Michael J. Nelson

Michael John Nelson (born October 11, 1964) is an American comedian and writer best known for his influential work on the cult television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K). He was raised in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles, Illinois, and later lived in Geneva, Illinois before his family relocated to north‑western Wisconsin when he was twelve. His ancestry includes Danish, German, and Irish roots, and he briefly studied theatre and music at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls before leaving to pursue comedic opportunities in the Minneapolis‑Saint Paul area. While working as a waiter at T.G.I. Friday's and performing occasional stand‑up, Nelson was invited to type suggestions for MST3K, quickly impressing the writing staff with his wit and timing, which led to his promotion to staff writer and eventually head writer for most of the show's original eleven‑year run. In the fifth season, series creator Joel Hodgson selected Nelson to replace him as the on‑air host, a role he inhabited for five and a half additional seasons as the show migrated from Comedy Central to the Sci‑Fi Channel, solidifying his status as a beloved figure in the riff‑culture community. After MST3K concluded in 1999, Nelson authored several humor books such as Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese and Mike Nelson's Death Rat!, contributed commentary tracks for classic film releases, and co‑created the comedy team “The Film Crew” with fellow alumni Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett. In 2006 he joined Legend Films as Chief Content Producer and helped launch RiffTrax, a platform offering downloadable audio commentaries that has become a spiritual successor to MST3K; he continues to produce new riffs alongside former cast members. Nelson’s personal life is anchored in his Christian faith, which he describes as the centerpiece of his family; he is married to Bridget Jones (married 1989) and the couple has two children, and he often discusses the interplay of humor, faith, and family in podcasts such as Like Trees Walking and 372 Pages We'll Never Get Back.