12:18pm PT by Michael O'Connell
G4 Cancels 'Attack of the Show,' 'X-Play’
G4 is calling it a day for its two longest-running original series.
The network announced Friday afternoon that genre talkers Attack of the Show! and X-Play will end production in 2012, with original episodes airing through the end of the year.
“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,” said G4 GM Adam Stotsky. “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, pushing 1,700 episodes, most notably served as a launch pad for Kevin Pereira, Olivia Munn, Chris Hardwick and Adam Sessler. Both Attack and X-Play were also the first shows to broadcast live floor coverage from popular industry events San Diego Comic-Con and E3.
Both series had also seen reductions in staff and content in 2009, when the daily X-Play was reduced to three nights a week and Attack of the Show! dropped down to four.
Guest co-hosts including John Barrowman, Michael Ian Black, Josh Myers, Paul Scheer, Rob Huebel and Horatio Sanz are all scheduled to appear during Attack of the Show's and X-Play's final months.