Ep 8. Tribute to Time Travel

The Nerdist is a talk show hosted by comedian Chris Hardwick with a focus on all things nerdy. In season 1 episode 8, titled "Tribute to Time Travel," Hardwick and his guests discuss various aspects of time travel in popular culture.

The episode begins with Hardwick introducing his guests, which include comedian Doug Benson, writer/producer Damon Lindelof, and physicist Sean Carroll. The group starts off by discussing their favorite time travel films and television shows, with Lindelof citing Back to the Future and Benson mentioning Doctor Who.

Carroll then provides some scientific insight into the possibility of time travel, explaining concepts such as the theory of relativity and the idea of a "closed timelike curve." The group debates the implications of time travel, including the concept of changing the past and the potential dangers of creating paradoxes.

Next, the conversation turns to some of the more complicated time travel stories in popular culture, such as the film Primer and the television show Lost. Lindelof, who was a writer and producer on Lost, discusses the challenges of creating a cohesive time travel storyline that didn't contradict itself.

Benson provides some comedic relief by jokingly pitching his own time travel movie idea, which involves a guy who can only travel back in time for 10 seconds at a time. The group has a good laugh, but also discusses the interesting storytelling possibilities of such a limitation.

The final segment of the episode is a game called "Fix the Time Line," in which the guests are presented with various time travel scenarios and have to figure out how to prevent paradoxes and keep the timeline intact. The game is a fun way to wrap up the episode and test the guests' knowledge of time travel tropes.

Overall, "Tribute to Time Travel" is a fascinating and entertaining episode of The Nerdist that will appeal to fans of science fiction and pop culture. Hardwick and his guests are clearly knowledgeable and passionate about the topic, making for a lively and engaging conversation. Whether you're a hardcore sci-fi fan or just a casual viewer, this episode is definitely worth a watch.