Nerdist Industries, or "The Nerdist" after its founding as a podcast, is a media network created by Chris Hardwick comprised of podcasts, premium YouTube content, a news division (Nerdist News), and other spin-offs.
Appearances[]
- April 27, 2010 — The Muppets were guests on The Nerdist Podcast episode 13. Pre-recorded at "Muppet Labs," the interview includes Fozzie Bear, Pepe the King Prawn, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, the Swedish Chef, Animal, Gonzo, Miss Piggy, and Kermit the Frog. Hardwick spoke in detail about his experience interviewing the Muppets and the review process by Disney (including a comment by Gonzo that he was forced to remove) in his May 19, 2011 appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
- September 17, 2012 — The Fraggles co-star in the Ben Folds Five music video "Do It Anyway" co-produced by the Nerdist Channel and the Jim Henson Company. Red Fraggle was a guest on the Nerdist podcast episode #258 to talk about the "Do It Anyway" video.
- November 13, 2012 — The Swedish Chef appears in the Hard 'n Phirm music video "Gersberms (Yer Gervin Mah)" for the Nerdist Channel.
- December 7, 2012 — Songwriter Paul Williams was interviewed in episode #293 of the Nerdist podcast and spoke in detail about his work with Jim Henson and the Muppets.
- October 29, 2013 — Episode #114 of Ben Blacker's "Writer's Panel" podcast on the Nerdist network featured the writing staff of Sesame Street. Blacker talked with writers Joey Mazzarino, John Weidman, Christine Ferraro, Belinda Ward, and Molly Boylan. In the "bonus-size" episode, Blacker also visits the Muppet Workshop and interviews puppet wrangler Lara MacLean, costumer Connie Peterson, and puppet designer Rollie Krewson.
- January 29, 2014 — Paul Williams returned in episode #472; he again discussed his Muppet work and performed "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" with Hardwick.
- April 19, 2014 — Brian Henson appeared to promote Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge in episode 508.
- August 12, 2014 — Kermit appears in a video interview with Dan Casey to promote the release of Muppets Most Wanted on DVD and Blu-ray.
- October 6, 2021 — Lee Travis interviews Miss Piggy promoting Muppets Haunted Mansion. (Facebook video)
Muppet Mentions[]
- January 16, 2019 — A Nerdist Remix video demonstrates how scary it might have been if the creature from the Netflix movie Bird Box (starring Sandra Bullock) was actually Big Bird. (YouTube) [1]
- January 24, 2023 — Following the popular social media opinion that the next Benoit Blanc mystery from Rian Johnson following Knives Out and Glass Onion should feature the Muppets, a Nerdist Remix video cut together scenes from both franchises to imagine what it might be like. (YouTube)
Henson Alternative[]
In 2011, the Jim Henson Company partnered with Nerdist to create exclusive YouTube content. The first of which, Marvin E. Quasniki for President, was released in December 2011. Other Henson shows co-produced and distributed by Nerdist include Neil's Puppet Dreams (with Neil Patrick Harris) and Ketchup with the Hot Dogs.