They giggle and laugh, as they watch Project Popcorn

January 28, 2011 9:07 AM

And now, the Russian version of Mystery Science Theater 3000: Project Popcorn

Let's join Stephen and his trusty pals Fidel and Ketchup as they watch terrible movies as part of an experiment conducted by Professor Zamishlavkin.

Everyone sign along!

In a science institute, there’s an experiment,
They’re testing the effect of movie reels on people.
How will consciousness be affected by a movie.
Of questionable quality and made long ago
A nice guy, Stephen is in need of some money
He got a job as a test subject, threw caution to the wind
He didn’t know that the process is supervised by
Professor Zamishlavkin, a bad guy [something]
Stephen watches movies, he’s now imprisoned
If it’s wasn’t for his friends, he’d be miserable
Mutants, saboteurs: a dog and a penguin
Rescue his psychie and watch along with him
:::Fidel::: [penguin's name]
:::Ketchup::: [dog's name]
:::the greatest achievement of national defense!:::
When the friends are all together, they don’t fear the bad guy
They make comments on everything, so that it’s more fun
In the face of scientific theories,
They giggle and laugh, as they watch Project Popcorn

posted by Servo5678 (25 comments total)

O.O

If you're wondering how he eats and breathes
In the face of scientific theories
Then repeat to yourself "It's time to giggle and laugh
And praise the greatest achievement of national defense!"
posted by AugieAugustus at 9:13 AM on January 28, 2011 [2 favorites]

It's all fun and games until Stephen accidentally makes a Stalin joke. He's replaced by Mikhail, but mysteriously never comes back for a cameo.
posted by theredpen at 9:23 AM on January 28, 2011 [5 favorites]

Of course, if they stay consistent with the practices of the old Soviet Era, they'll claim they came up with it first...

(Obligatory) In Russia, Satellite Loves YOU!
In Russia, Movie Signs YOU!
In Russia, 3000 Theaters Science Mystery YOU!
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:23 AM on January 28, 2011

In Soviet Russia, bad movie heckles YOU!
posted by briank at 9:23 AM on January 28, 2011 [2 favorites]

I love the fact that is has an "FBI Warning" (labeled as such) written in Russian.
posted by DU at 9:26 AM on January 28, 2011 [2 favorites]

I wonder if Sorri Andropoli knew Stephen.
posted by cog_nate at 9:30 AM on January 28, 2011

One more comment like that, Fidel, and you're going in the Gulag.
posted by Wolfdog at 9:30 AM on January 28, 2011

It's all fun and games until Stephen accidentally makes a Stalin joke. He's replaced by Mikhail, but mysteriously never comes back for a cameo.

Weird thing is, Stephen doesn't appear in any of the old reruns he was starring in after that. Now the reruns have no host at all. It's like someone digitally removed him or something.
posted by chambers at 9:30 AM on January 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

яюЬют яюlэ кall
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:37 AM on January 28, 2011 [2 favorites]

Keep circulating the samizDAT tapes.
posted by adipocere at 9:38 AM on January 28, 2011 [2 favorites]

The FBI warning supposedly says:

“Yes, we know we ripped this off from a beloved American program,
AND we have no intention of paying for the rights,
but YOU had better not do the same to US or we will sic the FBI on you.”
posted by Servo5678 at 9:39 AM on January 28, 2011

Wow. They need to do a RiffTrax for this.....
posted by lumpenprole at 9:43 AM on January 28, 2011

Guys, can we please not turn this thread into another futile Stephen vs. Mikhail debate?

Look, they both had their strengths and weaknesses as hosts. Stephen came up with the concept for the show, Mikhail was the head writer almost from the very beginning, and both men mysteriously disappeared in early spring of 1990 and were never heard from again. There's no point arguing about which was the better host; especially since, according to official records, neither man really ever existed.

I think we can all agree, however, that the show really jumped the shark the moment they brought in the character of Professor Zamishlavkin's overbearing mother Agrafina.
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:52 AM on January 28, 2011 [18 favorites]

I was hoping against hope that there would be English subtitles. Internet -- get to work on that!
posted by wittgenstein at 9:58 AM on January 28, 2011

According to Google Translate, the FBI warning actually says "This program is intended for private viewing with a beer and chips in the company of friends".
posted by zztzed at 10:03 AM on January 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

Wait, mst3kinfo.com still exists? And people are still making new posts there? AND SAMPO IS STILL AROUND?

O majestic Internet.
posted by penduluum at 10:09 AM on January 28, 2011 [2 favorites]

Its like watching the first season of the original with puppets from KTMA.
posted by charred husk at 10:11 AM on January 28, 2011 [2 favorites]

Thank you St. Ronald (Reagan) for bringing down the Soviet Union so that we can enjoy this sign of American Freedom^TM. Amen.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 10:29 AM on January 28, 2011

I could care less about the tired ol' Stephen vs. Mikhail debate, but everyone knows that the original Ketchup was funnier.
posted by littleredspiders at 10:38 AM on January 28, 2011

Плита перегородки
Холодильник большого мяса
Бутч тяге
Шинная Грудь-волос

Мы уповаем в доменных жесткого сыра
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:52 AM on January 28, 2011

(almost works)
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:53 AM on January 28, 2011

Мастер не одобрил бы!
posted by Servo5678 at 10:53 AM on January 28, 2011

In the comments on the Satellite News thread about this someone mentions a (sorta) subtitled version of the opening.
posted by JHarris at 12:03 PM on January 28, 2011

Via POEtv: an entire (untranslated) episode of the show: The Oboe.
posted by BiggerJ at 8:02 PM on January 29, 2011

Nuts, just noticed that the full episode was also linked on MST3KInfo.
posted by BiggerJ at 8:46 PM on January 29, 2011