Aftershow


An aftershow or after-show is a genre of television talk show whose topic is another television program. An aftershow is typically broadcast immediately after a new episode of its corresponding program to help retain the audience, and to provide additional discussion and content related to the program. Aftershows may also include guest appearances by a show's staff or cast, and emphasize viewer contributions.

Format

An aftershow's typical format, pioneered by Howard Stern's The Wrap-Up Show on Sirius Satellite Radio in 2006, is two or more people discussing a just-aired episode. This is sometimes accompanied by bonus material from the series, or special guests such as actors or creative staff. TV channels see aftershows as a cheap way to provide more content for avid fans of popular series, as a venue for interacting with fans directly, and to help provide additional context and analysis to the series' narrative and themes. Aftershows can also help a channel retain viewers after an episode airs.

History

's The After Show was cited by the Toronto Star as an early predecessor to the aftershow format adopted in North America. The show was produced to accompany its airings of MTV's , due to CRTC licensing requirements regarding Canadian content, and the provision of talk shows. The show gained a steady following: MTV Canada began producing the show in front of a studio audience for the Laguna Beach finale, resulting in "thousands" of fans lining up outside of the channel's Toronto studio for a chance to attend. The format was extended to its sister series The Hills, and was later picked up to air on the U.S. MTV channel as well.
Following the example of Talking Dead, U.S. entertainment channels began to add aftershows to their most popular scripted series in the 2010s. Embassy Row—the Sony Pictures Television-owned studio who produces Talking Dead, would be commissioned by other networks for their some of their own aftershows, such as Shark After Dark Live. The New York Post wrote of the format having achieved a "saturation point" in 2016. In 2012, Maria Menounos launched AfterBuzz TV, a network of post-show podcasts devoted to various television series.
From May to September 2015, CBS aired reruns of its primetime dramas in its late-night lineup, to fill the former time slot of Late Show with David Letterman until the premiere of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Their lead-out, The Late Late Show with James Corden, subsequently satirized the aftershow format with cold open sketches such as Talking Mentalist—where Corden and his guests discussed the episode of The Mentalist that had just aired, and a metaparody, Talking Talking Mentalist.

Notable aftershows

TitleProgram discussedFirst airedLast airedChannelNotes
The After ShowVarious reality series2010MTV
ThronecastGame of Thrones20112019Sky Atlantic
Talking DeadThe Walking Dead
Fear the Walking Dead		2011ongoingAMCBegan with season 2 for both series
Talking BadBreaking Bad20132013AMCOnly for final eight episodes of the series
Wolf WatchTeen Wolf20132015MTVOnly from the second half of Season 3 to some episodes in the first half of Season 5.
Anarchy AfterwordSons of Anarchy20132014FXOnline web series; for seasons 6 and 7
Rebels ReconStar Wars Rebels20142018Disney XDOnline web series for entire show
After the BlackOrphan Black20152017Space / BBC AmericaBegan with season 3
Talking SaulBetter Call Saul20162017AMCOnly for season 2-3; only for premiere and finale episodes
After the ThronesGame of Thrones20162016HBOFor season 6 only
Talking PreacherPreacher20162017AMCOnly for premiere and finale episodes
Hacking RobotMr. Robot20162019USA NetworkBegan with season 2; only for premiere and finale episodes
Mr. Robot Digital After ShowMr. Robot20162019The Verge / USA NetworkBegan with season 2; online only
Raw TalkMonday Night Raw2016ongoingWWE Network
WWE Talking SmackWWE SmackDown Live20162017WWE Network
After Trek'20172018CBS All AccessOnly for Season 1
The Ready Room'
2019ongoingCBS All AccessBegan with season 2 for ST: Discovery; Began with season 1 for ST: Picard
Beyond the Reasons13 Reasons Why2017ongoingNetflix
Beyond Stranger ThingsStranger Things2017ongoingNetflixBegan with season 2
Crisis Aftermath Arrowverse2019filmingThe CW
Look Hooo's TalkingThe Owl House20202020Disney ChannelOnline web series for first ten episodes