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IMDbPro

Michael James Nelson

  • Producer
  • Writer
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Comedian Michael James Nelson
Comedian Michael James Nelson is best known for his work on "The MTV Movie Awards," "The MTV Video Music Awards," "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" and many other television shows.

He was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. During his youth, Michael excelled in science and mathematics with ambitions to work on the Space Shuttle. Never the class clown and usually extremely quiet, Michael had a secret obsession for comedy, mostly idolizing David Letterman and Howard Stern. After high school, his passion took over and Michael decided to take the biggest chance of his life and attend Florida State University to begin a comedy career as a radio broadcaster.

At FSU, Michael quickly climbed the ranks in radio as a news broadcaster, then he co-hosted a call-in talk show, and finally he ran the entire news department. Michael was later accepted into the critically acclaimed creative writing program and named a senior staff writer for the University's newspaper. But, things really came into focus when Michael created and executive produced one of the most popular comedy shows in Florida State University history titled That Show with Those Guys. During his senior year, with the comedy show at the height of its popularity, Michael took his comedy to the stage, performing all around campus and for his third stand up performance ever, Michael performed 50 minutes to a packed house with over two hundred people in attendance.

After graduating, Michael moved to Los Angeles and is now someone to watch in the world of comedy. He has written essays and short stories for National Lampoon, has been featured on National Lampoon Radio, and pitched to Comedy Central. Michael has produced television shows for DreamWorks to ABC, in all parts of the world, from Fiji to Rome.

Michael performed in Comedy Central's "2012 Comics To Watch Showcase" in Los Angeles. He also was a writer on the 2013 MTV Movie Awards, creating material for Will Ferrell, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Danny McBride, Melissa McCarthy, Brad Pitt, host Rebel Wilson and many others. Michael was also a writer on the hit NBC show "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" and he has been featured on Will Ferrell's website "Funny or Die" over a dozen times and has appeared in exclusive sketches alongside Don Cheadle, Ray Romano, Cedric "The Entertainer", George Lopez, Cheech Marin, Matthew Morrison, Rob Riggle, and many more. Michael has also written MTV comedy promos starring Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, the cast of American Reunion, and many more.

Michael trained in improvisation and sketch comedy at The Groundlings, IO West, and is an alumni of UCB's advanced improvisation program in Los Angeles. He is a member of the sketch group "Lost Friends" that performs regularly at the Comedy Central Stage in Los Angeles.

Michael is performing stand-up, sketch, writing for various television shows and just optioned his first half-hour sitcom.
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
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  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Awards
    • 1 nomination

Photos

Michael James Nelson in the award-winning short film Michael Peterson.
Michael James Nelson at Netflix Event.
Comedian Michael James Nelson
Comedian Michael James Nelson performing in Hollywood, CA (2013)

Known for

Don Cheadle in Sacks West (2011)
Sacks West
5.8
Short
  • Michael James
  • 2011
Robert Downey Jr., Kevin Hart, and Shailene Woodley in 2015 MTV Movie Awards (2015)
2015 MTV Movie Awards
4.4
TV Special
  • Writer
  • 2015
Michael Peterson (2017)
Michael Peterson
Short
  • Producer
  • 2017
Betty White's Off Their Rockers (2012)
Betty White's Off Their Rockers
7.1
TV Series
  • Producer

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Producer

  • The Challenge: Australia (2022)
    The Challenge: Australia
    • field producer
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Snack vs. Chef (2022)
    Snack vs. Chef
    • story producer
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Southern Charm (2013)
    Southern Charm
    • story producer
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Nurys Mateo, Chauncey Palmer, Johnny 'Bananas' Devenanzio, Nany González, Amber Borzotra, and Nelson Thomas in The Challenge (1998)
    The Challenge
    • field producer
    • TV Series
    • 2021
  • Temptation Island (2019)
    Temptation Island
    • story producer
    • TV Series
    • 2019–2021
  • Party Down South Shorts (2018)
    Party Down South Shorts
    • producer
    • TV Series
    • 2018
  • Movie Night With Karlie Kloss (2017)
    Movie Night With Karlie Kloss
    • supervising producer
    • TV Series
    • 2017–2018
  • Michael Peterson (2017)
    Michael Peterson
    • producer
    • Short
    • 2017
  • Rally (2015)
    Rally
    • producer
    • TV Series
    • 2016
  • Twinning (2015)
    Twinning
    • consulting producer
    • TV Series
    • 2015
  • Snooki & JWoww (2012)
    Snooki & JWoww
    • consulting producer
    • TV Series
    • 2015
  • Jerks with Cameras (2014)
    Jerks with Cameras
    • consulting producer
    • TV Series
    • 2014
  • TRYathlon (2012)
    TRYathlon
    • supervising story producer
    • TV Series
    • 2013
  • Garcelle Beauvais, Loni Love, Adrienne Houghton, and Jeannie Mai Jenkins in The Real (2013)
    The Real
    • consulting producer
    • TV Series
    • 2013
  • Betty White's Off Their Rockers (2012)
    Betty White's Off Their Rockers
    • consulting producer
    • TV Series
    • 2012–2013

Writer

  • Temptation Island (2019)
    Temptation Island
    • script writer
    • writer
    • TV Series
    • 2021
  • Michael James Nelson, Luke Stratte-McClure, Eddie Ruiz, and Jean Altadel in Partly Entertainers (2020)
    Partly Entertainers
    • written by
    • TV Movie
    • 2020
  • Rey Mysterio, Kevin Steen, Pamela Martinez, Colby Lopez, Joe Anoa'i, Mercedes Varnado, and Nikola Bogojevic in WWE Smackdown! (1999)
    WWE Smackdown!
    • writer
    • TV Series
    • 2019
  • Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin, John Cena, A.J. Styles, Colby Lopez, Rebecca Quin, Natalya Neidhart, Trinity Fatu, Trevor Mann, Thea Trinidad, Tom Budgen, and Macey Estrella in WWE Raw (1993)
    WWE Raw
    • writer
    • TV Series
    • 2019
  • Mark Calaway, Shane McMahon, A.J. Styles, Joe Seanoa, Rami Sebei, Colby Lopez, Rebecca Quin, Drew Galloway, Kofi Kingston, Trevor Mann, Joe Anoa'i, Tom Pestock, and Macey Estrella in WWE: Extreme Rules (2019)
    WWE: Extreme Rules
    • writer
    • TV Special
    • 2019
  • Joe Anoa'i in WWE Stomping Grounds (2019)
    WWE Stomping Grounds
    • writer
    • TV Special
    • 2019
  • Bill Goldberg and Mark Calaway in WWE Super Show-Down (2019)
    WWE Super Show-Down
    • writer
    • TV Special
    • 2019
  • Rebecca Quin in WWE Money in the Bank (2019)
    WWE Money in the Bank
    • writer
    • TV Special
    • 2019
  • Temptation Island - Versuchung im Paradies
    • Writer
    • TV Series
    • 2019
  • Movie Night With Karlie Kloss (2017)
    Movie Night With Karlie Kloss
    • writer
    • TV Series
    • 2017–2018
  • Michael Peterson (2017)
    Michael Peterson
    • Writer
    • Short
    • 2017
  • The 43rd Annual People's Choice Awards (2017)
    The 43rd Annual People's Choice Awards
    • Writer
    • TV Special
    • 2017
  • The Real World (1992)
    The Real World
    • Writer
    • TV Series
    • 2016
  • Robert Downey Jr., Kevin Hart, and Shailene Woodley in 2015 MTV Movie Awards (2015)
    2015 MTV Movie Awards
    • consultant
    • TV Special
    • 2015
  • TRYathlon (2012)
    TRYathlon
    • writer
    • TV Series
    • 2013

Actor

  • Michael James Nelson, Luke Stratte-McClure, Eddie Ruiz, and Jean Altadel in Partly Entertainers (2020)
    Partly Entertainers
    • Floyd
    • TV Movie
    • 2020
  • Paul Guyet and Hillary Baack in You & Me (2018)
    You & Me
    • Jack
    • 2018
  • Michael Peterson (2017)
    Michael Peterson
    • Michael Peterson
    • Short
    • 2017
  • Rally (2015)
    Rally
    • Doc
    • TV Series
    • 2016
  • Hollywood Musical! (2015)
    Hollywood Musical!
    • Michael (as Michael Nelson)
    • 2015
  • Chelsea (2014)
    Chelsea
    • Freddy
    • 2014
  • On the Movies with Luis and DeSanto
    • Richard DeSanto
    • Short
    • 2014
  • Sketchy (2012)
    Sketchy
    • George Washington
    • Terry
    • Whacky Narrator
    • TV Series
    • 2012
  • Walk & Talk - The West Wing Reunion: Behind the Scenes
    • White House Staffer
    • Short
    • 2012
  • Martin Sheen in Walk & Talk: The West Wing Reunion (2012)
    Walk & Talk: The West Wing Reunion
    • White House Staffer
    • Short
    • 2012
  • The Last Supper
    • Philip
    • Short
    • 2012
  • Behind the Scenes of Sacks West (2011)
    Behind the Scenes of Sacks West
    • Video
    • 2011
  • Don Cheadle in Sacks West (2011)
    Sacks West
    • Michael James
    • Short
    • 2011
  • The Matthew Morrison Story
    • Bailiff
    • Short
    • 2011
  • Syndromes
    • Ex-boyfriend (as Michael Nelson)
    • Short
    • 2011

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative name
    • Michael Nelson
  • Height
    • 6′ 1½″ (1.87 m)
  • Other works
    My Jewish Life

Self-verified on IMDbPro

  • Gender / Gender identity
    • Male

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