Have to agree...looking through the thread is more fun and less time-consuming than the horseracing show itself.
SPOILERS ahead, folks...
To get back to the original poker discussion, GSN's first hold 'em series wrapped up last night with the expected result, as James Van Alstyne won easily. He had his last opponent, Lee Markholt, outchipped by a ridiculous ten-to-one margin. All Van Alstyne had to do was play smart, cautious poker and wait for the inevitable stroke of luck to wipe out the short-stacked Markholt. Eventually the luck arrived on an inside-straight draw, and Van Alstyne copped 125K.
The live aftermath was more than a little confused but kind of fun. Kevin Nealon apparently had trouble keeping track of when the camera was on. He still got off a few funny lines, though, and Robert Williamson memorably compared himself to Vanna White.
The deal produced a pair of nines and a split of 30K between Van Alstyne and an equine message therapist (get her on Dream Derby!) named
Malin-Maria Teal. The live audience was large and enthusiastic. Hey, GSN, you could really jazz your poker and blackjack shows by bringing in a few warm bodies to watch the proceedings.
Drifting off-topic again, the celeb blackjack finale last night was terrific, even without the live audience. (Actually, it seemed like a live audience had wandered in because the crew was laughing so much.) Lance Bass bombed out early after a ridiculous run of bad cards, though he got a message from one of the eye candies as a consolation prize. The other three players racked up huge scores.
Anything could have happened on the last hand, but Jason Alexander was the only player with "male genitalia," as he commented on an earlier show. He bet big while the others chickened out, and he came home the winner when Stann busted on an excruciating five-card draw. Alexander also chipped in the best laugh lines (Animals for President, among other comments), though Stann, Probst and Vasgersian all managed some respectable zingers. Kelli Williams looked good, which was enough.