Chris Hardwick: From ‘Walking Dead’ to ‘Game of Thrones,’ how the nerds have taken over
Written and Produced by Brian Prowse-Gany
It’s the biggest bowling match of the year: Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie “Killer” Couric faces off with founder, CEO and creative head of Nerdist Industries Chris Hardwick! Chris is the ultimate Renaissance man when it comes to geek culture. One look at the schedule of this comedian/actor/host is enough to make anyone exhausted. From hosting the new nightly comedy-game show on Comedy Central “@Midnight” and his weekly “Walking Dead” follow-up show “The Talking Dead” to recording his über-successful Nerdist podcasts and his comedy standup, acting and even voicing the cartoon character Craig on Nickelodeon’s “Sanjay and Craig,” this guy does it all.
Chris got Katie up to speed on his latest and greatest adventures in geek entertainment, all while challenging her to a showdown involving one of his favorite pastimes, bowling. (full video at bottom of page)
For years, Chris has been ahead of the curve, designing entertainment around the fandom of niche markets that now dominate mainstream pop culture, including movies like Marvel’s “The Avengers” and shows like “Game of Thrones.”
Chris explains how drastically the term “nerd” has changed over the years and how this age-old insult has transformed into a term of honor. Having grown up somewhat of a social outcast himself, Chris understands firsthand how people not happy with their social status tend to throw themselves into idealized worlds of fantasy, whether it be film, comic books or video games. But now, many of those people have grown up and are making the things they used to love. And thanks to the Internet and social media, so-called nerds have been able to form community in new ways, and they are a force to be reckoned with. From the entertainment we absorb to the technology we depend on, the nerds have truly reshaped the world.
The Nerdist podcast has become famous for hosting some of the most popular names in entertainment, ranging from Bill Gates to Tom Cruise. The casual, conversational atmosphere of the podcast has allowed Chris and friends to probe the minds of famous actors like Tom Hanks and Arnold Schwarzenegger, along with classic performers like Billy Crystal and the late Joan Rivers. But Chris’ favorite podcast interview of all time? His father, Billy Hardwick, the former pro bowler who passed away over a year ago.
Love is in the air for Mr. Hardwick, who recently got engaged to Lydia Hearst, the actress, model and blogger who also happens to be William Randolph Hearst’s great-granddaughter. “I’m going to make her sign a prenup,” Chris jokes, while explaining that even after all his success, he still stutters like an awkward teenager when trying to get a date.
Catch Chris’ ‘@Midnight’ every Monday through Thursday night on Comedy Central and ‘Talking Dead’ every Sunday night on AMC, plus check out the latest action on Nerdist.com
Special thanks to The Spare Room and Meltdown Comics
