Poker After Dark Debuts January 2nd On NBC

There's good news for all you late sleepers (read: insomniacs) who also happen to be fans of poker. "Poker After Dark", NBC's new late night poker series, is set to debut January 2nd at 2 a.m. ET/PT.

The new one hour poker show, hosted by former world poker tour hostess, Shana Hiatt, will be running from Monday through Saturday.

6 poker pros will comprise every new table on Monday nights for the next 52 weeks. The weekly first place prize is $120,000. A new winner will be declared every Friday evening.

Saturday will show the "director's cut", where Hiatt and the week's winner review the highlights of the game, while offering commentary on the strategies of the winner. Saturday's episode will be shown from 1-2 a.m. ET/PT after "Saturday Night Live".

Players for the poker spectacle will include phil ivey, daniel negreanu, Doyle Brunson, howard lederer, chris ferguson, erick lindgren, jennifer harman and gus hansen.

"There's a vibrant late night audience looking for original programming," said Marc Graboff, President for West Coast NBC Universal Television.

He also added, "We felt this inside look at the professional poker scene is perfect for late night television and those viewers seeking a unique and original broadcast".

January 11, 2007
William Atkins