Miss A has been giving me puppy dog looks all friggin’ week, and I finally succumbed – with a sigh – and forced myself to try and write this thing despite being sick and hopped up on cough syrup. I dunno how well it’ll go, as I really don’t have a favorite of favorite characters.
Of my four real-life fangirlisms, two of them came about because of how I loved the character. One has been obviously on my mind a lot…and I really can’t say why. Honestly? It boggles my mind as to why I love the man so much, because it really doesn’t make a lot of sense.
I speak, of course, of Mike Nelson (played by Michael J. Nelson) from Mystery Science Theater 3000. Those who enter Movie Sign are well-aware of how much of a fangirl I am to the roast-faced manly-man (thanks TC). I squee, I laugh, I joke, I faint, I giggle in delight. But why?! Why do I like him so much?
Part of the influence probably comes from his origins – Midwest born and raised, hapless but sympathetic, a bit of a doof but pretty smart. He’s the every man, the average Joe who just didn’t get it right - messed up in college, put on an endless stream of temp jobs, and finally shot up into space because he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Thrust into the odd environment, he suddenly has to play big brother to a quad of robots while keeping his sanity during the terrible movies he is subjugated to.
But Mike does it, proving his strength of spirit and his will to survive. He has the power to compose himself and to get a grip on the situation, even if he doesn’t fully understand them. Mike’s whole character is a kind of an odd mix of go-with-the-flow (in order not to get killed) and fight-the-power (whenever permitted). He tries several times to escape the Satellite of Love – to no avail – and shows ill-will towards his captors, but still knows the limits and when to put a stop to whatever plans the ‘bots have (like Crow tunneling his way back to Earth).
The man is also funny as hell. Says Kevin Murphy, “You know, Mike is one of the six or seven funniest people on the planet…maybe we should make him a WRITER!” If it wasn’t enough that Mike played head writer to the show, he also has a strong wit and quick-thinking that, although always there, really comes out at interviews and panels. What really solidifies this fact is that he met his wife when they were both touring around comedy clubs…so really, he scored for his humor. (Isn’t that romantic?!)
Now my fangirl.
The man is attractive in a way that I can’t really pinpoint. He’s not Hollywood (born right here in St Charles, IL in fact). He’s not anime bishounen (not willowy, that’s fo’ shizzle). He is, really, a guy, and a real one. Tall and broad-shouldered, yeah, with great blonde hair, amazing green eyes, and a lovely singing voice. But he’s also got chest hair, isn’t exactly buff, and a face that most girls might be ‘ew’ at. Yet I love him for all of it!
And I’ve loved him no matter what age he’s been. One of Mike’s first appearance on MST3K is in episode 203, which premiered over eighteen years ago. Fresh-faced youth and adorable as he was, he kept making guest appearances. When he became host three years later and didn’t have to go around in costume, he looked even better. But man! I got into the show during the ninth season, and even then I thought he was good-looking. Sheesh, he looks great even now, and I’m going to stop saying that because I’ve been using the same phrase for the whole paragraph.
What won me over, though? What was the moment? Well, I remember it rather fondly: I had finally decided (at around 2am) to watch the entirety of the movie “The Final Sacrifice” after somebody had linked to the fifth part on YouTube for a comic they had made. It all seemed so bizarre, and even though watching the opening credits helped outline the show more, it was still weird.
And then came the Robot Roll Call. The camera spins around, then shows Mike spinning the clipboard before he looks at the camera, stops the clipboard, and smiles. I was freakin’ butter. The man has a smile that is enchanting and makes my little fangirl heart swoon.
I love Mike Nelson.
