So back in 1995 (has it really been 16 years??!!), Singled Out premiered on MTV and I immediately gained a celebrity boyfriend. I kept wondering, "Who is this adorable and hilarious Chris Hardwick fellow? Why didn't I watch Trashed more than once? Why do I find him so funny?" I was completely hooked. I drove my family crazy commanding the TV every night from 7-7:30pm. At one point, they started having these random chats with MTV personalities on AOL from time to time. Since I knew his name on there was MTVWick, I took a random shot and sent an e-mail to that name @aol telling him that he was one of the funniest people I had ever seen. Much to my surprise and delight, he wrote back:
Obviously, I signed my e-mail with 'Pam Rose,' so the fact that he called me that put me over the moon.
Should I mention at this point that I was a 21 year-old college student when this took place, and not 13? And that I may have carried a copy of this email around in my pocket for a little while? Yeeeeeaaaahh....
Anyhoo, not long after that, MTV announced that they were going to be doing a week of Singled Out shows in NYC (they normally shot in LA), so I got my ass to NYC for the casting/info session. In order to be one of the 50 guys/girls, you had to live in NYC, but since the shows were going to be taking place in a dance hall, they were looking for a bunch of extras to dance around in the background. I couldn't sign up fast enough. So off I headed when the time came around for the shows and I ended up lucking out with the extra thing since I got to be there for all 3 episodes that they were taping that day. The contestants only did one since they had to switch them out for a fresh crop, so I spent 9 hours there pretending to dance. Seriously, no one ever needs to see me dance. However, we were told emphatically that if anyone wasn't dancing, they would be kicked out, so you'd better believe that I faked it, shuffling back and forth. DANCE, PUPPETS, DANCE!!!!
For the first show, I was stuck way up at the top of some stairs and couldn't see a thing, especially Mr. Christopher, so once there was a break between shows, I found myself a new spot over next to the DJ/"Piano Boy" and I had a perfect view for the next two shows. It also led to this:
There we are! What, is a picture not good enough? Fine.
Oh, mid-90s fashion.
During the break between the second and third show, I was just standing there waiting when someone accidentally bumped into the back of me. I turned around just as I heard a familiar voice apologizing and there he was, Mr. Chris Hardwick. I then proceeded to shake his hand for far too long, telling him that I had driven 3 hours just to come and meet him. Verbal diarrhea, anyone? Anyway, he was super-nice and I floated home on cloud nine. My dad joined me on that cloud as he had driven up with me and got to see Jenny McCarthy while he was waiting outside for me. That was his big excitement. Seriously, she was GORGEOUS.
Throughout the years following Singled Out, I kept up with the goings-on of Mr. Hardwick. Some I couldn't bring myself to watch even for him (Shipmates), some I tried a few times, but still couldn't (the awful UPN sitcom Guys Like Us), and some I enjoyed even though he was headless (House of 1000 Corpses). Also, Otis the cow. Luckily, two things happened to keep me more in the loop: G4 and social media. Now I had Attack of the Show, Web Soup, Chelsea Lately appearances, the Nerdist podcast and Twitter to keep me posted on things. I was in Hardwick heaven, laughing my ass off all the way.
In November of 2009, I went to LA to visit some friends and happened to be going the week that Web Soup was filming their hour-long special to end the first season. I got a ticket to be in the audience and my 2009 Christmas card was born:
Reunited at last. And you guys, he is seriously the nicest guy ever. And have I mentioned funny? Because I can't even handle it.
Not long after that, Chris hit the east coast for a stand-up date in NYC in March of 2010, so I got my ass down there for that. I had never seen his stand-up other than clips online and it did not disappoint. Also? This:
Which leads us to last Saturday night when he finally came the closest, to do a show in Boston. I brought my brother along and it was even funnier than the last. His tour just started, you should check him out if he comes your way. Dates are here. (Per my brother: "I've never been to a stand-up show where people made Star Trek jokes and everyone got them and laughed. Or cheered when someone mentions D&D.") And if you haven't heard any of the nerdist podcasts, I HIGHLY recommend them.
I don't know where I was going with any of this, but I guess it's all to say this: 16 years later and he is still one of the funniest people I've ever seen, one of the nicest celebs I've ever met, and one of my top 3 Celebrity Boyfriends of all time. May we have a long-lasting fake relationship.
And as for last Saturday? Boom:
Pure Bliss. True Fake Love 4-eva!
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