Jonah Ray, the third generation host of the show’s Netflix era and beyond, will intro a collection of 11 episodes of the series spanning various eras, including some that are rarely seen as part of these marathon viewings. Various guest hosts will then introduce some of their own favorite episodes, including David Dastmalchian, Mike Flanagan, Bryan Fuller, Mark Hamill, Matthew Lillard and Kumail Nanjiani, joined by series mainstays including Joel Hodgson, Felicia Day, Emily Marsh, and Mary Jo Pehl. The full schedule can be seen below, and includes some genuinely kooky selections, like Matthew Lillard hosting The Castle of Fu-Manchu, widely regarded as one of the worst/most painful films in MST3K history. Also notable is the return of fan-favorite, Rowsdower-starring The Final Sacrifice, which hasn’t been seen in streaming for years thanks to licensing issues. Personally, I think it will be very charming to see the likes of Mike Flanagan introducing Hobgoblins, or David Dastmalchian waxing poetic on the Mexican-produced mess that is Samson vs. The Vampire Women. We can’t expect much from these segments–probably just someone sitting on a couch, giving a 30-second address–but that’s still worthy of celebration, given that MST3K fans weren’t certain there would be any Turkey Day festivities at all in 2024. A true Mistie will always take what they can get.
The Turkey Day Potluck of the Stars will begin at 5 a.m. ET on Nov. 28, and proceed with the schedule listed below, which includes each episode’s guest host. Perhaps series creator Joel Hodgson will swing in at some point with some kind of update or hint at the show’s future, or potential avenues for producing new episodes? You never quite know with Turkey Day, given its status as the holiest day in the MST3K canon. Regardless, it will simply be nice to see some other Hollywood luminaries sharing their fondness for a series that has brought us so much good-natured joy over the years. Check out the 2024 Turkey Day Potluck of the Stars schedule below. All times are in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
5:00 AM: The Killer Shrews [Emily Marsh]
7:00 AM: Overdrawn at the Memory Bank [Kumail Nanjiani]
9:00 AM: Werewolf [Bryan Fuller]
11:00 AM: The Castle of Fu-Manchu [Matthew Lillard]
1:00 PM: Space Mutiny [Mary Jo Pehl]
3:00 PM: Hobgoblins [Mike Flanagan]
5:00 PM: Samson vs The Vampire Women [David Dastmalchian]
7:00 PM: Gamera vs Jiger [Mark Hamill]
9:00 PM: The Final Sacrifice [Joel Hodgson]
11:00 PM: Manos: The Hands of Fate [Felicia Day]
1:00 AM: The Mask [Jonah Ray]
