Mystery Science Theater 3000/Season Three

Season Three
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Season Premiere	June 1, 1991
Season Finale	January 25, 1992
Episode Count	24
Notable Episodes	3x21 - Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Previous Season Two	Next Season Four

Season Three of Mystery Science Theater 3000 premiered on June 1, 1991. This season reused nine movies that had been shown during Season Zero. During this season the first issue of The Satellite News, a newsletter for members of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Fan Club, was sent out. The show was also nominated for a Cable Ace award for best comedy, but lost to Dream On.

Best Brains Inc. and Comedy Central reached an agreement during this season to not reair Season One episodes. The crew felt that these older episodes were of a lesser quality and were somewhat embarrassed by them. These episodes also included characters that were no longer in the show and might confuse new viewers. During this season Comedy Central aired a 30-hour marathon of Mystery Science Theater 3000 during the Thanksgiving holiday. Best Brains produced numerous segments that aired in-between the episodes and chronicled the story of Dr. Forrester trying to take over the world while TV's Frank entertained dinner guests. The marathon would go on to become a Comedy Central tradition.

Many episodes in this season featured movies that were produced by Sandy Frank. Frank specialized in producing imported Japanese films like the Gamera series. Frank was so upset over the mocking of these films on Mystery Science Theater 3000 that he refused to renew the rights on the movies and allow Comedy Central to keep running them. Once the rights expired, Comedy Central would never air these episodes again.

Episodes

#	#	Title			Airdate
48	1	Cave Dwellers			June 1, 1991
49	2	Gamera			June 8, 1991
50	3	Pod People			June 15, 1991
51	4	Gamera vs. Barugon			June 22, 1991
52	5	Standed in Space			June 29, 1991
53	6	Time of the Apes			July 13, 1991
54	7	Daddy-O			July 20, 1991
55	8	Gamera vs. Gaos			July 27, 1991
56	9	The Amazing Colossal Man			August 3, 1991
57	10	Fugitive Alien			August 17, 1991
58	11	It Conquered the World			August 24, 1991
59	12	Gamera vs. Guiron			September 7, 1991
60	13	Earth vs. the Spider			September 14, 1991
61	14	Mighty Jack			September 21, 1991
62	15	Teenage Caveman			November 9, 1991
63	16	Gamera vs. Zigra			October 19, 1991
64	17	Viking Women vs. the Sea Serpent			October 26, 1991
65	18	Star Force: Fugitive Alien II			November 16, 1991
66	19	War of the Colossal Beast			November 30, 1991
67	20	The Unearthly			December 14, 1991
68	21	Santa Claus Conquers the Martians			December 21, 1991
69	22	Master Ninja I			January 11, 1992
70	23	The Castle of Fu-Manchu			January 18, 1992
71	24	Master Ninja II			January 25, 1992