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When it first aired back in 1988, Mystery Science Theater 3000 represented a bold experiment in television. The whole point of the show was to mercilessly thrash forgotten B-rated films like Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and Eegah!—and the barbs were thrown by one guy and two makeshift robots who lived as prisoners in a space station. MST3K was canceled in 1999, but its creator Joel Hodgson revived the format in 2007 with the live show and DVD series Cinematic Titanic. Now, some MST3K cast members are enjoying a well-deserved victory lap on their latest tour. Last year, the group came to the Lisner Auditorium for a gleeful skewering of the poorly dubbed Japanese sci-fi flick War of the Insects; tonight, they tackle the 1976 horror non-classic Rattlers. It should be an evening loaded with quick quips and terrible dialogue, where yelling at the screen isn’t just tolerated, but encouraged.
Cinematic Titanic begins at 8 p.m. at Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St. NW. $25-35. 202-397-SEAT.