''Cheat!'' is a

TV show A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed betw ...

on G4 that provided

cheat code Cheating in video games involves a video game player using various methods to create an advantage beyond normal gameplay, usually in order to make the game easier. Cheats may be activated from within the game itself (a cheat code implemented by ...

s, strategies, and other hidden features for

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

s. The show was hosted by

Kristin Adams Kristin Nicole Adams, née Holt, is a television personality, entertainment news correspondent, singer, and viral video creator. Adams first rose to public awareness on ''American Idol''. Between 2005 and 2008, Kristin served as the second host ...

(née Holt), who replaced original host

Cory Rouse As a given name, Cory is used by both males and females. It is a variation of the name Cora, which has Greek origins and is the maiden name of the goddess Persephone. The name also can have origins from the Gaelic word ''coire'', which means "in a ...

in January 2005. ''Cheat!'' last aired February 19, 2009 on G4.

History

The Cory Rouse years

''Cheat!'' was one of the first shows to be on G4 when it launched in spring 2002. Host Cory Rouse would give tips and cheats on a couple of games from the studio in the early episodes. In fall 2002, G4 made a deal with

Pringles Pringles is an American brand of stackable potato-based crisps. Originally sold by Procter & Gamble (P&G) in 1968 and marketed as "Pringle's Newfangled Potato Chips", the brand was sold in 2012 to the current owner, Kellogg's. As of 2011, Pri ...

to have them sponsor the show. Cheat was now officially known as "Cheat, Pringles Gamer's Guides". Cheat was one of G4's most popular shows. In certain episodes Rouse would leave the studio and film on location based on the game he was reviewing. Notable episodes of these years include Rouse getting advice from the staff at '' Tips and Tricks'' magazine, looking at Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic as a Jedi Knight and Sith Lord, and looking at ''

The Matrix ''The Matrix'' is a 1999 science fiction action film written and directed by the Wachowskis. It is the first installment in ''The Matrix'' film series, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantolia ...

''.

Following the merger of G4 and TechTV

In spring of 2004, G4 announced a merge with

TechTV TechTV is a defunct 24-hour cable and satellite channel based in San Francisco featuring news and shows about computers, technology, and the Internet. In 2004, it merged with the G4 gaming channel which ultimately dissolved TechTV programming. ...

. While many shows on both networks were cancelled, ''Cheat!'' survived the merger and production continued on the newest season. In summer of 2004, after a dispute, Pringles ended its sponsorship of Cheat. G4TechTV continued to produce the remainder of the season with the original Cheat logo and the name was changed back to Cheat. G4TechTV promised a relaunch next season. Rouse looked at more games into the fall as the season wrapped up, including driving around in a

Jeep Jeep is an American automobile marque, now owned by multi-national corporation Stellantis. Jeep has been part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with remaining assets, from its previous owner American Moto ...

looking at '' The Simpsons: Hit & Run'' and playing

James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors have ...

with ''

G4tv.com G4 (also known as G4TV) was an American pay television and digital network owned by Comcast Spectacor that primarily focused on video games. The network was originally owned by G4 Media, a joint venture between the NBCUniversal Cable division ...

'' host

Tina Wood Tina may refer to: People *Tina (given name), people and fictional characters with the given name ''Tina'' Places * Tina, Iran, a village in Khuzestan Province, Iran *Tina, Tunisia, a town in Sfax Governorate, Tunisia * Tina, Guadalcanal, Solomo ...

looking at ''

Everything or Nothing Everything, every-thing, or every thing is all that exists; the opposite of nothing, or its complement. It is the totality of things relevant to some subject matter. Without expressed or implied limits, it may refer to anything. The universe is ...

''. The season finale aired in October, which was dedicated to ''

Doom 3 ''Doom 3'' is a 2004 survival horror first-person shooter video game developed by id Software and published by Activision. ''Doom 3'' was originally released for Microsoft Windows on August 3, 2004, adapted for Linux later that year, and ported ...

''. After the October episode, Rouse left the show.

The Kristin Adams years

In January 2005, former ''

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...

'' contestant

(then credited as "Kristin Holt", as it preceded her marriage), was quietly hired to replace Cory Rouse. The new season launched with an episode dedicated to '' Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas''. She was met with mixed reactions, with many fans believing she was a poor replacement for Rouse, whereas others were more welcoming. G4 made a season with her, which wasn't as successful, presumably due to G4 already losing much of its audience since the merger. The new episodes were all dedicated to one game, where before different games would be included in each episode. Holt also stayed in studio every episode, while Rouse left on location. At the conclusion of the season in the fall, ''Cheat!'' was again put on hiatus. In summer of 2006, G4 announced that ''Cheat!'' would be renewed for another season. The new season was filmed in the ''Attack of the Show'' studio, and the premiere brought back the concept of many games in every episode. The season finale aired in December. After a prolonged hiatus, it was confirmed on G4's website that new episodes of ''Cheat!'' would begin airing in December, 2008. It proved to be the final season, as the show was subsequently phased out in early 2009.

As a segment of ''X-Play''

Beginning in January 2008, ''Cheat!'' was integrated as a segment into the series ''

X-Play ''Xplay'' (previously ''GameSpot TV'' and ''Extended Play'') is a TV program about video games. The program, known for its reviews and comedy skits, airs on '' G4'' in the United States and had aired on ''G4 Canada'' in Canada (and briefly on YT ...

''. Adams returned for the segment.

References

{{G4 Original Broadcast Line-up Television shows filmed in Los Angeles G4 (American TV network) original programming X-Play Television shows about video games 2002 American television series debuts 2009 American television series endings