The Nerdist

Nerdist Industries (originally founded as a sole podcast entitled The Nerdist Podcast) is an online media network created by Chris Hardwick. Nerdist includes a network of podcasts, a premium content YouTube channel, and news division (Nerdist News); and has even spawned a television version of the podcast on BBC America.
The thirteenth episode of the Nerdist podcast, published on April 27, 2010, featured an interview with the Muppets. 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.
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.
The Swedish Chef appeared in the Hard 'n Phirm music video "Gersberms (Yer Gervin Mah)" for the Nerdist Channel; and the Ben Folds Five music video "Do It Anyway" featuring the Fraggles was co-produced by the Nerdist Channel and the Jim Henson Company. Red Fraggle appeared on the Nerdist podcast (episode #258) to talk about the "Do It Anyway" video.
Episode #114 (October 29, 2013) 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.
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. Williams returned in episode #472; he again discussed his Muppet work and performed "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" with Hardwick.
Brian Henson appeared to promote Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge in episode 508. 
==External links==
* Nerdist.com
* The Nerdist Channel
Muppet Appearances:
* The Nerdist Podcast #13: THE MUPPETS! (Muppets begin at 0:10:43)
* The Nerdist Podcast #258: Ben Folds and Fraggles (Red begins at 1:07:09)
*The Nerdist Podcast #508: Brian Henson (Henson begins at 0:03:45)
* Nerdist Writer's Panel Podcast #114: Sesame Street (writers begin at 0:04:40)
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Category:Online Appearances