Joel Hodgson

Joel Hodgson (born February 20, 1960) is an American comedian, writer, and television producer best known for creating the cult television series *Mystery Science Theater 3000* (MST3K). He developed the show’s distinctive format—riffing on B-movies with comedic commentary—and served as its original host, playing Joel Robinson. Hodgson helped establish MST3K’s offbeat, DIY sensibility, blending sketch comedy with film satire and a recurring cast of robot characters. After leaving the series, he continued working in comedy and television production and later returned to the franchise as an executive producer on revival projects.