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In the not-too-distant future, fans of the science fiction comedy show 鈥淢ystery Science Theater 3000鈥� may be seeing more of the cult classic.

鈥淢ST3K鈥� creator Joel Hodgson has launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to bring back the show. The initial goal is to raise $2 million by Dec. 12, which would enable those behind the show to create three new episodes of the program. The ultimate goal, however, writes Mr. Hodgson on the Kickstarter page, is to raise $5.5 million to create a full season of 12 episodes.听

From Hodgson鈥檚 message, it doesn鈥檛 sound like there鈥檚 a network or streaming service to distribute the show in place yet. He points to the Kickstarter page as a crucial way to prove there鈥檚 a demand for the show.

鈥淚f we want a聽lot聽more MST3K, we need to work together to prove that there's still an audience out there that聽wants聽MST3K 鈥� and that this isn't all some pitiable delusion 鈥� so that we can find a network or online platform who will agree to pick up the show and keep it going,鈥� .

At press time, the Kickstarter page lists donations of nearly $500,000.

Fans know Hodgson and Michael J. Nelson, who starred on the show as movie fans who cracked jokes about movies with their robot friends. Hodgson reportedly wants to bring back people who were involved with the original show, but it sounds like there will be .听

鈥淏asically, I鈥檓 trying to blend the old with the new,鈥� he said. 鈥溾�橫ystery Science Theater鈥櫬爃as already refreshed itself once with a completely new cast, so I think it deserves to do that again. The original cast is going to be invited back to write, produce, and do cameos as their mad science characters, and then there鈥檚 a new cast with new talent.鈥澛�

鈥淢ST3K鈥� originally aired on networks including Comedy Central and The Sci-Fi Channel before being canceled in 1999.

For Hollywood, Kickstarter has an innate attraction: financial backers don鈥檛 have to guess whether a certain property has an audience, they can find out immediately using the site. Those behind the UPN TV show 鈥淰eronica Mars鈥� used the site to raise funds for a 鈥淢ars鈥� film, and an online version of the PBS TV show 鈥淩eading Rainbow鈥� also got funds through a Kickstarter page.听

Some have objected when stars like Zach Braff and Spike Lee have used the site, however. These opponents argue that the celebrities could get funding without proving demand through a Kickstarter page. Mr. Lee said that perhaps could make others aware of the site as a fundraising option. 鈥淚'm bringing people to Kickstarter who've never even heard of Kickstarter,鈥� he said.