Writing
87
Man
Oct 11, 1964 (59)
St. Charles, Illinois
Michael J. 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.
Year | Movie / TV show / Other | Role |
---|---|---|
2024 | GrimTrax | Writer |
2024 | GrimTrax | Director |
2024 | RiffTrax Live: Point Break | Writer |
2023 | RiffTrax Live: RAD | Writer |
2022 | Rifftrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing | Writer |
2019 | RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders | Writer |
2017 | RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party | Writer |
2017 | RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors | Director |
2016 | RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion | Director |
2016 | RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion | Writer |
2014 | RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus | Writer |
2013 | Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers | Writer |
2013 | Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians | Writer |
2012 | RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate | Executive Producer |
2012 | RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate | Writer |
2010 | RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill | Executive Producer |
2010 | RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill | Writer |
2010 | Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness | Writer |
2000 | Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3 | Writer |
1996 | Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie | Writer |
1989 | Mystery Science Theater 3000 | Writer |
1989 | Mystery Science Theater 3000 | Director |