One of the biggest criticisms of Poker Central when it went live in late 2015 was that there wasn’t enough original content. Looking to correct that problem with the launch of their subscription app PokerGO, Poker Central has worked out a deal for the broadcasting of an original poker comedy series entitled Poker Nights.
Poker Nights will be a six episode, short-form comedy series from Believe Entertainment Group (BEG) and stars Chris Parnell. Parnell was a member of the cast of Saturday Night Live for a decade along with his sporadic appearances on the longtime NBC comedy 30 Rock. He will be joined on Poker Nights by fellow actor/comedians Dan Chamberlain, Emily Tarver, Neko White, Richie Moriarty and Wes Haney, who will play his friends that come together for a weekly poker game. Every one of those actors/comedians have an outstanding background in stand up, in particular Tarver, who has worked with the Upright Citizens Brigade (among other appearances).
Those poker games will be the feature of the series and will also draw in some of poker’s biggest names as guest stars. 14-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth is rumored to be one of those poker legends who will make an appearance on the program. Poker Nights is expected to premiere this summer on PokerGO, most likely following the completion of the WSOP broadcasts on the subscription service.
“Poker Central’s PokerGO service is the ultimate poker destination for fans of the game and the amazing professional players who play it,” Brian Hunt, President of Believe Studios and Head of Development, commented during the announcement of the deal. “Poker Nights sheds a light on some of the less impressive players the sport has to offer.” Joe Kakaty, the President of Poker Central, added that, “In a media industry ruled by exceptional content, poker as a mind sport provides the perfect backdrop to original programming and entertainment. Poker Nights, featuring high-profile talent such as comedy legend Chris Parnell, adds another level to Poker Central’s multidimensional content strategy that we believe will delight poker fans around the world.”
In addition to this new comedic series, Believe Entertainment Group will also contribute to Poker Central 200 pieces of short-form video pertaining to poker. Sketches, animation, lists, how-tos (with a comedic take) and other formats will focus on the world of poker and its lifestyle. These comedic “shorts” (Parnell was famous for his work with Andy Samberg on SNL for their “shorts” collaborations, although it isn’t known if he will be involved in these for BEG) will be a featured part of the social content of Poker Central, appearing on their Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter feeds.
Plenty of television shows have used poker for an episodic one-off, but this will be the first time that it has been the centerpiece of a fictional comedic television program. In the movies, poker has been well-used in such comedies as The Grand and California Split (arguably one of the best depictions of poker in cinema) and in dramas that include the seminal film Rounders and Lucky You. Unfortunately, poker has also been the focal point of some rather bad Hollywood products that include the ESPN series Tilt and the film Runner Runner.
Where will Poker Nights end up on that spectrum? And will it have an adequate viewing on the outlet of PokerGO, which has suffered from problems self-inflicted (buffering problems plagued the broadcast of the 2017 Super High Roller Bowl and) and in finding an audience for their product (many do not want to have to “jump through the hoops” to sign up – or cut off – the subscription). At least Poker Central is addressing the issue of “original programming,” but will it be enough?
