SCHLOCKTOBER 2020 - "Attack of The Killer Tomatoes"

[@nilus2k]

I remember one summer evening, my dad coming home from the video rental place with this movie and being so excited to show us(this had to be around 1986). “is it that good Dad?” We said and his response “Of course not, it’s terrible. Let watch it!” Was a good night. Thanks Bob for being back that memory and reminding me about these movies. Going to make my kids watch the first one tonight! :)

[@swanpride]

I remember that movie being kind of legendary in the 1980s, the one which everyone know was bad. For a while the title was used synonymus for a bad movie.

[@AdamYJ]

If anyone's wondering about the Muppet Babies thing and why the Killer Tomatoes were on that show, it's probably because one of the running gags on that cartoon was that Fozzie's jokes are so bad that people throw tomatoes at him.

[@juliagoodwin9510]

I miss that show... too bad they can't show it anymore because of licensing issues for all the clips they used. >_

[@Falcovsleon21]

And by people, you mean an invisible presence because sometimes there's an audience chucking them at him in an environment where there shouldn't be one. Cartoon logic and whatnot.

[@philricciotti1724]

The second I saw this, the 90s cartoon theme song popped into my head.

[@chimera385]

Me too

[@thecolortwelve3784]

Big same. Hadn't thought of it in literal decades and its just instantly back in my head. Weird what you never forget.

[@philricciotti1724]

@@thecolortwelve3784 I hadn't thought about it in a long time either. Funny what pops back in your head randomly.

[@SaiyanHeretic]

Eyup.

[@lonewolffang]

You too?

[@EagleGamer15]

Just want to let the algorithm and Movie Bob know that I approve of the "Sometimes things CAN just be good" message.

[@toonbat]

Missed opportunity to replace the Shlocktober pumpkins with tomatoes.

[@pavarottiaardvark3431]

I grew up in Britain, where this was ONLY known for the cartoon. It was only a few years ago I found out there even WERE movies.

[@Falcovsleon21]

Same here. Also this scenario happened with the Toxic Avenger.

[@CWargh63]

I worked as a lead animator on that show - know who else worked on it? Doug TenNapel - creator and writer of Earthworm Jim, among other creations.

[@Falcovsleon21]

@@CWargh63 That's the most awesome thing I've ever heard.

[@targh4410]

I definitely remember seeing the cover of the first film on the shelf in video rental shops.

[@thecolortwelve3784]

Oh bless you Bob. Since I heard the song again I've just had the dumbest grin on my face. You really made my day. This was a great trip to my childhood.

[@fpedrosa2076]

The theme to the cartoon brought back memories I didn't even know existed.

[@pavarottiaardvark3431]

11:28 "Oliver North Federal Prison"

[@Lost-Lilim]

I recall that era, thinking that corrupt political types were understood as villains by all. Such innocent naiveite.

[@theguywhomakespopculturere574]

I think this is the first time an episode of Schlocktober has been on a movie I've seen before. It's a very strange feeling.

[@TheBT]

The marvel productions logo... You know how people are scared of spiders, I'm not. I was even bitten twice as kid. What I was scared of when I was young, was Spiderman and specifically the Spiderman from the marvel productions logo. Arachnoandrologophobia :D. I knew it was coming. Muppet Babies, the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon, I had to leave the room for the end credits.

[@christianhansen2569]

The film franchise that gave us George Clooney!

[@ChaosWolf1982]

Who?

[@josepastor2505]

@@ChaosWolf1982 He was technically Batman :D

[@Loremastrful]

That's the Facts of Life. *Wink*

[@jeffnussbaum716]

But what about his pivotal role in the first few minutes of Return to Horror High?!

[@stewmott3763]

Is that Jesse Mach's former best pal in Street Hawk??

[@Karimsama]

More than Sharknado, The way you tell the story of the franchise makes me think of Italian Spiderman and Danger Five.

[@MrTBoneSF]

One of the best ways to determine if something had penetrated mainstream consciousness was if there was a pre-crash videogame made of a property. 20th Century Fox's videogame division released "Revenge of the Beefsteak Tomatoes" for the Atari 2600. The ironic/funny thing is that it's not a licensed game. Big ole Fox (who had seen dozens of Star Wars knockoffs in films and videogames) made its own obvious knockoff of a low-budget movie property.

[@HereComesPopoBawa]

Mainstream is the opposite of consciousness, it just means that most people either don't have any ideas, or are prevented from realizing them.

[@louisduarte8763]

How improbable was it that a cheap, cash-in Atari game based on tomatoes didn't crash the Western video game market, but one about E.T. did?

[@Otakukunoichi]

GODDAMNIT BOB, I NEARLY CHOKED OVER THE MARIO GAG. With that said, it's good to know that there's no tragedy or upset or unpleasantness behind the scenes and like you said it's nice knowing something can just be good. :)

[@theMoporter]

Besides the racism?

[@Otakukunoichi]

@@theMoporter I figured that went without saying but yes besides the racism.

[@Groovebot3k]

Man, those Return of the Killer Tomatoes clips just hit me like a tsunami of tomato juice... er, nostalgia.

[@MarcusFrost88]

I always appreciate these deep-dive videos. Dated and insensitive jokes aside, these movies look like a lot of fun. The practical creature effects in The Killer Tomatoes Eat France are pretty impressive, they really manage to pack a lot of personality into each of the various tomatoes' faces.

[@StephenLeGresley]

I've waited years for this :). Thank you. Any chance for "Really That Good Batman: Mask of the Phantasm"?

[@Exkhaniber]

I wonder what sort of rating these movies have on Rotten Tomatoes.

[@raggedcritical]

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: 27% Return of the Killer Tomatoes: 0% Third and fourth movies: unrated. ... what do you mean "woosh"?

[@Xinthus78]

I remember watching that cartoon. Also haven't heard Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death in a long, long while.

[@modsme]

A monster movie where government incompetence almost ends everything sounds perfect for 2020. I should give these a rewatch.

[@chwenhoou]

I never saw the movies. But I did watch the Fox Kids animated series. One of many movies, R-rated or not, to grace the small screen. Rambo, Karate Kid, Police Academy (yup, that happened), Toxic Avenger (sanitized for a more kid-friendly audience), Robocop, and others I may have missed or forgotten. Thanks for this feel-good moment in October, Bob. =)

[@matthewnuckles5937]

I have these on DVD and they are in my "comfort film" rotation.

[@SuperheroChuck]

I really loved the cartoon when I was a kid. I very fondly remember the running gag of the grandpa who owns a pizza parlor and is perpetually trying--and failing--to create a good pizza recipe with no tomato sauce in it.

[@madmonk3030]

The gorgeous cinema debut of George Clooney, he'd be nothing without it

[@victorhernandez8723]

Actually, George Clooney made his acting debut in the TV show “The Facts of Life”.

[@digitaljanus]

@@victorhernandez8723 Eh, you take the good you take the bad.

[@EdBurke37]

I am engaging with this content

[@theonewhowatches869]

I am engaging with your engagement of this content

[@captshak]

Engagement in comment format, no less

[@benjaminshinar9509]

We are all doing engagement.

[@zeta970]

Congratulations, I hope you have a beautiful wedding

[@BradyPostma]

ENGAGEMENT IS OCCURRING STOP ALL HAIL THE ALGORITHM STOP

[@Sochsun]

Dear God, I haven't seen this since our Bad Movie Nights back in University. Should go track down a copy and show this series to a new crop of people

[@Enshohma]

14:57 - I honestly laughed my butt off at this brilliant gag. Watch out, Wayne's World

[@grfrjiglstan]

"No wonder my last name is Seventeenth." That got a much bigger laugh out of me than it should have.

[@AubriGryphon]

I'll admit the coat line got a laugh out of me because that kind of language is so far outside my normal lexicon that I was going, "What... was that supposed to mean?" until the other character explained it.

[@Carblesnarky]

Damn you! That song is stuck in my head now.

[@KHMakerD]

Bruh, I thought this was a kid’s show until I saw the DVD in a Walgreens.

[@ttd0000]

It was ALSO a kids show! Specifically a cartoon.

[@tuamigajordana]

I remember being a little girl and watching the Killer Tomatoes and it was just the best.

[@ValkyrieTiara]

She was just a LITTLE before my time so I never before appreciated just how hot Karen Mistal/Waldron really was. Damn. Well, great video as always, Bob! Any chance on a Muppet Babies episode? I feel like a lot of people today don't really even fully understand what that show was or who it's target audience was supposed to be. Super underrated in any case.

[@robbybevard8034]

Under rated? It ran for eight years and over 100 episodes. It just doesn't get any releases anywhere because, while everyone was happy to sign over video footage to Jim Henson on tv, no one signed multimedia contracts so the plethora of footage they used makes rereleases expensive and maybe impossible.

[@MungkaeX]

Yeah, that one is up to the Pirate preservers to save. No way are they going to get the licensing deals for all of that till Disney owns all media.

[@ValkyrieTiara]

@@robbybevard8034 Tell that to a 20something who's never seen an episode of it. People who were old enough to watch it at the time know, but just because it was good and popular at the time doesn't mean it's known as such now. That's my whole point.

[@brushwaterkhan]

Filmed in my own hometown of San Diego and guys who made it were native San Diegians 🤘

[@Loremastrful]

That explains the San Diego Chicken.

[@victorhernandez8723]

@@Loremastrful My thoughts exactly.

[@dadefrost2059]

This was a really great episode, I have been waiting for it since I found you shlocktober segment. I also really enjoyed the longer deep dive, I would be very much on board for more videos of this length or longer when the subject calls for it, or there is enough material to explore.

[@Iruparazzo]

I was a small child when OG Ghostbusters came out and I remember my dad taking me to the movies to see it. I don't actually remember the movie, but I remember on the drive home we witnessed the recent aftermath of a car accident at an intersection involving a truck with an open-air truck bed full of loose tomatoes. There was tomato gore everywhere, smeared and smashed and quickly baking in the Phoenix sun. We sang the theme song Attaaaack of the killer Tomaaaaatoesss!!! as we passed by

[@Nerdnumberone]

"Good things can still happen!" -Referring to a franchise whose most recent movie was almost 30 years ago.

[@krisscott5342]

I'll take what I can get...

[@darkmyro]

@@krisscott5342 I mean, Its more that it had a happy ending with no one getting royally screwed over than that the franchise is still going on for forever and getting worse.

[@xXAkirhaXx]

I didn't need to know any of this, but I'm so happy I do now.

[@Seadragon77]

I remember the cartoon... it was one of the first aired on Fox at that time. It's a goofy premise, but it worked.

[@hopduncan7905]

I remember staying over my friends house one Saturday night back in the 80s and watching this movie on Elvira. Loved it!

[@HobGungan]

This was surprisingly wholesome.

[@aidanpolemoeo]

I ADORED the Attack of the Killer Tomatoes cartoon as a kid. I couldn't even tell you why, I just did. It was so delightfully weird.

[@Izandaia]

11:42 I know this is not at all the point of all this, but a squad of Rambo cosplayers with AK-47s (or whatever) standing and kneeling in a firing line like they're a 1700s musket regiment is a BRILLIANT joke, especially when they're still hip-firing.

[@katherinealvarez9216]

I watched the cartoon as a kid. But it was there for a minute and then gone.

[@_Hofnarr]

Been singing that "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!" song in my head for years and I was peripherally aware of the movie but it wasn't until the clips from the Muppet Babies and the cartoon that a huge chunk of memory fell into my head. Pretty sure I watched the whole first season of that cartoon and had no memory of it until just now. Nothing like getting mugged down memory lane.

[@WyattoonsComics]

Wait, Mushroom Men? Wasn’t that made into a couple video games? I can’t remember if it just happened to be similar or was an adaptation... off to Google I go!

[@WyattoonsComics]

Looked it up and nope, just similar names and monster ideas. The games aren’t directly related to the movie.

[@ali6418]

It makes me so happy to learn more about this absolute legend of a franchise.

[@Starcat5]

I'll be honest. I was only aware of the cartoon and the original movie. In that order. Thanks for enlightening me about the rest of the franchise. As early birthday presents goes, this definitely ranks higher than socks and underwear. ^_^

[@joshuaghozeil8061]

How has Bob not covered this before?

[@amyfalk7462]

This was so great!! Great dissection of a hilarious series with a heartwarming ending. Just what I needed :)

[@danielmccormick700]

I loved those product placement gags in ROTKT. Thanks for the great retrospective!

[@DaniTani]

Legit knew it was gonna be a muppet babies turn. Cornerstone of my childhood. Great video

[@alankohn6709]

This movie was just fun. That was it, it and it's sequels never tried to be something that they weren't. They knew the premise was absolutely insane and went with it everyone seemed to be having fun and just wanted you to come along. This is sadly an almost lost art "Every...Movie...Must...Be...angsty", every comedy "Must conform to the socially acceptable non threatening role within the societal construct" Please fun come back we miss you.

[@brandchan]

I totally remember watching the cartoon as a kid. I've always been curious about these movies but they kind of fell off my radar, now I'm curious to go and watch them. They look just so silly which is right up my alley.

[@lordbritannic]

just finished watching all 4 films

[@EidoEndy]

Never new about the third and fourth sequel. Saw the second one when I was little. Pretty sure the jokes flew over my head.

[@Mysticgamer]

I saw bits and pieces of the original on tv when I was four...saw the cartoon when I was 7 or 8, never knew about any of the sequels or that the second one is what the series was based off of. Let's see if goole play can fix that.

[@EidoEndy]

@@Mysticgamer I do distinctly remember John Aston as Gangrene and the film having no fourth wall. Never watched the original movie. Didn't see the cartoon when it aired, but I did see an episode here on youtube. It's silly. I swear the voice if Igor was totally one of the original ninja turtles.

[@Mysticgamer]

@@EidoEndy had to be michaelangelo

[@EidoEndy]

Nope, actually Leonardo... and apparently Rocksteady I looked it up. The actors name was Cam Clarke, and he's in like every cartoon from 1980 to today.

[@Mysticgamer]

@@EidoEndy He's also the voice of Liquid Snake. I wonder what's he's done recently?

[@madmonk3030]

Truly, a great classic of our time

[@jinpei05]

SWEET! After all these years, finally!

[@lokidragon8725]

I distinctly recall having a Killer Tomatoes T-shirt when I was five in 1992... And also watching the cartoon alongside Toxic crusaders and reading the Madballs comics, Oh a simpler time... :]

[@theamazingbatboy]

A fan for around a decade now I guess. You've got a good heart moviebob, keep on keepin-on!

[@okeno7433]

Wild. I remember renting this as a child because of the name and cover and being disappointed it was a musical . Didn't even realize there were so many sequels that I saw much later which were more straightforward.

[@Horatiusthedwarf]

OK Bob, the Mario flagpole innuendo got me. Its silly and low brow but it got me.

[@louisduarte8763]

Oh, Christ, I thought I imagined that cartoon as a kid! That really happened! Man, memory suppression is a BITCH!

[@GiantButterKnife]

Hm...I wonder what's significant about a Japanese man knocking the USS Arizona into the water? **30 secs of googling later** Oh no....

[@Morgil27]

What, did you fall asleep during history class? How did you not know that?!

[@victorhernandez8723]

Well, that’s certainly not going to piss off a lot of World War 2 US veterans. Note the sarcasm.

[@varmintx0]

I haven't watched these in, like, 25 years, so it's quite possible my tastes have changed, but I remember not particularly caring for the first one, but absolutely loving Return. John Astin was hilarious, and when they started doing the product placement...even watching just the clips here, I was laughing. I watched the cartoon as well, but never knew there were other sequels.

[@ryankinkor709]

I ended up seeing homages and references to this film over the decades (like in Muppet Babies, as you mentioned) but I never actually watched the film until a few years ago... and I can't say I liked it. I mean, it was funny in spots, mostly when the titular tomatoes were present, but the rest of the film is a bit of a slog. And there are more than a few moments that haven't aged well. In fact, the Sharknado analogy seems spot on - the idea of this film is funnier than the actual execution (yeah, not a fan of the Sharknado franchise either). Admittedly, the sequel looks better.

[@Antdevamp]

Oh, Moviebob holds all the content now? Okay. I see a renewed Escapist is making bad calls again. *washes hands*

[@alicekingston8521]

I LOVED the cartoon series as a kid. I couldn't tell you if it was any good, but it was my thing. I remember when I was a kid we got to make iron on designs for a tee shirt, and mine was a giant tomato smashing through a city. I think I was super into the opening theme too, but I haven't seen this show in a couple decades.

[@brennonbrunet6330]

I have such fond yet vague memories of this series from when I was a kid. I do remember thinking "this is so freaking weird that I think I love it", and has probably done a lot to mold me into the full grown weirdo that I am today. Now did George Clooney do this first? or Roseanne? That's right, bet you guys forgot he was on some of the earliest seasons of that show ;)

[@apex2000]

Didn't realised was a 4th movie. I seen 1-3 and the cartoon (at least chunks of).

[@halifirien]

In a beautiful bit of nostalgia, author Jeff Strand has written a novelization hitting paperback. It’s even going to have a couple pages of black and white photos in the middle, just like if the book had come out with the movie.

[@chiddy786]

I don't recall ever watching the movies bit I loved the cartoons and spent many years trying to convince my friends and loved ones I hadn't hallucinate it.

[@Loremastrful]

Muppet Babies! You know half of the 80s runs that nursery. I'm not surprised Killer Tomatoes does too.

[@gamefreak3072]

"no wonder my last name is 'the 17th" killed me.

[@michaellombardi1620]

I’ve known of this since a kid, but dont think I actually saw it

[@arvidp.247]

Wow! I remember watching the original movie and the cartoon as a kid. And I knew of Return but never saw it. But I had no idea about the Muppet Babies connection or the other two movies. This was a fun nostalgia trip plus new stuff. Love it!

[@dantechristensen273]

Man It's been a long time since I've seen these movies. I recall the first two being semi-frequent features on USA Up All Night. Back when I was too young to rent movies so late night, edited for basic cable hosted movie shows were my go-to for schlocky horror flicks. On an slightly related note I always wondered with the Slim Whitman "Indian Love Song" gag from Mars Attacks wasn't at least somewhat based on the same Puberty Love joke from Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.

[@TakeWalker]

I've never seen any of the movies, but I used to watch the cartoon as a kid. Literally how.

[@TVAVStudios]

All of this looks delightful, but the Monty Python and the Holy Grail-style subtitles in the Eat France credits are especially good.

[@andrewfleming611]

That's a twist ending I was not expecting, but one I appreciate.

[@rocko7711]

Because of this movie, we get the excellent Three Kings

[@kingarucard]

wow did not know there where 2 more now i got find these and watch them

[@lonewolffang]

I remember watching this as a kid. Now I need to buy to both movies.

[@BlazikenWantsToKick]

A feel-good story of a franchise that was able to persist without any rights issues or screwing the creators over? What fortunate timing :) I did not expect to enjoy this episode as much as I did! I look forward to watching your future videos on this channel, Bob.

[@freekeefox]

You fail to mention how catchy the theme song was. That was no small part of it's sticking power.

[@thomasm1041]

Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death had better be your next Schocktober episode moviebob. I must know more!

[@Schwartzbruder1]

it's always crazy to see bob cover shit that i actually remember

[@AngelOfUnseen]

For the longest time, i thought that this was just a fever dream

[@RomLoneWolf23]

I wonder if Killer Tomatoes could make a comeback today. Maybe something on KZbin?

[@TheJacobG]

I actually learned about this movie from the jazz song "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" by Gordon Goodwin; based upon the theme from the film. It's actually really good.

[@skyscreamstudios]

I remember discovering this as a teenager on VHS in the early eighties. It was so crazy that my friends and I became obsessed. 🤣

[@CSGraves]

JUST when I finally got 'Puberty Love' out of my head... thanks, Bob! :-/

[@MariaVosa]

Happy Halloween Bob! I remember seeing the first movie, but I never actually saw the sequels or the animation. Appreciate the small history lesson and nice ending too.

[@Fardawg]

It wasn't cringe, it was funny.

[@jasonblalock4429]

I laugh at the USS Arizona gag every time, and I feel bad every time. It's just SO incredibly tasteless.

[@CmotDribbler]

Had all of them on vhs. Seen the first one about 10 times. The second close to 50. Third twice, the fourth about 25.

[@NAJ0202]

Oh hey, Crystal Carson's in Killer Tomatoes Strike Back! I remember her from General Hospital! Neat :)

[@TheCreepypro]

as a guy who grew up with this since he was a boy I am very excited to see this

[@noahlindsley1916]

I was mostly familiar with the franchise through the Saturday morning cartoon series. It was interesting to learn about the connections to the subsequent film series

[@jimballard1186]

Bob, I don't like that you told me John Astin is in the sequels, because now I'm really interested in these tomato movies.