Michael J. Nelson
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.
Acting
Movie
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
as Mike Nelson
1996
TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000
as Valeria
1989
TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000
as Mike Nelson
1989
TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000
as Torgo
1989
TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000
as Morrissey
1989
TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000
as Tony Travis (voice)
1989
TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000
as Officer Mike
1989
TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000
as Holo-Clown
1989
TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000
as Imperialistic Alien
1989
TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000
as Isaac Asimov Literary Doomsday Device (voice)
1989
TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000
as Kenny
1989
Movie
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
2015
Movie
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
as Himself
2012
Movie
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
as Himself
2014
Movie
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla
as Self
2014
Movie
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
as Self
2017
Movie
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
2015
Movie
RiffTrax Live: Mothra
as Self
2016
Movie
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
as himself
2010
Movie
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
as Self
2016
Movie
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
as Self
2012
Movie
RiffTrax Live: Octaman
as Self
2019
Movie
Rifftrax Live: The Room
as Self
2015
Movie
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
as Self
2015
Crew
Movie
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Writer
1996
TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Writer
1989
Movie
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
Director
2016
Movie
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
Writer
2010
Movie
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
Writer
2012
Movie
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
Writer
2010
Movie
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
Writer
2017
Movie
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
Writer
2013
Movie
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
Director
2017
Movie
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
Writer
2000
Movie
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
Writer
2014
Movie
GrimTrax
Writer
2024