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{{Ep infobox
 
{{Ep infobox
| name =418 - Attack of the The Eye Creatures
+
| name =418 - Attack of the the Eye Creatures
 
| image =0418.jpg
 
| image =0418.jpg
 
| image_size =200px
 
| image_size =200px
Line 7: Line 7:
 
| runtime =
 
| runtime =
 
| turkey =
 
| turkey =
| hour =
+
| hour =[[February 2]], [[1994]]<br/>[[February 3]], [[1994]]
 
| aka =
 
| aka =
 
| movdirector =[[Larry Buchanan]]
 
| movdirector =[[Larry Buchanan]]
Line 19: Line 19:
 
| s2director =
 
| s2director =
 
| s2year =
 
| s2year =
| preceded_by =417 - [[Crash of Moons]]
+
| preceded_by =417 - [[MST3K 417 - Crash of Moons|Crash of Moons]]
| followed_by =419 - [[The Rebel Set]]
+
| followed_by =419 - [[MST3K 419 - The Rebel Set|The Rebel Set]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Quote|''(Upon seeing the typo in the film's title)''
 
{{Quote|''(Upon seeing the misspelling in the film's title)''
 
 
Attack of the '''the''' Eye Creatures? What, did Mel Tillis write these titles? |Joel}}
 
Attack of the '''the''' Eye Creatures? What, did Mel Tillis write these titles? |Joel}}
   
Line 29: Line 28:
   
 
===Synopsis===
 
===Synopsis===
[[File:Eyecreatures.PNG|thumb|225x225px|'''''Attack of the Eye Creatures'''''|left]]
+
[[File:Eyecreatures.PNG|thumb|225x225px|'''''Attack of the the Eye Creatures'''''|left]]
A military briefing film shows a hovering flying saucer resembling a domed yo-yo as the narrator, (Peter Graves),
+
A military briefing film shows a hovering flying saucer resembling a domed yo-yo as the narrator ([[Peter Graves]]) describes how the military's "Project Visitor" has been tracking it and anticipates it will land in the central United States. After the briefing, Lt. Robertson reports to the base near the expected target where he berates his subordinates for their habit of using the monitoring equipment to spy on teenagers making out in the woods.
  +
<nowiki> </nowiki>describes how the military's "Project Visitor" has been tracking it and
 
  +
One of the teens sees an object land nearby and tells his friends at a local bar, including Stan Kenyon. Stan and his girlfriend Susan Rogers later accidentally hit one of the multi-eyed, lumpy greyish-white aliens from the ship with his car, so they drive off to call the police. Out in the woods, they are forced to use the phone of a grumpy local codger who resents the "smoochers" who use his property as a lovers' lane, frequently threatening them with a shotgun.
<nowiki> </nowiki>anticipates it will land in the central United States. After the
 
briefing, Lt. Robertson reports to the base near the expected target
 
where he berates his subordinates for their habit of using the
 
monitoring equipment to spy on teenagers making out in the woods. One of
 
<nowiki> </nowiki>the teens sees an object land nearby and tells his friends at a local
 
bar, including Stan Kenyon. Stan and his girlfriend Susan Rogers later
 
accidentally hit one of the multi-eyed, lumpy greyish-white aliens from
 
the ship with his car, so they drive off to call the police. Out in the
 
woods, they are forced to use the phone of a grumpy local codger who resents the "smoochers" who use his property as a lovers' lane, frequently threatening them with a shotgun.
 
   
Meanwhile Carl, one of two drunken drifters new in town, comes across the dead creature and decides to put it on exhibition as part of his latest get-rich-quick scheme. When Carl returns to the site after excitedly
+
Meanwhile Carl, one of two drunken drifters new in town, comes across the dead creature and decides to put it on exhibition as part of his latest get-rich-quick scheme. Carl excitedly rushes to call his buddy Mike, then returns to the site where other aliens arrive, scaring him and causing a fatal heart attack. When the police finally investigate, they assume that Stan ran over Carl and they arrest Stan, refusing to believe his story. Having overheard the bar conversation about the UFO, Lt. Robertson reports to his commander, who reluctantly authorizes a cordon around the saucer. They accidentally blow up the spaceship and congratulate themselves for their effective defense, not realizing that the creatures weren't in their craft and are still roaming the woods.
rushing home to tell his buddy Mike, other aliens arrive, scaring him
 
and causing a deadly heart attack. When the police finally investigate, they assume that Stan ran over Carl and they arrest Stan, refusing to believe his crazy story.Having overheard the bar conversation about the UFO, Lt. Robertson reports to his commander, who reluctantly authorizes a cordon around the saucer. They eventually accidentally blow up the
 
spaceship and congratulate themselves for their effective defense, not realizing that the creatures weren't in their craft and are still roaming the woods.
 
   
Easily escaping from the police, Stan and Susan meet up with Carl's friend Mike and the three of them attempt to prove the alien danger to the community. Mike is cornered and attacked by the angry creatures, but Stan and Susan manage to flee and accidentally discover
+
Easily escaping from the police, Stan and Susan meet up with Carl's friend Mike and the three of them attempt to prove the alien danger to the community. Mike is cornered and attacked by the angry creatures, but Stan and Susan manage to flee and inadvertently discover that the monsters explode when exposed to bright light. However, after the autopsy determined that Carl died from a heart attack and that Stan had not killed him, the police want nothing more to do with him and refuse to help. The teenagers then gather their friends together and drive out to the clearing where they left Mike. Surrounding the aliens with their cars, the teens use their headlights to evaporate the remaining creatures. Mike survives his attack, and Stan and Susan resume their interrupted plans to elope.
the monsters explode when exposed to bright light. Unfortunately, after the autopsy showed that the victim earlier died from an alcohol-induced heart attack and that Stan had not killed him, the police want nothing more to do with him and refuse to help. The teenagers then gather their friends together and drive out to the clearing where they left Mike. Surrounding the aliens with their cars, the teens use their headlights to evaporate the remaining creatures. Mike survives his attack, and Stan<nowiki> </nowiki>and Susan resume their interrupted plans to elope.
 
   
 
===Information===
 
===Information===
*Part of a series of color remakes of old [[wikipedia:American_International_Pictures|AIP]] films by Larry Buchanan intended for television broadcast.
+
*The film was a color remake of the 1957 black and white American International Pictures film ''[[Wikipedia:Invasion of the Saucer Men|Invasion of the Saucer Men]]'', part of a series of color remakes of old [[wikipedia:American International Pictures|AIP]] films by Larry Buchanan intended for television broadcast.
 
*Originally titled "The Eye Creatures", the studio decided to rename the film "Attack of the Eye Creatures". However, when the title card was re-done to add "Attack of the" and then re-shot to edit it into the film, it was discovered that the word "the" had been repeated twice, and the title of the film now read "Attack of the the Eye Creatures".
*The title card includes a typo, the double “the”. This error occurred when the movie was re-released.
 
 
*Apart from the usual stock footage, director Larry Buchanan borrowed from ''[[Wikipedia:The Hypnotic Eye|The Hypnotic Eye]]'' (1960) an early scene in a bar featuring the same tune 'Yvette Vickers' (aqv) danced to in 1958's ''[[Wikipedia:Attack of the 50 Foot Woman|Attack of the 50 Foot Woman]]'' (1958).
*Originally titled "The Eye Creatures", the studio decided to rename the film "Attack of the Eye Creatures". However, when the title card was re-done to add "Attack of the" and then re-shot to edit it into the film, it was discovered that the word "the" had been repeated twice, and the title of the film now read "Attack of the The Eye Creatures".
 
 
*The same "Eye Creature" costume later turned up in the 1966 AIP release ''[[Wikipedia:The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini|The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini]]'' (1966).
*Apart from the usual stock themes, director Larry Buchanan borrowed from ''[[The Hypnotic Eye]]'' (1960) an early scene in a bar featuring the same tune 'Yvette Vickers' (aqv) danced to in 1958's ''[[Attack of the 50 Foot Woman]]'' (1958).
 
 
*Along with his other low-budget tricks, director Larry Buchanan also borrowed both background scoring and the theme song "Treat Him Nicely" directly from AIP's ''[[Wikipedia:Beach Party|Beach Party]]'' (1963), peppering them throughout his film.
*The same "Eye Creature" costume later turned up in the 1966 AIP release ''[[The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini]]'' (1966).
 
 
*A pair of shots depicting a spaceship landing were taken from ''[[Wikipedia:Invaders from Mars|Invaders from Mars]]'' (1953).
*Along with his other low-budget tricks, director Larry Buchanan also borrowed both background scoring and the musical theme from the song "Treat Him Nicely", direct from AIP's ''[[Beach Party]]'' (1963), peppering them throughout his film.
 
*A pair of shots depicting a spaceship landing were taken from ''[[Invaders from Mars]]'' (1953).
 
   
 
==The Episode==
 
==The Episode==
Line 75: Line 61:
 
'''Segment Five:''' Joel and the Bots offer proof that filmmaker Larry Buchanan "just didn’t care", and it's rather convincing. Larry Buchanan visits [[Deep 13]] and essentially confirms their suspicions.
 
'''Segment Five:''' Joel and the Bots offer proof that filmmaker Larry Buchanan "just didn’t care", and it's rather convincing. Larry Buchanan visits [[Deep 13]] and essentially confirms their suspicions.
   
'''Stinger:''' The greasy drifter in the multicolor striped sweater dress
+
'''Stinger:''' The greasy drifter in the multi-color striped sweater dress
   
 
===Other Notes===
 
===Other Notes===
Line 83: Line 69:
   
 
=== Trivia ===
 
=== Trivia ===
 
* Best Brains has said in ''[[The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Amazing Colossal Episode Guide|The Amazing Colossal Episode Guide]]'' that "The guy with the oily face in the knee-length nightdress, lazing about on his grimy sticky sheets." is one of the most disgusting things they've ever seen.
*Goofs Crow’s arm (which was apparently taped to Tom) comes off during the opening.
 
   
  +
==== Goofs ====
Best Brains has said in The Amazing Colossal Episode Guide that "The guy with the oily face in the knee-length nightdress, lazing about on his grimy sticky sheets." is one of the most disgusting things they've ever seen.
 
 
* Crow’s arm (which was apparently taped to Tom) comes off during the opening.
   
 
=== Callbacks ===
 
=== Callbacks ===
* ''“….sing whenever I sing whenever I…”'' ([[The Giant Gila Monster]])
+
* ''“…sing whenever I sing whenever I…”'' ([[MST3K 402 - The Giant Gila Monster|The Giant Gila Monster]])
   
 
== Obscure References ==
 
== Obscure References ==
 
*''"Attack of the THE Eye Creatures? Did Mel Tillis write these titles, or wha-aht?"''
 
*''"Attack of the THE Eye Creatures? Did Mel Tillis write these titles, or wha-aht?"''
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Tillis Mel Tillis] is a famous country music singer who suffers from a heavy stutter while speaking (but not while singing.)
+
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Tillis Mel Tillis] is a famous country music singer who suffers from a heavy stutter while speaking (but not while singing).
 
*''"Next week, we will demonstrate the Lathe of Heaven!"''
 
*''"Next week, we will demonstrate the Lathe of Heaven!"''
 
''[[Wikipedia:The Lathe of Heaven|The Lathe of Heaven]]'' is a science fiction novel by [[Wikipedia:Ursula K. LeGuin|Ursula K. Le Guin]] about a man with the power to alter reality by dreaming, and was filmed as a made-for-TV movie in 1979.
 
''[[Wikipedia:The Lathe of Heaven|The Lathe of Heaven]]'' is a science fiction novel by [[Wikipedia:Ursula K. LeGuin|Ursula K. Le Guin]] about a man with the power to alter reality by dreaming, and was filmed as a made-for-TV movie in 1979.
Line 100: Line 87:
 
* ''"I borrowed a camcorder from Rob Lowe."''
 
* ''"I borrowed a camcorder from Rob Lowe."''
 
In one of the first celebrity sex tape scandals, actor [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Lowe Rob Lowe] taped a sexual encounter he had with a 22 year old woman and a 16 year old girl he met at a nightclub while he was in Atlanta for the 1988 Democratic National Convention.
 
In one of the first celebrity sex tape scandals, actor [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Lowe Rob Lowe] taped a sexual encounter he had with a 22 year old woman and a 16 year old girl he met at a nightclub while he was in Atlanta for the 1988 Democratic National Convention.
*''"Oh jeez...'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer' is not as sick as this!"''
+
*''"Oh jeez... ''Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer'' is not as sick as this!"''
 
''[[Wikipedia:Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer|Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer]]'' was a 1986 film loosely inspired by the confessions of [[Wikipedia:Henry Lee Lucas|Henry Lee Lucas]].
 
''[[Wikipedia:Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer|Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer]]'' was a 1986 film loosely inspired by the confessions of [[Wikipedia:Henry Lee Lucas|Henry Lee Lucas]].
   
 
*''"It's Larry, Darryl, and Darryl!"''
 
*''"It's Larry, Darryl, and Darryl!"''
A reference to a trio of characters (portrayed as dim rural rubes) from the 1980s sitcom ''[[Wikipedia:Newhart|Newhart]]''.
+
A reference to a trio of characters (portrayed as rural rubes) from the 1980s sitcom ''[[Wikipedia:Newhart|Newhart]]''.
 
*''"The onion field..."''
 
*''"The onion field..."''
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Onion_Field ​''The Onion Field''] was a book by Joseph Wambaugh (later a movie), about the kidnapping of two plainclothes LAPD officers by a pair of low-level hoods in 1963.
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Onion_Field ​''The Onion Field''] was a book by Joseph Wambaugh (later a movie), about the kidnapping of two plainclothes LAPD officers by a pair of low-level hoods in 1963.
Line 114: Line 101:
   
 
*''"Pyle, get in here!"''
 
*''"Pyle, get in here!"''
Reference to Sargeant Carter's common exclamation on the TV series ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomer_Pyle,_U.S.M.C. Gomer Pyle, USMC]''.
+
Reference to Sergeant Carter's common exclamation on the TV series ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomer_Pyle,_U.S.M.C. Gomer Pyle, USMC]''.
 
*''"It's Phil Silvers!"''
 
*''"It's Phil Silvers!"''
 
​Comic actor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Silvers Phil Silvers] is best known for his role as Sgt. Bilko on his self-titled CBS series in the 1950s.
 
​Comic actor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Silvers Phil Silvers] is best known for his role as Sgt. Bilko on his self-titled CBS series in the 1950s.
Line 121: Line 108:
   
 
*"''I think we killed the Michelin Man!''"
 
*"''I think we killed the Michelin Man!''"
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelin_Man Bibendum], commonly known as the Michelin Man, is the mascot of the Michelin Tire Company.
+
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelin_Man Bibendum], commonly known as the Michelin Man, is the mascot of the Michelin Tire Company. He has a bulky body made of automobile tires.
   
 
*"''Calgon, take me away!''"
 
*"''Calgon, take me away!''"
Line 128: Line 115:
 
*''"Dr. Treves, would you like to see my cathedral?"''
 
*''"Dr. Treves, would you like to see my cathedral?"''
 
The Elephant Man [[Wikipedia:Joseph Merrick|Joseph Merrick]]'s doctor and biographer was Sir Frederic Treves, and in the biography, Merrick is depicted building a model of a cathedral.
 
The Elephant Man [[Wikipedia:Joseph Merrick|Joseph Merrick]]'s doctor and biographer was Sir Frederic Treves, and in the biography, Merrick is depicted building a model of a cathedral.
  +
* ''"Gotta boogie on my finger, and I can't get it off!"''
  +
A reference to the song ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkUtweS4aMc Gotta Boogie] ''by [["Weird Al" Yankovic]].
 
*''"Ignatius P. Reilly had better hygiene than this guy."''
 
*''"Ignatius P. Reilly had better hygiene than this guy."''
''​''Ignatius '''J'''. Reilly (Joel has the name slightly wrong) is the slovenly, neurotic central character in John Kennedy Toole's novel ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Confederacy_of_Dunces A Confederacy of Dunces]'' .
+
''​''Ignatius '''J'''. Reilly (Joel has the name slightly wrong) is the slovenly, neurotic central character in John Kennedy Toole's novel ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Confederacy_of_Dunces A Confederacy of Dunces]''.
 
*''"Hello, Roy!" "Hello, Siegfried!"''
 
*''"Hello, Roy!" "Hello, Siegfried!"''
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigfried_and_roy Siegfried & Roy] were a well-know Las Vegas illusionist act.
+
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigfried_and_roy Siegfried & Roy] were a well-know Las Vegas illusionist and animal act.
*''"You know, they got a lotta optic nerve!"''
+
*''"Malcolm McDowell... in ''O Yucky Man!''"''
  +
''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070464/ O Lucky Man!]'' is a 1973 film starring McDowell.
Referencing the phrase "You got a lotta nerve!" and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optic_nerve optic nerve], which transmits information from the eye to the brain.
 
  +
*''"Weird creatures..."''
  +
Joel is quoting Groucho Marx's character Captain Spaulding from the movie [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Crackers_%281930_film%29 ''Animal Crackers''], from one of his "strange interlude" monologues.
  +
* "If you built it, they will come..."
  +
From the movie [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_of_Dreams ''Field of Dreams''].
  +
* "He blowed up lame! He blowed up real lame."
  +
A riff on "He blowed up real good," a recurring line from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_City_Television ''SCTV''] sketch "Farm Film Report."
  +
* "Wherever there's a guy smooching a cop, I'll be there."
  +
A riff on Henry Fonda's climactic monologue from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grapes_of_Wrath_%28film%29 ''The Grapes of Wrath''].
   
  +
==Video releases==
  +
A home video release of this episode is not currently forthcoming. However, the host segments are available on the [[Satellite Dishes]] disc included in [[Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXXIX|Volume XXXIX]].
   
 
{{Season4}}
 
{{Season4}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Attack Of The The Eye Creatures}}
+
{{DEFAULTSORT:Attack of the the Eye Creatures}}
 
[[Category:MST3K Episodes]]
 
[[Category:MST3K Episodes]]
 
[[Category:Season 4]]
 
[[Category:Season 4]]
Line 145: Line 144:
 
[[Category:Unrated movies]]
 
[[Category:Unrated movies]]
 
[[Category:Episodes directed by Joel Hodgson]]
 
[[Category:Episodes directed by Joel Hodgson]]
  +
[[Category:Film adaptations]]

Revision as of 15:33, 21 December 2019

(Upon seeing the typo in the film's title)

Attack of the the Eye Creatures? What, did Mel Tillis write these titles?

- Joel


The Movie

Synopsis

Eyecreatures

Attack of the the Eye Creatures

A military briefing film shows a hovering flying saucer resembling a domed yo-yo as the narrator (Peter Graves) describes how the military's "Project Visitor" has been tracking it and anticipates it will land in the central United States. After the briefing, Lt. Robertson reports to the base near the expected target where he berates his subordinates for their habit of using the monitoring equipment to spy on teenagers making out in the woods.

One of the teens sees an object land nearby and tells his friends at a local bar, including Stan Kenyon. Stan and his girlfriend Susan Rogers later accidentally hit one of the multi-eyed, lumpy greyish-white aliens from the ship with his car, so they drive off to call the police. Out in the woods, they are forced to use the phone of a grumpy local codger who resents the "smoochers" who use his property as a lovers' lane, frequently threatening them with a shotgun.

Meanwhile Carl, one of two drunken drifters new in town, comes across the dead creature and decides to put it on exhibition as part of his latest get-rich-quick scheme. Carl excitedly rushes to call his buddy Mike, then returns to the site where other aliens arrive, scaring him and causing a fatal heart attack. When the police finally investigate, they assume that Stan ran over Carl and they arrest Stan, refusing to believe his story. Having overheard the bar conversation about the UFO, Lt. Robertson reports to his commander, who reluctantly authorizes a cordon around the saucer. They accidentally blow up the spaceship and congratulate themselves for their effective defense, not realizing that the creatures weren't in their craft and are still roaming the woods.

Easily escaping from the police, Stan and Susan meet up with Carl's friend Mike and the three of them attempt to prove the alien danger to the community. Mike is cornered and attacked by the angry creatures, but Stan and Susan manage to flee and inadvertently discover that the monsters explode when exposed to bright light. However, after the autopsy determined that Carl died from a heart attack and that Stan had not killed him, the police want nothing more to do with him and refuse to help. The teenagers then gather their friends together and drive out to the clearing where they left Mike. Surrounding the aliens with their cars, the teens use their headlights to evaporate the remaining creatures. Mike survives his attack, and Stan and Susan resume their interrupted plans to elope.

Information

  • The film was a color remake of the 1957 black and white American International Pictures film Invasion of the Saucer Men, part of a series of color remakes of old AIP films by Larry Buchanan intended for television broadcast.
  • Originally titled "The Eye Creatures", the studio decided to rename the film "Attack of the Eye Creatures". However, when the title card was re-done to add "Attack of the" and then re-shot to edit it into the film, it was discovered that the word "the" had been repeated twice, and the title of the film now read "Attack of the the Eye Creatures".
  • Apart from the usual stock footage, director Larry Buchanan borrowed from The Hypnotic Eye (1960) an early scene in a bar featuring the same tune 'Yvette Vickers' (aqv) danced to in 1958's Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958).
  • The same "Eye Creature" costume later turned up in the 1966 AIP release The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966).
  • Along with his other low-budget tricks, director Larry Buchanan also borrowed both background scoring and the theme song "Treat Him Nicely" directly from AIP's Beach Party (1963), peppering them throughout his film.
  • A pair of shots depicting a spaceship landing were taken from Invaders from Mars (1953).

The Episode

Host Segments

Eyecreatures2

The Rip Taylor Trio!

Prologue: Crow and Tom experience the "best friends" stage of their development, but quickly grow out of it.

Segment One (Invention Exchange): Tom disses Crow behind his back. The Mads have developed the router Ouija board; now they can contact the spirits of dead woodworkers. Joel and the Bots demonstrate their Funny Gag Fax, a modern variation of the old squirting telephone gag. They demonstrate it on Dr. F.

Segment Two: Inspired by the smoochers in the movie, Tom wants to make out, but he doesn’t know how. Crow, Gypsy, and Magic Voice all turn him down. Finally Joel plants a big ol’ wet one on him!

Eyecreatures3

Funny Gag Fax

Segment Three: Wearing wigs resembling the hairstyle from the girl from the movie, it's Earl Hollimania! Mainly because the kid who plays Stan vaguely resembles Earl Holliman.

Segment Four: The Rip Taylor Trio! The guys gad about like three Rip Taylors, complete with bad toupees, ridiculous moustaches, obvious prop humor, and glittery confetti. They say, "C’mon, laugh! It’s funny!" repeatedly

Segment Five: Joel and the Bots offer proof that filmmaker Larry Buchanan "just didn’t care", and it's rather convincing. Larry Buchanan visits Deep 13 and essentially confirms their suspicions.

Stinger: The greasy drifter in the multi-color striped sweater dress

Other Notes

Guest Stars

Trivia

  • Best Brains has said in The Amazing Colossal Episode Guide that "The guy with the oily face in the knee-length nightdress, lazing about on his grimy sticky sheets." is one of the most disgusting things they've ever seen.

Goofs

  • Crow’s arm (which was apparently taped to Tom) comes off during the opening.

Callbacks

Obscure References

  • "Attack of the THE Eye Creatures? Did Mel Tillis write these titles, or wha-aht?"

Mel Tillis is a famous country music singer who suffers from a heavy stutter while speaking (but not while singing).

  • "Next week, we will demonstrate the Lathe of Heaven!"

The Lathe of Heaven is a science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin about a man with the power to alter reality by dreaming, and was filmed as a made-for-TV movie in 1979.

  • "Take off!" "To the Great White North!"

A reference to "Take Off", a novelty song recorded by Bob and Doug McKenzie in the early 1980s, with guest vocals by Geddy Lee of Rush.

  • "I borrowed a camcorder from Rob Lowe."

In one of the first celebrity sex tape scandals, actor Rob Lowe taped a sexual encounter he had with a 22 year old woman and a 16 year old girl he met at a nightclub while he was in Atlanta for the 1988 Democratic National Convention.

  • "Oh jeez... Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is not as sick as this!"

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer was a 1986 film loosely inspired by the confessions of Henry Lee Lucas.

  • "It's Larry, Darryl, and Darryl!"

A reference to a trio of characters (portrayed as rural rubes) from the 1980s sitcom Newhart.

  • "The onion field..."

The Onion Field was a book by Joseph Wambaugh (later a movie), about the kidnapping of two plainclothes LAPD officers by a pair of low-level hoods in 1963.

  • "It's a Cowsill!"

The Cowsills were a pop band from the mid-1960s.

  • "Travis Bickle had a better room than this."

Travis Bickle was the title character in the 1976 film Taxi Driver. His apartment was small and shabby.

  • "Pyle, get in here!"

Reference to Sergeant Carter's common exclamation on the TV series Gomer Pyle, USMC.

  • "It's Phil Silvers!"

​Comic actor Phil Silvers is best known for his role as Sgt. Bilko on his self-titled CBS series in the 1950s.

  • "Joe Garagiola!"

Joe Garagiola is a former baseball pitcher who became a television host after retiring from the sport.

  • "I think we killed the Michelin Man!"

Bibendum, commonly known as the Michelin Man, is the mascot of the Michelin Tire Company. He has a bulky body made of automobile tires.

  • "Calgon, take me away!"

A slogan featured in commercials for Calgon bath & beauty products.

  • "Dr. Treves, would you like to see my cathedral?"

The Elephant Man Joseph Merrick's doctor and biographer was Sir Frederic Treves, and in the biography, Merrick is depicted building a model of a cathedral.

  • "Gotta boogie on my finger, and I can't get it off!"

A reference to the song Gotta Boogie by "Weird Al" Yankovic.

  • "Ignatius P. Reilly had better hygiene than this guy."

Ignatius J. Reilly (Joel has the name slightly wrong) is the slovenly, neurotic central character in John Kennedy Toole's novel A Confederacy of Dunces.

  • "Hello, Roy!" "Hello, Siegfried!"

Siegfried & Roy were a well-know Las Vegas illusionist and animal act.

  • "Malcolm McDowell... in O Yucky Man!"

O Lucky Man! is a 1973 film starring McDowell.

  • "Weird creatures..."

Joel is quoting Groucho Marx's character Captain Spaulding from the movie Animal Crackers, from one of his "strange interlude" monologues.

  • "If you built it, they will come..."

From the movie Field of Dreams.

  • "He blowed up lame! He blowed up real lame."

A riff on "He blowed up real good," a recurring line from the SCTV sketch "Farm Film Report."

  • "Wherever there's a guy smooching a cop, I'll be there."

A riff on Henry Fonda's climactic monologue from The Grapes of Wrath.

Video releases

A home video release of this episode is not currently forthcoming. However, the host segments are available on the Satellite Dishes disc included in Volume XXXIX.