If they have a good research portfolio otherwise, then the first candidate's chances are unaffected, and the second candidate's chances at an interview are prob

If they have a good research portfolio otherwise, then the first candidate's chances are unaffected, and the second candidate's chances at an interview are probably reduced. The first candidate's replication studies won't really count for anything (maybe a slight boost). The second candidate's bogus studies will count negatively. The process he describes is not reflective of US research university faculty hiring practices - the faculty will read your papers, they will solicit expert opinions from other leading researchers in the same research areas as you.