Mystery Science Theater 3000 Team RiffTrax Gets New Streaming Deal
After 18 years, the comedic geniuses behind RiffTrax have landed a deal with a streaming company that will optimize its distribution and paves the way for new content to hit the streamer app Nebula. The agreement that was struck with Mystery Science Theater 3000 alumni and the streaming service will see the existing views RiffTrax has brought to fans over the years and will debut on the service with five new shorts. This will be followed by the RiffTrax version of the horror classic Night of the Living Dead, complete with the cheeky and off-the-wall commentary brought to fans by the RiffTrax performers.
The Original MST3K Crew
For those who might not be familiar with the RiffTrax style coming to streaming, the company works to bring older films and television shows and news reels to audiences with a twist. Much like Mystery Science Theater 3000, RiffTrax has its performers give hilarious commentary during the airing of whatever production they are “riffing,” often making jabs at the acting, sets, and cinematography while weaving in bizarre conversations between the RiffTrax performers.
A Natural Partnership
The news has the heads of both Nebula and RiffTrax buzzing to the media. The streaming service’s CEO, Dave Wiskus, stated that the company is “thrilled about this latest collaboration,” and commented that the folks behind RiffTrax were “pioneers” in both comedy and in digital entertainment. RiffTrax president and head writer Michael J. Nelson, who was also one of the minds behind Mystery Science Theater 3000, talked of his company’s excitement about being a part of a Nebula’s creator-driven platform.
Nelson wasted no time pointing out the irony that, after decades of making fun of cheap science fiction films with the words “space” or “galaxy” in their titles, that it’s only a “natural partnership” to be collaborating with a company named Nebula.
Putting The Fan’s First
RiffTrax has a history that goes back to the days shortly after the cancellation of the cult series Mystery Science Theater 3000 in the early 2000s. Done in the same vein as MST3K, these performances go beyond their predecessor at times and have allowed fans’ to record and upload their own streaming commentaries to the RiffTrax website.
Hit Their Stride With Live Shows
The body of work that RiffTrax has given streaming fans is voluminous, to say the least. As of last month, the company has released more than 550 feature films, nearly 500 film shorts, and 16 different television episodes. The brains behind the company also funds and produces several live shows each year, beginning in 2009 with the Ed Wood cult-classic film Plan 9 from Outer Space. The company features shows across all genres, but many on their list of hits are from the science fiction genre.
The Amazing Lineup Of Riffs
The success of this first live show spawned many others in the years that followed, and fans got to see a litany of special guests give their own commentary. The second live performance featured Weird Al Yankovic during RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-Stravaganza.
Subsequent RiffTrax: Live shows have included Reefer Madness, Carnival of Souls, Samurai Cop, Miami Connection, Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes, and The Return of the Swamp Thing. Guest stars over the years have included Bridget Nelson, Frank Conniff, and Paul F. Tompkins. Every Rifftrax performance will soon be available on the Nebula streaming service.
Sources: Variety
