Screen Savers to be revamped
 

From Kevinrose.com


Television is a crazy business - when you start a new show, you know one day that show will be canceled, and you will be out of work. Some shows last 6 episodes, others last 6 years. That’s just the way it is..

Today many of my friends were let go as the network made changes to revamp for new shows. Unscrewed was canceled, and The Screen Savers is being revamped.

The Screen Savers -
As I’m sure many of you have heard, we lost Alex, Dan, Yoshi, and several behind the scene producers… I know you all have tons of questions, and I don’t know much at this point. I’ve been told there are going to be more darktips, and that the show will still have a tech focus. That’s about it. The new show will continue after the Thanksgiving break. I’ll keep you posted as more develops – it’s time to go drink.

************

This stinks just when I was getting use to Alex as a new co host they fire him.

Truth be told I never really liked it when they got rid of Kate. But I got use to Patrick even though I really hated him. Then without Leo I just could not watch it. I think it is on a continuing downward spiral sadly :( Things were so much better when it was ZDTV.

I hated to see Leo go. I really liked the Patrick+Leo combo for some reason.

I hate to see Yoshi go, he was the only one left I could stand. :grunt:

If G4 was smart they would try to cut a deal with Leo and bring him back. They say they want revamp, they better not turn it into another one of there gaming shows.

At least they got rid of Dan. Finally. At least that tells me there might be some hope for a better show (sorry, I just hated that useless wannabe). Alex was ok; Yoshi is talented, but since the switch to G4, his mods have been very lame. The Pimp Pc? Lamp made out of a cd splindle? Lame. Most of the segments they've done on the new TSS have just been lame.

I'll miss Unscrewed a bit, probably. I wouldn't care if they just cancelled TSS, it is so much different than what it once was.

:(

I shouldn't care, though... I stopped watching the show regularly when Leo was forced out. Getting rid of Yoshi is just criminal; he was basically the only interesting person left on the show.

despite what many people have said, i really liked leo and patrick. once they got rid of leo though, it started downhill and went off the cliff with the network change.

Let's see, they take a show that is successful, upend it to give it a new "hipper" feel, and then they fire the on-air talent when things don't work out?

I like Yoshi, but it was obvious the stupid segments he was doing was somebody else's lame ideas. He didn't do shit like that at Tech TV.

Dan seems like a nice guy, but he has zero screen chemistry and barely managed to stutter his way through anything he had to say. No loss there.

The overall problem is that the show has gotten away from the tech it used to do so well and has tipped way more towards gaming, which is what G4 wants. Maybe this will tilt things back the other way.

It must suck to be Kevin and Sarah. Not only is it horrible to see people around you lose their jobs (Leo, Patrick, Jesse, Dan, Alex, Yoshi and god knows who else), but you've moved several hundred miles to a city no one in their right mind would want to live in and you don't know if you'll have a job tomorrow or not.

I have only watched this for a few minutes here and there since Leo left, and I used to watch it for hours when it was Leo & Kate or Leo & Patrick.

It just became obvious to me that they were trying to steer the show to aim for the 14 year-olds in the audience, rather than geeks of all ages.

It's sad what has become of TSS. Back when it was Leo and Pat I felt it was "just right." I didn't even mind Kevin filling in every so often when someone was out. But then the whole Leo debacle took some fizzle out and then when they moved and Patrick was gone, I had little to no interest left. Then they brought in Alex and let Dan be on air and it's now a lame duck. This thing went from great to good to bad to unbearable. Pretty sad:(

Sounds to me like they are moving away from the gaming and modding projects. Have they even been doing Kevin's dark tip segments since they came back on? I only watched a handful of times, but I hadn't seen one.

They should've kept Yoshi, but I have no problem with the other moves. They need to split up Kevin and Sarah. I don't mind either one of them, but their couple jokes are obnoxious.

I've only watched the show a couple of times since it moved off T.V. I liked the Patrick & Leo combination. Of the couple episodes I saw on the new network, dayum, losing Dan was a good move. Like it's been said, I'm sure he's a nice guy and whatnot, but the dude could not stutter to save his life. Yoshi use to do some pretty cool things back on TechTv, but from what I've heard, those days are over. Alex wasn't anything spectacular, but I could tolerate him.

Oh, you're right... I didn't even think of that. G4 is really screwing the on-air staff, aren't they?

Good, it is in dire need of revamp. Does that mean the new guy, who thinks he is a joke a minute comedian, is gone?

Agreed with everyone here. Peak form with Leo and Pat. Tolerable with Pat & Kevin, unwatchable with Kevin and new guy.

Yoshi's bits are a joke anymore. Standard form though, they take a segment that everyone thinks is cool and abuse the hell out of it. He is good in small doses.

Here's hoping for something good.

From alexalbrecht.typepad.com

Well I've officially been let go... along with a bunch of other people from TSS and three other shows. Kevin and Sarah are the only ones left on screen and I don't know what they are planning to do with them. The Screen Savers as you know it is GONE! We were rounded up today at 11am and told to be out of the office at 3pm... very smooth... So I wanted to take this time to say, Thank you... thank you to all of you who gave me the chance to enter your living rooms five days a week and try my best to make you smile. You, the fans of TSS, really made me feel like a million bucks. I know it was hard for some of you to see Patrick go, but I really appreciate you all giving me a chance. I just wish I could have more time to get to know you all...

It has been one of the best experiences of my life... Thank you...

- Alex Albrecht

PS - I love you all... Kevin, Sarah, Dan, Yoshi, Joshua, Scott, Robert "the man", Tom, Teresa, Sean, Prager, Jeff, Adam, Paul, Ron, The Crew and everyone else involved in the show...

Yes, Alex the new guy is gone. The only ones they kept are Kevin and Sarah. It is now their job to breed and repopulate the show. I went and looked for their various websites. They all had something to say about it.

www.alexalbrecht.com
www.yoshi.us
www.kevinrose.com
www.sarahlane.com

And thank God for that. After being a dedicated fan of the show since 98/99, I watched the first episode that was filmed in LA and never watched it again. Not all the blame is on this loser, since the show completely lost it's focus on technology I care about.

What little I watched seemed like it was dumbed down for console idiots who's highest technology experience was using their parent's Dell. The idiot co-host they got just made the show that much more unwatchable. That said, they're probably going to abandon PC's completely on the show given the network's obvious focus... What a sad thing to see this network go from half-way enjoyable (Nothing could top the old ZDTV...) to utter trash.

Wonder what the other three shows they dumped employees from are? Might they have gotten rid of Martin Sargeant?

Whoa, what the hell? Damn, looks like I was right.

I just look at Sarah's blog and she said "Alex, Dan, Yoshi, Martin, Laura." They actually did completely cancel and fire Martin and Laura... I know Unscrewed was relatively hated by most with more than a few brain cells, but I always enjoyed some of the interviews with quacks and the like. It was the only show I still bothered to watch on the network.

It was bad, but still... Some of the interviews were fun. And it was the only non-gaming show I know of that remained on the network. For all it's faults, at least it still focused on PCs/Internet culture. Looks like they at least went out giving the finger to G4 during the entire final episode, not that it'll ever be aired... http://forums.g4techtv.com/messagevi...AR_MSGDBTABLE=

Particularly interesting, if true, for any of us that held out hope for TSS or any show having any resemblance to a TechTV show...

-ohbfrank- Was wondering why last nights was a repeat.

Well, hopefully they make changes in the right direction this time.

This is the best thing that could happen to the Screen Savers (or more to the point, (former) fans of the Screen Savers).

This new revamped show was not working. Dan served no purpose other than to be picked on by the others. He came off as a complete douche. I never really was into Yoshi's stuff, since I am not that big into hardware, but I can see how others liked him. For me, I generally skipped over his segment anyway.

Thank God Alex is gone. He was by far the worst thing about this show. It's fine to add levity to a tech show, but in his case, it was more adding some tech to a comedy routine. He couldn't go more than 30 seconds without trying to get a laugh. It was really annoying, and ultimately why I stopped watching a number of weeks ago.

I like Kevin Rose, as he definitely seems to be the most knowledgeable of them all, despite coming off as a bit of a showoff sometimes, talking down to callers. The only reasons I can see keeping Sarah is to A) cater to horny males, and B) keep Kevin happy. I mean, if they let go of his girlfriend, how could he stay?

I am also glad that Unscrewed is gone. This pile of crap should never have been on the air.

Did they let Robert Heron (behind the scenes Tech Manager or something like that?). Alex mentioned "Robert The Man". If it is him, I liked his segments, when he got on the air.

What is Pulse like? I have never watched it. I can't imagine that merging the two will be good though.

Thank God I am in Canada, and get my fix of Leo every week night. I think the main reason I gave up on SS is because of how poorly it came off, following Call For Help here in Canada.

This was the main problem. I wasn't watching for you to make me smile. I was watching to learn some tech stuff.

What did Yoshi say on his board? I went into his forums, but couldn't see where he posted anything. Can someone post it here?

Re: Screen Savers to be revamped
 

Kevin has added an update to his site:

UPDATE: I’ve gotten a ton of “you should leave”, or “you’ve sold out” posts and emails. In moving down here, all of us signed multi-year contracts with G4. The only way we are released of these contracts is if we are fired. I can’t just leave. That said, my goal has always been to create solid tech content on TV. That’s what I still want to do. I love The Screen Savers and it’s been my life for the last four years. I’m going to give it another shot. If it doesn’t work and they let me go, I will move on to other things.

Man..... :(

And I don't even watch the show anymore. This just bears out what many people thought, that G4 would end up destroying what TSS and Techtv was all about. I still don't understand how they could take a show(TSS) that was fairly successful, almost totally change it, and still expect it to be successful. The people who said that G4 was alienating the viewers of Techtv were right. :(

I'm gonna go watch my dvd of TSS segments I got in Leo's Almanac last year.

This is a quote from Yoshi's forums.

Re: Screen Savers to be revamped
 

Thank God. I'd rather see this show completely canceled than have it continue in its current state. :up:

If the jackasses at G4 could get Leo back, that would be awesome. But there is 0 chance of that.

He did say "Unscrewed" was cancelled, and Martin was mentioned as being fired in Sarah's blog according to coladar.

I'll miss Laura Swisher.

For those who don't know, "Pulse" is basically a news show for videogames. I don't know how they're going to merge that with TSS.

Oh well, whatever makes room for more airings of "CHEAT!" with the annoying Cory Rouse :rolleyes:

They'll probably just canel TSS to make room for more five-letter-titled shows with annoying hosts... :rolleyes:

Leo+Patrick were The Screen Savers. Any other crap that G4 tried to force on us was nearly unbearable.

The show, at least for me dies when Jessica Corbin left.

I've never been a fan of Sarah but I do like Kevin and I think he knows his stuff so I'm glad he's staying around,

from the screensavers fourm I found this post intresting reading.

This is what G4 is cookin up in their "pot of crapolla"

This angers me in ways you cannot imagine I want to throw up right now, I dont even want to know what the current crew feels like right now.

This little snip of info comes from a blogger who hung out with marty and the crew on the last Unscrewed taping.


*First of all, Unscrewed was NOT cancelled due to poor ratings or low viewing numbers. It was taken off the air because that was G4's plan. They bought Tech TV simply to get it's viewership and some of it's properties. Since taking it over they've assimilated Tech TV, stripped it, stolen it's soul, and turned it into all gaming all the time.. so basically they bought Tech TV, killed it, and turned it into G4.

*This is backed up subtle changes that you could notice even around the studio. When we went to our first Unscrewed taping in LA, the sign on the door said "G4 / Tech TV Studios".. now it just reads "G4 Studios". Why you may ask? In January the station will be doing a re-launch and then will cease to be known as G4 Tech TV and will simply be G4. Yes, Tech TV, for all intensive purposes, is gone...

*In addition to Unscrewed being killed, The Screen Savers is also being altered. After today's taping of TSS, the studio will go dark until they start filming again... and when they do, TSS will be very different, if even recognizable. From what I heard they are basically merging Pulse and TSS. Many cast members from G4's Pulse will be taking a spot on the show and what hosts from the current / old school TSS will be left is debateable. I've heard Kevin and Sarah are staying.. but then again Unscrewed was supposedly in the clear too. As for anyone else, it's up in the air. Also, it was speculated from different sources that the title may be changed.

*Completing the raping and pillaging of Tech TV, while Unscrewed WAS cancelled, it is also rumored that one of G4's "new and original series" to be debuting soon will be entited "GIRLS GONE WIRED".. yes you heard right. Cancel the show it came from and then steal the segment.. really classy. :-(

Well, this just keeps getting better. -ohbfrank-:rolleyes:

As long as they keep showing hour long blocks of Electric Playground, Sweat and Cheat 4 times a day I'll be happy. Oh wait no I won't because that's why G4 SUCKS ASS. Way to go dumbfucks! People of all ages watched Tech TV for their computer programs. What are they suppose to do now? See some stupid show about NBA players playing Madden? Who gives a shit. Pisses me off!!!

How do you keep a viewership if you take away all the shows that they watch???

Makes no sense at all. To think, I just started to get used to the new format on TSS. Alex, while irritating was at least good for a laugh every now and then. I'm chucking it all together now.

I've tried to watch G4tv.com and Pulse....they make you long for Alex and his wacky antics.

Bad move on G4's part...

Farewell Yoshi and your wonderful mods...

Fly "foo" fly

I wondered why they didn't change the name of "G4TV.com" to "G4TechTV.com." Now I know.

Even though I don't watch the shows any more, I'm think it's messed up on how they treated the employees. Making them move down to L.A. to keep their jobs, just to fire them a few months later.

G4tv.com is about as worthless a show as there is. I watched a few eps and cannot for the life of me get the point of it all. I mean I know they take calls but they only let the caller say 3 lines then they cut him off. Everything else they say is just fluff. Not to mention they got rid of Scott Ruben<sp> (or maybe he left) who brought a bit of cred to the show. He did at least know something about games.

I do enjoy Pulse for what it is. The two hosts are really dry but I like the news aspect of the show. They've had a few really good segments as well.

Sad to hear about all those people getting fired like that. It always sucks to get sacked this close to the holidays. I wish them well...not that I will miss any of them really. Yoshi will hold a special place in my heart for making the ultimate gaming pc (with all the consoles integrated into one pc) for the rest of my days though. Actually just by making that thing the G4 "gaming" channel should pay him for the rest of his life.

I for one hope that this new influx of shows brings a bit more indepth review and analysis to the channel. It's sad when the homebrewed internet show Consolevania out classes them in every regard save for production value (I'm not affiliated with them in any way, just a fan). I just wish they would give an hour to gamespot.com or someone who could actually make some keen observations on the gaming industry outside of "Halo is the greatest game ever!" or "GTA San Andreas is the greatest game ever!" or soon to be "Metal Gear Snake Eater is teh greatest game ever!".

I hope they don't get rid of X-Play. Count me as someone who loved the Patrick/Leo version of TSS. I liked it even better when Kevin Rose wasn't around at all. That said I like Pulse a lot too and Kevin Pereira on Pulse is great. I hate Amanda MacKay on Pulse though and she's obviously there purely as eye-candy. I think they could do something good with some kind of daily Pulse show; the current Pulse is only on once a week. While I liked TechTV as a channel more than I ever liked G4, G4 isn't a total waste (if you're a gamer). My favorites shows on there are Pulse, X-Play, Judgement Day and sometimes Icons can be good. The rest I can take or leave. I'd like Electric Playground more if they ever showed a new episode. I stopped watching it when there wasn't a new episode in what seemed like 6 months.

Obviously it's sad to see TechTV completely go away now but obviously that's the direction that the current people in charge want to take it.

--
fab

dammit this sucks ass. i never used to watch tech tv so i dont know how TSS was before but i really enjoyed it on G4. and i guess im in the minority of actually liking alex. he was pretty funny. im really going to miss both of these shows. hopefully we see these guys on some other show.

Looks like with continuing to screw TechTV fans, G4 is going to return to the network that nobody cares about again.