Fresh Poker Shows on TV Have Readers Ready for Action by Russ Scott on Creators.com

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Fresh Poker Shows on TV Have Readers Ready for Action

Poker on TV gets refreshed this week with the launch of a new show on NBC pitting amateurs heads-up against big-name pros, plus the start of 16 straight weeks of World Series coverage on ESPN. LuckyDog Poker readers spoke up about the new offerings.

Q: The new "Face the Ace" poker show on NBC sounds interesting, but what will viewers think of the amateur who risks big money to keep playing all-or-nothing matches against top pros, especially in this economy? I get mad at players on "Deal or No Deal" for getting greedy! — Ken L. in Pennington, N.J.

A: NBC's "Face the Ace," with its David vs. Goliath scenario, airs the first of seven episodes on Saturday (Aug. 1) at 9 p.m. Eastern. If you like rooting for the underdog, Ken, this is the show for you.

The premise is simple: Contestants — mostly amateur players who qualified online for free — blindly select a pro from behind four smoked-glass doors and battle that "ace" heads-up for $40,000. If the contestant wins, he or she can keep the money or pick a different pro and play for $200,000.

A contestant who wins the second match can either keep the $200,000 or play a third pro for $1 million. The catch is that a contestant who loses any match goes home with nothing but a bad-beat story.

Hailed as the first poker-themed game show on prime-time broadcast television, "Face the Ace" is loaded with an elite rotation of pros, including Patrik Antonius, Andy Bloch, Allen Cunningham, Chris Ferguson, Phil Gordon, Gus Hansen, Jennifer Harman, Phil Ivey, John Juanda, Howard Lederer, Erick Lindgren, Mike Matusow, Huck Seed, Erik Seidel and Gavin Smith.

That's a lot of firepower! As a group, the "aces" have won 41 World Series of Poker bracelets, 11 World Poker Tour titles and a staggering $100 million or so in live tournaments.

"Most people don't get to compete against their favorite athletes in sports like football or basketball," said show host Steve Schirripa of "The Sopranos" fame. "This show gives contestants an incomparable opportunity to test their skills against some of the best poker players in the world."

The remaining six episodes air Aug.

8 at 9 p.m., Sept. 12 at 2 p.m., Oct. 31 at 3:30 p.m., Nov. 14 at 3 p.m., Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. and Jan. 2 at 2:30 p.m. (all times Eastern).

By the way, Ken, Megan Abrigo — aka Briefcase Model No. 6 on "Deal or No Deal" — will serve as hostess. Ali Nejad, who does commentary for NBC's "Poker After Dark" and "National Heads-Up Poker Championship," will be tournament director.

I wonder if any qualifier will risk going for the million without a safety net. Anyone out there have that much gamble in them?

Q: I really hope Phil Ivey wins the World Series main event in November! I can't wait to watch him go for it on TV. Every major sport has that one player or team that wins a lot of titles and sets the benchmark for others to follow. It would be awesome to see Ivey become a mega-superstar, don't you agree? — Matthew T., no hometown given.

A: I agree, Matthew, but other than Ivey himself, no one is more thrilled that he made the final table than the folks at ESPN!

"This is the most excited I've ever been for a season of the World Series of Poker," said ESPN Coordinating Producer Jamie Horowitz during a media conference call last week. "Having Phil Ivey as part of our 'November Nine' has added a new level of interest in poker, not just on the blogs but even within ESPN."

Commentator Norman Chad, who annually tells ESPN viewers that Ivey is his pick to win the main event, added: "There's some mystical, magical quality to Phil Ivey that elevates him above the rest. He just has an amazing table presence that's unequalled in the game."

Leading up to the Nov. 10 final table show — when we'll see if Chad's prediction finally comes true — ESPN coverage opens this week with the $40,000 40th anniversary event. Next week is the Champions Invitational, followed by the Ante up for Africa charity tournament and then a record 12 weeks of the main event. New shows air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and will be repeated throughout each week.

E-mail your poker questions and comments to russ@luckydogpoker.com for use in future columns. To find out more about Russ Scott and read previous LuckyDog Poker columns, visit www.creators.com or www.luckydogpoker.com.

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