According to the "MST3K" storyline, Crow — like his fellow robots Tom Servo, Gypsy, and Cambot — was built by Joel Robinson (Joel Hodgson), who created them to help him withstand the torment of watching bad movies on the "Satellite of Love". On the "Satellite", Crow was forced with the rest of the crew to watch horrible retro movies sent by mad scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester and his assistants. In episode 814, "Riding with Death", Crow describes himself as being made from molybdenum, and episode 908 Mike piles rocks atop Crow and comments on his "durable molybdenum frame".