Season IX of WPT

The 6th Wilbury · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 05:52 PM

The WPT website shows February 13 (Sunday/tomorrow) as the premiere of its new season. Searching my listings, I see all sorts of episodes. Is the Bellagio Cup the "real" episode?

Anyway, I'm actually looking forward to this year's season. After attending the taping of one of the final tables, there are quite a few changes that I want to see onscreen.

jrw5001 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 05:56 PM

Is it going to be in 3D? I don't have a 3D TV, but I'll wear the glasses anyway. In fact, you know what, nevermind.

Hughes4 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrw5001

Is it going to be in 3D? I don't have a 3D TV, but I'll wear the glasses anyway. In fact, you know what, nevermind.

I lol'd

rokudan · #4 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 09:50 PM

The press release actually compared Kimberly to Bob Costas.

I lettered in swimming in high school. That doesn't make me the Michael Phelps of poker.

Lon VanPatten · #5 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 11:16 PM

Bellagio Cup VI is the first episode of season 9.

TOCurmudgeon · #6 (**permalink**) 02-14-2011, 01:18 PM

A nice start, I think. The Tony Dunst segment was well done and a lot less snarky then some had believed it would be. I really think Dunst gives us the kind of educational piece that the major sports do so well; albeit in longer formats - "Inside the NFL" for example.

I do wonder how many of Van Pattens WWII references went right over the heads of a viewing audience which may well consider Norm MacDonald's "Weekend Updates" ancient history?

The 6th Wilbury · #7 (**permalink**) 02-14-2011, 10:02 PM

Call me selfish, but I enjoyed the coverage if for no other reason than I anticipate getting a fair amount of screen time when the Five Diamond coverage takes place, especially when the tournament play moved from the Fontana Bar to the high-stakes area of the poker room.

Ah, but seriously... I enjoyed quite a bit of it: the graphics look good, there's a tad more of the casino's character in there -- perhaps because of the Royal Flush Girls doing their teasers. I thought we would see more poker HUD stats like we do on the Big Game but perhaps that's still on its way. (Or maybe I just missed it, since I was making dinner while watching).

Kim Lansing's part is different than what I initially expected. When the Season IX changes first announced, I thought her role would be more similar to what Lon McEachern and David Williams did during the PCA coverage. But having seen Lansing work in person last December, I already knew to expect when it appeared on air last night.

As for Tony Dunst, I agree with everything TOC said. That little one-minute-or-so snippet is my favorite addition to the show. But I'd like to see him, or someone like him, in an even bigger role on the broadcast. Barry Greenstein has long proposed the idea of a three-person talent team: one play-by-play, one color commentator and one expert commentator. (The Big Game is the closest we have to this, with Chris Rose on the call, Stapes providing color and Jimmy Fricke giving us expert commentary from behind the scenes.)

Instead, you have Sexton and Van Patten handling a mismash of the first two duties, and Dunst being relegated to the one Raw Deal segment per episode. Sexton and VVP are too far behind the times -- and behind the audience -- while Dunst's expertise would help the show catch up to an increasingly poker-savvy viewership.

IWantSomeCheese · #8 (**permalink**) 02-16-2011, 11:09 PM

The fact there's a guy who folds middle set on the bubble AND doesn't know who Phil Ivey gives me hope about the state of poker.

There was a lot going on during the hour broadcast and it felt a little rushed segment to segment. Still enjoyed it tho.

It was funny to the various things on ticker during the broadcast: some guy won 1k 2-7 NL tourney at the Belliago for 3.7k.

highonbetter · #9 (**permalink**) 02-22-2011, 11:59 AM

i seen one of the new ones,justin smith really took a bad hit on that final hand,he got it in good,and knew it,and still ended up losing.tough beat.but still got a good 2nd place finish. good job

Ondal · #10 (**permalink**) 02-24-2011, 08:17 PM

Isn't tournament poker just getting dull on TV tho? Only seen the teaser on how they'll spice it up, but I guess you'll still have a table where people have pretty much no BBs, so Sexton will go "AND HE'S ALL IN" every few hands.
Just so much more poker in the various televised cash games.