After what was, from most appearances, an outstanding debut on the East Coast, the forthcoming television poker program “Poker Night in America” will be heading to the West Coast for taping of their second broadcast.
It was announced on Thursday that, instead of going to an already established event, “Poker Night in America” will instead have its own tournament series. Peppermill Reno Resort-Spa-Casino in Reno, NV, will be the host of “Poker Night in America Presented by Peppermill Reno” from November 15-24. As of this time, an actual schedule of events and tournament buy-ins hasn’t been released, but the Main Event of the tournament will be held from November 21-24.
“All of us at Peppermill Reno are happy and proud to be the host site for the first Poker Night in America celebrity cash game and tournament ever held in the west,” said George Kisler, Director of Casino Operations. “Peppermill Reno has a long tradition of offering some of the best cash games in Nevada in one of the most luxurious poker rooms in the country and we remain committed to hosting only the most exciting events in poker. “Poker Night in America” will bring some of the biggest names to Peppermill Reno for ten days of great tournament and live action games beginning on November 15th. We hope you will join us for the fun.”
Alongside the tournament action at Peppermill, “Poker Night in America” will be hosting a high stakes cash game over two days that will also be a part of the taping of the show. That game will be a $25/$50 No Limit Hold’em event and, although players haven’t been announced yet for that taping, producers have stated that it will be by invitation. Players who want to be considered for invitation will have to provide their own buy-in (from $5000 to $20,000) and are encouraged to contact Creative Director Nolan Dalla via e-mail.
The first stop for the “Poker Night in America” crew was in New York at the Turning Stone Casino and Resort for the 2013 Empire State Poker Classic. For the $1650 buy-in tournament, such popular players as Mike Matusow, Eli Elezra, Gavin Smith, Phil Laak, David Williams and many others were are part of the action. The tournament field turned out to be the largest in the event’s history, with 426 runners stepping to the line for action. Darvin Moon (eighth), Glantz (sixth) and Will “The Thrill” Failla (fifth) were the notable names at the final table, which crowned Adam Foster as its champion.
It was the “Poker Night in America” staple, the cash game, which has drawn considerable attention from the poker community, however. “Teaser” reels of that cash game taping have leaked out, in particular one stunning hand that occurred between Matusow and Shaun Deeb. In that hand, Deeb was able to make quads on the river and, with a nod to Matt Glantz (who was also at the table), proceeded to “slow roll” Matusow in the hand. Not surprisingly, Matusow erupted into a boiling rage that was captured by the cameras and will probably be a focal point for the premiere episode in 2014.
“Thousands of people have seen video of some of the exciting things that happened last time “Poker Night in America” came to town,” Todd Anderson, the show’s Executive Producer, said during the announcement of the Peppermill event. “Next, we’re all looking forward to moving on to the Peppermill in Reno and creating more memorable moments for television.”
The Peppermill taping will be the second of what is expected to be three stops that will be completed by the end of 2013. These episodes will form the premiere of the program, which is expected to hit the airwaves sometime in early 2014. As of yet, no further stops for the program’s tapings has been announced.
