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I [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] high stakes poker so much.

it's the only poker I watch on TV anymore.

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Here's some info about this show in case you missed it or don't care.

Henry Orenstein (sp?) is the producer of the show. In case you didn’t know, he invented the first camera to observe hole cards, and it’s the same type of camera being used in this show. No, it's not as sophisticated as the so called "hole card cam" used by the WPT and the WSOP, and actually it's kind of lame, especially when they show the camera angle that looks up a player’s nose, which thank God, they have kept to a minimum, but the advantage it does have is that they don't have to raise the cushion ring that runs around the table so damn high it look like they're playing in high chairs, which not only looks ridiculous, but it's just plain silly.

Eric Drache and Mori Escandanti (sp?) are the consultants for the show. Mori is from Portland/Vancouver originally and worked his way up from the small games there and in Las Vegas to host of the top section at the Bellagio. I don't believe he's the host there any longer, but he is a highly respected player, especially at stud. I think you all know or have heard of Eric Drache.

This program has some things going for it that other poker programs don't have, but it has some of the same monotonous drawbacks. All in all I would I have to agree that it is the best show going, but it could do with some improvements.

I Tivo everything, so I don’t have to suffer through the endless commercials. This is the first poker program in ages I didn't shut off after about two minutes. Poker Celebrities whatever, that Fox show, the WPT and that obnoxious Norman Chad are all unwatchable. In my opinion they disrespect poker to such an extent and their ridiculous production values are so weak and just plain dumb that it's been ruined.

The only other show I found watchable was the heads up challenge on NBC.

Let me say this about Gabe Kaplan. He may not be the world’s greatest poker player but he’s been around the scene playing pretty high as long as I can remember. He was good buddies with Stu Ungar, and he used to play in the big game with those guys. So to say he doesn’t know poker is lame. He knows poker, and he’s a decent, not over the top, commentator. A little bit of that, “This is the greatest hand in poker history while we wait thirty seconds to put out the next card goes a long ways. The people who think this type of thing is entertaining have their head up their asses.

Fixes:

Get rid of the big bundles of cash.

Shut up for a while and let everybody listen to the table talk and allow the viewers to get into the rhythm of the game.

Don't allow donkeys like Hellmuth to play, because he won't be putting up his own money anyway. He'll go into is crybaby act, because he thinks that's where his fame and next paycheck is coming from, and he knows and everybody else knows he can't beat that game and those players anyway. Inviting him is just production BS. He has no business being there. Giving him airtime is validating his existence. I’m sick of Hellmuth. Poker doesn’t need him. When the stupid producers and press figure this out poker on TV will be much better. Your fifteen minutes are up Hellmuth.

Don't show everybody's hands! Have you ever watched any old episodes of the WSOP when they didn't have hole card cams? They were just as interesting if you ask me. Keep some hands a mystery.

That announcer actually said, and I swear I heard this, "He has the best hand if he doesn't fold." Jesus, haven't we heard that stupid line enough already?

Move the rail. Get rid of those railbirds sitting around eating yo' yo's and sucking down free drinks. They’re background distractions and you don’t need em.

With all of the problems this show has it also has a lot of promise. The remaining episodes should be pretty good if they don’t let things get out of hand, but I think they’re already in the can, so we can probably expect to see a lot more of the same.