The show is hosted by actors and executive producers Robert Carradine and Curtis Armstrong, known for their roles as Lewis Skolnick and Dudley "Booger" Dawson, respectively, in Revenge of the Nerds.

[3] The concept for a reality television show based on Revenge of the Nerds was originally pitched by Curtis Armstrong and Robert Carradine in the mid-2000s.

[4] After finding ratings success with its syndicated reruns, TBS green-lit King of the Nerds in March 2012, its first unscripted competition series in seven years.

[8][9] It was filmed at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California, after the production staff were unable to secure the location from the previous year.

#NerdsRule" The show's cancellation has been attributed to Turner Broadcasting System's rebranding project for TBS and the resultant changes to the channel's comedy programming.

[22] On April 24, 2013, TBS announced that they were holding a contest for the public to select one of the Season 2 cast members called "The People's Nerd".

[23] The contest ran simultaneously with regular casting and had people submit videos to the King of the Nerds Facebook page.

On October 9, 2013, Josh "JWittz" Wittenkeller, a YouTube personality who posts Nintendo-related content, was announced to be the winner of the contest and crowned The People's Nerd.

Brian Lowry of Variety criticized the premiere episode for its "numbing lack of imagination", stating that "even the inspired casting of Robert Carradine and Curtis Armstrong as hosts can't make this more than a bored game of groans.

"[25] Matt Roush of TV Guide expressed similar apathy, calling the opener a "tedious affair" that was "all fairly harmless, but instantly forgettable.

"[27] Allison Keene of The Hollywood Reporter provided a positive review, finding King of the Nerds to be "an entertaining competition show" that "strikes the right tone by neither making fun of nor blindly praising the competitors for their quirks (of which they have many).

[36] The UK version, produced by Objective Productions, was hosted by British television presenter Konnie Huq and was narrated by Greg McHugh.