WSOP on ESPN...

[Dodoubled]

I agree with the absurdity of it all, but I think ESPN is just resigned to the notion that everyone who cares enough to watch poker on TV probably already knew what happened through another media outlet (i.e. CardPlayer). However, the fact that ESPN can actually SHOW what happened vs. just telling about it still makes it an extremely marketable venture. I, for one, will be curious to see how it plays out on TV.

Remember, this is the same station that broadcast the entire final table for a cost (and in our case, for free ), so I don't think it's worried about the lack of surprise. I think the draw is more, "OK, we know Phil won his 10th bracelet. But what kind of antics does he pull en route to winning it?" Or, "Wow. Is this Jamie Gold guy really as big a dick as people claim?" This is the kind of stuff that only TV can show, not some blog.

To me, that's the draw of poker on TV, not watching some amateur suck out a runner-runner flush against some pro.

EDIT: Unfortunately, I didn't see any shots of you, TP. But I was looking.

[Quint]

I remember Cardplayer reporting how funny Brad Garrett was while he was in it. Yucking it up at the table and yelling across the room to Doyle (only to be busted by Doyle's grandson). I'm surprised ESPN didn't give us more of that stuff like they have in years past.

[Talking Poker]

Really? Because I thought there was plenty.

In watching it, it seemed to me that they combined Days 1A and 1B into the first one hour episode and Days 1C and 1D were the second episode. That's 8773 people playing 14 hours of poker, showing in 2 hours ot tv time - minus commercials.

I realize it would be impossible to give much more coverage, especially for the early part of the tournament when it's complete insanity, but it just seemed weird to me to show people going all in in what looked like minutes, when for most of them, it was hours.

Also, Phil showed up nearly 2 hours late, but they made it look like he got there 5 minutes late, right when that first player busted.

[Quint]

I thought I read somewhere that they were going to do an hour long episode of each day 1, but I just looked through their website and can't find anything to confirm or deny this nor do I remember who was which day 1.

[jaeh00d]

i had been looking forward to watching this for a while now, and it crossed my mind and i remembered 15 mins before the end of the second episode it was Tuesday and it was on. I checked to see if they were going to do the usual and air repeats around 2-4AM...nothing...

I will catch them eventually...

[X-Longshot-X]

I find it kind of annoying that they are airing them out of order as well. I do not pay attention to what is going on in the WSOP other than forum members. I want to watch all the events on tv and see who wins what, this just seems to be ruining that!

[Reel Deal]

Anyone watch last night? Joe Hatchem was acting like an ass. Dude has a hot temper.