Mark my words, or at least check back in about 15 years … G4 is the next coming of MTV. And the Gen-Y and younger TV station (focussed mostly on the video-game geek culture, and re-runs of Tron) has a new poker show debuting in mid-August — 2M2MM.
Featuring Ansky and some other young online pros, in the show\’s words:
Premieres Sunday, August 16 at 9pm on G4. This summer, geeks are wild as G4 takes viewers inside the world of competitive high stakes online poker in a new series that follows four young high IQ friends who join forces and set up shop in Las Vegas. Their challenge for themselves? To collectively earn $2 million dollars in only two months using their own money.
With this show, Face the Ace (on NBC), and even Sam\’s Game (on Playboy.TV) … and all of them looking at least semi-good, frankly … anyone get the sense that the future of poker on TV continues to evolve? Mix in live coverage like you have with the Washington State Poker Championship below … and really, you gotta wonder what ESPN, the WSOP, and High Stakes Poker are going to have to deliver to keep up with (or ignore) the theoretically non-crappy televised poker we can expect in coming seasons.
Though admittedly, 2M2MM may well be a semi-successful one-hit reality wonder, while Face the Ace could go the way of Win, Lose or Draw … and Sam\’s Game may end up in the archives somewhere next to Naughty Nurses Go To Europe #9.
We\’ll see … or not. That\’s kinda the question.
Click below for even more on what to expect from this new show:
G4 LETS THE CHIPS FLY THIS SUMMER WITH 2 MONTHS, $2 MILLION PREMIERING SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 AT 9:00PM ET /PT
New Series Follows Four Young Online Poker Pros as They Set Up Shop in Las Vegas and Attempt to Earn $2 Million in Just Two Months
Los Angeles, CA, July 27, 2009 This summer, all bets are off as G4 takes viewers inside the world of high stakes online poker in a new series that follows four 20-something whiz kids turned high rollers who make big money flipping cards on the web nearly 24/7. Brian, Emil, Jay and Dani seasoned online poker pros and close friends are roommates for the summer in Las Vegas with the goal of collectively earning $2 million in only two months playing online poker using their own money. But with high stakes often comes devastating losses and, despite their expertise, they experience many ups and downs as they work towards their nearly impossibly goal. They’ve turned down the world of 9-5 jobs and 401Ks for the thrill of online card rooms and nosebleed stakes but will it pay off? Can they reach their goal? Will Vegas nightlife prove too distracting? The new 10-episode half-hour series 2 Months, $2 Million (2M2MM) debuts Sunday, August 16 at 9:00PM ET/PT on G4.
By combining their talent, Brian, Emil, Jay and Dani are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to playing cards and, this summer, they couldn’t ask for better surroundings to get focused on the game. In the premiere episode, the guys move into a gorgeous 10,000 square foot mansion on three acres just outside the strip, which includes a converted home theater space that serves as their master control. This war room features four 50 plasma monitors connected to each cast member\’s custom computers via an array of hi-def video converters where one or all can play simultaneously. They also create a Tilt Room to serve as a designated area for blowing off steam, which is needed quite frequently when high stakes hands don’t go as planned bats and hockey sticks combined with watermelons and lettuce heads prove to be great tools for reducing stress. And when it comes to figuring out who gets which bedroom, there is only one way these guys know how to solve problems. They gamble for it.
While Brian, Emil, Jay and Dani seem to eat, sleep and drink poker, they also take time out to explore the Vegas scene. Throughout the season, they hit many of the city’s trendiest clubs often running up $5000 bar tabs, and spend time checking out the hottest bodies poolside at some of the most exclusive hotels in Vegas. They even take a trip to a luxury watch store and drop serious coinage on high-end timepieces. The guys also make time to hang out with old pals who are in town for the World Series of Poker, including dinner with Tom Durrr Dwan, a live cash game against Erica Schoenberg and some high stakes online action with David Benyamine.
To help push each other and keep things interesting, the guys decide to implement a penalty stunt for the player who loses the most money each week. The stunts become more and more outrageous as the weeks roll by, including one loser having to wear a ballet tutu to dinner at an exclusive hotel buffet and another being forced to play the harp on Las Vegas Blvd to try to earn tips from tourists. While the guys are definitely having fun, they are extremely focused with their eyes on the prize. At the end of the day, it’s all about bringing their A game every hand and doing whatever it takes to reach their $2 million goal.
2 Months, $2 Million is produced by Park Slope Productions in collaboration with G4. Paul Reitano and Terrence Sacchi serve as Executive Producers for Park Slope Productions. Laura Civiello is Vice President of Development at G4.
Visit the 2 Months, $2 Million official website for hilarious behind-the-scenes footage, episode highlights, expert poker tips, bios and more/
About Comcast Entertainment Group
Based in Los Angeles, Comcast Entertainment Group operates E! Entertainment Television, the 24-hour network with programming dedicated to the world of entertainment, and E! Online; The Style Network, the destination for women 18-49 with a passion for the best in relatable, inspiring and transformational lifestyle programming; G4, offering the last word on gaming, technology, animation, interactivity and \”geek culture\” for the male 18-34 demo; and FEARnet, the world\’s premier horror and thriller destination on demand, online and on mobile devices.
E! is currently available to 96 million cable and direct broadcast satellite subscribers in the U.S. and the E! Everywhere initiative underscores the company\’s dedication to making E! content available on all new media platforms any time and anywhere from online to broadband video to wireless to radio to VOD. The Style Network currently counts 63 million cable and satellite subscribers and G4, the #1 podcasted cable network in America, is available in more than 64 million cable and satellite homes nationwide. FEARnet is a joint venture between Comcast, Sony Pictures Television and Lionsgate. FEARnet.com ranks as the number one horror web site and FEARnet On Demand is one of the top five VOD networks.
Bios:
Brian Roberts (24):
Brian hails from Houston, Texas. A math prodigy, Brian was tormented in high school by the cool kids. He never fit in and walked home each day beleaguered and abused. At 16, he dropped out and never went back. While everyone else was in college, Brian was at a table in Atlantic City, playing cards. Brian’s still searching for something fulfilling and hopes to have found it with his new girlfriend. While she approves of poker, the rest of his lifestyle is another issue entirely. Brian is smart, but the lure of the Entourage lifestyle may be too much to resist. He’s never been cool, and Vegas affords him the dream life he sees when he closes his eyes. Brian’s finally got something good in his life with his girl but will he blow it.
Emil Patel (22):
Emil hasn’t hooked up with a girl in a year. Being a skinny, Indian kid is hard enough, not being able to handle your alcohol makes it even tougher. Emil will talk smack with a Russian mobster online and if you need to win a Math Olympiad, he’s your guy, but he has no idea how to talk to women and always ends up going home alone. But all that is going to change this summer. With his college degree in hand, Emil realizes it’s time to grow up. His goal this summer is to find a real girlfriend.
Jay Rosencrantz (23):
Jay grew up as a poor kid in a wealthy part of Long Island. Now, because of poker he has more money then all the people he envied growing up. He is even able to help his family out with money. He’s just started an interactive poker-coaching company, which he’s put a considerable amount of his own money into. Running a legitimate and successful business would go a long way to making his parents proud. But with all the money and girls partying at the house, can Jay keep his goals on track?
Dani Stern (22):
Dani is the youngest member of Team Israel. Despite his parents\’ concern, he recently dropped out of college once he saw the ridiculous amount of money he could make playing online poker. Unlike Jay, Brian, or Emil, the entourage lifestyle is a new thing for Dani, and, for better or worse, he takes his cue from the other guys. He\’s definitely the most extroverted of the four, and can be the life of the party…unless you find screaming and making obnoxious prop bets unappealing.
But Dani, at heart, is a nice guy who unfortunately seems to be a bit of a bull in a china shop. His approach to poker is the same as his approach to women: play as many hands as possible. Sometimes it works, but most of the time Dani\’s home after the club with Emil playing xbox or trying to take out a high stakes opponent.
