Official word broke this morning that X-Play co-host Adam Sessler is no longer with G4. He leaves the show and the network after 14 years of loyal service to a channel that has, for the majority of its existence, been regarded as a hyper-niche television anomaly — something you might pause on momentarily if it happened to be debuting a new Gears of War trailer or (as has become increasingly likely) a scantily clad young lady.
Other than Morgan Webb, his distaff counterpart on X-Play, Sessler has long been the most recognizable face of the network. His tenure hosting X-Play actually began prior to the existence of G4, when the network was known as ZDTV. In the transition to TechTV and then inevitably G4, the network’s ruling authority cycled through hundreds of different programs, searching for some combination of gaming, technology and decreasingly subtle sexual allusions designed to attract the hyper-lucrative 18- to 34-year-old male demographic. It should be seen as an indicator of Sessler’s charisma and hosting abilities that throughout this entire decade-and-a-half, X-Play was the only program left unscathed by G4 management.
When his departure was officially confirmed, we reached out to Sessler for his take on the situation, and to see if we could gleam some information on why he would no longer be employed by G4. In short, his response was “no comment,” though that came in the form of a typically diplomatic official statement issued by his PR representative.
Television personality Adam Sessler and TV network G4 are parting ways, with Adam’s last episode as host of G4′s “X-Play” airing on the network today, Wednesday, April 25. Adam has been hosting the show since it first aired as ZDTV’s “Gamespot TV” in July 1998 and he also served as Editor In Chief of games content at G4. His current projects include starring as himself in the Summer 2012 movie “noobz” and consulting with a film production company on theatrical feature adaptations of video games. Adam intends to stay in front of the camera and continue as a key voice within the games industry. He also sings and is available for weddings and bar mitzvahs.
Though perfectly serviceable as a notification of what’s happened here, the official response is intensely coy as to why exactly Sessler is no longer at G4. Kotaku claims that Sessler was engaged in a contractual dispute with the network and that his exodus was “not on amicable terms,” though beyond that we really have no idea what has occurred here. That said, this departure was quite abrupt, which feeds into Kotaku’s claim that Sessler left the network amidst some kind of dramatic strife.
Unfortunately, the abrupt nature of this whole thing also means that Sessler doesn’t have a thrilling, new project to promote as part of his employment shift. Normally if one leaves a relatively public position like his specifically to focus on a new professional pursuit, they make that the focus of their PR announcement. That way everyone has a positive impression of the situation and no one looks bad as a result of the change. In this case however, it reads more like a terse “things happened, I’m outta here” than anything else.
Truth be told, we won’t really know what happened here any time soon, and by the time people are ready to, and legally capable of, filling in the blanks here, we’ll likely be in an entirely different news cycle. Thus there’s nothing much to be done, except to shrug and wish Mr. Sessler all the best in whatever he does next.
….and if anyone who matters is monitoring, Steele Battalion Heavy Armor, told you so, to go from a 3-foot wide controller, to waving your hands around like a spaz at your kinnect, lame. it deserved the half star rating, and if they wanted a better review they should have paid for it. They would have been better off updating the graphics and re-releasing the original game with a USB adapter. Or better yet, bring back the chrome hounds server. Both of those options are possible, unlike the impossibility of the release of MechWarrior 5.
We’ll miss you Adam!
Well What did you expect, after years of telling the truth and giving honest reviews, it was bound to catch up to him. I remember him saying something to the effect of “This crappy review of this crappy game was brought to you, by this crappy game!” Ever since he left, the tone of the show has changed, Morgan’s new bang hairstyle makes her look like she has down syndrome, and that pretty boy nerdist is no replacement for the truth. The show is just a platform for promoting the latest product of the highest paying sponsor, they focus more on cut-scenes, than content. And they never ask the hard questions like why? Here’s a great question you can ask the next game designer on your show. “Why does your game have a fixed limited preset control schematic? Is it so hard to allow for individual button mapping? Playstation was able to do it with descent, and that was decades ago.”
I remember when G4 was new and they had nothing but gaming programs like G4TV.com with Tina Wood, Scott Rubin, Geoff Keighley and Laura Foy, this was way before Attack Of The Show, X-Play and the reruns of Cops.
Are you kidding? X-Play was around well before G4. X-Play was on TechTV before it became G4, so was the Screen Savers which made the transition to being Attack of the Show. So you are misinformed.
Oh I post something 20 days ago and you just felt you had to correct me to look like a smart guy? Douchebag……..
Well you were wrong, and he was right. By correcting your mistake he has ensured that anyone else that may be reading this even 3 months from now are won’t be confused by your misleading statement.
There is no excuse for acting like a dick and I knew about the merger with TechTV as I watched it and G4 back in the day. Just didn’t think about it at the time I was typing on here but that shouldn’t give someone the right to come in and jump on me instantly.
Uh. Jump on you? He didn’t even insult you for your mistake. All he did was correct you. You’re the one calling people douchebags and smart-asses for pointing out misinformation.
Sorry guys but have you not learned you can’t argue with a 12 year old on the net it is pointless!
Calling G4 a “gaming centric channel” is a long stretch, based on the lineup anyway
So true unless they believe cops to be a virtual game!
I remember Adam from back in the TechTV days, when that channel was good! I used to watch Attack of the Show, when I was bored, and X-play. It was no secret that Adam and Morgan (for that matter) didn’t like how G4 changed things up on the network. G4 treated the cast/crew as if they clearly didn’t want them. I haven’t watched G4 in a while now, so I can’t say it will be sad to see him go. But, it is nice to see him finally leaving that train wreck of a network. Maybe he can get back with some of the original crew: Leo Laporte, Kevin Rose, Sarah Lane, etc. and start their own network again! :D
until then, I will continue to listen to Leo Laporte on the radio, every Sunday afternoon. So long Adam! I hope you find success in your next ventures!
get a life.
Yup. Anytime I happened to stop on G4, Adam was always on. He was pretty much the face of that channel. I wish him all the success in whatever he does next!
Leo has his own network already… its http://www.twit.tv Hes been doing that ever since he left them guys…
I meant on actual broadcast TV… Not a net channel.