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February 3, 2005

Chris Wylde, False Idol

Did you catch this guy on American Idol last night?

He performed a clever rap, Simon rolled his eyes, and we were on to the next reject. But was that not Chris Wylde, the actor who has appeared in numerous TV shows and commercials ... and HAD HIS OWN SHOW on Comedy Central?

Someone please shed some light. I'm dying to know how stupid American Idol thinks we really are. It is reality TV, so I expect a ringer or ten to keep that William Hung vibe alive ... but a recognizable comedian? I'd hate to think AI wasted time on him when there's another Clay Aiken waiting to be discovered.

UPDATE: Video!

Posted at 9:21 AM
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47 Comments

ah yes, the male nanny who couldn't stop swearing. does it really matter if he's been on TV before? singing would be a new entertainment forum for him. what about the tiny girl wearing the fishnet dress over her tube top and mini skirt? she seemed genuinely taken aback when they told her her outfit was NOT classy.

Posted by: jlm at 02/03/05 10:36 AM | Reply
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That's him. He was in those Fox Sports NBA spots about 4 years ago. He auditioned for a commercial that I was working on just a few weeks ago.

Actor's pretending to be aspiring singers...huh.

Posted by: karatechimp at 02/03/05 10:36 AM | Reply
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It's very possible that nobody at American Idol knew who he was, and that he was actually auditioning as a joke for he and some of his buddies to laugh at.

Posted by: ninja, please at 02/03/05 10:39 AM | Reply
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I hear his brother Zakk has tremendous hammer down skills

Posted by: jb at 02/03/05 10:43 AM | Reply
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I started digging around the second I saw him, I gather "Christopher Noll" is his real name. I would find it funny if he got something over on the producers, but seeing as how he has even done spots for Fox sports, my inner conspiracy theorist thinks it was just a plant.

He wasn't the only "reject" from last night relatively easy to find on the net, either...

http://www.lifeisbonkers.com/mp3s/05%20-%20I'm%20An%20Elephant.mp3

Posted by: KM at 02/03/05 10:54 AM | Reply
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I recognized him from that Fox Sports Net ad:
"knickerbocker, please"

He's hi-larious. My wife didn't recognize him, but thought he was funny.

Posted by: knickerbocker at 02/03/05 10:54 AM | Reply
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I went to college with this guy. His real name is Chris Noll but his stage name is Chris Wylde. He tried out because he thought it would be funny. He is also on I love the 90's part deux.

Posted by: KB at 02/03/05 11:01 AM | Reply
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I am sorry that I know this, but I think this guy was also on Trading Spaces, they redid his place in retro-mod or something.

Posted by: j at 02/03/05 11:17 AM | Reply
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"Someone please shed some light. I'm dying to know how stupid American Idol thinks we really are"
Dude, you're watching American Idol. They know exactly how dumb you are.

Posted by: Sean at 02/03/05 11:27 AM | Reply
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huh? No mention of David Byrne singing Naive Melody with Arcade Fire last night?

Posted by: matt d at 02/03/05 11:37 AM | Reply
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Stereogum - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop watching this show! My opinion of you is plummeting with every viewing!

Posted by: K-Rock at 02/03/05 11:48 AM | Reply
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At least Mary Roach was 100% truely crazy. (I think)

Posted by: karatechimp at 02/03/05 11:48 AM | Reply
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How has this not been posted here yet? Supposed Britney nipple slip, Y'all!

http://www.thesuperficial.com/archives/000649.shtml

Posted by: me at 02/03/05 11:56 AM | Reply
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That is EXACTLY what my husband and I thought, it's totally him.

Posted by: clams at 02/03/05 11:57 AM | Reply
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My friend and I agreed that that had to be Chris Wylde after some internet comparison pictures.

Posted by: madskrillz at 02/03/05 12:01 PM | Reply
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Sadly, as I read this article all I could think of was "trading spaces" as well... I hang my head in shame.

Posted by: pippincat at 02/03/05 12:01 PM | Reply
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- David Byrne playing w/ Arcade Fire: so cool, but we'll give AF a rest on this blog for a while.
- We watch American Idol in fast forward just looking for the crazies. I do it as a service to you people! ;)
- Those pics of Britney are very old.

Posted by: stereogum at 02/03/05 12:09 PM | Reply
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I, too went to school with Chris Knoll. He used to be funnier.

Posted by: LIRC at 02/03/05 12:25 PM | Reply
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Um I also saw that episode of Trading Spaces and it made me HATE him. He is such an ugly tool, the type of person to become a comedian cause he looks like a Human Colored Jack-o-Lantern. I still love American Idol but I never want to see that guy on TV, he's around too much. And why in hell was he on I Love the 90's? He wasn't funny at all, and I made a point to notice that, since I hate him. I secretly hated an unknown actor for this long and now I can publicly hate him, thanks FOX.

Posted by: PJ at 02/03/05 12:39 PM | Reply
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this guy was also featured on trading spaces a few years back- and he was in a pizza commercial

Posted by: s at 02/03/05 1:15 PM | Reply
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Those Fox sports commericals he did were the best.

Posted by: Mario at 02/03/05 1:56 PM | Reply
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while i was watching it i assumed it was just someone bearing a resemblance but i guess it really is him ?! so lame.

Posted by: kenny at 02/03/05 2:08 PM | Reply
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I was listening to my local morning show in Atlanta this morning, and they called a Detroit morning show to talk about some other American Idol thing and the Detroit show said they "planted" Chris Wylde there. Meaning it was definitely him and I'm guessing the station paid him to go on and do his thing. How he was not figured out by the editors at Fox is the real mystery.

Posted by: Sarah at 02/03/05 3:29 PM | Reply
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fwiw, the road to stardom on upn was about 100x more entertaining than AI.

Posted by: mimi at 02/03/05 4:14 PM | Reply
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i assume everyone already saw the msnbc article blowing the lid off the "wylde" scandal:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6902001/

p.s. sadly, i totally loved that trading spaces episode.

Posted by: little red at 02/03/05 4:44 PM | Reply
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That guy was so awesome. I mean it was a great rap, he had nice flow, and it was really original. I suppose if you don't perform played out and tired pop songs for these judges they aren't interested. If I have to hear another Dion, Houston, or Carey song one more time I will puke.

Posted by: Joeie at 02/03/05 6:39 PM | Reply
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Yep- he used to have his own show at American U.
Not sure if he was a plant or not- but used to be funnier- then he was on a pizza commerical.

Posted by: Hilary at 02/03/05 7:07 PM | Reply
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I always thought in the past seasons that the people that were perceived as crazy or awful singers were actors they hired to get laughs and ratings. And sometimes it seemed too obvious or exaggerated. I would not be surprised if this Chris Wylde guy was 'planted' into the show.

Posted by: cindy at 02/03/05 10:29 PM | Reply
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Thank god someone else noticed this. It really pissed me off. I guess when he realizes his 15 seconds of fame are over he had to do stupid stunts on reality tv. Oy.

Posted by: Michelle at 02/03/05 10:52 PM | Reply
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Chris Noll is from my town in NJ. His stage name is Chris Wylde. Why, I haven't the slightest idea. But I can say that I've seen Chris recently on one of the VH1 talking heads shows. His brother Dave is a producer at VH1, or at least he used to be, which I assumed was the (only) reason he got the VH1 gig. And otherwise, he's been in some tv shows, bit parts in films (as a drunk weirdo in "Coyote Ugly" most notably haha), and I saw him on some tv show recently where he and some other actor/comedians (some of the guys from tough crowd)are 'punking' (pardon the expression) other actors by pretending they're making a movie. He plays the director in the phony improv Punk'd-style show...

but as to the American Idol audition, I really don't think he was planted. I think he was legitimately pissed he didn't make it to the next round. i mean anyone can go on American Idol and make an ass out of yourself but why would an actor/comedian who's been in enough projects on his own go on just to be an unmemorable guest? my guess is that he wanted to ride the wave to see how far he could get and then be like 'i'm a comedian- surprise!'

...also, in real life in NJ, his mom is a minister.

Posted by: elliefromthablock at 02/04/05 9:00 AM | Reply
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Another American U alumni checking in...

It's definitely Chris Wylde (Noll was his name before he changed it). I really liked his show at AU, but this was just sad.

Posted by: Ben at 02/04/05 9:11 AM | Reply
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WTF! I couldnt take it was more irritating than humorous..but Mary..shit! Mary had me rollin!!!!
anyway why does Randy egg people on, he knows the guy is riduclous at least Simon doesnt fake it as far as his look on this clip, he has that look like..you are so gone, why did u bother....lol

Posted by: sweetpea at 02/04/05 12:23 PM | Reply
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Chris Wylde=who cares

Posted by: bobette at 02/04/05 1:12 PM | Reply
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I'm convinced that people like Chris Noll,the fashionista guy who said that his soul was telling him he is the next American Idol, the 10ft tall accountant dude, the Molfetta twins, the dude who looked and sounded like a chick and crazy Mary are planted by the producers to increase raitings. This show is soooo fake!

Posted by: Grimmone at 02/04/05 2:56 PM | Reply
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they are definitely planted in that the producers purposely pick the best and the worst to make it to the semifinals and whatnot. this guy i knew tried out for it and he made the 2nd round b/c of his personality. he is a college wrestler and was singing hoobastank, so i guess he had some kind of personality apart from the regulars. but he said it ultimately came down to freakshows and super talented people.

Posted by: elliefromthablock at 02/04/05 8:19 PM | Reply
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if that's chris wylde(sp?) and i think it is, mofo's lost mad weight. did anyone See his show on comedy central?? he was crazy- i remember him running through the audience buck naked etc- though the show sucked donkey he was somehow a likeable character. was in some pizza commercials too if i recall..

Posted by: me at 02/05/05 4:56 PM | Reply
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Ugh, another annoying stuggling comedian/actor. Like that dumb 7up guy Godfrey. Always trying way too hard to be funny. Who hires these tools?

Posted by: xtina at 02/05/05 6:31 PM | Reply
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Regardless of who he is or was, I enjoyed his rap.... I guess he's not really a nanny then?

Posted by: Patti at 02/06/05 4:02 PM | Reply
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BOTH his parents are Methodist Ministers AND he grew up in New Jersey. If that wouldn't mess up a kid... I don't know what would.

Posted by: clindseysmith at 02/07/05 1:13 AM | Reply
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You all got Punk'd....especially because you American U alumni's talking trash don't really know him, you know of him, and secretly wish you did know him better so you can tell all your friends. All of you have the story wrong but it is really fun for me to sit back and watch all y'all come up with conspiracy theories. Y'all believe whatever you want, it's funnier this way. stop hating losers.

Posted by: Bubb at 02/07/05 3:06 PM | Reply
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Noll is/was a good kid. He used to mock me on his little AU TV show as the epitome frat guy. I'm glad he's made somewhat of a name for himself.

Posted by: Grieco at 02/07/05 10:14 PM | Reply
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Looks like you all figured out everything. I don't know chris, but I have been a fan of his for a while. He was on a trading spaces episode, back before everyone and their mom watched the show. When Alex was the host. He was in a pizza commercial. He was the dejiorno pizza delivery guy for a while. He also had his own talk show on comedy central, which was supposed to be based off of his college show. He was on film fakers, the "punk'd style show" mentioned above. He was in other commercials and bit parts in movies too. One thing you missed was his character on Strip Mall, a comedy central show that lasted 2? seasons. his character was barry the camera man.

I think he went on AI as a joke to see what would happen. I don't know this, but he probably told his buddies he would. Or as mentioned above, a radio station could've dared him to do it. Either way, any comedian with his style would want that on their persoanl or maybe even professional resume. It was fun and funny... He was spotted by a local morning show host who said she worked with him once. And yes, AI purposely puts on bad singers cause great singers and simon's mean comments about bad singers bring in the ratings. Average singers don't.

Posted by: Jason at 02/16/05 3:45 AM | Reply
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Looks like you all figured out almost everything. I don't know chris, but I have been a fan of his for a while. He was on a trading spaces episode, back before everyone and their mom watched the show. When Alex was the host. He was in a pizza commercial. He was the dejiorno pizza delivery guy for a while. He also had his own talk show on comedy central, which was supposed to be based off of his college show. He was on film fakers, the "punk'd style show" mentioned above. He was in other commercials and bit parts in movies too. One thing you missed was his character on Strip Mall, a comedy central show that lasted 2? seasons. his character was barry the camera man.

I think he went on AI as a joke to see what would happen. I don't know this, but he probably told his buddies he would. Or as mentioned above, a radio station could've dared him to do it. Either way, any comedian with his style would want that on their persoanl or maybe even professional resume. It was fun and funny... He was spotted by a local morning show host who said she worked with him once. And yes, AI purposely puts on bad singers cause great singers and simon's mean comments about bad singers bring in the ratings. Average singers don't.

Posted by: Jason at 02/16/05 3:57 AM | Reply
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Does anyone have a link to the "knickerbocker please" ad?

Posted by: max at 03/23/05 12:40 AM | Reply
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Chris Noll is no artist.

Posted by: pike at 03/25/05 3:02 AM | Reply
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So Wendy's just came out with this new commercial..and I was like "hey, isnt that the American Idol nanny dude? he was hella funny." And then I was watching Space Cowboys on TBS and there he was again! (very small role) So this prompted some internet investigating, mostly because I am bored. Now I am going to write both Chris and Fox to find out if he was an intentional comedic plant on the show or if he just did it for kicks. Nanny my ass. Funny though.

Posted by: Courtney at 04/11/05 12:10 AM | Reply
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it's so funny to me that people see a person in college, an actor or comic or athelete, and then judge the hell out of their work when they get out of school and enter the 'real world.'

he got to do any raunchy show he wanted in school. yes. it was hilarious. i've seen it. but, unlike a college show with a crew of five guys, in the industry you have censors and producers and network execs and all kinds of folks changing what you do and adding writers and everything else. and just because someone's on tv for two seasons of a sit-com, then has a talk show on comedy central, then hosts three game shows, does several national commercial campaigns and tons of personal appearances, doesn't mean they can pick and choose what jobs they do or don't do.

give the guy a break.

ps, he surfs several times a week, that's how he lost the weight.

pps, he did idol to entertain his friends, and he did... he also did it because he makes a good living acting and can take a few days to party in san fran and do an audition for Idol as a joke. because he doesn't work a 9-5. and that's probably what makes people the most upset who 'know him so well.' that they are shackled to full-time jobs that are sucking them dry.

haters are haters.

ppps, what up, bubb.

Posted by: hunk gilman at 05/26/05 4:21 PM | Reply
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