Looking for more poker on television? Set your Tivos and DVRs to record “Face the Ace,” a new poker show on NBC. The first of seven episodes is set to air on Saturday, August 1st at 9:00pm ET and run for one hour. Steve Schirripa, who played Bobby Baccalieri on an HBO series you’ve probably heard of called “The Sopranos,” hosts the show. Ali Nejad, who also provides commentary for NBC’s National Heads-Up Poker Championship, will flank him. Think of “Face the Ace” as “Iron Chef” meets poker. Let’s take a look at what you can expect when you tune in.
NBC already has “Poker After Dark” and the National Heads-Up Poker Championship. Now, the network will host “Face the Ace.” Four Full Tilt Poker pros will stand behind “smoked-glass doors,” according to a press release distributed by NBC this week. Then, a contestant will select one of the four doors and battle against whoever is behind it. Instead of facing Iron Chef Chinese Chen Kenichi, however, contestants will battle against a bevy of poker talent including Patrik Antonius, Andy Bloch, Allen Cunningham, Chris Ferguson, Phil Gordon, Gus Hansen, Jennifer Harman, November Nine member Phil Ivey (pictured at left), reigning World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe champion John Juanda, Howard Lederer, Erick Lindgren, Mike Matusow, Huck Seed, Erik Seidel, and Gavin Smith.If a contestant defeats an “ace,” they’ll take home $40,000. Then, they can elect to take the money and run or face off against a second “ace” for $200,000. If they manage to defeat two of the world’s top poker pros in succession, they can battle against a third for $1 million. If a player loses at any point, they’ll leave with nothing. There are no safety nets and no lifelines on “Face the Ace.” Satellites for the brand new poker show have been running on Full Tilt Poker.
Schirripa told PocketFives.com on a conference call this week, “This is probably one of the few shows where you’re sitting on your couch in your underwear watching your favorite pros on television and a week later, you’re playing against them. The contestants are in awe of the aces. They’re poker fans, online poker players, and from all over the country.” Three episodes have been filmed so far, with seven scheduled to air as part of the inaugural season of “Face the Ace.” Here’s when you can catch the newcomer:
August 1st, 2009 – 9:00pm ET
August 8th, 2009 – 9:00pm ET
September 12th, 2009 – 2:00pm ET
October 31st, 2009 – 3:30pm ET
November 14th, 2009 – 3:00pm ET
December 12th, 2009 – 3:00pm ET
January 2nd, 2010 – 2:30pm ET
Nejad recalled the experience on the set of “Face the Ace” so far: “We were both watching what was going on and living vicariously through these guys. They don’t have a safety net. You lose and you walk with nothing. There are no thresholds. It’s very real pressure.” Show personnel added that several of the contestants were college students seeking life-changing money. About the show’s fleet of “aces,” Nejad noted, “Not only are these some of the most competitive people appearing in prime time, but there is also a lot of money at stake.” Megan Abrigo (pictured at right), who holds case number six on the NBC game show “Deal or No Deal,” is the official hostess of “Face the Ace.”
For each Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em match that a pro wins on “Face the Ace,” $10,000 will be donated to charity. Collectively, the “aces” have taken home 41 WSOP bracelets - Ivey and Seidel (pictured at left) hold 15 combined - 11 World Poker Tour (WPT) titles, and a ridiculous $100 million in career tournament winnings. $100 million! Despite not being a gambling aficionado, Schirripa described his attraction to the show, which is one of the first poker series to air in prime time: “I’m not into gambling all that much, but I enjoy the show a hell of a lot. I don’t think you have to be a big gambler to enjoy it.”Check out the qualifying schedule for “Face the Ace” on Full Tilt Poker. The next Face the Ace Round Two qualifier takes place on August 2nd at 21:15 ET and comes with a 100 Full Tilt Point buy-in. The next Face the Ace Final Qualifier will take place the following day at 21:15 ET and boasts a price tag of 2,500 points. The tournaments are color-coded brown in the Full Tilt lobby.
Stay tuned to PocketFives.com for the latest on “Face the Ace.”
Canada
United Kingdom
Costa Rica
Australia
Mexico
Denmark
Russian Federation
Sweden
Brazil
Germany
