EXPERIMENTATION..........

[MrTorso]

I loved the invention exchange!  But I'm still more of a (Sci Fi era) Mike guy myself.  More on topic, though, I don't know about the RiffLabz thing so far.  I mean, it's kinda cool, but I'm not thrilled yet.  I'm waiting to see where it goes.  Honestly, if we're gonna have something visual, I'd rather just have video of the real, live Mike Nelson.  Actually, a comment someone else made earlier made me think.  It'd be super cool to have video introductions to the movie rather than (or supplemental to -- perhaps even for a little extra, say 99 cents?) the audio intros.  I'd love to get something like that on my re-authored DVDs!

Right there with you!

[leeving]

I loved the invention exchange!  But I'm still more of a (Sci Fi era) Mike guy myself.  More on topic, though, I don't know about the RiffLabz thing so far.  I mean, it's kinda cool, but I'm not thrilled yet.  I'm waiting to see where it goes.  Honestly, if we're gonna have something visual, I'd rather just have video of the real, live Mike Nelson.  Actually, a comment someone else made earlier made me think.  It'd be super cool to have video introductions to the movie rather than (or supplemental to -- perhaps even for a little extra, say 99 cents?) the audio intros.  I'd love to get something like that on my re-authored DVDs!

Right there with you!

i'd buy that for a dollar.

[onex]

I loved the invention exchange!  But I'm still more of a (Sci Fi era) Mike guy myself.  More on topic, though, I don't know about the RiffLabz thing so far.  I mean, it's kinda cool, but I'm not thrilled yet.  I'm waiting to see where it goes.  Honestly, if we're gonna have something visual, I'd rather just have video of the real, live Mike Nelson.  Actually, a comment someone else made earlier made me think.  It'd be super cool to have video introductions to the movie rather than (or supplemental to -- perhaps even for a little extra, say 99 cents?) the audio intros.  I'd love to get something like that on my re-authored DVDs!

Right there with you!

i'd buy that for a dollar.

Thirded. Given that the intro was of some length.

[Minnesota]

*lets play jack my price up!*

[LadyKenobi]

Just out of curiosity, what WAS the purpose of the invention exchange?

I have read an interview with Joel which states that at Gizmonics Institute, it was a form of greeting.  The off-screen reason, I think, was that in the very early days, they were using stuff from Joel's act.  He was a prop comic.

/knows WAY too much about this

[gbeenie]

Just out of curiosity, what WAS the purpose of the invention exchange?

Watch some of Joel's mid-80's stand-up stuff, and you'll understand.

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

ive seen some of it (not a big fan of prop comics usually)  i meant what was the point on the show, i mean did the mads have a bet with joel on who could make the better one or something?  or was there no plot contrivance for it and it was just joel doing his own brand of humor?

[Minnesota]

It shows the fact that Joel was smart enough to create robots for one ^^^

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

good point,  the best one ive ever heard given in its defense 

[BEERxTaco]

I have no preference between Mike and Joel as far as riffing, they're both great at it, but I definitely preferred the old host segments (Dr. F & Frank) to the Sci-Fi ones. The whole Pearl/Bobo/Observer thing just seemed so contrived. I guess because it was an ongoing thing, like a story arc. I prefer the one-off episodes. I understand it was born out of necessity due to personnel and network changes, but I liked the simplicity of the old style. Just my opinion of course...

[SmilinJackRoss]

I always thought that the invention exchange was Dr. F's way of analyzing how Joel was holding up to the pressures of watching all the bad movies.  I mean, the whole point was the Mad scientist wanted to find the worst movie ever made so he could rule the world, right?  And in order to test how things were going, he would test Joel's mental capacities as the "study" went on.  I just assumed all this, I didn't read it anywhere.

[6079SmithW]

I thought the inventions were mostly just another in a long series of pointless things the Mads would make Joel do. The reason they sent inventions back? They're mad.

Just repeat to yourself, it's just a show.

[SecretAgentSuperDragon]

You should really just relax. 

Did someone say, "snaction"?

[LadyKenobi]

i meant what was the point on the show

As I mentioned-- form of greeting.  It was how you said hello at Gizmonics.  Protocol.

[Pak-Man]

I seem to remember reading somewhere on mst3k.com (I think in the FAQ) that the invention exchange was supposed to be a sort of scientist-to-scientist how-do-you-do at Gizmonic Institute.