Writing
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.
Filmography
GrimTrax Returns
Film · 2026
Hunks of Junk
Film · 2026
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
Film · 2026
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments
Series · 2026
RiffTrax Live: Timecop
Film · 2025
GrimTrax
Film · 2024
RiffTrax Live: Point Break
Film · 2024
RiffTrax Live: RAD
Film · 2023
RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing
Film · 2022
RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes
Film · 2022
RiffTrax Live: Hobgoblins
Film · 2021
RiffTrax Live: Octaman
Film · 2019
RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders
Film · 2019
RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion
Film · 2019
RiffTrax Live: Space Mutiny
Film · 2018
The Rifftrax Yule Log
Film · 2018
RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who – The Five Doctors
Film · 2017
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
Film · 2017
Rifftrax Live: Samurai Cop
Film · 2017
RiffTrax Live: Time Chasers
Film · 2016
Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls
Film · 2016
RiffTrax Live: Mothra
Film · 2016
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
Film · 2016
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2016
Film · 2016
RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection
Film · 2015
Rifftrax Live: The Room
Film · 2015
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2
Film · 2015
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
Film · 2015
Rifftrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2015
Film · 2015
RiffTrax Live: Godzilla
Film · 2014
RiffTrax Live: Sharknado
Film · 2014
RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus
Film · 2014
Total Riff Off
Series · 2014
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Living Dead
Film · 2013
Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers
Film · 2013
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Film · 2013
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Motion Picture Odyssey
Film · 2013
RiffTrax Live: Night of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2013
Film · 2013
RiffTrax Live: "Manos" the Hands of Fate
Film · 2012
RiffTrax Live: Birdemic - Shock and Terror
Film · 2012
Santa's Village of Madness
Film · 2012
Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer
Film · 2011
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
Film · 2010
Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness
Film · 2010
RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space
Film · 2009
RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-stravaganza!
Film · 2009
Max the Hero
Film · 2007
The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon
Film · 2007
The Film Crew: Killers from Space
Film · 2007
The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo
Film · 2007
The Three Stooges in Color
Film · 2005
The Adventures of Edward the Less
Series · 2001
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3
Film · 2000
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2
Film · 1999
The Last Dance: RAW
Film · 1999
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1
Film · 1998
2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
Film · 1998
1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review
Film · 1997
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Film · 1996
Poopie!
Film · 1995
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special
Film · 1995
Poopie Parade of Values
Film · 1995
This Is MST3K
Film · 1992
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Series · 1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Series · 1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Series · 1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Series · 1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Series · 1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Series · 1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Series · 1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Series · 1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Series · 1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Series · 1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Series · 1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Series · 1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Series · 1989
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Series · 1989
Three Stooges: Greatest Routines
Film · 1964
The Year of Laughing Dangerously
Film
The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark
Film