Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

He conquers them with laughter and love!

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Comedy Central
December 21, 1991
Riffing
VHS
B+

This remains a holiday classic, one I've watched so often that random phrases will come back to me, like "Kimar is the savings place."  There are many, many memorable quotes, some from the riffing and some from the wretched film itself.  Joel and the Bots mock the acting, direction, writing, special effects, sets, and "custumes," and yet somehow fail to notice the horrible makeup jobs, where the Martians' greenness varies from scene to scene.  Still, the references to entertainment and politics (including "Joseph Biden" and Clarence Thomas) more than make up for this, as does their characterization of Santa as a tough, drunken Vietnam vet.  For once, the segments in between the movie scenes don't drag things down, from the invention/gift exchanges to the timeless rendition of "A Patrick Swayze Christmas."  There are some sweet, sentimental moments here, as befits the season, but the snark is as strong as ever.

Note that the most recognizable performer in SCCM is not Pia Zadora (whose Golden Globe is frequently referenced, as the little girl on the screen gives as clueless a performance as in Hairspray), but Ned Wertimer as Andy Henderson, later Ralph the Doorman on The Jeffersons, although the shows I've tagged him for are That Girl, Welcome Back, Kotter, and Mork & Mindy.  Frank De Vol is tagged since he did the music for SCCM and made onscreen appearances on Gidget and That Girl, but I was never able to fit in his tag for an onscreen appearance on The [overcrowded] Brady Bunch, which he also composed for.

Mork & Mindy: Mork and the Immigrant

Mork & Mindy: Mork and the Immigrant
ABC
January 11, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Regular writer April Kelly co-wrote this episode with David O'Malley, his first of two for Mork.  Mork meets a stereotypical Russian Sergei (Tim Thomerson, who had co-starred with Conrad Janis on Quark).  He has him move in, without first discussing it with Mindy.  And then they both end up trying to register as "aliens."  There's a funny line about money controlling democracy, but otherwise this episode is weaker than usual.

Ned Wertimer, who plays the Clerk, was recognizable by then as Ned the Doorman on The Jeffersons.

That Girl: My Part Belongs to Daddy

That Girl: My Part Belongs to Daddy
ABC
October 2, 1969
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this episode by Saul Turteltaub and Bernie Orenstein, Ann ends up directing a play for her father's country club when she turns down the chance to direct the annual variety show.  Although her father is funny and can do a pretty good rendition of "Minnie the Moocher," he's not right for the serious role of the father character.  There are some interesting elements here, but I felt like it actually would've worked better as a two-parter, so we could see more of the play.  (This modern Hamlet, set on a college campus, sounds "relevant" in a very dated way and I can't imagine the country club going for it.)

For the man cast to play "Ned," we get an early appearance by The Jeffersons' Ned Wertimer, although by no means his first.  (He was on Amos 'n Andy back in '51.)  Dave Ketchum makes his middle of three TG appearances, as Harry.