In the early 80's , whether anyone wants to admit it or not , The Medved Brothers , Michael and Harry , got the ball rolling for Bad Film Fandom. Yes , just as "Graphic Novels" used to be called "Comic Books" or "Comix" in some quarters , there was a time when Psychotronic Films were lovingly called "Bad Films" , or , with a hint of respectability , "Exploitation Films" , or , with contempt , "Camp Films". Now , Michael Weldon did a lot more for the medium than The Medveds , and , I've no doubt , will continue to do so (He and his wife own a store , it's possible that has  something to do with his inactivity online.) , but , like a lot of people , I guess , I was already a film of Cinema Fromage when I first happened uponm a copy of "The 50 Worst Films Ever Made". Not too much later , "The Golden Turkey Awards was released" ,  supposedly a primer for all things Psychotronic. Well , they knock movies that should have got at least three stars , or are merely inoffensive. Their contempt for their subject is hardly benign , but, you know what? It's still fun , as a referenc ebook . I've moved on , since then, but , hey. The third in their trash trilogy is"The Hollywood Hall of Shame" , documenting collossal wastes (And Losses) of money on celluloid , starting , of course  , with D.W. Griffith.

Other writers have criticized The Medveds for their condescening attitudes , and , while I feel their pain , it only gets weirder from there......The "Golden Turkey" book challenged it's readers to spot the movie that's an out and out hoax. There were two chapters "Worst performance by an actor as Jesus Christ" ( Ted Neeley won. Lech Kowalski's "Stations of The Cross" , with Johnny Thunders as The Savior , was never finished.) , and "The Most Unerotic Concept in Pornography" , the award going to "Him" a little seen picture that depicts Christ and his Apostles as flaming Homosexuals. OK , I had actually heard of this movie before I read about it in this book. But , I'd only heard of it. The Medveds took an extraordinarily pro - Jesus stand , being that they're Jewish , but, presumably with the mindset that they respected Chrisianity ,and , after all......He was one of theirs. More recently , Michael (Also the Author of the hit novel , "Whatever Happened To The Class of '65?", briefly made into a TV show.)wrote an essay in defense of Mel Gibson and "Passion of The Christ" , whatever it's called ,almost  blatantly apologizing for being a Jew and not a Christian at this time , so he could really get behind the former "Sexiest Man Alive" ....which reminds me , a friend of mine who's Gay said that "Him" is the film in their book that was a hoax. I know ! How could I not have known? I heard it was English , and starred Donald Pleasance and was banned, over here.....So , I don't know....Maybe The Medveds have issue , maybe they appreciate , yet , they don't appreciate , what we now call  Psychotronic Cinema , but , they were relevant , once. Anybody remember?

HA HA HA HA , well said. (Last paragraph) . I only have the Medveds to thank because they introduced me to so many of these films , when I'd only read about some of them in monster magazines. Weldon , however , took the whole thing to new heights. He's so much more knowledgeable , enthusiastic , and truly in love with the all - encompassing genre that he coined the name for , which  , yes , he now owns  , but , that does'nt mean he's after money. He could have gone after money in the past......I forgot what The Medved Bros. even said about Arch Hall , Jr. , but , I met him at The Ponderosa Stomp , AND HE WAS VERY COOL. Wished I'd liked his music (Not his old recordings . They're great.). But , 15 minutes into his set , I REALIZED IT WAS STAY , OR MISS THE WAILERS. GOOMBYE PLEASE !

BUT , IT'S THAT CONDESCENDING ATTITUDE THAT'S MADE MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATRE 3000 SUCH A HIT.  I VERY , VERY SELDOM HEAR ANYTHING CONTRARY SAID ABOUT THAT SHOW.....I MUCH PREFERRED THE PROGRAM LORRAINE NEWMAN HOSTED IN THE 80'S. They showed "Plan 9 fROM oUTER sPACE" , "ROBOT MONSTER" , "SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS " , etc. , without a lot of annoying interruptions.

I can see that you're familiar with Mrs. Toody's annoying (but funny) habits.

But back to the original issue, the Medved Brothers wrote their books as an job to make money. Michael Weldon write the Psychotronic books as a labor of love, or maybe because he had to do something tangible with all his knowledge. He never implied that he looked down on or was "above" the movies he writes about, which the Medveds always did in their books. Just read what they wrote about Arch Hall Jr. (it sure pissed Arch off), one of the most likeable and cool guys in these type movies, to get the Medved editorial bias.

Let me try this metaphor...if the Psychotronic books were garage comps then they would be the BACK FROM THE GRAVE series equivalent...the Medved books are more like COLLECTIBLE garage comps.

Yeah , there was actually a "Golden Turkey Film Festival" at The Granada Theatre in Dallas , in '81 or '82. The Medveds were there. I'd read about the same thing happening in New York . I was living in Arlington , Tx. at the time, an hour away , and did'nt have wheels. But , I'd forgotten all these other facts about Michael Medved ....I SORT OF STOPPED PAYING ATTENTION.  I was just kind of shocked at his defense of Gibson's anti - semitic views. If he merely said it was a matter of free speech , OK , but , he really agreed , that's the fucked - up  part......But , I used to get my kicks , reading those books , wondering what these movies were really like. Some , I've never seen , though I've seen a lot of 'em . You have a good point about the condescension making people curious about these pictures....But , now , it's morphed into that "Mystery Science Theatre " mentality. Let's make so much noise about what a piece of shit this movie is , that no one can tell , maybe it's not such a piece of shit. I tried watching that show , but I wanted to watch the damn movie , and got irritated. I realize I'm in a minority , here . I can handle a Horror Host interrupting the film on occasion , but , even our own (Son of) Svengoolie in Chicago knows the difference between a Universal classic and some piece of crap , and his commentary is dispensed accordingly.....

I have'nt looked at their books in a long time , either , I mean , I'm on my third copy of The Psychotronic Video Encyclopedia.....But , I get a laugh reading about why these movies were such flops , or artistic failures....That is , to hear them tell it. Sometimes , it's a letdown when a movie is'nt as bad as you've been told......I saw Russ Meyer once. He said 20th Century Fox swore they'd never release "Beyond The Valley of The Dolls" or "Myra Breckinridge".....Well , it was criminal that they'd keep "Valley" from the public (And a head scratcher that it recieved a Golden Turkey mention.) , but , Fox caved , finally , and even released "Myra" , eventually. Is it a crowning cinematic achievement? No. Is it as bad as they say ? Not in my estimation , then it would be unwatchable.

When I saw The Medved Brothers host a "B-Movie Marathon" on The Movie Channel around 1983/84.  I became a fan.  I thought they were funny and I enjoyed the movies they were featuring (mostly Godzilla movies and the clip-movie "It Came From Hollywood").  I eventually found the two "Golden Turkey Awards" books and that helped me in searching for these movies in the early video rental stores.  Their snide remarks made me want to see some of these movies more.  I never read "50 Worst..." or "hollywood Hall of Shame" so I can't comment on those books.  But when Michael Medved started to devote himself to reviewing "normal movies" on Sneak Previews and calling for "family values" in entertainment.  I stopped paying attention.  I still have those "Golden Turkey" books but haven't cracked them open in years.   

  I'll buy that. Never met him. BUT , HE HAS'NT ENDEARED HIMSELF TO ANYONE , LATELY.

Thanks for responding so quickly , but , you know something , I was just telling my buddy , Francis , I HATE CAPTAIN BLOCH !!! Then my wife , Lucille  heard me , and had to open up the windows and yell "LISTEN TO ME , AMERICA !!! MY HUSBAND , GUNTHER TOODY , IS A NUT !!AND HE HATES HIS OWN PRECINCT CAPTAIN !!! HE HATES CAPTAIN BLOCH !!!".

i'M KIDDING.

Michael Medved is a dick.