Charles Nelson Reilly, Dead at 76

Comedic actor Charles Nelson Reilly passed away, this past Sunday. He died due to complications from pneumonia. Reilly was, of course, fairly well-known for his role in the sitcom The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and especially for his appearances as a panelist on The Match Game. He remained active in recent years, via TV guest appearances and stage work.

How is this relevant to MSTies? Trace Beaulieu’s Crow T. Robot would often mimic Reilly, during the Comedy Central episodes. The references would usually consist of Crow, or someone else, giving a flamboyant laugh followed by a, “Oh, Mrs. Muir!” The reference would generally be made due to a movie character wearing Reilly’s trademark thick-rim glasses, most notably Wilbur the gay angel from Once Upon a Honeymoon.

[AP Obituary]

Meat Is Still Murder, Apparently

It’s Morrissey‘s 48th birthday, today. You all know what that means:

R.I.P. Bart Fargo

Some sad news in the MST3K extended universe: actor Gordon Scott has passed away, due to complications from heart surgery. MSTies know Gordon as the infamous superspy Bart Fargo, from episode 620, Danger!! Death Ray. Scott first made a name for himself as Tarzan in six films, starting in the ’50s. After that, he starred in a number of “sword and sandal” epics, often as characters that MSTies will be familiar with – Hercules and Maciste (“My Cheesesteak”).

Sympathies go out to his loved ones. Death Ray is available here. Watch it in his memory, and just try saying “Bart Fargo” five times fast.

[LA Times obituary]

Ladies of MST3K #1: An Ode To Joy

Due to the fact that I am a hapless male MSTie, I like to take notice when one of the lovely ladies who has appeared in an episode of Mystery Science Theater is either in the news or has a birthday. Today, that honor goes to Joy Harmon.

Ms. Harmon turns 67 today, so congrats to her. In case the picture doesn’t jog your memory (or, uh, anything else), Joy portrayed the memorable “Merrie” in classic MST episode 523, Bert I.’s Village of the Giants. Cinema fans might better remember her for her infamous car-washing scene in Cool Hand Luke, or for just being really darn attractive.

These days, Joy is running her own Burbank-based cake bakery, Aunt Joy’s Cakes, and seems to be doing all right for herself. Here’s hoping you’re doing well, Ms. Harmon. A happy birthday to you!

Neil Patrick Harris

Mike has posted a new blog. It’s about the upcoming Neil Patrick Harris Rifftrax. Neil Patrick Harris is, apparently, a very nice man.

The Way of the Swayze

This isn’t really MST or Rifftrax news, but I believe it would do Mike proud. The Onion’s A.V. Club is running an article about the zen master of the Road House himself, Patrick Swayze. The piece is called “The Way of the Swayze: How to be a Thoughtful Hunk” and it pays tribute to Patrick’s manly manhood in all its grandeur, from Road House to Point Break to, um, Tall Tale. The article’s a fun read, though it’s a little hard to tell whether or not it’s delightfully overthought or frighteningly overthought. Since it’s The Onion, I’ll assume the former.

And while you’re there, read this. It’s important.

Our Wild Irish Ireland

This isn’t particularly news, but I find it personally important and necessary to point out that, on this fine 8th of March, our own, dear Kathy Ireland is turning 44. If you should happen to be scratching your heads about how exactly this constitutes MST3K news, then you’ve clearly forgotten Kathy’s Oscar-winning* performance as Wanda Saknussemm, in episode 516, Alien From L.A. You should be ashamed for forgetting.

Pop in a copy of Alien From L.A. (if you’ve got one) and toss back some Guinness (if you’re legal), and join me in saluting America’s finest model/actress/businesswoman named after a European country. Or just watch this.

*only not really