Michael J. Nelson

Biography

Michael J. Nelson is the former host and writer of the Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award-winning Mystery Science Theater 3000. Since that time, he has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows, penned a regular column for TV Guide, and authored best-selling books for both HarperCollins and Abrams. His first book, Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese, thrilled critics, including Richard Schickel of Time Magazine, who said of Mike, "He's more fun than a barrel of Val Kilmers... Smarter than a roomful of Patrick Swayzes... and almost as hilarious as Keanu Reeves." Mike's laugh-out-loud follow-up, Mind Over Matters, prompted Kirkus Reviews to enthuse, "From someplace called Minnesota comes a Nelson funnier than Ozzie, Ricky, Lord or Half," and even dared to compare him to another legendary writer, saying of his Serious Speech to Business People, "[It] could easily precede [Robert] Benchley's immortal Treasurer's Report." And Kirkus Reviews loved his novel, Death Rat!, saying, "Fast-paced, outrageous and funny, first-novelist Nelson's mockery of media mendacity is as biting as La Dolce Vita or Network--only funnier!" Nelson speaks all over the country, is a frequent guest on radio and television, and along with fellow former MST3K writers/performers Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy operate a podcast called RiffTrax, which, in a similar vein to MST3K, targets more mainstream films.

Known For

Mystery Science Theater 3000

All Movies (63)

Hunks of Junk2026 · as Self
GrimTrax Returns2026 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Timecop2025 · as Self
RiffTrax: Super Zeroes2025 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Point Break2024 · as Self
GrimTrax2024 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: RAD2023 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing2022 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes2022
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins2021 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion2019 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders2019 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Octaman2019 · as Self
The Rifftrax Yule Log2018 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny2018 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors2017 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party2017 · as Self
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop2017 · as Self
Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls2016
RiffTrax Live: Mothra2016 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion2016 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers2016 · as Self
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 20162016 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny2015
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection2015
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 22015 · as Self
Rifftrax Live: The Room2015 · as Self
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 20152015 · as Himself
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus2014 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla2014 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado2014 · as Himself
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians2013 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead2013 · as Self
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey2013 · as Himself
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers2013 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 20132013 · as Himself
Santa's Village of Madness2012 · as Self
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror2012 · as Himself
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate2012 · as Self
Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer2011
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill2010 · as himself
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness2010
RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!2009 · as Himself
RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space2009 · as Self
Max the Hero2007 · as Stew (voice)
The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon2007 · as Self
The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo2007 · as Self
The Film Crew: Killers from Space2007 · as Self
The Three Stooges in Color2005
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 32000 · as Mike Nelson
The Last Dance: RAW1999 · as Himself / Mike Nelson
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 21999 · as Mike Nelson
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 11998 · as Mike Nelson
1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review1997 · as Mike Nelson
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie1996 · as Mike Nelson
Poopie!1995
Poopie Parade of Values1995 · as Mike Nelson
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special1995 · as Mike Nelson
This Is MST3K1992 · as Self
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines1964 · as Michael J. Nelson
The Year of Laughing Dangerously— · as Joel Williams
RiffTrax: Pressure Point— · as Himself
The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark— · as Self

All TV Shows (13)

Total Riff Off2014
The Adventures of Edward the Less2001 · as The Noble One (voice)
Mystery Science Theater 30001989 · as Valeria
Mystery Science Theater 30001989 · as Mike Nelson
Mystery Science Theater 30001989 · as Torgo
Mystery Science Theater 30001989 · as Tony Travis (voice)
Mystery Science Theater 30001989 · as Morrissey
Mystery Science Theater 30001989 · as Officer Mike
Mystery Science Theater 30001989 · as Holo-Clown
Mystery Science Theater 30001989 · as Imperialistic Alien
Mystery Science Theater 30001989 · as Isaac Asimov Literary Doomsday Device (voice)
Mystery Science Theater 30001989 · as Kenny
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments— · as Mike Nelson