February 6, 2024 • 7 mins
Comedian, writer, performer Chris Hardwick is coming to the Louisville Comedy Club. Chris talks about his DJ career, embracing every opportunity, being from Louisville, The Wall, and being a father...
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Thanks, Hales, It's not reallycoming up in thirty minutes because we have
Kentucky basketball six o'clock tonight here onnews radio eight forty WYSS for now.
Comedian, podcaster, TV star,movie star Chris Hardwick joins us, what's
up, Chris good having? Oh, there's so many those are so many
(00:20):
nice things you said before I cameon movie. That's really nice. Does
your brain ever stop working? You'veYou've got a resume that's longer than the
Dead Sea Scrolls or Dark Taylor's Swiftset list. I mean it's immense,
you know, it's it's I itdoes feel like I do like to tend
to be busy. I don't knowwhy. I just I just love making
(00:43):
stuff. I like, you know, trying, you know, like I
love performing, I love you know, So it is. I guess it
is just sort of a NonStop,like just kind of a I don't know,
fun trying different things, fun things. But I've been doing stand up
for like twenty five years, soit is my ultimate favorite thing. All
Right, you got two shows Fridayand Saturday at Louisville Comedy Clubs right down
(01:04):
the street from these radio stations onMain Street. But I gotta ask you,
are you well one of the DJsfrom k Rock, the legendary Los
Angeles station. Oh my god,Yes, yes, I worked at k
Rock from night in the nineteen hundreds. From nineteen ninety five to nineteen ninety
eight, I did the overnight show, which is you know, as you
(01:25):
know, because you work in radio, it's such an important time slot.
They don't even track ratings at thosehours. And I was on from midnight
to five before Kevin and Bean,where it's where the morning show guys at
k Rock for decades would would comein. So yeah, I was there,
(01:45):
you know, where I worked atMTV during the day and that night
I would go work at k Rockfrom midnight to five in the like,
and those were like peak grunge era, you know, like really you know,
when when kind of grunge was reallykind of like pop music at the
time. It was a really funtime to be there. I really kind
of cherish those times, and Ithink that's why I ultimately gravitated toward podcasting
(02:07):
in twenty ten, because I reallyI kind of missed working in radio.
Yeah, well, your nerdous thingis huge, and you've had a heck
of a run with that too.But you're you know, you're in movies,
TV shows. I mean, howmany personalities do you think you have
stuffed in there? Chris? Idon't know. I just know that,
(02:29):
you know, the entertainment business canbe. It is sort of a you
know, when you're working, you'reworking, and when you're not, you're
not, and you so when youhave opportunities, you just feel like,
well, I gotta try this,well I gotta try that. Well,
of course I want to do that, because you know, we spend so
much of our careers and not necessarilygetting to do the things that we want.
So I, you know, Ialways just try to embrace the opportunities
(02:51):
and I'm always just grateful for them. But you know, I don't know
if you know this or not,but I was born in Louisville and I've
not been back in a long time. So it's like it's I had have
a big deal for me to comeback and get to perform there. I'm
really excited about it. Well,good, Yeah, this Louisville Comedy Club,
you're gonna like the venue on MainStreet. You were born here,
but didn't you grow up in Memphis? I did. Yeah, my family
(03:14):
moved away when I was a toddler. I don't know, I couldn't have
been more than three or four whenwe moved away and then ultimately settled in
Memphis for a long time, andso, you know, but Louisville is,
Yeah, Louisville's where I was born, but it was a long time
ago. I don't even think thehospital I was born and still exists anymore.
It was it was the seventies.It was so long ago. Well,
(03:35):
you heard some of the news whileyou're waiting on a hold there,
so you know, now we puta we go ahead and put a fifth
of whiskey and a baby's bassinette rightwhen they're born here. So I'm sorry
you missed out on that. Ohgeez, oh gosh, I don't know.
It was the seventies, you know. So I don't I don't know
who knows, right, But Ijust remember Louisville being just such a beautiful
place, Like I really I havethese very vivid memories of Louisville in the
(03:57):
fall and like dogwood trees and beautifulautumn colors, and you know, it's
just it was just I just havereally you know, warm memories of it.
So I'm excited to get to comeback. All right, you did
those game shows on MTV. Iknow you were on v H one for
certain things too. And then don'tyou do the Wall on NBC? Isn't
that you do? Yeah? Ido, Yeah, I do the wy
I've been doing the Wall for likefive or six years now. And that's
(04:20):
not rigged at all. That wholeplinko drop thing. I mean, it
always is like it's gonna be gonnahit the no and hit one dollar.
No it's not. It's it's definitelynot rigged at all. Yeah, it's
definitely not rigged all. Like likegame game shows are very very very strictly
regulated truly, so you there's nothat that would never happen. It is
(04:41):
just you know, one thing aboutthe show is that it even though it's
like this, you know, theshow has its general structure, No two
shows play out exactly the same becausethere's so many different elements between, like,
well, how does the ball bounce, how well did they answer the
trivia, how well do they strategize, how well I think the other person's
going to answer the trivia? Howlucky do they get? You know,
(05:01):
So there really is this kind oflike knowledge, luck, strategy and uh
and also like this, who wouldhave ever thought that a game show could
be emotional? Like it's you know, I get some of the most cynical
people I know texting me like whyam I crying at a game show?
You know, because you really getto know these people and you care about
them and you want them to win. You know, I can feel that
(05:24):
show. I can feel that outof you when I'm watching that though,
that some of these people win andthe others lose, and they're they're there
it's sad. And then once yougo off camera, do they say,
can you give me a hundred bucksanyway? So I can say I got
something I honestly would love to Imean, you know, like it you
just feel so gutted because you wantyou know, like everyone who comes on
the show is generally like a reallyjust a beautiful example of how humanity can
(05:49):
be, just like people who've givenmore to the world than they've received.
And so it is like and Ispend like three hours. I don't meet
the people until they literally till yousee them walk out on stage at home.
But it takes about three hours toshoot an episode because the wall is
such a huge contraption that it justwhen they change the dollar amounts or when
you know, like when we goto act breaks. It just takes a
(06:11):
little bit of time. And Italk to them and I get to know
them, and I feel like it'smy job to sort of, you know,
be there for whatever they need asa cheerleader or a therapist or a
you know, just kind of directingtraffic for them or whatever they need.
And uh, and they're all solovely. So yes, it's a wonderful
when they win. And it suckswhen they don't win. Oh my god,
it sucks. They You're a goodsoul, Chris Hardwick, We're and
(06:34):
you're a radio personally, you understandthis. We're down to our last minute.
I know you're excited about becoming adad to congratulations, thank you.
Yes, she just turned two.It's been unbelievable. It has really been
unbelievable and incredible, and just likethe greatest you know, I think in
the last minute we have I justthink, you know, as you know,
because you know, like we allwe all work, we all chase
(06:56):
career things, and I've been fortunateenough to have a lot of really wonderful
career things, but there is justnothing for me personally. There hasn't been
anything as just wonderful as like beinga dad to this kid who's just the
coolest you know kid that ever andit's just just been such a joy and
my wife and I are we absolutelylove it. Well. Congrats to you
guys. I know people are goingto look forward to your shows at Louisville
(07:17):
Comedy Club and we will see thisFriday and Saturday night. Thanks Chris,
thanks for having me on. Iappreciate it. Have it going all right,
great talking to you, Chris Hardwick, who'll be in Louisville, where
he was born, on Friday andSaturday night. Shows are at seven and
nine forty five, both nights,Louisville Comedy Club. You can find them
on social lou Comedy Club and findticket information there. Back in a few
(07:41):
on news radio Wait forty whas
Thanks, Hales, It's not reallycoming up in thirty minutes because we have
Kentucky basketball six o'clock tonight here onnews radio eight forty WYSS for now.
Comedian, podcaster, TV star,movie star Chris Hardwick joins us, what's
up, Chris good having? Oh, there's so many those are so many
(00:20):
nice things you said before I cameon movie. That's really nice. Does
your brain ever stop working? You'veYou've got a resume that's longer than the
Dead Sea Scrolls or Dark Taylor's Swiftset list. I mean it's immense,
you know, it's it's I itdoes feel like I do like to tend
to be busy. I don't knowwhy. I just I just love making
(00:43):
stuff. I like, you know, trying, you know, like I
love performing, I love you know, So it is. I guess it
is just sort of a NonStop,like just kind of a I don't know,
fun trying different things, fun things. But I've been doing stand up
for like twenty five years, soit is my ultimate favorite thing. All
Right, you got two shows Fridayand Saturday at Louisville Comedy Clubs right down
(01:04):
the street from these radio stations onMain Street. But I gotta ask you,
are you well one of the DJsfrom k Rock, the legendary Los
Angeles station. Oh my god,Yes, yes, I worked at k
Rock from night in the nineteen hundreds. From nineteen ninety five to nineteen ninety
eight, I did the overnight show, which is you know, as you
(01:25):
know, because you work in radio, it's such an important time slot.
They don't even track ratings at thosehours. And I was on from midnight
to five before Kevin and Bean,where it's where the morning show guys at
k Rock for decades would would comein. So yeah, I was there,
(01:45):
you know, where I worked atMTV during the day and that night
I would go work at k Rockfrom midnight to five in the like,
and those were like peak grunge era, you know, like really you know,
when when kind of grunge was reallykind of like pop music at the
time. It was a really funtime to be there. I really kind
of cherish those times, and Ithink that's why I ultimately gravitated toward podcasting
(02:07):
in twenty ten, because I reallyI kind of missed working in radio.
Yeah, well, your nerdous thingis huge, and you've had a heck
of a run with that too.But you're you know, you're in movies,
TV shows. I mean, howmany personalities do you think you have
stuffed in there? Chris? Idon't know. I just know that,
(02:29):
you know, the entertainment business canbe. It is sort of a you
know, when you're working, you'reworking, and when you're not, you're
not, and you so when youhave opportunities, you just feel like,
well, I gotta try this,well I gotta try that. Well,
of course I want to do that, because you know, we spend so
much of our careers and not necessarilygetting to do the things that we want.
So I, you know, Ialways just try to embrace the opportunities
(02:51):
and I'm always just grateful for them. But you know, I don't know
if you know this or not,but I was born in Louisville and I've
not been back in a long time. So it's like it's I had have
a big deal for me to comeback and get to perform there. I'm
really excited about it. Well,good, Yeah, this Louisville Comedy Club,
you're gonna like the venue on MainStreet. You were born here,
but didn't you grow up in Memphis? I did. Yeah, my family
(03:14):
moved away when I was a toddler. I don't know, I couldn't have
been more than three or four whenwe moved away and then ultimately settled in
Memphis for a long time, andso, you know, but Louisville is,
Yeah, Louisville's where I was born, but it was a long time
ago. I don't even think thehospital I was born and still exists anymore.
It was it was the seventies.It was so long ago. Well,
(03:35):
you heard some of the news whileyou're waiting on a hold there,
so you know, now we puta we go ahead and put a fifth
of whiskey and a baby's bassinette rightwhen they're born here. So I'm sorry
you missed out on that. Ohgeez, oh gosh, I don't know.
It was the seventies, you know. So I don't I don't know
who knows, right, But Ijust remember Louisville being just such a beautiful
place, Like I really I havethese very vivid memories of Louisville in the
(03:57):
fall and like dogwood trees and beautifulautumn colors, and you know, it's
just it was just I just havereally you know, warm memories of it.
So I'm excited to get to comeback. All right, you did
those game shows on MTV. Iknow you were on v H one for
certain things too. And then don'tyou do the Wall on NBC? Isn't
that you do? Yeah? Ido, Yeah, I do the wy
I've been doing the Wall for likefive or six years now. And that's
(04:20):
not rigged at all. That wholeplinko drop thing. I mean, it
always is like it's gonna be gonnahit the no and hit one dollar.
No it's not. It's it's definitelynot rigged at all. Yeah, it's
definitely not rigged all. Like likegame game shows are very very very strictly
regulated truly, so you there's nothat that would never happen. It is
(04:41):
just you know, one thing aboutthe show is that it even though it's
like this, you know, theshow has its general structure, No two
shows play out exactly the same becausethere's so many different elements between, like,
well, how does the ball bounce, how well did they answer the
trivia, how well do they strategize, how well I think the other person's
going to answer the trivia? Howlucky do they get? You know,
(05:01):
So there really is this kind oflike knowledge, luck, strategy and uh
and also like this, who wouldhave ever thought that a game show could
be emotional? Like it's you know, I get some of the most cynical
people I know texting me like whyam I crying at a game show?
You know, because you really getto know these people and you care about
them and you want them to win. You know, I can feel that
(05:24):
show. I can feel that outof you when I'm watching that though,
that some of these people win andthe others lose, and they're they're there
it's sad. And then once yougo off camera, do they say,
can you give me a hundred bucksanyway? So I can say I got
something I honestly would love to Imean, you know, like it you
just feel so gutted because you wantyou know, like everyone who comes on
the show is generally like a reallyjust a beautiful example of how humanity can
(05:49):
be, just like people who've givenmore to the world than they've received.
And so it is like and Ispend like three hours. I don't meet
the people until they literally till yousee them walk out on stage at home.
But it takes about three hours toshoot an episode because the wall is
such a huge contraption that it justwhen they change the dollar amounts or when
you know, like when we goto act breaks. It just takes a
(06:11):
little bit of time. And Italk to them and I get to know
them, and I feel like it'smy job to sort of, you know,
be there for whatever they need asa cheerleader or a therapist or a
you know, just kind of directingtraffic for them or whatever they need.
And uh, and they're all solovely. So yes, it's a wonderful
when they win. And it suckswhen they don't win. Oh my god,
it sucks. They You're a goodsoul, Chris Hardwick, We're and
(06:34):
you're a radio personally, you understandthis. We're down to our last minute.
I know you're excited about becoming adad to congratulations, thank you.
Yes, she just turned two.It's been unbelievable. It has really been
unbelievable and incredible, and just likethe greatest you know, I think in
the last minute we have I justthink, you know, as you know,
because you know, like we allwe all work, we all chase
(06:56):
career things, and I've been fortunateenough to have a lot of really wonderful
career things, but there is justnothing for me personally. There hasn't been
anything as just wonderful as like beinga dad to this kid who's just the
coolest you know kid that ever andit's just just been such a joy and
my wife and I are we absolutelylove it. Well. Congrats to you
guys. I know people are goingto look forward to your shows at Louisville
(07:17):
Comedy Club and we will see thisFriday and Saturday night. Thanks Chris,
thanks for having me on. Iappreciate it. Have it going all right,
great talking to you, Chris Hardwick, who'll be in Louisville, where
he was born, on Friday andSaturday night. Shows are at seven and
nine forty five, both nights,Louisville Comedy Club. You can find them
on social lou Comedy Club and findticket information there. Back in a few
(07:41):
on news radio Wait forty whas
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