OK so maybe poker is getting a bit too main stream.

Nottom · #1 09-29-2003, 11:06 AM

From HomePoker.com:

Celebrity poker on Bravo Channel?

LOS ANGELES - If audiences are flocking to watch relative nobodies play cards on the Travel Channel's coverage of the World Poker Tour, the Bravo Channel is betting they'll be even more anxious to watch celebrities play poker. Bravo has announced that it will soon be presenting "Celebrity Poker Showdown." The six-part series will air in hour-long episodes on Tuesdays starting this winter.

Executive produced by Marcia Mule and Bryan Scott, Andrew Hill Newman and Joshua Malina, "Celebrity Poker Showdown" will shoot next month in front of a live audience at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Each episode will feature five celebrities facing off in a winner-take-all game of No Limit Texas Hold 'Em for charity.

"'Celebrity Poker Showdown' is a hip and hilarious hour of television," says Malina, who just happens to be one of the stars of Bravo parent NBC's "The West Wing." "We're going to take Hollywood's finest and sit them down at a poker table in order to find out if they can bluff as well as they can act."

The roster of celebrities slated to appear include NBC stars like Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer of "Friends" and Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford, John Spencer and Richard Schiff of "The West Wing." Hank Azaria, Nicole Sullivan, Jack Black, Sarah Silverman, Emily Procter and, of course, Coolio will also be dealt in. The show will be hosted by Kevin Pollak of "A Few Good Men" and "Stolen Summer." World Poker Tour winner Phil Gordon will also be on hand as a commentator.

"Great celebrity poker games have taken place privately for years and this series offers viewers a rare opportunity to witness a new side of their favorite [stars]," says Bravo President Jeff Gaspin. "'Celebrity Poker Showdown' maintains Bravo's goal of offering a popular concept from a unique point of view, adding to Bravos growing original programming slate."

Toro · #2 09-29-2003, 11:53 AM

At first, I welcomed the increased popularity of Poker which has occurred, I assume, as a result of the televised WPT. But it's now reached a point where it is a royal pain in the ass.

Used to be, I could leave work at the normal time and just time it so that I got down to FW by 7:00 P.M. to register for the week night tourney. Now I have to get there an 1 1/2 early and even then there is no guarantee that I'll get a seat.

Ran into the same thing last week in LV at the Mirage. Played there last in March and tourney registration was easy. This time they cut it off at 60 entries and I got in but my friend got shut out.

CrackerZack · #3 09-29-2003, 01:32 PM

Poker's growth and more unknown players are a pain in the ass? I must have my priorities screwed up. And to think I was fine with waiting 30 mins for a seat to play with people who had been playing less than 3 months... aw man.

TimTimSalabim · #4 09-29-2003, 02:17 PM

You sound like the kind of guy who would complain after he won the SuperLotto that he has to fill out a tax form [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

TimTimSalabim · #5 09-29-2003, 02:07 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The show will be hosted by Kevin Pollak of "A Few Good Men" and "Stolen Summer."

[/ QUOTE ]

This gave me a bit of a chuckle... how many people are going to read this and say, oh, yeah, the guy from Stolen Summer. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

What, no Vince Van Patten? I thought he was the king of the celebrity home games.

Vehn · #6 09-29-2003, 06:05 PM

Heh no crap.. at least "Kevin Pollak of The Usual Suspects"...

MaxPower · #7 09-29-2003, 04:04 PM

A few years ago, Comedy Central had a show where a bunch of comedians sat around, played poker and told jokes. I thought it might be interesting, but both the poker and the jokes were mediocre. I think Kevin Pollack was on one episode.

It didn't last long.

I hear Bravo is also doing, "Inside the Wednesday Poker Discussion Group" hosted by James Lipton [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

slamdunkpro · #8 09-29-2003, 05:35 PM

What's next? "Straight Eye for the Flush Guy"?? [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

youtalkfunny · #9 10-01-2003, 04:58 AM

I'd back Pollack over all those guys. Too bad he's the announcer!

Bring in Affleck, and Bruce Willis, too. Pollack would crush 'em all!

Come to think of it, an early episode of "The West Wing" (my favorite tv show EVER!) showed the gang playing a hand of stud. Allison Janney was dealing--you know, the typical "home game dealer", calling every up-card as it lands, "...a club for Josh, nine no help, and the dealer gets another four!"

Anyway, the girl didn't look like this was her first time holding a deck of cards. Anybody remember how she dealt her own sixth card? Holding the deck in her left hand (as most dealers do), she didn't push the top card with her left thumb--she PULLED it off the front edge of the deck with her left index finger, making the card STAND UP, before falling off, face up, onto the table. SMOOTH AS SILK.

I don't watch the WPT, but I'll probably watch this crappy show, just to see which "West Wing" actor gets the bragging rights. My trifecta:

1. Alison Janney (I'm also a Boston Bruins fan, and can't help but think, every time her name is mentioned, that the best centers the Bruins had in my younger days were Jason ALLISON and Craig JANNEY)

2. Richard Schiff (He's got a street-smarts sort of presence, and NO, I'm not referring to his character on the show here!)

3. Martin Sheen (He's the oldest, and the oldest guy in a poker game always seems to do well.)

Gamblor · #10 10-01-2003, 02:37 PM

1. Alison Janney (I'm also a Boston Bruins fan, and can't help but think, every time her name is mentioned, that the best centers the Bruins had in my younger days were Jason ALLISON and Craig JANNEY)

Allison is a solid player, Janney was a whiney baby.

I watched Wendel Clark break his arm. I cried with joy.