profile image

Michael J. Nelson

Oct 11, 1964 (60 years old) in St. Charles, Illinois

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

poster
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Winky
poster
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Mike Nelson
poster
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
Himself
poster
The Adventures of Edward the Less
The Noble One (voice)
poster
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
Himself
poster
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
Self
poster
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
himself
poster
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
Self
poster
RiffTrax Live: TimeCop
Self
poster
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
Self

Credits