Cambot
Encyclopedia
Cambot is one of the fictional robot characters on the Mystery Science Theater 3000
television series. It is through Cambot's "eye" that viewers watch Joel Robinson
(later Mike Nelson) and the other robots as they watch the movies that are sent to the Satellite of Love
each week.
(this was actually proven in the Season 2-5 intro, when Joel is seen tapping on a mirror that Cambot is in). His appearance was changed with almost every reshooting of the opening credits, most likely because there was little need to keep the puppet around once its one appearance had been shot. Storyline-wise, one can make the argument that Joel rebuilds Cambot (Or at least, his outer casing) every few years because Cambot may wear out more often that the other bots because of his mechanically taxing job of constantly recording of the episodes.
In the original KTMA season, Cambot was depicted as a robot - based on the show's Gypsy
puppet - operating a separate camera
. Season 1 Cambot was a modification of the KTMA Gypsy, with an integral camera, whereas later Cambot incarnations more closely resembled television recording equipment. In episode #507, I Accuse My Parents
, Gypsy presented a drawing that depicted the Satellite of Love's crew as her "ideal family"; in the drawing, Cambot's torso was shown as a long and snakelike tube, not unlike Gypsy's.
Midway through the fifth season of the series the opening was once again reshot, and Cambot was again redesigned, this time with a more compact shape, becoming a round hovering ball with a TV camera vidicon sensor
for an eye. He would keep this form for the remainder of the series, although the color scheme was changed during MST3K's switch from Comedy Central
to the Sci Fi Channel
(becoming blue instead of gray).
, and Tom Servo
in the theatre when a movie is shown, and records the cast watching the film. Apparently the footage he shoots in the theater is what the Mads end up seeing, as evidenced by Frank once saying "You think you have it bad? We have to watch you watching the movie." Although a number of episodes depict the cast reacting as if traumatized by a particularly bad movie, Cambot suffered a severe reaction only once, weeping when several security cameras were systematically destroyed by the hero in episode #620: Danger!! Death Ray
. (This was signified by a watery effect over the screen image.) Another rare case of Cambot interacting during a movie segment came in episode #202: The Sidehackers, when Cambot added a mock ESPN
scorecard on one side of the screen during the movie's race scenes.
Cambot also frequently provides music, video clips, and other enhancements to host segments. When Joel or another character requests to see through "Rocket Number Nine" (the ship-mounted camera that allows the crew to see the ship's exterior and anything in its vicinity), it is Cambot who provides the image. During the first five seasons, when Joel or Mike would read fan mail sent to the show, they would request Cambot to put the letter on "still store
," freeze framing on a close-up of the letter.
Cambot was voiced a single time during the original KTMA run by Kevin Murphy
. Though he never spoke during an actual episode during the official seasons, it can be presumed that it is Cambot's voice heard during the "Robot Roll Call" portion of the opening theme from Season 1 through 5, and when shown during the opening of later seasons, though it is left ambiguous.
At the end of Season 7, Cambot was shown joining his fellow crew-members ascending into pure energy at the end of the universe. When the Satellite of Love crashed on Earth in the show's final episode, it is not specified whether Cambot survived the crash (although one could assume that he is the one filming the final scene). Cambot was not mentioned in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
.
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
television series. It is through Cambot's "eye" that viewers watch Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is a fictional character featured in the American science fiction comedy television series Mystery Science Theater 3000...
(later Mike Nelson) and the other robots as they watch the movies that are sent to the Satellite of Love
Satellite of Love (MST3K)
The Satellite of Love is the fictional main setting of the comedy television series Mystery Science Theater 3000. It is a giant bone-shaped spacecraft that Joel Robinson and his friends — robots Crow, Tom Servo, Gypsy, Cambot, and the noncorporeal Magic Voice — live in...
each week.
Appearance
Cambot is only seen during the "Robot Roll Call" portion of the opening credits, often with his name reversed, presumably to imply he is shooting his own image in a mirrorMirror
A mirror is an object that reflects light or sound in a way that preserves much of its original quality prior to its contact with the mirror. Some mirrors also filter out some wavelengths, while preserving other wavelengths in the reflection...
(this was actually proven in the Season 2-5 intro, when Joel is seen tapping on a mirror that Cambot is in). His appearance was changed with almost every reshooting of the opening credits, most likely because there was little need to keep the puppet around once its one appearance had been shot. Storyline-wise, one can make the argument that Joel rebuilds Cambot (Or at least, his outer casing) every few years because Cambot may wear out more often that the other bots because of his mechanically taxing job of constantly recording of the episodes.
In the original KTMA season, Cambot was depicted as a robot - based on the show's Gypsy
Gypsy (MST3K)
Gypsy is one of the robot characters on the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000. She is larger and less talkative than the other robots. Gypsy normally only appeared during the show's host segments and introduction, but briefly took a seat in the theater to watch the movie in episode #412...
puppet - operating a separate camera
Video camera
A video camera is a camera used for electronic motion picture acquisition, initially developed by the television industry but now common in other applications as well. The earliest video cameras were those of John Logie Baird, based on the electromechanical Nipkow disk and used by the BBC in...
. Season 1 Cambot was a modification of the KTMA Gypsy, with an integral camera, whereas later Cambot incarnations more closely resembled television recording equipment. In episode #507, I Accuse My Parents
I Accuse My Parents
I Accuse My Parents is an American exploitation film dealing with juvenile delinquency. Produced by PRC, the film was used to teach morals, specifically that parents should take an interest in their children's lives, as well as the consequences of child neglect...
, Gypsy presented a drawing that depicted the Satellite of Love's crew as her "ideal family"; in the drawing, Cambot's torso was shown as a long and snakelike tube, not unlike Gypsy's.
Midway through the fifth season of the series the opening was once again reshot, and Cambot was again redesigned, this time with a more compact shape, becoming a round hovering ball with a TV camera vidicon sensor
Video camera tube
In older video cameras, before the mid to late 1980s, a video camera tube or pickup tube was used instead of a charge-coupled device for converting an optical image into an electrical signal. Several types were in use from the 1930s to the 1980s...
for an eye. He would keep this form for the remainder of the series, although the color scheme was changed during MST3K's switch from Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
to the Sci Fi Channel
Sci Fi Channel (United States)
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
(becoming blue instead of gray).
Overview
Cambot acts as an audio-visual conduit between the crew of the Satellite of Love and their observers. He also apparently joins Joel, Mike, Crow T. RobotCrow T. Robot
Crow T. Robot is a fictional character from the American science fiction comedy television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Crow is a robot, who, along with others, quips and riffs upon poor-quality B movies.- Overview :...
, and Tom Servo
Tom Servo
Tom Servo is a fictional character from the American science fiction comedy television show Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Tom is one of two wise-cracking, robotic main characters of the show, built by Joel Robinson to act as a companion and help stave off space madness as Joel was forced to watch...
in the theatre when a movie is shown, and records the cast watching the film. Apparently the footage he shoots in the theater is what the Mads end up seeing, as evidenced by Frank once saying "You think you have it bad? We have to watch you watching the movie." Although a number of episodes depict the cast reacting as if traumatized by a particularly bad movie, Cambot suffered a severe reaction only once, weeping when several security cameras were systematically destroyed by the hero in episode #620: Danger!! Death Ray
Danger!! Death Ray
Danger!! Death Ray is an 1967 Italian Eurospy secret agent spy film. It was released at a time when the James Bond films, and spy films in general, were very popular internationally. Its original Italian title was Il Raggio infernale, which translates as "The Infernal Beam", and it was also...
. (This was signified by a watery effect over the screen image.) Another rare case of Cambot interacting during a movie segment came in episode #202: The Sidehackers, when Cambot added a mock ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
scorecard on one side of the screen during the movie's race scenes.
Cambot also frequently provides music, video clips, and other enhancements to host segments. When Joel or another character requests to see through "Rocket Number Nine" (the ship-mounted camera that allows the crew to see the ship's exterior and anything in its vicinity), it is Cambot who provides the image. During the first five seasons, when Joel or Mike would read fan mail sent to the show, they would request Cambot to put the letter on "still store
Freeze frame shot
A freeze frame shot is used when one shot is printed in a single frame several times, in order to make an interesting illusion of a still photograph....
," freeze framing on a close-up of the letter.
Cambot was voiced a single time during the original KTMA run by Kevin Murphy
Kevin Murphy (actor)
Kevin Wagner Murphy is an American actor and writer best known as the voice and puppeteer of Tom Servo on the Peabody Award-winning comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000.- Early career :...
. Though he never spoke during an actual episode during the official seasons, it can be presumed that it is Cambot's voice heard during the "Robot Roll Call" portion of the opening theme from Season 1 through 5, and when shown during the opening of later seasons, though it is left ambiguous.
At the end of Season 7, Cambot was shown joining his fellow crew-members ascending into pure energy at the end of the universe. When the Satellite of Love crashed on Earth in the show's final episode, it is not specified whether Cambot survived the crash (although one could assume that he is the one filming the final scene). Cambot was not mentioned in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie is a 1996 theatrical adaptation of the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000, produced and set between seasons 6 and 7 of the show. It was released by Gramercy Pictures and Best Brains with distribution held by Universal Pictures...
.