Watching riffs makes me feel like I have company

[mkelley]

I was thinking about this this morning and thought I'd share, but I actually think a huge component in watching folks riff is the sense that you are with some friends even if you are all by yourself.

While as a rule my wife and I watch MST3K and Rifftrax (and, yes, when it was available even Cinema Titanic) together, but every now and then when she's at work or otherwise not at home I turn on a riff and it "feels" like I'm with people I know and care about.  I can't actually think of anything else I watch that is like this, although I suppose that's also why shows like "The View" and morning "news" shows where you get to know the hosts are so popular (they are just not anything I'd be interested in seeing).

Anyway, off to eat breakfast by myself (wife at work :>) and to turn on some Rifftrax shorts (my favorite, next to MST3K).  Thanks to Mike, Bill and Kevin for keeping me company <g>.

[Miku Fan]

As Joel said, "Hi, I'm Joel, and I'm stuck in space...and now I guess you are, too."  Or words to that effect.   It does feel like you are with friends, when watching.  Heck, we've all been with these guys for 25 years. :-)

[mkelley]

It's also a bit like the Dicken's classic "A Christmas Carol", where the narrator acts as if he is an old friend telling you a story.  I think it's been a secret to the success of all of these endeavors, and something that keeps it from being mean-spirited.  Like "We're all in this together, so let's do the best we can to get through it!".

And, as you said, we've been with these guys in various incarnations for a whole lot of years, a quarter of a century or more.  I'm still amazed and thankful most of them are still doing the riffs for us (although I do miss the bots, who seemed to have personalities far beyond even those operating them).