Observer (MST3K)
Encyclopedia
Observer is a fictional character on the Mystery Science Theater 3000
television series. He was played by Bill Corbett
, and appeared on the eighth through tenth seasons of the series. Observer is a hyperintelligent, psychic
alien from a planet of fellow aliens confusingly sharing the name "Observer" (the other two who appeared in the show were played by Michael J. Nelson
and Paul Chaplin
). Supposedly, the Observers "evolved" beyond bodies into dark-green brains in large Petri dish
es (not unlike the Providers in the Star Trek
episode "The Gamesters of Triskelion"), which are carried around by humanoid host bodies (controllable over a distance of up to 50 yards), rendering their abandonment of their original bodies rather pointless (As the robot Gypsy points out, "Wouldn't it be more convenient to just keep your brains in your heads?"). Thus Observer is, technically, only the brain which is being carried by the host body, but for all intent and purposes, he is considered a humanoid with brain separated from body. Observer joins the mad scientists ("The Mads") after his planet is inadvertently destroyed by Mike Nelson.
Like his colleagues, Professor Bobo (Kevin Murphy) and Pearl Forrester (Mary Jo Pehl), Brain Guy is deeply dysfunction
al. Unlike Bobo and Pearl, Brain Guy apparently has a considerable social and sexual life once the show returns to Earth for Seasons 9 and 10. He is also said to have, as Professor Bobo put it, "B.O." (body odor
). Observer denies this, claiming that he doesn't have a body, although eventually he gives himself a sniff and admits that he does, in fact, "stink".
Observer, upon joining the crew of "Mads", usually ends up being the one who sends the movies to the Satellite of Love
via his psychic abilities.
Observer claims, like his fellow Observers, to be omniscient and omnipotent, much like Q
and his people from Star Trek: The Next Generation
, but frequently fails to demonstrate these supposed abilities (he once stated that he was "not that omnipotent"). In one of his earlier appearances, before his homeworld is accidentally destroyed by Mike Nelson, his fellow Observers test the rest of the cast to see if any of them are deserving the right to become part of their kind and are surprised when Tom Servo
scores higher than him, leading to Observer being painfully punished in Episode #806, "The Undead
". Exposure to Pearl's autocratic manner also appears to degrade his powers over the course of the show, to the point when Observer tries to punish Mike horribly, he sends him a necktie
instead ("Don't you see what a terrible gift that is?") In the final episode, #1013 Danger: Diabolik
, Pearl's playful dousing of his brain in Mountain Dew
temporarily interferes with his speech and disables Brain Guy's gifts, allowing the Satellite of Love to crash to Earth.
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
television series. He was played by Bill Corbett
Bill Corbett
Bill Corbett is an American writer and performer for television, film and theatre. He was a writer and performer on the cult television show Mystery Science Theater 3000 , for which he voiced the robot Crow T. Robot during the show's later seasons on the Sci Fi Channel and played the character...
, and appeared on the eighth through tenth seasons of the series. Observer is a hyperintelligent, psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
alien from a planet of fellow aliens confusingly sharing the name "Observer" (the other two who appeared in the show were played by Michael J. Nelson
Michael J. Nelson
Michael John Nelson is a U.S. comedian and writer, most famous for his work on the cult television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Nelson was the head writer of the series for most of the show's 11-year run, and spent half of that time playing the on-air host, also named Mike Nelson...
and Paul Chaplin
Paul Chaplin
Paul Chaplin is a U.S. writer and comedian, best known for his work on the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000, for which he wrote and played the recurring characters of an Observer, Ned the Nanite, Pitch the Demon, and Ortega, along with several other bit roles.- Biography :After...
). Supposedly, the Observers "evolved" beyond bodies into dark-green brains in large Petri dish
Petri dish
A Petri dish is a shallow glass or plastic cylindrical lidded dish that biologists use to culture cells or small moss plants. It was named after German bacteriologist Julius Richard Petri, who invented it when working as an assistant to Robert Koch...
es (not unlike the Providers in the Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
episode "The Gamesters of Triskelion"), which are carried around by humanoid host bodies (controllable over a distance of up to 50 yards), rendering their abandonment of their original bodies rather pointless (As the robot Gypsy points out, "Wouldn't it be more convenient to just keep your brains in your heads?"). Thus Observer is, technically, only the brain which is being carried by the host body, but for all intent and purposes, he is considered a humanoid with brain separated from body. Observer joins the mad scientists ("The Mads") after his planet is inadvertently destroyed by Mike Nelson.
Like his colleagues, Professor Bobo (Kevin Murphy) and Pearl Forrester (Mary Jo Pehl), Brain Guy is deeply dysfunction
Dysfunction
Dysfunction can refer to:* Abnormality * Dysfunctional family* Sexual dysfunction* Dysfunction , an album by the rock band Staind...
al. Unlike Bobo and Pearl, Brain Guy apparently has a considerable social and sexual life once the show returns to Earth for Seasons 9 and 10. He is also said to have, as Professor Bobo put it, "B.O." (body odor
Body odor
Body odor or body odour, sometimes colloquially abbreviated as B.O., is the smell of bacteria growing on the body. The bacteria multiply rapidly in the presence of sweat, but sweat itself is almost completely odorless to humans....
). Observer denies this, claiming that he doesn't have a body, although eventually he gives himself a sniff and admits that he does, in fact, "stink".
Observer, upon joining the crew of "Mads", usually ends up being the one who sends the movies to the Satellite of Love
Satellite of Love (MST3K)
The Satellite of Love is the fictional main setting of the comedy television series Mystery Science Theater 3000. It is a giant bone-shaped spacecraft that Joel Robinson and his friends — robots Crow, Tom Servo, Gypsy, Cambot, and the noncorporeal Magic Voice — live in...
via his psychic abilities.
Observer claims, like his fellow Observers, to be omniscient and omnipotent, much like Q
Q (Star Trek)
Q is a fictional character who appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, as well as in related products. In all of these programs, he is played by John de Lancie....
and his people from Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
, but frequently fails to demonstrate these supposed abilities (he once stated that he was "not that omnipotent"). In one of his earlier appearances, before his homeworld is accidentally destroyed by Mike Nelson, his fellow Observers test the rest of the cast to see if any of them are deserving the right to become part of their kind and are surprised when Tom Servo
Tom Servo
Tom Servo is a fictional character from the American science fiction comedy television show Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Tom is one of two wise-cracking, robotic main characters of the show, built by Joel Robinson to act as a companion and help stave off space madness as Joel was forced to watch...
scores higher than him, leading to Observer being painfully punished in Episode #806, "The Undead
The Undead (film)
The Undead is a 1957 horror film directed by Roger Corman starring Pamela Duncan, Richard Garland, Allison Hayes, and Val Dufour. It follows the story of prostitute Diana Love who is put into a hypnotic trance by psychic Quintis , thus causing her to regress back to a previous life...
". Exposure to Pearl's autocratic manner also appears to degrade his powers over the course of the show, to the point when Observer tries to punish Mike horribly, he sends him a necktie
Necktie
A necktie is a long piece of cloth worn for decorative purposes around the neck or shoulders, resting under the shirt collar and knotted at the throat. Variants include the ascot tie, bow tie, bolo tie, and the clip-on tie. The modern necktie, ascot, and bow tie are descended from the cravat. Neck...
instead ("Don't you see what a terrible gift that is?") In the final episode, #1013 Danger: Diabolik
Danger: Diabolik
Danger: Diabolik is a 1968 feature film from Italian filmmaker Mario Bava based on the Italian comic character Diabolik.- About the film :...
, Pearl's playful dousing of his brain in Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew is a citrus-flavored carbonated soft drink brand produced and owned by PepsiCo. The original formula was invented in the 1940s by Tennessee beverage bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman and was first marketed in Marion, VA, Knoxville and Johnson City, Tennessee. A revised formula was...
temporarily interferes with his speech and disables Brain Guy's gifts, allowing the Satellite of Love to crash to Earth.