Discovery Channel Declines to Pick Up Underground Poker
According to co-host Antonio Esfandiari (pictured), Discovery Channel has passed on the opportunity to air additional episodes of “Underground Poker.” The show, which starred Esfandiari and longtime cohort Phil Laak, profiled underground card games and the pilot took place in New Orleans.
The first and only episode aired last month and its opening credits emphasized that it wasn’t your regular brand of reality show: “Everything you see on this show is 100% real. No mock-ups, no makeup, no nothing. We’re going to show you how the pros make money outside the casino.” The pilot received generally solid reviews from the poker community and, while it felt scripted and forced at times, the chemistry between Esfandiari and Laak helped carry the day.
When asked on Twitter whether “Underground Poker” would continue airing on Discovery Channel, Esfandiari responded, “Looks like a no go.” Later, “The Magician” told PokerListings, “With any TV series, the first show is never going to be great. If we had a full season, I think we could deliver a great product. It has a lot of potential and I think Phil and I can do better. The production value was high.”
Esfandiari added that “Underground Poker” was being pitched to other networks, although if anyone has taken the bait is not known. “Reaction from the PocketFives community in the comments section of our original article recapping “Underground Poker” was fairly positive. One poster wrote, “Finally! A good poker show that doesn’t cast it in a bad light and make it look like the only people playing are a bunch of crazy, criminal, degens. Truly great ambassadors for the game.” Another opined, “It was kind of eh, but it’s a poker show, and I love poker, and Antonio and Laak (pictured) are awesome.”
Want the latest poker headlines and interviews? Follow PocketFives on Twitterand Like PocketFives on Facebook. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed.
