Michael J. Nelson

Writing

Michael J. Nelson

Born October 11, 1964 · St. Charles, Illinois (age 61)

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 Magaz…

Known For

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
Next week
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death · 2026
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
2026
MovieScience FictionComedy
The storied history of Mystery Science Theater includes many, MANY cheap rubber monster suits... and somehow, some way, Sting of Death may have the worst so far. MSTies might recognize director William Grefé as the director behind the MST3K Season 2 experiment Wild Rebels. You'll be happy to know he made Sting of Death first, so Wild Rebels was a movie he made as an even more experienced filmmaker. As an added bonus, this movie also features the aptly titled "Do The Jellyfish" by Songwriting Hall of Fame inductee Neil Sedaka. Does this tune warrant TWO extended dance sequences? Probably not, but it is an earworm that will still be drilled into your head long after the credits roll.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The MovieMystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie · 1996
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
6.61996
MovieScience FictionComedy
In the not-too-distant future, the evil Dr. Forrester forces a temp named Mike into a series of experiments, where he's forced to watch cheesy movies so the mad scientist can monitor his mind. However, as Mike can't control where the movies begin or end, he'll try to keep his sanity with the help of his robot friends.
GrimTrax ReturnsGrimTrax Returns · 2026
GrimTrax Returns
2026
MovieComedy
Like a comet streaking across the sky with a trail of suffering, ennui, and industrial puncture wounds behind it, GrimTrax Returns! Five shorts too grim to release individually, including one we recorded TWO YEARS AGO and held onto for just this moment.
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach PartyRiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party · 2017
RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party
7.82017
MovieComedy
Join Mike, Kevin and Bill, along with guests Bridget Nelson, Mary Jo Pehl, the Mads from MST3K Trace Beaulieu and Frank Conniff, and special guest Paul F. Tompkins and relive this amazing summer-themed night of riffing and comedy!
RiffTrax Live: MST3K ReunionRiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion · 2016
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
9.02016
MovieComedy
Mike, Kevin and Bill were joined on stage by their MST3K colleagues at the State Theatre in Minneapolis to bring it back to their roots in an MST3K cast reunion the likes of which have never been seen before! Joining the guys are their old cohorts Frank Conniff (TV's Frank), Trace Beaulieu (Crow, Dr. Forrestor), Mary Jo Pehl (Pearl Forrester), Bridget Nelson (Nuveena, Mr. B), as well as Mystery Science Theater 3000 creator Joel Hodgson, AND the host of the revived MST, Jonah Ray, for a hilarious night of riffing for RiffTrax's 20th Live event. Taking turns in various permutations to riff on a slew of old-timey shorts, the show culminates in a Super Riff-A-Palooza finale with all nine riffers on stage at once!
RiffTrax: Super ZeroesRiffTrax: Super Zeroes · 2025
RiffTrax: Super Zeroes
2025
MovieComedy
Mediocrities, Assemble! Super Zeroes is a special packed with the best moments of some of the corniest vintage superhero flicks ever made. Complete with host segments from Mike, Kevin and Bill!
RiffTrax Live: RADRiffTrax Live: RAD · 2023
RiffTrax Live: RAD
8.02023
MovieComedyDrama
Teens! Bikes! Feathered Hair! Love and revenge! Leotards and acid-washed denim! It’s all here in the legendary Eighties BMX-racing action-drama-romance RAD! Join Mike, Bill and Kevin as they spin, flip and slow-bike-dance their way into your hearts, LIVE in theaters nationwide on August 17th! Don’t miss it, if you want to be RAD!
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream BunnyRiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny · 2015
RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
8.72015
MovieComedy
Santa’s sleigh is stuck on the beach, and only one creature can help him: The Ice Cream Bunny! Unfortunately, the fire truck that the Ice Cream Bunny drives needs repairs, so he’ll be a little late coming from Pirates World, the run-down theme park that he lives in. We’d like to take this moment to remind you that, yes, this is a REAL movie that people ACTUALLY made. Filmed in front of a live audience at the historic Belcourt Theatre in Nashville, Mike, Kevin and Bill are delighted to inflict, er, present it LIVE for the very first time!

Filmography

Sort
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
Next week
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death · 2026
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death
2026
MovieScience FictionComedy
The storied history of Mystery Science Theater includes many, MANY cheap rubber monster suits... and somehow, some way, Sting of Death may have the worst so far. MSTies might recognize director William Grefé as the director behind the MST3K Season 2 experiment Wild Rebels. You'll be happy to know he made Sting of Death first, so Wild Rebels was a movie he made as an even more experienced filmmaker. As an added bonus, this movie also features the aptly titled "Do The Jellyfish" by Songwriting Hall of Fame inductee Neil Sedaka. Does this tune warrant TWO extended dance sequences? Probably not, but it is an earworm that will still be drilled into your head long after the credits roll.

Writer

RiffTrax Live: MST3K ReunionRiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion · 2016
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion
9.02016
MovieComedy
Mike, Kevin and Bill were joined on stage by their MST3K colleagues at the State Theatre in Minneapolis to bring it back to their roots in an MST3K cast reunion the likes of which have never been seen before! Joining the guys are their old cohorts Frank Conniff (TV's Frank), Trace Beaulieu (Crow, Dr. Forrestor), Mary Jo Pehl (Pearl Forrester), Bridget Nelson (Nuveena, Mr. B), as well as Mystery Science Theater 3000 creator Joel Hodgson, AND the host of the revived MST, Jonah Ray, for a hilarious night of riffing for RiffTrax's 20th Live event. Taking turns in various permutations to riff on a slew of old-timey shorts, the show culminates in a Super Riff-A-Palooza finale with all nine riffers on stage at once!

Writer

RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted HillRiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill · 2010
RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill
8.52010
MovieComedyHorror
Is there any possible downside to accepting an invitation from Vincent Price to spend an evening in a creepy mansion that was built on something called “Haunted Hill?” If so, Mike, Kevin and Bill couldn’t find it! In fact they were so eager to join Mr. Price and his terrifying moustache that they riffed the film live, on-stage, and now you can reap the rewards from the safety of home with this live show DVD! Yes, horror classic House on Haunted Hill provides a mesmerizing walk down “people actually used to find this SCARY?!?” lane. Join the RiffTrax guys as they bring their special brand of rapid-fire comedic commentary to every skeleton-hanging-from-visible-wires, clumsy sexual overtone, and a stunningly inept test pilot whose “heroics” typically lead him to bloody his own nose after locking himself in a broom closet!

Executive Producer

RiffTrax Live: TimecopRiffTrax Live: Timecop · 2025
RiffTrax Live: Timecop
10.02025
MovieComedy
In the futuristic world of 2004, Jean-Claude Van Damme isn’t just doing leg splits, he’s splitting the very barriers of space and time. Get ready for TIMECOP! Yes, it’s one word! After the death of his wife (Mia Sara) at the hands of time-traveling goons, Jean-Claude Van Damme is recruited to an elite task force of time-based police officers. Why does the government have an elite task force of time-based police officers? TIMECOP may, or may not, have answers to that perfectly reasonable question! Unfortunately, a U.S. Senator (Ron Silver) has gained access to their system of time travel and he’s using it to commit unspeakable evils – huge campaign finance violations – across generations. Imagine a nightmarish world where stuff like THAT happens. You can’t! Will the Timecops stop the senator in time to save the future?

Writer

Hunks of JunkHunks of Junk · 2026
Hunks of Junk
2026
MovieComedy
Star Wars: lots of people hate it, and those are just its biggest fans. But even if you’re a casual Star Wars fan who can’t tell Jyn Erso from Jizz Wailing, you have to admit, it inspired a whole lot of crap. Hunks of Junk is a collection of this crap, which a generous critic might say was “inspired by Star Wars” and a more accurate critic might say “appears to be at least 60% stolen footage from Star Wars.” There’s Turkish Star Wars, Japanese Star Wars, Italian Star Wars, He-Man Star Wars, John Boy Star Wars, direct-to-video Ewok Star Wars, animated Star Wars, even Donny and Marie Star Wars. We’ve even riffed Ernest Cline’s Fanboys, which shows that the author of Ready Player One can write a deeply emotional work without relying on tired pop culture references (we’re kidding, it’s worse than his poetry). Mike, Kevin, and Bill provide bantha fodder, er, host segments in between riffs. So what are you waiting for? Get into the garbage chute, flyboy, it’s time for Hunks of Junk!

Writer

Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the MartiansRifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians · 2013
Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
7.52013
MovieComedyScience Fiction
The nasty Martian villain Voldar (his face is coated in green oil and he has a huge mustache, therefore he’s evil) captures two Earth children, Billy and Betty, who don’t hold out for even a minute but rat out our fattest, jolliest elf without a struggle. Voldar takes Santa and the children prisoner and heads off for Mars. Only the bravery of Billy and Betty and the bumbling of a stowaway and “the laziest man on Mars”, Droppo, can foil Voldar’s evil plans! Throw into the mix Santa and the Fairy Snow Queen, an insane short featuring a pixie named Snoopy, a horrific life size Jack in the Box, and a lion who is oh so proud of his candy eating ability, and you’ve got one of our funniest live shows to date. Please join Mike, Kevin, and Bill for RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians!

Writer