Explaining the rules on TV

JoeyT · #1 07-20-2005, 07:52 PM

When do you think poker will reach the point where they don't explain the betting structure and rules of NLHE every episode of every show? I can't remember the last time I turned into Sunday Night Baseball and had ESPN teach me how to play. I realize that poker is still growing and there are a ton of new people that tune in every week... but I sorta feel like poker will have really hit the next level when they are able to stop doing this. Every year you have millions of americans that tune into the super bowl and don't have a clue what the rules of football are... yet they never go over those (albeit most just tune in for the commercials).

Thoughts?

rheaume · #2 07-20-2005, 07:56 PM

baseball, football, etc rules are so complex that it's much more impractical to go over them before every broadcast. due to the (relatively) non-manstream status (yes, there are still people who have never heard of texas hold em somewhere) of poker, i think they will probably always have those annoying little segments at the beginning of every tournament broadcast.

and they will probably always be sponsored by a crappy beer company or an anti-impotency drug. [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

illini43 · #3 07-20-2005, 07:57 PM

I just change the channel when this part comes up, I can tell you how every hand goes on that stupid lesson thing.

2003: QQ loses to AK
2004: K-10 beats AJ (full house to flush)
2005: K-10 beats QJ (full house to two pair)

Most of the people that watch the show who are new probably don't even see the lesson since it is at the beginning of the episode.

Matt24 · #4 07-20-2005, 07:58 PM

Vince Burgio wrote about this in one of his cardplayer articles. He is ready for it to be stopped.

Slim Pickens · #5 07-20-2005, 07:59 PM

I think "I love you TiVo," as I zip past it. Then I hug the TiVo.

illunious · #6 07-20-2005, 08:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I think "I love you TiVo," as I zip past it. Then I hug the TiVo.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup.. takes 20 minutes to watch an hour long poker show. DVRs rule.

Also fast forward when someone gets caught and decides to "hollywood" it, when there's a preflop all in and every street takes 15 seconds to deal, player profiles, cheesy segments like "poker corner", etc..

rheaume · #7 07-20-2005, 08:10 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I think "I love you TiVo," as I zip past it. Then I hug the TiVo.

[/ QUOTE ]

lol

best i've read today, anyway

DyessMan89 · #8 07-20-2005, 08:13 PM

It is getting a bit frustrating.

VegasVixen · #9 07-20-2005, 08:19 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I think "I love you TiVo," as I zip past it. Then I hug the TiVo.

[/ QUOTE ]

lol

best i've read today, anyway

[/ QUOTE ]

If this is the best you've read tody, you missed this one from the Inetrnet forum... absolutely hilarious!!!

Thread

poker327 · #10 07-20-2005, 08:21 PM

I like GSN's solution of directing viewers to a Web site if they need to know the rules of Hold'Em. Even if one doesn't know the specific rules, it is pretty easy to follow the action IMO.