"Stink. Stank. Stunk."
Christmas 2011
"Is he wearing the SAME pair of boxer shorts?"
That question first came up roughly around the fifth year, give or take, of doing a themed Christmas picture; nearly a decade ago. What I can't remember was who asked it first. I know Tony has brought it up a couple of times as well as his daughter, Sehera, Wonkeaux, and about a handful of viewers over the years. And I've never side-stepped my answer. Yes, it IS the same pair of Mystery Science Theater 3000 boxers.
It would have to be actually. If I could be a total geek for a moment, the boxers were a real promotional item that came in a Rhino Home Video VHS 2-Pack back in 1998 (the first year I started drawing the underwear-themed holiday pics I should note). They were a rarity right from the start so unless Erik purchased several $40 sets, he'd only have one pair to his name.
Anyhow, as the years went by and I continued to incorporate his 'favorite boxers' into the pictures, the absurdity of him still having a wearable pair of the same shorts after all these years grew. And I probably would have continued to use the familiar sight of Tom Servo on one leg, Crow on the other, for many more years to come. But there was a part of me who knew it was time to accept the absurdity. After thirteen years, it was just getting gross. Heck, my pair only lasted for two years before a Hazmat crew needed to be called it.
I'll admit another thing. I always knew how the saga of Erik's MST3k boxer shorts was going to end. They were such a prized possession that Erik would have continued to wear them regardless how many holes would show up, or how stretched out the elastic would get, or help us, how badly stained a 'skid mark' would appear. No, it was always going to end with Kari getting rid of them; most likely setting them on fire. - Jake
Erik's Boxers
1998-2011