After the short lived resurgence of G4 TV in 2021, old school fans of the channel were brought back to the more magical days where the channel influenced pop culture. I was once upon a time a big fan of not only G4 TV, but of “Attack of the Show!” From 2007 to 2011, I would watch every single episode of “Attack of the Show!” and would even make a big occasion of their epic Comic Con coverage. While many fans of the channel and series know full well what happened to G4 and why it fell, “Attack of the Doc!” is a niche documentary with a tale that deserves to be told.
Before the rise of big tech, social media and Marvel movies, Attack of the Show! chronicled nerd culture’s unlikely acceptance as mainstream. G4TV’s flagship show launched the careers of hosts Olivia Munn and Kevin Pereira and was beloved by fans – a unique celebration of geek culture before it was cool. Diving into colossal cream pies, wearing fat suits for comedy and putting internet servers where the sun don’t shine – anything could happen on an episode of Attack of the Show! It’s been years since the show went off the air and one question has lingered: what really happened to G4TV and Attack of the Show?
2008 feels like such a long time ago, as being a geek wasn’t as celebrate or lauded back then as it is today. Back then being a geek was kind of fringe and mocked in many circles. And it felt good to see people like Kevin Pereira and gorgeous women like Olivia Munn celebrate pop culture and multiple facets of geekdom. “Attack of the Show!” was controversial, it was offensive, it was gross, it was edgy, and it was so much fun. Director Chris Gore goes through the entire saga of G4 and “Attack of the Show!” exploring its shift of format from Tech TV, to G4, and the rise of fame for its flagship series.
“Attack of the Show!” really was something special, as it was a general interest series that explored facets of pop culture like comic books, movies, video games and so much more. It’s a shame to see how much “Attack of the Show!” managed to heighten the culture and then have it torn away from fans so swiftly. The story behind the development of “Attack of the Show!” is a fascinating one, and embraces the sheer entertainment and joy that the show brought fans. There are a lot of interviews and accounts from various celebrities including Joe Lynch, Kumail Nanjiani, and Stan Lee, as well as sit downs with various cast members.
Noticeably missing are interviews with “Attack of the Show!” co-hosts Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn. There’s not even an interview with Munn replacement Candace Bailey. They’re obvious omissions that keep “Attack of the Doc!” from feeling like a “Straight from the horse’s mouth” film. I would have loved to learn a lot of what Pereira and or Munn thought of their tenure on the show. Did Candace Bailey feel pressure when replacing Olivia Munn? Despite that caveat, “Attack of the Doc!” is a fun look back at what was pure event television before the internet truly dominated the platform.
Will have its world première on April 21st at the Frida Cinema, in Southern California, and will be available on Video on Demand and TVOD/Digital platforms on April 24th, 2023.