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in: MST3K Episodes, Season 9, Directed by Michael J. Nelson

Changes: MST3K 903 - The Pumaman

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{{quote|Pu-ma-man, he flies like a mor-on!}}
  
−  
 
{{Ep infobox
  
{{Ep infobox
 
| name =903 - The Pumaman
 
| name =903 - The Pumaman
Line 6: Line 4:
 
| image_size =200px
  
| image_size =200px
 
| airdate =[[April 4]], [[1998]]
  
| airdate =[[April 4]], [[1998]]
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| mstdirector =
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| mstdirector =[[Michael J. Nelson]]
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| runtime =
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| runtime =90 Min
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| turkey =
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| turkey =[[November 27]], [[2014]]<br/>[[November 24]], [[2016]]
 
| hour =
  
| hour =
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| aka =L'uomo puma
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| aka =''L'uomo puma''
 
| movdirector =[[Alberto De Martino]]
  
| movdirector =[[Alberto De Martino]]
 
| movyear =[[1980]]
  
| movyear =[[1980]]
−
| cast =[[Walter George Alton]], [[Donald Pleasence]], [[Miguel Angel Fuentes]], [[Sydne Rome]]
 +
| cast =[[Walter George Alton]]<br>[[Donald Pleasence]]<br>[[Miguel Angel Fuentes]]<br>[[Sydne Rome]]
 
| short1 =
  
| short1 =
 
| s1director =
  
| s1director =
Line 21: Line 19:
 
| s2director =
  
| s2director =
 
| s2year =
  
| s2year =
−
| preceded_by =902 - [[The Phantom Planet]]
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| preceded_by =902 - [[MST3K 902 - The Phantom Planet|The Phantom Planet]]
−
| followed_by =904 - [[Werewolf]]
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| followed_by =904 - [[MST3K 904 - Werewolf|Werewolf]]
 
}}
  
}}
   
  +
{{quote|Pumaman!...'s friend.|Servo pointing out the more effective hero}}
 
==The Movie==
  
==The Movie==
  +
{{main|The Pumaman (film)}}
−  
 
===Synopsis===
  
===Synopsis===
  +
A mild-mannered paleontologist finds himself endowed with super powers from his alien ancestors. He uses his abilities to defeat the plans of the villainous Dr. Kobras.
−
Low-budget superhero flick about a young man, Tony Farms, given a mystical belt by a South American shaman, Vadinho, in order to become a puma-empowered champion like his father before him. 
  
   
  ⚫
==The Episode==
−
An ancient gold mask originally from somewhere in the Andes Mountains winds up in the hands of a Bond-villain wannabe by the name of Kobras ([[Donald Pleasence]]) who then uses its power to magically control the minds of influential persons, and those who work for him.  Initially, Tony fails utterly at stopping Kobras, whines about how hard being the Pumaman is, and decides to quit altogether.
  
   
  ⚫
=== Host Segments ===
−
This leaves Vadinho (the movie's actual hero) to attempt to take out Kobras in a suicide bombing that is soon thwarted.  Later, Tony decides that being Pumaman is not so bad. He helps punch a few people, and then has an unusually hard time subduing the elderly Kobras before eventually killing him. It is also revealed that aliens created mankind, are responsible for the Pumaman, and for some reason created the mask and left it on Earth even though its very existence contradicts everything they claim to represent. (As Vadinho repeatedly says, the aliens believe in freedom for all, yet the mask seemingly has no other use than to control people's minds for the purpose of evil.)[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081693/plotsummary]
  
  +
[[File:903_2.jpg|thumb|'''Roger Whitaker (Kevin Murphy) shows up'''|220x220px]]'''Prologue: '''Servo struggles with Short Man's Disease.
   
  ⚫
'''Host Segment 1:''' Servo overcomes his disability; Pearl throws a ball in the castle but no one shows up for it, though [[Ortega]] and a few other friends come over to watch [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sliders ''Sliders''] with Brain Guy.
−
===Information===
  
−
The star of the film, [[Walter George Alton|Walter G. Alton, Jr]], is a New York City medical malpractice attorney who moonlighted briefly as an actor. As of February 2010, the website of his practice is [http://www.altonlawfirm.com/ Altonlawfirm.com].
  
   
  ⚫
'''Host Segment 2:''' Mike wants the dry look hairstyle like the guy in the movie, but angers [[Shelli the Nanite]] who makes his look perhaps a little ''too'' dry.
−
[[Paul Chaplin]] has been noted as thinking the movie was probably intended to be taken comedically.
  
  +
[[File:Pumamanhost.jpg|thumb|215x215px|'''Mike becomes the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coati Coatimundi]''']]
   
  ⚫
'''Host Segment 3:''' Mike is chosen by the "gods" to be {{w|Coati|Coatimundi Man}} complete with powers, theme music, and a haphazard costume (a Rhoda vest, a Dr. Who scarf, swimming flippers on his hands, and a giant foam cowboy hat).[[File:Pumaman1.jpg|thumb|208x208px|'''Crow and Tom try to control Roger Whittaker''']]
⚫
==The Episode==
  
  ⚫
'''Host Segment 4:''' Crow and Servo use their "genuine Aztec mask" to control [[Roger Whittaker]].
   
  ⚫
'''Epilogue:''' Crow "quits" and wanders around the Satellite for a while, but quickly returns. Pearl feels dejected that no one came to her ball until Roger Whittaker arrives to cheer her up.
⚫
===Host Segments===
  
−
[[File:903_2.jpg|thumb|Roger Whitaker shows up]]
  
−
*Prologue
  
−
:Servo struggles with Short Man's Disease.
  
   
  ⚫
'''Stinger:''' Tony gets thrown out the window, and blue-screen falls to the ground.
−
*Host Segment 1
  
⚫
:Servo overcomes his disability; Pearl throws a ball in the castle but no one shows up for it, though [[Ortega]] and a few other friends come over to watch [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sliders Sliders] with Brain Guy
  
   
  +
===MST3K cast===
−
*Host Sement 2
  
⚫
:Mike wants the dry look hairstyle like the guy in the movie, but angers [[Shelli the Nanite]] who makes his look perhaps a little ''too'' dry.
  
   
  +
Regular cast
−
*Host Segment 3
  
  +
*[[Michael J. Nelson]] - [[Mike Nelson]]
⚫
:Mike is chosen by the "gods" to be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coati Coatimundi] Man complete with powers, theme music, and a haphazard costume (a Rhoda vest, a Dr. Who scarf, swimming flippers on his hands, and a giant foam cowboy hat).
  
  +
*[[Mary Jo Pehl]] - [[Pearl Forrester]]
  +
*[[Bill Corbett]] - [[Crow T. Robot]] / [[Brain Guy]]
  +
*[[Kevin Murphy]] - [[Tom Servo]] / [[Professor Bobo]]
  +
*[[Patrick Brantseg]] - [[Gypsy]]
   
  +
Guest cast
−
*Host Segment 4
  
  +
*[[Paul Chaplin]] - [[Ortega]]
⚫
:Crow and Servo use their "genuine Aztec mask" to control [[Wikipedia:Roger Whittaker|Roger Whittaker]].
  
  +
*[[Patrick Brantseg]] - Brian
  +
*[[Beez McKeever]] - Staci
  +
*[[Mary Jo Pehl]] - [[Shelli the Nanite]]
  +
*[[Kevin Murphy]] - Roger Whitaker
   
  +
=== Trivia ===
−
*Epilogue
  
  +
* When "Roger Whittaker" appears at the end, everything he says is sung like a line from "The Last Farewell", Mr. Whittaker's biggest hit song.
  +
* Ranked 6th in the [[Top 100 Episodes of MST3K|Top 100 Episodes]] as chosen by backers of the ''[[Bring Back MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000]]'' campaign.
  +
* This episode aired sixth and last during ''[[Turkey Day '14]]'', and first during ''[[Turkey Day '16]]''.
   
  ⚫
== Quotes & References ==
⚫
:Crow "quits" and wanders around the Satellite for a while, but quickly returns. Pearl feels dejected that no one came to her ball, so Roger Whittaker is sent to cheer her up.
  
  +
*''"Cheese, glorious cheese!"''
⚫
:*Stinger - Tony gets thrown out the window, and blue-screen falls to the ground.
  
   
  +
"[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food,_Glorious_Food Food, Glorious Food]", written by Lionel Bart, is the opening song from the 1960s West End and Broadway musical (and 1968 film) ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver! Oliver!].'' A "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKp0iDZ9a_s Cheese, Glorious Cheese]" version was also used in advertising by the National Dairy Board (on behalf of America's Dairy Farmers) in the 1980s.
⚫
===Quotes & References===
  
  +
⚫
* "''No one knows who they were or what they were doing... ''"
  
  +
* ''"Christmas Ornaments of the gods."''
⚫
A line from the movie ''[[Wikipedia:This Is Spinal Tap|This Is Spinal Tap]]'' where guitarist Nigel introduces the Stonehenge song in concert.
  
  +
⚫
* ''"Jane?"'' ''"Are you getting serious?"''
  
  +
A reference to ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chariots_of_the_Gods%3F Chariots of the Gods?], ''a 1968 book, and later [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chariots_of_the_Gods_(film) a documentary], which involves the hypothesis that the technologies and religions of many ancient civilizations were given to them by ancient astronauts who were welcomed as gods.
⚫
Refers to [[Wikipedia:Jon Astley|Jon Astley]]'s 1987 hit, ''Jane's Getting Serious''.
  
  +
⚫
*''"Actually, he's John Davidson Man."''
  
  ⚫
*"''No one knows who they were or what they were doing...''"
⚫
[[Wikipedia:John Davidson (entertainer)|John Davidson]] was an equally bland TV personality from the 70s and 80s who our hero resembled.
  
  +
  ⚫
A line from the movie ''[[Wikipedia:This Is Spinal Tap|This Is Spinal Tap]]'' when guitarist Nigel introduces the Stonehenge song in concert.
  ⚫
*''"Jane?"'' ''"Are you getting serious?"''
  ⚫
Refers to [[Wikipedia:Jon Astley|Jon Astley]]'s 1987 hit "Jane's Getting Serious".
  +
  +
*"''Hit me with your best slapshot.''"
  +
  +
"{{w|Hit Me with Your Best Shot}}" is a popular 80s rock song recorded by [[wikipedia:Pat Benatar|Pat Benatar]]. Crow mentioning a [[wikipedia:Slapshot|slapshot]] is due to the fact that the mask resembles a hockey [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goaltender_mask goaltender mask].
  +
  +
* ''"It's S&M day at the Field Museum!"''
  +
  +
All three characters in this scene are wearing leather outfits, and this quip is in reference to the association of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leather_subculture leather wearing] with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDSM BDSM] (Bondage/Discipline, Dominance/Submission, Sado/Masochism, also called "SM" or "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadomasochism S&M]"). The Field Museum is the colloquial name for the {{w|Field Museum of Natural History}} located in Chicago, named after its first major benefactor department store magnate Marshall Field. One of its more renowned exhibits is Sue, a forty foot long fossilized skeleton of a T. rex.
  +
  +
*''"Ted Cassidy in his most sensitive role yet."''
  +
  +
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Cassidy Ted Cassidy] was an unusually tall (6'9") and deep-voiced actor best known for playing [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lurch_(The_Addams_Family) Lurch] from ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Addams_Family The Addams Family]''. Crow's reference to "sensitive roles" is a reference to Cassidy being cast as Native Americans in such productions as ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Adventures_of_Huckleberry_Finn The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn]'' as "Injun Joe" and ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackenna%27s_Gold Mackenna's Gold]'' as "Hachita".
  +
  ⚫
*''"Actually, he's 'John Davidson Man'."''
  ⚫
[[Wikipedia:John Davidson (entertainer)|John Davidson]] is a TV personality from the 70s and 80s who our hero resembles.
 
*"My name is Vadinho." ''"I'm an onion."''
  
*"My name is Vadinho." ''"I'm an onion."''
−
Probably referring to a type of sweet onion [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidalia_onion Vidalia] and how pronouncing it sounds similar to 'Vadinho'.
 +
Probably referring to the {{w|Vidalia onion}}, a type of sweet onion, and how pronouncing it sounds similar to 'Vadinho'.
  +
⚫
*''"Dick's Red Owl, selection and service . . . "''
  
  ⚫
*"''Yeah, thanks, Castaneda."''
−
Dick's Red Owl used to be a grocery store in Bisbee, North Dakota.
  
  +
  +
Starting with ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Teachings_of_Don_Juan The Teachings of Don Juan]'' in 1968, {{w|Carlos Castaneda}} wrote a series of books that describe his training in shamanism. The books relate his experiences under the tutelage of a man that Castaneda claimed was a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaqui Yaqui] (Uto-Aztecan speaking indigenous people of Mexico) "Man of Knowledge" named [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Castaneda#Don_Juan_Matus Don Juan Matus].
  +
  ⚫
*''"I can't get The Piña Colada Song out of my head."''
  +
  ⚫
A reference to "[[Wikipedia:Escape (Rupert Holmes song)|Escape (The Piña Colada Song)]]" by [[Wikipedia:Rupert Holmes|Rupert Holmes]]. The song is significant from an ''MST3K'' perspective as it was deconstructed in a host segment for ''[[MST3K 421 - Monster A-Go Go|Monster A-Go Go]]''.
  +
  +
* ''"Do the hustle!"''
  +
  +
Crow is singing lyrics from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_McCoy Van McCoy]'s 1975 internationally successful disco song "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hustle_(song) The Hustle]", which sounds very similar to Pumaman's theme music.
  +
  +
* ''"Snoopy!"''
  +
  +
Jane's leather hat is reminiscent of the leather [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviator_hat aviator hat] worn by the ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanuts Peanuts]'' character [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoopy Snoopy] during his [https://peanuts.fandom.com/wiki/World_War_I_Flying_Ace fantasies as a World War I Flying Ace] usually being shot down by his imaginary rival enemy, the German flying ace the [https://peanuts.fandom.com/wiki/Red_Baron Red Baron].
  +
  ⚫
*''"He's as cat-like as Boog Powell."''
  +
  ⚫
[[Wikipedia:Boog Powell|John Wesley "Boog" Powell]] is a former MLB player for the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Powell was a large, imposing player with no real fielding skills.
  +
  +
*''"Alright, Craig T. Nelson. Make me laugh."''
  +
  ⚫
[[Wikipedia:Craig T. Nelson|Craig T. Nelson]] is an actor and former stand-up comedian who appeared in such productions as ''[[Wikipedia:Poltergeist (film)|Poltergeist]]'' and the TV series ''[[Wikipedia:Coach (TV series)|Coach]]''.
  +
  ⚫
*''"Dick's Red Owl, selection and service!"''
  +
  +
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Owl_(retail_chain) Red Owl] was a grocery store chain headquartered in Hopkins, Minnesota. Mike uses the movie's music—which resembles commercial theme music—to make up this jingle.
  +
  ⚫
*''"Take THAT members of Boston."''
  +
  ⚫
{{w|Boston (band)|Boston}} is an American rock band that was prominent during the 70's. They're best known for their songs "{{w|More Than a Feeling}}" and "{{w|Peace of Mind (Boston song)|Peace of Mind}}". The thugs being tossed by Vadinho slightly resemble them.
  +
  ⚫
*''"Believe it or not, this movie's still on. It should have ended two hours ago.''"
  +
  ⚫
Crow sings this to the tune of "{{w|Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)}}", the theme song of ''[[Wikipedia:The Greatest American Hero|The Greatest American Hero]]'', a TV series that aired on NBC from 1981 to 1983 about a schoolteacher who gains superhuman abilities from a superhero suit obtained from alien beings. May also be a reference to how the show's hero loses the manual for his super-suit and is consequently very awkward in using its powers (like Pumaman is, but intentionally so).
  +
  +
* ''"Woah, the network shouldn't have bought Kelsey Grammer a helicopter."''
  +
  +
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelsey_Grammer Kelsey Grammer] is a TV actor who got into a car accident while intoxicated in 1996. He was also charged with drunk driving in 1987.
  +
 
*''"Dorf on Rituals."''
  
*''"Dorf on Rituals."''
−
Dorf is a diminutive character played by [[Wikipedia:Tim Conway|Tim Conway]] in a series of comedy videos such as "Dorf on Golf".
 +
{{w|Dorf (character)|Dorf}} is a diminutive character played by [[Wikipedia:Tim Conway|Tim Conway]] in a series of comedy videos including ''{{w|Dorf on Golf}}''.
 
* ''"The Botany 500 Man."''
  
* ''"The Botany 500 Man."''
 
[[Wikipedia:Botany 500|Botany 500]] is an American clothing line.
  
[[Wikipedia:Botany 500|Botany 500]] is an American clothing line.
  +
⚫
*''"I can't get the piña colada song out of my head."''
  
⚫
A reference to [[Wikipedia:Escape (Rupert Holmes song)|Escape (a.k.a. 'The Piña Colada Song)]] by [[Wikipedia:Rupert Holmes|Rupert Holmes]]. The song is significant from an ''MST3K'' perspective as it was deconstructed in a host segment for ''[[Monster A-Go Go]]''.
  
 
*"''Barry Diller, here?''"
  
*"''Barry Diller, here?''"
 
[[Wikipedia:Barry Diller|Barry Diller]] is an influential television and film executive.
  
[[Wikipedia:Barry Diller|Barry Diller]] is an influential television and film executive.
−
*''"Alright, Craig T. Nelson. Make me laugh."''
 +
*''"Then they snagged on me, and called me Prince Valiant."''
  +
⚫
A reference to actor [[Wikipedia:Craig T. Nelson|Craig T. Nelson]], who appeared in such productions as ''[[Wikipedia:Poltergeist (film)|Poltergeist]]'' and the TV series ''[[Wikipedia:Coach (TV series)|Coach]]''.
  
  ⚫
[[Wikipedia:Prince Valiant|''Prince Valiant'']] is a comic strip that began running in 1937. The remark comes from the title character and Vadinho having similar hairstyles.
−
*''"Then they snagged on me, and called me Prince Valiant..."''
  
  +
⚫
[[Wikipedia:Prince Valiant|Prince Valiant]] was a comic strip that began running in 1937. The remark comes from the title character and Vadinho having similar hairstyles.
  
−
* ''"Nice one, Alpaca Man."''
  
−
Alpacas are animals related to llamas.
  
⚫
*''"He's as cat-like as Boog Powell."''
  
⚫
​[[Wikipedia:Boog Powell|John Wesley "Boog" Powell]] is a former MLB player for the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, and L.A. Dodgers. Powell was a large, imposing player with no real fielding skills.
  
 
*''"Billions and billions of pumamen."''
  
*''"Billions and billions of pumamen."''
−
Servo says this in [[Wikipedia:Carl Sagan|Carl Sagan's]] idiosyncratic voice in reference to the documentary series ''[[Wikipedia:Cosmos: A Personal Voyage|Cosmos: A Personal Voyage]]''.
 +
Servo says this in [[Wikipedia:Carl Sagan|Carl Sagan's]] idiosyncratic voice in reference to the documentary series ''[[Wikipedia:Cosmos: A Personal Voyage|Cosmos: A Personal Voyage]]''.
⚫
*''"Take THAT members of 'Boston'."''
  
⚫
​[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_%28band%29 Boston] is an American rock band that was prominent during the 70's. They're best known for their songs [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSR6ZzjDZ94 'More Than a Feeling'] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGRrOEbY3pI 'Peace of Mind.'] The thugs being tossed by Vadinho slightly resemble them.
  
⚫
*''"Believe it or not, this movie's still on. It should have ended two hours ago.''"
  
⚫
Crow sings this to the tune of "Believe or Not", the theme song of ''[[Wikipedia:The Greatest American Hero|The Greatest American Hero]]'', a TV series that aired on NBC from 1981 to 1983 about a schoolteacher who gains superpowers from a superhero suit obtained from alien beings. Also, possibly unintended but still an apt comparison, the show's hero lost the manual for his super-suit and was consequently very awkward in using its powers. Like Pumaman is, but intentionally so.
  
   
 
*''"With Randall 'Tex' Cobb as the mask!"''
  
*''"With Randall 'Tex' Cobb as the mask!"''
  ⚫
[[wikipedia:Randall "Tex" Cobb|Randall "Tex" Cobb]] was a boxer in the 1970s who later played a string of tough guys in movies, most notably ''[[wikipedia:Raising Arizona|Raising Arizona]]''. The nose of the mask resembles Cobb's wide, flat nose.
  +
== Memorable Quotes ==
  +
: '''Kobras''': Sometimes there is more truth in legend than in history.
  +
: '''Mike [as Kobras]''': And there's more salt in ham than in turkey.
  +
  +
: '''Jane''': You can't hide this!
  +
: '''Kobras''': Who is to prevent me?
  +
: '''Servo''': A halfway smart guy with muscles and hair?
  +
  +
: ''[A man is hurled out an office building window.]''
  +
: '''Mike''': We're downsizing, Steve!
  +
  +
: ''[A newspaper headline is shown reading "Fourth American killed in a few days. Will there be other victims?"]''
  +
: '''Crow''': Call our 900 number and vote.
  +
  +
: '''Jane''': So, dinosaurs died out because they forgot how to love each other. Is that right?
  +
: '''Servo''': In a wrong kind of way, yeah.
  +
  +
: '''Vadinho''': My name is Vadinho.
  +
: '''Crow [as Vadinho]''': I'm an onion.
  +
  +
: ''[Tony punches through an attic roof, which crumbles easily.]''
  +
: '''Mike''': Luckily they made their house out of peanut brittle.
  +
: '''Crow''': So basically a mild rain could take out that roof.
  +
  +
: '''Crow''': ''[Singing to the Puma Man theme music]'' Puma Man! He flies like a moron!
  +
  +
: ''[Aztec priest Vadinho advises "Puma Man" Tony on his flying powers.]''
  +
: '''Vadinho''': You do not fly, but your mind does.
  +
: '''Crow [as Tony]''': Yeah, thanks, Castaneda.
  +
  +
: '''Kobras''': Get moving. Comb the area. Find him. Kill him.
  +
: '''Crow''': Donald's only use for the word "comb".
  +
  +
: ''[Puma Man drops one of Kobras' henchmen and he falls rather awkwardly thanks to some poorly synced background shots]''
  +
: '''Mike [as the henchman]''': Heeelp! I'm falling at a sixty degree angle breaking all the laws of physics!
  +
: ...
  +
: ''[The henchman gets dropped again]''
  +
: '''Servo [as the henchman]''': My mustache makes me fall sideways!
  +
  +
: ''[As he prepares to use his teleportation power, Tony tosses his cloak back in a rather flamboyant gesture.]''
  +
: '''Servo''': Prepare the Effeminate Mobile!
  +
  +
: ''[Tony seeks information from girlfriend Jane, who's wearing a black-leather catsuit with matching WWI-vintage strap-on pilot's headgear.]''
  +
: '''Jane''': I'm conditioned to keep the secret, just like everyone. I can't do it.
  +
: '''Tony''': Try! Fight him! Fight him with your will!
  +
: '''Mike [as Jane]''': But my will ''won't''!
  +
: '''Jane''': I— I— I can't! He's commanding me from a distance.
  +
: '''Servo''': Amelia Airhead.
  +
  +
: ''[In his mansion, Kobras waxes eloquent about his world domination plans.]''
  +
: '''Kobras''': When the world is mine, I alone will decide whether it is to be war or peace! Life or death!
  +
: '''Servo [as Kobras]''': Stuffing or potatoes!
  +
  +
: ''[After Kobras has been pronouncing "Puma" the British way the entire movie, the Satellite of Love crew finally gets tired of it.]''
  +
: '''Kobras''': You can not escape me, Pyu-ma Man!
  +
: '''Crow''': PU-ma Man!
  +
: '''Mike''': Oh, is that right? Dee-onald?
  +
: '''Kobras''': You're just a small... insignificant... human being!
  +
: '''Servo''': No, no, HOO-man being... oh, wait.
   
  +
: '''Kobras''': Because you come from Earth...
⚫
[[wikipedia:Randall "Tex" Cobb|Randall "Tex" Cobb]] was a boxer in the 1970s, who later played a string of tough guys in movies, most notably ''[[wikipedia:Raising Arizona|Raising Arizona]]''.  The nose of the mask resembles Cobb's wide, flat nose.
  
  +
: '''Servo [as Kobras]''': Corn grows in you.
⚫
*"''Yeah, thanks Castaneda."''
  
  +
: '''Kobras''': And to Earth you shall return!
−
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Castaneda Carlos Casteneda] wrote a series of books on the teachings of a Yaqui wise man named Don Juan.
  
  +
: '''Mike''': Huh? That was an odd thing to say, even for him.
   
  +
: ''[The bad guys, having examined Tony's inert body, drive off. Tony comes out of his trance.]''
  +
: '''Vadinho''': You've succeeded! They think you're dead, and now they will leave you alone.
  +
: '''Mike''': To be left alone—the goal of every great hero!
   
  +
: ''[As Tony is nowhere to be seen, Vadinho beats the snot out of Kobras' henchmen.]''
  +
: '''Crow''': So, basically, the hero is ''this guy''. I think it's time we all face that fact!
   
  +
: ''[Vadinho has gone aboard the alien space craft and it goes off into the sun set.]''
  +
: '''Mike''': And we hear the dim cry of an anal probe.
   
  +
==Video releases==
  +
[[File:Pumamandvd.jpg|thumb|317x317px|'''MST3K DVD Cover''']]
  +
*Commercially released on DVD by [[Shout! Factory]] in March 2014 as part of [[Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXIX|Volume XXIX]], a 4-disc set along with ''[[MST3K 112 - Untamed Youth|Untamed Youth]]'', ''[[MST3K 412 - Hercules and the Captive Women|Hercules and the Captive Women]]'', and ''[[MST3K 805 - The Thing That Couldn't Die|The Thing That Couldn't Die]]''.
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**The DVD includes a [[Ballyhoo Motion Pictures]] interview with [[Walter George Alton]], ''Much Ado About [[The Nanites|Nanites]]'', and the original version of ''[[The Pumaman (film)|The Pumaman]]''.
   
 
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[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael J. Nelson]]
  

Latest revision as of 18:01, 23 November 2023


“ Pumaman!...'s friend. ”
- Servo pointing out the more effective hero


The Movie

Main article: The Pumaman (film)

Synopsis

A mild-mannered paleontologist finds himself endowed with super powers from his alien ancestors. He uses his abilities to defeat the plans of the villainous Dr. Kobras.

The Episode

Host Segments

903 2

Roger Whitaker (Kevin Murphy) shows up

Prologue: Servo struggles with Short Man's Disease.

Host Segment 1: Servo overcomes his disability; Pearl throws a ball in the castle but no one shows up for it, though Ortega and a few other friends come over to watch Sliders with Brain Guy.

Host Segment 2: Mike wants the dry look hairstyle like the guy in the movie, but angers Shelli the Nanite who makes his look perhaps a little too dry.

Pumamanhost

Mike becomes the Coatimundi

Host Segment 3: Mike is chosen by the "gods" to be Coatimundi Man complete with powers, theme music, and a haphazard costume (a Rhoda vest, a Dr. Who scarf, swimming flippers on his hands, and a giant foam cowboy hat).

Pumaman1

Crow and Tom try to control Roger Whittaker

Host Segment 4: Crow and Servo use their "genuine Aztec mask" to control Roger Whittaker.

Epilogue: Crow "quits" and wanders around the Satellite for a while, but quickly returns. Pearl feels dejected that no one came to her ball until Roger Whittaker arrives to cheer her up.

Stinger: Tony gets thrown out the window, and blue-screen falls to the ground.

MST3K cast

Regular cast

Guest cast

Trivia

Quotes & References

  • "Cheese, glorious cheese!"

"Food, Glorious Food", written by Lionel Bart, is the opening song from the 1960s West End and Broadway musical (and 1968 film) Oliver!. A "Cheese, Glorious Cheese" version was also used in advertising by the National Dairy Board (on behalf of America's Dairy Farmers) in the 1980s.

  • "Christmas Ornaments of the gods."

A reference to Chariots of the Gods?, a 1968 book, and later a documentary, which involves the hypothesis that the technologies and religions of many ancient civilizations were given to them by ancient astronauts who were welcomed as gods.

  • "No one knows who they were or what they were doing..."

A line from the movie This Is Spinal Tap when guitarist Nigel introduces the Stonehenge song in concert.

  • "Jane?" "Are you getting serious?"

Refers to Jon Astley's 1987 hit "Jane's Getting Serious".

  • "Hit me with your best slapshot."

"Hit Me with Your Best Shot" is a popular 80s rock song recorded by Pat Benatar. Crow mentioning a slapshot is due to the fact that the mask resembles a hockey goaltender mask.

  • "It's S&M day at the Field Museum!"

All three characters in this scene are wearing leather outfits, and this quip is in reference to the association of leather wearing with BDSM (Bondage/Discipline, Dominance/Submission, Sado/Masochism, also called "SM" or "S&M"). The Field Museum is the colloquial name for the Field Museum of Natural History located in Chicago, named after its first major benefactor department store magnate Marshall Field. One of its more renowned exhibits is Sue, a forty foot long fossilized skeleton of a T. rex.

  • "Ted Cassidy in his most sensitive role yet."

Ted Cassidy was an unusually tall (6'9") and deep-voiced actor best known for playing Lurch from The Addams Family. Crow's reference to "sensitive roles" is a reference to Cassidy being cast as Native Americans in such productions as The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as "Injun Joe" and Mackenna's Gold as "Hachita".

  • "Actually, he's 'John Davidson Man'."

John Davidson is a TV personality from the 70s and 80s who our hero resembles.

  • "My name is Vadinho." "I'm an onion."

Probably referring to the Vidalia onion, a type of sweet onion, and how pronouncing it sounds similar to 'Vadinho'.

  • "Yeah, thanks, Castaneda."

Starting with The Teachings of Don Juan in 1968, Carlos Castaneda wrote a series of books that describe his training in shamanism. The books relate his experiences under the tutelage of a man that Castaneda claimed was a Yaqui (Uto-Aztecan speaking indigenous people of Mexico) "Man of Knowledge" named Don Juan Matus.

  • "I can't get The Piña Colada Song out of my head."

A reference to "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes. The song is significant from an MST3K perspective as it was deconstructed in a host segment for Monster A-Go Go.

  • "Do the hustle!"

Crow is singing lyrics from Van McCoy's 1975 internationally successful disco song "The Hustle", which sounds very similar to Pumaman's theme music.

  • "Snoopy!"

Jane's leather hat is reminiscent of the leather aviator hat worn by the Peanuts character Snoopy during his fantasies as a World War I Flying Ace usually being shot down by his imaginary rival enemy, the German flying ace the Red Baron.

  • "He's as cat-like as Boog Powell."

John Wesley "Boog" Powell is a former MLB player for the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Powell was a large, imposing player with no real fielding skills.

  • "Alright, Craig T. Nelson. Make me laugh."

Craig T. Nelson is an actor and former stand-up comedian who appeared in such productions as Poltergeist and the TV series Coach.

  • "Dick's Red Owl, selection and service!"

Red Owl was a grocery store chain headquartered in Hopkins, Minnesota. Mike uses the movie's music—which resembles commercial theme music—to make up this jingle.

  • "Take THAT members of Boston."

Boston is an American rock band that was prominent during the 70's. They're best known for their songs "More Than a Feeling" and "Peace of Mind". The thugs being tossed by Vadinho slightly resemble them.

  • "Believe it or not, this movie's still on. It should have ended two hours ago."

Crow sings this to the tune of "Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)", the theme song of The Greatest American Hero, a TV series that aired on NBC from 1981 to 1983 about a schoolteacher who gains superhuman abilities from a superhero suit obtained from alien beings. May also be a reference to how the show's hero loses the manual for his super-suit and is consequently very awkward in using its powers (like Pumaman is, but intentionally so).

  • "Woah, the network shouldn't have bought Kelsey Grammer a helicopter."

Kelsey Grammer is a TV actor who got into a car accident while intoxicated in 1996. He was also charged with drunk driving in 1987.

  • "Dorf on Rituals."

Dorf is a diminutive character played by Tim Conway in a series of comedy videos including Dorf on Golf.

  • "The Botany 500 Man."

Botany 500 is an American clothing line.

  • "Barry Diller, here?"

Barry Diller is an influential television and film executive.

  • "Then they snagged on me, and called me Prince Valiant."

Prince Valiant is a comic strip that began running in 1937. The remark comes from the title character and Vadinho having similar hairstyles.

  • "Billions and billions of pumamen."

Servo says this in Carl Sagan's idiosyncratic voice in reference to the documentary series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage.

  • "With Randall 'Tex' Cobb as the mask!"

Randall "Tex" Cobb was a boxer in the 1970s who later played a string of tough guys in movies, most notably Raising Arizona. The nose of the mask resembles Cobb's wide, flat nose.

Memorable Quotes

Kobras: Sometimes there is more truth in legend than in history.
Mike [as Kobras]: And there's more salt in ham than in turkey.
Jane: You can't hide this!
Kobras: Who is to prevent me?
Servo: A halfway smart guy with muscles and hair?
[A man is hurled out an office building window.]
Mike: We're downsizing, Steve!
[A newspaper headline is shown reading "Fourth American killed in a few days. Will there be other victims?"]
Crow: Call our 900 number and vote.
Jane: So, dinosaurs died out because they forgot how to love each other. Is that right?
Servo: In a wrong kind of way, yeah.
Vadinho: My name is Vadinho.
Crow [as Vadinho]: I'm an onion.
[Tony punches through an attic roof, which crumbles easily.]
Mike: Luckily they made their house out of peanut brittle.
Crow: So basically a mild rain could take out that roof.
Crow: [Singing to the Puma Man theme music] Puma Man! He flies like a moron!
[Aztec priest Vadinho advises "Puma Man" Tony on his flying powers.]
Vadinho: You do not fly, but your mind does.
Crow [as Tony]: Yeah, thanks, Castaneda.
Kobras: Get moving. Comb the area. Find him. Kill him.
Crow: Donald's only use for the word "comb".
[Puma Man drops one of Kobras' henchmen and he falls rather awkwardly thanks to some poorly synced background shots]
Mike [as the henchman]: Heeelp! I'm falling at a sixty degree angle breaking all the laws of physics!
...
[The henchman gets dropped again]
Servo [as the henchman]: My mustache makes me fall sideways!
[As he prepares to use his teleportation power, Tony tosses his cloak back in a rather flamboyant gesture.]
Servo: Prepare the Effeminate Mobile!
[Tony seeks information from girlfriend Jane, who's wearing a black-leather catsuit with matching WWI-vintage strap-on pilot's headgear.]
Jane: I'm conditioned to keep the secret, just like everyone. I can't do it.
Tony: Try! Fight him! Fight him with your will!
Mike [as Jane]: But my will won't!
Jane: I— I— I can't! He's commanding me from a distance.
Servo: Amelia Airhead.
[In his mansion, Kobras waxes eloquent about his world domination plans.]
Kobras: When the world is mine, I alone will decide whether it is to be war or peace! Life or death!
Servo [as Kobras]: Stuffing or potatoes!
[After Kobras has been pronouncing "Puma" the British way the entire movie, the Satellite of Love crew finally gets tired of it.]
Kobras: You can not escape me, Pyu-ma Man!
Crow: PU-ma Man!
Mike: Oh, is that right? Dee-onald?
Kobras: You're just a small... insignificant... human being!
Servo: No, no, HOO-man being... oh, wait.
Kobras: Because you come from Earth...
Servo [as Kobras]: Corn grows in you.
Kobras: And to Earth you shall return!
Mike: Huh? That was an odd thing to say, even for him.
[The bad guys, having examined Tony's inert body, drive off. Tony comes out of his trance.]
Vadinho: You've succeeded! They think you're dead, and now they will leave you alone.
Mike: To be left alone—the goal of every great hero!
[As Tony is nowhere to be seen, Vadinho beats the snot out of Kobras' henchmen.]
Crow: So, basically, the hero is this guy. I think it's time we all face that fact!
[Vadinho has gone aboard the alien space craft and it goes off into the sun set.]
Mike: And we hear the dim cry of an anal probe.

Video releases

Pumamandvd

MST3K DVD Cover

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