Chris Hardwick: 'Nerds don't love change' and other confessions

Chris Hardwick wears many hats. He's a producer, a stand-up comedian and a podcast host of "ID10T with Chris Hardwick." He's the host on "The Talking Dead," the after-show to "The Walking Dead"; he also hosts the game show "The Wall." And in the middle of all this, he finds the time to travel for a comedy tour that will stop in Phoenix for three days.

"You sort of learn how to compartmentalize," he says. "We don't always have to wait around for opportunities. Modern-day performers have multiple jobs. It's too scary to put all your eggs in one basket ... My attention span is such that I like doing all sorts of different things."

Question: How has the "Nerdist Podcast" to "ID10T" rebranding worked out so far?

Answer: It's been great. I was so terrified with the name change. Nerds don't love change. I really prepped people for this and everyone was OK. 

Q: I listened to the episode with Darren Lynn Bousman (director of "Saw II" and "Repo! The Genetic Opera"). That was a lot of fun.

A: Yeah, he was on seven years ago, but so much happens in seven years. Someone can be born and be in grade school in seven years ... The older you get it moves so fast you don't realize it. 2012 doesn't sound long ago but it was.

Q: How do you choose guests?

A: I have bookers who book the shows. Some are pitched, I might pitch some. But I don't plan what we talk about. I always hope the podcast feels like two people having a coffee chat or catching up with an old friend.

I always want the podcast to feel happy and supportive. I want to follow where they're at. I'm there to be a vessel for the listener and that seems to have worked having been on the other side. It feels good getting people to be comfortable.

Q: How would you compare hosting a podcast to hosting a show?

A: Everything you host evolves into a different thing. Some is being able to listen to people and not thinking about what you'll say. Like "Talking Dead" is different than "The Wall" and podcasts.

With "Talking Dead," I'm here to talk about "Walking Dead" live in an hour and get people to open up about the show. My role on "The Wall" is to be a cheerleader for the contestants. I try to get whatever the human story is. It's getting to do these with slightly different flavors eventually all satisfying.

Q: When you last spoke to azcentral, "The Wall" hadn't premiered yet. Is it everything you'd hoped it would be?

A: It's beyond what I hoped it would be. From the first episode, I realized there's something special in the human element compared to other game shows. I spend an entire episode to get to know people, and I didn't realize how emotionally invested I'd be in these people. It takes about two-and-a-half to three hours to make the show, so I spend a lot of time with them to get to know them.

When I'm asking questions, it's because I want to learn. You're always a student your entire life ... these people have done amazing things and suffered such tragedy. And the people this season ... it's mind-blowing. It's great when they win, but when they lose you see this enormous amount of grace. I know they mean it. If it were up to me, I'd give them the money. Who thought a game show could make you cry?

Q: Speaking of emotions, what do you think makes something funny?

A: It's tough to pinpoint what makes you laugh. It's a relationship with your audience, but you get this great data in real time. You get better at this the longer you do it, and I've been doing this for 20 plus years. You know right away that "OK, this has no legs," it's an unsalvageable bit and just move on ... And it's about exploring this relationship with the audience. For a comedian, a lot of the joy is in the discovery process. Once you find it, you have a whole different level of stuff when you hear your A-list set. 

I love doing comedy clubs. I like talking to people and finding bits and riffing. They're really intimate and fun. And I really love Arizona. If I can start with your flag ... That flag is gorgeous. 

Q: What's the most difficult part about touring?

A: Travelling. Being in other places is fun, travelling is not. It's all about what's the best local restaurant? What are people like? There are a lot of places you go to because of comedy. I've seen so much of this country, and every town has great places to go.

And you can tell a lot about a city by its pizza. Experiencing culture through commerce and cuisine is a great way to understand what people are like.

Q: Some think being a nerd and geek culture is mainstream nowadays, but what do you think makes someone a nerd?

A: It has so many different definitions now. It doesn't matter how mainstream it gets ... It's not what but how intensely they like those things. "Deadpool" is mainstream, but that doesn't mean they're reading comics.

I'm an inclusive "the more the merrier" person ... If it wasn't mainstream, we wouldn't get more of what we like. I think it's come a long way. And it doesn't mean you can't like something anymore.

Chris Hardwick at StandUp Live

When: 8 p.m. Thursday, March 28.

Where: Stand Up Live, 50 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix.

Admission: $35.

Details: 602-719-6100, phoenix.standuplive.com.

Chris Hardwick at CB Live

When: 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday, March 29. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 30.

Where: CB Live, 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix.

Admission: $35.

Details: 602-910-5161, phxevents.cblive.com.

Want to pitch a story idea? Reach reporter Samantha Incorvaia at sincorvaia@gannett.com or 602-444-4968. Follow her on Twitter at @_SamI520.