USA Network has tapped After the Thrones host, Andy Greenwald, to host its Mr. Robot live on-air after-show, Hacking Robot. We reported the cabler ordered Hacking Robot, last month. Additionally, USA and The Verge will host an online “digital” Mr. Robot after-show
The new Hacking Robot TV show premieres Wednesday, July 13 at 10:00pm ET/PT, after the two episode second season premiere of Mr. Robot, starring Rami Malek and Christian Slater. USA says, “Following the events of fsociety’s five/nine hack on multi-national company Evil Corp, the second season will explore the consequences of that attack as well as the illusion of control.”
Get the details from this USA Network press release (digital show, premiering July 20 is covered first, with the on-air show, premiering July 13, coming later in the release).
News
July 11, 2016
USA NETWORK AND VOX MEDIA’S THE VERGE PARTNER TO HOST LIVE DIGITAL ‘MR. ROBOT’ AFTER SHOW
Weekly Online Show to Begin July 20, Immediately Following Premiere Episodes of the Award-Winning Universal Cable Productions Drama
NEW YORK – July 11, 2016 – USA Network and The Verge, Vox Media’s technology and culture brand, will extend the MR. ROBOT fan experience online each week with the newly-announced MR. ROBOT DIGITAL AFTER SHOW HOSTED BY THE VERGE. Beginning in MR. ROBOT Season 2’s second week, on Wednesday, July 20, the after show will stream live at http://www.usanetwork.com/mrrobot and http://www.theverge.com following the conclusion of each week’s linear telecast.
As part of NBCUniversal’s partnership with Vox Media, the Mr. Robot Digital After show Hosted by The Verge will provide a live weekly deep dive into the series. Produced by Vox Entertainment, Vox Media’s Los Angeles-based development and production division, and hosted by The Verge’s editor in chief Nilay Patel, entertainment editor Emily Yoshida and cyber-security reporter Russell Brandom, each episode will feature an in-depth discussion about the most recent episode of Mr. Robot from both artistic and technological perspectives.
Each week, Nilay, Emily and Russell will discuss their own opinions and analysis of that night’s episode, and will host cast and crew members from the show for an insiders’ point of view on the show’s biggest moments. The Verge editors will break down the reality and potential imminence of the various hacking and cyber-security techniques used in each episode, while fans will also have the ability to interact with the hosts and their guests each week via social platforms.
“Because MR. ROBOT’s fans are incredibly savvy and eager to analyze the show’s nuanced meaning and layered plotlines, it was important for us to create an informed, insightful platform that provides an opportunity to collectively examine and react to each week’s episode,” said Alexandra Shapiro, EVP Marketing and Digital, Entertainment Networks, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “We can think of no one more perfect to host and produce this show than The Verge — the preeminent experts on the intersection of culture and technology.”
“The Verge is the ideal partner and platform for the MR. ROBOT audience to get additional content and context, and have a great time going deep on the show with our experts,” said Chad Mumm, VP, Vox Entertainment. “This production is a great example of our partnership, and brand alignment with NBCUniversal and their brands, and Vox Entertainment’s expertise in creating new types of programming at the intersection of digital and linear television.”
“It’s hard to think of a show that lines up with The Verge any more directly than MR. ROBOT, said Nilay Patel, The Verge’s editor in chief and host of the Mr. Robot Digital After show Hosted by The Verge. “Technology and culture are colliding in fascinating ways, and we’re excited to explore that collision on the digital after show with the same chaotic energy and excitement fans love from our other live shows and podcasts.”
MR. ROBOT will kick off its second season on Wednesday, July 13 at 10/9c with a premiere night event that includes two back-to-back episodes – presented with limited commercial breaks. A live on-air after show, HACKING ROBOT, hosted by Andy Greenwald, will air immediately follow the two-episode season premiere on USA Network.
MR. ROBOT follows Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), a cyber-security engineer who becomes involved in the underground hacker group fsociety, after being recruited by their mysterious leader (Christian Slater). Following the events of fsociety’s five/nine hack on multi-national company Evil Corp, the second season will explore the consequences of that attack as well as the illusion of control.
MR. ROBOT stars Golden Globe® Award and SAG® Award Nominee Malek (“The Pacific”), Golden Globe Award Winner Slater (“Nymphomaniac”), Portia Doubleday (“Her”), Carly Chaikin (“Suburgatory”), Martin Wallström (“Simple Simon”), Grace Gummer (“The Newsroom”), Michael Cristofer (“Ray Donovan”) and Stephanie Corneliussen (“Legends of Tomorrow”). New recurring guest stars include Craig Robinson (“The Office”), hip hop artist Joey Bada$$, Sandrine Holt (“Fear The Walking Dead”), Michael Maize (“National Treasure: Book of Secrets”), Dorothi Fox (“Run All Night”) and Luke Robertson (“The Americans”). Returning cast members include BD Wong (“Law & Order: SVU”), Gloria Reuben (“Saints & Sinners”), Michael Drayer (“Vinyl”), Michel Gill (“House of Cards”), Ron Cephas Jones (“The Blacklist”), Sunita Mani (“5 Stages”), Azhar Khan (“Veep”) and Ben Rappaport (“The Good Wife”).
MR. ROBOT hails from writer and executive producer Sam Esmail (“Comet”), who will be directing all 12 episodes, as well as Anonymous Content executive producers Steve Golin (“True Detective”) and Chad Hamilton (“Breakup at a Wedding”). MR. ROBOT is produced by Universal Cable Productions.
About USA Network:
USA Network, the leader in cable entertainment, offers a powerful stable of dramatic, comedic and unscripted originals in more than 102 million U.S. homes. The network also features spectacular live television, a dynamic portfolio of acquired series and the best in blockbuster theatrical films and entertainment events. A trailblazer in digital innovation and storytelling, USA is defining, driving and setting the industry standard for Social TV. USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. USA’s award-winning website is located at http://www.usanetwork.com. Watch USA Network anywhere: On Demand, online or across mobile and connected TVs.
About The Verge:
The technology and culture brand from Vox Media, The Verge narrates the future, telling the story of how technology is changing culture. From science and technology to entertainment, art, and transportation, it is the window into how we live now and how we will live next. The Verge reaches more than 28 million people each month on theverge.com and many more millions of followers across social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Tumblr, Instagram – where it is the most-followed technology brand – and more.
Founded in 2011 in partnership with Vox Media, The Verge is one of the largest and most influential technology publishers today.
About Vox Media:
Vox Media builds smart media brands around big categories people are passionate about, empowering trusted digital voices with proprietary technology to create and distribute stories to hundreds of millions of affluent and educated young adults worldwide. Vox Media is eight distinct brands: The Verge (Technology and Culture), Vox.com (General News), SB Nation (Sports), Eater (Food and Nightlife), Polygon (Gaming), Racked (Shopping, Beauty and Fashion), Eater (Food and Nightlife), Curbed (Real Estate and Home), and Recode (Technology and Business). Vox Media’s investors include Accel Partners, Comcast Ventures, Khosla Ventures, General Atlantic, and NBCUniversal. www.voxmedia.com.
What do you think? Do you enjoy after-shows? Do you plan to watch the series premiere of Hacking Robot?
Digital aftershow with the Verge is great. Andy Greenwald is not the right host for this. It’s a disappointment to viewers and appears to be disappointing to the actors.
I love after shows. I find them fun and entertaining…….usually. No offense to Mr. Greenwald, but this is tame. It is as if he is reading cards only….not really into the show or heck, the after show. Doesn’t express any energy or ability to really excite the guests. More like an old school talk show. It would have been awesome to have a woman host, a geeky, intelligent host with a good sense of humor, that could energize the actors and audience. Love Mr. Robot and SO GLAD Christian Slater is on screen more than ever now. A great actor!!!