Writing
Michael J. Nelson
EN cinema · 66 credits
Born
11 October 1964 (age 62)
Birthplace
St. Charles, Illinois
Also known as Mike Nelson
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
Filmography
The Year of Laughing Dangerously
as Joel Williams
The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark
as Self, Writer, Producer
GrimTrax Returns
as Self, Writer
Hunks of Junk
as Self, Writer
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
as Mike Nelson, Writer
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Deathsport
as Mike Nelson, Writer, Producer, Director
RiffTrax Live: Timecop
as Self, Writer, Director
GrimTrax
as Self, Writer, Director
RiffTrax Live: Point Break
as Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: RAD
as Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
as Self, Writer
RiffTrax: Zombie Nightmare
as Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
as Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
as Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
as Self, Director
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
as Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
as Self, Director, Writer
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
as Himself
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
as Self, Writer
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
as Self, Writer
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
as Self, Writer
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
as Self, Writer, Executive Producer
Santa's Village of Madness
2012
Santa's Village of Madness
as Self, Writer, Director
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
as himself, Writer, Executive Producer
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
Actor, Writer
Max the Hero
2007
Max the Hero
as Stew (voice)
The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
as Self, Writer, Producer
The Film Crew: Killers from Space
as Self, Writer, Producer
The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
as Self, Writer, Producer
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
as Mike Nelson, Writer
The Last Dance: RAW
as Himself / Mike Nelson
2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
as Mike Nelson, Director, Writer
1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
as Mike Nelson, Writer
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
as Mike Nelson, Writer
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
as Mike Nelson
This Is MST3K
as Self
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
1964
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
as Michael J. Nelson