TV's Frank

TV's Frank
Mystery Science Theater 3000 character
TV's Frank (left) and Dr. Clayton Forrester.
First appearance	201 - Rocketship X-M
Last appearance	624 - Samson vs. the Vampire Women (regular role) 1001 - Soultaker (cameo)
Created by	Joel Hodgson
Portrayed by	Frank Conniff
Information
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Occupation	Former Mad Scientist/Soultaker (as of 1001 Soultaker)
Family	TV's Son of TV's Frank

TV's Frank, played by Frank Conniff, is a fictional character who is lab assistant to mad scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester in the television comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000. He appears at the beginning of Season 2, with the departure of Forrester's earlier co-scientist Dr. Laurence Erhardt, and continues through Season 6. According to The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Amazing Colossal Episode Guide, Dr. Forrester discovered Frank working at a nearby Arby's. Early on he was simply called Frank; later he acquired the more ostentatious name which is a reference to how a TV personality would sometimes be introduced as "TV's so-and-so" on talk shows and other programming. Frank wears a black chauffeur's uniform and his hairstyle includes a spit-curl (resulting in a resemblance to that of Marlon Brando's Jor-El role in the 1978 Superman film). He has an unusual habit of calling Dr. Forrester "Steve". He is listed in Deep 13's employee records as "Frank, TV's," indicating that "Frank" is actually his surname and "TV's" is his given name.

Little is known about Frank's past save that he attended Harriet Tubman High School (a real high school in Compton, California), where he was held back at least twice. While working at Arby's, Frank was allegedly nicknamed "Zeppo" due to his supposed sense of humor. Frank had a surprisingly large personal fortune which surfaced whenever a large amount of money was required for a particular skit.

TV's Frank's first MST3K episode was episode #201 Rocketship X-M, where, apparently still in his Arby's mindset, he took fast-food orders and, rather to Dr. Forrester's annoyance, almost brought the Satellite of Love down so the crew could "dine in." His last regular appearance was episode #624 Samson vs. the Vampire Women, during which he was assumed into " Heaven", where sidekicks and henchmen could live in a peaceful paradise without fear of reprisal from their cruel masters, by the angel Torgo the White. Dr. Forrester was actually very saddened when Frank left him for Second Banana Heaven, even lamenting his loss in a song entitled "Who Will I Kill?". Frank later appeared to the despondent Forrester as an otherworldly entity and "reconciled" with him, even agreeing to "push the button" one last time. After his departure, he was immortalized in the following year's Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie as a door handle (Door 2) on the way to the theater.