Ask Slashdot: an Interview with Joel Hodgson

[emerson999]

Please don't make me choose a side, Joel, because Mike and co. are much more gracious and I do enjoy the RiffTrax style better, at least based on the first CT outing...

I've been a bit put off by what I perceive as some offputting attitude when questions like that come up as well. The whole reason I found this thread was from seeing the slashdot interview and finding myself a bit taken aback. However, I don't think there's ever much need for an all or nothing choice. Of the art that I really love, no matter what the medium, the general rule is that I won't like the actual personality of the person producing it. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised to find that's not the case, but even then it's somewhat tangential to the actual enjoyment of the end product.

[BathTub]

The thing is Joel didn't write the intro, Fnord did, I guess that wasn't clear to CmdrTaco.

[bettertomorrowamy]

The thing is Joel didn't write the intro, Fnord did, I guess that wasn't clear to CmdrTaco.

Maybe if you linked to where you're getting that info from it would help.

[BathTub]

Link to what? The IRC channel where Fnord said it? I got that from Fnord the CT webmaster.

[bettertomorrowamy]

Yes.  I'm sure you're right, and I read it.  But it doesn't seem to be penetrating anyone else.  Just quoting what you wrote doesn't seem to suffice.

[AmandaGal]

But it in bold, 30 point font Bath

I think it still looks kind of putzy, but not as bad   He replied to it like it was written by slashdot, regardless, unless Fnord also invited him to the slashdot interview, "Whoa! Thanks for that Intro and thanks for inviting me to be interviewed here on Slashdot."

You would hardly be surprised that your PR person, more or less, gave you a nice intro.

Just saying . . . I thought it was funny.  If he had done it intentionally, it would have been even funnier.  "Why thank you Joel! You flatter me." etc.

[Isaac S.]

Yeah, nonetheless, it still comes off poorly.

For the record, I'm not choosing sides, but I just think the RiffTrax crew has shown infinitely more class thus far.  Perhaps Joel will reverse that in time.  In a misguided attempt to promote his own product, he has utterly ignored the "competition" and it's giving the wrong impression.  MSTies like both Joel and Mike, for the most part.  Silence is being perceived as coolness on Joel's part toward Mike, and I hope that's not the case.  I don't think it is, but it'd be nice if he'd say a single nice thing about Mike just to prove it.  It just makes him look like a little bit of a douche (and, by all accounts, Joel isn't a douche).  I don't think there is a rift between the two camps, but not answering questions about RiffTrax doesn't help that perception.

Making yourself look like a jerk, intentionally or not, is never a good business practice.  I happen to be really attached to RiffTrax and if Joel could just stop congratulating the "original cast of MST3K" and raving about the quality of his own product for five seconds, long enough to say, "Hey, I'm proud of Mike and I wish him the best," it would make me feel a lot better.

[Bob]

Making yourself look like a jerk, intentionally or not, is never a good business practice.  I happen to be really attached to RiffTrax and if Joel could just stop congratulating the "original cast of MST3K" and raving about the quality of his own product for five seconds, long enough to say, "Hey, I'm proud of Mike and I wish him the best," it would make me feel a lot better.

While it is true, the whole "original cast of MST3K" comments leave me a bit cold too.   

[bettertomorrowamy]

I have to agree that that does come off as petty, and it can be taken only one way.

[darkside]

Mike's professional wrestling comment was the smart way to handle the situation.  He come off with a pretty good line without really saying anything about the situation, but still gives the impression he has no issue with CT.  Reading the message boards here and at the CT site it seems like Joel's attitude is starting to rub the fans the wrong way.  Joel really don't want to turn this into a situation where people start choosing sides.  That will be very bad for CT.  Many people may have like Joel over Mike as host of MST3K, but I don't think he will win that contest if it is Rifftrax vs CT.

He needs the Rifftrax fans to buy CT DVDs and they best way to do that is to acknowledge the competition in a positive way and leave it at that.  He doesn't have to write a long essay about Rifftrax, but a simple acknowledgment would be fine.  Don't alienate an already small fanbase Joel.

[MartyS (Gromit)]

He needs the Rifftrax fans to buy CT DVDs and they best way to do that is to acknowledge the competition in a positive way and leave it at that.  He doesn't have to write a long essay about Rifftrax, but a simple acknowledgment would be fine.  Don't alienate an already small fanbase Joel.

That's certainly true, not good for business to possibly alienate a large chunk of your consumer base, but I don't think Joel could ever be accused of being a great businessman...

The "original cast" bit bugs me as well, Kevin was there from the KTMA days so they are missing one "original" member. 

Edit:  I guess if they say "cast" they don't have to include Kevin since I don't think he was ever on screen at the very beginning, but hey, Mary Jo and Frank didn't join until later so they can't be called "original".   Guess I'm beeing too picky, there's probably people that get bugged by Mike being called "the riffmaster".

[ZakPowBoomZoomWhiz]

Like all of you, I am merely a fan who conjectures for shiz'n'giggles.  Thus, take this for what it's worth...  (very little)

To attempt to understand any reluctance Joel may have to discuss Mike, we have to look at what we now know about the MST3K upheaval.  Joel was fighting with Jim Mallon, and was, essentially, forced out.  Who replaced Joel as host?  Mike.

Did Mallon have a replacement in mind when he became contentious with Joel?  If he did, Mike was a logical choice.  He was immediately at hand, and he knew the drill because he was head writer.  Is it possible Mallon and Mike had an agreement, in advance, to cover eventualities?  If so, might Mike have tacitly supported the removal of Joel?  Even if not explicitly stated, this would have been evident to the parties involved.  Mike's installation as the new host, no matter what eventually happened with MST3K, would increase his visibility as an entertainer.  Celebrity is hard-won, and entertainment is a vicious field of endeavor, even small-time entertainment.  Mike stood to gain.  If he had been friends with Joel, Mike's move from head-writer to star could have been construed as fierce disloyalty, back-stabbing, even.

This might explain a rift between the two MST3K hosts. 

Joel has always traveled in a bigger, faster crowd, when he so chooses, than most of his Minnesota partners.  He has repeatedly proven that he can voluntarily segue between small-town life and LA showbiz, an ability which is enviable and rare.  His talent is enormous, but with great talent can come great 'tude.  His shunning of the Rifftrax crew is no surprise if you've followed his audio and video interviews.  Even though he was not originally an LA native, Joel seems made for that place.  He has the passive-aggressive, supersnotty derision thing down.  He pointlessly wielded this snottiness againt Terry Gross of FRESH AIR and he uses it now regarding Mike's efforts.  He's funny, and inventive, a proven comedy giant, and possible pettily vindictive - which he may feel is justified in Mike's case.

Mike was the bedrock of MST3K, and is perhaps the most solid riffer currently working.  But, he may be unpleasantly opportunistic.  Trace and Frank left the show as soon as decently possible after Joel left.  It had to be an uncomfortable situation, if indeed Mike was a passive instrument in Joel's cruel removal.

Whenever I have personally observed a situation involving opposing parties, it became apparent that everyone is the bad guy.  I think that may be the case here.

Or not.

Whatever, I enjoy both Rifftrax and CineTit.  So far, I like Rifftrax better, but CineTit may improve.  Rifftrax is grossly inconvenient, and CineTit is grossly expensive, so they're kid of even as a consumer experience: fun but difficult fringe products for the esoteric taste.

[MartyS (Gromit)]

Whatever, I enjoy both Rifftrax and CineTit.  So far, I like Rifftrax better, but CineTit may improve.  Rifftrax is grossly inconvenient, and CineTit is grossly expensive, so they're kid of even as a consumer experience: fun but difficult fringe products for the esoteric taste.

Yea, RiffTrax makes you work for your riffs, CT makes you pay for them.   

Everything you said about Joel also fits with someone that would get bored and want to either make big changes or move on, Mallon didn't want to make big changes so Joel moved on.  If we get 6 years of CT that would be great, maybe more since he can change things all he wants now that he's running his own show.  My guess is we'll get 4 to 6 a year, that will not be too expensive...

[SaucyRossy]

Let's drop this whole Joel hates Mike things.

I personally don't believe that at all and just because he did not answer the question about Rifftrax in no way means he hates/is angry at the RT crew.

[ChrisHanel]

My interest in this article has nothing to do with believing it to be evidence that Joel hates Rifftrax. I just find it amusing that CmdrTaco seemed to go out of his way to make Joel look silly.