"Attack of the Show!" proves cool people can love technology, too

by Cody Kitaura

Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn are the kind of geeks that don't really exist in real life – attractive, stylish, funny and witty. They're the kind of make-believe geeks that cable TV networks cast to host tech variety shows like G4's “Attack of the Show!” in an attempt to trick viewers into thinking that geeks can be cool and stylish, too.

There's only one problem: Pereira and Munn actually are cool. Despite the fact they anchor the extremely niche talk show aimed at gadget-and-tech-obsessed 20-somethings, they seem to be more focused on hip gadgets and social networking than motherboards and graphing calculators.

“Attack of the Show!” covers a wide variety of topics: gadget reviews, movie sneak peaks and interviews, tech-industry news, viral videos and sex and relationship advice. The hosts banter back and forth sharply between the show's many segments, nipping at each other with quick wit and practical jokes.

But you wouldn't know this if you watched it online. It seems logical that G4, the only U.S. network focused mainly on technology and video gaming, would at least follow the example of major networks like NBC and stream episodes of its programs online. But “Attack of the Show!” follows a different model: Each individual segment of the show can be streamed online, but it's all but impossible to find full episodes of the show anywhere around the Net. Each episode is trimmed down, eliminating the loveable banter and segues between segments – unless it contains something that could turn into a viral success, like Munn's best rendition of “The Goonies' ” truffle shuffle.

Watching episodes of the show in truncated sections like this has its ups and downs. The segments are grouped by date on the show's blog, and while it does allow the viewer to pick only the sections of the show that seem interesting, it makes “Attack of the Show!” feel more like a half-dozen or so mini-shows than one continuous program.

Once one segment is done playing online, the site's video player will recommend a similar clip, á la YouTube's “related videos” pane. This is great if you want to sit and watch a whole month's worth of gadget reviews or comic releases, but it makes it far too easy to get lost in old clips and forget which episode you started on.

But perhaps this is how “Attack of the Show!” is meant to be watched. The producers of the show clearly pay attention to Internet trends (a regular feature on the show is “Around the Net,” which focuses on the most popular viral videos of the day), so maybe “Attack of the Show!” is meant to be seen as several short clips rather than the 60-minute episode that is pumped into living rooms.

And the Web seems to offer a more genuine look into the hosts' personalities than do the full episodes. Bounce around the “Attack of the Show!” website enough and it's easy to land on Munn and Pereira's personal sites.

The two are intensely open with their Web presences: each has a frequently updated blog and links to many of their other accounts. Watching the two make quips at each other on-air is one way of getting to know their personalities, but it's completely different to watch a drunken Munn answer questions posed by readers of her blog, or to see photos on Pereira's Flickr account of the game of Doom he played on a recent Virgin America flight.

Munn and Pereira's extensive Web presence helps lend credibility to their hosting roles on “Attack of the Show!” Because really, who would trust someone to host a tech variety show if he or she didn't have a Twitter account? (Munn on Twitter) (Pereira on Twitter)

The show can sometimes venture too deeply into serious-geek territory, with extensive coverage of comic book conventions and nitpicking critiques of the extra features included on DVD releases. But the show never forgets its target audience, taking every possible opportunity to shamelessly exploit Munn's sexuality: A recent skit on the show had her moaning in ecstasy any time she exerted any physical effort, and a regular segment on the show is “In Your Pants” – intimate sex advice with Munn and visiting relationship columnist Anna David (who just happens to be gorgeous).

No matter where you watch it, “Attack of the Show!” is easily the best tech-flavored show on any network. But if you aren't in the mood for some extra reading and don't want to hunt for the best segments, stick to your living room.