Want to see more Mystery Science Theater 3000? Joel Hodgson, the show's creator, has launched a new crowdfunding campaign to make Season 14 possible.
Hodgson announced the campaign on Showmaker, the show's in-house crowdfunding platform, on Tuesday. It's the second crowdfunding campaign after the creator hosted one for Season 13 of MST3K in 2021, which brought 13 new episodes and 13 new shorts, as well as the return of hosts Jonah Heston and Joel Robinson (who hosted the series' original run), and new host Emily Connor.
Hodgson said Season 14 will produce between 6 and 12 new episodes, depending on how much money fans contribute to the campaign. He said he hopes fans will be able to fund the new season in time for MST3K's 35th anniversary. Here are the tiers at which fans can donate the money and what features will be unlocked.
At $4.8 million raised:
- 6 new features
- 6 new shorts
- 18 surgically enhanced classic episodes
At $6.1 million raised:
- 9 new features
- 9 new shorts
- 18 surgically enhanced classic episodes
At $7.4 million raised:
- 12 new episodes
- 12 new shorts
- 36 surgically enhanced classic episodes
Only 65% of the funds will go towards producing new episodes. The rest of the budget will be dedicated to manufacturing physical rewards and paying everyone involved with the show more (29%) — especially in light of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes — campaign fees (5%), and further development and maintenance of the Gizmoplex (1%), the independent streaming platform that MST3K built so that it wouldn't rely on networks to survive.
The Gizmoplez will be included as part of the digital rewards package, giving fans access to new episodes. Other digital rewards include digital downloads of Seasons 13 and 14, and special thanks in the credits.
Cristina Alexander is a freelance writer for IGN. To paraphrase Calvin Harris, she wears her love for Sonic the Hedgehog on her sleeve like a big deal. Follow her on Twitter @SonicPrincess15.
