Paul Chaplin

A Minnesota resident, Paul Chaplin is best known for his involvement in the B-movie-mocking comedy TV series "Mystery Science Theater 3000." Although he has an academic background in public affairs, Chaplin, who was born Paul Schersten, changed his career focus to comedy, often performing stand-up routines in clubs around Minneapolis and St. Paul. In the early 1990s, Chaplin joined the "Mystery Science Theater 3000" ensemble, working primarily as a writer, but also portraying characters from time to time, including Observer, Ortega, and Scooter the Space Child. In addition to writing for "MST3K" for more than 100 episodes, Chaplin also served on the writing team for "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie," which was released in '96. Along with other MST3K vets, Chaplin contributed his writing and voice to the online series "The Adventures of Edward the Less," a spoof on the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and wrote for the short-lived webzine "Timmy Big Hands."