As I was farting around with the guide on the cable box recently, I happened to see a little station by the name of G4 with a show called X-Play. As I was rather bored and attempting to avoid getting my work done, I was intrigued by this listing and I figured I might give I a shot. After all, the History Channel had a Modern Marvels about toothbrushes, History International was churning out information about building sphinxes or something, and I've already seen every show that's on the Military Channel, so I figured, "What the heck?" Bad idea.
I am now addicted to X-Play. I can't get enough of this show. Why? It's a half-hour dedicated to showing, reviewing and talking about computer games. And I love it. Yes, it's official, I'm a dork. I actually want to watch television shows for people who are too lazy to play video games. Mind you, I still consider this an improvement over E!, which is a television network for people who are too lazy to watch to watch television.
Anyway, the show I designed specifically for the hordes of fat, greasy computer dorks out there who sweat while eating. However, they are not afraid to show it and, in fact, they are proud of it. That, in itself is enough reason for me to tune in. Yes, I am among the legions, except for the bit about sweating while I eat. I sweat from standing.
The show is, of course, hosted by Adam Sessler, the skinny, balding guy that the audience can relate to and Morgan Webb, the hot chick that the audience would like to have relations with. In fact, it is safe to assume that Morgan has received several unsolicited marriage proposals and Vegas (i.e. me) is putting the over-under at 70. I'd put it higher, but I think it's safe to guess that not many people are watching a video game network.
Admittedly, the acting is terrible, the humor is bizarre, and the production values are slightly above that of tar paper. However, I think the thing that really brings me back every time I see a new episode is the simple fact that this show is pretty damned funny.
This show is designed specifically for the sort of embittered Gen X dorks who, like myself, who still enjoy the pleasures of cynical, caustic humor that is designed to slash the funny bone. Yes, it can be weird, but damn do I enjoy it.
However, the really remarkable bit about this show is not the mere fact that it is funny. In fact, the remarkable bit about the show is the simple fact that Morgan is actually allowed to be funny too.
My girlfriend has frequently rued the fact that women are not funny. However, the fact is that my girlfriend is very funny when she feels like it and Morgan Webb is also pretty darned funny on this show. For once, the chick on a television show has actually been permitted to tell a few jokes. Go figure.
Furthermore, after watching as many shows of X-Play as possible (I'm always on the hunt for an episode I haven't seen yet) another thought occurred to me. Strange as it may sound, it seems as though Morgan's brain actually works.
Now I know what you're thinking, "She's a hot chick on a television show, there's no way her brain works!" However, that does not seem to be the case in this instance. She genuinely seems to have a lot of opinions about computer games and she really does seem to care whether or not they suck. Of course, this is a bad thing for her in the long run, since no television show on a regular network wants a hot chick who knows what she is talking about, thus preventing both her and my girlfriend from ever having a lucrative career in television.
However, this is not the only charm of this show. Another reason I am constantly glued to my television for X-Play is the strange fact that they put real people on there. For instance, Adam hates role-playing games. In fact, he makes no secret about the fact that he likes role-playing games and he makes sure that everybody knows he hates role-playing games. It is as though he is allowed to have actual opinions. Who would have thunk it? An opinion on television that does not involve politics? Shocking!
There are many other reasons that I am addicted to this show and it is hard to really give a full list. After all, there is the foul-mouthed puppet, the idea of covering up shots of extreme video game violence with kittens, the truly bizarre episode in which Adam and Morgan went out to New Mexico to find the missing cartridges of E.T.: The Game (I dare you not to laugh when a very earnest Adam is attempting to explain their mission to a clearly bored Morgan), and the simple fact that you get to watch shit blow up on television, so there is something for everyone. And when I say everyone, I mean me, because I am glued to the television every night I find an episode I haven't seen yet.
I give it a 5… out of 5.