MST3k has been my go-to lately for background TV. Their Twitch channel plays random or themed episodes 24/7, plus some Rifftrax, Film Crew, and Cinematic Titanic movies (all projects involving MST3k alumni). In spending so much time with MST3k hanging out in the back of my head, I thought I’d highlight some of the interesting trivia and whatnot I’ve come across.

Today’s highlight: Marjoe Gortner

MST3k connection: Star of “Starcrash”, riffed on MST3k in Season 11 episode 6

Trivia: The consonantly unlikely name of Marjoe Gortner does not come from Scandinavian roots, as I’d thought. According to Wikipedia, Marjoe was a portmanteau of Mary and Joseph, or possibly a variation on his mother’s name, Marge. Marjoe was born into an evangelical family and was ordained as a Pentecostal preacher at the age of 4. In this evangelical twist on stage parents run amok, Marjoe preached on the revival circuit and helped his parents amass approximately $3m by the time he was 16 – at which point his father absconded with the money. After a crisis of faith, Marjoe collaborated with documentary filmmakers to create “Marjoe” – a behind-the-scenes documentary critical of evangelical and revival preaching. It won the 1972 Academy Award for Best Documentary. Marjoe then turned to acting as a better use of his theatrical talents and made a bunch of B-movies, including the deeply goofy “Starcrash”.

“MST3k: Starcrash” is available on Netflix as part of the MST3k revival series.