Unofficial Tilt review post...anyone else have a problem with...

[Mike Gallo]

...a 12 year old girl "pumping it up seven thousand" in a backroom no limit game, and beating the "assend of a straight".....

Did anyone else have a problem that two players had a fist fight at the poker table, and two days later the room allowed them to play?

Does anyone feel that the show gave poker players the rap as cheaters?

I did not find any of the main characters compelling.

I had a difficult time believing any of the characters.

I did have a laugh that the main characters had the names of Clark and Eddie. I wondered what happened to Gabe and Dynasty. /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Did anyone else find the show a bit disappointing ?

Flame away..

[cardcounter0]

I was disappointed that no one was set on fire. The leg breaking was good, but you got to have a good fire scene.

[nolanfan34]

[ QUOTE ]
...a 12 year old girl "pumping it up seven thousand" in a backroom no limit game, and beating the "assend of a straight".....

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I was at least sort of enjoying it in a corny way until that part. Give me a break.

[Mike Gallo]

I was disappointed that no one was set on fire

Dude for some reason I literally laughed out loud /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[Mike Gallo]

Yeah, I was at least sort of enjoying it in a corny way until that part.

That really ruined it for me.

[nolanfan34]

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I was at least sort of enjoying it in a corny way until that part.

That really ruined it for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

The thing is, for that scene to make sense, you'd have to do some serious background on it, so it's at least in the neighborhood of believable. That's probably not even possible. But to just cut to it and it's a 12-year-old in a big cash game? Um, WTF?

[tpir90036]

I thought it was awful. But then again I expected it to be awful. Unfortunately poker is not very interesting unless you are really interested in poker. So they added bad dialogue to try to spice things up. I wish there would have been some more inner thinking from the characters like when Eddie was making his absurd read.

Also, why did the cop lose all of his money in the poker game if he knew there was cheating going on?

Bad dialogue.
Boring characters.
Cheesy poker references.

I give it a D+ since the girl player is OK to look at and the show started out with The Matador getting a blowjob from a hooker. Way to go ESPN!

-tpir

[Mike Gallo]

and the show started out with The Matador getting a blowjob from a hooker.

I forgot about that.

[MaxPower]

I think they just took Russ G's posts on RGP and turned them into a script.

I had a lot of problems with the show, but just like in Rounders they really fail to get the poker scenes right or capture the real feel of a card room.

I think these guys who also made Rounders have never played poker.

I love it when the guy says, "I think you are bluffing, I'm all-in" WHAT IS THE POINT OF GOING ALL-IN IF THE GUY IS BLUFFING? I can see it if the guy has a strong hand and is trying to encourage a call, but I don't think that is what they were getting at.

[Mike Gallo]

I had a lot of problems with the show, but just like in Rounders they really fail to get the poker scenes right or capture the real feel of a card room.

I agree. I did not believe any of the hands they showed. I at least believed to an extent the opening hand of Rounders.

[Gramps]

It's super-cheesy, and it's creators seem smart enough to know that and that's what type of show they've made (i.e. on purpose). I don't think they're trying to make anything more than a completely over-the-top poker soap opera with some violence and sex thrown in there (it is a mainstream American audience after all - that always sells best).

It is what it is, and as far as guilty pleasures go, I think it's entertaining. I'll certainly be quoting many lines from it in jest (or flipping up the nuts "Matador style").

Please don't take that last statement out of context...

Oh yeah, and didn't Jennifer Harmon used to play in her dad's home poker games at like 12 and take everyone's money (or win her Dad's money back)? Maybe that's where they got that story-line from.

[andyfox]

Your D+ is charitable. Everybody apparently went to "cool" acting school. The scenes are so dark: could ESPN pay for some decent lighting? The music was obnoxious. One more shot of Vegas in time lapse photography and they could put the show on the Discovery Channel.

At least they didn't let T.J. speak. That aside, an F.

[Boopotts]

This show was pre-destined to suck. Anyone who's gotten a feel for ESPN's scripted progamming had to know this show had no chance at all. Still, I agree that it was worse than I thought it would be.

What a joke. High limit players looking for vengeance, Biff and Buffy flitting around town with loads of poker-playin' talent and five figure bankrolls---puleeeze. If someone wanted to make a decent poker show, it should be a) low budget, b) center around the action in an illegal card room, and c) spend a little time exploring the debilitating effects of gambling on the gambler's family and friends. Sorry, but you can't have a show like this without showing the ramifications of this kind of lifestyle-- no way. It just isn't honest. When I was playing full time in the social clubs in Denver I knew all kinds of guys who lost EVERYTHING-- their jobs, their cars, their families-- just because they couldn't stay away from the flop. Pretending that this dynamic doesn't exist results in an imcomplete illustration of the gambling lifestyle.

[wuwei]

[ QUOTE ]
The thing is, for that scene to make sense, you'd have to do some serious background on it, so it's at least in the neighborhood of believable. That's probably not even possible. But to just cut to it and it's a 12-year-old in a big cash game? Um, WTF?

[/ QUOTE ]

Perhaps I'm giving them too much credit, but surely each of the back stories on why these folks hate the matador will be further developed? However, I'm not sure I'll still be watching when they do.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go relieve myself.

[Boopotts]

This show would have been 10x better if these three kids had been busted by the Matador in a straight-up honest game, and were now looking to 'take him down' (whatever that means) because they were embarrassed they lost. Instead we get this cheating crap, which so far as I can tell adds nothing meaningful to the story.

Also, kudos to you for calling out the scene with the 12 yr. old girl. Going all in for 7 grand with the second nut on a straightened out board? I don't think so.

We also need to mention that obscenely lame scene where the lead character 'sees' the set of 6's that his opponent's holding.

Jesus Christ-- thinking about it now somehow makes it even worse. I mean, it was bad at the time, but in retrospect I don't think I really appreciated how terrible it was.

[Tuds75]

How about in a satellite tournament with what looks to be close to 100 entries the 3 main characters all happen to be the last 3 left playing.

Also how little was the buy-in for satellite to only give out one seat. I mean 100 people x $100 each = $10,000
or in WPT fashion 100 people x $250 = $25,000

If the buy-in was so low why was the black guy getting so upset. He could obviously afford if (he just won a couple thousand from the bros at the strip club). Plus he has the "skill'z'" to get to every final table he could win any satellite he entered.

IF WE CAN NOTICE THESE MISTAKES COULDN'T THE PRODUCERS?

[Punker]

I'd have more of a problem watching a show about a bunch of grinders waiting for group 1-3 hands and playing limit hold'em against bad players. You may feel differently. Tape your next live session and see how entertaining it is.

No offense to everyone who hated it, but what did you really expect?

[Boopotts]

I'm really not all that impressed with someone who calls with the boss full on the river when a guy bets the nut flush. You call him down with seven-high and win, that's one thing. But there's nothing very special about dragging a pot with Q's full of sevens

[Moyer]

One thing I didn't like was that none of the featured "good" players even played straight. They were all hustling. I just hope the general public doesn't perceive this to be an ordinary occurance among top players.

I also have trouble believing that an owner of a Vegas casino would put himself at risk for a cheating poker player.

The cop thing was really confusing to me too. Why would he play w/ all that money, then go look at the tape when he lost? Really messed up.

Another weird thing was that every hand shown down seemed like something rediculous. 34s, 10-6os, etc. I realize it's no limit, be come on.

For what it's worth, I enjoyed Rounders and I still watch it occasionally. Tilt was just too much. I may try to see one more episode, but I doubt it will improve.

[Moyer]

On the plus side, the strip club scene looked an awful lot like Cheetah's. So at least part of the show was accurate. /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[chesspain]

[ QUOTE ]
...a 12 year old girl "pumping it up seven thousand" in a backroom no limit game, and beating the "assend of a straight".....



[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't realize that Jennifer Harmon's father's home games were that seedy.

[david050173]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I was at least sort of enjoying it in a corny way until that part.

That really ruined it for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

The thing is, for that scene to make sense, you'd have to do some serious background on it, so it's at least in the neighborhood of believable. That's probably not even possible. But to just cut to it and it's a 12-year-old in a big cash game? Um, WTF?

[/ QUOTE ]

Wasn't it a flash back to show that our blonde heroine was a prodigy. I bet we see the matador crush her in the next one not that she was a roll.

[Cyrus]

[ QUOTE ]
...a 12 year old girl "pumping it up seven thousand" in a backroom no limit game, and beating the "ascent of a straight".....

[/ QUOTE ]

They are obviously after the pre-teen market too.

[KidNapster]

I'm just really pissed off that I'm gonna have to hear people quote Tilt. I've had enough of the Rounders quotes already. If I hear "big daddy bets the pot" one more time... I think I'll have a criminal record. People say it when it doesn't even make sense. That's what really pisses me off.

The only part of it I liked was when the guys pulled the guns. It was like I was in high school again! Two guys started beating the crap out of each other during a dice game because one guy said he rolled an 8 and the other guy said the dude rolled a 7. I went to an inner city high school...

[bernie]

I found it entertaining. Highly unrealistic, but entertaining. I loved the bathroom scene. It replays how that bimbo actually got that part. The scene kind of wrote itself at the audition. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

Do any of those players ever lose? Can't wait for that episode. "The bad run..." heh heh. I love the fallacy where the good players never run bad. They always get the money at the end (of the session).

When all the yapping was happening at the table, all's I could think of was "Hey! Poker game going on! Any friggin' day!!!" The matadors lines when playing were the most ridiculous. The only time I've ever run across that kind of banter was from a flounder.

It seems every main character/player is only playing to get the main guy. How about a guy just playing for a living, not caring about the matador? They're all the same here. Real depth. All the characters have way too big an ego problem for my taste. I mean, that seems to be their main focus is their ego. The line about squaring off like rocky and creed was idiotic. But what the hell.

It didn't exactly put poker players in good light. Or cardrooms for that matter. I can't wait to see the idiots who's acts are inspired by this series.

Overall, minus the bad writing, I thought it was a kick. Nice scenery and stuff.

Over/under on whether/when the matador does the chick? You know she's going to do someone.

b

[mostsmooth]

i liked it. most of it was unrealistic and again gave poker players a bad rap, but oh well, i wasnt expecting an emmy quality show.
on a side note, was that daniel negreanu rolling the dice during the opening?

[JackedUp]

Yes, I'm pretty sure it was Negreanu rolling the dice in the opening.

I found it interesting that ESPN had no problem running a program that showed a 12 year old girl gambling, a strip club, and a hooker dropping to her knees in a bathroom. I’m pretty sure she was polishing something, but I don’t think it was the floor tile. Yet, the folks at ESPN were all in an uproar over the Randy Moss mock mooning celebration last week and wouldn’t show the highlight. Does anyone else think ESPN is being a little hypocritical here?

[kirisim]

It was great that, right after the hooker was going down on the Matador, they went to a commercial saying "TILT is brought to you by TOYOTA!!" Now I will forever associate Toyota with getting BJ's in Vegas.

[Suited Deuce]

Absolutely the worst load of dung ever. I was sincerely embarrassed for everyone involved in the production of this absurd cliche. Grade: F-

Daniel and TJ, what exactly were you thinking?
Can someone turn on the lights?
Dialogue?
The giant Toyota sign in the background through the "boss'" window and the afore-mentioned blow job
Norman Chad
The high stakes manager demoted to quarter slots sans rolex
and on and on...oh and, one more time,
Norman Chad

Never underestimate the stupidity of the American Public.

[dakine]

[ QUOTE ]
tell Also, kudos to you for calling out the scene with the 12 yr. old girl. Going all in for 7 grand with the second nut on a straightened out board? I don't think so.


[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe the 12 year old girl was Annie Duke! /images/graemlins/wink.gif

The show was kind of boring to the point I fell asleep when the Casino Floor boss was busted down to quarter slots and had to turn in his watch. I hope the show improves.

[nolanfan34]

[ QUOTE ]
I found it interesting that ESPN had no problem running a program that showed a 12 year old girl gambling, a strip club, and a hooker dropping to her knees in a bathroom. I’m pretty sure she was polishing something, but I don’t think it was the floor tile. Yet, the folks at ESPN were all in an uproar over the Randy Moss mock mooning celebration last week and wouldn’t show the highlight. Does anyone else think ESPN is being a little hypocritical here?

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree.

[nolanfan34]

[ QUOTE ]
Wasn't it a flash back to show that our blonde heroine was a prodigy. I bet we see the matador crush her in the next one not that she was a roll.

[/ QUOTE ]

It doesn't matter. That storyline is just past the point of believeablility. Give me a break. I can maybe accept the idea that a 12-year-old could be a poker prodigy. What I can't accept, is the idea that this girl is somehow part of this game, and has $7000 in front of her. And couldn't they at least have made the 10-6 suited? Looked like almost a full table, she's a prodigy but was playing T6o all the way to the river?

Yeah, I'm nit-picking, but how hard would it be to get those parts of the story right?

For that matter, wouldn't it be just as easy to have her watching this game, and her dad loses big to the Matador and loses his house, or something like that? You'd still have motive there, and it would be way more plausible than what they're setting up.

[WDC]

I loved in that flashback scene that the matador had a 70's porn star moustache.

B the way my vote for cheesiest line was
"when this is all over I cant wait to go heads up like Creed and Rocky in III."

I got in trouble for spitting coke on the couch when I heard that one.

[Nagoo81]

I have no problem with situations and plot being 'unrealistic' ... after all, this is fiction. However, I expect at the very least that the dialogue, script, and most of all, the acting is supposed to make up for the plot and story's shortcomings.

So, if two guys pull out 2 guns in a cardroom, you're gonna tell me that everyone is gonna be very cool about it and not literally jump under the table or otherwise get the hell out of there? Nah, I'm just gonna casually wait til the situation dissapates and then YELL at them to check them at the door. COME ON.

The only scene that I enjoyed slightly was when Eddie was heads up w/ the "Wankah" when he rivered the 6-high straight. The visual effect of being able to picture what the guy had was pretty neat. But other than that... /images/graemlins/frown.gif

...Bullseye! heheheheheheheh

[Daithi]

Cameo's by real top players, a 12 year old girl playing high-stakes backroom poker, cheating players, corrupt cops, corrupt casino heads, hookers servicing the top player, and the casino head answers to the top poker player.

"I wipe my ass with $8,000, $9,000 if I had chili."

This is entertainment people. If it was realist it would be boring. I'll be watching it next week.

[thirddan]

i was flipping back and forth between simpsons and malcolm so i only saw parts, but does it get any better than this "no string bets, bi[/b]tch," i submit that it does not... i will be watching next week...

[deathtoau]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone feel that the show gave poker players the rap as cheaters?

[/ QUOTE ]

That is my biggest problem with the show. I don't give a crap about the show as a show. It was just as cheesy as I expected. My problem is that the fish are going to get the false notion that all the good poker players are cheaters and the games are rigged. They might think twice about going into the cardroom now and lose their money at Blackjack or craps rather than donating it to me.

The interview with the producers (ESPN's TILT preview special) said they were poker players and were trying to broaden the appeal of the game. I don't see how showing all the good players as cheaters and colluders will do that.

Bad form and at least pick a realistic storyline, pretty please.

[Fitz]

I was disappointed in Tilt too. It appears to be one more piece of work that concentrates on cheating and the "wrong move at the right time" side of the game. Miracle reads and big bluffs take a precedence over real solid poker which is pretty boring most of the time.

Let the newbies this program will draw see al of this. Let them think geniuses and poker prodigies play T6o and make wild moves on incredible reads. Then, seat them immediately to my right and leave us alone for a few hours.

Good luck all,

Fitz

[tpir90036]

[ QUOTE ]
Your D+ is charitable.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ha ha ha. The more I think about it, the more I think you are right. I might have to with F+ since the blowjob scene was hilarious and a breakthrough for Disney-owned ESPN.

I still haven't heard anyone offer a guess as to why the cop would bring $20K of his money into a game when he 1) is not very good and 2) is sitting with "pros" 3) he suspects it is fixed. Nice move!!

The show would be better if the Matador was not a cheater but a slime ball with mob ties and the three main characters were just anti-heros trying to cheat the other anti-hero since they suck and got busted straight-up for all of their money.

-tpir

[MarkL444]

[ QUOTE ]
I had a lot of problems with the show, but just like in Rounders they really fail to get the poker scenes right or capture the real feel of a card room.


[/ QUOTE ]

this was so many levels worse than rounders.

[Turning Stone Pro]

That's because you're an idiot. There's nothing funny about that.

TSP

[jedi]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Your D+ is charitable.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ha ha ha. The more I think about it, the more I think you are right. I might have to with F+ since the blowjob scene was hilarious and a breakthrough for Disney-owned ESPN.


[/ QUOTE ]

How do you know she didn't bend down to tie his shoes? That'll be the Disney explaination.

Anyways, I've stopped trying to think of this as a poker show. It's a show about revenge, using poker as the backdrop. It would have been better as a western.

[disjunction]

I'm wondering if that scene wasn't based on Jennifer Harmon recollecting on NPR about how she used to pinch-hit for her father at the poker table, after he was losing, and she would win it all back.

[nolanfan34]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm wondering if that scene wasn't based on Jennifer Harmon recollecting on NPR about how she used to pinch-hit for her father at the poker table, after he was losing, and she would win it all back.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've heard a couple of people mention this theory. But I doubt Harmon was playing with a $7000 bankroll at the time. That's the implausible part to me. Bobby Baldwin used to dominate his friends and older kids at a young age, but the amount of money she was gambling with is just beyond believable.

[disjunction]

Ah, you're of the "Roy Hobbs couldn't possibly put up those kind of stats" school of review. Although I'm hesitant to defend this TV show, which I really didn't like, it's not the lack of realism that bothered me, it was the crappy dialogue, and this scene was less offensive for me than a lot of the others.

They'll tell you in most writing classes (not that I recommend listening to what anyone says in a writing class) that reality is boring, you have to spice it up a bit, and clean up the dialogue. The premise of a scene needs to be better than reality.

That being said, the premise can't be so unrealistic that it's distracting, and clearly you think this was the case. I didn't find it as distracting as you. I do agree that a more realistic depiction of poker would have been interesting, and there was no need for the writers to "spice up" scene after scene after scene.

[Mike Gallo]

That's because you're an idiot.

Wow....it takes normally takes someone 500 posts before they realize I am an idiot. You must add a lot to this forum with your perceptiveness.

Welcome to the forum.

[nolanfan34]

[ QUOTE ]
Ah, you're of the "Roy Hobbs couldn't possibly put up those kind of stats" school of review.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, I'm not. Roy Hobbs ruled.

[ QUOTE ]
That being said, the premise can't be so unrealistic that it's distracting, and clearly you think this was the case.

[/ QUOTE ]

Right. I took a couple of film classes in college. "Suspension of disbelief" is something that we all do when watching TV. But you're right, the moment you actually start thinking to yourself "OK, this isn't realistic", then the writers have screwed up, because they've lost your attention to the story.

The rest of the show was over the top too, but I was fine with it. I could care less what the poker action looks like in the hands. And people saying they were hoping for MORE poker action make me laugh. It's a drama! Not Championship at the Plaza. I fully don't expect to learn anything watching this show.

What bugs me, is that at it's root this is a good idea for a show. The basic premise of three people who have been busted by this famous gambler, and want revenge, is a good one. Plenty of angles you could go with to make it interesting. Unfortunately, everything was so over-the-top and over dramaticized.

We'll see how the rest of the series plays out. I hate the implication that everyone cheats too.

[Mike Gallo]

I hate the implication that everyone cheats too.

That bothered me a lot also, however the 12 year old girl "pumping it up seven thousand" really disturbed me.

I did not like all the trash talk at the table either. Everyhand had dialogue which gives newbies the wrong idea.

I agree with you that the premise looked good until they interjected the cheating angle.

[bernie]

[ QUOTE ]
I hate the implication that everyone cheats too.


[/ QUOTE ]

Nawww. Only the top, winning players do that. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

b

[Mike Gallo]

At least they didn't let T.J. speak.

I found that pretty comical.

Did you ever read "Snow in August" by Dennis Hamill? Look it up when you can, I think its right up your alley.

[DesertCat]

[ QUOTE ]
What bugs me, is that at it's root this is a good idea for a show. The basic premise of three people who have been busted by this famous gambler, and want revenge, is a good one.

[/ QUOTE ]

I must disagree. I think it's a horrible one, and my basis is that you have five characters with exactly the same motivation (including the Sheriff), and thre with the same specific background. That's simply not interesting, and it's lazy writing.

I don't doubt the Matador chated more than four people, but why make similar characters the focus of your core storyline? Different people react differently, event to the same stimuli. That's what makes different characters interesting.

I hated the unreality of it as well, but Tilt can get by with being unrealistic to us, as long as their target audience believes it. But they can't get away with lousy dialog and one dimensional characters that leave zero mystery for the audience to uncover.

[Joe Tall]

I watched a little of it and thought it was horrible. The game isn't even close to being corrupt like that. Two players fight and then get to go back into the Cardroom? WTF? They would be banished for life. And nobody talks through hands like that, ever. I've played 2/4 to 40/80 in the casinos, backrooms games, all sorts of Home Games and NEVER saw anything like that and likely never will. I hated it.

Hope things are well, Mike,
Joe Tall

[Mike Gallo]

Hope things are well, Mike,


Very well Joe, just busy. I work almost 50 hours a week now. Between that and becoming a newlywed, poker has taken somewhat of a backseat.

[Play Up Pompey]

Oh it was crap alright. Michael Madsen has made a career playing in these pseudo-noir potboilers. Probably a waste of Chris Bauer's (the sheriff) talent. He was brilliant as the beleagured stevedore's local president in the second season of HBO's "The Wire."

I don't know if I'll watch any further installments. I'd rather spend my time playing online or watching reruns of English Premiership Soccer matches on Fox Sports World.

But "Tilt" won't leave potential players jaded believing the games are all rigged. In fact, it contained enough campy testosterone-filled dialogue to lure even more young guppies and minnows to the tables...both live and online!

Let's face it, they really couldn't do a series on online poker...a guy sitting in front of his monitor with one hand one the mouse and the other on the gerkin. /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[MicroBob]

[ QUOTE ]
No offense to everyone who hated it, but what did you really expect?

[/ QUOTE ]


Before the commercials and trailers ran non-stop giving a decent indication of how bad this show would be I think I expected it to have even half of the quality of rounders.

The poker in that wasn't completely believeable much of the time but it was still a pretty decent film and I think many 2+2'ers agree. Even the scene where Matt Damon walks in to the judge's poker-game and somehow magically knows what everyone has, they still keep the over-the-top cheezy-dialogue to a reasonable minimum.

i can very easily envision a quality television program "in the tradition of Rounders" (as they like to say) that follows these same characters playing legitimately and trying to get to the WSOP, playing marathon sessions and REALLY going on Tilt, playing normal hands and getting bothered when they lose with a flopped broad-way when the board goes runner-runner to make someone else's flush or quads.
running short on dough and being unable to be staked, etc etc.

There are many ways to make a poker-drama pretty decent without having the black-thugs point guns at each other for dramatic effect or having a private-game at a boxing club because, evidently, nobody in Vegas wants to play in the Casinos.


Even the story-lines they have tried to develop could be reasonable if they had any plausibility to them at all.
For example, I too have no idea why that guy played in the game where he knew he was going to be cheated. It just didn't make sense and they didn't explain it well at all.


I have no problem with showing the donks playing 42o and somehow pulling off a dramatic win in a hand....I kind of expect that.


Also - someone said that just showing them playing group 1-3 hands would not exactly make good television.
I'm not so sure...in Rounders when they are all sitting around at the same table in AC and take the money from fish after fish with Matt Damon's narration "they have no idea what they are walking into", etc etc...I think this is one of the great scenes of the whole movie.
It gives a real impression of how much sharper these guys are compared with the average fish-donkey-tourist-conventioner. They're just sitting there going check-check-check and kind of bored and laughing it up and when the donkey sits down they all pay attention and ar ready.
Even this scene isn't completely realistic....but it sure had a good feel to it and had some degree of plausibility compared with all the cheating, chip-dumping and colluding that supposedly good players need to resort to in tilt.



It's really unfortunate....because when they first announced this show coming from the guys who did Rounders (before the commercials) I thought...."this could be REALLY good. I bet it ROCKS!" but one look at the commercials and it was pretty obvious how much it was going to suck.

Worst television show EVER!!

[MicroBob]

[ QUOTE ]
Yet, the folks at ESPN were all in an uproar over the Randy Moss mock mooning celebration last week and wouldn’t show the highlight.

[/ QUOTE ]


I turned away for just a second and missed it when it happened live.
I've seen the replay on ESPN about a zillion times on Sportscenter, ColdPizza, PTI, etc. I think they have it on a continuous loop and have been cutting to it any time they haven't been showing a Tilt trailer or (Gasp) ACTUAL SPORTS.

[Danielih]

Well there is a lot of cheating in poker...

And I know people who have punched other people at the table and been back in the Bellagio after 24 hours.

[The Dude]

I wouldn't.

[Philuva]

Awful. Could not even get through the full episode.

[Moyer]

Another thing, before I watched Rounders, I had no idea what Texas Hold'em was and I had hardly ever played poker at all. The movie made poker seem so interesting and amazing that I really wanted to play it. It's what caused the first big wave in hold'em popularity(the 2nd being the WPT).

Could be wrong, but I seriously doubt newbies will get that feeling by watching Tilt.

[Beezos]

i thought the show was pretty crappy. stupid plot and dialogue, and made the game of poker seem like a shady hustlers game. not to mention it was all about no limit texas hold'em, pretty much ignoring any other variation. i do wonder about the accuracy of the portrayal of these hustlers in the "underbelly" of vegas. are there really people who play in teams to try to clean out tourists? or people who stake others in touraments only to dump chips to another player at the final table? do vegas casinos use shills? i've played in vegas before and all the poker rooms seemed pretty legit at the lower stakes. all in all i think this show is a step back for the game of poker. i do not think i will be watching it for the rest of the season...

[MikeTexas]

I also felt that the show seemed to imply that many poker players (particularly the successful ones) are all cheaters and tricksters a la Matador.

And yes the sequence with the adolescent girl betting seven thousand dollars in a no limit game was very stupid.

Im also a very big fan of the actor who plays the Matador (he was awesome in Donnie Brasco, Reservoir Dogs, etc) but his character in this show is rather cheesy.

[Jstyal]

I thought the show was more entertaining than expected--it has a "Kill Bill" in poker feel to it. The behind-the-scenes special left me thinking the show would bomb big time, but after watching the premiere I thought otherwise. The show is not a documentary--it's just that, a show, so I find it odd that so many people are complaining about the show's realism or lack thereof.

I can't wait to play the influx of new players who will be influenced by the show, and am looking forward to seeing more of Tilt and more bimbo/restroom scenes.

[KidNapster]

From Daniel Negreanu's blog:

"I was anxious to see the first episode of TILT last night and I was pretty shocked to see that ESPN would air a show that won't help their long term goals of promoting a WSOP tour. Painting us all as gun slingin' cheats, crooked casino bosses, and all around thugs isn't the best way of selling the public on the WSOP being a contest of champion poker players.

Yes I know I did a cameo in the show... but man, I never expected them to go out of there way to show poker in the most negative light possible. With poker's growing popularity it was a given that it would receive more scrutiny and this program will certainly add diesel fuel to the fire. The show I saw last night is absolutely nothing like any poker world I've seen or been a part of.

Let's all just hope that future episodes get better rather than worse"


Personally, I hated Tilt. If anything, it damages the public image of the game.

[KidNapster]

Oh, I also had to hear my first two Tilt references in the last couple days. Both of them were people with 64. One was online when some guy flopped the nut straight with it. "THE MATADOR BABY" instantly appeared in the chat box. I blocked that guy's chat. The second was live a little earlier. Some guy rivered a flush with his UTG 64s, dragged a huge pot and said "Just like the Matador. The first lesson's free, the next one will cost you."

[Philuva]

With all of the cheating in the show, do you really think it is going to encourage new players to go out and play poker (an already intimidating event) in their local card room?

[Moyer]

[ QUOTE ]
I also had to hear my first two Tilt references in the last couple days.

[/ QUOTE ]

/images/graemlins/mad.gif I swear, if one more sunglass-wearing dickhead at a 4/8 table tries to "stare me down" to figure out if he should draw to his gutshot, I'm gonna snap.

[smartalecc5]

EVERYONE MUST REMEMBER. TILT IS A SHOW FOR OYUR ENTERTAINMENT - IT IS A NOT A DOCUMENTARY ON RANDOM PEOPLE PLAYING POKER IN AMERICA.

ITS ENTERTAINMENT - NOT A TRUE STORY.

(sorry bout the caps)

[James282]

[ QUOTE ]
With all of the cheating in the show, do you really think it is going to encourage new players to go out and play poker (an already intimidating event) in their local card room?

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe not, but there were 70,000 people on Party while the show was on. About 15-20k above average. Tilt is great.
-James

[Mike Gallo]

Tilt is great.

Unless your on it.

[zbrusko]

I also thought it was bad. The thing is, I wanted to like it. I really did. When it was over, I was just thinking that maybe it will get better. But after reading through all these posts I am reminded of how bad it really was. It simply has no potential. They have alreay, in one episode, pretty much laid out a story line that has chased away a lot of potential viewers. At least wait a few episoeds and try to hook people in before you expose yourself as being complete BS.

[Bluffoon]

There is no such thing as bad publicity.

I think everyone already knows that cheating exists. Do you guys go into casinos? I have seen cheating by patrons, by casino employees and even by the house.

[jedi]

[ QUOTE ]
Two players fight and then get to go back into the Cardroom? WTF? They would be banished for life

[/ QUOTE ]

Well at Commerce, it'd be a 5 minute suspension.

[scrub]

[ QUOTE ]
Did anyone else have a problem that two players had a fist fight at the poker table, and two days later the room allowed them to play?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like they filmed it at Commerce, right?

I haven't read the whole thread yet, so I'm sorry if someone beat me to it...

scrub

[scrub]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Two players fight and then get to go back into the Cardroom? WTF? They would be banished for life

[/ QUOTE ]

Well at Commerce, it'd be a 5 minute suspension.

[/ QUOTE ]

Damnitt--I got all the way to the bottom of the thread thinking I had gotten it in first.

Bad beat!

scrub

[MikeyEdge]

This show hit its peak in the first two minutes when Daniel Nangreneu was playing craps.

After that... its was absolutely dissappointing. I knew it wasn't going to be the best show in history, but I was willing to go along with it. But it was sooo awful. The worst part was the table chatter. I didn't really have a problem with the 12 year old playing poker, I just thought it was kind of funny. But the unrealistic dialogue throughout makes this show unwatchable.

This show will be lucky to make it to five episodes.

[Easy E]

Or would you rather watch Apprentice and Idol and reality shows out the ear?

Yes, it had a lot of faults, but it was the FIRST SHOW! of a DRAMA SERIES!

You didn't really expect it to reflect reality, with that title, did you?

[scrub]

[ QUOTE ]
Or would you rather watch Apprentice and Idol and reality shows out the ear?

Yes, it had a lot of faults, but it was the FIRST SHOW! of a DRAMA SERIES!

You didn't really expect it to reflect reality, with that title, did you?

[/ QUOTE ]

I was really hoping it was going to be a lot of footage of grumpy Ukranian men coldcalling with QTo while mumbling to themselves and breaking 100s for each bet.

scrub

[irisheyes]

C'mon guys, take it with a grain of salt. Look at the computer field. We get movies like Hackers and Antitrust, and phrases like, "There's a triple-encrypted password, I'm routing around the firewall." Think screens with a blinking green cursor and 72-point fonts. I love it!

I can't wait to see next week. There are so many posts I want to end with a witty Matadorism.

Ok, off to grab some more chili...

[Sponger15SB]

Hackers was a sweet movie.

Nothing compared to Tilt.

[DcifrThs]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Did anyone else have a problem that two players had a fist fight at the poker table, and two days later the room allowed them to play?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like they filmed it at Commerce, right?

I haven't read the whole thread yet, so I'm sorry if someone beat me to it...

scrub

[/ QUOTE ]

Scrub,

maybe you should work on your fighting because i heard you got beat down by a girl no less at 3/6...

HA!
-Barron

[scrub]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Did anyone else have a problem that two players had a fist fight at the poker table, and two days later the room allowed them to play?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like they filmed it at Commerce, right?

I haven't read the whole thread yet, so I'm sorry if someone beat me to it...

scrub

[/ QUOTE ]

Scrub,

maybe you should work on your fighting because i heard you got beat down by a girl no less at 3/6...

HA!
-Barron

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, she owned me. I blame you and James for that hand--no way she plays AT that hard two months ago.../images/graemlins/smile.gif

scrub

[Flushed]

I'd be lying, if I said I was enjoying this less... /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[anatta]

"ladder to the six". WTF. Who talks like this? Anybody EVER hear this at the table?

What about the hand where the black guy has a full house and the other guy had the nut flush. Why does he have to gloat like an idiot? 99% of the time, its just, "tough beat man" or just say nothing. Okay I understand that its a drama, and saying nothing is not really dramatic or whatever, but just be cool once.

When he lifts up the KK and shows it, rather than just turning it over. Grrrr!! Just like the other TV show, on FX, I forget the name. I guess its so we can see the actor and the big hand at the same time. This irritates me.

I wish they would get some 20-40 pros and sit them down and watch the show and make it real.