Poker After Dark debuted on January 1, 2007. After the “Black Friday” criminal case, which included significant sponsor Full Tilt Poker as one of the defendants, the program was canceled on September 23, 2011.
The program’s first two seasons, both of which debuted in 2007, were hosted by Shana Hiatt. Marianela Pereyra served as the host for season 3, while Leeann Tweeden took over for season 4 onward. Oliver “Ali” Nejad has provided voice-over commentary for each season.
On March 5, 2012, the show came back on American television via the NBC Sports Network with replays of prior episodes. On June 4, 2012, previously unaired episodes from season 7 began broadcasting for the first time. The show airs on weeknights at midnight on NBCSN, though the start time sometimes changes because of delays caused by sporting events.
Where is Poker After Dark Filmed?
The TV program Poker After Dark has been filmed at numerous renowned casinos all around the world. The fifth season was filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada’s ARIA Resort & Casino. An MGM Resorts casino.
If you’re curious, you can feel the show’s contestants’ excitement. Just visit BetMGM, the online casino operated by MGM. Before beginning, go over the comprehensive review by OLBG. The ambiance here is identical to that of the ARIA Casino, where the show is taped.
The Show Was Back After A While
In the first few seasons, sit and go with a $20,000 buy-in was broadcast in five-hour episodes every week. The winner took it all. A “director’s edit” of the sixth episode featured the greatest hands of the week along with additional commentary.
The Poker After Dark crew experimented with different poker variations starting with season four, including cash games, Pot Limit Omaha, and sit-and-goes with more significant buy-ins. A cash game pot between Tom Dwan and Phil Hellmuth, which Doug Polk evaluated on his YouTube channel, was one of the most memorable hands in the history of the show.
Apart from the poker-related content, the “Player First” style of commentary, in which Ali Nejad offers little comments and lets the conversation at the table carry the show, was what made the performance noteworthy. (Most of the participants were well acquainted and all were microphoned.) The show’s high production standards and game-by-game commentary gave it an almost cozy feel.
Of course, the poker quality was far higher than the typical home game. Big stars like Tony G, Daniel Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, Tom Dwan, the Big Three Phils (Hellmuth, Ivey, and The Galfond), and many more frequently appeared on Poker After Dark.
New Format
Poker After Dark has a devoted following thanks to its talented players, solid gameplay, and high production qualities. Despite running an hour later in the evening, the show’s ratings occasionally beat Craig Ferguson’s late-night program.
Poker After Dark was abruptly canceled by NBC after “re-evaluating” its poker schedule in the wake of Black Friday, leaving 35 episodes unaired. A year later, these previously unreleased episodes appeared on NBC Sports, with Full Tilt Poker promotions standing out like a sore thumb. It would have been an impolite way to close a fantastic poker tournament.
Poker After Dark will again be a PokerGO exclusive, thanks to Poker Central and Poker Productions.
But the format has undergone a significant alteration. The show is now live Monday through Wednesday rather than being spread across a lengthy five-episode run. Mixed games will be added along with the regular No Limit Holdem and Pot Limit Omaha rotation.
Poker Central will not alter its original “Players First” policy of few comments and friendly banter amongst players.
Blinds slowly increase in price, starting at $100 or $200. The minimal commentary provided by commentator Ali Nejad allows spectators to hear most of the mic-equipped players’ conversations at the table. The “week-long” series is taped in a single continuous session, as is occasionally revealed at the dinner table.
The original format called for the six best poker players to compete in a seven-day No Limit Texas hold ’em mini-tournaments. Each player has to pay a $20,000 buy-in to compete for a $120,000 winner-takes-all cash pool each week. The fifth show’s conclusion selects a winner.