While much of Hollywood continues to be shut down due to the ongoing writers’ strike, people like Brittany and Jamie Lynn Spears keep us entertained with their dysfunctional lives. It’s the trainwreck that you can’t look away from… But let’s move on to stars playing poker.

It seems that Mekhi Phifer, currently starring on E.R., likes poker more than the occasional celebrity tournament. He recently held a family Christmas party at his home for 80 people, and a poker game was the big attraction. He even put up the grand prize – two tickets to the Bahamas. For those not invited (like me, can you believe it?), Phifer can be seen in the recently released film, This Christmas, in which he starred and produced.

Early 2008 is the scheduled air time for a BET special called Black Poker Superstars that was recently filmed at Planet Hollywood in Vegas. Stars like Nelly, Anthony Anderson, Orlando Jones, Eddie Griffin, and Mekhi Phifer played in the poker tournament, and Matt Savage served as the tournament director. Poker pro David Williams also attended and provided commentary for the show. Top finishers donated their prize monies to various charities.

Actor Kevin Hart noted, “I have grown a passion for the game. I would love to get to the point where I can rub elbow with David Williams and Mike ‘The Grinder’ in tournaments, and they can say, ‘Hey, this guy is a good player.’”

Recently, Justin Timberlake was bringing sexy back to Australia and wanted to play some real poker during the trip. His management called Crown Casino and requested a game with Joe Hachem, who obliged. In return, Timberlake gave Hachem’s daughters front row tickets to his concert.

Finally, the long-discussed movie about Amarillo Slim is finally in pre-production. Writer Christopher Wilkinson, who also penned Nixon and Ali has secured Nicholas Cage as the lead actor to play Slim. The film is an adaptation of Slim’s book, “Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People: The Memoirs of the Greatest Gambler Who Ever Lived” and will be titled, strangely enough, Amarillo Slim.

Episode 2.4.2

The European Union considers fighting American anti-online-gambling laws via the WTO / Washington State looks to undo felony online poker statute / Dan questions Poker Players Alliance lobbying strategy // Tom’s sick of the war in Iraq / Fermat’s Last Theorem in the Middle East // Chaka Khan, Chaka from Land of the Lost, and Amarillo Slim at gunpoint // Russians betting their wives away

Click to listen (15 min, 14 meg)

aired live on Hold’em Radio 1-31-07

Episode 2.4.3

The Bluff Power Rankings vs. CardPlayer’s Player of the Year // Tom prepares for “Cash Poker,” a televised $25,000 buy-in ring game at Binion’s / Dan worries that Tom may lose because no-limit cash games aren’t his specialty // Psychoanalyzing Amarillo Slim’s mental state after his latest reported armed robbery / Tom’s childhood fondness for the 1972 champ // Reliable rumors on how the media set-up will work at the 2007 WSOP / Tonya Harding vs. Nancy Kerrigan on press row // Tom’s Winning Wisdom: Integrity is Key

Click to listen (23 min, 21 meg)

aired live on Hold’em Radio 1-31-07

Michele in Houston sends a link to some more wayward-hottie jimjabber on 2+2 … about Brandi Hawbaker’s latest sessions at Bellagio and the high-drama life story she’s laying out for all to know. Can’t decide if it’s mean-spirited gossip or just observational reporting. This is all kinda sad, right? Or maybe it’s just gloriously salty real-life poker in an uncontrollably public day and age? Juicy.

I have to admit, I kinda avoided weighing in on the story of Brandi’s run-in with an ill-placed pokery penis … in part because I questioned its relevance, and because I would never want to disrespect women preferred to remember her as the cute boppity tournament-trail newcomer with a big innocent smile, extra-healthy chip stacks, and a crazy little sticker on her boobie. But now with Sklansky, and maybe even Amarillo Slim, we have the makings of a trend … or at least a reality-show pilot.

Thanks for the link, Michele … and by the way, big ups on your new pics, but where’s your sticker shot?!?

Seriously, like it should be a felony to rob Amarillo Slim in Amarillo of all places — especially with gunfire. Oh, wait, it is. Here’s the article (reg. req.) of what apparently went down in the Texas Panhandle in the Tuesday night/Wednesday morning wee hours. To summarize:

– A yellow vehicle cuts off Slim, forces him to stop.

– Passenger of yellow vehicle gets out, draws gun, demands money.

– Slim says no and slams his car into reverse.

– Gunman fires three shots as he flees. At least two bullets hit his car.

– Slim was not injured and refuses to comment on the incident.

– Nicholas Cage will be playing Amarillo Slim in an upcoming movie.

So there you have it. Wow. Poker is as poker does, I guess. But why is it that the poker world is starting to look more and more like the rap music world of the late ’90s? I bet Thomas Preston never thought he’d be thought of as the R. Kelley of poker.