Why Cancelling Mystery Science Theater 3000 During Thanksgiving Week Is Just Harsh

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Jonah Ray Rodrigues Jonah Heston Netflix
(Image credit: Darren Michaels / SMPSP / Netflix)

Netflix has cancelled Mystery Science Theater 3000, and its timing could not be any harsher. Why? Because the streaming giant has ended its run of the show during Thanksgiving week, which is a special time for fans of the series. For a long time, Mystery Science Theater 3000 has been a staple for Thanksgiving Day marathons. It has run on Syfy, Comedy Central, Pluto TV, etc.

Jonah Ray Rodrigues, who starred as Jonah Heston on the Mystery Science Theater 3000 reboot, shared the news of the cancellation on Twitter. In 2015, the Kickstarter campaign to bring the show back broke a then-record for the crowdfunding platform. The following year it was announced that the Mystery Science Theater 3000 reboot would be heading to Netflix.

Following the reveal of the biggest changes in the reboot, it made its much-anticipated debut in 2017. Mystery Science Theater 3000 did not hold back either, taking on Netflix’s blockbuster series Stranger Things with a video. Two years after MST3K was renewed for Season 12, Netflix has decided to cancel the cult favorite.

The cancellation of Mystery Science Theater 3000 comes not too long after Netflix cancelled Anne with an E. So, not a whole lot for fans of either show to be thankful for as they settle in for Thanksgiving. The timing of Mystery Science Theater 3000’s cancellation lands in a sentimental week for longtime fans of the show.

On Twitter, Jonah Ray Rodrigues touched on Netflix’s recent spate of cancellations, which Mystery Science Theater 3000 now joins. Rodrigues managed to mention the cancellations of The Get Down, Lilyhammer, The OA, One Day at a Time, Tuca & Bertie, Jessica Jones, Lady Dynamite, and Gypsy in a single tweet. You can check out Rodrigues’ impressive feat below:

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Luckily for One Day at a Time fans, that show did end up getting renewed elsewhere. Mystery Science Theater 3000 enthusiasts will have to stay tuned to see if it manages to get a new lease on life too! If it does, here is hoping that fans will not have to wait until next Thanksgiving for a positive update.

The good news on the MST3K front now is that Mystery Science Theater 3000 is still streaming on Netflix, and you know what that means? You can still have your own Mystery Science Theater 3000 marathon on Thanksgiving! There are two seasons of Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Gauntlet and one 10-episode season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 available to binge. They are on Netflix, along with other offerings. For more television options, there are also this winter’s premieres.

Britt Lawrence

Like a contented Hallmark movie character, Britt happily lives in the same city she grew up in. Along with movies and television, she is passionate about competitive figure skating. She has been writing about entertainment for 5 years, and as you may suspect, still finds it as entertaining to do as when she began.