I prefer Joel, not necessarily because of his hosting, but because when he was hosting, the whole team was together. Mike was the head writer even from the beginning, so he was always there, but once Joel left, it was like a piece of the show had died. In later seasons when more and more of the original cast had quit (mostly due to CC and/or SFC interference) I found that the show just wasn't the same.

For me, the 3rd and 4th seasons are the best. There are plenty of awesome Mike episodes, but those seasons are the Golden Age to me.

For more modern things, you have RiffTrax, which is Mike and a few others riffing on big-budget movies. It's interesting, but mostly they're riffing on movies that are actually good (at least compared to normal MST fare) so it loses some of the magic. Unless it's a big-budget movie that's actually bad, in which case it's amazing. Some of them, like the ones for the original Star Wars movies, have almost no riffing at all, it's more like fanboy-gasms.

On the other hand, you have Cinematic Titanic, which is Joel and basically all of the original cast except for Mike, riffing on bad movies like the good old days. I haven't actually watched any of these, but apparently they're pretty good.

I think Joel had more stand out classic episodes, but more duds. Mike was more consistent: not as many all time classics (though there are a few), but not as many painfully bad ones.

I like both. I've technically watched more Joel, but that's not out of bias or preference but more out of trying my best to watch in production order. I'm getting close to season 8 now!
You're absolutely right. The Twilight Rifftrax, the Transformers Rifftrax and The Room Rifftrax are incredible pieces of entertainment.

Sadly can't really netflix it, as the service doesn't work in Finland.

Mike Nelson and his Janeway \ James Lipton alter egos.

The Creeping Terror, Bloodlust, Pumaman, The Giant Spider Invasion and Deathstalker are fave episodes.

Mike Nelson for me!

And i can't remember which film it was now but the one with, "crank-whore??" i thought was really funny.

That was 'Prince of Space.' My favorite episode ever.

They've released a good number of older, cheesier film riffs too, like Reefer Madness, Voodoo Man, and The Sons of Hercules (plus a lot of the public-domain educational shorts that MST3K always mocked so well). With Christmas coming up, you'd do well to check out their take on Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny--it's truly the Manos of holiday movies.

Prince of Space, in reference to chicken-nosed alien warlord Phantom of Krankor. One of my favorite episodes. EDIT: Gah, way too slow.

"Your weapons are worthless but scare the crap out of me anyway!"

Ah of course! Thank you both for reminding me! I have to watch that again soon!

Joike