Born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Joel Hodgson is best known as a stand-up comedian and creator of the cult favorite "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (1988). Hodgson is also a toy designer, prop builder, sculptor, writer and producer. He currently resides in Los Angeles where he continues writing and performing.
Inventor of "Gizmonics Institute."When he decided to leave "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (1988), he chose the show's head writer, Michael J. Nelson , to replace him as the show's host based on his natural leadership skills, his skills in music and the fact that he looked good with the puppets.When the "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (1988) theatrical film was being made, the studio wanted him to come back and do the film as a kind of origin story for the show, but he declined. Similarly, when he did a guest appearance on MST3K in the episode "Soultaker" he declined to do the running gag commentary because he hadn't taken part in writing it, much to the disappointment of fans who wanted to have him and second host Michael J. Nelson do a gag commentary together.Some fans of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (1988)thought his character was a stoner because of his sleepy eyed demeanor. In truth, it was a holdover from the pilot, which he was exhausted while filming because he hadn't slept for four days.Many of the inventions featured in the MST3K ( "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (1988)) Invention Exchange were props that he had personally built and used in his stand up comedy routines. When he left, the exchange was quickly discontinued since the inventions were usually of his devising.During the first season of MST3K ( "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (1988)), he went by his real name as the show's host. In the second season, he started using the surname 'Robinson'.Wears glasses, but did not wear them during the host segments of Mystery Scinece Theater 3000 (1988). However, he did wear his glasses during the commentary segments, as can be seen when his silhouette is caught at a profile angle, the outline of his glasses becomes visible.Friend of Jerry Seinfeld & co-writer of Seinfeld's "Stand Up Confidential" video.
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When zany mad scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester and his loopy assistant Frank get bored with their work at the Deep Thirteen research center, they kidnap Joel the janitor and shoot him into orbit on the Satellite of Love. While in space Joel builds wacky robot sidekicks Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot to help him withstand an onslaught of grade 'Z' movies that the mad scientists force him to watch.