Celebrity Poker Hits New Low

[kcchief19]

I know most of the serious poker players here have quickly dismissed the show due to is dearth of quality play, but I must admit that it is a guilty pleasure for me as a beginner. I learn a little bit just from watching and analyzing the hands and seeing where these people go off the board.

Through the first four episodes, there were novice gaffes and confessions of people who don't play too much poker. The most common mistakes show on TV were illegal raises, where people feel into the casual poker rules of saying "I'll call and raise you" or tried to raise less than the minimum.

The fifth game, however, hit a new low. First, Scott Stapp of the bad Creed came out betting like a madman when he had nothing, and actually won a couple of hands doing that. As the game persisted, however, his cluelessness emerged, and Kevin Pollack and Phil Gordon were merciless on the guy. The dealer was having to help him make bets and decisions, and he had to have every hand that he lost explained to him. He thought he won every hand and couldn't quite figure it out. Halfway through the show, the voice of reason Mimi Rogers said to him, "You can either fold, raise or check," to which Mr. Stapp replied, "What does check mean?" He was gone shortly after, since everyone was calling his bluffs at that point.

Next up on the clue train was Carrie Fisher. I am going to have nightmares watching the gold-bikini-Leia scenes in ROTJ after last night's episode. She mostly babbled semi-coherently through most of the show, but near the end when she and Mimi Rogers were having a couple of showdowns, she kept saying call when she meant check, or referred to checking as doing "that thing with my hand."

The futility of the show was summed up at the end, which included Kevin Pollock making a double-entendre about Mimi's breast and Mimi forced to go all-in on the last hand with nothing, since she was at the end of her stack and losing to a pair of threes.

The sad thing was that Mimi Rogers was clearly the most knowledgeable player in this game and probably the most knowledgeable in the series of games, but she was way too conservative. She backed down in response to bluffs way too easily and folded a couple of winning hands.

If any of the first four episodes turned your guts, I advise you avoid this episode. It will cause you pain and agony.

[rkmsuf]

I now know why they kept replaying the other episodes over and over. Had they led with this one or ever show it again no one will watch.

The guy from Creed made Tom Green look like Einstein. Stapp could be in contention for the biggest moron on the planet. Anyone that can spend more than 5 minutes with him has accomplished something...

[kcchief19]

I thought the same thing -- I now want to watch some of the episodes again to see if I can find any clues that these games were filmed with a certain order in mind or if they were filmed open-ended so they could be show in any order. If this had been the first or second episode, the show would have been sunk. It was wise to bury this one as the fifth episode so that it wouldn't be repeated as much leading up to next week's final game. I just don't know if it was by luck or design.

Yeah, I just wanted to punch Scott Stapp. He was an idiot and a jerk at the same time. Impressive feat. Tom Green phoned it in -- I think he folded every hand and then went all-in when he had nothing left.

Like I said, it's a guilty pleasure, but I almost enjoy watching this more than the WSOP on ESPN because even though the quality of play is low, most of the people on the show are much more likable than the pros. Most of those guys seem like complete asses. Last night was the exception to the rule. I'm not sure I could watch that again.

[samifan24]

Originally posted by kcchief19
I'm not sure I could watch that again.

Heh you guys talk about it like you survived something. I'm really glad I missed this. :D

[rkmsuf]

If I had to guess I'd say they were all filmed at the same time over a day or two...

It's a tough balancing act on the show. You aren't playing solely to a hard core card playing audience but still have to make the games resonable.

Phil Gordon does a great job in adding knowledge but not getting too technical. I really don't like Pollack but maybe that's just me...

They really need to find some interesting people to play. I'm not sure what the loser's lounge is for but I can't remember anything funny or interesting coming out of there other than Coolio talking on the cell phone...

[rkmsuf]

Originally posted by samifan24
Heh you guys talk about it like you survived something. I'm really glad I missed this. :D

Don't worry...I have a feeling it will be a lost episode...

[RPI-Fan]

I might be interested if any of these people were actually "celebrities" to me. Stapp and Coolio are the only one's that I've heard of, and the former only when I heard he was associated with "Creed".

[rkmsuf]

Originally posted by RPI-Fan
I might be interested if any of these people were actually "celebrities" to me. Stapp and Coolio are the only one's that I've heard of, and the former only when I heard he was associated with "Creed".

Come on, think man. You've heard of the West Wing haven't you?

How about Star Wars?

Mimi Rogers?

Ben Affleck married J-Lo...that must count...

[Ksyrup]

Originally posted by kcchief19
Scott Stapp of the bad Creed

I still haven't decided if this is a typo or not.

[Ksyrup]

Mimi Rogers...the former Mrs. Tom Cruise, right?

I love Kevin Pollock. I still have never seen this show, though.

[RPI-Fan]

Come on, think man. You've heard of the West Wing haven't you?

How about Star Wars?

Mimi Rogers?

Ben Affleck married J-Lo...that must count...

Never watched an episode of West Wing, nor seen a whole Star Wars movie. Mimi Rogers? I know Affleck, but didn't know he had been on the show. My bad.

[rkmsuf]

Originally posted by Ksyrup
Mimi Rogers...the former Mrs. Tom Cruise, right?

I love Kevin Pollock. I still have never seen this show, though.

I like to say Mimi...

You better see it soon...the light is fading...

Maybe they'll get Joe Namath on there to spice it up a bit...

[rkmsuf]

Originally posted by RPI-Fan
Never watched an episode of West Wing, nor seen a whole Star Wars movie. Mimi Rogers? I know Affleck, but didn't know he had been on the show. My bad.

You need to broaden you horizons...

[Celeval]

Don Cheadle, Ben Affleck, David Schwimmer, Allison Janney, Timothy Busfield, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, Martin Sheen, Hank Azaria, Coolio, Shannon Elizabeth, Ron Livingston, David Cross, Carrie Fisher, Tom Green... those were the ones I recognized the names of, some of the others I knew the faces. Wasn't bad for the first few weeks, although Kevin Pollock was somewhat annoying as the commentator.

[Eilim]

I have to admit I liked watching the show (until last night that is.). I think it was a case of making me feel much better about my own playing. :)

I actually got to the point where I had to change the channel once they showed their hands until the guy from Creed was knocked out. It was just too embarassing to watch him betting at the end with nothing then thinking he won.

[rkmsuf]

Originally posted by Eilim
I have to admit I liked watching the show (until last night that is.). I think it was a case of making me feel much better about my own playing. :)

I actually got to the point where I had to change the channel once they showed their hands until the guy from Creed was knocked out. It was just too embarassing to watch him betting at the end with nothing then thinking he won.

Without seeing, it loses much of the humor but at the end of one hand their was a board pair and the Creed guy paired with a 2 on the board and two in his hand. They turned over the cards and his opponent had the board pair and a higher second pair. They push the chips away and Creed guys says something like "hey I've got two pair" all excitedly. They explain he lost and he says "No way..."...

The delivery was priceless...he was either wasted or just dumber than a stump...

[Vikings13]

I actually think David Cross was a decent player - he didn't make many dumbass mistakes, but you're right - the Creed guy sucked. Carrie Fisher will never be hot in my eyes again, and who the hell is Mimi Rogers? It said she was in Austin Powers?

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by Vikings13
who the hell is Mimi Rogers?

Do a search for the movie Full Body Massage sometime.

I couldn't make it through one episode of this show. And I like the WSOP on ESPN, but the best has got to be the World Poker Tour (if you get the Travel Channel).

[Radii]

The only one I really enjoyed was the one that had Sarah Silverman in it. But that had nothing to do with poker. I didn't see the one with the Creed guy yet.

[kcchief19]

Originally posted by Radii
The only one I really enjoyed was the one that had Sarah Silverman in it. But that had nothing to do with poker. I didn't see the one with the Creed guy yet.
Sarah Silverman and poker? Did she poke you back?

[kcchief19]

Originally posted by rkmsuf
Without seeing, it loses much of the humor but at the end of one hand their was a board pair and the Creed guy paired with a 2 on the board and two in his hand. They turned over the cards and his opponent had the board pair and a higher second pair. They push the chips away and Creed guys says something like "hey I've got two pair" all excitedly. They explain he lost and he says "No way..."...

The delivery was priceless...he was either wasted or just dumber than a stump...
That was gold. I think that was when Mimi had pocket queens. I thought he was going to jump on the table and grab the chips. But clearly the best hand was when he kept raising like $500 trying to bluff everybody with nothing. Everybody kept reraising him because they knew he had nothing, and he kept calling. Then we everybody showed their hands and he had nothing, he couldn't believe it.

With the 20-watt light bulb brain powered he displayed last night, I expect MTV to be signing him up for a reality series any moment.

[Radii]

Originally posted by kcchief19
Sarah Silverman and poker? Did she poke you back?

In my version, yes :D

[AnalBumCover]

Originally posted by kcchief19
That was gold. I think that was when Mimi had pocket queens. I thought he was going to jump on the table and grab the chips. But clearly the best hand was when he kept raising like $500 trying to bluff everybody with nothing. Everybody kept reraising him because they knew he had nothing, and he kept calling. Then we everybody showed their hands and he had nothing, he couldn't believe it.

With the 20-watt light bulb brain powered he displayed last night, I expect MTV to be signing him up for a reality series any moment.
Can I have Creed Guy at my table when I play next time?

[sachmo71]

Shouldn't the "Celebrity" part of "Celebrity Poker" give you a clue about the quality of play? I think the good poker is on ESPN, but I could be wrong.

[rkmsuf]

Originally posted by sachmo71
Shouldn't the "Celebrity" part of "Celebrity Poker" give you a clue about the quality of play? I think the good poker is on ESPN, but I could be wrong.

It's good on ESPN but I sure am tired of the 2003 World Series. I've about memorized every hand at this point.

I like the travel channel the best but they one thing they don't do that ESPN does is put the % favored on the screen for each hand...

[Tasan]

Originally posted by RPI-Fan
Never watched an episode of West Wing, nor seen a whole Star Wars movie.

I'm dumbfounded by this statement. If you aren't American, I guess I could understand. But if you are, I can't see how you are alive and haven't seen one of the other of these.

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by rkmsuf

I like the travel channel the best but they one thing they don't do that ESPN does is put the % favored on the screen for each hand...

Vince isn't good with things like "division".

[rkmsuf]

Originally posted by cuervo72
Vince isn't good with things like "division".

Speaking of Vince, what exactly is he good with besides being a fine poker color man?

[Ksyrup]

Originally posted by Tasan
I'm dumbfounded by this statement. If you aren't American, I guess I could understand. But if you are, I can't see how you are alive and haven't seen one of the other of these.

I've never watched a second of West Wing, although I'm pretty sure I sat through at least one of the Star Wars movies as a kid. But I've never been back for seconds.

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by rkmsuf
Speaking of Vince, what exactly is he good with besides being a fine poker color man?

Well, I believe he's married to Shana (Hiatt), so he must be good at something.

[rkmsuf]

Originally posted by cuervo72
Well, I believe he's married to Shana (Hiatt), so he must be good at something.

What!!! I did not know that...that's weird wild stuff...

[Bonegavel]

Mimi was hot in her day, irregardless of the stray chameleon eye. But, in Hollywood Years she is around 145.

Also, not sitting through an episode of West Wing is a plus in my book.

[Tasan]

I've never sat through West Wing, but its pretty popular. Now Star Wars for me is a whole different story. I've seen each movie at least 5 times, most of them a LOT more than that. Oh well, I guess I don't represent as much of the population as I thought. ;- )

[kcchief19]

It's like a train wreck. They are rerunning last night's episode, and I tuned in just in time to see Mr. Stapp try to go all-in out of turn. Forget about that one. That was good.

After that Mimi Rogers raised him to what he had left, and it was up to her to let him know that he was now all-in. Neither had anything, although he had the high hand. Mimi got paired with sixes on the river and won the pot. She celebrated and about 5 seconds later he finally realized he lost. He went back in the loser lounge where he groused about how "messed up" it was to lose on the last card -- "Have you ever seen that happen?" To which Phil Gordon said, "Well, actually you lost your last three hands on the last card."

Immediately after that was when Carrie Fisher uttered the now-famous, "What are my choices?" To which Mimi told her she could check, raise or fold. After the turn, Mimi checked and Carrie tried to call, and Mimi had to tell her she couldn't call, but she could check. David Cross was just sitting over there laughing his ass off.

I would turn this off if weren't so stupid funny and if Mimi Rogers didn't have a nice rack for a 48-year-old woman.

If they bring this back for a second season, I would like to see the star-wattage increased a bit, as long as they take it seriously. The first game with Ben Affleck, David Schwimmer, Don Cheadle, Emily Proctor and Evil Willie Garson had the most star power (how the didn't fix it for Affleck to win I don't know), but I think the "best" game was Paul Rudd, Ron Livingston, Sarah Silverman, Coolio and Shannon Elizabeth, because at least three of them took it seriously.

If you do decide to watch this, make sure you turn away when they cut to Carrie Fisher lying in the floor in the losers lounge.

[rkmsuf]

Originally posted by kcchief19

If you do decide to watch this, make sure you turn away when they cut to Carrie Fisher lying in the floor in the losers lounge.

Dammit, I had forgotten about that. I now remember severe gagging last night...

[Desnudo]

Originally posted by Ksyrup
Mimi Rogers...the former Mrs. Tom Cruise, right?

I love Kevin Pollock. I still have never seen this show, though.


"They beat up a weakling, that's all they did. The rest is just smoke filled coffeehouse crap."

[rkmsuf]

Originally posted by Desnudo
"They beat up a weakling, that's all they did. The rest is just smoke filled coffeehouse crap."

What is a Grumpy Old Men quote next?

[kcchief19]

I'd have to go with a quote from the edited-for-television version of The Usual Suspects:

"Give me the keys, you fairy godmother!"

[Logan]

I was really impressed with Paul Rudd and Ron Livingston's play.

[Desnudo]

Originally posted by rkmsuf
What is a Grumpy Old Men quote next?

I might favor you with a selection from She's All That if you ask nicely.

[MJ4H]

Originally posted by cuervo72
Well, I believe he's married to Shana (Hiatt), so he must be good at something.

Actually I think that's his brother that's married to Shana. I could be wrong about that. But, boy what I wouldn't give...

[TroyF]

Nicole Sullivan was the real shark in the entire series.

She batted her eyelashes, talked to her drink and was in love with the same suited cards. . . but she has that 6th sense that tells her when to go for it and when to lay off. She made some great folds and raises while acting as though she didn't know what was going on.

It wouldn't shock me in the least to see her finish in the final 2 next week.

[Craptacular]

Originally posted by Vikings13
and who the hell is Mimi Rogers? It said she was in Austin Powers?

She was Mrs. Kensington ... Austin's original partner and Elizabeth Hurley's mom.