Michael J. Nelson
Writing
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.
TV Shows(5)
Movies(63)
Hunks of Junk
Self
2026
GrimTrax Returns
Self
2026
RiffTrax Live: Timecop
Self
2025
RiffTrax: Super Zeroes
Self
2025
RiffTrax Live: Point Break
Self
2024
GrimTrax
Self
2024
RiffTrax Live: RAD
Self
2023
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
Self
2022
RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes
2022
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
Self
2021
RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion
Self
2019
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
Self
2019
RiffTrax Live: Octaman
Self
2019
The Rifftrax Yule Log
Self
2018
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
Self
2018
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
Self
2017
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
Self
2017
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
Self
2017
Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
2016
RiffTrax Live: Mothra
Self
2016
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
Self
2016
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
Self
2016
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016
Self
2016
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
2015
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
2015
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
Self
2015
Rifftrax Live: The Room
Self
2015
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015
Himself
2015
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
Self
2014
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla
Self
2014
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
Himself
2014
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Self
2013
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead
Self
2013
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey
Himself
2013
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
Self
2013
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013
Himself
2013
Santa's Village of Madness
Self
2012
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
Himself
2012
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
Self
2012
Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer
2011
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
himself
2010
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
2010
RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!
Himself
2009
RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space
Self
2009
Max the Hero
Stew (voice)
2007
The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
Self
2007
The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
Self
2007
The Film Crew: Killers from Space
Self
2007
The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark
Self
2007
The Three Stooges in Color
2005
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
Mike Nelson
2000
The Last Dance: RAW
Himself / Mike Nelson
1999
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2
Mike Nelson
1999
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1
Mike Nelson
1998
1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
Mike Nelson
1997
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Mike Nelson
1996
Poopie!
1995
Poopie Parade of Values
Mike Nelson
1995
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
Mike Nelson
1995
This Is MST3K
Self
1992
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
Michael J. Nelson
1964
The Year of Laughing Dangerously
Joel Williams
RiffTrax: Pressure Point
Himself