I didn\’t think I cared too much about the forthcoming Season 7 of High Stakes Poker, kicking off later this month on GSN. I dunno, the show\’s still gonna be good, I\’m sure, technically, but it certainly hasn\’t been the must-see-TV it was in the early days when people stayed home on Tuesday nights to see new episodes first-run. But now I\’m thinking the latest from HSP might be more than something I may or may not catch part of on YouTube every so often by accident or read about on Twitter.
Saturday Night Live alum Norm MacDonald is replacing venerable sometimes-funnyman Gabe Kaplan as the show\’s host. Gotta think it\’s a good move because I\’m kinda-sorta re-interested, suggesting others are too … Might even go outta my way to set the DVR.
Also changing things up this year … the show is being \”presented by PokerStars\” — meaning no usual cast of Full Tilt Pros. No Lederer, Matusow, Cunningham, or Harman? Please, they were like so 2006-2010. Supposedly the show\’s gonna be airing in 3D, too (on GSN). Awesome. Can\’t wait to see Doyle Brunson-HD in my living room … close enough to see his hole cards and imagine I\’m bringing him a glass of water and some ointment.
(Go technology advances, but at the same time, keep thinking of the not-so-awe-inspiring Jaws 3-D and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience… not to mention PKR!)
Kevmath\’s got the 411 over at Bluff, including the complete lineup and a breakdown of where the amateurs got their bankrolls. Also, if you want to know more about Norm and his path to poker and degenerate sports betting, check out Michael Kaplan\’s profile on him from 2007.
Likewise, a reminder that Norm didn\’t just come to Las Vegas outta nowhere … check out one of my early attempts at podcasting, from the 2006 WSOP: Norm Macdonald gives me personally very practical advice on how to take down single-table satellites — but not without an admission of recruiting minors to ghost on his PartyPoker account:
[audio:http://old.pokerati.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/normmac.mp3|titles=normmac]
Norm Macdonald WSOP Satellite Tip