CineScope
Michael J. Nelson picture

Michael J. Nelson

Writing
Known For

60 Years Old

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.

Born

St. Charles, Illinois on 11th October 1964

All Credits

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Image
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Imperialistic Alien 1
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Image
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Clown
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Image
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Officer Mike
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Image
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Tony Travis (voice)
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Image
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Morrissey
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Image
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Torgo
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Image
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mike Nelson
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Image
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Gamera
No Image
The Adventures of Edward the Less
The Noble One (voice)
No Image
Total Riff Off
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016 Image
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016
Himself
Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer Image
Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer
RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space Image
RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space
Self
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate Image
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
Self
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny Image
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
Self
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie Image
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Mike Nelson
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill Image
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
himself
RiffTrax Live: TimeCop Image
RiffTrax Live: TimeCop
Self
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion Image
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
Self
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado Image
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
Himself
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny Image
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013 Image
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013
Himself
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors Image
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
Self
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2 Image
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
Himself
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection Image
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
This Is MST3K Image
This Is MST3K
Self
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015 Image
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015
Himself
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness Image
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
RiffTrax Live: Point Break Image
RiffTrax Live: Point Break
Self
No Image
Rifftrax: Twilight
self
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers Image
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
Self
The Last Dance: RAW Image
The Last Dance: RAW
Himself / Mike Nelson
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party Image
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
Himself
GrimTrax Image
GrimTrax
Self
Rifftrax Live: The Room Image
Rifftrax Live: The Room
Himself
No Image
Poopie!
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead Image
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead
Self
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3 Image
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
Mike Nelson
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing Image
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
Self
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1 Image
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1
Mike Nelson
RiffTrax: Super Zeroes Image
RiffTrax: Super Zeroes
Self
RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza! Image
RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!
Himself
RiffTrax Live: Octaman Image
RiffTrax Live: Octaman
Self
The Year of Laughing Dangerously Image
The Year of Laughing Dangerously
Joel Williams
No Image
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
Michael J. Nelson
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror Image
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
Himself
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop Image
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
Himself
RiffTrax Live: RAD Image
RiffTrax Live: RAD
Self
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey Image
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey
Himself
No Image
Santa's Village of Madness
Self
RiffTrax Live: Mothra Image
RiffTrax Live: Mothra
Himself
No Image
Rifftrax: The Crater Lake Monster
self
Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls Image
Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
No Image
Max the Hero
Stew (voice)
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers Image
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
Himself
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins Image
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
Self
RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion Image
RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion
Mike
No Image
Rifftrax: Cool as Ice
self
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla Image
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla
Self
No Image
1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
Mike Nelson
No Image
Poopie Parade of Values
Mike Nelson
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders Image
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
Self
No Image
Rifftrax: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
self
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2 Image
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2
Mike Nelson
RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes Image
RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes
RiffTrax: Death Promise Image
RiffTrax: Death Promise
No Image
Rifftrax: R.O.T.O.R.
self
The Rifftrax Yule Log Image
The Rifftrax Yule Log
Himself
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Image
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Self
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus Image
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
Self
No Image
Rifftrax: The Guy From Harlem
self
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special Image
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
Mike Nelson
No Image
Rifftrax: Birdemic
self