EXPERIMENT 616 - RACKET GIRLS

with short "Are You Ready For Marriage?"

(Observe my MST inventory)

For reasons that defy comprehension, there have been many requests to trade this episode. I'm not sure I understand the popularity of this experiment - but no matter, you wish and I provide. Fortunately, I had the foresight to tape this back in the day and I'm happy to offer it for trade on DVD-R. There are times when I shock myself at how good a well-kept EP episode will show up on DVD, and this DVD came out very well.

In the opening host segment, we're treated to a visit from Lisa Loeb (portrayed by Bridget Jones) in the hexfield viewscreen. Sounds cool and hip (for 1995 anyway), but she gets annonying and won't go away. Mike and the 'Bots have to board up the viewscreen. As for the movie itself....there's no accounting for taste in my trading partners I guess. This movie is simply wretched. Directed by Robert Gertano, this film is about female wrestling - and how a grossly unappealing and numbingly stupid young girl named Peaches, who is caught in the web of wrestling intrigue. Unfortunately for us, "Peaches" is portrayed by Peaches Page- an actual wrestler of the day. In fact many of the actors are credited as "herself", so it's clear that we're in for some stunningly bad performances. (Note: would you ask your plumber to work on your car? No? THEN DON'T ASK WRESTLERS TO ACT!). Gertano gets around this inconvenience by showing scene after scene of big women wrestling. The plot involves Peaches' introduction to the seedy world of women's wrestling, which is somehow infested with the mob. I really don't remember much else about it, except that there are big, scary, dimwitted women wrestling. Did I mention the wrestling? There are no two ways about it - this film is awful. Producing is George Weiss, who clearly learned nothing from the experience because his very next producing assignment was Ed Wood's "Glen or Glenda". Frighteningly, the man continued to work on "B" movis as recently as 1995 - so we're still not safe.

MSTies remember this episode more for the host segments revolving around the short, "Are You Ready For Marriage". The short itself is a typical 1950s social engineering film for young people considering marriage. Two dimwitted young people consult a reverend about their engagement. Although he's not that convincing, the couple decide to wait. Fine for them, but the short convinces Crow T. Robot to ask Mike for Servo's hand in marriage. This is of course, the most wrong thing I've seen since Crow refueled by docking his beak at Tom Servo's hoverskirt. Mike is stunned, but he's game; he even hosts a bachelor party in which Jan-In -The-Pan lustily unwraps her bandages to stripper music. The fun ultimately leads up to a marriage ceremony officated by Dr. Forrester. TV's Frank shows his usual versatilty by singing "There Is Love" while wearing flowers in his hair.

On balance, the movie was awful, but the short is pretty good and the host segments are memorable. Recommended. If you need this experiment to add to your collection, email me and we'll discuss.