ICYMI: MST3K Kickstarts Revival

Note: this article is also posted on SciFi4Me.com.

In my prior article on the crowdfunded series Con Man, I wrote about how using such services as IndiGoGo and Kickstarter have paved the way for projects that would never see the light of day otherwise, and how it’s the power of fandom that usually drives the success of such endeavors.

This was once again proven to be fact when Joel Hodgson, the creator of Mystery Science Theater 3000, created a Kickstarter to bring the show back. They reached their first goal within a week, eventually raising over $5 million during the campaign, with over 48,000 backers, breaking the record previously held by the Veronica Mars movie.

In the final update to Kickstarter backers, Hodgson announced that the funds will make a full season of 14 episodes – including a holiday special. It will also have a whole new cast, including Jonah Ray, Felicia Day, and Patton Oswalt, among others. “As much as I love the old seasons, we’re not just trying to make an ‘MST3K reunion episode’,” Hodgson explains in one of the updates. However, the project got a shout out of support from RiffTrax on social media and the Kickstarter’s FAQ mentions that invites have been sent to original writers and actors to participate.

There’s no word as to when specifically the show will be released or on what platform: the Kickstarter just states ‘next year’, although reward backers are being given the digital downloads at the end of 2016.