Exclusive: G4 to End Attack of the Show and X-Play

As G4 finalizes plans for a channel makeover in 2013, the young male-skewing network will conclude the runs of its two signature series, Attack of the Show and X-Play. Both long-running shows will wrap up production at the end of this year.

Attack of the Show and X-Play will continue to roll out new episodes through December. Leading up to their finales, a rotating lineup of guest co-hosts will join Attack of the Show hosts Candace Bailey and Sara Underwood, including John Barrowman, Michael Ian Black, Josh Myers, Paul Scheer, Rob Huebel and Horatio Sanz. Various stars are also expected to join X-Play hosts Morgan Webb and Blair Herter on their show.

Both shows will take the next two months to wind down with a series of farewell episodes, inviting back favorite guests and former hosts, as well as airing audience favorite segments, such as Attack of the Show's 2007 iPhone coverage and their first Comic-Con show that aired live from the convention floor in 2006. X-Play will recap some of its past coverage from the floor of the E3 convention. Both Attack and X-Play pioneered such live convention-floor coverage.

"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," says G4 Media general manager 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 (which has aired more than 1,700 episodes) served as a launch pad for personalities including former hosts Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn, and as it earned geek cred, attracted major stars like James Cameron, Ryan Reynolds, Jimmy Fallon and William Shatner. The show debuted in March 2005, while X-Play (which clocks in at around 1,300 episodes) launched in April 2003 on G4 predecessor TechTV.

Meanwhile, as speculation continues over the evolution of G4, sources say the channel may be looking to partner with Esquire magazine (or another men's periodical, like GQ) as it moves into a more upscale, sophisticated guy TV space. Among the possible new names for the channel: "G4Men." Some programming is expected to remain, including Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan, while acquired fare from the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Aziz Ansari could be in the mix. Nothing has yet been confirmed.

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