Mystery Science Theater 3000/Recap/S09/E03 Puma Man
Film watched: Puma Man
"You know, I have almost no respect for pumas now. I now know that if I ever run into a puma, I can just push it the hell over."
Tropes:
- Ass Pull: The bots, when convincing Mike of his role as Coatimundi Man, clearly haven't thought out his power suite:
Crow: Yeah...you can shoot....uh....magnetic...uh, laser....beams...from....from your nose! Yeah! Yeah!
- Blackmail: The 'bots envision this being done to Tony by a fly.
- Chroma Key:
Mike: Help, I'm falling at a 60 degree angle breaking all the laws of physics!
- Continuity Nod: Mike's Coatimundi Man hat resembles his cowboy hat from the barbecue sauce sketch in The Starfighters. Servo even lampshades it when he wears it back into the theater:
Servo: Bold, Mike.
- Designated Hero: Discussed.
Crow: I'll go mess up, and you save me!
Crow: All times, he has the look of a man who's been hit by a fish.
- Ho Yay: In-Universe between Tony and Vadinho.
Crow: (as Tony) Please get off, I'm feeling funny down there.
- It Is Pronounced "Tro-PAY": Every time Kobras says "Puma Man" the British way ("Pyooma Man", as opposed to "Pooma Man", Mike and the bots 'correct' him (Mike: "Oh, is that right, Dyonald?"); then when he says "human being", Servo says "That's 'hooman being'... oh, no, wait..."
- One riff plays on this as well:
Vadinho: I say put it on.
Mike: And you say "pyoot it oon".
- This was going on from the opening riff (with a dash of AcCENT Upon the Wrong SylLABle thrown in) where the mashed-together title was read "pyoo-MAY-min."
- Keep Circulating the Tapes: Despite being a fan favorite, this episode isn't likely to see release any time soon, because Shout Factory have so far found it impossible to get in touch with the film's copyright holders.
- How about they just release the episode and then see who comes out to sue them? Us MSTies would be happy to pass the hat around and start a legal fund.
- Mind Control Device: Tom and Crow attempt to mimic the film's method of Brainwashing to make the perfect assassin by building a bust of... folk singer Roger Whittaker!
- Never Say That Again: Mike tells Servo this after the latter makes a joke related to The Mask.
- Notable Original Music: Mike and the 'bots add their own lyrics to the jingle-istic "Puma Man Theme:"
Servo: (singing) The fat-free yo-gurt that's not short on fla-vor!
Mike: (singing) Dick's... Red Owl... selection and service...
Servo: (singing) Snyder Drug.. .we're busting up prices!
Crow: (singing) When... you want... the fla-vor of ba-con in a dip!
Crow: (singing) Burn an old man, singe all his flesh off!
Crow: (singing) Now... they're going... to boff in the air...!
- Rummage Sale Reject: Mike's Coatimundi Man costume quickly turns into this. Justified in that it was all a ploy by the bots to make him look silly.
- Running Gag: The heroic declaration of "Puma Man!" whenever Tony's being decidedly un-heroic. Also, the spoofing of Pleasence using the British pronunciation of "Puma". Much fun was also had at the expense of "Vadinho's" name sounding like a type of onion[1].
Vadinho: Kneel.
Crow: I told you, my name's Tony!
- They even do a preview of the pronunciation gag before it's even established:
Vadinho: I say put it on.
Mike: And you say "pyoot it oon".
- As usual, Mike and the 'bots keep making reference to Pleasence's baldness.
Kobras: Comb the area.
Crow: Donald's only use for the word "comb", right there.
- "I am a wood sprite! Tee Hee!"
- Crow saying "Do the hustle!" any time Puma Man's very disco-esque action music would play.
- Once again Bobo is singing songs by Asia.
- Sidekick Ex Machina: "So the hero is really...this guy."
- With Lyrics: "Puma Man, he flies like a moron..."
- ↑ Vidalia, if you didn't know