Transcripts - America Online June 15, 1995 OnlineHost: What's funny about a guy trapped on a satellite, forced to watch terrible movies, with only a few jerry-rigged robots for company? Plenty, since we're talking about Mystery Science Theater 3000. Our guests are Mike Nelson and Trace Beaulieu, better known as Mike Nelson and Crow/Dr. Forrester from the hit show. Starting in 5 minutes! Welcome to ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY Online's Center Stage. Our guests tonight are Mike Nelson and Trace Beaulieu, writers and stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000. They'll be taking your questions about the show, their plans for the coming season, and how you really pronounce Trace's last name. Let's get Trace up here on stage... MikeTRose: Welcome, Trace! Glad to have you with us tonight Mike is delayed but may be along shortly. TJBeaulieu: Thank you glad to here/ther. MikeTRose: Let's get a question from the audience... Here's an interesting starter. Question: Do you ever watch the show? TJBeaulieu: Yes I do. MikeTRose: Here's a question about future work with BBI... Question: Mike & Trace, Will you work on the new shows proposed by BBI? If so, how will that effect your performance on MST3K? TJBeaulieu: Hopefullyt we will be cloned MikeTRose: now that's a truly scary thought. TJBeaulieu: NOt really I look goood in a test tube MikeTRose: Yee-ikes! Movie questions galore... Question: Will the movie be released nation wide?, I live in a two horse town and really want to see it! TJBeaulieu: Yes the movie will be released to all town with at least one or more horses. MikeTRose: That settles that. OnlineHost: For those of you just joining us, this is ENTER- TAINMENT WEEKLY Online's Center Stage. Our guests tonight are Mystery Science Theater 3000's Mike Nelson and Trace Beaulieu. Your host tonight is Michael Rose of ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Michael will be selecting questions for Mike and Trace from your submissions via the "Interact With Host" option. MikeTRose: Here's a question about props (right up your alley) Question: You literally thrash your robots sometimes on the show, do you have more than one puppet or robot? TJBeaulieu: Yes. there are several of each character MikeTRose: Are you still making them yourself, or is there a crew for each 'bot? (I mean, you personally) TJBeaulieu: We sometimes let others touch them but it is a very personal thing MikeTRose: eww... robot cooties. TJBeaulieu: Rivets MikeTRose: eech. TJBeaulieu: I know Comment: What do you see in the "not too distant future" for MST3K? -- Mallory Lubofsky TJBeaulieu: I se, I see, I see, book and a cd rom and a movie of course oh, MikeTRose: Those are all good things. TJBeaulieu: and a pair of socks MikeTRose: oh? oh. I've been informed...that Mike will not be able to join us tonight due to an emergency. (sigh!) HOWEVER! TJBeaulieu: Hey! What's the big idea? MikeTRose: I'm sorry, Trace, no slight intended. We love you too. TJBeaulieu: No I mean I wanted to talk to Mike MikeTRose: We ALL wanted to talk to Mike. You talk to him all the time anyway. Fan friend Julie Walker of Best Brains is filling in for the absent Mr. Nelson! Here she is. TJBeaulieu: She's super neat Juliewa: hi everyone. i'm afraid i won't be funny.... trace will have to do double duty on funny stuff. MikeTRose: No shame in that. TJBeaulieu: And she won't capitalize MikeTRose: I thought that was her job -- capitalization. anyway... Question: Hi Mike and Trace. First off, Thank You and Congratulations for your excellent program. We were wondering how do Trace and Kevin keep the same roles fresh and interesting to them, and have you thought about a travelling convention? Ben TJBeaulieu: We keep our rolls freshj in plastic bags and we have thought of a convention MikeTRose: You in fact have conventions. TJBeaulieu: but that is the distant future yes we have a con in 96 labor day weeeeeeeek end Juliewa: and it won't travel. join us..... MikeTRose: where? where? TJBeaulieu: Mppls Minneapolis Here MikeTRose: Ah, the scenic twin city. Trace, here's a query about your character voices... TJBeaulieu: The good twin city Question: Mr. Beaulieu do you find the voice you use for Dr. Forrester and Crow melding like Jim Henson's voice melded with Kermit? TJBeaulieu: Yes sometimes It was hard to do the show where fForrester did crow and crow did forresters voice i had to sit down after that MikeTRose: I loved that bit. Must have made you dizzy, tho. TJBeaulieu: Dizzy yes MikeTRose: Here's a casting question... TJBeaulieu: ?shoot MikeTRose: from Mr. Kelvington of Bedford OH Question: Will you folks be auditioning for a replacement for TV's Frank anytime soon? If so, can I try out? TJBeaulieu: We don't quite...know what we are going to do with the Frank issue. Juliewa: we are not auditioning outside people though. sorry. MikeTRose: Oh, drat. TJBeaulieu: Don't believe her Juliewa: outside of bbi i mean. TJBeaulieu: Sorry Julie just kidding MikeTRose: I think we've all dreamed of being Frank. TJBeaulieu: i know i have MikeTRose: I've always been curious about this question -- I think they mean the show with the "Frank Song." Question: When Frank left the first time, did you guys deliberately schedule that episode after Frank Zappa died? TJBeaulieu: No that was devine intervention. MikeTRose: You're kidding. That was a coincidence? TJBeaulieu: We love Zappa and we wanted to do something special. iot just happened that way. MikeTRose: There wasn't a dry eye in the audience during the credits. Wow. Here's a bite of esoterica. Question: Answer a question that has been plagueing MSTies for years: Episode 104 is apparently out of order...you announce the winners of a constest--and you announce the contest in a LATER episode. Why is that episode out order, or do you even remember? :) TJBeaulieu: I think this had to do with delivery of the episodes to us 104 was very hard to work on I think we had to get a 6-pack of mickies big mouths to finis h 4done MikeTRose: ooh, you had to buy BEER. Well, we knew this would come up... Question: Trace, how do you pronounce your last name? TJBeaulieu: Hey I'm no Johnny Numatic! MikeTRose: And equally important -- how do you pronounce it in cyberspace? TJBeaulieu: BOwl-You BBBeeeeeZeeeloooas weeet MikeTRose: Like "At the lanes, I'll Bowl You?" TJBeaulieu: oui MikeTRose: tres informative. Question: Hi Trace & Mike! Here's my query: when you're taping the episode, are you seeing the silhouette of yourselves superimposed onto the movie, or just the movie? How do you synchronize your movements if you "interact" with onscreen characters/objects? TJBeaulieu: Ya whatever. We see ourselves on a monitor the images a matched electronicly. are MikeTRose: Musical question here... Question: What instruments do you all play? What instrument(s) did Joel play? TJBeaulieu: Mike plays the piano and guitar and other stuff. Kevin plays the mandolin and piano Julie, do you play an instrument? Paul has a collection of guitars Juliewa: i play piano badly. TJBeaulieu: I play the radio Juliewa: i also like to sing badly. MikeTRose: One for the live show fans... Question: Trace, I loved your grand entrance at the live show. I was wondering if you all will be doing another live show at the con next year? TJBeaulieu: We are not sure yet. However I still wear the cape. Juliewa: he looks fabulous too! MikeTRose: All the time, or just for special occasions? TJBeaulieu: in the cape MikeTRose: A far-flung MSTie asks... Question: (I'm in Italy - really - and it's 3 am.) Any chance of the MST movie coming over here? Juliewa: not likely in the near future. the bbc has inquired about us but that's as far as it's gone. TJBeaulieu: I love Italy can I come and visit? MikeTRose: Only if you bring the movie with you. More name questions. Question: Hey Trace, doesen't your name mean "Beautiful Place" in French? TJBeaulieu: Yes it means beautiful place MikeTRose: Male bonding? Rommel wants to know... Question: Is Deep 13 lonely without Frank??? TJBeaulieu: Well deep 13 is folded up agains a wall right now MikeTRose: Hmmm. TJBeaulieu: but it will be lonely when we start shooting again. MikeTRose: Movie question again... Question: Trace, how did the filming of the movie go? TJBeaulieu: The movie was a blast we had more fun than Jodie Foster and Mel had on their movie. Juliewa: we played a lot of doom TJBeaulieu: Mike mostly won. MikeTRose: that's hollywood for you there, folks. MikeTRose: MST3K mechanics question... Question: For Trace: Do find it hard both operate Crow (in character), watch your script, and watch the screen for the timecode all at the same time? TJBeaulieu: After over 100 and some shows, I'm getting the hang of it. I can't chew gum however. MikeTRose: A question here that I don't think is in the FAQ, from Bird42 in Washington State Question: How did you name the bots? TJBeaulieu: Joel named them. Servo is named servo because he has servos in him Crow looks crowish Cambot is obvious. And Gypsy, well what else would you call her? MikeTRose: Let me preface this question with an "if any..." Question: Which one of the Brains plays golf? TJBeaulieu: Only some of us play and we are not sure who. MikeTRose: For those who plan to produce the next big thing in the garage... Question: What's the average budget for a show? Juliewa: $85,000 TJBeaulieu: Really? Juliewa: that's for one episode. most of that is to pay trace of course. TJBeaulieu: Well how come I only get 25.oo MikeTRose: Union rules. Juliewa: whoops....i let the cat out of the bag! MikeTRose: Too bad Kevin's not here for this question... Question: Will Servo ever get to sing more classical pieces from say an operetta? TJBeaulieu: I'm sure he will. MikeTRose: A lot of folks want to know what your favorite episodes are... Julie, you too. TJBeaulieu: Manos Starfighters Juliewa: mine is manos and teenage strangler. MikeTRose: Trace, your Torgo impression still gives me shivers. TJBeaulieu: San Fran international to name a few. MikeTRose: "Smoke on the weirdo..." Juliewa: that's mike not trace! TJBeaulieu: You mean mike? MikeTRose: Oops. Not the physical impression. the voice. TJBeaulieu: When did I do that? MikeTRose: during the movie? or am I imagining it? Didn't you all do lines in Torgo's voice? Juliewa: mike, you are so high! kidding..... TJBeaulieu: Oh well sure I guess, Doooodly dooodly.. MikeTRose: I'm so ashamed... TJBeaulieu: Don't worry I work a puppet for a living MikeTRose: back to the questions... Question: Do your arms ever fall asleep? TJBeaulieu: My feert fall asleep Feet feet MikeTRose: I hate when that happens. Juliewa: he's an excellent typist...an excellent typist. TJBeaulieu: Thanp yood MikeTRose: Heh! Everyone wants to know... Question: So, we can count on there _being_ a Season 7, or no? TJBeaulieu: Yes ther WILL be a Season & Soory 7 Juliewa: probably only 6 episodes though. TJBeaulieu: Hey it's 3am in Italy MikeTRose: and do you know when it will air? roughly? TJBeaulieu: No Juliewa: we haven't even finished the deal yet. still negotiating. MikeTRose: Here's a puzzler... Question: What's the *most* obscure reference you ever used in a show? TJBeaulieu: We made a ref. to Mike's keeyboard that an old girlfreind stole MikeTRose: That's pretty obscure. TJBeaulieu: Not to Mike MikeTRose: I myself liked the ref to Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" in "Rocketship X-M." TJBeaulieu: Yes, Rock On! Juliewa: we get a lot of fan mail about that reference. MikeTRose: I liked it 'cause I was in the play once. Everyone else in the room said "Huh?" and I was laughing madly. TJBeaulieu: Did ya get stoned. HA HA HA MikeTRose: No, although that's a whole other topic. The premise of this question may be flawed... Question: I understand that Frank Conniff used to pick the movies. Who will do the honors now that he's gone? Juliewa: mary jo and paul are choooisng the films now. aren't they the lucky ones? MikeTRose: This may get us in trouble with Sen. Exon, but you only live once... Question: How come the bots don't yell "Dickweed!" anymore? Juliewa: remember, dickweek isn't a dirty word. TJBeaulieu: They still do but now they say it in such a high register that only dogs can hear it. MikeTRose: A wounded fan asks... Question: Are you REALLy only gonna do six episodes next season? You're killing us!!!! TJBeaulieu: Yes. But hey WE're makin a movie! Juliewa: kevin! MikeTRose: A special guest -- Kevin Murphy is here! Tskwm: where? MikeTRose: well, nowhere really. Sorry that took so long! Tskwm: Hi. I'm cookin dinner and i thought I'd drop in. MikeTRose: Welcome, Kevin. OnlineHost: Be sure to pass your questions up to the stage by using the "Interact With Host" option in the Coliseum window. Your conversations within your chat row are private and cannot be "overheard" from the stage. Tskwm: Welcome, Mike TRose, who is actually Charlie Rose! MikeTRose: Nope, no relation. What's cooking? Tskwm: Tandoori. Want some? MikeTRose: yum. Juliewa: kevin, a fan asked earlier if servo will get to sing any more classical pieces. maybe you can answer now that you're here. Tskwm: Servo plans to do La traviata at the met this season. Servo has been studying the work of Samuel Barber... But he keeps eating the cd's. Question: Trace, who does your hair? Tskwm: hello trace! TJBeaulieu: Mike, with a nerf ball. MikeTRose: One more question here -- we have other people waiting to use the auditorium! TJBeaulieu: Hello kevin Tskwm: Trace, why does Mike Nelson cheat at Doom? TJBeaulieu: He's lonely Question: In your opion what was the worst movie you guys have done on MST3K? TJBeaulieu: Red zone cuba Tskwm: Red Zone Cuba! Juliewa: red zone cuba MikeTRose: A clear agreement. Tskwm: it's anonymous MikeTRose: Well, we actually have to wrap up! So sorry -- we were having a lot of fun. Juliewa: sorry mike couldn't be here everyone! OnlineHost: Thanks for joining us tonight in ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY Online's Center Stage. Our guests have been Mike Nelson and Trace Beaulieu from Mystery Science Theater 3000. You can visit EW Online via keyword 'EW' at anytime; feel free to join in the ongoing discussions about the entertainment industry and your favorite movies, shows, albums, and books. Thanks for stopping by! Tskwm: thanks for letting me barge in. TJBeaulieu: Hello and goodbye to all our pals! Juliewa: i know i was a poor substitute! MikeTRose: Our pleasure, folks. Tskwm: at least you don't cheat at doom. OnlineHost: Copyright 1995 Entertainment Weekly Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. "Entertainment Weekly" is a registered trademark of Entertainment Weekly Inc.