BBC America orders five more Nerdist specials with Chris Hardwick

Guess what, America? BBC America liked broadcasting Chris Hardwick’s Nerdist pilot so much they’ve ordered up more of it. Specifically, five additional TV specials: A one-hour Christmas Eve broadcast, plus four more (one hour, three half-hours) to air throughout 2012, “coinciding with big events for the channel,” as BBC America said in today’s press release.

The Christmas Eve Nerdist hour, which will tape in early December in L.A., will be a year-end review of all things nerds love. Or as Hardwick told The Comic’s Comic, “We’ll be doing a ‘Nerd Year That Was’ kind of thing.”

Perry Simon, General Manager, Channels, BBC Worldwide America said: “The Nerdist pilot, which featured The Doctor, Matt Smith, and Craig Ferguson joining the Nerdist team as guests, earned strong buzz and was an excellent pairing with the midseason premiere of Doctor Who. We couldn’t be happier that we will continue working with Chris and are excited that The Nerdist will be a part of our biggest events over the next year.”

The format takes Hardwick’s Nerdist podcast — which features roundtable discussions with his comedy podcast pals Jonah Ray and Matt Mira, with different comedian or celebrity guests — and puts it on the TV.

Hardwick told The Comic’s Comic: “Also, I’ll be spending time in London shooting segments and there are some amazing British names being tossed around to take part. I mean insane as in “relevant to Nerd interests,” not amazing-sounding like “Rubeus Hagrid” though technically he would be very relevant to Nerd interests. Otherwise, same crew, same Mike Phirman and the one-man-Phirmband. Should be fun.”

Should be fun, indeed.

Hardwick has been a fixture on BBC America for the past few months since the channel launched its Saturday-night comedy block, “The Ministry of Laughs.”

The Nerdist will continue to be produced by Nerdist Industries and Comcast Entertainment Studios, with Chris Hardwick, Alex Murray, Jay James, Gary Snegaroff and K.P. Anderson serving as executive producers.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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