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.
Known for
Writing27
movieHunks of Junk
2026
Writer
movieGrimTrax
2024
Writer
Acting68
Max the Hero
2007
Stew (voice)
The Adventures of Edward the Less
2001
The Noble One (voice)
movieThe Last Dance: RAW
1999
Himself / Mike Nelson
tvMystery Science Theater 3000
1989
Valeria / Mike Nelson / Torgo / Morrissey / Tony Travis (voice) / Officer Mike / Holo-Clown / Imperialistic Alien / Isaac Asimov Literary Doomsday Device (voice) / Kenny
movieThe Year of Laughing Dangerously
Joel Williams
Directing6
movieGrimTrax
2024
Director
Production6
movieRiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
2012
Executive Producer
movieRiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
2010
Executive Producer