Michael J. Nelson
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.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (49)
RiffTrax: The Riffer's Cup
as Self
2025
RiffTrax Live: Timecop
as Self
2025
RiffTrax: Super Zeroes
as Self
2025
RiffTrax Live: Point Break
as Self
2024
GrimTrax
as Self
2024
RiffTrax Live: RAD
as Self
2023
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
as Self
2022
RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes
2022
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
as Self
2021
RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion
as Self
2019
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
as Self
2019
RiffTrax Live: Octaman
as Self
2019
The Rifftrax Yule Log
as Self
2018
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
as Self
2018
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
as Self
2017
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
as Self
2017
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
as Self
2017
Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
2016
RiffTrax Live: Mothra
as Self
2016
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
as Self
2016
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
as Self
2016
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016
as Self
2016
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
2015
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
2015
RiffTrax: Death Promise
2015
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
as Self
2015
Rifftrax: Birdemic
as Self
2015
Rifftrax Live: The Room
as Self
2015
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015
as Himself
2015
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
as Self
2014
Rifftrax: R.O.T.O.R.
as self
2014
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla
as Self
2014
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
as Himself
2014
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
as Self
2013
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead
as Self
2013
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey
as Himself
2013
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
as Self
2013
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013
as Himself
2013
Rifftrax: Cool as Ice
as self
2013
Santa's Village of Madness
as Self
2012
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
as Himself
2012
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
as Self
2012
Rifftrax: The Guy From Harlem
as self
2012
Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer
2011
Rifftrax: The Crater Lake Monster
as self
2011
Rifftrax: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
as self
2010
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
as himself
2010
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
2010
RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!
as Himself
2009