Person
Michael J. Nelson
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 T…
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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
Movies and shows, newest first
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2026
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments
TV show Mike Nelson
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2026
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
Movie Mike Nelson
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2026
Hunks of Junk
Movie Self
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2026
GrimTrax Returns
Movie Self
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2025
RiffTrax Live: Timecop
Movie Self
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2024
RiffTrax Live: Point Break
Movie Self
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2024
GrimTrax
Movie Self
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2023
RiffTrax Live: RAD
Movie Self
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2022
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
Movie Self
- 2022
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2021
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
Movie Self
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2019
RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion
Movie Self
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2019
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
Movie Self
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2019
RiffTrax Live: Octaman
Movie Self
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2018
The Rifftrax Yule Log
Movie Self
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2018
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
Movie Self
More credits
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2017
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
Movie Self
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2017
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
Movie Self
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2017
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
Movie Self
- 2016
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2016
RiffTrax Live: Mothra
Movie Self
-
2016
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
Movie Self
-
2016
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
Movie Self
- 2016
- 2015
- 2015
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2015
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
Movie Self
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2015
Rifftrax Live: The Room
Movie Self
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2015
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015
Movie Himself
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2014
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
Movie Self
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2014
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla
Movie Self
-
2014
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
Movie Himself
-
2014
Total Riff Off
TV show
- 2013
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2013
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead
Movie Self
-
2013
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey
Movie Himself
-
2013
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
Movie Self
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2013
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013
Movie Himself
-
2012
Santa's Village of Madness
Movie Self
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2012
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
Movie Himself
