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

About

by on November 2, 2008

Chris Hardwick was born on the starship Enterprise and is the product of two red-shirts that quickly met their demise in a transporter lovemaking mishap.  He was banished by the Federation to earth after “inappropriate conduct” on the holodeck with a computer-generated Buffy Summers.  Since then, Chris has become a professional stand-up comedian and a self proclaimed nerd.  He hosts “The Soup’s” geeky little brother show “Web Soup,” and plays with gadgets on “Attack of the Show,” both on a channel that awkward teenage boys refer to as “G4.”  Chris is also a writer for Wired Magazine and a talking cow on Nickelodeon’s “Back at the Barnyard.” He is fully aware that there are no male cows with udders in life, so please keep that question in your brain.

In his spare time, Ensign Hardwick is attempting to build an evil nerd empire under the moniker “Nerdist Industries”, which includes: a wildly popular blog at Nerdist.com, a top ten (and sometimes even number one) comedy podcast on iTunes recently named as one of the top 10 best comedy podcasts by Rolling Stone, a following of 1.3 million delightful supplicants on Twitter (befitting his selection by Time Magazine as one of the 140 most influential people on Twitter), a book, “The Nerdist Way,” to be published on November 1st by the wise publishers at The Penguin Group, and his very own social network called “The Node”, each of which makes up a different arm of a growing corporate beast that Hardwick hopes, “…will one day bring destruction and ruin to the mouth-breathing, jock masses…paving the way for a world where video games are free, Cheetos are currency and robot concubines vigorously endeavor to sate our sexual thirsts.”

Chris makes regular appearances on Chelsea Lately, The Soup, and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. In 2010 he shot TV pilots for HBO, NBC and Comedy Central, recently wrapped a pilot with Funny or Die for TBS, and is producing an animated pilot, “Hard ‘n Phirm’s Musical Timehole,” for IFC. Many weekends out of the calendar year, he uses an electric amplification device to make strangers in comedy club settings like him by telling jokes, most likely due to a deep-seeded need for attention that was forged during his tormentingly unpopular junior high years. Additionally, he has played at numerous comedy/music festivals including Just for Laughs, US Comedy Arts, SF Sketchfest, SXSW, Coachella, Bumbershoot.

He currently resides in Los Angeles while enjoying salt & vinegar chips and Doctor Who marathons.

 
98 comments read them below or add one

  1. I watch Back at the Barnyard twice a week with the four-year old I babysit and honestly, it’s my favorite show. It’s hilarious!

    Techlovers unite! :)

    Take care,
    Claire

  2. Chris,

    This website, “Nerdist.com” is just one of the most recent endeavors of yours that I have come across. I must say, I’m a fan of it all. From G4 to the stand up and games. It’s all pretty awesome. Some how it encompasses all my interests. I’ll get to the point. Is there anyway one might go about possibly writing for this website. I’d do it for free. Honestly. Give me a nerdy topic and I will go off. Please tell me yes. And I will not disappoint. Thanks for your time. Keep it real and prosper.

    -Matt

  3. Chris,
    Awesome stand-up show Saturday night in Indianapolis. It was great talking with you after the show.

    Some of the great moments:
    -A&F Logan Wolverine
    -A doctor, a teacher and a lawyer
    -Dr. Cockran, Gynecologist

  4. I just saw you on the Bob and Tom show on WGN and thought I’d ask you something. I’ve wanted to be a comedian for a while. I saw some of your stand up stuff, and was wondering if you had any tips on how to get into the world of comedy. I live in Deville, Louisiana, which is in the middle of nowhere, and none of the comedy clubs I’ve been able to locate have open mic’s set up. So if you could help me out I’d greatly appreciate it, but if not I understand you’re a very busy man.

  5. I just have to say that this is an awesome website! Your tag cloud is mesmerizing. I should be reading for ancient cultures class but instead I’m watching the words spin around and reading about high tech bowling balls. It makes me happy. Thanks for creating a nerd Mecca!

  7. Chris! I’ve seen you on G4, but didn’t know that you had a blog/were on Twitter until my wife pointed it out recently. Would love to get your thoughts on an iPhone app I’m working on… Please email me or DM me on Twitter (I’m @rfelix, and I’m following you now.)

    Thanks, and keep up the Nerdistry!

  8. Chris
    I heard you for the first time on the Bob & Tom show the other day. The part that caught my attention was your comment that you came from a bowling family. My first thought was Billy Hardwick, since I grew up in the 60′s watching professional bowling. I too am linked to a bowling family since my grandmother was a professional bowler by the name of Marion Ladewig.
    It was a little surprising (right after the Bob & Tom experience) when I opened up the summer edition of US Bolwler magazine and spotted an article about your father.
    Hope you get a chance to see it.
    Best of luck in the future.

  9. Ah-hah – PBS! Glad to have stumbled upon your site. And here I thought you were one of the guys from my college A/V department. I keep a day job by teaching darling little gifted students science and we’ve watched your show clips to kill time in a science-related way. BTW, there are about 600 kids who will never eat cool whip again thanks to you.

  10. Wish you well, sir! Had fun on the Y107 air many years back, winning a “Disturbing Spelling Bee,” going to Universal Studios, and flying to Baja San Lucas on the station’s dime. Thanks for that!!! I guess getting through easily on a phone line to a radio station is indicative of its ratings, but man I do miss the Y107. Best of continued success in hollyweird.

  11. Actually, I DO know you from College :) One of these days that Chainsaw Bob dialogue you recorded with Fred T. And Ed S. will see the light of day.

    Congrats on all the various jobs — your latest WIRED article was great! And my kids quote Otis line from Barnyard daily.

  12. I read you grew up in Memphis. Is that true, and if so what school did you go to and where did you live in Memphis?

  14. I read you grew up in Memphis. If you did what school did you go to and where did you live in Memphis?

  16. the thing is, i did go to college with you. you tried to teach me how to juggle at dykstra hall. fail. still can’t do it. glad you’re doing well!

  17. Can you get the trailer for the new Alice in Wonderland? I would love to see it and can only find some stills.

  18. I’m confused… Noam Chomsky’s Shipmates? Is that a hilarious but weird joke or just a typo?

  19. If you ever need a Panarchist Beverly Hills JAP raver Double Scorpio Yale Mom who still looks do-able (except under harsh light) and talks like Doug Stanhope’s not as bright sister for a co-host… call on me.

  21. I love your new show Web Soup. I also like The Soup, and its weird because I always thought that you and Joel McHale looked alike and now you’re practically brothers…ok not really but both of you are gorgeous =D

  22. You and Web Soup Rock! Only bad thing: doesn’t come on every night. What’s up with that? One ep a week just isn’t enough!

  25. Chris_don’t stop believing. Hold on to that feeling.
    Be true to yourself. Lead the way for the rest of us. xo

  27. Hey, Chris! Do you like cardboard tube fighting? I know you do.
    Please enjoy “Way of the Cardboard Warrior”

  28. Chris,

    you need a new app for your new iPhone, check out a youtube vid of the one I just got. (Vanity for the iphone)
    Any other cool nerdy new apps out that you know of and reccommend?


    -Petr

  29. Hi Chris!
    I am an Executive Producer/Partner with Perfect Storm Productions, represented by Lance Klein-William Morris/Endeavor. We have a show that we would like to discuss with you that we think is perfect for you, both onscreen and as Producer/Partner.

    We are in LA this week shopping this idea and would love to discuss it with you, if you are available.

    I look forward to hearing from you!
    Tim Pearson
    Executive Producer/Partner
    Perfect Storm Productions

  32. Hey Chris!

    Tired of time wasting YouTube videos? Demand your 47 seconds back!

    (For fans of grammatically incorrect youtube comments, laser beams, and spinning newspaper graphics.)

  33. You are hilarious! I definitely need to see your stand up acts. And Yes, I do remember you from Singled Out and back when you worked for KROQ. So I have a quick question, were you in Tucson a little over a year ago eating at a restaurant called Blue Willow? I swear it was you but others did not agree with me. ‘Tis why I didn’t come up and ask myself. It still plagues me till this very day.

  34. I just spent 1 entire hour (*not wasted time at all!) checking out all that is “C.H.” the NERDIST…

    2 facts:

    1- You are a HUGE talented funny dude on the path to… “more” hugeness???

    2- I am a huge fan!

  35. Greetings from Eire, Nerdest.

    For some reason i am following you on twitter. Why not Follow EcoHubble on Twitter and help change the Earth from Space!

    And help encourage other Twitters to tweet EcoHubble too!

    Peace.

    Micheal

  38. Hey Chris, I don’t know if you read these comments, I know you’re busy with all the stuff you do, but hey maybe you do.

    I was wondering if you had an address where people can send mail/packages.

    Alison has an address set up where you can mail her, if you mail her an empty envelope sends an autographed photo back.

    If you’ve got any system set up where I can send you something that’d be awesome.

  40. Hey, you said on the GWF podcast that you’re touring. Coming to SF? email me. I’ll get you a gig if you don’t have one. Rock club or comedy club.

    b

  41. Proposal Technology Submission:

    http://gearturbine.260mb.com/

    YouTuve Video: Gearturbine – Retrodynamic

    “Gearturbine”-Dic, 1991 IMPI Patent Mexico #197187-Retrodynamic dextrogiro vs levogiro effect-Non parasitic losses engine system for cooling lubrication combustion-2 Very long distance cautive compression inflow propulsion conduits like a digestive system in perfect equilibrium well balanced star were end like a snake bite his own tale-4 Pairs of dynamic turbos-Direct planetary gear thrust like a YING YANG-2 Inflow propulsion opposite flames like 2 dragoons.
    Thanks.