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G4 Cancels ‘Attack Of The Show’ and ‘X-Play’; Aims At Upscale Male Audience
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Attack of the Show Image

G4, the channel aimed toward a geek audience, has decided to cancel its two best programs, Attack of the Show! and X-Play. The shows will continue through the end of this year.

The announcement comes as G4 now apparently is looking to transform itself into a network aimed toward an “upscale” male audience, similarly to the magazines GQ or Esquire (who could be companies that G4 is looking to partner with down the road), instead of anyone interested in video games and geek culture.

The news will not only stun the fans of these two shows that have been on the air for the past 7-9 years, but will also come as something of a blow to the faithful following who will wonder why G4 would want to wander from geek to upscale male-aimed content.

Continue reading to see the full press release from G4.

Some of G4’s current programming is likely to remain on the air, like Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan for example, and figures such as Anthony Bourdain and Aziz Ansari are potentially being looked at for new shows. One of the possible new names for the network is “G4Men,” though none of this is officially confirmed yet.

Here’s the G4’s announcement, which also shares what viewers can expect for the final couple of months that Attack of the Show! and X-Play will be on the air.

Los Angeles, CA, October 26, 2012 – Attack of the Show! and X-Play are the longest-running and defining series for G4 through its first decade. With the shows ending production at the end of 2012, G4 is getting set to showcase the landmark series as they wind down their long runs on the network.

With upwards of 1,700 and 1,300 episodes, respectively, Attack of the Show! and X-Play defined the gamer culture for a generation of young men, and served as the launch pad for prominent personalities including Kevin Pereira, Olivia Munn, Chris Hardwick and Adam Sessler. Guests James Cameron, Ryan Reynolds, Jimmy Fallon, William Shatner, Sasha Baron Cohen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are among the notables who got their geek on. The shows also pioneered live-from-the-floor coverage of the two most important conventions in the game culture universe: San Diego Comic-Con and E3.

Leading up to their final episodes, Attack of the Show! and X-Play will look back at their most memorable moments, important scoops, entertaining programming and appealing hosts. A rotating lineup of guest co-hosts like John Barrowman, Michael Ian Black, Josh Myers, Paul Scheer, Rob Huebel and Horatio Sanz will join AOTS hosts Candace Bailey and Sara Underwood, and X-Play hosts Morgan Webb and Blair Herter as part of the farewell shows.

“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.”

Attack of the Show! debuted March 28, 2005 and from the start was the ultimate male guide to everything cool and new in the world of technology, web culture, gaming and pop culture. For the next few months, AOTS will mix new segments with audience favorites, such as the iPhone extravaganza on June 29, 2007, on the eve of the debut of the first generation of Apple’s market-changing smartphone. The July 2006 premiere of the first live-from-the-floor coverage from San Diego Comic-Con will be celebrated as well. Old friends will return to join the celebration, and the show’s signature cheeky attitude and feel-for-the zeitgeist will be very much in evidence.

X-Play made its debut almost two years earlier, on April 28, 2003 (on G4’s previous incarnation: TechTV), and immediately became the go-to destination for young men seeking the latest video game news, honest reviews, hands-on demos and exclusive video game trailers and footage. The year-end celebration will take viewers back through highlights of this landmark show’s history, including its exclusive live-from-the-floor coverage of the E3 convention in Los Angeles, the most important annual gathering for the gaming community. X-Play has also established a franchise of doing an annual year-end round-up of the best in a wide range of video games, and you can be sure those will be revisited before the show signs-off for good. As with AOTS, expect old friends to return too.

Attack of the Show! and X-Play will air original episodes through the end of the year.

I’ve personally never been a religious viewer of either show, but I certainly watched both often as a geek and gamer. Even days I didn’t watch, it was still nice knowing they were out there. G4 obviously knows more about business than I, and they’re making the choices they think to be best for the company. Still, it’s difficult to understand why what sounds like an upscale Spike TV would be a better option than something aimed at the ever-booming geek crowd.

The most depressing thing in all of this is the fact that G4 was the place that those of us who were unable to attend E3 and, to a lesser extent, San Diego Comic-Con were able to watch those conventions or at least coverage of them. The question now is whether another network—such as the aforementioned Spike—will jump in and take over coverage.

What do you think of G4’s decision to cancel Attack of the Show! and X-Play and move toward an upscale male audience?

[Source: Deadline, TV Guide via /Film]

52 Comments »

  1. NOT happy to lose either show, but AOTS will be sorely missed. Hope another channel picks it up instead!

    Comment by PAUL — October 27, 2012 @ 9:15 pm

  2. As tech tv went by the wayside, so to shall G4. This is a terrible idea as new boutique networks do not work for the most part (Look at Oprah), and the gaming and geek culture marketplaces will continue to outpace all other social industries for a very long time. Dumb move on G4s part, guess this will free up an hour a day on my dvr where attack of the show typically was.

    Comment by JAG — October 27, 2012 @ 8:36 pm

  3. I’m not happy at all either. As a female gamer, I’m highly upset that they think only men watches G4 to begin with and now they want to make it only for Male audience? This is 2012 not 1812 where Women had no say in anything. aren’t there enough programming for men on like every network on cable? I may not have watched G4’s shows all the time but when I did, I had fun and learning about upcoming games and news. I also tuned every year for the big events. This is ridiculous and as soon as they pull the shows, their audience will plummet because geeks rule the male industries.

    Comment by Quaisha A.T. — October 27, 2012 @ 10:29 pm

  4. Fuck this shit!!!!!Not happy at all. This is the wrong move G4!

    Comment by Crystal Rotz — October 27, 2012 @ 11:26 pm

  5. Truly the end of what once was one of the greatest TV networks that I’ve ever watched. It feels like I’ve been punched in the stomach..

    Comment by Mayo Gabriel Campos — October 27, 2012 @ 11:38 pm

  6. But I LOVE seeing new Sarah Underwood every day!

    Comment by vdand — October 27, 2012 @ 10:55 pm

  7. Another case of Big Bidness wanting bigger shoes. Happens all the time and most of the time it ruins what was their good thing.
    Sci Fi started doing it with SCY- WHY and showing Wrestling, The History channel putting on fake reality shows, The Learning Channel putting on Big Foot Shows all day and oh all those Ghost Hunting Crapazoids.

    Fake Reality shows are cheap and have destroyed much of Gods Brain in the process.

    Look You Greedy Ducks, If you put out the VACUUM CLEANING CHANNEL because you thought you there was a demand for it and you succeeded in it Then let it freakin be and go on and do something else. Dont take the niche that allowed you to have a company and then turn on them just because now you want to be Citizen Kane.

    It’s too much like our politicians how they promise you what you want to hear(Gullible Gosh Durner’s) and after you get him hired he turns out to be a crook. (Again,,,) It’s why the Rich are always getting Richer LOL in fact it looks like G4 just got RobKNEED (Bain Style)

    Fake Reality, It’s what Life is all about(I guess)

    Comment by Midas68 — October 28, 2012 @ 12:46 am

  8. i hear by coin the hashtag #F**KYOUG4

    Comment by Frank Bromley — October 28, 2012 @ 3:00 am

  9. AOTS and Xplay were the only reason I watched that channel. Its about as dumb as the syfy channel choosing to air wrestling and schlock monster movies instead of quality science fiction! Totally out of touch with their audience on both accounts.

    Comment by Worf — October 28, 2012 @ 2:34 am

  10. The slow death that was once my Techtv has finally come. Sad to see the last bit of actual geek culture on television go away. I guess that is what the internet is for.

    Comment by Bill Lia — October 28, 2012 @ 8:14 am

  11. Ah…catering to the “upscale” (I’m guessing that’s a euphemism for self-absorbed, metrosexual, douchebag types) males, because they’re the types who sit around in front of the TV and veg out all day…good move. I guess this is the last death throes of what once was a great station (TechTV). It’s been on life-support for years, but this is it folks.

    Comment by Karyyk — October 28, 2012 @ 10:43 am

  12. lolmidas68 having a full on political mEltDown….

    Sorry they cancelled your favorite videogame show brah

    And sorry you don’t understand basic free market capitalism. Just bc you like something doesnt make it successful. LOLbetamale

    Comment by gaius baltarstar galactica — October 28, 2012 @ 1:50 pm

  13. It’s sad watching a network implode. Cartoon Network is doing the same thing by pulling their best shows for more Johnny Test and How to train your dragon.
    Slap your viewers and watch the ratings dry up, douchebags.

    Comment by Tj Kibbee — October 28, 2012 @ 2:24 pm

  14. There has to be a perfectly logical explanation to all of this. ;__;

    Comment by Luke_Moonwalker — October 28, 2012 @ 5:27 pm

  15. so sad

    Comment by johnnychimpo — October 28, 2012 @ 9:57 pm

  16. Also that AOTS banner (top of page) is outdated…Olivia Munn hasn’t been on the show in quite a while and Kevin Pereira left about a month ago. Not quite the same show but still very entertaining!

    Comment by PAUL — October 29, 2012 @ 7:34 am

  17. This is the dumbest decision ever G4 the only two shows that are worth watching you are going to dump. Because i really want a tv network like GQ or Mens Magazine….idiots thats was why i watched G4 because I don’t want to watch more duche bag tv. Spike is lame, fashion tv lame, and now G4 retarded! thanks for ruining a good thing….why am i still paying or cable what f***ing waste

    Comment by bourbonborn — October 29, 2012 @ 9:14 pm

  18. And I will follow u cancelling my cable.

    Comment by d — October 30, 2012 @ 9:26 am

  19. Aiming for a more upscale audience? what does that make us that already watch? So it seems their plan is not just to make changes but to insult their current viewers. Fuck G4, fuck them right in their stupid asses.

    Comment by iamsofaking — October 30, 2012 @ 12:06 pm

  20. AOTS and X-Play are the only reasons I STILL have cable (so i can watch both in HD). I guess it is time to cut the cord.

    Comment by craigvr — October 31, 2012 @ 7:55 am

  21. Spike already covered the last E3 I think you’re on to something.

    Comment by John G — November 2, 2012 @ 1:42 pm

  22. It the Internet fault in a way as geek we are way more online than in front of the TV. And we get a lot more of that sort of content online. Either produced by talented amateur or by pro like Leo Laporte who transited online a while ago anyway.

    Comment by John G — November 2, 2012 @ 1:47 pm

  23. X-{lay and Judgment Day and the like were my introduction into gaming. without them, I may have never gotten into games like I have over the years. I had also come to rely upon the excellent reviews of Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb…which unlike other shows don’t use some fake hot girl to draw you in. It’s all aimed at the consumer, who, understandably, is anyone who likes games.

    G4 you used to be an amazing channel, now I’m disgraced to see you on my cable box’s menu.

    I suppose all of my gaming updates and reviews will now come exclusively through the internet. Rip X-Play

    Comment by Adam Davis — November 6, 2012 @ 3:13 pm

  24. I am in my early 40’s and have watched this channel since it was Tech-TV. I have watched x-play for a while to keep up on the video game front, but just found attack of the show in the last few months and i’m addicted to it. They have good content and not too bad eye candy as well. Of ourse they want to redue the channel now. Maybe another channel will do sometihng similar. Just what we need is another midstream male channel that has crap shows. Have fun with that. There are too many channels that run movies and tv episodes. I will not tune in to have some metrosexual tell me how to dress or comb my hair. They already screwed up GSN from it’s original classic show line up, which was awesome. WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER MTV REALITY SHOW-A-THON channel. Thanks! I hope you lose your asses. The old saying remains true that “250 channels and NOTHING to watch”

    Comment by ken — November 14, 2012 @ 2:19 pm

  25. As an older fellow, I remember when most of society’s distrust could be reserved for lawyers and politicians. Now one must add bean counters to the list. How many things have those fiends destroyed? SciFi becomes syphilis channel (and despite wrestling being fiction, was it ever science fiction…), you now have to pay to bring luggage with you on a flight for which your ticket may have been sold to another passenger (and despite the bean counter’s penchant for numbers they seem unable to subsequently upgrade the number of seats on the plane for which they have oversold). Really, while I’m sad to see the only two shows from G4 that are programmed in my DVR go, I’m not surprised. Trust modern bean counting idiots to look for a quick buck, the consequences be damned. At least it’s small satisfaction to think those same morons will be out of jobs when they attempt to explain why the viewership of the channel diminishes.

    Comment by Justin Scott Allen — November 21, 2012 @ 8:47 pm

  26. I’m not a gamer or a geek but Ive been a loyal fan of AOTS since 2006. This was my go-to show to keep me in the loop on the latest movies, gadgets and all things pop culture. And some great eye candy between Olivia, Sara, Allison, Candice, Tiffany, Morgan. What is G4 thinking? I will not be watching G4 anymore…

    Comment by Robert DaGasta — November 23, 2012 @ 3:28 am

  27. I love both shows and ive been watching for years. Im gonna be extremely sa when they end. I also thing them ended their BEST programs its stupid and complete bullshit

    Comment by Michael Charles — December 4, 2012 @ 10:30 pm

  28. G4 will die with this desicion hope they know that

    Comment by Michael Charles — December 4, 2012 @ 10:31 pm

  29. it sucks

    Comment by Benjamin Norman — December 11, 2012 @ 9:23 pm

  30. What a serious ass move by the arrogant and seriously ignorant!

    Comment by Donna Wright — December 14, 2012 @ 2:34 am

  31. The only shows I even cared about on that channel. G4 is dead to me.

    Comment by Battle Frag — December 20, 2012 @ 2:28 pm

  32. AOTS was the best show on the tube, hands down.. what a stupid decision. I had my daily feed – and no one can run The Feed like Sara – gadget pron.. and on and on. This was my fun connection to the US (I live in Italy and there are no shows like this), and some dork in an office decided to cancel it. :(

    Comment by Mark Watts — December 27, 2012 @ 9:20 am

  33. It’s good to know that candass bailey and morgan webb will both be out of work. They were the worst hosts to happen to each show and g4 in general.

    Comment by Guybravo — December 27, 2012 @ 4:19 pm

  34. Oh well… I guess I will have to find another chanel. I will not watch G4 ever again. Im mean im no tool but why cancel the show that litterally made your company. Can you say bad business. In fact on Jan 1st I will oficially delete the channel from my program guide.

    Comment by Joe Hickingbottom — December 30, 2012 @ 6:41 pm

  35. I will never tune to G4 ever again that is a promise and my friends feel the same. What a shame.

    Comment by THE MIGS — January 5, 2013 @ 4:15 am

  36. It’s a real bummer. I loved those shows, and felt impending doom once Kevin left. I guess fans of “Cops” and “Bomb Squad” are the “upscale” viewers G4 are looking for. I’ll miss all the convention coverage. Looks like I need a new channel to watch. Stay classy G4.

    Comment by Eric — January 9, 2013 @ 1:41 pm

  37. yes i agree, AOTS and XPLAY were main factors of even turning to that channel, over the past few years they have diverted from the gaming audience to a spike tv-ish persona to me they are making a big mistake and they will see this very very soon sfter the shows stop airing.

    Comment by ahighfiveguy — January 10, 2013 @ 8:42 pm

  38. What is the point of having cable? The only shows I watched was AOTS and Xplay. Now there is nothing on tv for me to watch. Just Garbage! Why did they want to appeal to the same stupid audience of Spike tv or E!tv? I hate that shit! This is ridiculous!

    Comment by Andrew G. Lewis — January 11, 2013 @ 6:14 pm

  39. First, I HATE when people say

    “G4 obviously knows more about business than I.”

    Obviously NOT. Businesses make STUPID decisions all the time. This is one of them.

    These were the two BIGGEST shows and I’m sure they were very popular with people and raked in a good amount of revenue. Good luck replacing them. You lost at least one viewer. Now I, and many others, will have no reason to remember to check G4.

    I believe (and hope) that your new direction will fail. Oh well. Another big business shooting themselves in the foot. Maybe it was a 22 year old fresh out of college with snot dripping down his nose who made this business decision.

    Comment by fish0dor1922 — January 16, 2013 @ 10:40 pm

  40. fuck them with a plunger!

    Comment by fish0dor1922 — January 16, 2013 @ 10:42 pm

  41. I think thats the problem with businesses these days. It used to be that you put out a good service and the customers (in this case, ratings) will come. Today, the money IS the goal. No more pride or passion running a good business. If the 22 year old marketing interns realized selling pizzas would make more money, they would close down and start making pizza.

    Comment by fish0dor1922 — January 16, 2013 @ 10:55 pm

  42. I never would have thought of 2006 as the good old days, but that it was. Although I spend a lot of time online, theres so much I don’t know about whats going on. I can just sit down and let ATOS “feed” me everything I need to know.

    Comment by fish0dor1922 — January 16, 2013 @ 10:57 pm

  43. Me too. I see no need to have it on my favorites list anymore.

    Comment by fish0dor1922 — January 16, 2013 @ 11:03 pm

  44. Just as the article said, they probably know what makes more business sense for them, but as for us viewers this sucks. Attack of the Show and XPlay are the only shows that i watch on the network, and i’m not sure why they would alienate their loyal viewer base by making a move like this. It’s kind of funny that there were no positive reactions to this news. I wonder if that is an indication of anything to come? I won’t be watching G4 anymore anyways.

    Comment by James Kirker — January 23, 2013 @ 6:23 pm

  45. I seriously hope that G4 falls flat on their faces.

    Comment by Michael Edward Szendrey — January 23, 2013 @ 7:51 pm

  46. …or with a fire hydrant…or a parking meter…or a Polish kielbasa…

    Comment by Jaywhy — January 24, 2013 @ 2:16 pm

  47. The only thing worth mourning was the loss of TechTV. G4 is garbage, and I will celebrate when its rotting corpse finally collapses.

    Comment by James Jones — January 25, 2013 @ 6:55 am

  48. I might not be a gamer, but I loved both shows because I could keep up to date on what’s out there and what to get my kids! It’s a really stupid move by G4, and now there will be no reason for me to watch their channel anymore. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

    Comment by Laura Frazier — January 28, 2013 @ 3:03 pm

  49. G4 was never really given a chance to succeed. Why? They thought AOTS and X-Play would carry the entire network was crazy 2 me. I thought Cops and Campus PD were just plugins until they put more creative shows in their place. The fault of the failed network falls upon the network itself. There should have been at least 7 yo 8 original G4 shows. They could of had a show that talked about everything anime, games and movies and only those three things; a show about just tech stuff and only tech stuff, an original game show or two that followed Ninja Warrior and last but not least a talk show about current events and lifestyles and such. BOOM! a flipping channel that actually shows stuff people want to see.

    Comment by The Mocky — January 29, 2013 @ 4:41 am

  50. G4 is gonna become the next MTV.

    Comment by Xavier — May 7, 2013 @ 9:46 pm

  51. i thought the show would die when olivia munn left. thankfully i was wrong. but now its gone for real and the direction the network is taking, im sure will appeal to many gender confused males. i am not one of them. sukit g4… and cops and ninja crap made me run so far from your network that my viewership of aots and xplay suffered as a result.

    Comment by Chris Bizzaro — December 28, 2013 @ 11:19 am

  52. I’m a little late because the channel was no longer covered by my cable plan but this is the stupidest decision I’ve ever heard of. This would be like AMC canceling the walking dead, mad men, and stop showing great movies and other shows. This channel killed themselves and I hope they go under.

    Comment by Bradtothebone — March 31, 2014 @ 10:29 am

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