MST3K, the cult movie-riffing series that inspired a million bad movie fans, is returning soon via Netflix, but that's not even the biggest news the show has to offer. Two of the show's first three episodes, long thought to have been lost forever, have recently been recovered!
These episodes, which aired on KTMA in Minneapolis in November, 1988, have been missing for three decades at this point, so it's a matter of great rejoicing for many MST3K fans. Says series creator Joel Hodgson:
I actually thought we had discovered copies of these episodes at one point during the Kickstarter last year, and I was really excited that I’d be able to finally share them with you. And then it turned out that we hadn’t found them, and it was a real bummer. But then, earlier this year, a few final boxes turned up. And there they were: the very first episodes of MST3K ever made.
The episodes are currently available to people who donated to the MST3K Kickstarter at the level to earn "Classic MST3K Bonus Episodes." Presumably they will be released to the public at some point soon as well.
Here are the two movies covered on the resurrected episodes…
INVADERS FROM THE DEEP (1981):
When aquatic aliens plot to take over the planet, the world aquanaut security patrol are called in to battle the aliens.
REVENGE OF THE MYSTERONS FROM MARS (1981):
Captain Scarlet and friends battle the Mysterons from Mars.