Anyway, we’ll be big about this and point out that you can read Marvin’s post about why he’s running for President by clicking here and see his campaign videos at the Nerdist Channel on YouTube and like him on Facebook, too. I’m expecting at least a cabinet-level appointment out of this.

It’s the episode with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, and Wil Wheaton taped before a live audience during San Diego Comic-Con 2011. You can go over to the BBC’s Anglophenia blog to see what listeners said about the episode and for a convenient link right back here to hear the show. And you’ll also get a couple of the requisite plugs for The Nerdist: Year in Review, coming Saturday night, Christmas Eve, at 9/8c on BBC America, because that’s why this is Nerdist Week over there. They’re also doing other things at Anglophenia to promote not only the Nerdist special but also the Doctor Who Christmas special and Sherlock Holmes (the new three-part TV version with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, not the movie) and other stuff, so feel free to jump around and see what they’re up to.

Numbers Two and One might surprise you, but you’ll have to wait until Thursday and Friday, respectively, for those….

There you have it: Twilight is stupid.

Follow Rob Walker on Twitter HERE or see more of his animations HERE.

-Kanderson can be followed on TWITTER as well… you know, if you want to.

Remember that Canadian kids show about that bald kid named Caillou? Me neither. I guess I was more of an Arthur kid (what a wonderful time to play, hey!). But I think I would have switched camps if this had been the theme song to the show.

Yung God’s freestyle, which samples the actual Caillou theme song, is straight up the stupidest thing I have ever heard. And yet, I have listened to it at least 100 times. I can’t decide for sure which line is the best (“My dick fresh like Caillou” is up there), but what I do know is that #LikeCaillou is now my new thing on twitter.

Follow me on twitter! @MattGrosinger is goin for it #LikeCaillou

NASA TO SEEK APPLICANTS FOR NEXT ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE CLASS

HOUSTON — In early November, NASA will seek applicants for its next class of astronaut candidates who will support long-duration missions to the International Space Station and future deep space exploration activities.

“For scientists, engineers and other professionals who have always dreamed of experiencing spaceflight, this is an exciting time to join the astronaut corps,” said Janet Kavandi, director of flight crew operations at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. “This next class will support missions to the station and will arrive via transportation systems now in development. They also will have the opportunity to participate in NASA’s continuing exploration programs that will include missions beyond low Earth orbit.”

For more information, visit: http://astronauts.nasa.gov/

A bachelor’s degree in engineering, science or math and three years of relevant professional experience are required in order to be considered. Typically, successful applicants have significant qualifications in engineering or science, or extensive experience flying high-performance jet-aircraft.

After applicant interviews and evaluations, NASA expects to announce the final selections in 2013, and training to begin that August.

Additional information about the Astronaut Candidate Program is available by calling the Astronaut Selection Office at 281-483-5907.

-end-

Matt Mira, get your resume in order. The application window opens in early November.

HT: Geekosystem

That’s right, nerdizens! My 2011 US stand-up tour “Chaotic Good” has been announced! Just now! By me!

Will I be coming to a city near YOU?? Dates/cities will be released in the coming weeks.

Huzzahhhhhh!!!!!

Matt, Jonah and I are recording another Hostful episode of the Nerdist Podcast tomorrow (Wed) and are looking for some “Would You Rather” worst case scenario choices. Surely you have a friend or ARE the friend who poses horrible A or B hypothetical situations that no person would ever be caught between.

“Would you rather be devoured by hamsters or suffocated by talking clouds?” kind of thing. Post all of yours in the comment thread below and we’ll get to as many as we can.

Burrrrrrriiiiiiiitttttttooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

Uber-talented musician Molly Lewis, with whom I share a birthday and have had the pleasure of doing several shows (like W00tstock), hand painted this nesting doll set with the images of the 11 Doctors that all fit snugly into the TARDIS.

Holy crap, Moll! Be more awesome why don’t you!!! Excellent work, kiddo.

I once thought listening to Destiny’s Child and Sting meant I was musically cultured (yes, I shudder at that thought) – I was probably content when Celine Dion took home the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1997 or I at least don’t recall any differently. But now, after some liberal corruption at an East-Coast University, music theory at a conservatory, and working for a company somewhat responsible for the popularity of today’s musicians, I can’t look back at 1997 without musically-informed guilt. I hear the faint sounds of Beck’s Odelay and The Fugees’ The Score in the distance – two albums that have had more musical impact than that dreaded Titanic theme song, whose name I detest about just as much as Voldemort’s. Okay, I’m being dramatic, but 1997 was a rough year for music. And as Celine’s acceptance speech remains a mere silhouette in my memory, I can picture Taylor Swift’s like it was yesterday… But I won’t open that door today.

I’ve learned to take award shows and their respective Academies about as seriously as I take Auto-tune. This year’s nominees for best album go to: Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs, Eminem’s Recovery, Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now, Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster, and Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream.

Sigh… It’s all politics at this point. Being good only gets you into the race, and rarely at that. Being the best doesn’t matter. Running the best campaign, having the best timing, riding on the best history – with almost no exceptions, these are the grounds for victories.

Expected Nominations:
A band to give indie rock lovers hope- Check
Something to appease Country fans- Check
Pop Artist who generated the most money for the industry- Check
Pop Artist who generated the most money for the industry- Check
Pop Artist who generated the most money for the industry- Check
(Sometimes, if the year permits, one of the last 3 spots will go to an old, Grammy-winning rock n’ roll legend that came out with a new album that year)

Although Need You Now, in some cases, may deserve a win, The Taylor barrier is inhibiting Lady Antebellum from victory. The past 5 years have sprouted two “Country” wins, last year with Swift, and in 2007 with The Dixie Chicks. Similarly, if Arcade Fire won, you could expect my reaction to be a lot like that one You-Tube video where that guy freaks out about Sandra Bullock’s Oscar win. Regrettably, they’re probably just filler, leaving us with Eminem, Gaga and Perry. At this point, I’m going to root for a miracle or for Kanye to be drunk, because otherwise, I really don’t care.

Best New Artist should be interesting. Overall, it is a very eclectic mix. Justin Bieber, Drake, Florence & The Machine, Mumford & Sons, and Esperanza Spalding are each deserving. The Grammys have left this category the only one with any significance: calling attention to good artists and helping them get work.

I think the real merit of an album or artist is to see how they play 20 years from now. Are we still listening to their music? Is Faith by George Michael, winner of the 1989 Album of The Year, on your top 25 most played?  Every once in a while you see something timeless winning like U2 or Elton John. That goes for any award show –music, television, movies, what have you. If Bieber wins, yes, I’ll laugh and blast some Radiohead in his honor. But I trust Mumford & Sons have another Sigh No More in ‘em, at least, I hope so. The same goes for Florence, Jeff Beck, Neil Young, The Black Keys, Broken Bells, John Legend and The National all of whom had outstanding albums this year, and they’re only recognized in their individual genres, if at all.

My advice, after some much needed venting, is to go to NPR’s Streaming “Best Music of 2010“. There aren’t any shinny dresses, but I guarantee it will make you happier than the Grammys.

Also “Airplane!” creators Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker, Dan Aykroyd, Maria Bamford, Todd Barry, Greg Behrendt, Matt Belknap, Doug Benson, Candice Bergen, Matt Besser, Michael Ian Black, Mike Birbiglia, Alison Brie, James L. Brooks, David Byrne, Jennifer Coolidge, Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy, Tom Davis, John DiMaggio, Will Forte, Rich Fulcher, Robert Ben Garant, Garfunkel and Oates, Paul Gilmartin, Bobcat Goldthwait, Neil Patrick Harris, Rachael Harris, Robert Hays, Simon Helberg, Cloris Leachman, Garry Shandling and Alan Zweibel, Gillian Jacobs, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Jen Kirkman, David Koechner, Thomas Lennon, Samm Levine, Matthew Lillard, Marc Maron, Tim Meadows, Matt Mira, Eugene Mirman, Moby, Markos Moulitsas, Laraine Newman, Tig Notaro, Bob Odenkirk, Jimmy Pardo, Mike Phirman, Kevin Pollak, Greg Proops, Danny Pudi, Jonah Ray, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Schaal, the Sklar Brothers, Ryan Stiles, Paul F. Tompkins, Janet Varney, Fred Willard, and Charlyne Yi, among many others.

More about them in a moment.

The event is, naturally, in San Francisco, and tickets will be going on sale this Sunday at 10 am, so you’re going to want to be ready to buy them right away.

More about the awesomeness that is Sketchfest after the jump:

First, Hardwick. The esteemed founder of this here website will be doing three shows at Sketchfest:

On January 28th, he’ll be appearing as one of an all-star roster of comics at “Tig Has Friends,” hosted by Taylor Dayne’s biggest fan, Tig Notaro (hey, she was just on “Community” last week!), with Rich Fulcher of “The Mighty Boosh,” the Sklar Brothers, Steve Agee, and Kyle Dunnigan joining Chris for the show. That’s at 8 pm at Cobb’s Comedy Club. Tickets are $25.

Same venue, same night, late show: It’s the Nerdist Podcast, live on stage, with Chris, Jonah Ray, and Matt Mira interviewing a guest “To Be Announced.” But you know they always have interesting celebrities on the podcast, so don’t wait to get your tickets. Another $25 gets you in.

And then, it’s Music Night, hosted by Chris himself, on January 29th. You get David Koechner — T-Bones! — and Garfunkel and Oates and Eli Braden and Zach Selwyn and, of course, Chris’ Hard ‘n’ Phirm partner Mike Phirman, and you get two chances to see it all, at 8 pm and 10:30 pm at Cobb’s. How much? $25.

Now, for the rest.  If you love comedy and you can make it to San Francisco between January 13th and February 5th, you are going to want to see practically everything on the schedule. Among the things you can see there are tributes to “Airplane!” creators Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, the 25th anniversary of “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” with Garry and Alan Zweibel, and “Murphy Brown” with Candice Bergen and creator Diane English on hand; a 25th anniversary show for “True Stories” with David Byrne; a “Viva Variety” reunion with Thomas Lennon and Kerri Kenney-Silver reprising their roles as Mr. and the former Mrs. Laupin, plus, of course, Michael Ian Black as Johnny Blue Jeans; the Monsters of Podcasting (“You Look Nice Today” meets “Jordan, Jesse, Go!”); a live Rifftrax “Night of the Shorts”; and my old friend and colleague Greg Behrendt (he wrote a book; he has a podcast) joining Matt Nathanson to host “Maximum Volume!,” with Bobcat Goldthwait, Marc Maron, and Brendon Small bringing standup and music together. Plus Maria Bamford, Todd Barry, Danny Pudi (not in Claymation form), Doug Benson, Greg Proops, Mike Birbiglia, Alison Brie, Eugene Mirman, Neil Patrick Harris, Jimmy Pardo, festival co-director and Hardwick’s significant other Janet Varney, and too many more to list here. Just go here and see for yourself.

And then go. But I doubt you’ll need me to motivate you.