How does poker storytelling on modern poker television programs stack up against the legendary shows of the poker boom era? The latest edition of The Orbit discusses this topic, bringing in some of those very personalities that made poker a mainstream sport in the 2000s.
Episode 6 brings together 15-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, Eli Elezra, Norman Chad, and Matt Savage. All four are poker icons, synonymous with the golden era of televised poker.
- TV Poker Storytelling
- How can new, edited poker shows draw in new fans to the game?
- The stories that made poker players into legends
- How can we bring lapsed fans back to poker and rekindle their interest in the game?
- Who is at your dream table… for lunch/dinner?
The new episode premiers Thursday, Dec. 3 at 2 p. EST on the twitch.tv/poker channel. Strazynski dropped a teaser for the new episode Monday, giving viewers a glimpse of what could be the most entertaining edition yet of The Orbit.
Poker boom personalities discuss the current state of televised poker
Hellmuth and Elezra were ubiquitous presences on some of the most revered shows in poker history. High Stakes Poker, Poker After Dark, and post-production broadcasts of the World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour made Hellmuth and Elezra two of poker's most recognizable icons.
Chad's poker legend was built in the commentary booth on those WSOP shows, which brought the announce team of Chad and Lon McEachern into the mainstream. Savage stood as another perennial figure as the tournament director on hundreds of televised poker episodes from the past two decades.
With the credentials of The Orbit's latest panel in mind, Thursday's new episode should provide some fascinating insight on how modern poker television can be marketed to attract new fans. A soundbite from Chad from the episode's teaser gives viewers a glimpse of what the legendary poker commentator thinks about the modern era of televised high-stakes tournament coverage.
"I don't go out of my way to say 'I can't wait until I see Stephen Chidwick next,'" says Chad in trademark form. Chidwick, one of the world's top players of the last decade, is known for his almost unmatched skill at the poker table, as well as his reserved and mostly silent presence.
Hellmuth chimes in with his opinion on Fedor Holz, another top player from the modern era.
"I think Fedor can be very interesting if he wants to be," Hellmuth says. "He attacks me, but I say good things about him."
Stu Ungar, Elezra's biography, and a player that Savage refers to as the "biggest a****le at the table" are also alluded to in the teaser.
Featured image source: YouTube
