A Date With Your Family

A short educational film brought to us by Mystery Science Theatre. VERY funny.

[@smpawloski]

"Dad, I had a feeling today." "Well, don't, son."

[@kellyweingart3692]

lol

[@kellyweingart3692]

“Anyone seen our waitress?”

[@dylanstalnaker3795]

the 1950s summed up nicely

[@buckaroobanzai7063]

The fact someone had to make a film telling people to live this way only proves no one ever did.

[@jovanniebazil]

4:53-4:55 "Dad i'm dating a Negro." Best part in this entire video lol

[@thedaylightwolfman564]

Thank goodness someone actually said it! Haha! 😄 Only seconded by "dad I had a feeling." "well don't son." Hilarious!

[@Nacho-Mamma]

Nope! Best line: "Emotions are for ethnic people!" I choked on my water & pissed myself laughing!

[@efxman]

"A violent argument erupts over who's day was more pleasant." I love the ficticious models used for the 1950's family. Even "normal" families of that age weren't as twisted as this. MST3K understood how insipid and unrealistic all this was, and it's great comedy to boot:)

[@janeadelaidelennox7193]

“The woody Allen story” Lol right out of the gate 😂

[@MythicSuns]

PSA: "always make sure to act and appear pleasant around your family, and make sure to be yourself" me: "well, which is it?"

[@saedastarcaller]

Father feigns eating, draws Junior out, and disowns him!

[@heyjungblood16]

"I can't stress unemotional enough" my favorite line. it sums up the entire video perfectly.

[@joker927]

"Father feigns eating, draws junior out, and disowns him!" hahahaha

[@TheChildofAuraReborn]

Our History Teacher showed us this in class. We were absolutely dying with laughter.

[@Casey5693]

With or without the MST3K commentary?

[@TheChildofAuraReborn]

Casey5693 With.

[@Casey5693]

TheChildofAuraReborn That's even better. You had the most awesome history teacher ever!

[@wwef6lr]

My history teacher showed this to us too lol.

[@SprightlyValentino]

Absolutely nobody watching this today would take it seriously (well, maybe a tiny minority would), so you might as well show it to the class with the commentary included. If anything that just accentuates how times and the overall attitude of society has changed. It's also a good way to introduce the class to the concept of satire.

[@TheStapleGunKid]

I love how the 50's had short films explaining everything, from having diner with your family to the importance of springs in life ("A case of Spring Feaver"). If anything existed in the 50's, someone would make a film about it.

[@gamingchinchilla7323]

well... these expensive film studios cant pay for themselves... Let's shovel some mundane life PSA's to the masses!

[@Musicandlyrics2400]

Well they didn’t have google lol

[@AspieMediaBobby]

"I had a feeling today,Daddy.""Welll,don`t,son!"The 1950`s in a nutshell.

[@drafe007]

epic.

[@themange59]

"Father I had a feeling today" "well don't son." Lol love it!

[@littlebearbradick9263]

*lists numerous topics to not bring up or mannerisms not to display* *concludes with "but always be yourself."* LOL.

[@denisecranson831]

"Tell Mother how good the food is." ..."Even as you gag on it." LMAO

[@kymmydanger]

"...I'm moving to Fire Island dear."

[@luisreyes1963]

Nice...🏳️‍🌈

[@AaronWood]

"This stinks." Great callback to Pod People!

[@Zalis116]

"Watch him play Butler, in Remains of the Day." I love how MST3K wasn't afraid to make jokes that not too many people would get. First saw this short in a college English class, where the prof put it up as an example of a modernist work with post-modernist commentary.

[@SuperHollygrovechick]

"The women of this family seem to feel that they owe it to the men of the family to look relaxed, rested, and attractive at dinner time." *So they're unsuspecting when they kill them.*

[@jasondulin7376]

Which is also the creepiest line in the short.... Why would the daughter owe it to the men of the family to look attractive?!

[@maouprier]

Any time, and every time I hear the word "pleasant" it makes me think of this short. Especially the line "A violent argument erupts over whose day was more pleasant!!" And the line about "pleasant, unemotional conversation aids digestion."

[@applemask]

WELL THIS CERTAINLY IS PLEASANT

[@noisydope]

"emotions are for ethnic people" "well, there it is, spankings all around then" oh man im cryin over here

[@pittland44]

Are you an ethnic person? Then stop that!

[@barbllm]

"A violent argument erupts over whose day was more pleasant."

[@areoborg]

"THERE'S A RABBIT IN THERE!"

[@luisreyes1963]

"Where's the LAMB SAUCE!?!" 😡

[@TimelordR]

At 7:10- the son goes into graphic detail on what he did to the class president for not paying his weekly "protection", whilst the daughter goes into clinical detail about the pros & cons of feminine hygiene products.

[@internziko]

Brother has a tight psychological grip on jr

[@xekul]

"father feigns eating, draws junior out, and disowns him!"

[@aryaasha4589]

lol "everyone wants to flee the seething cauldron of angst"

[@billsmith6884]

Daughter changes into something more comfortable; A WEREWOLF!!!!

[@johnrie18]

Father, I had a feeling today... Well don't son!

[@tb4495]

“Brother has a tight psychological grip on junior.”

[@jonathanwashington6083]

If you guys follow Rifftrax, then you can see "Brother" taking a date (no, not "Mother", his best gal) to the prom.

[@SixFeetUndr101]

This must be how Mike Pence sees the world.

[@dankauffmanmusic]

ted dymski guess you can't take jokes. You're in the wrong place, then.

[@mikezylstra7514]

@@dankauffmanmusic I think T D must've got banned. His comment is gone.

[@flashesofblack4128]

Holy Cow! This 'Date" is scripted like a strict military exercise! With Dad in charge, even the smallest departure from the tightly planned meal will be met with Dad in a drill sergeants scream, drop and give me 2000 push ups!!

[@JHATDRUMMER1976]

CROW:JR.SEATS DAD SISTER SEATS THE DOG AND THE DOG...... by far the best line from this short

[@mikezylstra7514]

That's nothing, there's one of these that tells you who you introduce to who first, then second, etc. It goes by age and gender or something like that.

[@fromthesidelines]

This was originally shown in classrooms all over the U.S., around 1949. Of course, when you actually had the "date" with YOUR family, YOU always struck out...in more ways than one!

[@tomservo56954]

As I've said before...after the disruption of economic depression and world war, it was felt films like this were needed to reintroduce society to "proper" mores and behaviors

[@TheClutchCanuck]

"uh, you don't have to cut my mashed potatoes too...."

[@5star555555555]

A violent argument erupts over which day was more pleasant!

[@JohnInTheShelter]

Short about 'proper' social behavior + MST = Comedy gold!

[@Azrael666Azazel]

Remember women: it's important to dress atractively for your father and or son.

[@JoeKaye-hn5dt]

It is notable that most guys were straight in those days. I do wonder.

[@pittland44]

The less said about this, the better.

[@suzycreamcheesez4371]

you owe it to them lol!!

[@JoeKaye-hn5dt]

@jane doe Chicks willing to act like something more than just a room mate. No wonder boys stay single these days. And so many gay-looking ones.

[@luisreyes1963]

@@pittland44 Especially when the housewife was in her dominatrix gear. 😥

[@butterflysuki]

"A violent argument erupts over whose day was more pleasant!"

[@luisreyes1963]

We wish...😕

[@TheAnubis57]

I like how the sister was pissed at her brother taking that pecan off the cake at the beginning.

[@CesMan83]

Hell yes! Thank God for the 60s, lol

[@JHATDRUMMER1976]

nobody starts eating until father has served himself THIS MEANS YOU!

[@AngieEnz84]

The Fire Island and Negro lines...*Wipes eyes* Oh, man. "It's the Woody Allen story!"

[@markusvampyre]

"Brother seats Junior..." "Daughter obsesses with the flowers" "....then helps mother to her chair as he would his best girl." "The less said about this, the better."

[@pittland44]

Hey! I like my family as a friend!

[@sarahcartan4194]

"With your family, you can relax. Be yourself. Just be sure it's your best self." "And make sure no one knows the real you."

[@Xocists]

I- I really can't believe this was a thing that was made unironically. My mind rebels at any attempt to accept that anyone, regardless of time or culture, could take this seriously.

[@rabidrabbitshuggers]

...fast forward 5 years, and we found out that not only are these people real, but they vote Republican.

[@chrismarlow5631]

No doubt this was intended to be serious. But trust me on this it was as funny then as it is now.

[@freebird0147]

Shut up loser

[@freebird0147]

@@rabidrabbitshuggers reported !

[@mikezylstra7514]

I was alive and about 8 when this film was made. There were a few people like this. Not many though. None in my neighborhood.

[@dchiapello]

Love the la-di-da writing: "...no family so poor BUT THAT the evening meal.... no family so busy BUT THAT it can come together... "

[@SprightlyValentino]

I love the earnest sincerity of things from the 1950s, like this, but I also enjoy watching them getting made fun of.

[@CesMan83]

If it weren't for the hippies, we'd all live like the Cleaver family!

[@KingoftheJuice18]

@@sGirl-ny9xj There's nothing wrong with them--except when you believe that it's how all "true Americans" should be.

[@mikebums682]

True

[@luisreyes1963]

​@@KingoftheJuice18 Ever heard of a little fable called "The Stepford Wives"? 🤨

[@KingoftheJuice18]

@@luisreyes1963 Sure, but June Cleaver wasn't a Stepford wife.

[@pugnaciousd8339]

“What you’re watching now should’ve been edited in the final print my apologies.”

[@tomservo1971]

A pretty dark Sylvia Plath reference.

[@SprightlyValentino]

Where? I must have missed it.

[@jenniferbariletti4839]

​@@SprightlyValentino The very beginning when they open the oven door

[@markusvampyre]

"Ah, you don't have to cut my mash potatoes too."

[@luisreyes1963]

"Salad needs more butter, Mom." 🥗

[@UKISOCIETY]

One of the best shorts and movie from the MST3K boys.

[@fredrickpotocnik8156]

Then helps Mother to her chair as he would his best girl. The less said about this, the better...

[@TheVintageBug]

Still my FAVORITE short ^.^ Never gets old.

[@SprightlyValentino]

"Treat the other members of your family with the same respect and cordiality you would show your most treasured friend outside the family circle." "So snap Dad's bra?" That's where I lost it.

[@Casey5693]

Did the authorities of the 1950's really think that people did not know how to act around their own families?

[@Casey5693]

Geez!

[@rabidrabbitshuggers]

I’m sure they knew. And they wanted to stop it. Make people conform.

[@CarlEusebius]

People in the '50s responded better to authoritative disembodied voices.

[@mikezylstra7514]

@@CarlEusebius But they were not quite as obedient to the "authorities" as they are today, Masks would've never been worn if COVID broke out then. No way..

[@Parkwaymania]

I was just watching "The Hideous Sun Demon" (1959) and I'm pretty sure "Father" from this flick was in it.

[@crescentfreshbret]

Parkwaymania Did he do his ferret impression in that one, too?

[@rmn002]

To me this is what caused the 1960's counterculture movement to happen.

[@luisreyes1963]

Sad, but true. 😟

[@mikezylstra7514]

Could be. Hippies were predominantly from upper middle and upper class households. Those were the ones that actually acted like this (at least until ma or pa became an alcoholic).

[@Jade10923]

mom wants a career, dads gay, brother is taking marijauna, sister is dating a black guy, and juniors a communist :D

[@christieperry4361]

Jade10923 my family in a nutshell

[@luisreyes1963]

They make the Munsters seem mundane.

[@michaelparylak5649]

You get the best comment award. LMFAO!!!!

[@twags32689]

kid opens oven, Mike, "sylvia?" hahahahahaha!!!! fantastic

[@SandraNevermind]

5:45: "A violent argument erupts over whose day was more pleasant."

[@pittland44]

My day was far more pleasant than yours!

[@copperandbrick]

This is one of my favorite shorts. :-) I love my Dad and brother, but looking attractive to my male relatives is not even on my list of priorities.

[@jasondulin7376]

I"ve never understood that part. I mean all of it is ridiculous but.... this one makes me feel gross.

[@TheAnubis57]

LOL! I can't imagine calling my sister a "cruddy skank" right at diner time. For some reason I started to laugh uncontrollably by that riff.

[@Fictionluverkdm]

God, I love this show. I love how they do easy jokes, but then also do cultural references (like the "Tale of Two Cities" one in here) that make me feel all smart when I get them. XD Kickass show, in short.

[@spiderdude2099]

“Junior seats dad, and sister seats the dog” Lol

[@ultimateSpagety]

"mom I'm pregnant" followed immediately by "is it that late already?" XDDD

[@spiderdude2099]

“Father looks forward to spending time with those he loves” “But not THESE people”

[@demonizer6663]

"A violent arguement erupts over who's day was more pleasant!"

[@crowtservo]

Love the old dangerous fridge with a handle. My uncle still has one just like that, my grandparents gave it to him when he moved out in 1970 and he still has it.

[@gamingchinchilla7323]

its 7 years later. Does he still have it? Is it running? Does it need a walker to.. run?

[@crowtservo]

Gaming Chinchilla Yep, sadly my grandparents have both died since I made that comment but the fridge is still functioning.

[@TitenSxull]

"please god, take me now" Mike: father, I had a feeling today Tom: Well don't son

[@WildWelshWitch]

got to wonder...they supposed eat dinner this way EVERY night? Fancy clothes and centerpieces and all? *salutes MST3K* thank you for pointing out every single flaw in this movie X3

[@37Dionysos]

What a scream! My face hurts with so much laughing...

[@AndrewDolanABD]

Literally laughing out loud--great commentary!

[@demonizer6663]

"So then Mary Sister Patrick had him against the wall and he nailed him!!!" "More gin Pop???" "Pleasant, unemotional conversation helps digestoin...I can't stress UNEMOTIONAL enough!!"

[@jimm2224]

"Hi, I'm Betty and I'll be your wife tonight." LOLOLOL

[@Marty43936]

This is still hilarious!!!! But my family had TV trays. . . Seldom did we sit at the table! :-D

[@RaoulDuke77]

"There stomachs knotted like fists!"

[@noodlenate]

There are so many things in this that are scary and should be joked about that it's incapacitating.

[@dchiapello]

let's go to the flow chart for this. lol

[@crowskyler]

Probably the best MST3K short.

[@jayMaze5]

This is an excelent short. Hands down one of the all time funniest.

[@tomservo56954]

"Where the postman eagerly awaits" (muttering) "You emasculating bint" "Father feigns eating, draws Junior out, then disowns him!" "Nothing destroys the charm of a meal more quickly--like having a personality" "And be sure no one knows the REAL you" "This makes me want to heat up a Libbyland Dinner and eat in front of the TV"

[@slaptastic_7]

“perhaps booze would alleviate this situation…” yes, please

[@bubbechutzpah]

I don't know what I would do without you guys. Let's face it, life sucks but the chuckles I get from most and rifftrax help get through the day. My eyes are filled with tears of laughter

[@itsamebrinyoh7038]

Tired voice: "Sylvia?"

[@tugboat2030]

"Father feigns eating, draws Junior off and disowns him!"

[@blugreen123]

most families don't have servents...they have daughters!

[@ss_whole]

I can't count the number of times I busted out laughing at this.

[@DrGregoryHouseIT]

The women of the family need to look rested and attractive for the men? Class, can you say 'incest'?

[@pittland44]

@anne marie x Anne, you're never going to attract a man with that kind of dominating tone. (5 bonus points if you can tell me where that's from)

[@pittland44]

@anne marie x It's a joke from Parks and Rec. Congrats on being married that long though, it's not an easy thing.

[@pittland44]

@anne marie x Gotcha. The joke is from Parks and Rec. You should check it out. Just search for "The best of April Ludgate." She's the most Defiant young woman and she says that to her boss to screw with her. It was extremely funny because she's exactly the opposite person to ever say such a thing.

[@captainobvious9233]

Our version of dinner - Go to kitchen, help yourself to the food, bring it back to room. The only time we ever ate at the table was for holidays with visiting family.

[@emmybananaart1188]

Same!!

[@jimboa20]

+Captain Obvious that's a little too much in the opposite direction IMO. i think dinner with the family is important to have a couple times a week at least...not anywhere near as obsessive compulsive as the freakshow on display here though, lol

[@leecox1513]

You mean those "fascist rules" against murder, drugs, single parenthood, grafitti, gang bangers and high taxes?

[@goosefukulardeath7300]

They sold me on “the woody Allen story “ brutal

[@HCHaven7619]

"...and make sure to make a plate for the narrator."

[@chieromancer]

I'm moving to Fire Island.

[@CarryLarry]

I love how they jump right in with a Woody Allen slam

[@dunderbob91]

"a violent argument erupts over whose day was more pleasant." That had me in tears.

[@kdohertygizbur]

Daughter obsesses with the flowers

[@bentramer682]

This should have been edited out my apolgies.

[@Adamguy2003]

Narrator: "But he won't spend a lot of time on the phone, either." Joel: "He's mute."

[@MoultrieGeek]

This is not a family, it's a serial killer factory. Why is Brother 31 years old? One of my favorite shorts!