G4 May Change Name, Try To Become More "Sophisticated"
See Full ImageTo many, G4 is just a bit on the childish/adolescent side.
Well, NBCUniversal may be seeking to change that image, as according to a new Variety report, NBCU is looking to give G4 an "upscale makeover."
Basically, they want to take G4 "in a direction reminiscent of GQ," which is a well-known magazine for the "modern male" that certainly goes beyond the beer-stained t-shirt, brainless floozies, and mindless violence. So next year, don't be surprised to see a new level of "chic" when you switch on G4; the standard programs like "Attack of the Show" may remain, but maybe the hosts will be wearing ties or something, I don't know.
I would probably try to watch some of it if it were less annoying, so I say this is a good thing. The problem I usually have with such programming (and a lot of stuff found on Spike, TV for "men," supposedly) is because I find it extraordinarily insulting at times. We're not all 30-year-olds trapped in a 15-year-old's body. I swear.
Tags: g4, g4tv, gaming culture, nbc, g4 channel
9/7/2012 9:25:50 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (31 posts)
daus26
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 10:06:04 AM
But hey, Ninja Warrior was fun first few years.
3 up, 0 down
duomaxwell007
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 11:12:10 AM
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Beamboom
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 9:40:30 AM
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/me is jealous!
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PoopsMcGee
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 10:07:01 AM
(by that I mean there's barely any gaming really, just dumb shows)
Last edited by PoopsMcGee on 9/7/2012 10:08:05 AM
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Beamboom
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 10:10:19 AM
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Highlander
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 11:37:26 AM
VH1 did the same thing, it drifted further from being a music station and then spawned some offspring that were more genre specific, and now they too run the risk of failing to be music channels.
G4 though has never really been sure what it is. It grew out of the death of Tech TV which was more geeky and tech related than game specific. Personally, I found that in the early years things like Xplay were worth watching for their game coverage, because it was relatively even handed and they really seemed to be focused on games. Over time X-Play became more about the stupid antics of their hosts and various 'characters' that they created along the way, then the standard of review and discussion dropped through the floor.
X-Play was weird. There was a time when I'd have said that Morgan Webb had a brain and Adam Sessler was funny. I found that over time the reviews ceased to sound like the words of Webb or Sessler, and became strings of sound bites. there was a growing inherent bias towards one platform, and somewhere along the like Morgan Webb's brain seemed to go on a permanent vacation. Of course Sessler left the show and network, leaving not a lot behind....
Attack of the Show was a pretty decent (a long time ago now) - if low brow - show when Olivia Munn and Kevin whasisname hosted. However Olivia left, I can't even remember if Kevin is still on the show any more, but he never really sparked with the other hosts, and the show pandered to an ever lower brow. It's unwatchable to me now.
G4 is essentially full of crap these days, if it's not Ninja Warrior (which I do like, but not repeated a dozen times a year), Cheaters of COPS your pretty much S.O.L.
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PoopsMcGee
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 4:40:41 PM
Although Quantum Leap does qualify as geeky ;)
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 9:47:25 AM
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But yes, G4 has been around for what, a decade now? Maybe even 15 years, not sure. And it's not all about gaming; it's about tech and gadgets and geek culture, really.
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Underdog15
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 4:15:10 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 10:08:57 AM
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I always thought it should run more like a 24 hour news network during the day as there is tons of gaming news every day to investigate and report on then have some grown up but not stiff PSXE community style discussion shows on the games, the technology, the stories, the future, etc.
I like it when games make me FEEL like a kid, but I don't want to be treated like one.
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daus26
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 10:14:55 AM
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telly
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 10:35:58 AM
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Give the gamer image a makeover G4! Please, please give us a makeover...
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Kevin555
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 10:45:08 AM
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I think Good Game run two shows at different times; one for kid gamers early in the day & one for adult gamers during the night.
They cover reviews, news etc. As for the image they set? They seem rather casual surprisingly. No glasses, neck beards or cosplay shirts to be found from the few episodes i came across. ;)
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Dirt
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 10:45:20 AM
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But this could usher in some more viewers to the channel. I mean, I do know more than a couple friends who tuned out after Tosh.0 began airing...
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Freedom Or Fire
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 10:54:02 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 11:32:43 AM
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Highlander
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 11:45:45 AM
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Let's see, if I could change the channel what would I do...?
- Cut the crap on the game reviews, and be really careful about perceived bias.
- Stop hiring bimbos that can't tie their own shoelaces or even slip on their 6 inch heels on their own. Seriously, so many of the 'women' that do onscreen work for G4 were so clearly chosen for reasons that have nothing to do with their intelligence, love for games or even ability to talk to camera.
- Never show another episode of Cheaters or Cops again, ever. What the hell do either of those shows have to do with gaming? I guess we could stretch the fabric of reality and say that COPS is somehow a tribute to the GTA game franchise, but cheaters? Come on.
- Stop repeating Ninja Warrior so freaking often. Seriously guys have you ever heard of beating a dead horse? You're killing the show with the constant re-runs.
- Give Attack of the Show some kind of actual direction and theme, and get rid of the 'bimbo' thing. I have no idea whether the female host of that show has anything between her ears, but I can tell from the few snips of AOTS I've seen recently that if she does, she's been instructed to hide that fact.
- Bring back a show or two that cover technology, and not just some night time show that covers the sensual aspects of technology... that 'theme' is getting really tired to.
- Given the audience is supposedly gamers, I would suggest some anime, and not just the action stuff.
But, above all, start making shows for gamers about games, and the issues current in the gaming industry.
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telly
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 1:13:57 PM
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telly
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 1:16:55 PM
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Soultaker
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 3:21:12 PM
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Arvis
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 4:00:29 PM
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-Arvis
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ryu
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 6:38:15 PM
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jugheadjones
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 7:20:04 PM
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dbyzforce
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 10:48:50 PM
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skyplaya
Saturday, September 08, 2012 @ 11:26:25 AM
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Rogueagent01
Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 7:36:45 PM
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The most important thing to me is get rid of COPS and Cheaters, I have hated those shows since they were created.
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Jaylynn
Saturday, September 08, 2012 @ 10:31:11 PM
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Amnesiac
Sunday, September 09, 2012 @ 10:37:52 AM
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bring back Cinematech all would be fine.
Why not go back to Tech tv?
A whole station devoted to game reviews, tech spots and updates, get a business like Cnet involved.
I liked Tech TV for its often off the cuff amateur approach. It reminded me of MTV before the business aspect ruined it.
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Ultimadesires
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Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 9:39:09 AM