Mystery Science Theater 3000/Recap/S08/E04 The Deadly Mantis

Film watched: The Deadly Mantis

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 presentation includes the following tropes:
""Let's review: No chaps without pants...Mike. Number two: No sheer camisoles...Mike. Number three: No toeless shoes or sandals or spike heels...Mike.""
 * Continuity Nod: The jazzy refueling music from The Starfighters.
 * Apparently, Radio Frank is still in operation many centuries into the future.
 * Dress Code: In the opening host segment, Servo announces it's "Business Casual Day" on the SOL and berates Mike for his alleged violations of the (non-existent) dress code.

"Crow: It's certainly a joyous day for any Nelson woman when she meets the ape of her dreams."
 * I Am a Humanitarian: During a host segment, the SOL runs into a space creature. Bringing it aboard, it takes a liking to Crow and tries to eat him. In the last host segment, Crow reveals that he cooked it and served it as a meal in response.
 * Interspecies Romance: At the end of the episode, Mike and the Bots receive a letter from Peanut (Bobo's assistant). It's revealed he survived Earth's destruction - getting blasted into 2112 Wisconsin and meets "a nice girl" - a Nelson woman.


 * Not only that, but it's hinted that this pairing paved the way for human-ape relationships becoming commonplace which eventually created the ape-dominated future.
 * Mike Nelson Destroyer of Worlds: Mike's reign of terror begins when he inadvertently helps Prof. Bobo and Dr. Peanut detonate a thermonuclear bomb.
 * "Good one, Nelson!"
 * "Your Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated, crapheads."
 * Shout Out: The bomb worshipers and the subsequent planetary destruction by said bomb is a clear reference to Beneath the Planet of the Apes.
 * Take That: "Hopefully John Madden was on that bus."
 * "Maybe the army shouldn't have recruited Keith Moon..."