Late Night Poker final tonight, Ch 4 12.55am

[RED-DOG]

Hello Vicky. 

Welcome to blonde

[Victoria Coren]

Hello... Neil told me to have a look at the Blonde forum because "they're saying nice things about you". lol, MARVELLOUS....

Sorry you're not enjoying the LNP commentary. Just to clarify something though -

In my eyes, poker commentary should include a team of 2; a high level thinker with a good understanding of concepts and plays, and a lay person with an ability to translate these occasionally complex ideas into words understandable to the average Joe.  Vicky does not fit into either of these categories unfortunately.

  Sure: that's exactly the principle by which poker commentary's always done. On LNP, I'm meant to be in the second category! Tikay's right, you're looking at it in the wrong way: you're thinking of me as a poker player, and disappointed that I don't seem to be on top of the technical lingo you'd use to analyse plays. But that's not how the audience would be thinking of me generally. James is there for the pro analysis, and I'm there to introduce / translate / fill in narrative / make the odd joke. When you say "a lay person", have you thought about what it would be like if that job was ACTUALLY done by a lay person? It has to be someone who plays poker, otherwise it's like getting a translator who only speaks English and has no idea what his Japanese client is banging on about.
  I'm working in exactly the same tradition as Jesse May (and so is Nick Wealthall), trying to bring colour and humour and a bit of explanation alongside the technical stuff. I'd never claim to be as good as Jesse, only an admiring disciple of his approach, and of course I'm sorry if you think it's rubbish - but it's a bit harsh to say that Jesse's brilliant and I'm clueless about poker. That's not comparing like with like. A more logical comparison would be: Jesse's entertaining and I'm just dull lol. Or, of course, it could be: Jesse's brilliant at poker and I'm terrible at it - but you'd really have to say that based on watching us both play, rather than anything we're trying to do in the commentary box.

  Another note of clarification:

She is fit though.

  Of COURSE I'd take that as a compliment! Anyone who thinks I wouldn't... jeez, if you think I take life that seriously, then my intro jokes on LNP really AREN'T working!

Anyway, that's all - sorry I won't see any replies to this, but I don't look at poker forums much (only the Hendon Mob when they put my column up really, in case anyone has questions) - not that this isn't a great forum, but I'm always juggling too much stuff and don't have time.

  Also means you're quite free to carry on saying what a terrible commentator I am and I won't see that either... but I've got the gist. ;-)

[George2Loose]

1st

[George2Loose]

Vicky FWIW you're much better on LNP than the EPT. In the EPT where you're the "expert" it just doesn't work.

[Boba Fett]

Vicky FWIW you're much better on LNP than the EPT. In the EPT where you're the "expert" it just doesn't work.

agree

[cambridgealex]

Really enjoyed Frank Skinner's show. Vicky comes across really well.

[cambridgealex]

Hello Vicky. 

Welcome to blonde

how did you know?!

[tikay]

Hello Vicky. 

Welcome to blonde

how did you know?!

Tell me you are not serious, Alex?! If you are, PM me, & I will reveal Red's "secret" way of knowing.

I really do get the desire to mother you sometimes, you are so sweet.

[RED-DOG]

Hello Vicky. 

Welcome to blonde

how did you know?!

Tell me you are not serious, Alex?! If you are, PM me, & I will reveal Red's "secret" way of knowing.

I really do get the desire to mother you sometimes, you are so sweet.

Don't tell him about my relationship with Vicky FFS. It will be all over the forum.

[pleno1]

Hi Victoria,

I think the main problem is that you try to chime in too much with strategical POV. James will say something correct and you will be like nah thats wrong. If he is the expert and you are self admittedly the "lay" guy then trust in him to speak sense. FWIW I think James was awesome and would love to hear him on next years series.

I love the way you speak about non strategical parts of the game, your descriptions and introductions to the final is better than any I've heard before, including Jesse and I bet you scripted them yourself too.

In summary you come across really well, but it is just a little bit cringy when you are trying to comment on the level of play that some of the guys are doing when only James can get remotely close. OFC chemistry is a big thing when it comes to commentating so realise that it is pretty hard to just sit there saying puns and telling jokes. I did a commentary for PokerStrategy.com with Mulhuzz and although it was extremely difficult I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Stick around the forum. See you in PHA The Lougne.

[Acidmouse]

Seriously V Coren needs to be on every poker show

[kinboshi]

My Dad and brother watch some poker shows.  They understand the basics of the game, but have only played a handful of times in fun home-games.  So they don't understand the real in-depth analysis, but appreciate the explanation of what is going on.

Not really a criticism of Vicky or James, but my Dad far prefers the UKIPT coverage - simply because the production is better. Simple things, such as showing what the blinds are on the screen, how large each bet is and how much it is to call, etc. which are missing from the LNP.  This means it can be difficult for him to follow exactly what's going on in a hand through the streets, especially if the hand involves three or more players and goes on for some time.  So he tends to watch the UKIPT more than LNP, maybe the format is just more interesting?  He's a big fan of Vicky's though on Only Connect.

Not sure if he's the standard 'target' audience, but I'm sure he's not atypical. 

[RED-DOG]

Hi Victoria,

I think the main problem is that you try to chime in too much with strategical POV. James will say something correct and you will be like nah thats wrong. If he is the expert and you are self admittedly the "lay" guy then trust in him to speak sense. FWIW I think James was awesome and would love to hear him on next years series.

I love the way you speak about non strategical parts of the game, your descriptions and introductions to the final is better than any I've heard before, including Jesse and I bet you scripted them yourself too.

In summary you come across really well, but it is just a little bit cringy when you are trying to comment on the level of play that some of the guys are doing when only James can get remotely close. OFC chemistry is a big thing when it comes to commentating so realise that it is pretty hard to just sit there saying puns and telling jokes. I did a commentary for PokerStrategy.com with Mulhuzz and although it was extremely difficult I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Stick around the forum. See you in PHA The Lougne.

akenhead is really good, coren is an abs jok, shes stupidly terrible and her ept commentary is even worse. gtfo the mic mate.

Eh?

[cambridgealex]

Hi Victoria,

I think the main problem is that you try to chime in too much with strategical POV. James will say something correct and you will be like nah thats wrong. If he is the expert and you are self admittedly the "lay" guy then trust in him to speak sense. FWIW I think James was awesome and would love to hear him on next years series.

I love the way you speak about non strategical parts of the game, your descriptions and introductions to the final is better than any I've heard before, including Jesse and I bet you scripted them yourself too.

In summary you come across really well, but it is just a little bit cringy when you are trying to comment on the level of play that some of the guys are doing when only James can get remotely close. OFC chemistry is a big thing when it comes to commentating so realise that it is pretty hard to just sit there saying puns and telling jokes. I did a commentary for PokerStrategy.com with Mulhuzz and although it was extremely difficult I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Stick around the forum. See you in PHA The Lougne.

akenhead is really good, coren is an abs jok, shes stupidly terrible and her ept commentary is even worse. gtfo the mic mate.

Eh?

 

[dreenie]

Without doubt the highlight for me of this LNP series has been watching the online qualifer Mr Okell, who had barely ever played live - let alone ending up on TV for one of his first encounters with the (non-virtual) green baize.

Watching the poor sod's trauma and pain - as he's wrestled with decisions - when 'put to the test' by the relaxed pros has been rivetting.

When he had A 9 in the BB to a shove, he grimmaced , he tanked, he grimmaced     ...    and eventually called, successfully.

The 'sniffy comments' and bemusement of his fellow players/commentary team over, "what was he waiting for?" made me laugh.

The very people who get pompous over some poor rookie lad's dwelling in the biggest tourny of his life     .....        are often those who've had/still require staking in their poker careers.

Gripping stuff watching his emotions & facial expressions as he - very visibly - computes what to do in situations that are to many "auto call" situations.

I'll bet that many of those that have smirked at his pain swear at learner drivers too      .......

Not having looked up the result on THM, gl Mr Okell.

Completley disagree with this - You make out like he plays 2£ tourneys, and that he's never played poker before? - OK maybe not live no, but online he won a seat from 100£/$ - That's pretty big buy in for someone who doesn't have a clue? - And if you had just won a 10k seat whatever it was, wouldn't you be reading up/asking friends a bit more about the game if u didn't have a clue?

I understand he was nervous, and take all that into consideration, but the A9 hand was a complete joke, it wasn't all his stack, he wd still have plenty of chips after the hand if he lost, so imo it looked bad.

And you touch up on the 'players that need to be staked' would only think this is a slowroll? - What has being staked got to do with anything? - Really bad comment imo. I am keeping this sweet as I don't know how to word it properley to what I want to say...

As for Vicky, I think she gets a super tough time, I've always been a fan, just think she is so witty, charasmatic, she just has things that u can't learn, u can't buy, they are naturally from within u as a person, so imo that what makes the show lively and funny, I would not like to tune in a see a couple of boring farts sitting there talking non stop about how he only had 20% fold equity, how it is -EV to play the hand this way blah blah, I would turn it straight off tbh.

The fact is, yes it is a poker show, yes they are showing a poker tournament, but there needs the humar, a bit of fun thrown in too, as it is your average joe who will be watching - If I'm looking for expert anaylis, I log on to a training video website.