Gypsy (MST3K)
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Gypsy is one of the robot characters on the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000. Gypsy normally only appeared during the host segments part of the series, but briefly took a seat in the theater to watch the movie in episode #412 (Hercules and the Captive Women). Only capable of delivering a single "riff", she left after realizing how bad the movie was.
[edit] Role
According to the MST3K storyline, Gypsy takes care of the higher functions on board the Satellite of Love. She needs to use most of her computing power to handle this responsibility, which generally makes her appear slow-witted when dealing with others. The episode #207: Wild Rebels demonstrated a much brighter Gypsy when the demand on her systems was temporarily reduced. (She also made a quick appearance in the theater during this experiment when someone mentioned Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.) As the show progressed, she became a more frequent participant in the show's "host segments" and appeared more intelligent, even attempting to sit in on an experiment during one of the Hercules movies, but begged out after a few minutes, unable to bear the badness; she did get off one good riff ("Look, guys! They're steam-cleaning the sheep!") Gypsy is a big fan of Richard Basehart. Her brain was once X-rayed, and found to contain RAM chips and a photo of Richard Basehart. She is also a notary.
In season six, the show introduced a device usually referred to as the Umbilicus (though in some episodes referred to as either the Umbilicon or Umbiliport). A long tether connecting the Satellite of Love to the underground lair Deep 13, the Umbilicus allowed objects to be sent back and forth between Mike and the Mads. In its first appearance on the show in episode #601: Girls Town, the Umbilicus was directly connected to Gypsy's snake-like body, with objects being sent or received through her mouth. This was later changed to an oven-like hatch on the bridge of the Satellite of Love.
After the Satellite of Love crashes into the Earth in the final episode (#1013:Diabolik), Gypsy is not present with Mike and the Bots in their shared apartment. Tom is seen reviewing a "ConGypsCo Annual Report", and the guys reflect on their failure to have taken up new corporate mogul Gypsy on her public offering.
[edit] Behind the scenes
During the KTMA season, Gypsy's voice and operation were handled by Josh Weinstein. From the first to eighth nationally telecast seasons, Gypsy was voiced and handled by Jim Mallon, who was one of the producers and writers on the show. From the eighth to tenth seasons, she was voiced and operated by Patrick Brantseg who also performed most of the puppetry during filming of Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie so as to allow Jim Mallon to focus on directing rather than working the puppet.
Gypsy's head was built out of a "Century Infant Love Seat". Parts of an Eveready flashlight were used for her eye. Foam tubing was used on her lips, and her neck was made of a long black PVC hose.
