Thoughts on the series "TILT"

[ClaytonN]

A lot of it seems to be surrounding around a "Hotshot" young gun player who looks like he should be in a Calvin Klein ad as well as a seasoned pro named "The Matador".

I gotta hope the producers did their homework with the show, because I'm picking up stuff that doesn't belong already from the previews.

1) Norman Chad interviewing the Matador with spectators behind them. Though Norman Chad interviewed the players in the ESPN TOC, something just seems funny in Norman Chad being a player in the series

2) This supposed "cash" game where the young guns try to take on the Matador. First, there's a lot of spectators in this cash game. I mean, a lot. Is that normal?

3) Also, it seems like the cash game is no-limit, given the excitement it brings to TV viewers as well as the line a crusty veteran gives the young gun before he faces the matador. Something to the extent of, "If you're gonna hang with the matador, you gotta get out of the kiddie pool". We all know the big cash game players stick to limit mixed games.

4) One of the young guns literally leaps, practically dives, into a player across the table during a cash game. The only time I've seen something that dramatic, it was on a casino surveillance cam involving casino officers jumping ona a cheater. More needless drama?

Maybe I'm looking too much into this, but I'm getting the notion that "TILT" is going to give poker overall the same treatment that football got with "Playmakers", i.e. too much over-the-top dramatic crap that gives poker a bad name. But maybe not, I dunno. I'm watching the first episode, which I guess was the goal of the producers anyways.

Before I end the post, I'm wondering: if the series starts off as drama-filled as playmakers, are you gonna keep watching for the sheer entertainment value?

[AngryCola]

The previews give me the impression that the show is complete crap.

[Non_Comformist]

I think a good way to completely ruin the show for yourself would be to treat it as if it is meant to be documentary instead of a dramatic show meant to entertain set in the world of high stakes poker. If I want to watch real poker I will watch the WPT or WSOP which I don't.

[AngryCola]

[ QUOTE ]
If I want to watch real poker I will watch the WPT or WSOP which I don't.

[/ QUOTE ]

You can't call those two shows "real poker". I know what you meant, just pointing that out.

[Non_Comformist]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If I want to watch real poker I will watch the WPT or WSOP which I don't.

[/ QUOTE ]

You can't call those two shows "real poker". I know what you meant, just pointing that out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed, and most likely the reason I don't watch.

[ClaytonN]

I don't expect a documentary. But, I don't want complete over-the-top drama like "Playmakers" had.

I mean, we're talking soap-opera quality stuff.

[bdk3clash]

I liked Playmakers a lot, and I think Tilt will be pretty good.

[Non_Comformist]

[ QUOTE ]
I liked Playmakers a lot, and I think Tilt will be pretty good.

[/ QUOTE ]

I feel the same way, on both accounts, but I liked pro-wrestling as well so it's expected I guess.

[CCx]

Hate wrestling, but loved Playmakers...watching dude smoke crack during the game while the gay guy bought him more crack in the parking lot was QUALITY TV...probably watch Tilt for much of the same reason, to see what crazy crap they'll put forth. You already know it's not going to be accurate based on what real high-limit games and the lifestyle is like, but if you can look past that, maybe it'll be enjoyable....

[Popinjay]

Willing Suspension of Disbelief

I for one am going to enjoy it for what it is, entertainment.

[david050173]

[ QUOTE ]
Hate wrestling, but loved Playmakers...watching dude smoke crack during the game while the gay guy bought him more crack in the parking lot was QUALITY TV...probably watch Tilt for much of the same reason, to see what crazy crap they'll put forth. You already know it's not going to be accurate based on what real high-limit games and the lifestyle is like, but if you can look past that, maybe it'll be enjoyable....

[/ QUOTE ]

The best part was just about everything that happend in playmakers has happened over the past couple of years in the NFL (obvious not to 1 team though). The one the I am not sure about is having the quarterback deflower the owners daughter. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

I expect the same out of tilt. Angle shooting left and right, cheating, stealing other peoples girlfriends, and ideally major effort to involve hot girls in skimpy clothing were ever possible. I predict strip poker will make an appearence before the end of the first season. It would be really cool/funny if they good get real pros to play themselves. The Mouth could get busted for drug dealing, phil H. could get delt a bad beat, and maybe someone could beat the crap out of Mathais after one of his yells.

And the game has to be NL. Limit doesn't have anywhere near the drama.

[ClaytonN]

Pros make cameo appearances. Daniel N. and TJ Cloutier playing craps, I belive. Not sure. You can find it in his blog somewhere...

[AngryCola]

This whole post (which I'm replying to) makes me want to bash my head into a wall.

I'm almost sure that about 95% of what is in "Tilt" is bogus.

[ QUOTE ]
And the game has to be NL. Limit doesn't have anywhere near the drama.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sigh...
that's the point.. the big games are all limit. Thus, the show is going for drama points, not reality.

[ QUOTE ]
It would be really cool/funny if they good get real pros to play themselves. The Mouth could get busted for drug dealing, phil H. could get delt a bad beat, and maybe someone could beat the crap out of Mathais after one of his yells.

[/ QUOTE ]

::finds the aforementioned wall::

[AngryCola]

[ QUOTE ]
Willing Suspension of Disbelief

I for one am going to enjoy it for what it is, entertainment.

[/ QUOTE ]

Define entertainment.

From what I've seen, it looks less than entertaining.

[ClaytonN]

That's my point. I'm afraid "TILT" is going for all creative points while flexing little credibility.

[BusterStacks]

I am all for it, because you know what this means? MORE FISH!!! WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

More fish, maybe, but less support for poker in general. For instance, we in Colorado have a lot of work to do to get poker accepted by the general public so that we can change the laws and make a bet larger than 5 [censored] dollars.

There are enough fish as it is. Ever hear about how you can shear a sheep many times, but skin it only once? We need to be shearing right now and not kill our prize. Poker is exploding and getting ridiculous at a rate so fast that it's certain to be only a fad if it doesn't slow down a bit.

[david050173]

[ QUOTE ]
This whole post (which I'm replying to) makes me want to bash my head into a wall.



[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the high praise/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
And the game has to be NL. Limit doesn't have anywhere near the drama.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sigh...
that's the point.. the big games are all limit. Thus, the show is going for drama points, not reality.


[/ QUOTE ]

Reality is boring, thats why we have TV shows./images/graemlins/grin.gif There are definitely some high limit nl games but the majority are not. I thought in the big game Pot Limit Omha was one of the regualar games. I also bet all the games are holdem. Poker is the backdrop to the story, not the story. I would argue that if the accuracy of the poker matters to the show, the show is in trouble . Just hope it is accurate enough not to ruin the suspension of disbelief.

[thatpfunk]

Don't you realize how boring an accurate poker show would be to 99.9% percent of the public?

I like how Poppn phrased it. If you're going to watch it, you have to watch it for what it is, not nitpick at it's faults (and there will be many).

[billyjex]

Move to California or Nevada. We have big limits!

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

I did live in CA for about a year and got out as soon as I could. I highly doubt the wife would go for a move to Nevada (or my employer).

[DonWaade]

[ QUOTE ]
I liked Playmakers a lot, and I think Tilt will be pretty good.

[/ QUOTE ]

I did too. For that reason I will watch TILT. I have enjoyed all the movies that ESPN has made too.

[thatpfunk]

Ya, 3 was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

"I just wanna race daddy!" Hahahahahaha

[rgreenm90]

I didn't like all of the movies ESPN made. I don't care if all you wanna do is race, daddy. I don't care if Bobby Knight went nuts on some white kid. I don't care what kind of all-conference bulls*it you were in high school. I don't care....(double meaning intended here).

That said, I thought Playmakers was awesome, if only for the fact that the NFL made ESPN pull it from the air. Not only that, but the writers are the same guys who wrote Rounders. So that shows you what kind of to expect--as much realism as possible while keeping it interesting. But I guess, that isn't very much, is it....

[B00T]

[ QUOTE ]
More fish, maybe, but less support for poker in general.

[/ QUOTE ]

How do you figure less support? Is ESPN going to re-bite the hand that feeds them? The NFL didnt like Playmakers but ESPN was a small player in it. ESPN profits tremendously off of poker. The ESPN/Harrah deal in the future shows they are concerned with the game's longevity. They are not going to tarnish the reputation of one of their own cash cows for 12 consecutive weeks. I do not think ESPN is going to make everyone that plays look like low-lives and doing drugs 24 hrs a day and no mobility. If they were smart, they would glorify the lifestyle and the accolades and hopefully convince people that they could be professionals.

Obviously we have to wait and see, but I dont see them trying to pull out the darker side of poker and rehash stereotypes about degenerate gamblers.

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
Ya, 3 was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.
"I just wanna race daddy!" Hahahahahaha

[/ QUOTE ]

Second place is just first loser. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[jakethebake]

I love the fact that we have 24 posts of opinions on a show that hasn't aired yet. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[thatpfunk]

good point. thats ridiculous

[benfranklin]

[ QUOTE ]
I love the fact that we have 24 posts of opinions on a show that hasn't aired yet. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

This is nothing compared to the in-depth discussion of unpublished books in the Book Forum. There have been arguments there for months about whether Harrington's book is better than SS2.

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
This is nothing compared to the in-depth discussion of unpublished books in the Book Forum. There have been arguments there for months about whether Harrington's book is better than SS2.

[/ QUOTE ]
Good point. I especially like the whether Raymer's book is better than Men's arguement, where neither book exists. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[CCx]

Just saw the 'extended' preview for Tilt this morning on ESPN..... I now will also be watching for the boobies. That is all.

[Lazymeatball]

I just hope this isn't an excuse for Norman Chad to get more airtime. ugh.

From the extended preview, it looks more similar to the kind of activites from that Stallone and Jamie Foxx movie "The Shade" which was interesting from a heist, cross, double cross, double-double cross perspective, in which poker was the just the method to carry out the story. Kind of interesting, no accurate poker content, and a mild degree of boobies.