Joel Hodgson

Joel Gordon Hodgson (born February 20, 1960) is an American writer, comedian and television actor. He is best known for creating Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) and starring in it as the character Joel Robinson. In 2007 MST3K was listed as "one of the top 100 television shows of all time" by Time.com. Hodgson is currently "movie riffing" with fellow cast members of MST3K under the name Cinematic Titanic, performing live and producing content for DVDs and direct download.

American Scary (2006)

A fond remembrance of and tribute to the uniquely American institution of the horror movie host.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John E. Hudgens
CAST:  Forrest J. Ackerman  •  Douglas Agosti  •  Curtis Armstrong  •  Bob Beidman

A fond remembrance of and tribute to the uniquely American institution of the horror movie host.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John E. Hudgens
CAST:  Forrest J. Ackerman  •  Douglas Agosti  •  Curtis Armstrong  •  Bob Beidman

Cinematic Titanic: Rattlers (2012)

Something is very wrong in the Southwestern desert! It starts when rogue rattlesnakes attack two young boys, and it goes downhill from there. The local authorities summon herpetologist Dr. Tom Parkinson to investigate why the snakes are being such jerks. With the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stoney Sharp
CAST:  J. Elvis Weinstein  •  Frank Conniff  •  Trace Beaulieu  •  Mary Jo Pehl

Something is very wrong in the Southwestern desert! It starts when rogue rattlesnakes attack two young boys, and it goes downhill from there. The local authorities summon herpetologist Dr. Tom Parkinson to investigate why the snakes are being such jerks. With the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stoney Sharp
CAST:  J. Elvis Weinstein  •  Frank Conniff  •  Trace Beaulieu  •  Mary Jo Pehl

Cinematic Titanic: The Alien Factor (2010)

Warning: Baltimore is no longer safe. Meet Leemoid, Zagatile and Interbyce. They're the three aliens whose spaceship has crashed in a small town outside of Baltimore. Soon the town folk are turning up mutilated and dead - and even in polyester pants. Then a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stoney Sharp  •  Tim Ford
CAST:  Trace Beaulieu  •  Frank Conniff  •  Mary Jo Pehl  •  Joel Hodgson

Warning: Baltimore is no longer safe. Meet Leemoid, Zagatile and Interbyce. They're the three aliens whose spaceship has crashed in a small town outside of Baltimore. Soon the town folk are turning up mutilated and dead - and even in polyester pants. Then a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stoney Sharp  •  Tim Ford
CAST:  Trace Beaulieu  •  Frank Conniff  •  Mary Jo Pehl  •  Joel Hodgson

Cinematic Titanic: Blood of the Vampires (2009)

The Escodero family is cursed!The mother, whom the Escodero children assumed to be dead, is actually an undead vampire who lurks in a secret basement/dungeon hidden from the rest of the house. When the kids discover this dark truth, all hell breaks loose.. ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Trace Beaulieu  •  Frank Conniff  •  Joel Hodgson  •  Mary Jo Pehl

The Escodero family is cursed!The mother, whom the Escodero children assumed to be dead, is actually an undead vampire who lurks in a secret basement/dungeon hidden from the rest of the house. When the kids discover this dark truth, all hell breaks loose.. ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Trace Beaulieu  •  Frank Conniff  •  Joel Hodgson  •  Mary Jo Pehl

Cinematic Titanic: Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks (2008)

Things get a bit randy in this version of Mary Shelley's immortal classic about... immortality. Just as our resident mad scientist is about to bring his creature back to life, he is forced to use a sub-standard brain. The Cinematic Titanic crew offer more hilarious ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Ford
CAST:  Trace Beaulieu  •  Frank Conniff  •  Joel Hodgson  •  Mary Jo Pehl

Things get a bit randy in this version of Mary Shelley's immortal classic about... immortality. Just as our resident mad scientist is about to bring his creature back to life, he is forced to use a sub-standard brain. The Cinematic Titanic crew offer more hilarious ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Ford
CAST:  Trace Beaulieu  •  Frank Conniff  •  Joel Hodgson  •  Mary Jo Pehl

Cinematic Titanic: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (2008)

The children of Mars are in a funk, and nothing on the red planet seems to be able to cheer them up. Martian King Kimar comes up with the only reasonable solution: kidnap Santa Claus from Earth's North Pole and bring him to their planet to make toys for their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  sharp-ford
CAST:  Joel Hodgson  •  Trace Beaulieu  •  Frank Conniff  •  Mary Jo Pehl

The children of Mars are in a funk, and nothing on the red planet seems to be able to cheer them up. Martian King Kimar comes up with the only reasonable solution: kidnap Santa Claus from Earth's North Pole and bring him to their planet to make toys for their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  sharp-ford
CAST:  Joel Hodgson  •  Trace Beaulieu  •  Frank Conniff  •  Mary Jo Pehl

We Brought Back MST3K (2018)

This feature length documentary provides fans with an insider’s look at the creation of Season 11 and its triumphant debut on Netflix. Featuring new interviews with Joel Hodgson, Jonah Ray, Felicia Day, Patton Oswalt and many others, interwoven with previously ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Griffith
CAST:  Jonah Ray  •  Joel Hodgson  •  Elliott Kalan  •  Felicia Day

This feature length documentary provides fans with an insider’s look at the creation of Season 11 and its triumphant debut on Netflix. Featuring new interviews with Joel Hodgson, Jonah Ray, Felicia Day, Patton Oswalt and many others, interwoven with previously ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Griffith
CAST:  Jonah Ray  •  Joel Hodgson  •  Elliott Kalan  •  Felicia Day

Jerry Seinfeld: Stand-Up Confidential (1987)

Stand-Up Confidential is a 1987 stand-up comedy special and the first starring Jerry Seinfeld with some skit inserts which were co-written by Joel Hodgson. The special aired on HBO on September 5, 1987 from Los Angeles, California.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bruce Gowers
CAST:  Jerry Seinfeld  •  Larry Miller  •  Joel Hodgson  •  Carl Reiner

Stand-Up Confidential is a 1987 stand-up comedy special and the first starring Jerry Seinfeld with some skit inserts which were co-written by Joel Hodgson. The special aired on HBO on September 5, 1987 from Los Angeles, California.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bruce Gowers
CAST:  Jerry Seinfeld  •  Larry Miller  •  Joel Hodgson  •  Carl Reiner

The TV Wheel (1995)

A demo/presentation/pilot for a sketch comedy show. A single stationary camera was mounted inside the center of a large rotating platform. As the platform rotated around the camera, a scene would come into view of the camera. The wheel would stop and a sketch would ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Joel Hodgson  •  David Cross  •  Andy Kindler  •  Fred Stoller

A demo/presentation/pilot for a sketch comedy show. A single stationary camera was mounted inside the center of a large rotating platform. As the platform rotated around the camera, a scene would come into view of the camera. The wheel would stop and a sketch would ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Joel Hodgson  •  David Cross  •  Andy Kindler  •  Fred Stoller

Poopie! (1995)

A selection of bloopers from cult TV favorite "Mystery Science Theater 3000", taken from seasons 2 through 6.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Joel Hodgson  •  Frank Conniff  •  Trace Beaulieu  •  Michael J. Nelson

A selection of bloopers from cult TV favorite "Mystery Science Theater 3000", taken from seasons 2 through 6.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Joel Hodgson  •  Frank Conniff  •  Trace Beaulieu  •  Michael J. Nelson

Cinematic Titanic: Doomsday Machine (2008)

American spies discover the Chinese have built a weapon capable of destroying planet Earth, a "doomsday machine" if you will, and that they plan to use it within a matter of days. Will the human race survive?  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Joel Hodgson  •  Trace Beaulieu  •  Frank Conniff  •  Mary Jo Pehl

American spies discover the Chinese have built a weapon capable of destroying planet Earth, a "doomsday machine" if you will, and that they plan to use it within a matter of days. Will the human race survive?  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Joel Hodgson  •  Trace Beaulieu  •  Frank Conniff  •  Mary Jo Pehl

The Frank (2014)

THE FRANK is a light-hearted music video featuring many of the original cast and crew of Mystery Science Theater 3000, with a special appearance by Dave (Gruber) Allen. A misguided Mad Doctor misses one of his oldest and deadest friends. Goaded by the demands of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Trace Beaulieu
CAST:  Frank Conniff  •  Trace Beaulieu  •  Dave Allen  •  Bill Corbett

THE FRANK is a light-hearted music video featuring many of the original cast and crew of Mystery Science Theater 3000, with a special appearance by Dave (Gruber) Allen. A misguided Mad Doctor misses one of his oldest and deadest friends. Goaded by the demands of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Trace Beaulieu
CAST:  Frank Conniff  •  Trace Beaulieu  •  Dave Allen  •  Bill Corbett

RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion Show (2016)

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 ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Michael J. Nelson  •  Kevin Murphy  •  Bill Corbett  •  Bridget Jones Nelson

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 ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Michael J. Nelson  •  Kevin Murphy  •  Bill Corbett  •  Bridget Jones Nelson

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 1 (1998)

Shorts, Volume 1 is a compilation release featuring seven popular shorts from Mystery Science Theater 3000. It was originally released on VHS by Rhino Entertainment in July 1998; it was later re-released on DVD as part of the Volume 2 set from Rhino and its ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Trace Beaulieu  •  Michael J. Nelson  •  Joel Hodgson  •  Kevin Murphy

Shorts, Volume 1 is a compilation release featuring seven popular shorts from Mystery Science Theater 3000. It was originally released on VHS by Rhino Entertainment in July 1998; it was later re-released on DVD as part of the Volume 2 set from Rhino and its ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Trace Beaulieu  •  Michael J. Nelson  •  Joel Hodgson  •  Kevin Murphy

Return to Eden Prairie: 25 Years of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (2013)

The untold history of television's most unique series, Mystery Science Theater 3000, from its UHF origins to its eventual cancellation from the SCIFI network.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daniel Griffith
CAST:  Trace Beaulieu  •  Patrick Brantseg  •  Paul Chaplin  •  Joel Hodgson

The untold history of television's most unique series, Mystery Science Theater 3000, from its UHF origins to its eventual cancellation from the SCIFI network.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daniel Griffith
CAST:  Trace Beaulieu  •  Patrick Brantseg  •  Paul Chaplin  •  Joel Hodgson

Statical Planets (1997)

A 15 minute short that teases a strange (and difficult to describe) feature that was never made. The story involves the Frank army and a caveman rocker who saves the day. Filmed in Static-A-Matic around 1996/97  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Hodgson
CAST:  Joel Hodgson  •  Frank Conniff  •  Morwenna Banks  •  Nick Bakay

A 15 minute short that teases a strange (and difficult to describe) feature that was never made. The story involves the Frank army and a caveman rocker who saves the day. Filmed in Static-A-Matic around 1996/97  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Hodgson
CAST:  Joel Hodgson  •  Frank Conniff  •  Morwenna Banks  •  Nick Bakay

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3 (2000)

Shorts, Volume 3 is a compilation release from Rhino Entertainment featuring seven popular shorts from Mystery Science Theater 3000. It was originally released on VHS and later as a limited bonus with The Essentials DVD set if the set was ordered through a special ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Trace Beaulieu  •  Kevin Murphy  •  Joel Hodgson  •  Michael J. Nelson

Shorts, Volume 3 is a compilation release from Rhino Entertainment featuring seven popular shorts from Mystery Science Theater 3000. It was originally released on VHS and later as a limited bonus with The Essentials DVD set if the set was ordered through a special ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Trace Beaulieu  •  Kevin Murphy  •  Joel Hodgson  •  Michael J. Nelson

Stalking Emo

Two young filmmakers travel the country following comedy legend Emo Philips to literally multiple shows, interviewing his fans to discover the true nature of their fixation with coleslaw enthusiast and comedian, Emo Philips.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Realz
CAST:  David Pasquesi  •  'Weird Al' Yankovic  •  Artemis Pebdani  •  Andy Daly

Two young filmmakers travel the country following comedy legend Emo Philips to literally multiple shows, interviewing his fans to discover the true nature of their fixation with coleslaw enthusiast and comedian, Emo Philips.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Realz
CAST:  David Pasquesi  •  'Weird Al' Yankovic  •  Artemis Pebdani  •  Andy Daly

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Mask 3D (2022)

In the show's first-ever Halloween special and first-ever 3D episode, Jonah and the 'Bots watch The Mask (1961).  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonah Ray
CAST:  Jonah Ray  •  Hampton Yount  •  Baron Vaughn  •  Felicia Day

In the show's first-ever Halloween special and first-ever 3D episode, Jonah and the 'Bots watch The Mask (1961).  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonah Ray
CAST:  Jonah Ray  •  Hampton Yount  •  Baron Vaughn  •  Felicia Day

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 2 (1999)

Shorts, Volume 2 is a compilation release featuring six popular shorts from Mystery Science Theater 3000, including Catching Trouble (Episode #315), What to Do on a Date (Episode #503), Last Clear Chance (Episode #520), A Day at the Fair (Episode #608), Keeping ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Michael J. Nelson  •  Joel Hodgson  •  Trace Beaulieu  •  Kevin Murphy

Shorts, Volume 2 is a compilation release featuring six popular shorts from Mystery Science Theater 3000, including Catching Trouble (Episode #315), What to Do on a Date (Episode #503), Last Clear Chance (Episode #520), A Day at the Fair (Episode #608), Keeping ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Michael J. Nelson  •  Joel Hodgson  •  Trace Beaulieu  •  Kevin Murphy