If there is something that is in the news about poker, it seems poker professional Daniel Negreanu has been a part of it lately.
Although there isn’t a network, cable channel or online outlet announced for it as yet, the Canadian-born Negreanu (who does spend quite a bit of time in the United States) will be a part of a new scripted series about professional poker players. Called Four Kings, the series will focus on four people – three poker players and a bookmaker – as they traverse the world of Las Vegas. The characters will, according to the description of the program, “focus on their friendship as they stick together and watch each other’s backs through everything that comes their way in their search for becoming world champions.”
Looking at the cast for the show, it does appear that they have some actors with at least an inkling of poker in their blood and some fresh comedic faces. Actor Robert Iler, who played A. J. Soprano on The Sopranos (and will take on a producer credit with this show), looks to be one of the core four characters as “Rob.” Iler has taken part in many major tournaments and, in 2005, was in an underground poker club when it was raided by police. Along with Mars Callahan, who is portraying “Mars” in the series and who cashed in the 2011 World Series of Poker Championship Event, the poker side of the equation seems to be covered.
Another actor in the series is Kassem Gharaibeh, a popular YouTube comedian portraying “Sam” that is looking for his first big break in Hollywood. Perhaps adding something on the beefcake front is stuntman/actor Quinn Early, who will play “Q” on the show. Early’s acting chops are a bit slim but he does have significant credits for his stunt work in the drama Olympus Has Fallen and the comedy Hot Pursuit to his resume.
Negreanu will, naturally, be playing himself on the program and he has other familiar celebrity names that will join him on the show. From the poker/entertainment world, comedian/actor Kevin Pollak will make an appearance on the program and ten-time boxing champion Roy Jones, Jr., will also be featured. For Negreanu, Pollak and Jones, the number of episodes that they will appear in are not known at this time.
When it comes to something other than poker tournaments, the travails of poker on television – and, to be honest, in cinematic efforts – has been less than stellar. Poker occasionally makes an appearance on popular television shows such as Bones, House and, most recently, CSI: Cyber. In that CSI: Cyber episode, online poker was particularly dragged over the coals as a method for money laundering by terrorist organizations (where have we heard that before?).
The last “show” that was centered on the world of poker was ESPN’s Tilt. Although it featured an outstanding cast of Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, Thelma & Louise and Kill Bill) and Eddie Cibrian (The Cave, The Best Man Holiday) and was created by Brian Koppelman and David Levien (the brains behind the seminal Rounders and the forgettable Runner Runner), it was widely panned for an inaccurate depiction of modern-day Las Vegas and, in particular, poker. After a nine-episode first season, it was not picked up by ESPN for a second season.
There are plenty of potential outlets for Four Kings in today’s viewing world. It is probably not going to be a part of any network offerings (as they have already announced their upcoming programming for fall 2015), but cable companies might want to take a look at the show. Cable networks such as TNT, FX and TBS would be logical places, but the half-hour format of Four Kings might work against it. The subscription channels such as HBO and Showtime might be suitors, which would allow for some more risqué content to be used.
The most likely place for Four Kings to land (if you’re not looking at Hulu, Amazon Prime or Netflix as possibilities) would be Poker Central. Poker Central is looking at a launch in the fall of 2015 and would need programming to take up its schedule. Add in the fact that Negreanu has signed up with the burgeoning channel as a partner and it makes Poker Central a potential front runner for Four Kings.
As of yet, there isn’t a premiere date for the program either. What will be interesting to see is if Four Kings can deliver an entertaining program as well as present the poker lifestyle in a form close to reality.
