Royals TV: Rex Hudler Not On The Same Planet As Comic Con

The Royals TV audience got some extra amusement on Sunday, when local broadcaster Ryan Lefebrve razzed his boothmate Rex Hudler while announcing a Royals cross promotion with comic con during Kansas City’s 4-3 victory over the Twins.

Rex had no clue what comic con is all about, puzzling over the notion of “cosplay”—which involves fans of a comics/speculative fiction convention attending the event dressed up as their favorite fictional character. Cosplay (short for costume play) has become such an established part of comic con that skilled cosplayers can make a living on appearance fees paid by the event.

Comic cons are the heart of “nerd pop culture”, which has played a key role in driving superhero movies to the top of the Hollywood heap. Throw in the many tech millionaires and billionaires that identify with, and eagerly participate in, “nerd culture”, and most people recognize that we’re living in an era ruled by geeks.

Rex Hudler is apparently oblivious to this reality. He expressed his befuddlement at current pop culture during Sunday’s game, which I recorded on my Twitter feed:

#Royals Hud: comic con? I'm not from that planet. Ryan: Or that moon. ROFLMAO
— John Viril (@TheVirilView) April 10, 2016

Remember last season when Hud referred to the Moon as a beautiful planet? Funny on multiple lvls https://t.co/ipWdv3yTX9
— John Viril (@TheVirilView) April 10, 2016

The truly hysterical part of this exchange is when Hudler chose to express his cultural disconnect by talking about planets. Ryan, who many times can’t resist ribbing his broadcast partner for his many on air gaffes, immediately referenced a KC Royals broadcast from 2014 when the TV crews focused on a large full moon. Hudler proclaimed, “What a beautiful planet!”