Chris Hardwick hosts ‘Talking Dead’ a day after his father’s death

Sunday’s installment of “Talking Dead,” the talk show that follows each new episode of AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” was typical in many respects.

Chris Hardwick, who hosts the show, excitedly discussed the latest installment of the zombie apocalypse drama with his guests, which in this case were David Morrissey, who plays the Governor, and Ike Barinholtz from “The Mindy Project.” As closing credits rolled, he previewed next week’s show.

Then Hardwick made an announcement that appeared to come out of nowhere.

“I just want to say something,” he began. “I don’t want things to get weird but ... my dad passed away suddenly yesterday.”

PHOTOS: Celebrities by The Times

He continued. “It was a weird ... I wasn’t sure I was going to come into work today, but I like this job and it was a nice distraction.”

Hardwick then thanked his online followers for their condolences and good wishes. He spoke about how he and his father, Billy Hardwick, had a “really nice chat” the day before he died, and how glad he was to have had the opportunity to tell him “how much I really loved him.”

Those comments were followed by an advisory to viewers to love and appreciate their families: “The holidays are coming up, and they can be a pain in the ass. But your family is important, and you should take the time to appreciate them between all the crap and the traveling.

“Families can be weird, but they are important and they love you and you should take time to appreciate them.”

Hardwick then ended, “Rest in peace, Billy Hardwick. I love you.”

ALSO:

‘Walking Dead’: Governor gets a new lease on life

President Obama joins San Francisco’s Batkid craze

Lady Gaga proves she’s in on the joke on ‘Saturday Night Live’