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Michael J. Nelson

Michael J. Nelson

Writer · Born October 11, 1964 · St. Charles, Illinois

IMDb

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.

Wrote 30

2020s

  1. 2026

    Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Deathsport

    Writer

  2. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments

    Writer

  3. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death

    Writer

  4. Hunks of Junk

    Writer

  5. GrimTrax Returns

    Writer

  6. 2025

    RiffTrax Live: Timecop

    Writer

  7. 2024

    RiffTrax Live: Point Break

    Writer

  8. GrimTrax

    Writer

  9. 2023

    RiffTrax Live: RAD

    Writer

  10. 2022

    RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing

    Writer

  11. RiffTrax: Zombie Nightmare

    Writer

  12. 2021

    RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins

    Writer

2010s

  1. 2019

    RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders

    Writer

  2. 2017

    RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party

    Writer

  3. 2016

    RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion

    Writer

  4. 2014

    RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus

    Writer

  5. 2013

    Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

    Writer

  6. Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers

    Writer

  7. 2012

    RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate

    Writer

  8. 2010

    RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill

    Writer

  9. Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness

    Writer

2000s

  1. 2007

    The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon

    Writer

  2. The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo

    Writer

  3. The Film Crew: Killers from Space

    Writer

  4. 2000

    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3

    Writer

1990s

  1. 1998

    2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review

    Writer

  2. 1997

    1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review

    Writer

  3. 1996

    Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie

    Writer

No release date

  1. The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark

    Writer

Acted in 19

2020s

  1. 2026

    Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — The Mummy Theme Park

    Mike Nelson

  2. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Deathsport

    Mike Nelson

  3. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments

    Mike Nelson · 4 episodes

  4. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death

    Mike Nelson

  5. 2022

    RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes

    Movie

2010s

  1. 2016

    Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls

    Movie

  2. 2015

    RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny

    Movie

  3. RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection

    Movie

  4. 2011

    Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer

    Movie

  5. 2010

    Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness

    Movie

2000s

  1. 2000

    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3

    Mike Nelson

1990s

  1. 1999

    Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2

    Mike Nelson

  2. 1998

    2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review

    Mike Nelson

  3. Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1

    Mike Nelson

  4. 1997

    1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review

    Mike Nelson

  5. 1996

    Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie

    Mike Nelson

  6. 1995

    MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special

    Mike Nelson

No release date

  1. The Year of Laughing Dangerously

    Joel Williams

Directed 7

2020s

  1. 2026

    Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Deathsport

    Director

  2. 2025

    RiffTrax Live: Timecop

    Director

  3. 2024

    GrimTrax

    Director

2010s

  1. 2017

    RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors

    Director

  2. 2016

    RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion

    Director

1990s

  1. 1998

    2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review

    Director

Produced 7

2020s

  1. 2026

    Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Deathsport

    Producer

2010s

  1. 2012

    RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate

    Executive Producer

  2. 2010

    RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill

    Executive Producer

2000s

  1. 2007

    The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon

    Producer

  2. The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo

    Producer

  3. The Film Crew: Killers from Space

    Producer

No release date

  1. The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark

    Producer

Created 1

2020s

  1. 2026

    Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments

    Creator

Appearances43

2020s

  1. 2026

    Hunks of Junk

    Self

  2. GrimTrax Returns

    Self

  3. 2025

    RiffTrax Live: Timecop

    Self

  4. 2024

    RiffTrax Live: Point Break

    Self

  5. GrimTrax

    Self

  6. 2023

    RiffTrax Live: RAD

    Self

  7. 2022

    RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing

    Self

  8. RiffTrax: Zombie Nightmare

    Self

  9. 2021

    RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins

    Self

2010s

  1. 2019

    RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion

    Self

  2. RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders

    Self

  3. RiffTrax Live: Octaman

    Self

  4. 2018

    The Rifftrax Yule Log

    Self

  5. RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny

    Self

  6. 2017

    RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors

    Self

  7. RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party

    Self

  8. Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop

    Self

  9. 2016

    RiffTrax Live: Mothra

    Self

  10. RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion

    Self

  11. RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers

    Self

  12. Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016

    Self

  13. 2015

    RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2

    Self

  14. Rifftrax Live: The Room

    Self

  15. Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015

    Himself

  16. 2014

    RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus

    Self

  17. RiffTrax Live: Godzilla

    Self

  18. RiffTrax Live: Sharknado

    Himself

  19. 2013

    Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

    Self

  20. RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead

    Self

  21. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey

    Himself

  22. Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers

    Self

  23. RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013

    Himself

  24. 2012

    RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror

    Himself

  25. RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate

    Self

  26. 2010

    RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill

    himself

2000s

  1. 2009

    RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!

    Himself

  2. RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space

    Self

  3. 2007

    The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon

    Self

  4. The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo

    Self

  5. The Film Crew: Killers from Space

    Self

1990s

  1. 1999

    The Last Dance: RAW

    Himself / Mike Nelson

  2. 1992

    This Is MST3K

    Self

No release date

  1. The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark

    Self