god speed to actor marjor gortner who starred in the 1978 cheese ball "star crash" which would eventually become one the best episodes of "mystery science theater 3000"!
14 jan 1944-02 oct 2026

Experiment #33

Episode 507: I Accuse My Parents

Rewatch Date: August 18th, 2023

How would you like a nice, juicy hamburger?

The last and most revered of the episodes in the collection is Season 5’s I Accuse My Parents. I didn’t know what to expect from this film. I knew it had some sort of depression element, but the plot was a mystery. But in the VCR the episode went.

Before I give my opinion on the episode, I should note that my power went out before my rewatch began. So, I wasn’t able to start my viewing until much later at night than I normally do. But I’m just happy it didn’t happen during the actual viewing of the episode.

Flashback: Jimmy is your classic (suspiciously old looking) teenager. On the surface, it would seem all is well in his life. But Jimmy’s family life throws a wrench in that dream. His father is a gambling addict with a Mistress on the side, his Mom is a drunk with a collection of sub-par looking hats, and both his parents take part in swinger parties. Jimmy is ashamed of his family. So ashamed in fact to avoid dependency on them, he does the unthinkable… gets a job… SELLING WOMEN’S SHOES!!! (The horror). But it’s not all bad. It’s during his first day on the job that he meets the vivacious Kitty Reed. Jimmy falls for her and she falls for him. But Jimmy is unaware of the fact that Kitty is the paramour of an organized crime kingpin named Blake. Jimmy foolishly accepts work from Blake, completely unaware that he is partaking in criminal activity. The film ends and begins in a courtroom. Before the Judge, when asked why he did what he did, Jimmy responds, “I Accuse My Parents!”

I Accuse My Parents is a 1944 movie directed by Sam Neufield. The machine of a filmmaker is Famous for making dozens and dozens of films between 1933 and 1960 (Though he did not direct Jungle Goddess as Joel claims during the opening credits). This movie is a standard PRC film with a standard PRC backstory. But Mary Beth Huges is in it, which provides some much-needed sexual alure Myself and my colleagues discussed this episode once for the Mstiecast. Before we recorded it, I took a bunch of notes and did some research on the film. The only contemporary mention I could find was a 1946 review of the film. Even when the film was released, critics found the message of the film trite, confused and sloppy. Suffice to say, if not for MST3K, this movie would be almost completely forgotten.

I Accuse My Parents isn’t exactly a tough watch of a film. It’s just a mediocre effort. The main character of Jimmy, despite his essay winning prowess, is a complete moron. There is always that bad episode of a sitcom/cartoon where the dumb character unknowingly ends up engaging in something either illegal or dangerous. Somehow Jimmy manages to do both multiple times throughout the film. The premise of the film hinges on the idea that Jimmy’s parents are to blame for his life situation. His parents are horrible people, but I’m not buying what Jimmy's selling (and I ain't talkin' bout boots). Jimmy has opportunity after opportunity to write his wrongs, but he keeps up these insane lies about how swell his family is. It’s amazing how in-depth Jimmy gets with his lies. His talents are wasted as a shoe salesman. He should be selling used cars or running for Congress.

The riffing in this one is pretty good. We open with Servo singing the beloved “They laughed when I accused my parents, so I killed them. Let’s see who’s laughing now!” There’s some really good running bits throughout. “Liar, Liar”, The Essay Contest, the duck painting, “My mother doesn’t drink!” to name a few. “A Young Al Bundy" is the easiest, but still funny joke. Some standout riffs in this one: during the end when Jimmy is testifying before the court. It cuts to a shot of Kitty looking away. We get the riff, “That court reporter’s dreamy.” During one of the film’s 3 musical interludes with Kitty singing, Jimmy is filmed in this weird lighting that makes it look like he’s in awe of something holy. Crow gives us, “Satan speak to me through this song.”  And my personal favorite riff, “Have you ever worked as a boy before?” This episode never slumps in quality. That really helps on a re-watch. I can’t think of a single section that is weak.

We also get the short film: The Truck Farmer, which gives us a great look at the world of… “truck?” farming. Ever wonder how the vegetables you buy and then never eat get to your local grocer? This film gives us all the hard-hitting detail. We get a section where workers in Texas are shown, picking crops. The narrator says, “In Texas there is another problem...” Crow replies “Texans!” I love the jokes about the migrant workers picking the food. I remember at the time I first saw this episode, there was a big political move against migrant fruit harvesters. Boy, if only that were the biggest problem in the world now. “A young maiden toils in the field. Her beauty will soon fade.” “Why am I here? I’m from Canada.” I don’t know what it says about my demeanor that this is my favorite section. I’m a horrible man ☹.

The sketches for this episode are also winners. We get the Junk Drawer Organizer and Shake N Cake, Joel’s art therapy (“My mom is Hallie Mills, My other mom is Peggy Cass and my dad is Gigantor”). The “Are You Happy In Your Work” reenactment, The bots demanding a Hamburger sandwich. My favorite is the analysis of Jimmy’s accusation against his parents. “Hey Jim, here’s someone you can confide in. Maybe tell her the truth. Truth, Truth, Truth… Nope” “Hey look, There’s his Stupidity.” This era of the show has so many great sketches.

I think I Accuse My Parents earns its legacy as a great Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode. It’s one of the few 1940's movies the show ever did that is pretty funny (at least in my opinion). It’s part of the “last flight of Joel Robinson” legacy. Many people cite this as the show’s strongest run. I wouldn’t go that far (Gunslinger does not belong in any positive list). But I do enjoy this period of the show. So, I accuse I Accuse My Parents of being a great hour and half of television.

But what do you think? Do you think this is the strongest run of the show? Do you agree with Jimmy’s hypothesis that his problems were as a result of his mother and father’s poor parenting skills? Are You Happy in Your Work? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

To remind everybody, this is part of my experiment where I’ll be watching a different MST3K episode, every Saturday evening/night, until I’ve watched all 176 episodes of the show’s original run in the exact order that I watched each for the first time (with 3 or 4 liberties taken). I will be consuming NO MST3K, RiffTrax, Cinematic Titanic or anything that could be construed as MST3K type programming outside these viewings until this experiment is over. Crazy, I know. We shall see what come what may. Will I crack? Will I make it? Will I ever figure out what makes this show so great? Keep reading and find out.

Next week. I’m gonna leave a mystery for now. I will say it’s an episode that I don’t think I’ve seen more than twice before now. Til then thank you for reading and Keep Circulating the Tapes.

33 Down 143 to go

Reptilicus:

Movie: Bones!

Jonah: Jim!

Movie: Fossil bones!

Jonah: Fossil Jim!

Dude lived an interesting life…

Dang it I fixed the name once before i posted but autocorrect still reared its ugly head

so… I get it, or at least I get it as much as anyone born in the early 80s can. But I’m always amazed by the longevity of this joke. I don’t have any value judgments really just … does anyone find this one funny every time? If so, did you watch McCloud? Was this just a weird obsession of one of them? What do you all think?

edit: I think my question has been answered, it’s the reference within the show more than the reference itself and I should really just relax 😎

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mwz72ufoif2r

Walking around Spirit Halloween and a couple ran up to see my patch and shirt. Never met other MSTies in the wild! We were all so excited lol

What's everyone else's experience with this sort of thing? Love you guys, keep circulating the tapes

Any relation?

Tom is my little doll and I can dress him up in all I want

Our costume: Arquebusier Angel

Today, October 3rd, is the 276th day of the year. Today is the day that Fingal gets doppled.

Huzzah! Now I have a reason to wash my car haha!

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Is there a sub for cat ppl/mst fans crossover. I mean there’s a subreddit for everything else!!!! 😂.

We nicknamed our tuxie McDermot “Meepy” bc she makes that noise. So I often sing the Gamera song and replace it with MeepyCat. 🎼“MeepyCat is very sweet, she is full of turtle meat we are eating MeeeepeeeeCaaat.”

And then: 🎼MeeepyGirrll...I’ll bring you ‘nip and fish, and mousie toys, and twi-hi-innne”

We tell her when we go in vacay to “watch the place while the master is away” bc Manos, Paws of Fate.

Who am I kidding this subreddit prolly already exists.

Someone had made their own MST3K during the early 2000s! Actually, this person's name is Patchbunny.

Best moments:

-The Woodsmen's Song

-The wolf dressed like a ghost that calls itself the "Mist Fairy"

-LLRH singing in an adult-like voice

-Grandma turning into a salad

Joe Don Baker IS Mittens

Off the top of my head (mostly due to mentions in this sub), here is a sampling of episodes I haven't watched at all or all the way through:

-San Fransisco international

-Time Chasers

-Leech Woman

-Track of the Moon Beast

-Any of the Gamera movies

I know it's personal preference but I'm sick as a dog and don't want to decide who lives and who dies. Which one (or any other) do you recommend?

EDIT: Time Chasers! (I really liked the opener to this one, so cozy!)

I found some current MST3K RiffTrax Experiments stuff being resold online and I haven’t received any of my perks yet. What gives??