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Nerdist was started by Chris Hardwick and has grown to be a many headed beast.

New Capital One Campaign…

by on September 8, 2010

…starring ME.

Yes, in a generous effort to help me fund the fledgling Nerdist “empire” a large company has decided that my hosting prowess, visibility and snark are enough to hand me money to do things for them. Totally legal things, of course. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the shooting of the “Endangered Savers” campaign in San Francisco a couple of months back was SUPER fun (honestly, they didn’t pay me to say THAT). We set up a guerrilla-style man-on-the-street game show on the streets of SF and pit tourists against each other in a battle of trivia and ridiculous money-themed stuntery.

In the spirit of upfront-ism, I am telling you with full disclosure that as part of the deal I have agreed to send out a couple of blog posts and a few tweets kicking you in the direction of the aforementioned campaign. They will be short and to-the-point. If you have any questions as to why I would do this, 1) READ THIS POST and 2) they were all genuinely nice folks with a cool idea for a campaign, and I liked both of those things. OF COURSE pulling in cash is a factor, but I am honestly at the point in my life where I won’t take something if I think it’s going to be a drag, no matter what the dollar amount is. Life’s just too friggin’ short for that shit.

I haven’t done a commercial since I was a young pup in this business, and that one I don’t recall as being any kind of good time (I think it was for a soft drink and I think I threw up). THIS one I greatly enjoyed. What’s better than hosting a game show with people who have no idea what the hell is going on? NOTHING I say. Well, except maybe for extended orgasms but that’s a given.

Here’s a link to the campaign. Thank you for your time, Gentle Reader!

 
37 comments read them below or add one

  5. kara: I HAVE NO IDEA *evil hand rubbing while cackle crescendos*
    JnA: thanks!
    Mickey: I would probably do the orgasm one pro bono. Yeah, I’m aware what “bono” sounds like.

  7. Part of me wants to yell “SELL OUT!” just because I know it will get a rise out of you.

    In all seriousness though, thanks for the full disclosure and congrats! Glad you can make some bucks because I definitely haven’t been chipping in for the podcast.

  9. BOY do I hate them still, Horatio!! Commercial auditions and I do not get along. NEVER invite us to the same party cuz it will be aWkWaRd… Somehow, I didn’t have to audition for this.

    Kijan: HUGS to you.

    Leigh: that totally would’ve gotten a rise out of me…AND NOT THE GOOD KIND. (but thanks!)

  10. Everyone has to make a buck… As long as it keeps you doing what you love to do, it’s all good by me.

  12. I love you (Nerdist) but Hate *Capitol One. *They raised the rate on my 4% interest Loan to 29% because they didn’t process a payment over a “holiday week end”-Thus making my *On time payment “late” OK! Like Electronic payments & world Banking Stops because of Labor Day?? Give me a break..!… Even a funny talented guy like you can’t make the Douche bags @ Capitol One Ethical Business People. I know you won’t bite the hand that feeds you.. I However will be glad to Chomp off their Nuts …. Oh Congratulations on your new Gig.. Oye.

  14. Whatever’ll pay for the podcast, I say do it. (Unless its a bowling themed miller commercial, in which case I’m 50/50.

  17. I definitely appreciate the free content, even if it means getting some plugs every now and then. Do what you gotta do to bring in the money. More money means you can get more orgasms for sure, but extending them is something scientists really need to work on!

  18. Whatever pays the bills, as long as you’re having fun :) I don’t mind the ads in podcasts either, although I like the “oh crap, we better mention the sponsor” ones (that actually made me go and look) rather than the “commercial break” ones that I automatically tune out.

  20. Congrats! The Nerdist empire will now have the funds to rule the interwebs (or at least a small fraction of it) and take over the world (not really but one can fantasize err I mean dream, forget that fantasize part I was looking at a picture of a unicorn eating a cheeseburger while writing this and I got sidetracked).

  21. Congratulations, dude! This is all too funny, because my bank was just purchased by Capitol One and will officially turn into Capitol One Bank next week. So now I have a reason to be excited about the crossover… yay!

  22. Okay so I have to add to my last comment. I just watched the episodes and this was awesome. Endangered Savers is now right up there with Late Night Liars, fantastic work.

  24. If Capital One (or just about anyone else…except Blackwater and/or a private health insurance cartel) wants to give you money so you can continue to nerd it up than by all means. And the show was not even half bad, not even. Which makes it more good than bad. If you had fun doing it, even more gooder. GOOD!

  25. As always man if this means more cool stuff for this site as well as for you in general I’m nothing bud excited! Congratz on the new gig! Can’t wait to see you do stand up in nyc again was a total blast hanging out with you last time you were here!

  26. My personal reaction is ick. But if you’ve built up good will through giving away terrific free stuff, of course you’re entitled to trade it in, and I am grateful for all the things The Nerdist has brought so far.

    This is going to be a bit unfair, and something of a tangent, but as everything in my world becomes branded, from jazz festivals to arenas to art nights to mp3 experiments, I wish that some of them would consider staying the same size or even shrinking rather than forever hitching their wagon to increasing the glory and brain real estate of massive corporations. And the slippery slope phenomenon does apply, since they can’t stop getting bigger and corporations won’t stop wanting more for their dough: the last few years the name of the sponsoring bank has been larger than the lettering of “ottawa jazz fest”. More mental static that makes it harder to think and in particular to imagine community-driven creations that aren’t intertwined with multinationals.

    So anyway it will bother me, but I will keep reading and listening especially when the shows are as great as the Coulton one.

  27. Nice work, Chris!

    I don’t mind one bit that you’re working for some money for the podcast.

    And this subject is soooo important. I seriously wish someone would have told me this when I was 20 or 25. We never, ever talked about money in my world and I made some huge mistakes that were really expensive to deal with. So keep up the good work!

    Cheers,
    Amanda

  28. This kind of advertising is exactly what I like – it’s entertaining! It’s not annoying! It also DOES help people (many underestimated how important packing lunches was), which reflects good on Capital One.

    I also really appreciate the full disclosure, saying “I promised I’d write a blog post or two, but what I’m saying ABOUT it is totally up to me.” We understand nerding takes monies, just keep being honest with us and we’ll watch with rapt attention.

  29. Good on ya – and yay for not even having to audition for this gig.

    Really – two lunches is better than 3 non-lattes?? Where does Capital One eat lunch?

  31. Well, I’m sure they totally appreciate your use of extended orgasms in their ad plug…way to stay true Hardwick, way to stay true

  32. @Marie, makes a really good point, albeit maybe inadvertantly…maybe this is the dawn of a new age in advertising, where the company paying for the advertising is beholden to the creative endorser (ie: Lord Christopher Hardwick, Esq.)? The companies embracing self-made/self-sponsored content providers may actually realize you can’t eff with the content lest not reach that audience. In ye olden days when a celebrity endorsed a product they had to dance like a monkey, but with Chris and even Colbert (he pretty much makes fun of Bud Light Lime and Extreme Doritos whenever he endorses them) staying in character and maintaining creative control, advertising could be entertaining and not smack of icky selly-outiness.

    So some may see this as a harbinger of doom and the co-opting of our beloved Nerdist In Chief, but maybe it’s the sign of good things to come?

  34. I AM FOR THIS YAY!

    Also…and this is totally unrelated…can I borrow 20 dollars? I might need a place to stay for a while too. With my cats. Who need constant medical attention for their incontinence.

    Anyway, congrats!

  36. I worked for Capital One for 10 years. All in all a pretty cool company. I would hate to be a customer, but working there was pretty cutting edge.

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