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
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
Mike
2019
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
Self
2019
RiffTrax Live: Octaman
Self
2019
The Rifftrax Yule Log
Himself
2018
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
Self
2018
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
Self
2017
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
Himself
2017
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
Himself
2017
Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
2016
RiffTrax Live: Mothra
Himself
2016
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
Self
2016
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
Himself
2016
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016
Himself
2016
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
2015
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
2015
RiffTrax: Death Promise
2015
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
Himself
2015
Rifftrax Live: The Room
Himself
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
Total Riff Off
(6 episodes)
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: 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 Adventures of Edward the Less
The Noble One (voice) · (13 episodes)
2001
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
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Mike Nelson
1996
The Year of Laughing Dangerously
Joel Williams
Poopie!
1995
Poopie Parade of Values
Mike Nelson
1995
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
Mike Nelson
1995
This Is MST3K
Self
1992
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Gamera · (21 episodes)
1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mike Nelson · (102 episodes)
1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Torgo · (1 episode)
1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Tony Travis (voice) · (1 episode)
1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Morrissey · (1 episode)
1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Officer Mike · (1 episode)
1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Clown · (2 episodes)
1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Imperialistic Alien 1 · (1 episode)
1989
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
Michael J. Nelson
1964