What do you think?
Rate this book
The Worst We Can Find
Had you tuned in to the small television station KTMA on Thanksgiving Day, 1988, you would have been one of the few witnesses to pop culture history being made. On that day, viewers in and around St. Paul, Minnesota, were treated to a genuine oddity, in which a man and his robots, trapped within a defiantly DIY sci-fi set, cracked jokes while watching a terrible movie. It was a cockeyed twist on the local TV programs of the past, in which a host would introduce old, cheaply licensed films. And though its origins may have been inauspicious, Mystery Science Theater 3000 captured the spirit of what had been a beloved pastime for generations of wags, wiseacres, and smartalecks, and would soon go on to inspire countless more. The Worst We Can Find is a comprehensive history of and guide to MST3K and its various offshoots—including Rifftrax, Cinematic Titanic, and The Mads Are Back—whose lean crew of writers, performers, and puppeteers have now been making fun of movies for over thirty years. It investigates how “riffing” of films evolved, recounts the history of these programs, and considers how a practice guaranteed to annoy real-life fellow moviegoers grew into such a beloved, long-lasting franchise. As author Dale Sherman explains, creative heckling has been around forever—but MST3K and its progeny managed to redirect that art into a style that was both affectionate and cutting, winning the devotion of countless fans and aspiring riffers.
280 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2023
14 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Dale Sherman
20 books1 followerDale Sherman has written biographies and references guides on KISS, Alice Cooper, women in rock music, urban legends in rock, Quentin Tarantino, Mel Brooks, John Waters, M*A*S*H (in all its various forms), and "End of the World" movies, with most still available for purchase.
His fifteenth and newest book - available December 2022 - is FOUR SCORES AND SEVEN REELS AGO, which examines the U.S. Presidency through the lens of Hollywood movies.
His sixteenth book, THE WORST WE CAN FIND, about MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 and similar programs, will be released in June 2023.
He lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife, daughter and too many animals.
His fifteenth and newest book - available December 2022 - is FOUR SCORES AND SEVEN REELS AGO, which examines the U.S. Presidency through the lens of Hollywood movies.
His sixteenth book, THE WORST WE CAN FIND, about MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 and similar programs, will be released in June 2023.
He lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife, daughter and too many animals.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 8, 2023
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S THE WORST WE CAN FIND ABOUT?
This is one of those books where the sub-title tells you everything you need to know: "MST3K, RiffTrax, and the History of Heckling at the Movies." The back of the book does give a fuller explanation:
Sherman starts with some commentary on the history of what we now call "meta" and riffing in general—going back to Greek choruses. He then shows how movies started riffing/commenting on themselves (and each other).
He then focuses on MST3K itself—talking about Joel Hodgson's background and the creation of the show. We actually get some good background on all the major players from the early years. He then describes the transitions in staff/cast as it moves from KTMA to Comedy Central to the movie (and, wow, what an effort to get that made) to SciFi and so on.
We then get a look at what the post-MST3K careers of the central figures look like and how riffing on movies has kept popping up in their lives (largely because people won't let them stop) and how the show has come back from its ending a time or two.
MY SOLE CRITICISM
Sherman only cites previously available material—yes, he dug up a lot of things that many/most fans would never see, never think of looking for. But he doesn't interview anyone himself, or provide anything outside a couple of personal memories that an industrious fan couldn't have found on their own.
I don't want to criticize what he did—it is no small feat to do what he did. And I'm so glad he did it—but the lack of original material keeps me from absolutely raving about this book.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE WORST WE CAN FIND?
Back when I talked about Scott Ryan's Moonlighting: An Oral History, I'd said:
The Worst We Can Find delivered on all but the "make me not really need to" because there's no way that someone could do that in a book form. I have watched some MST3K since then (more than I usually do because I've been inspired)—and some Rifftrax, too.
I don't want ponderous, I don't want slow. I don't mind a lot of detail (in fact, I relish it), I don't mind thoughtful (that's why I read the book), but I want to be entertained. And Sherman delivered there. His chapter introductions were golden—worth at least half of the purchase price alone. I started to give a couple of examples, but why ruin it for you? So, I'll be vague. I laughed aloud at Chapter 4's introduction. Maybe all of them, but Chapter 4 was the point I stopped to make note of it.
I really appreciated the way Sherman pivoted in the last chapter to speak of "we" in reference to fans of the show, it's clear throughout that he was one of us (there's no way you do this work without that—or a bigger paycheck than he likely got for this book), but I appreciated the way he did it there.
The last paragraph was perfect, incidentally.
This was a great read, I learned a lot, I chuckled frequently, and I had a great time reminiscing about a favorite show. I think you will, too. I'd say is a must for MSTies. As I said, I can't rave about it—but I can strongly encourage you to check it out. And keep circulating the tapes.
---
WHAT'S THE WORST WE CAN FIND ABOUT?
This is one of those books where the sub-title tells you everything you need to know: "MST3K, RiffTrax, and the History of Heckling at the Movies." The back of the book does give a fuller explanation:
Had you tuned in to the small television station KTMA on Thanksgiving Day, 1988, you would have been one of the few witnesses to pop culture history being made. On that day, viewers in and around St. Paul, Minnesota, were treated to a genuine oddity, in which a man and his robots, trapped within a defiantly DIY sci-fi set, cracked jokes while watching the terrible 1981 movie Invaders from the Deep. Although its origins may have been inauspicious, Mystery Science Theater 3000 captured the spirit of what had been a beloved pastime for generations of wags, wiseacres, and smart alecks, and would soon go on to inspire countless more.
The Worst We Can Find is a comprehensive history of and guide to MST3K and its various offshoots—including Rifftrax, Cinematic Titanic, and The Mads Are Back—whose lean crew of writers, performers, and puppeteers have now been making fun of movies for over thirty years. It investigates how “riffing” of films evolved, recounts the history of these programs, and considers how a practice guaranteed to annoy real-life fellow moviegoers grew into such a beloved, long-lasting franchise. As author Dale Sherman explains, creative heckling has been around forever—but MST3K and its progeny managed to redirect that art into a style that was both affectionate and cutting, winning the devotion of countless fans and aspiring riffers.
Sherman starts with some commentary on the history of what we now call "meta" and riffing in general—going back to Greek choruses. He then shows how movies started riffing/commenting on themselves (and each other).
He then focuses on MST3K itself—talking about Joel Hodgson's background and the creation of the show. We actually get some good background on all the major players from the early years. He then describes the transitions in staff/cast as it moves from KTMA to Comedy Central to the movie (and, wow, what an effort to get that made) to SciFi and so on.
We then get a look at what the post-MST3K careers of the central figures look like and how riffing on movies has kept popping up in their lives (largely because people won't let them stop) and how the show has come back from its ending a time or two.
MY SOLE CRITICISM
Sherman only cites previously available material—yes, he dug up a lot of things that many/most fans would never see, never think of looking for. But he doesn't interview anyone himself, or provide anything outside a couple of personal memories that an industrious fan couldn't have found on their own.
I don't want to criticize what he did—it is no small feat to do what he did. And I'm so glad he did it—but the lack of original material keeps me from absolutely raving about this book.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE WORST WE CAN FIND?
Back when I talked about Scott Ryan's Moonlighting: An Oral History, I'd said:
When I read a book about a television show, I want a few things—I want something to
* make me want to rewatch the show
* make me not really need to, because the book has helped me remember it in such a way that it's not that necessary
* give me a lot of behind-the-scenes information about the show
* help me understand it better (not just information, but reflections on it—its legacy, cultural context, impact on television, et.)
* Ideally, teach me something about the art and/or business of television (preferably both)
* and if it can be fun (TV should be entertaining), that's all the better.
Yeah, that seems like a lot to ask for from a book, but if I'm going to take the time to read a book instead of watching a behind-the-scenes show or listening to a panel discussion, I want bang for my buck—I don't always get it (and know that going in), but I want it.
The Worst We Can Find delivered on all but the "make me not really need to" because there's no way that someone could do that in a book form. I have watched some MST3K since then (more than I usually do because I've been inspired)—and some Rifftrax, too.
I don't want ponderous, I don't want slow. I don't mind a lot of detail (in fact, I relish it), I don't mind thoughtful (that's why I read the book), but I want to be entertained. And Sherman delivered there. His chapter introductions were golden—worth at least half of the purchase price alone. I started to give a couple of examples, but why ruin it for you? So, I'll be vague. I laughed aloud at Chapter 4's introduction. Maybe all of them, but Chapter 4 was the point I stopped to make note of it.
I really appreciated the way Sherman pivoted in the last chapter to speak of "we" in reference to fans of the show, it's clear throughout that he was one of us (there's no way you do this work without that—or a bigger paycheck than he likely got for this book), but I appreciated the way he did it there.
The last paragraph was perfect, incidentally.
This was a great read, I learned a lot, I chuckled frequently, and I had a great time reminiscing about a favorite show. I think you will, too. I'd say is a must for MSTies. As I said, I can't rave about it—but I can strongly encourage you to check it out. And keep circulating the tapes.
June 1, 2024
Had I read this before reading Mystery Science Theater 3000: A Cultural History, I might have rated this higher, but that book is doing some of what this is trying to do and knocks it out of the park.
The focus here on trying to explain other sources of "riffing" is admirable, but the book doesn't spend enough time there before diving into a history of MST3k. There's fertile ground to be mined and discussed. This feels well-researched, but not as well written as it good be - the book's sources are quoted heavily, but could stand to be synthesized more instead of merely presented as-is, and any given chapter feels like it's noodling around trying to hit a certain page length like a college term paper instead of being focused and direct. There's good info here, but I think there's a better book one or two editorial passes inside this text.
The focus here on trying to explain other sources of "riffing" is admirable, but the book doesn't spend enough time there before diving into a history of MST3k. There's fertile ground to be mined and discussed. This feels well-researched, but not as well written as it good be - the book's sources are quoted heavily, but could stand to be synthesized more instead of merely presented as-is, and any given chapter feels like it's noodling around trying to hit a certain page length like a college term paper instead of being focused and direct. There's good info here, but I think there's a better book one or two editorial passes inside this text.
December 25, 2025
The Worst We Can Find is, for the most part, an excellent dive into the history of MST3K, media related to it, and the careers of the people involved, marred primarily by that old bugbear that plagues every book about current topics: the simple passage of time. Written in 2022, The Worst came out in the middle of the show's fourth resurrection on The Gizmoplex, its own streaming platform. As such, it ends on a note that's significantly more hopeful than the reality just a few years later: At the time, new content was still coming out, and the dodgy premise of launching an entire streaming service for more or less just one show, still held promise. It doesn't get to the failed attempt at funding another season (with the bizarre choice to raise money not on Kickstarter, or even GoFundMe, but some little platform nobody had really heard of), or the growing crowdfunding fatigue among fans for a show they love, but that was supposed to be able to sustain itself at some point. As it stands at the end of 2025, there have been no new episodes since the season that had been live when The Worst was published, the Gizmoplex, itself, brings up a DNS error (at least when I tried accessing it just now), and things have been largely radio silent since the latest crowdfunding failed. Even this year's Turkey Day Marathon was, to the best of my knowledge, just old clips between the movies, with no new announcements or updates.
Still, the show has come back before, and it's not impossible that it could return again in some form, but it's looking less rosy than it was when this book came out. But at least there's still RiffTrax, which fills the void pretty well, and which gets a decent amount of coverage in The Worst.
The only other quibble I have is the typos sprinkled throughout. Sometimes they're unexpectedly funny, such as when Professor Bobo is instead written as "Bob," but most of them should've been cleaned up with another round of proofreading. Beyond that, this is a great look behind the scenes of a show many of us still love, and at the people behind it. And regardless of the current status of MST3K, itself, this book ends with what I feel is the best summation of what the show has always meant to me: "After all, we worry about so many things in life--jobs, health, school, finance, family--sometimes we need to remember that laughing at our mistakes can make us feel better...and that sometimes the worst we can find are the best memories to remember." MST3K has gotten me through some very rough times in my life, and remembering that there can still be laughter to be found when times are dark is a very powerful message, indeed.
Still, the show has come back before, and it's not impossible that it could return again in some form, but it's looking less rosy than it was when this book came out. But at least there's still RiffTrax, which fills the void pretty well, and which gets a decent amount of coverage in The Worst.
The only other quibble I have is the typos sprinkled throughout. Sometimes they're unexpectedly funny, such as when Professor Bobo is instead written as "Bob," but most of them should've been cleaned up with another round of proofreading. Beyond that, this is a great look behind the scenes of a show many of us still love, and at the people behind it. And regardless of the current status of MST3K, itself, this book ends with what I feel is the best summation of what the show has always meant to me: "After all, we worry about so many things in life--jobs, health, school, finance, family--sometimes we need to remember that laughing at our mistakes can make us feel better...and that sometimes the worst we can find are the best memories to remember." MST3K has gotten me through some very rough times in my life, and remembering that there can still be laughter to be found when times are dark is a very powerful message, indeed.
November 20, 2023
For Any MST3K Fan
This is a great read. A complete history of how MST3K started to what it has evolved into today. We also learn a bit about the other off shoots like RiffTrax. Highly recommended for any fan!
This is a great read. A complete history of how MST3K started to what it has evolved into today. We also learn a bit about the other off shoots like RiffTrax. Highly recommended for any fan!
January 1, 2024
Well researched. I always enjoy when someone spends a lot of time and energy on something niche and “The Worst We Can Find” fit that bill nicely.
November 10, 2025
Entertaining and informative history of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and the cultural phenomenon of movie riffing. Author Dale Sherman digs pretty deep to uncover the origins of meta humor and "talking back to the screen," finding antecedents in ancient Greek drama, Shakespeare, and modern works parodying movie and TV through redubbing. The book is an excellent history of MST3K as a television phenomenon, documenting its various incarnations and cast/writer changes, and how it moved from local TV through cable channels and into the streaming age. Fans of MST3K will appreciate Sherman's obvious love of the franchise, from speculations about Cambot, semi-serious attempts to rationalize the show's fractured continuity, to the unexpected appearance of White Dot at the start of Season 13.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews