I’ve been watching Jonah since his beginning, because I wasn’t missing MIST’s comeback, lol. So it’s definitely Reptilicus for him.
Deadly Mantis was my first episode, so that introduced me to Mike. I started buying the Rhino VHS’s, and I was introduced to Joel with Eegah. Meanwhile I got to see Emily riff that fun little short last Turkey Day.
Also of note: First time I saw Trace was The Movie, first experience with Josh was The Crawling Hand.
Joel: Sidehackers (my 1st MST3K)
Mike: The Brain that Wouldn’t Die (I consider Mitchell primarily a Joel episode)
Jonah: Reptilicus
Emily: her part in No Retreat, No Surrender / whichever streaming she did first
Mike- The Deadly Mantis (first episode I ever saw).
Joel- The Crawling Hand (first episode I bought on DVD)
Jonah- Reptilicus- (watched the first day on Netflix).
Mike - Santa Claus (also first MST3K show I ever saw)
Joel - I don’t know nor remember
Jonah - Reptilicus
Emily - If Live shows count, then Making Contact
Mike: Hamlet was likely my first MST3K ever, though I’m sure I’d seen bits of other episodes beforehand. But Hamlet was the first I remember watching all the way through. It wasn’t until after the original run left television, though.
Joel: Gamera! Honestly, I had no idea MST3K had another host at first. Over the years, I think I’ve related to the Joel episodes more but I’m still a huge fan of many of Mike’s.
Jonah: Reptilicus, of course. I didn’t back the original revival, so I wasn’t as familiar with him as some of you were. But I knew Joel made the right choice right off the bat. I’m glad he’s now directing episodes.
Emily: The Shorts riff she did as a proof of concept on a livestream (I’m blanking on the short name and the particular stream). From what I remember, she did an awesome job. I unfortunately didn’t get to see MST3K Live this year, but I’m super hyped for Emily’s first official episode!
Joel: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. (The second part, via the MST3K Hour.)
Mike: MST3K The Movie. (Who’s this guy? I wondered…)
Jonah: Reptilicus, of course!
Emily: She got to riff a few minutes of No Retreat, No Surrender during the last live show. She got my favorite line of the night. “Thank you, fairy god-Michael Jacksons.”