RiffTrax

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RiffTrax main page, March 1, 2007.
RiffTrax main page, March 1, 2007.

RiffTrax are downloadable audio commentaries featuring comedian Michael J. Nelson heckling (or riffing) films in the style of Mystery Science Theater 3000. The RiffTrax are sold on a web site where users can purchase and download the commentaries. The site was launched by Nelson and Legend Films in 2006.

Contents

The movies chosen to riff in Mystery Science Theater 3000 were predominantly low-budget B-movies because the show itself was low-budget and producers could only afford films with expired copyright or had otherwise cheap licenses.[1] The idea of RiffTrax came about after Mystery Science Theater 3000 was cancelled when Nelson researched and consulted a lawyer about the possibility of directly releasing DVDs of films with the commentaries included, but realized that he would be "sued out of existence".[2] The best-sounding method of distributing the commentaries would be to sell them independently of the films to avoid having to obtain the rights to distribute the movies themselves.[3] There would be no legal or monetary restrictions to prevent Nelson from producing them, [4] though viewers would have to provide the movies themselves.

RiffTrax commentaries must be synchronized at the start of the movie using a cue.[5] To ensure consumers that the MP3 file is synchronized with the film, a fictional character named DisembAudio occasionally speaks a line in exact synchronization with the movie.[6][7] DisembAudio has also occasionally been known to join in on the riffing. Though RiffTrax are suggested to be played on an MP3 player or with computer software, they are sold as unrestricted MP3s, allowing the user to choose the viewing method that suits them the best.

The movies chosen for RiffTrax are based on two criteria: whether the movie lends itself towards a funny riffing, and whether the film is widely available on DVD.[6][7] This criteria has resulted in a wide variety of genre and era of movies chosen to be riffed. The first audio commentary made available through the web site in July 2006 was for the 1989 film Road House, long cited by Nelson as the cheesiest movie ever made.[8]

Nelson has often been accompanied by former Mystery Science Theater 3000 co-stars Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett. Nelson has said that he would like to bring in other guests as well.[9] Though Nelson first released RiffTrax primarily as solo efforts, there are now more tracks available with Murphy or Corbett than by Nelson alone.

The following is a list of films for which Nelson has provided commentary, in order of the release date of the RiffTrax.

The following is a list of television programs for which Nelson has provided commentary, in order of the release date of the RiffTrax.

  1. ^ Penny, Damian (2006-08-10). Review: Rifftrax. Blogcritics Magazine.
  2. ^ Interview: Michael J. Nelson. TeeVee (2006-10-16).
  3. ^ Jurgensen, John. "Everyone's a critic: DVD commentaries by fans", Wall Street Journal, 2006-11-18, p. P2. ISSN 0099-9660.
  4. ^ Kaiser, Andy. "Please talk during the movie", The Grand Rapids Press, 2006-08-07, p. D3.
  5. ^
  6. ^ a b Mystery Science Theater, round two. The Commonwealth Times (2007-02-08).
  7. ^ a b Mike Nelson Interview. Buzzgrinder (2006-10-14).
  8. ^ 'Road House' -- it's the cheesiest, book says. CNN.com (2000-08-16).
  9. ^ Salas, Randy. "Cheeky remarks now on RiffTrax", Deseret News, 2006-08-11, p. W06. ISSN 0745-4724.
  10. ^ Star Wars Episode II announcement

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