poker on tv hits an all time low

[gatso]

Did anyone have the misfortune to watch the poker masterclass on the Paul O’Grady show today?

Without a doubt this was the worst piece of poker TV I have ever seen, in fact I’m struggling to think of any TV of any genre I’ve seen that was worse.

An actor who I vaguely recognise from something was brought in to educate the masses of bored housewives and those of us who were waiting for 6 o’clock to find out who shot Mr. Burns.

It started badly as we were treated to an explanation of how you should burn a card before dealing the hole cards and only went downhill from there.

We then had a hand dealt face up and another celeb who apparently presents a programme about ghosts and may or may not have been a Blue Peter presenter once upon a time was told to put in the small blind. Unfortunately she had no idea what was going on and insisted on pushing a huge pile of chips into the middle instead so Mr O’Grady had to put double that in to make the big blind. That was the end of the pre flop betting, the 3rd player apparently doesn’t have to do anything.

Then we see the flop and our host has a made club flush, ghost woman has nothing and mateygirl has a pair of kings with an ace kicker. Ghost woman bets out and we’re treated to plenty of technical terms such as ‘you can either check that bet or raise’

This goes on for what seems like a lifetime and the chips fly in, the ace of clubs  comes on the turn giving Paul the nut flush, mateygirl top 2 pair and ghost girl nothing. A raggy river card is next and after the hands are explained to the players O’Grady wets himself over having won a game of cards.

Then shock horror, trying to act as though he’s made a terrible mistake and this wasn’t all planned at all (how he’s ever got a job in the field of acting when his performances are this bad I have no idea)  our actor friend announces that he forgot to burn a card before dealing the river so he removes  thecard and deals another making  mateygirl’s boat and leaving O’Grady upset.

Shocking, truly shocking. I hope I never see anything like this on TV again

If we have to put up with celebs playing poker on tv let’s have at least one of them who’s played the game before.

[thetank]

Sounds like fun.

[Robert HM]

and here's me thinking you were watching pokerzone and being unfair.

[Junior Senior]

could not agree more!
This sort of thing simply should not be allowed.  I am all for getting the game into the mainstream and getting people interested in it and it becoming more socially acceptable but doing it this way and doing it badly will surely just put people off and annoy the existing player. - FFS!!!!

[londonpokergirl]

could not agree more!
This sort of thing simply should not be allowed.  I am all for getting the game into the mainstream and getting people interested in it and it becoming more socially acceptable but doing it this way and doing it badly will surely just put people off and annoy the existing player. - FFS!!!!

Thats what I told the Richard & Judy show that the actors who had brought out dvds for christmas Mike Reid and can't remember other bod, had done it wrong on their show, so thats why I put it right

[Highstack]

Why does it upset you so much? What did you expect? It needs to be entertaining and appeal to the masses.

Anything that encourages new players to try and help the game grow is a good thing. I agree that it is mind numbing and I can't stand even the real poker shows, where they have to explain the ranking of hands each time or put up with giggling Jesse (what is so funny?) May, but that's why we have a remote controller to either turn it over or off.

Plenty more things going on to upset you withou this.

[Mr F]

More importantly Who shot Mr Burns?

Completely forgot and missed it.

[action man]

maggie, because he tried to take "candy from a baby"

[Mr F]

I'm assuming he lived?

[booder]

More importantly Who shot Mr Burns?

Completely forgot and missed it.

dave colclough has been shot ?                   

[HarlemShuffle]

Why does it upset you so much? What did you expect? It needs to be entertaining and appeal to the masses.

Anything that encourages new players to try and help the game grow is a good thing. I agree that it is mind numbing and I can't stand even the real poker shows, where they have to explain the ranking of hands each time or put up with giggling Jesse (what is so funny?) May, but that's why we have a remote controller to either turn it over or off.

Plenty more things going on to upset you withou this.

 

A group of girls I know, who have never even put 10p in a fruit machine, are having their first poker night tonight. This shocked me as they've never shown interest in anything like this in the past and none of them have any gamble in them at all. This goes to show that poker is getting to the masses and it's only down to TV coverage like this. I don't see any problem with shows like this or celebrity poker shows. I think it's a good way of getting people interested first place. When they advance they move on and come to places like this and talk about how poor those people on TV are.

P.S. Why weren't you watching Neighbours anyway?

[The Rivercard]

When the Media realise there is good Advrertising revenue to be made and public spending on poker and related merchandise increases, then you may get some decent poker shows.

However based on the rubbish that the states produces I doubt it. The ESPN coverage of the WSOP and documentaries like "beyond the felt" offer the only decent viewing.

Then again as long as poker grows in popularity I dont really care that much.....Maybe we need to catch a politician like John Prrescot  losing all his wedge on line to The Tank instead of cheating on his wife. Now that would make an interesting TV....hmmmmm I wonder what the headline would be?

Any suggestions

 

[tikay]

Just got home from my Poker Night Live debut (& maybe swansong?) & saw this headline - I thought - "uh-oh, I've been rumbled".......

[gatso]

Why does it upset you so much? What did you expect? It needs to be entertaining and appeal to the masses.

Anything that encourages new players to try and help the game grow is a good thing.

I agree with you on this

The problem I have with it is that not 1 of the 4 people involved had ever played the game before so the whole thing was a farce. I would be amazed if the show got anyone interested in the game.

If you're going to hold a masterclass in any game the person doing the teaching needs to have some idea of the rules.

could not agree more!
This sort of thing simply should not be allowed.  I am all for getting the game into the mainstream and getting people interested in it and it becoming more socially acceptable but doing it this way and doing it badly will surely just put people off and annoy the existing player. - FFS!!!!

Thats what I told the Richard & Judy show that the actors who had brought out dvds for christmas Mike Reid and can't remember other bod, had done it wrong on their show, so thats why I put it right

Just a shame that your piece was cut down to such a short clip Mel. I really believe that something like you did if edited properly and running to about 10-15 minutes would encourage a lot of new blood into the game

[tikay]

When the Media realise there is good Advrertising revenue to be made and public spending on poker and related merchandise increases, then you may get some decent poker shows.

However based on the rubbish that the states produces I doubt it. The ESPN coverage of the WSOP and documentaries like "beyond the felt" offer the only decent viewing.

Then again as long as poker grows in popularity I dont really care that much.....Maybe we need to catch a politician like John Prrescot  losing all his wedge on line to The Tank instead of cheating on his wife. Now that would make an interesting TV....hmmmmm I wonder what the headline would be?

Any suggestions

 

Tank Tonks the Bonker?