Panesian Press #3: August 12, 2000

Back around the late 80s, I went to the store and picked up a copy of Gamepro magazine. I found it as a great alternative to Nintendo Power, plus Gamepro reviewed more than just video games and accessories made by Nintendo. Finally, who could not forget the infamous author Scary Larry and many others? In 7th and 8th grade for our magazine drive, I got myself a subscription to the magazine and still have the issues lying around in random parts of the house. Back around the time I was subscribing to the magazine or earlier, there was a supplement to the magazine ... GPTV -- Gamepro TV!! It's main purpose was to give you the latest tips and reviews to the games of the time. It'd be lucky if anyone taped the actual TV episodes, but I was lucky to cash in on a couple of their commercial tapes that were released. What really knocks my head is the awesome theme song.

Gamepro TV began syndicating in 1990 and moved to the new Sci-Fi channel sometime the following year. To my knowledge, it was on at early parts of the morning before the saturday morning cartoon lineup. It was hosted by J.D. Roth mostly known for doing his gameshow stint on Fun House and Brennan (I forget his last name), a virtual unknown who had the same function as Roth. (Heh heh ... those memories of J.D. Roth and Fun House ... oh baby I need to get a piece of the cheerleader twins Jackie and Samantha Forrest. In fact, don't you think they should've been the Gamepro girls? Imagine that one for a second ... lol). There was a later version of GPTV in 1998 that had some host doing voiceovers while reviewing games. A source tells me it was on early mornings on Prime Ticket (now Fox Sports)

For Samantha (in red), click here and Jackie (in yellow), click here

A typical show began with the kickass theme that sounds vaguely similar to the Skate of Die 2 ramp song and then the overview of the GP episode. The show was exactly like the magazine's format: reader letters, tips and tricks, reviews, and more!

GPTV was one of the few tv shows that reviewed NES games and even presented them in a hip style that made it look interesting to buy. Ya know, where J.D. Roth would act like he was a part of the game and then go into his review? Priceless ... one viewer even reminded me how at the end of the episode they would emulate being a part of the game and act out thinking they were a part of it. Sounds good to me ... I knew JD Roth had some Capain N in him!

GPTV Introduction -- Listen to the intro theme (edited to increase length)

J.D. Roth talking -- "Yo! I'm down here!"

More J.D. Roth -- gives the introduction to a video game

Article was written by J.D. Turbeville of 8CA.net (c) 2000