MADS - The Tingler

MADS - The Tingler
Air/Release Date	August 18, 2020
Running Time	110 minutes
Movie Director	William Castle
Year	1959
Cast	Vincent Price Judith Evelyn Darryl Hickman Patricia Cutts
Preceded by	MADS - Glen or Glenda
Followed by	MADS - Walk the Dark Street

“	They are spraying exposition like room freshener!	”
	- Trace

A live streaming show in which the Mads (Trace Beaulieu and Frank Conniff) riff the 1959 horror movie The Tingler.

The Movie

Main article: The Tingler (film)

Synopsis

A scientist who is studying fear inadvertently releases a monster into the world.

The Show

Running Jokes

• "Turvy." -said by Trace multiple times over a shot of a door reading "Autopsy".
• Frank's excitement over seeing the stoop of Ollie and Martha's building.
• Frequent references are made to the administration, aides, and family of Donald Trump (usually in a disparaging context), who was President of the United States at the time.

Quotes & References

• "It's the Beatles cover!"

The cover to the album With the Beatles (and its US equivalent, Meet the Beatles!) features black & white images of the heads of the four band members against a black background.

• "He was listening to Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!."

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! is a light-hearted news and current events-themed game show that is broadcast by National Public Radio.

• "Stephen Miller for Nutrisystem."

Stephen Miller was an advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump during his first administration and has remained a prominent political commentator and advisor to Trump. Miller has a long face, heavy eyelids, and a prominent forehead. Nutrisystem is a weight loss program that has used celebrity spokespersons.

• "Just another night at Jimmy John's..."

Jimmy John's is a fast-service restaurant chain that specializes in sandwiches. The staff typically wear aprons.

• "Ah, Robert Trump..."

Robert Trump was the younger brother of President Donald Trump. He passed away a few days before the livestream of The Tingler, and the President's dispassionate reaction to brother's death was part of the news cycle for some of that time.

• "The Aristocrats!"

This is the punchline to a notorious joke in which a talent agent is approached by a person (or group) who demonstrate a stage act that contains gruesome (sometimes sexually explicit) elements. The joke was the subject of a documentary film in 2005 in which a number of comedians told their version of it (or the story of how they first heard it) and examine why the joke does or does not work.

• "I am the law."

Catchphrase of the fictional character Judge Dredd, who has been played on film by Sylvester Stallone and Karl Urban.

• "Your mother's name is Martha? My mother's name is Martha! That's incredible!"

In the film Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Batman stops fighting Superman when the revelation that both their mothers are named Martha makes him see Superman as a person and not an alien. Some viewers have found the circumstances of the revelation to be stilted and implausible.

• "She has almost enough money to eat at Five Guys!" "No fries..."

Five Guys Burgers and Fries is a restaurant chain that specializes in hamburgers, hot dogs, and french fries. It has a reputation for being slightly more expensive than other fast-food burger restaurants.

• "Great joke, Louis C.K."

Louis C.K. is a comedian and actor who made his reputation in "alt-comedy" scene. He later had a successful TV series on the FX cable network. His career was affected by a number of credible allegations that be behaved inappropriately with female comedians and colleagues.

• "Thank goodness for Stand Your Ground laws..."

Stand-your-ground laws are statutes that exist in certain states that allow defendants to claim that their use of deadly force against another person was justified regardless of whether the other person posed a legitimate threat to them at the time of the altercation (that is, when the defendant could not otherwise claim to be acting in self-defense).

• "Gowns by Reynolds Aluminum."

Reynolds Wrap is a successful brand of aluminum foil used for cooking and food storage.

• "That shot is for Quentin Tarantino."

Film director Quentin Tarantino has often included scenes that highlight women's feet in his films. Some viewers have speculated that this may be a fetish of his.

• "No, from parkour."

Parkour is a type of exercise that consists of speedily traversing a distance that includes multiple obstacles. It typically involves jumping and climbing as well as running.

• "It's at the Burlington Straight-Jacket Factory."

A twist on Burlington Coat Factory, a chain of discount retail stores.

• "Welcome to the sex life of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump."

Ivanka Trump is the oldest daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump. She and her husband Jared Kushner both acted as advisors to her father during his first administration. Some observers have claimed that their marriage seems passionless and motivated by convenience.

• "Death by feng shui."

Feng shui is an interior design philosophy which posits that person's surroundings can affect their mental and emotional well-being, and that this should motivate design and layout more than simple aesthetics in an effort to achieve harmony.

• "Or take what's behind the curtain!"

On the TV game show Let's Make a Deal, contestants are often given the option to either keep a prize that they've already won or exchange it for an unknown prize behind a curtain. The risk is that the unknown prize may be worth significantly more than the known prize or be essentially worthless.

• "Slowly I turned... Step by step... Inch by Inch..."

From the days of vaudeville, this phrase was often used in a sketch wherein a person was telling a story of a personal experience to another person, and they become so engrossed in their own tale that they engage in violent outbursts. Similar sketches have been performed on film and television by Abbott & Costello, The Three Stooges, Lucille Ball, and Danny Thomas. This reference was often made on Mystery Science Theater 3000.

• "This Rudy Vallée megaphone will solve everything!"

Rudy Vallée was a popular singer in the 1920s and 30s. He often sang into a megaphone to project his voice in venues that were not equipped with microphones and speakers.

• Trace: "He better not hurt that cat." Frank: "Yeah, I'm very sensitive about that right now."

At the time of the livestream, Frank Conniff's cat Millie had recently been released from a pet hospital after receiving treatment for 8 days. This had been referred to in the show's opening conversation.

• "My Cialis results are back."

Cialis is a medication that treats erectile dysfunction.

• "Good morning, Mr. Phelps. This reference is incredibly dated."

On the TV series Mission: Impossible (starring Peter Graves), Jim Phelps and his team would receive assignments via reel-to-reel audio recordings.

• "That's right, Honey Badger don't care how many micro-milligrams are in the solution..."

A reference to a viral video in which a nature film about a honey badger was over-dubbed with a sassy, somewhat-vulgar narrator.

• "The Food Network presents: Dinner at Chet Baker's house."

Chet Baker was a jazz musician who had a public struggle with heroin addiction in the 1950s and 60s.

• "For Jenny McCarthy."

Actress and model Jenny McCarthy has been a prominent member of the community of activists who believe that vaccinations can be harmful to babies and children, to a degree that outweighs the benefits.

• "He's turning all Anthony Newley!"

Anthony Newley was a British actor, singer, and songwriter known for his roles in popular stage musicals including Stop the World, I Want to Get Off and The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd. His performances often ranged from impish to bombastic to maudlin.

• "Remember when we were going to make Mexico pay for the wall?"

During the 2016 United States presidential election, candidate Donald Trump promised that he would authorize the building of a wall along the U.S./Mexico border (to prevent illegal immigration), and that Mexico would pay for it.

• "Say, are you semi-good at pinball?"

The musical group The Who released a concept album entitled Tommy, in which the songs related the unfolding drama surrounding the life of a boy who was rendered deaf, blind, and mute because of a childhood trauma. He was later discovered to be preternaturally good at playing pinball, which led to him becoming a celebrity and then a messianic figure. The song "Pinball Wizard" includes the refrain "That deaf, dumb, and blind kid/Sure plays a mean pinball". The album was later adapted into a film and a stage musical.

• "This is like if Patch Adams was directed by Ingmar Bergman."

Patch Adams is a light drama film about a doctor who believed that laughter could lift his patients spirits and aid recovery. Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish film director whose work was artful but often dealt with depressing or disturbing themes.

• "Steve Bannon, no!"

Steve Bannon is a former political advisor to President Donald Trump. The ghoul in the movie does not resemble Bannon physically, but some critics might describe Bannon's political positions as "ghoulish".

• "Message from Lizzie Borden."

Lizzie Borden (1860-1927) was a Massachusetts woman who was suspected of murdering her father and step-mother with an axe. She was tried and acquitted, but popular culture still associates her with the crime of axe murder.

• "Ed Ames, no!"

Ed Ames is an American actor and singer who was known for playing the Native American character Mingo on the long-running Daniel Boone TV show. In a notable appearance on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, Ames offered to demonstrate his hatchet-throwing skill. He threw a hatchet at a target with the outline of a man on it, but "missed" and hit the target in the crotch. This resulted in a long sustained laugh from the studio audience and became a frequently-shown blooper.

• "She walked in on Elizabeth Báthory!"

Elizabeth Báthory (1560-1614) was a Hungarian noblewoman who is thought to have been the most prolific female serial killer of all time. Many rumors have been circulated about her habits, including that she bathed in the blood of virgins.

• "I demand to see her long-form death certificate!"

Around the time of the election of U.S. President Barack Obama, rumors circulated that he was not eligible to be President because he was not born in the United States. Those who claimed to doubt the validity of Obama's presidency often demanded that he produce his long-form birth certificate, which he eventually did.

• "Hold me closer, Necromancer..."

Trace sings this to the tune of the song "Tiny Dancer" by Sir Elton John. A necromancer is a type of wizard or magician who can revive, control, or commune with the deceased.

• "They did this on Austin Powers."

A recurring joke in the Austin Powers series of spy spoof films involves the shadows of Austin and his associates being observed doing seemingly vulgar or anatomically-impossible things.

• "The Loretta Young Show! Even I'm not old enough for that reference..."

The Loretta Young Show is an anthology drama TV series starring actress Loretta Young. She was known for maintaining a glamorous appearance during the opening and closing segments. It ran from 1953 to 1961, the year Frank Conniff turned six. It then had a long life in re-runs and syndication.

• "Oh, it's The Tingler meets The Princess Bride."

The film The Princess Bride features a scene in which two characters engage in a battle of wits over which of them will drink from two cups sitting before them, one of which has been dosed with a deathly poisonous powder.

• "Eh, it was a boring conversation anyway..."

Han Solo says this in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope after destroying a communications device.

• "I don't care, do you?"

In 2018, First Lady of the United States Melania Trump was photographed boarding Air Force One wearing a designer jacket with the words "I really don't care, do you?" printed on the back. She claimed that this was directed at those who criticize her and her husband, but some observers interpreted it as a display of callous disregard for people suffering in America.

• "It's Tingler, It's Tingler, for fun it's the best of the toys..."

Frank is singing a pastiche of the jingle for the toy Slinky.

• "Maybe shag carpeting is its Kryptonite."

Kryptonite is a fictional material made from fragments of Superman's home planet of Krypton that have fallen to Earth. Exposure to Kryptonite weakens Superman and could kill him.

• "Here, get this torch back to Harpo Marx."

In the various Marx Brothers films, a repeated gag involved Harpo Marx pulling a variety of items from the pockets of his long overcoat, including a lit blowtorch in some instances.

• "Suits from the Ed Gein collection."

Ed Gein was a notoriously remorseless serial killer from the midwestern United States.

• "I'm going to virtual Comic-Con!"

Like many events in 2020, San Diego Comic-Con was cancelled due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Many panels and release announcements were held online instead.

• "Good job, McCloud."

McCloud is a mystery TV series about a rural detective who relocates to a big city. His country ways clash with his metropolitan surroundings, but prove effective at solving crimes. It was the source of a running gag during Experiment #303.

• "So, it's a movie-within-a-movie-within-a-movie. It's like a turducken of film."

A turducken is a meat dish consisting of a chicken stuffed inside a duck stuffed inside a turkey.

• "And a young Donald Trump makes his move..."

During his public life, U.S. President Donald Trump has attempted to cultivate a reputation as a ladies' man. During the 2016 campaign, an audio recording was released of Trump bragging about making unwelcome physical advances to women.

• "Kevin Brownlow is a much better date!"

Kevin Brownlow is a British film historian whose specialty is the silent era.

• "Charlie Callas!"

Charlie Callas was a comedian who appeared in nightclubs and on television in the 1960s and 70s. He was known for awkwardly twisting his mouth and making odd noises to express nervousness.

• "Why do they sit apart? Are they all Quakers?"

Quakers are a Christian religious sect. Their services are not segregated by gender and never have been.

• "What is this, United Airlines?"

In a highly-publicized incident from 2017, a passenger was injured while being forcibly removed from United Airlines flight 3411, which had been over-booked.

• "When he hits him, his head goes up on a spring!" "You knocked his block off!"

This refers to the play pattern and slogan for the toy Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, in which players control the arms of boxing robot figurines. One player wins when he strikes the other robot's chin, causing the head to shoot up on a spring-loaded track.

• "Joe Flaherty, Projectionist."

Actor Joe Flaherty is a former member of the cast of the TV series SCTV and Freaks and Geeks. He is a slender man with a prominent nose.

• "If you're at home, go to your window and scream, 'I'm mad as Hell, and I'm not going to tingle any more!'."

In the film Network, a television journalist has a breakdown during a live broadcast and encourages viewers to go their windows and yell "I'm mad as Hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!". Many do, and the man becomes a nationwide sensation.

• "But we're gonna do a whole Richard Barthelmess festival! You're gonna miss it!"

Richard Barthelmess (star of Tol'Able David) was a popular and prolific actor of the silent film era. His popularity waned as he aged, and he retired from film work around 1940.

• "It's a zombie version of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?!"

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a stage play (and later film) about a bitter, hostile married couple.

Behind-the-scenes

• The livestream of The Tingler was the second performance by The Mads of 2020. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, all shows by The Mads for 2020 were cancelled. This production also marks the second commercially available performance by The Mads outside their participation in RiffTrax productions. A portion of the proceeds went to benefit the NAACP Empowerment Program.
• Unlike Glen or Glenda, The Tingler was only made available to stream live as a Zoom meeting.
• The Mads were joined by special guest Victoria Price, who is an author and the daughter of Vincent Price.
• The livestream was produced by Chris Gersbeck. After the movie, a brief question and answer session took place.
• At the conclusion of the event, the Mads announced that their next live streaming event would be on September 15, 2020 and feature a riff of Walk the Dark Street.

Video Release

• The live stream was also made available for ticket purchasers to view or download following the show.
• A re-broadcast of the performance took place on September 15, 2021. It was available for all those who bought a ticket for the original broadcast (at no additional cost), and to new purchasers as well.