The Poker Beat - July 8

[Harrythedog]

Let's put it this way...

You guys are never trivial...you're always people of real substance and I value your knowledge, views and opinions and experience.

I thought this episode was trivial...that's all...and I wonder if deep down you don't agree.

Let's not get too po faced about it...nobody got killed...I'll listen with relish as always next week.

[BJ Nemeth]

This episode was clearly unique for a variety of reasons.

1. Jessica was flat-out too busy to even consider doing the show. (One panelist down.)

2. Michalski overslept, and we didn't have time to wait for him. (Two panelists down.)

3. A lot of the meat was in the news briefs, which were lost to a technical glitch, and we didn't have time to re-record the entire segment. (Hence, the rushed intro recorded when we were in a humorous, post-Tatjana mood.)

4. Probably our most-rushed and least-prepared outline in months. (I usually over-prepare, but I was just too damn busy to work on it -- Huff stepped up with a last-minute outline like the All-Star that he is.)

5. Stapleton hosting live, and Huff as a call-in panelist. (New host, and new panelist.)

6. Tatjana showing up and sitting in unexpectedly. (New panelist.)

If there are one or two changes, I think the show proceeds normally. But when there are six or seven major changes from a standard episode, then you're going to be getting something different.

None of these changes are permanent. Huff will be missing a few weeks in a row going forward (give the guy a break for his wedding!), so we'll either be Huffless or on hiatus -- there are no other options. We might take one week off, but the other weeks we will find a way to record the show without Huff.

But Huff isn't leaving the show; he'll be back once he's done with the honeymoon.

I don't think this episode was trivial, but then, I haven't had a chance to listen to it after the fact. Take away the news briefs, and the show loses some substance. But whatever your problems with this episode, you shouldn't think this represents some sort of new direction for the show.

[BJ Nemeth]

Originally Posted by The 6th Wilbury

Let me say this, I and many others have invested a lot of time in listening to this show and watching it grow and mature. I find it unconscionable that all of this loyalty and steadfastness would be thrown away on a whim like this.

Let me repeat to make this crystal clear -- Scott Huff is not leaving the show. He'll miss a few episodes, but then he'll be back doing the show just like it's always been done.

[Imasmrtazz]

Originally Posted by The 6th Wilbury

Let me say this, I and many others have invested a lot of time in listening to this show and watching it grow and mature. I find it unconscionable that all of this loyalty and steadfastness would be thrown away on a whim like this.

Originally Posted by BJ Nemeth

Let me repeat to make this crystal clear -- Scott Huff is not leaving the show. He'll miss a few episodes, but then he'll be back doing the show just like it's always been done.

BJ, in fairness to 6th, he was mocking the Poker Road Radio thread of Seebs and Caveman leaving that show.

[The 6th Wilbury]

Originally Posted by BJ Nemeth

Let me repeat to make this crystal clear -- Scott Huff is not leaving the show. He'll miss a few episodes, but then he'll be back doing the show just like it's always been done.

hahaha BJ, these were quotes from the angry/betrayed post in the PRR forums after Sebok hinted that it might be the end of the Seebs/Gavin run on that show. The massive overreaction in this thread reminded me of that thing.

Fortunately, smartazz recognized it (as his name would imply he should).

Edit: ...and I see he got there before I did. This thread is as fun as that show.

[jdns321]

Harrythedog and TOCurmudgeon have it completely right. What a self-indulgent, insulting show.

The Poker Road Radio main show is the place for this type of nonsensical, lecherous panting. If people like that, they can find loads of it over there. It's also the reason that no one will miss it if it dies. Listening to "dudes being dudes" is only interesting if they are naturally funny or insightful. Gavin Smith only occasionally (very very occasionally) qualifies, while Sebok and Jeremiah Smith can barely speak English.

The Poker Beat is the one show that is characterized by professionalism and true information and debate. To hear it devolve into PRR-lite is just jarring and disconcerting. Surprised Huff let it happen while he was participating, even if he wasn't hosting (which was one of the mistakes).

Gary Wise has always come off as a huge fake on this podcast, like a sports radio sidekick who is more interested in saying shocking or controversial things that saying anything that makes sense. Recent examples of his indulgent excess: online players don't care about doing well at the WSOP and see it as some kind of nerd-summer camp because we make so much money outside of it. Just a stupid statement. Or that the WSOP is being dominated not by old-school or online players, but some imaginary new breed of "young, live-only players" who don't really exist. The instances of Wise's shock-jock act are endless. Worse, he almost purposefully seems to cut-off another panelist with one of his "outraged arguments", like he's auditioning for Around The Horn, and does so to the point that other panelists don't get to finish their own (usually correct, and logical) thoughts. He even uses his "bellowing, outraged" voice while doing it, so you can identify his fake outrage easily.

If he's not interjecting with his shock-points, he passive-aggressively kills others' points by interrupting with the limpest, lamest jokes possible. It's just pure arrogance that he thinks his impotent jokes are so important that he needs to cut-off others who are making a serious point. He usually does it when someone is making a point counter to his own too, not surprisingly. It's not that TPB shouldn't be fun and have jokes, but if you are going to interrupt someone mid-sentence, it better be funny and worth it. Wise is like 0 for 3000 in this category, and there are too many times that his joke derails everything being said. He's just not funny, and he needs to be told.

For this particular episode, Wise came off as just creepy. "I'm so turned on right now..." Not funny or of course appropriate. Just creepy and incredibly uncomfortable to listen too.

BJ Nemith is like 4 for 200 in that same category of lame joke-making. Unfortunately, he is devolving into another Gary Wise with limp jokes that interrupt others' flow. It's worse when he tries hosting, because he still acts like a panelist while hosting and feels the need to get in his points instead of setting up others for their points. I understand he is new to hosting and even acknowledges he doesn't like it, but he could be good at it. He also is very good as a panelist when Wise isn't around and his level of professionalism rises as a result.

Mahalski is good, except when he embarrassingly reports a year-old story about NY money seizures as breaking news. That was just a shameful mistake for a news podcast. Otherwise, he stays on point, brings in new information, and knows how to wait his turn to make points and debate properly. He's a keeper.

Welman is easily the best new panelist, and maybe the best overall, because she actually likes poker and poker culture. While all the other panelists, including Huff, seem to have a bit of disdain for poker culture and the people in it, Welman is actually a part of it and not ashamed to be. She is the only panelist who has a clue about what is going on more than just reading NVG at 2p2 before the show like the others. She knows the players, what's going on online, and probably is the only panelist that can credibly talk about styles of play and even strategy. She's probably the only one who still loves poker, while every one else is just covering it as their job. She also makes jokes that are actually chuckle-worthy, because they are laced with true insight (like the time she busted on Phil Galfond's imaginary FTP commercial with him skipping from table to table, "game-selecting!")

I remember listening to her first few shows and thinking "what a breath of fresh air, someone who actually likes poker and knows what she is talking about." My only hope is that she doesn't devolve into a jokey-joke meister like Nemith has, pulled in by Wise's obnoxious gravity. And I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have put up too much with that Tatianna jerk-off fest that was the last show. No coincidence that her absence coincides with the worst Poker Beat show ever.

Huff is the glue, the ultimate professional. When he is hosting, he raises everyone's game, and keeps everything on track. He always makes sure that panelists get a chance to shine. He's the only host that keeps Wise in check and makes him tolerable (barely). Huff is the show and without him (and Welman), I'd easily quit The Poker Beat like I quit PRR this year.

The best Poker Beat lineup: Huff (host), Welman, Mahalski, Nemith. They've had this configuration a few times this WSOP season and it has always been the best, most informative and entertaining shows.

[Gary Wise]

oooh, diss.

[DurkaDurkaDurka]

Originally Posted by jdns321

... while Sebok and Jeremiah Smith can barely speak English.

Dude, you're way off the mark here and being very unfair ...to Seebs



DDD

[The 6th Wilbury]

Originally Posted by jdns321

The Poker Road Radio main show is the place for this type of nonsensical, lecherous panting. If people like that, they can find loads of it over there. It's also the reason that no one will miss it if it dies. Listening to "dudes being dudes" is only interesting if they are naturally funny or insightful. Gavin Smith only occasionally (very very occasionally) qualifies, while Sebok and Jeremiah Smith can barely speak English.

No, YOU won't miss it if it dies.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but it tilts me when people assume everyone shares theirs.

[DurkaDurkaDurka]

Finally got around the listening to the show. Loved the loose format and shenanigans. Maybe on Huff's next break you could get Ali to cover so he can do the usual preparation and go off on his Aliwood tangents.



DDD


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