1. Cavalcade - Larry and Pearl were a force of nature.
2. Better Breakfasts USA! - I like that the print was messed up at the start, and that they made a riff on that (about tiny tornados). Reminded me of the good old days and shows how, sometimes, not having a pristine picture can actually be a plus.
3. Court Case - Emily and the Bots and balls - but this was a toughie, because it’s neck and neck with “The Wonders of Reproduction” and “Bicycle Visual Skills”
Strange, it took all 3 of mine. Try removing your votes and giving it another go.
Edit: I double checked, and it shows a min of 1, a max of 3. Anyone else not getting the full 3?
Edit, edit - I have to catch some Zs, so I won’t be around anytime soon to respond to replies to the above question. Hopefully it’s taking all your votes.
For me, Cavalcade was the runaway champ this season. It felt like a short sampler pack of riffing material (if that makes sense), and Mary Jo and J. Elvis brought their A-game to some superbly written riffs. Plus, having Pearl AND Dr. Erhardt made that jazz ridiculously fun.
Bicycle Visual Skills had some screamingly hilarious dark riffs, and I’m always down for those.
And of course, who am I to say ‘no’ to Kinga and Max taking on Mr. B Natural ?
Honorable mentions to Pipeline to the Clouds (the “Omar comin’” reference is an all-timer) and Bicycle Driver (which gave us Pearl, Synthia, AND Mega-Synthia in the theater!).
3: Pipeline to the Clouds
2: Bicycle: Visual Skills
1: Cavalcade
Honorable mentions go to the Kinga and Max riff of Mr. B Natural for being an excellent update of a classic and Court Case for my overall favorite Season 13 Short riff:
Servo: “This is a lot of work for something your dog will chew on.”
I need to watch all of these again—I have zero clue what to click. The Moody Institute shorts have always creeped me out so maybe not those. Or maybe so.
Shorts are my riffin’ jam. Perfect little bite-sized morsels of enjoyment. Naturally, I love 'em all!
But because @JakeGittes didn’t provide an “all of the above” option, I chose Pipeline to the Clouds (I appreciated the glimpse into the writer’s room for this one as a “set visit”), Cavalcade (Pearl riffing!) and Court Case (because balls ).
“Court Case” was my favorite of the season. It’s incredulous, goofy and just the right amount of silly. It’s been the short I’ve rewatched most often. Kelsey, Emily and Conor really did well together (as always).
I will have to rewatch the others and perhaps submit them again, but I really liked the Mr. B re-riff…it won’t replace the original but it was really well done. I’m glad we have three MST3K affiliated riffs of this legendary (and legendarily unsettling) short.
My third, in this list, was “Let’s Keep Food Safe to Eat” but I can’t remember if the riffing in that or “Better Breakfasts USA” were better than the other. May take a raincheck.
Overall, though, the shorts were a lot of fun and I’ll be more than happy with more being added to the collection over time, especially with new characters and different riffing combinations.
I’ll share a secret… my pet peeve on polls like this, “All of the Above” options. Of course it’s difficult with these winners, but that’s the challenge, that’s the brain teaser, that’s the desert isle scenario.
Be brave, no cop outs allowed. You can do it!
(And you are doing marvelously, what pretty answers)
It did, even though it let me vote 3, even though I entered 3 options, even though when I checked (after saying “the hell?”) it had 3 listed? I dunno, it was weird for a moment there.