I’ve recently gotten into collecting Mystery Science Theater 3000 for my Jellyfin library. For those who aren’t aware, it is technically a TV show, but each episode is a full length feature film. That being the case, these DVD sets tend to have a number of special features specific to each episode.
Now typically, you can create an ‘Extras’ directory specific to each season of a TV show, and that’s where I would normally put the special features. In this case, however, I would prefer the special features to be grouped by episode, rather than being grouped by season. That doesn’t seem to be possible in Jellyfin at the moment.
It could potentially work if I were to classify the episodes as movies, and put the special features in the movie directory instead, but neither TMDB or TTVDB classify MST3K episodes as movies, so I would have to write up all the metadata and images myself, instead of it being added automatically. That would take a lot of work, and it would also end up greatly inflating the size of my movie library.
Any suggestions on what I should do?
I have absolutely no practical advice for you, but while you’re waiting for more helpful responses, I do have a couple of questions. It’s been well over a decade (probably pushing two) aince ive even ripped a disc or had a movie jukebox type of setup.
First, I think I remember MST3K being identified as the movie they were doing, plus (maybe) a note that it was the MST3K version. It didn’t cause confusion because it’s not like I had an actual version of Pod People or Manos. But, at least back then, there were a few different databases we could hit up for metadata. I still ended up editing a lot by hand, but here were options.
But more importantly, are you talking about extras from the Joel and Mike seasons, or from some more recent iterations? I kind of didn’t pick it up after they got cancelled (and I didn’t like some of the cast changes), so I don’t know if any of the new stuff holds up. I did go see a live production with Joel at some point in the last few years and it was pretty good, but mostly because of nostalgia.
Well, I plan on collecting every episode they’re allowed to sell, plus as many special features as possible. I don’t know what you know, but relatively recently, previously out of print episodes have been seeing DVD re-releases on shout factory. We’re at the point now where nearly every episode of every season is available on DVD, minus the few where distribution rights couldn’t be renegotiated. The Shout Factory versions of these DVD’s appear to have a number of special features that were not previously available int eh Rhino DVD releases, So I’ve been buying from there.
I do also plan on collecting the reboot seasons. I know and understand people’s complaints, but I personally like the reboot, speaking as a new fan.
Edit: I should also mention that they started selling digital DRM-free downloads of episodes on their website, which I’m very happy about. You don’t even need to buy DVDs these days, and the digital movies are already in a codec compatible with most Jellyfin clients. Of course, you miss out on special features that way, which is a deal breaker for me.
Thank you - that’s very helpful.
I’ve been a fan since “Keep circulating the tapes” was a literal thing. My intro to the show was when someone I met online mailed me a bunch of VHS tapes recorded off of their local access feed or whatever they started on.
I know it’s a contentious opinion, but I like the new stuff. I wouldn’t say it “holds up” in the sense that if you go in wanting it to be just like Mike/Kevin/Bill/Mary Jo or just like Joel/Trace/Frank/Kevin, you’ll be disappointed. It’s different in so many ways: the production value being so high that the intentional camp/cheese feels forced, the new cast, the fan service, the jokes felt more rapidfire and more… “approachable” (less in-jokes, more relevant cultural references), the only returning characters are the robots, and their personalities (and voices) have all changed slightly, the b-plots/interludes/“bits” weren’t as memorable.
And yet, I still laughed like a maniac while warching it, so it at least passed the vibe check.