One of the top students in Joel Hodgson's class on "Creative Stand-Up and Smartology," Josh Weinstein eagerly stepped aboard when Joel asked him to participate in his TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988). Weinstein portrayed the laconic robot Tom Servo, as well as the nerdy henchman Dr. Lawrence Erhardt. However, being a teenager led to friction with his older cast members, which were exacerbated when the series went to national television. Weinstein had loved the easygoing, improvisation friendly atmosphere of a local show and hated having to read other people's material all the time. He left the show after that first season.Since quitting MST3k, he has chosen the professional name J. Elvis Weinstein after many fans mistook the Simpsons writer Josh Weinstein for him. He has had a steady behind the camera career, producing and writing shows like Freaks & Geeks (1999), America's Funniest Home Videos (1989), and My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star (2002).