Hardwick is an unmistakable figure if you like comedy, popular television and late-night games. He hosts Talking Dead, the aftershow for AMC’s The Walking Dead. And he was the host of Talking Bad, which was the aftershow for, yes, Breaking Bad. Those are unusual gigs in the world of television, but Hardwick has proven he can helm a show that has to fill an hour talking about a show that literally just aired, and still make it entertaining. That doesn’t sound easy, because it isn’t.
Then there’s @midnight, his Comedy Central game show that encourages viewers to play along at home, but share it with the world. Guests on the panel come up with funny, off-the-cuff responses to a specific video, image or hashtag topic (like, say, “Zombie Songs” or “Redneck A Book”) and get points for good responses. But viewers also play the hashtag game on Twitter, with the show re-tweeting favorites. Every night around midnight, it becomes a trending topic on Twitter, with popular comedians often playing along with comedy fans.
That puts Hardwick right at Ground Zero of pop culture, and his stand-up reflects that. It’s as clever and relevant as you’d expect, but still accessible if you aren’t as dialed-in as he is. And if you are, it’s a more-engaging conversation that he’s allowed to share on his other television appearances.
His Funcomfortable Tour hits The Straz on Saturday, and tickets are still available. So get them before your friends make you feel like an outsider for missing out.
Showtime is Saturday at 8 p.m. $37.50. 1010 N. MacInnes Place in Tampa. Info: strazcenter.org or 813-229-7827.
This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 5, 2015.
