354. “On the Dinah Shore Chevy Show?”

The episode: “The Sinister Urge,” ep. 613

The riff: Inserted incredulously by Crow as dialog after a man talking on the phone says “What? A spot?”

The explanation: Dinah Shore was an American pop singer and actress who achieved unprecedented fame as a solo singer in America’s big band era, the 1940s and 1950s. Later in her career she moved to television acting, including hosting the popular “Dinah Shore Chevy Show” from 1956-1963. A musical variety show, the theme “See the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet” lived on for many more years in Chevy advertising.

Novelty factor: I’ve never heard of this woman or her show, but judging from the photos she was one gorgeous lady.

270. “Eh-heh! Eh-heh! Mad dog!”

The episode: “Keeping Clean and Neat,” the short in front of “The Sinister Urge,” ep. 613

The riff: Squealed in a high-pitched, manic voice as a boy bares his teeth to examine them in the bathroom mirror.

The explanation: Crow is doing an impression of Pee-wee Herman, specifically a short bit from Herman’s first feature film, “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.” In the scene, during the extended whimsical “Pee-wee at home” segment, he brushes his teeth in the morning, then bares them and yells “mad dog!”, referencing the foam and its similarity to a frothing dog suffering from rabies.

Novelty factor: I have to admit that I have a great fondness for “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.” It’s an exceedingly weird movie that has much in common with Tim Burton’s next directorial effort, “Beetlejuice.”

206. “Go east, the dam is broken!”

The episode: “The Sinister Urge,” ep. 613

The riff: Yelped by Crow as a big crowd of “teenagers” run away from a fight in progress as the cops close in.

The explanation: This is a subtle reference to a short story by noted American humorist James Thurber called “The Day the Dam Broke.” In the story, printed here, the citizens of Columbus, Ohio get swept up in a bout of mass hysteria after mistakenly thinking that the dam outside of town has broken. They rush the streets yelling “go east!” Ironically, this story was later adapted as the basis for a 2003 TV film called “Killer Flood: The Day the Dam Broke,” which decided to just straight up ignore the satire of the original story and have the dam actually break so the heroes can outrun the water in their cars. In an incredible stroke of MST3k coincidence, “Killer Flood” was produced by none other than David Giancola, the producer/director of one of my favorite MST3k movies, “Time Chasers.” Why am I not surprised?

Novelty factor: I’d never heard of the story before, but I’m really glad I chose this riff for its unexpected connection to another MST3k episode.

23. “…now a giant cockroach.”

The episode: “Keeping Clean and Neat,” the short in front of “The Sinister Urge,” ep. 613

The riff: Interjected by Crow after the narrator begins to explain young Don’s day, saying “There you are Don, back in bed this morning.”

The explanation: This is a direct reference to Franz Kafka’s famous novella “The Metamorphasis.” The main character of the story, Gregor Samsa, wakes up one morning in bed to find that he has transformed into a “monstrous insect.” The type of insect is often translated as “cockroach” in English, and this has become the enduring popular image of exactly what Samsa turns into. Crow and the gang are making the assumption that viewers will at least be aware of “The Metamorphasis” even if they’ve never read it.

Novelty factor: I fit exactly in among the audience I just described. I’ve never read “The Metamorphasis,” but I know enough to recognize the direct reference when I hear it.

Don will have a difficlt time Keeping Clean and Neat as an insect that eats decaying organic matter!