The Wall is officially back, and so is its captivating host Chris Hardwick.
NBC is kicking off 2026 with Season 6 of the wild game show, premiering on January 5. Once again, Hardwick will guide new teams of two through rounds of trivia, ball drops, and dicey risks as contestants attempt to bank as much money as possible.
While The Wall is unlike any other game show, Hardwick is no stranger to hosting programs across a variety of genres. The comedian, actor, producer, and writer has been entertaining audiences for more years than many realize.
Let’s delve deeper into Chris Hardwick’s impressive career!
Chris Hardwick’s Early Hosting Career
Hardwick began his hosting journey in 1995 with Singled Out, an MTV dating show where singles attempted to find love among 50 potential suitors. This unique format gave viewers a delightful showcase of eccentric contestants, as Hardwick first teamed up with Jenny McCarthy and later with Carmen Electra.
Following his stint on Singled Out, he hosted another dating show called Shipmates from 2001 to 2003, which took love seekers on a cruise. During this time, he also dabbled in game shows himself, making appearances on shows like Jeopardy! in 1997 and Hollywood Squares in 2001.
Hollywood Appearances
Though widely recognized for his hosting talents, Hardwick has also ventured into acting. He appeared in films like Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and the horror flicks House of 1000 Corpses and Halloween II. On television, he made guest appearances in shows like Zoey 101 and CSI, showcasing his versatile talents.
Additionally, Hardwick has lent his voice to several animated characters, contributing to shows such as The Batman and The X’s.
Building Nerdist and Pop Culture Commentary
In the early 2000s, Hardwick made a name for himself in pop culture commentary, sharing humorous takes on movies, TV, video games, and trending online topics. In 2009, he began hosting G4’s Web Soup, a companion show to E!’s The Soup. His own media brand, Nerdist Industries, was launched in 2008 and has since grown to be a significant player in entertainment media.
Hardwick’s groundbreaking series, Talking Dead, debuted in 2011, where he facilitated discussions about episodes of The Walking Dead immediately after they aired. The show ran until 2022 and paved the way for similar aftershows for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
The Game Show King: @midnight
From 2013 to 2017, Hardwick showcased his quick wit and humor as the host of Comedy Central’s @midnight, a game show that challenged comedians and actors in pop culture trivia and internet-based challenges. This series demonstrated Hardwick’s competitive spirit and garnered him two Primetime Emmys in 2015 and 2016.
A new season of The Wall premieres Monday, January 5 at 9/8c on NBC, and streaming next-day on Peacock.