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.

Filmography

• 2026GrimTrax Returns — Self, Writer
• 2026Hunks of Junk — Self, Writer
• Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Mike Nelson, Writer, Creator
• 2026Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death — Mike Nelson, Writer
• 2025RiffTrax Live: Timecop — Self, Writer, Director
• 2024GrimTrax — Self, Writer, Director
• 2024RiffTrax Live: Point Break — Self, Writer
• 2023RiffTrax Live: RAD — Self, Writer
• 2022RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes
• 2022RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing — Self, Writer
• 2019RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders — Self, Writer
• 2017RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors — Self, Director
• 2017RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party — Self, Writer
• 2016RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion — Self, Director, Writer
• 2016Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
• 2015RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
• 2015RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
• 2014RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus — Self, Writer
• Total Riff Off
• 2013Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians — Self, Writer
• 2013Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers — Self, Writer
• 2012RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate — Self, Executive Producer, Writer
• 2012Santa's Village of Madness — Self, Writer, Director
• 2011Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer
• 2010RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill — himself, Executive Producer, Writer
• 2010Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness — Writer
• 2007Max the Hero — Stew (voice)
• 2007The Film Crew: Killers from Space — Self, Writer, Producer
• 2007The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon — Self, Writer, Producer
• 2007The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo — Self, Writer, Producer
• 2005The Three Stooges in Color
• The Adventures of Edward the Less — The Noble One (voice)
• 2000Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3 — Mike Nelson, Writer
• 1999Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2 — Mike Nelson
• 19982nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review — Mike Nelson, Director, Writer
• 1998Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1 — Mike Nelson
• 19971st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review — Mike Nelson, Writer
• 1996Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie — Mike Nelson, Writer
• 1995MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special — Mike Nelson
• 1995Poopie Parade of Values — Mike Nelson
• 1995Poopie!
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 — Valeria, Mike Nelson, Torgo, Tony Travis (voice), Morrissey, Officer Mike, Holo-Clown, Imperialistic Alien, Isaac Asimov Literary Doomsday Device (voice), Kenny, Megaweapon (voice), Baywatch characters (voice), Virtual comedy heckler (voice), Frank Sinatra (voice), Director, Writer
• 1964Three Stooges: Greatest Routines — Michael J. Nelson
• The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark — Self, Writer, Producer
• The Year of Laughing Dangerously — Joel Williams

Appearances as themselves (22)

• 2021RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins — Self
• 2019RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion — Self
• 2019RiffTrax Live: Octaman — Self
• 2018RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny — Self
• 2018The Rifftrax Yule Log — Self
• 2017Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop — Self
• 2016RiffTrax Live: Mothra — Self
• 2016RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers — Self
• 2016Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016 — Self
• 2015RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2 — Self
• 2015Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015 — Himself
• 2015Rifftrax Live: The Room — Self
• 2014RiffTrax Live: Godzilla — Self
• 2014RiffTrax Live: Sharknado — Himself
• 2013Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey — Himself
• 2013RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead — Self
• 2013RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013 — Himself
• 2012RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror — Himself
• 2009RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza! — Himself
• 2009RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space — Self
• 1999The Last Dance: RAW — Himself / Mike Nelson
• 1992This Is MST3K — Self