Biography[]

Gypsy KTMA

Gypsy during the KTMA era.

Like her fellow robots Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot, Gypsy was built by Gizmonic Institute janitor Joel Robinson from parts scavenged from the Mystery Science Theater presentation controls. In the early days, her personality had not quite gelled and she would often be referred to as a male or with the name "Gypsum". Despite her immense length, she has her own room, which she decorated herself.[1]

For a short period of time, Gypsy was physically connected to the Umbilicus and items sent up to the SOL from Deep 13 would arrive via her mouth.[2]

Following the crash landing of The Satellite of Love, Gypsy chose not to join Mike, Tom and Crow in their small apartment. She founded the successful company ConGypsCo, a venture in which Mike and the Bots failed to join her.[3]

When Kinga Forrester restarted the "Mystery Science Theater 3000" experiment, a version of Gypsy was once again on board the SOL. Like her fellow returned Bots, she appears to have all the memories of the original, although she now descends from the ceiling instead of rising up from the floor.[4]

Some time after the destruction of Moon 13, Gypsy produced a smaller version of herself by shedding her outer structure like a reptile's skin.[5] Eventually, both models worked independently of each other, with the original referring to herself as "GPC 1" and the smaller being called "GPC 2". GPC 2 would eventually be deployed aboard the Simulator of Love alongside new versions of Tom and Crow.[6]

Traits[]

Gypsy operates the higher functions on board The Satellite of Love. In the early days, she needed to use most of her computing power to handle this responsibility, which generally made her appear slow-witted when dealing with others. When those functions were disabled, she was capable of clear thinking and communication.[7] This limitation gradually diminished over time and was entirely overcome when later test subject Jonah Heston reprogrammed her, allowing her to communicate normally.[8]

Relationships[]

Like the other Bots, Gypsy typically treats Joel as a father figure, while viewing Mike and the other human test subjects as siblings or friends.

However, as the only "female" aboard the SOL, Gypsy also often acts as mother figure to Crow and Servo or even the human subjects, such as breaking up fights,[9] warning them about playing ball on the satellite,[10] or when Tom once chided Crow for not appreciating all she does for them.[11].

Crow and Tom also often view Gypsy in a more romantic light, such as when Tom took her out on a date[12] or when both Crow and Tom attempted to woo her with song.[13]

Appearance[]

Aloha

Gypsy's "body"

Gypsy's most common form is a large, purple and black robotic head with a long connecting tube that allows her to access all areas of The Satellite of Love. Although she does not have any arms, she has often found ways around this limitation, such as making herself a foot[14] or spontaneously growing a temporary arm to wrap around Servo's shoulder.[15] Later, she gained access to a mannequin body that she can hang from just under her chin to give herself a humanoid appearance.[16]

Gypsy with lipstick in Gamera Vs

She would often wear "makeup" in the form of giant red lip attachments to simulate lipstick.

"GPC 2" form looks much like GPC, only smaller.

Behind the scenes[]

Performers[]

Additional[]

Body and name change[]

Gypsy and the smaller gypsy and joel

GPC emerging from Gypsy, with Joel's help

For the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live - The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour, Gypsy was performed by Yvonne Freese. This Gypsy, sometimes referred as "Travel Gypsy", was redesigned to be a more compact and usable puppet.[17]

This version of the character was eventually renamed "GPC 2" at the same time the original was renamed "GPC 1" due to concerns that the term "Gypsy" can be offensive to some people of Romani origin.[18][19] Joel has since begun referring to the smaller version of GPC as "GPC 2", and retroactively referring to the larger version formerly known as "Gypsy" as "GPC 1".[20]

Construction[]

Gypsy (GPC 1)[]

Gypsy's Head

Gypsy's head in its natural state

Gypsy's head was built out of a now difficult-to-find "Century Infant Love Seat," an infant car seat from the late 1970s to the early 1980s; the inner seal of the seat was used for her jaw. Parts of an Eveready "All American Lantern" flashlight were used for her eye; the flashlight's hood (which was also used to make Tom Servo's shoulder pauldrons) was left on Gypsy's eye initially but removed for most of the series. Foam pipe insulation was used on her lips, and her neck was made of long 4-inch drainage tubing over a skeleton made from 1 1/2 inch CPVC pipe. She was painted with Testors Purple Metalflake Hobby Spray Paint. In Season 11, her eye was made from a RAYOVAC-EFL6V-BA Flashlight.

Gypsy's Eye

Gypsy's eye in its natural state

GPC 2[]

GPC 2's design was inspired by the work of a fan who'd made a smaller hand-puppet version of Gypsy.[17]

References[]



The Satellite of Love
edit
Primary Residents Joel RobinsonMike NelsonJonah HestonCrow T. RobotGypsyCambotTom Servo
Minor/Other Residents BeeperMagic VoiceClayton Forrester (mirror)TV's Frank (mirror)Eddie Nelson (alternate universe)The NanitesMike Nelson (robot)WinstonM. WaverlyMatt Claude Van DammeGrowlerEmily Connor
Visitors EnochDemon DogsXT-5000TimmyMike's RobotNuveenaGypsy (mirror)Tom Servo (mirror)MonadThe ObserversFinneganHadrianAdrienne BarbeauLydiaOrtegaPhantom of KrankorHenry KissingerBowler-Hatted GuyDelivery ManGoosioMikey the Mike spriteMikesocksy the Mike's Socks SpriteBrain GuyPearl ForresterProfessor Bobo
Terminology AirlockDeus ex MachinaHexfield ViewscreenHyper-warp escape shipsJet ScreenManipulator armsMovie signRocket Number 9The TubeUmbilicusWhirlpool
Locations BridgeCrow's RoomJoel's roomKitchenMike's roomMystery Science TheaterTheater hallwayTom's room