6 things you may have learned about Svengoolie, as told from his panel at C2E2 2023

Svengoolie talked about the movies he wishes he could show, the modern horror he loves and a behind-the-scenes sci-fi cameo.

In April 2023, Svengoolie once again emerged from the top secret Sven-cave to haunt McCormick Place for the annual Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2). He signed autographs, posed for photos and with buzz rising about his new line of comic books this summer, took the stage for a spotlight panel.

Here are a few things you may not have known about the ghost with the most from that panel!

Watch Svengoolie on MeTV!

Saturdays at 8 PM

*available in most MeTV markets

The movies he wishes he could show

Sven has had the ability to bring some long-buried horror and sci-fi films to a whole new generation of horror hounds. The films he wishes he could show, but still hasn't been able to? "I Was a Teenage Werewolf and I Was a Teenage Frankenstein." He referred to them as his "white whale movies." He has, however, been able to show the follow-up How to Make a Monster, funnily enough.

...and the reason he can't

It has to do with the studio, American International Pictures, and Mystery Science Theater 3000. "The widow of one of the producers has the rights," Sven explained, "and she will not release them because she didn't like how they were treated on Mystery Science Theater." Maybe one day.

The sci-fi cameo that almost ended in destruction

In 1984, Sven had the honor of getting the third Doctor from the long-running Doctor Who franchise, Jon Pertwee, as a cameo on the show. However, things almost hit a snag. "The doctor was supposed to throw open the coffin dramatically and say 'I am the Doctor,' like he was stepping out of the TARDIS," Sven said. "The door hit a pillar and it came down within feet of us. Without missing a beat, he said, 'It must be the work of the Master.'"

He painted the original coffin

Back when Svengoolie was Jerry G. Bishop, Rich Koz painted the original coffin. After Koz took over as the Son of Svengoolie — then just Svengoolie — his look changed, and the coffin had to be changed as well because people stopped recognizing it. 

The most unusual fan creation he's received

If you watch the show, or even look at his set, you'll know that people send Svengoolie fan art in every medium you can think of. One in particular stands out in his mind. "Someone carved a tree trunk into a Svengoolie bust," he said. "It must have weighed 200 pounds. Imagine the shipping costs!"

The modern horror movies he's a fan of

Writing and shooting the show keep Sven pretty busy, so he doesn't have a lot of time to get to the theaters these days. Still, he's managed to see some new horror that he's really enjoyed. "The Jordan Peele stuff is very, very good," Sven said, talking about Peele's high-concept, critically acclaimed horror movies like Get Out and Nope. "I think they're some of the best I've seen. It's nice to see that kind of stuff and see that [horror cinema] is going in the right direction."

 
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54 Comments

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LoveMETV22 20 days ago
SVENGOOLIE OF METV
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And for some viewers in the Chicago area. They can watch a rebroadcast of last weeks episode on
WCIU-TV (channel 26) The CW. The flagship station of Weigel Broadcasting.
Saturday mornings @ 11:00 A.M. (Central Time).
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NightVelvet 20 days ago
Love to see "the monster of piedres blacas" "the quartermass experiment" and the kolchak movies

Love Sven he's my 2nd fave horror host ever... Sorry I grew up with Sammy Terry in Indiana
🦇
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NightVelvet 20 days ago
Clue & Murder by death would be great 💙
Pastorbey 1 month ago
Here are, at least, eight films I hope Svengoolie can show: The Screaming Skull (1958), The Crawling Hand (1964), which Svengoolie did show back in 1982 when he was syndicated to Field Communications-owned stations, House of Dark Shadows (1970), Night of Dark Shadows (1971), Blacula (1972), and the TV-movies, The Devil's Daughter (1973) and Satan's School for Girls (1973), and the theatrical, Race With the Devil (1975).
JHP 1 month ago
please Me-Tv - never cancel Sven - the show is brilliant and unique and very very rare on the flat screen/tube
LoveMETV22 JHP 1 month ago
"please Me-Tv - never cancel Sven"
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Don't think you have any worries there, Rich Koz has been a mainstay and kind of a network spokesperson. Prior to " TIWM" (Bill Leff) and " Collectors Call" ( Lisa Whelchel), Koz was the only live spokesperson MeTV (Weigel) had. All three of them do a good job plugging the network.
JHP LoveMETV22 1 month ago
A deep sigh:) - I really cannot stand the hammer color horror movies - but everything else a joy,,, its a cheap "drive-in" thin crust MOP pizza (like the old days:)) and an appreciation for great sat night tv
LoveMETV22 26 days ago
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Vivian 1 month ago
Thank you! I love Svengoolie, Toon In With Me, and Sventoonie! The westerns are great too, especially Gunsmoke! MeTV is the best! Keep up the good work! 😃👍
Killianthered 1 month ago
Hopefully the widow dies soon.
I am sure she feels the same about you.
Killianthered 28 days ago
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Killianthered 28 days ago
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4thtroika 1 month ago
I'm okay with whatever Sven gets to show, as long as it's not "Beware The Lake!"
Dphotos 1 month ago
I always liked when Sven plays the cult movie Village of the Giants. Ron Howard plays the kid scientist.
Mblack Dphotos 1 month ago
That's a serious film, should be studied in film school!
LUPA13 1 month ago
Hi Sven and MeTV peeps,
It's Saturday now and I am still SVEN-LESS. I miss my Sat w Sven so much!
The douchebags at DISH Network got some bug up u-know-where and there has been no MeTV for months. I've griped in email and on chat and they just say "negotiations" blah blah blah. If it was an NFL/NHL/NBA golf, tennis... chan they'd fix it pronto!
Since I'm on a "price lock" they got me by the shorts.
I miss you Sven, and those sci-fi movies you dredge up! TCM ran a mess of Hammer films recently, but it's not the same w/o SVEN.
Me so sad.....
sdbaymer LUPA13 1 month ago
Hola Lupa,
I lost my local MeTV, too. I stream the channel now on https://www.frndlytv.com. It is not too expensive
horribleHDanny LUPA13 1 month ago
I only pay $8.99 per month for Frndly TV (not misspelled)Had to buy a Roku device,and you get 40+ channels including all the Weigel channels(METV,H and I,Decades),wish I'd done this years ago!!!!The he** with Douche Network!!
Mike 1 month ago
Just for fun:
My own choice for Svengoolie would be "Chamber Of Horrors" from 1967.
That's the one with the Fear Flasher and the Horror Horn.
All-Star Cast: Patrick O'Neal, Cesare Danova, Wilfrid Hyde-White, and a Latino dwarf who's a dead ringer for William Shatner!
Not nearly as gory as its reputation would have it: the Flasher and the Horn can be used to skirt most of that.
Plus, there's so much background stuff that Sven will need the whole two-and-a-half hours ...
Think about it, OK?
LoveMETV22 Mike 1 month ago
"Just for fun:"
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LOL! Your Narrative:

" My own choice for Svengoolie would be "Chamber Of Horrors" from 1967.
That's the one with the Fear Flasher and the Horror Horn.
All-Star Cast: Patrick O'Neal, Cesare Danova, Wilfrid Hyde-White, and a Latino dwarf."
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Sounds a lot like "Stefon" from " Saturday Night Live"
"
Mike LoveMETV22 1 month ago
FYI:
I have no idea what the hell you're talking about with "Stefon(?)".
"Chamber Of Horrors" was an actual movie, which started out as a TV pilot for a possible House Of Wax series; it was set for ABC's fall schedule in 1966 (Friday at 10/9 Central), but the network chickened out ... but that's another story ...
Looking down at the next entry, "Two On A Guillotine" might make a nice Saturday night Svengoolie show of its own.
Rich Koz and associates - think about it, OK?
LoveMETV22 Mike 1 month ago
"FYI:
I have no idea what the hell you're talking about with "Stefon(?)".
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if you've never seen any of the Stefon skits on SNL , you wouldn't see the reference.( no problem).
I follow The Svengoolie series on Saturday evenings. I'm sure there are many things Rich Koz would like to do with the show, but may be limited for various reasons. He gives a brief explanation on the Svengoolie webpage (FAQ) some of the limitations he has, also some contact info for requests, and things similar.
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