Ok, so I’ve watched the first 3 episodes of Poker After Dark which premiered on NBC this week at 2am and all I can say is it’s pathetic.
Not only is there very little action, but the ego’s of the players are unreal. Of course the main one being Phil Hellmuth.
Now, we’re all used to Phil Hellmuth having a huge ego and belittling the other players at the table, but he is simply over the top now. It’s really not even amusing especially without the side comments coming in from ESPN’s Norman Chad. I actually believe he’s suffering from some sort of mental disorder.
Also, the set up of the tournament is pretty boring compared to watching GSN High Stakes Poker where you get to watch huge cash pots with good commentary. Here, there’s very little commentary and virtually no action. Plus, it’s a cash buy in, but played tournament style with the winner of the table taking it all, but the “all” is only $125K compared to hundreds of thousands exchanging hands at any given time on GSN High Stakes Poker.
Hopefully it will change once we get a new group of players like Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu.
Here is a list of the upcoming table match ups. As much as I hate watching Phil Hellmuth sometimes, I can’t help but notice the match ups the week of January 22nd. Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow and Tony G. at the same table and the other players aren’t too shy either.
Week of Jan. 1 (This Week)
Seat 1: Gus Hansen
Seat 2: Phil Hellmuth
Seat 3: Shawn Sheikhan
Seat 4: Annie Duke
Seat 5: Steve Zolotow
Seat 6: Huck Seed
Winner: Gus Hansen
Week of Jan. 8
Seat 1: Mike Matusow
Seat 2: Gabe Kaplan
Seat 3: David Grey
Seat 4: Doyle Brunson
Seat 5: Dr. Jerry Buss
Seat 6: Daniel Negreanu
Winner: Daniel Negreanu
World Champions Week: Begins on Jan. 15
Seat 1: Chris Moneymaker
Seat 2: Jamie Gold
Seat 3: Johnny Chan
Seat 4: Chris Ferguson
Seat 5: Doyle Brunson
Seat 6: Carlos Mortensen
Winner: Johnny Chan
Week of Jan. 22
Seat 1: Sam Farha
Seat 2: Tony G
Seat 3: Mike Matusow
Seat 4: Phil Hellmuth
Seat 5: Phil Ivey
Seat 6: Andy Bloch
Winner: Phil Ivey
Week of Jan. 29
Seat 1: Phil Hellmuth
Seat 2: Jennifer Harman
Seat 3: Phil Laak
Seat 4: Erik Seidel
Seat 5: Antonio Esfandia
Seat 6: Doyle Brunson
Winner: Phil Laak
Poker Analysts’ Week: Begins on Feb. 12
Seat 1: Michael Konik
Seat 2: Phil Gordon
Seat 3: Howard Lederer
Seat 4: Chad Brown
Seat 5: Gabe Kaplan
Seat 6: Mike Sexton
Winner: Howard Lederer
Week of Feb. 19
Seat 1: Chris Ferguson
Seat 2: Clonie Gowen
Seat 3: Sam Farha
Seat 4: Gus Hansen
Seat 5: Ted Forrest
Seat 6: Tony G
Winner: Chris Ferguson
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6 Comments
I agree. I have been recording this program AND IT IS LIKE WATCHING PAINT DRY!! It is literally the worst poker show I have ever seen on television. It is champions week. I think it is the lack of color commentary. Johnny chan commented there should be music in the backround (personally, I think it would be more interesting if they had ANYTHING in the background). Plus the set is dark and dreary. The poker players look and sound like dead glassy eyed zombies!! Moneymaker takes himself too seriiously. Jamie Gold at least had a hint of a personality though I thought his eye make-up was kind of, well, remember that song about so and so are you gay?
It’s really hit or miss, but I like it. HSP is a ring game and it’s played differently from a sng game like this. It’s not edited so much to only show interesting hands, which I like. I can understand if people who don’t like poker don’t like it though. For all they know, someone always has pocket pairs and AK’s like in the WSOP broadcasts.
You know I’ll have to admit that I’ve watched every single episode and actually changed my mind on it. I really do like it!
I think the problem for me was Phil Hellmuth. Typically we just see a short edited clip of his ranting, but in this show we have to deal with a full hour of it and again the guy really has psychological problems. Plus for some reason now days I just can’t stand watching Annie Duke. I think her head has gotten a little big lately.
Once the show got into the second week it was much more entertaining to watch. I really enjoyed the commentator’s week which just ended. I wish Norman Chad would have played, but it was still entertaining, especially with all the stories about Stu Ungar and others.
By the way… I used to play quite a bit and sitting through those sessions were sometimes boring enough, so sitting though someone else’s session typcially wouldn’t appeal to me, but I will admit the show has grown on me.
Thanks for the comments.
Boring for braindead blockheads maybe. Not enough jumping and running, slowmo camera work or music for you, eh? Or perhaps Shana needs to bend over for the camera every once in awhile.
Yeah, jazz it up for people not interested in poker.
Hugo - As you can see from my comment above I mentioned my main problem with the first show was Phil Hellmuth. His theatrics, complaining and ego are getting a little old.
Other than that the show has been quite good.
I still think some more colorful commentary couldn’t hurt for entertainment purposes, but overall the show is quite interesting.
Oh and by the way… if Shana wants to bend over for the camera more often, who am I to stop her?
Thanks for the comments though.
Most you guys are a joke. The only reason you find this poker show boring is because it isnt edited to show all the crazy hands. Its straight up REAL poker which involves everyone folding to the blinds. A real poker player would be entertained by watching how the greatest in the world ACTUALLY play from hand to hand. This show is awesome, because its the most realistic poker show on tv.
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