Is it a Bluff? Celebrities Take on the Pros on GSN's POKER ROYALE

Is it a Bluff? Celebrities Take on the Pros on GSN's POKER ROYALE

Celebrities Lance Bass, Jennifer Tilly, Mimi Rogers, Morris Chestnut, Patrick Warburton and Tracy Bingham Challenge Top Professionals Kathy Liebert, Scott Fischman, Paul Darden, Kenna James, Cyndy Violette and Roxci Rhodes

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Are actors better bluffers or will the poker professionals sweep the celebrities in the high stakes game of No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em? The question will be answered when GSN premieres POKER ROYALE: CELEBRITIES VS. POKER PROS, a seven-episode series debuting as part of GSN's weekly Casino Night, Friday, May 6 at 9:00PM ET/PT. The announcement was made today by Ian Valentine, Senior Vice President of Programming, GSN.

Shot on location at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California, the latest edition of GSN's POKER ROYALE franchise sparked witty banter across the table between the pros and the representatives of the fastest growing group in the poker world, celebrity players. Not underestimating their opponents, the experienced pros put on their best game faces in an attempt to make it to the final table for a chance for the $50,000 championship grand prize.

"Our goal is to make our POKER ROYALE series better than other poker shows and this new format of the celebrities challenging the pros is totally cool," said Valentine. "Viewers will enjoy the unpredictable action, great table talk and top notch poker on both sides."

The team of celebrities include: Lance Bass (*NSYNC), Tracy Bingham (The Surreal Life, Baywatch), Morris Chestnut (The Best Man, Boyz N the Hood, GI Jane, Ladder 49,), Mimi Rogers (The Door in the Floor, Austin Powers), Jennifer Tilly (Liar Liar, Bound), and Patrick Warburton (Less Than Perfect, Seinfeld).

The professionals include Scott Fischman (Two World Series of Poker bracelets), Kathy Liebert (One World Series of Poker bracelet), Cindy Violette (One World Series of Poker bracelet), Roxci Rhodes (Ranked one of the top ten women players by Card Player magazine), Paul Darden (Winner of the 2003 World Poker Tour Gold Rush Tournament) and Kenna James (One World Series of Poker bracelet).

The third installment of GSN's poker franchise will be hosted by John Ahlers, who calls his first poker tournament. Ahlers is the play-by-play voice of the NHL's Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Joining him on POKER ROYALE is sideline reporter Lisa Dergan who was named as the sexiest sportscaster by STUFF magazine and also appears on Fox Sports Net's "Best Damn Sports Show." Returning as color commentator is professional poker player Robert Williamson III.

In the first six one-hour episodes of POKER ROYALE: CELEBRITIES VS. POKER PROS three professionals and three celebrities face off. Every episode champion wins $10,000 and ten points. The player who finishes second receives eight points, third place receives six points, fourth place receives four points, fifth place receives two points and last place receives zero points. The players who make the final table will each receive $10,000 in chips to begin.

In the two-hour finale, the top three point leaders for both the celebrities and the pros take the top seats. Airing on June 17, the finale winner will take the $50,000 grand prize.

POKER ROYALE: CELEBRITIES VS. POKER PROS is the third installment of GSN's poker franchise, following on the heels of the extremely successful BATTLE OF THE SEXES. The series airs on GSN's Friday Casino Night, the only casino branded night on television, and includes CELEBRITY BLACKJACK and WORLD SERIES OF BLACKJACK.

GSN, the Network for Games, is the only U.S. television network dedicated to game-related programming and interactive game playing. The network features game shows, reality series, documentaries, alternative sports programs and casino games. As the industry leader in interactivity, GSN features over 84 hours per week of interactive programming, which allows viewers a chance to win prizes by playing along with GSN's televised games via GSN.com. Reaching 56 million Nielsen homes, GSN is distributed in the U.S. through all major cable systems and satellite providers. The network is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation. For further media information, visit GSN's press website at corp.gsn.com.

Source: GSN

CONTACT: Nikki Lichterman of GSN, +1-310-255-6938, nlichterman@gsn.com

Web site: http://www.corp.gsn.com/

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