Chris Hardwick was unlike anyone else on MTV in the mid '90s. As the host of "Singled Out," he was beloved by the millions of us who would never make it onto the dating game (because we were 10). His quick, dry wit flew over the heads of the beautiful, beefy, blonde and big-chested contestants and landed in the laps of fans watching at home. He teased the popular people and didn't get punched! Hooray! Victory for the little guys.
When MTV canceled "Singled Out" in 1998, casual fans may have thought Hardwick fell into the same void that claimed Daisy Fuentes and Downtown Julie Brown. Wrong. Hardwick refocused on stand-up, became one of the smartest comics working and began quietly building a nerd empire. His website, The Nerdist, has evolved into a must-read tech blog, a top 10 comedy podcast and an upcoming book, "The Nerdist Way." Hardwick can be seen hosting "Web Soup," performing solo or in the musical duo Hard 'n Phirm, popping up on "Attack of the Show" and speaking with us.
How did you become the host of "Singled Out"?
As a dare, I was a contestant on a dating game show called "Studs." A year after I did that, someone who had worked on that show remembered me and asked if I'd like to audition to host the MTV game show "Trashed," which I got. It didn't last very long, so they basically threw me out at the Beach House for a summer and then put me on "Singled Out" that fall.
What other talent was running around MTV at that point?
Kennedy, Bill Bellamy, I think John Sencio and Riki Rachtman probably. A supermodel named Veronica Webb, who was doing stuff there. Those were the main ones I remember.
Did you all hang out together?
Yeah, there was nothing to do at the Beach House. There were a couple video games. The Beach House was really a sedate, controlled environment. The year I started it was at this remote beach in Long Island called Quag. There was nothing to do around there, so all we had was to hang out with each other as we were exiled out there.
Did you feel out of place?
Oh, totally. I was basically right out of college. "Remote Control" was one of my favorite shows, so all of a sudden to be in this world--I never really felt like I was one of them. I always felt like a guest. It was very surreal. One week I was this nerdy college student and then suddenly I'm hanging out with all these people I had just been watching. These were all super cool people to me and I never felt super cool. I just felt awkward and nerdy. I always tried to play it off. It was a great experience and super fun, but just weird.
And you landed on the most bro-tastic show at the time.
I know. The whole time I was hosting that show, it was kind of nerd vengeance. It was very "Revenge of the Nerds" in my mind. I feel like I was horrible to people on that show. There were so many screaming people on that set, I realized pretty quickly that if I made horrible comments under my breath into the microphone, people at home watching would hear but no one on the set would hear. My nerd rage forced me to be kind of douchey to people because I finally got to say the things that I never got to say to people's faces. That part of it was really satisfying.
Did you still enjoy doing the show by the end?
It was really fun. I mean, being right out of college and on this huge MTV show--I look back on the experience fondly. Sometimes people will come up and say, "You were the host of 'Singled Out.' I hope it doesn't bother you that I say that." And I'm like, Are you kidding? I love that people remember! I have a warm fuzzy hunk in my heart for "Singled Out."
When did you transition into doing stand-up?
I'd done stand-up in college but stopped. I picked it up about six months after "Singled Out." I learned pretty quickly that stand-up is a thing you really have to work at. In 1998, I said, "All right, I'm going to perform as much as possible." I went into the open-mic circuit. Looking back, it was really weird coming off this popular show and then having to sign up on a list. I had a spoiled attitude that I could get on any show and quickly realized you have to go back to the bottom of the pile and earn it. It was a good thing, in a way, because it made me focus on stand-up, which I've been doing ever since.
What technology are you geeking out over right now?
Logitech Revue, which I use for Google TV. I love my iPad, I love my MacBook Air. I still like to scan things with RedLaser, even if I'm not going to buy stuff. I just like to scan it. It's an older app, but I really like it.
Clutch's resident lady, Nicole Sia, had a huge '90s crush on you. Will you look at her photo and tell us what you think?
Put a hashtag and write awesometastic.
Done. Your move, Hardwick.