Mystery Science Theater 3000/Mitchell

Mitchell
Season 5, Episode 12
Airdate	October 23, 1993
Production Number	512
Screenplay	Ian Kennedy Martin
Directed by	Andrew V. McLaglen
Production Companies	Allied Artists Pictures Corporation, Essex Enterprises
Episode Writer(s)	Michael J. Nelson
Episode Director(s)	Kevin Murphy
← 5x11 Gunslinger	5x13 → The Brain That Wouldn't Die
Mystery Science Theater 3000 — Season Five

Mitchell is the twelfth episode of the fifth season of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and the one hundred seventh episode overall.

Guest Stars:

Plot Overview

The Movie

Mitchell is an action movie about an overweight detective out to bust big time drug dealers. It was released in 1975 and heavily borrows from other cop movies like Dirty Harry. It stars Joe Don Baker, an actor well-known for playing southern characters with a mean streak. Linda Evans plays his love interest - a prostitute hired by a rich man in an attempt to get Mitchell off of his case. Even though he shares many dirty nights with her in his apartment, Mitchell never hesitates to haul her in for possession or other offenses. In the end, Mitchell chases the drug dealers down and shoots them as they attempt to flee the country by boat.

The Host Segments

• Opening Segment - Joel builds a replica model of Montecello out of toothpicks. He leaves the model unattended and it quickly fetches the interest of the bots.
• Segment One - Joel returns to find the model ruined. He admits that he built it just to have the bots destroy it because he knew they would have fun doing so. This takes the magic out of the act of destruction for the both of them. The mad scientists are being audited and need help cleaning up, so they hire a temp by the name of Mike Nelson.
• Segment Two - Joel and the bots go exploring areas of the ship that they've never been to. Dr. Clayton Forrester and TV's Frank discuss their mutual hatred of Mike Nelson and plot to kill him. Gypsy overhears this conversation and mistakenly believes the two are talking about Joel.
• Segment Three - Gypsy frantically searches for a way to get Joel off of the ship before he can be killed by the mads. Joel insists that he doesn't want to go and is in no real danger.
• Segment Four - Gypsy continues to search for a way to get Joel off the ship. She talks to Mike Nelson and gets him to find the schematics to the Satellite of Love. Mike informs her of a hidden escape pod present on the ship.
• Closing Segment - Gypsy forces Joel into the escape pod hidden in a box of hamdingers. As he flies back down to Earth, Joel contacts the ship and presents his robot friends with a ceremonial plaque and his favorite movie quote. The mads, unable to stop Joel's escape and in need of a new victim, prepare to send Mike up to the ship.

Notes

This is the final episode as host for Joel Hodgson. Joel hosted from the show's very first episode up to this one. Joel became bored with the show once it was well established and wanted to move on to try new and more innovative projects on television. Michael J. Nelson, who took over as host, would remain with the show until its final episode.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

Characters

Referbacks

Trivia

The Show

Behind the Scenes

Joe Don Baker was supposedly so upset over the riffing of Mitchell and himself in this episode that he vowed to punch any of the show's cast members if he ever met them. This threat did not deter the cast from ridiculing another Joe Don Baker movie in a later season (10x08 - Final Justice).

Allusions and References

Memorable Moments

Quotes

• Tom Servo: Who’s the puffy guy who’s a big blurry sex machine? –Mitchell! –That Mitchell is one fat … --Shut your mouth! –I’m just talking about Mitchell.
• Crow: Well, ol’ Mitchell sure got himself hogtied and railroaded there.
• Crow: Word on the street is you're a jerk.
• Joel: This makes Driving Miss Daisy look like Bullitt.
• Joel: Mitchell... Even his name says, 'Is that a beer?'
• All: MITCHELL!