Poker Beat

BY: Ashley Adams
Contact at: (Asha34@aol.com)
Author of Winning 7-Card Stud

Poker Beat is coming. And you should care. Let me tell you why.

You've probably all watched the endless hours of poker tournament programming that's out these days. It is fascinating and addicting. It has surely changed the game of poker itself - as everyone and his sister wants to play like the guys and gals they see on TV.

The last thing you probably thought the poker world needed was yet another poker show. I know I didn't think there was a need for anything else in that genre.

And yet, a show is coming out soon that may change the way we think of poker on TV. It's not a show of poker players competing but a show about poker - kind of a Sports Center Tonight meets People Magazine of poker. That show is Poker Beat.

I did an interview with Annie Adlin, the creator of the Poker Beat. Here is that exhaustive interview.

QUESTIONS

Who are you?

Annie Adlin- Executive producer, co-creator, talent, casting and location organizer, not to mention lead worrier. I'm also the Casino shift supervisor for the poker room at Canterbury Park in the Minneapolis, Minnesota Metropolitan area . � �

What the Hell is Poker Beat, anyway?

OK, since you've asked I'll give you the full public relations treatment. Here it is. October 6, 2005 Minneapolis, Minnesota--Pokerbeat, an informative, fresh new television show, is in the final stages of production in Las Vegas. More than two years in development and orchestrated by gaming content experts, Pokerbeat offers a stylish and unique glimpse into the world of professional poker play.� The episodes showcase top competitors and industry insiders delivering up-to-the-minute news in a fast-paced, magazine-style 30-minute format.

Pokerbeat takes up where poker tournament programming leaves off. "We're not TV people making a poker show, we're POKER people making a TV show" explains co-creator Michael Hochman. He, along me, Annie Adlin and co-creator Matthew Kaphan,�have assembled�some of the hottest names in the business. ��

What makes this show so incredibly unique is its level of insight..� This show is produced by poker enthusiasts for poker enthusiasts.� We all knew what we were looking for, and were precise about the information being packaged.� We are confident true poker fans will welcome this style of programming.

Dan Goldman of PokerStars.com explain's "There has been a lot of poker on TV in the past few years,but no one - until now - has managed to catch on to a fundamental missing piece:� Covering poker asnews in a light-hearted, TV newsmagazine format," he says.� "Pokerbeat is as exciting and as revolutionary, in its own way, as the World Poker Tour."

Pokerbeat's first season features familiar names and faces:� Daniel Negreanu, Greg Raymer, Barry Greenstein, Chip & Karina Jett, Russ Hamilton, Linda Johnson, Tom McEvoy, Matt Savage, and Evelyn Ng.� Pokerbeat is primarily being filmed in Las Vegas at Wynn Las Vegas, Sunset Station, and The Plaza.� A studio-produced newscast adds up-to-the-minute tournament results and industry news to an impressive array of guests, events and comedy sketches.

Wow Annie, that's quite an answer. I didn't know you were so eloquent off the top of your head. So let me ask you something else. How did you get started doing PokerBeat?

We had this great idea that we had been kicking around for months......one day over eggs and potato flats at Denny's, Micheal, by business partner in this venture, said� "Let's do it." �And with that we started planning PokerBeat.

How did you happen to get together for this project?

We're all poker people in one way or another. Michael majored in film, before dropping out to enter the poker world. I have been in poker longer than I care to admit and Matthew, who also works on this show with me, had already made the cross over from poker into the video and production industry.

I brought in our major talent on the show, Lee Adams. He played poker at Canterbury where I worked. What we didn't know was his talent for comedy writing and his acting ability. He was the next on board as our host, writer, and director of talent. With Lee as the guy who has more enthusiasm than poker knowledge, we needed a co-host to play the straight guy. Dave Eglseder was our man. Dave is currently the tournament director at Wynn Las Vegas. Dave and Lee have an excellent chemistry. Old school, new school� straight man--goofball.

Who is it geared to?� And don't say EVERYBODY!

There is something for all age groups, but the sometimes 'in your face' humor may appeal more to a younger audience. Conversely, the guests we showcase in the first four episodes are time-tested professionals. They may appeal more to the middle aged and older crowd, with an eye for wisdom rather than one hit wonders. � �

What experience did you have in the world of poker before you started to produce this show?

Brush,/break-in dealer to Casino shift manager....I've done each and every job on the ladder and managed to take five years off to play professionally. �

How on earth did you get picked by anyone when there are so many poker shows out there?

We're different. We're not just a video tape of people playing poker. There's tournament after tournament out there, how to play AK, how to play 6,6, after awhile they all look the same (well, not really, there are a couple that are just plain awful) but we took a much different approach and the kind folks at America One Sports and FSN New England saw something unique in our show and are willing to gives us a shot. �

What do you do when you're not doing PokerBeat?

See above...work in some form or another has taken over my life, but fishing and fantasy baseball get thrown in the mix. �

What celebrities will be on Poker Beat? �

Weren't you paying attention to my prior answer?� Pokerbeat's first season features familiar names and faces:� Daniel Negreanu, Greg Raymer, Barry Greenstein, Chip & Karina Jett, Russ Hamilton, Linda Johnson, Tom McEvoy, Matt Savage, and Evelyn Ng.� Visit www.pokebeat.com for the more info on the first season's guests. �

Who did you want to get to do something with your show -- but couldn't because you're too small time? �

Since we're poker people, we know everyone in the industry. We got everyone we asked. There were even some we asked who said yes, but because of filming dates and conflicting schedules we were unable to get them on camera. Scott Fischman, Thomas Keller, Wendeen Eolis, Maureen Feduniak, 'Minneapolis' Jim Meehan, Kristy Gazes�to name a few. They will be included in our second season.. There�is something I would like to point out, not only were we able to get those on our own 'guest list' but every one of them did so without a "what do I get out of it", or "how much will you pay me". Every one of them contributed their time and effort, to help us put out the best possible product. That's the way real poker people are. �

Do you have any favorites in the poker world?

I have gained several through this project and my 20 years in poker. If I started listing them, you would have no room for a column. �

Is there anyone whom you've dealt with whom you think is a real asshole?

Not�anyone involved in the actual �making of this project. �

Why did you decide to format the show the way you did?

We laid it all out in great detail before we ever pitched the idea to anyone. We spent months developing each segment. We made the demo out of pocket and each at each stage of the project a direction for the segments became clearer. Some segments did not make the final cut and others took on a different direction from the original plan, but in the end, the format is a news/variety magazine brought to the screen. This type of program is what we feel we hold the poker audiences attention, and be able to adapt to changing trends. �

Would you consider doing a segment on the bad skin and poor posture of so many poker players and why so many people in the poker room are really, really fat (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Actually Jan Fisher touches on a few of the do's and dont's, such as plumbers butt. �

Since you're from Minnesota, what should a poker player know about how to be really polite in a tournament?

"Minnesota nice" says it all. If I have to explain what that is....don't�play where I work! �

Tell me about some of the strangest people you've met during the production of your show?�

I have�had some doozey's on the phone. Network TV people have to rank as 'odd birds'. One director of programming kept repeating "Your sponsor has to guarantee us two million for production, you dig?" He must have said this same sentence four or five times during the conversation. The hardest part is finding a network program director that will take a meeting with you and then find one that doesn't lie or want to steal your idea. And yes, we ran into both of those situations. But let's save that story for when I retire. �

Is episode the wrong word?� Is it just show?� Is each separate show a show or is it just one long show?

PokerBeat is a�thirty minute show tied together by segments. Each show is independent. If you miss show one, it won't affect the pleasure of watching show three.

Have you ever had to steal to pay your bills? �

Not yet, there is always a good poker game somewhere. �

A lot of people in theater and television have really bad grooming habits.� Do any of your cast members or production folks smell really bad?

I heard the crew filming BARGE kept some strange hours and found an all-night pan game they could not pass up. There are stories about Lee and a hallway, but we don't ask about it. �

Where will your show air?� Will I be able to watch it in Boston? New York City? Detroit?�How about Aspen?� Any other places that the show will air that you think our readers would like to know about?

�FSN New England and� America One Sports (national cable). We are in contact with a couple of other FSN regionals and hope that they will pick us up after they see the completed project. (BTW anyone with Direct TV can order their Sports pack for $11 per month and get every FSN regional station.) �

What does it cost to buy time on your show?�

Do you know how many people are expected to view it? America One Sports reaches 22 million households on national cable. They are however in a lot of small market areas rather than big cities. FSN New England has over 7 million. Spots for the first season? They're pretty much completely sold out for the first season. I think there may be two spots left. �

What ideas are you considering for future shows?

We got plenty locked in the vault, far from the greedy hand of corrupt network execs. Oh wait, did I say corrupt, maybe that's a bit harsh. I mean all those�very nice people we met last year and need to talk to again to go national. Please have your people call our people and let's do lunch. �

Any place for a great poker player, terrific writer with a booming voice, a great stage presence, nice hair and boyish good looks in any segments of Poker Beat?�

We have already agreed to the extortion letter you sent us last Monday. Money is not enough? Now you want face time too? �

Tell me a little about your sponsors. �

Wynn Las Vegas Sunset Station and the Plaza were extremly accomodating in letting us film at their locations. I can't say enough about Dan Goldman and PokerStars. To make the first season we needed a sponsor willing to cover the production costs and take a chance on a new idea, not to mention trusting that "poker people" rather than "TV people" could get the job done. Dan loved our concept and even stated that he had thoughts about this style of programming for over a year. He placed his confidence in us to make a show that has a potential for a long run. We have devoted the last year and a half to obtaining that goal.��

Thanks for your time Annie. I look forward to watching your show and sending you comments. You'll let me have the first interview when you become rich and famous, no?

Of course.

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