Poker After Dark...

[Talking Poker]

So I was reading about a new poker show today, and it sounds pretty cool. It's called Poker After Dark and premiers on NBC on January 2nd.... at 2:05 AM!

Shana Hiatt is the hostess.

Every week, 6 players (big name pros) pony up $20,000 each and play a winner take all freezeout. The show is on every night M-F, and by the end of the Friday episode, one guy walks away with the $120,000. Then on Saturday night, after SNL, they have a "director's cut" of the show, where they review and analyze that week's game.

The show is very informal, with little to no annoying announcer stuff, and almost all table talk. The players can walk up to Shana any time they want and discuss how they are feeling, what's going through their heads and so on.

It sounds like it's got a lot of potential. I'm looking forward to it.

[JDMcNugent7]

seems cool and it will add to more fish.

[juiCe[3x]]

This seems really cool. I'd probably watch it for sure.

[New Guy]

I love the sound of that show. The behind the scenes stuff is what i'm looking forward to the most!!

[2Tone]

Lots of video, chance to win a seat at HU Championship

[Talking Poker]

Someone remind me to set my Tivo for this in about a week. I seriously think this has the potential to be the best poker show on tv - even better than HSP, which is really the only one worth watching right now.

[New Guy]

Bite your tounge!!!! Nothing will ever be better than hsp. Come on unless its a bunch of 10's playing naked around a table it will never be better

[Zybomb]

REMINDER

[Talking Poker]

Thank you, sir!!!

Just yesterday, I knew I needed to set my Tivo for something, but I couldn't remember what.

All set now.

[Zybomb]

Decent first show... but seeing a high percentage of the hands can get boring when nothing much is happening...I think the shows later in the week are going to be the more interesting ones (higher blinds and looser play) and the ones in the beginning of the week may be questionable...

Its nice to hear the players talk but annoying when they are all talking at once and you cant hear anyone...

Other random notes

The older guy that I don't know seems pretty shitty. Very straight forward tight style and makes rookie mistakes (i.e Huck Seed seeing him want to bet the pot with KJ on the J high board).

Huck Seed gave a huge tell when he flopped a King high straight with his face on the flop when he checked behind. Thats two very rookie tells given off by two different players in this first episode.... interesting.

Wow Helmuth tilts easily

Huck Seed folding KQ the first hand in the BB I disagree with

Good river check back by Helmuth when he missed his flush (although I would have prefered to raise either the flop or turn, or fold the turn). Duke would have called easily.

Dunno if I like Helmuths River Bet with three Aces on the spaded board though. I would have checked to enduce a bluff (or for protection against a flush/boat/bigger ace [although unlikely] )

[Talking Poker]

I think this show is great. It seems like they are showing 75-90% of the hands, which is a nice change from normal televised poker. I enjoy all the table conversation, but it is annoying sometimes when they are talking over top of each other. It's hard to know who to tune out. I'm also not a big fan of the mystery announcer - I think he should keep his comments to the poker action, and leave the comedy to the players at the table. It's GREAT to see Shana Hiatt again. Sweet, sweet Shana.

As for the play, it's really not all that impressive. On average, they seem to be playing more straightforward and passive than I am used to seeing at the limits I play online. This seems to be typical at this level. I'd love to sit in that game and see how I'd do.

I played with Steve Zolotow at the Borgata in 2004. I got short stacked and got it all in with AQ against his AK - and I sucked out. He wasn't happy, but he took it pretty well... A LOT better than Hellmuth would have. My God that man is easy to tilt.

[de-coder]

I've seen the first ep and part of the second. For those who missed it -



all the show will be posted, right now 1 and 2 are up. I like the show a lot - I'm going to follow this one for sure.

[de-coder]

OK, I just finished watching the second episode... Gus has finally started to speed up and seems more like Gus, and this Huck Seed guy is a freekin flush magnet... Phil is still tilting and from teh preview for tonight appears to get worse...

The format of the tournament appears to be slow on purpose - designed to keep the players in for a long time so they get the most good tv out of them. I still like it and I think tonight is going to be really good.

[X-Longshot-X]

Taping tonights episode (i know old school) i hope its decent

[Robbie Robb]

The disembodied voice you hear is Ali Zahan (or something like that). He also co-chaired the FCP Daniel Protege 1 Final Table and I believe he also was one of the announcers during ESPN's live coverage of the WSOP. I know I've seen/heard him in two other broadcasts. The funny thing is, I remember liking his commentary in the others. It's almost like he's trying to be Gabe Kaplin, but fails. I'd like to see/hear more Shana though. They way they hyped it up initially I thought there would be more of her covering the play.

[Robbr25]

Just watched 1st 2 episodes.
One comment:
Do you guys like Huck Seed's huge raises/bets when he has an almost(or not) unbeatable hand ?

[Talking Poker]

I think Huck is the best player at the table, honestly. He's had a nice rush of cards so far, but he's just so composed and level headed and observant and everything else. He's just solid. He may have made a play or two that didn't work out, but he's the man. Gus is playing well too, IMO. Annie is Annie (she's just not the good), Steve is very bland and by the book, Sheik is solid but really nothing all that special, and Phil is talented of course, but an emotional basket case.

I'm hoping it comes down to Gus and Huck, and I like Huck to take it down.

[Zybomb]

1/2 way through Episode 3

- The Hellmuth thing was absolutely hilarious

- This Zolotow guy is awful ... weak/tight to the extreme. Raising with 44 receiving one call then checking behind on a 2 5 7 board (or somethin like that) then folding the turn when a Ten comes???? Folding Big aces to a button raise... etc

- Hellmuths comeback interview hilarious. 22 years of Poker and I've never seen this!!! LMAO And WTF is the "World Wide Wrestling Federation" (WWWF?) HAHAHAHA

[X-Longshot-X]

Helmuth is a bitch, and sucks at poker if he was gonna call of his last 6k with A10.....that is all

[Zybomb]

Not necessarily -- he was under the impression that annie would push in on his raise with any ace... if thats the case he could be a dominating favorite. It happens she had KK so he looks foolish, but what if she did have A8? Read dependant there, but yea still mostly a fold situation

[totheace]

Helmuth drives me nuts. I respect his poker resume....but to listen to him go on and on. Annie owned him on that hand. Foolishness. He thinks he's bigger than the game. Drives me crazy

[Robbr25]

Huck has played well (and gotten a lot of cards).
But he did have a couple tells that I caught.
I think Gus is the best player at the table with Huck second.
Z is weak.
Annie is ok
Shiek is just funny kinda mix of weak and aggressive sometimes.

[BlibbityBlabbity]

What happened to Gus? The super weak HU play between him and H. Seed was horrible. How many times do you check down the best hand to have someone who 95% would have folded on the flop/turn to ANY bet, only to see them hit the river for free? Seems like they both missed the gear change phase.

EDIT: Ok, I'm watching the last 20 minutes of Friday's episode now and Gus is FINALLY playing poker.

[Robbr25]

I think Gus knew he was up against some tight players, so played extra tight until heads up.

[New Guy]

Im liking Huck alot.Seems really cool and a great player.Im not totally sold on the show yet.I think sheeky is a retard