Despite some decently solid programming in the last decade, it hasn’t been an easy road for cable network G4. Formerly Tech TV, G4 launched in April of 2002 with eyes on conquering the gamer demographic. And it found success, primarily with personalities like Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb on the once-excellent X-Play, and later on with Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn on Attack of the Show. Munn’s time on the show helped propel her to superstardom, leaving in 2010 (replaced by Candace Bailey) while Pereira dropped out to pursue other interests earlier this year. 2012 even saw Sessler, once something of a torch-bearer for the network, leave after a 14 year tenure.
It hasn’t helped that the network’s suffered layoffs, cutbacks and being dropped by major programming distributor DirecTV. Now, as the Comcast-owned network looks to be in a rebranding phase, it’s cancelling its two flagship shows. Via Coming Soon:
“‘Attack of the Show!’ and ‘X-Play’ have been important for G4, and we want to acknowledge the creative people who have helped inspire and showcase the phenomenon of gamer culture,” G4 Media General Manager Adam Stotsky said. “With more than 3,000 episodes aired between them, we have more than enough great material to honor these innovators and their amazing contributions as we bring both shows to a close.”
Shitty news, indeed. And it speaks to recent rumblings that G4 wants to abandon their gamer programming entirely, which could very well lead to heavier rotation for reality fare like Campus PD. One rumor making the rounds suggested the WWE considered buying G4 late last year with designs on converting it into their own network, so it’s possible Comcast is still looking to unload the channel outright. It’s a sad announcement for a variety of reasons, one in particular being no one’s yet told me what’ll become of ex-girlfriend Sara Underwood in all of this. In particular, this announcement doesn’t bode well for those of us who looked forward to G4 coverage of geek-centric events like E3 and San Diego Comic Con every year.
What do you think of this news? Is there an audience for the gamer-centric G4-programming of old? Will Sara Underwood ever return my faxes?
12 comments
Well, I have no reason to watch this channel anymore. Those are pretty much the only 2 shows I watch. Always wondered why they never had reruns of X-Play on the weekends. Does showing Kill Bill, Cops, and Bruce Lee movies over and over really get better ratings than the video game/tech stuff? I think when they brought in 2 girls who clearly know nothing about “nerd” content other than what they read off the teleprompter, that was the death knell. At least Olivia Munn seemed legit, even if she was faking it and Kevin Pereira could be funny and new his stuff. Also liked Chris Gore.
I have to say that Sara Underwood is just grating though. Her face makes her look 10 years older than she is. Her nude yoga videos are worth a Google though. Candace Bailey is cute, but again just reading off the teleprompter and lacking any real knowledge about anything that she wasn’t told about minutes before going on the air.
I always hoped they would focus more on games and tech, but went with boobs and web videos. At this point, I could care less about this channel.
If Sara reads this and it blows my chances at a reconciliation I’m coming looking for you.
Well all in all it’s not that big a deal, with the likes of Nerdist and Machinima (and the many other starter-up “networks”) doing a much better job than G4 ever did online. I will miss Kevin and Olivia (although I still see her on The Newsroom, so that’s okay), and God bless the Sess-Man with whatever endeavors he chooses in the future.
Meh…Guess the strategy of talking heads with nice racks reading off teleprompters just wasn’t enough to hold
peoples’ attention. That and the reality that the hard-core gamers who tune in to such news are becoming a dying (ie getting older) breed. That and the simple issue that there simply isn’t enough “news”/new major game releases to warrant a channel like g4. On a side note, who’s taking bets that SONY abandons the PS4 altogether?
With the exception of what may happen to the Comic-Con stuff, Spike TV was already getting ready for the brunt by showing most of the major E3 pressers, so Sony and Ubisoft will just move over to Spike next year.
And if I may go ramble ramble here, what has Munn done over the past few years that’s considered “superstardom”? Okay, so she’s on an HBO show created by Aaron Sorkin, but even that looks like it’s not going to hit standard HBO levels. Not to mention the way she pretty much left G4, which looked like such a messy divorce that she was pretty much “Benoit’d” out of the AOTS canon (which they seemed to let slide for Pereira’s final episode). And she showed her tits and ass to the world. Yay?!
Sorry, wasn’t much a fan of her. I’m more of a Haislip guy myself.
But it sucks, because excepting the COUNTLESS Cops and Cheaters reruns, there was some fun in this channel. I loved the live coverage, and before Pereira left, AOTS was damn good at points. So the best to everybody there. Sure there’s room in the Nerdist’s and the Machimina’s out there.
Also to note, KP is hosting some new viral video competition show on Syfy (ugh! that name) this coming Tuesday, with Sessler joining him as a judge. So there’s that.
Ok, long winded post done.
haha. I hope it has the opposite effect. My negativity can only shine a light on your noble pursuit to get your girl back. I wish you the best of luck. 🙂
I used to watch AOTS daily, and remember when Munn came on it took her a while for her to find her legs. She totally came off as just a teleprompter reader. Haven’t watched the show in a long time, though. G4 has been one of those channels you have to pay a little extra for on DirecTV, and me being on a budget couldnt’ afford it. Glad to see KP doing something, though. I think he was on a Doug Loves Movies a few months ago, as well. I think I still have his little Popozao spoof he did on my ipod.
Kind of sad news but one I’m sure most saw coming. Here’s hoping they both receive nice send offs and our favorite hosts find success elsewhere. Especially Kristen Adams, love that girl!
Tim Kelly, They could change the name from the…G4 Channel to the…What For Channel! As for Ms. Underwood…Que Sera…SARA! Godspeed on that front!
I really missed the show when DirecTV dropped it , and only recently found out Kevin had left. My favorite bit I’d ever seen (other than Olivia’s pie dive) was Kevin showing Allison Haislip what a Lemon Party was… Classic!!!!
I had to look that up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-rngcaG8zA
I use to love Attack of the Show, especially Blair Butler’s Fresh Ink and Chris Gore’s DVD segments. However, the rest of the network sucked donkey dick, so when Directv dropped the channel I wasn’t that upset. The best part of the show was the chemistry between Munn and Pereira. They were really good at spontaneity and exchanging one liners. It did loose a lot when she suddenly up and left the show. I’m surprised Pereira stayed as long as he did.
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