Joel Hodgson to bring hit ’80s sitcom ‘Mystery Science Theater’ to Des Moines one last time

In 1988, comedian, actor, and writer Joel Hodgson's show "Mystery Science Theater" aired for the first time on KTMA-TV in Minneapolis for 24 episodes. Comedy Central would go on to pick the show up and, later, the Sci-Fi Channel. Thirty-one years later, Hodgson is bringing "MST3K: The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour" to the Des Moines Civic Center one last time on Wednesday, Oct. 30. 

On why he's making this his last tour, Hodgson told the Register: "I felt like it was a good time to identify that I wouldn't be on tour anymore." Hodgson, who has continuously done live tours of "MST3K," also said this would be his chance to say goodbye to his fans. 

While Hodgson is backing away from "MST3K" tours, the series itself has been able to stand the test of time. Even after cancellation in 1996 and 1999, the show was turned into a comic book and picked up by Netflix in 2017.  Hodgson also noted that "MST3K" has been able to last because it's rarely expensive to make. The show was also ahead of its time, anticipating people's desire to comment on things. 

Despite popular belief that the series was initially supposed to be called "MST2K," Hodgson said that the series was always going to be named "MST3K." The show's creation began when Hodgson was invited by Jerry Seinfeld to write his first HBO special, a science fiction comedy. Seinfeld felt as though the show wasn't for him, but Hodgson. Thus, "MST3K" was born. 

"I got to the idea of public domain movies and riffing on movies and making robots and puppets out of finding objects," Hodgson said. "It was the most elegant, cheapest show I could make." 

Fans of the show will be able to see Tom Servo, Crow, and Gypsy live with silly sketches. Set on the Satellite of Love, the series follows a host trapped by a mad scientist on a satellite in space who is forced to watch cheesy B-movies. Building robot sidekicks, the host, and his homemade pals comment on the films that made the show a classic. 

Movies screened at the performances are based on specific venues. Hodgson said that the Des Moines audience might get "No Retreat, No Surrender." Following his last tour, Hogdson has been commissioned to write a musical in spring. Hodgson said that the musical probably won't have anything to do with "MST3K." However, there are other projects in the works related to the show that "are not developed enough to be talked about." 

If you go:

When: Wednesday, Oct.30 at 7:30 p.m. 

Where: Des Moines Civic Center Address:  221 Walnut St 

Tickets: Tickets are available now and can be purchased at DMPA.org, the Civic Center Ticket Office, or by phone at 515-246-2300.