I watched an MST3K bonus on a DVD that was discussed when the show moved to the Sci-fi Channel.
So it is time to start watching Season 8 of MST3K so I can watch the story arch the Sci-fi Channel made them create for their episodes. That's what I've been watching.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 on DVDs
Season 8
Episode 1 - Revenge of the Creature - Mike, Tom Servo, and Gypsy pop onto the Satellite of Love. Crow has been on the ship for 500 years. He remembers Tom and Gypsy, but who is this Mike? They find their way back to Earth and find it is a planet inhabited by Apes! They have fun with that. There is also lots of quips about how Crow has "changed." This was the season Bill Corbett took over the role, replacing Trace Beaulieu. We meet Professor Bobo, and learn that Pearl ended up on the planet. The apes call her call her The Law Giver.
Episode 2 - The Leech Woman - more ape business
Episode 3 - The Mole People - Pearl makes Bobo celebrate celebrate the 32nd annual Law Giver Daze, in honor of Pearl. She's mean to him.
Episode 4 - The Deadly Mantis - Bobo and another ape attempt to help the mutants fix their nuclear bomb. They are inept at basic repairs until Mike suggests using a couple tools. They activate the bomb, Pearl escapes, and Mike inadvertently destroys the first of many worlds. We find out Bobo escaped with Pearl.
Episode 5 - The Thing That Wouldn't Die - We meet The Observers, a race of people that hold their brains in bowls. In the background, we see Pearl fetching a bottle of beer.
Episode 6 - The Undead - The Observers give a test to Pearl and Bobo, as well as Gypsy, Crow, Mike, and Tom Servo. Bobo is trying to cheat off Pearl. Crow declares he pulled an "all nighter,' impressing Gypsy he studied for the test. Crow says he didn't study, he just stayed up all night. He promptly falls asleep. When everyone is done. Pearl declares she will not be tested. Crow got zero because his test was filled out in drool from sleeping. Mike got zero because earlier Tom hypnotized him and regressed him to his previous jobs. He realised he was more or less a loser, and answered all the questions with "Why?" Mike got zero. Gypsy scored 80%, better than any bots of her type. They point out she is the only bot of her type. Tom Servo only missed one question, scoring better than the Observer played by Bill Corbett. As a result, the Observers brain is placed in a enrichment chamber. Tom Servo is invited to become a new member of The Observers.
After Tom is unable to communicate through telepathy, Pearl points out he is hold an acorn in his bowl, not his brain.
Episode 7 - Terror from the Year 5000 - The Observers try to mind control Mike and the bots with no effect. Meanwhile, Pearl and Bobo are being made to fight to the death. The Observers have not kept it a secret that Pearl, Bobo, Mike, and the bots are going to end up on display.
I promise not to do this with the rest of the season. (I'm being a space hog.)
I know Observer (Bill Corbett) becomes known as Brain Guy and joins Pearl and Bobo as they chase Mike and the bots across the universe. I suspect Mike will somehow destroy the Observer's planet too.