gorts

A gort is a fictional creature originating from the science fiction television series "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (MST3K). The name "gort" is a direct reference to the iconic robot character Gort from the 1951 film "The Day the Earth Stood Still." In MST3K, the term "gort" is used by the show's characters, Joel Robinson and later Mike Nelson, as a derogatory or dismissive term for the alien captors who force them to watch bad movies.

These aliens, Dr. Forrester and Professor Bobo, are responsible for the "movie-watching experiment" that forms the premise of the show. While the characters on the Satellite of Love often use the term "gort" casually, it encapsulates their frustration and disdain for their captors' actions and intelligence. It's a humorous shorthand that fans of the show immediately recognize. The term is never applied to any specific physical creature within the show's narrative but exists purely as an epithet. Its usage is indicative of the show's blend of science fiction tropes and absurdist humor. The term itself doesn't denote any particular characteristics or abilities beyond being associated with the show's antagonists.