Loyal superfans of Mystery Science Theater 3000, take note: Another new destination for riffing from the classic MST3K cast has appeared on the web. Frank Conniff and Trace Beaulieu, known affectionately to MST3K geeks as “The Mads” (short for “mad scientists) have taken their show The Mads Are Back to the web, establishing a new YouTube channel that will host their future movie riffing endeavors. “Every second Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET,” Conniff and Beaulieu will be presenting ticketed livestreams on the site, with viewers free to tune in from around the world. Meanwhile, previous riffing projects from The Mads will be added to the YouTube account over time for free viewing.
Beaulieu and Conniff of course played lead antagonists Dr. Clayton Forrester and TV’s Frank respectively during the Joel Hodgson-fronted era of MST3K on Comedy Central, with Dr. F being the de facto reason the “experiment” existed in the first place. In the years since the end of the original series, both Conniff and Beaulieu have stayed busy with a variety of writing and riffing projects—Conniff wrote much of Invader Zim and has written extensively for political TV and radio, while Beaulieu has dabbled in a wide array of voice acting and comedy writing, from America’s Funniest Videos to Paul Feig’s Other Space. Still, the two have always been associated with one another, which led to their reunion as “The Mads.”
In terms of upcoming riffs, next up on the docket is 1953’s Phantom From Space the evening of Tuesday, March 9. The format should be familiar to anyone who has seen MST3K, Cinematic Titanic or Rifftrax, and the stream will be a ticketed $10 show, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the medical bills of MST3K artist Crist Ballas. It will be the first time that Beaulieu and Conniff have taken on this particular film.
Following each livestream, The Mads will also be conducting Q&A for viewers with “very special guests.” Previous guests for livestreams have included modern MST3K host Jonah Ray, along with comedians such as Dana Gould and Andy Kindler, or figures like Victoria Price, the daughter of horror legend Vincent Price.
Check out the short riff above, and cruise over to The Mads new YouTube channel for more. What do you think, sirs?