Joel Hodgson: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Joel mst3k.jpg|thumb|200px|Joel Hodgson on ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'']] |
[[Image:Joel mst3k.jpg|thumb|200px|Joel Hodgson on ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'']] |
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'''John Joel Hodgson''' (born [[February 20]], [[1960]] in [[Stevens Point, Wisconsin]]) is best known for creating ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' and starring in it as the character [[Joel Robinson]]. He actually began a life in theatre stage managing at [[Ashwaubenon]] High School and his professional career progressed as a [[stand-up comedian]] and [[magician]]. He performed several minutes of his prop-based act on a November 12, 1983 airing of [[Saturday Night Live]], hosted by [[Teri Garr]]. An infamous prop during the performance was a time bomb. During the act, Joel would announce that he only had three minutes to perform. He would then reveal the time bomb, and proclaim that "we ALL have three minutes." The prop department thought they could make a better time bomb than the one Joel had, which was used in the show. They gave Joel the prop as a gift, but Mr. Hodgson decided that he liked his own bomb better, and left the NBC prop in his hotel room. When he arrived in Minneapolis, he was greeted by the FBI. It appears that a cleaning lady found the bomb, thought it was real, and three floors had to be evacuated. The next day, The New York Daily News' headline announced that "SNL Comedian Bombs In New York". |
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Combining his gift for designing toys and other gizmos, Joel built two robot puppets and created his famous MST3K series in [[1988]]. It originally aired on [[KTMA]], a [[UHF]] station in [[Minnesota]], and it then became one of the first two shows to be picked up by the Comedy Channel, the forerunner of [[Comedy Central]]. The other show, also created and written by Hodgson, was the shortlived ''[[Higgins Boys and Gruber]]'', a sketch comedy program that primarily involved three guys sitting around and talking in between clips of ''[[Clutch Cargo]]'' and ''[[Supercar (television)|Supercar]]''. |
Combining his gift for designing toys and other gizmos, Joel built two robot puppets and created his famous MST3K series in [[1988]]. It originally aired on [[KTMA]], a [[UHF]] station in [[Minnesota]], and it then became one of the first two shows to be picked up by the Comedy Channel, the forerunner of [[Comedy Central]]. The other show, also created and written by Hodgson, was the shortlived ''[[Higgins Boys and Gruber]]'', a sketch comedy program that primarily involved three guys sitting around and talking in between clips of ''[[Clutch Cargo]]'' and ''[[Supercar (television)|Supercar]]''. |
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After MST3K, Joel formed [[Visual Story Tools]] with his brother Jim. He primarily works behind the camera, building gadgets and writing scripts. His post-MST3K writings include ''[[You Don't Know Jack]]'' and ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live]]''. |
After MST3K, Joel formed [[Visual Story Tools]] with his brother Jim. He primarily works behind the camera, building gadgets and writing scripts. His post-MST3K writings include ''[[You Don't Know Jack]]'' and ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live]]''. |
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== References == |
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* {{imdb name | id=0388273 | name=Joel Hodgson}} |
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[[Category:1960 births|Hodgson, Joel]] |
[[Category:1960 births|Hodgson, Joel]] |
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Revision as of 15:02, 9 April 2006
John Joel Hodgson (born February 20, 1960 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin) is best known for creating Mystery Science Theater 3000 and starring in it as the character Joel Robinson. He actually began a life in theatre stage managing at Ashwaubenon High School and his professional career progressed as a stand-up comedian and magician. He performed several minutes of his prop-based act on a November 12, 1983 airing of Saturday Night Live, hosted by Teri Garr. An infamous prop during the performance was a time bomb. During the act, Joel would announce that he only had three minutes to perform. He would then reveal the time bomb, and proclaim that "we ALL have three minutes." The prop department thought they could make a better time bomb than the one Joel had, which was used in the show. They gave Joel the prop as a gift, but Mr. Hodgson decided that he liked his own bomb better, and left the NBC prop in his hotel room. When he arrived in Minneapolis, he was greeted by the FBI. It appears that a cleaning lady found the bomb, thought it was real, and three floors had to be evacuated. The next day, The New York Daily News' headline announced that "SNL Comedian Bombs In New York".
Combining his gift for designing toys and other gizmos, Joel built two robot puppets and created his famous MST3K series in 1988. It originally aired on KTMA, a UHF station in Minnesota, and it then became one of the first two shows to be picked up by the Comedy Channel, the forerunner of Comedy Central. The other show, also created and written by Hodgson, was the shortlived Higgins Boys and Gruber, a sketch comedy program that primarily involved three guys sitting around and talking in between clips of Clutch Cargo and Supercar.
Hodgson surprised many fans when he left MST3K just as it became popular in 1993. In contemporary interviews, Joel claimed to be uncomfortable with acting and being in front of the camera, citing that as the reason he quit the show just as he and MST3K began to gain popularity. However during an 1999 interview with the Onion AV Club, Hodgson admits the reason he left was due to fighting over creative control of MST3K between him and Jim Mallon. After leaving, he did however produce and star in a live pilot episode for an interactive sketch comedy program called the TV Wheel (formerly known as the Xbox) for HBO. It aired only once (on Comedy Central, after the last new Comedy Central episode of MST3K) and the show was never picked up as a series. Joel also made a surprise guest appearance in the season premier for the final season of MST3K (1001 Soultaker). Hodgson reportedly chose MST3K head writer Michael J. Nelson to be his replacement as host because he felt that Nelson was a natural leader, a gifted comedian (as well as a musician, handling most of the show's musical numbers), and, additionally, he thought Nelson looked good standing next to the show's puppets.
After MST3K, Joel formed Visual Story Tools with his brother Jim. He primarily works behind the camera, building gadgets and writing scripts. His post-MST3K writings include You Don't Know Jack and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
References
- Joel Hodgson at IMDb