Remember this face? It was the ying to Gabe Kaplan’s yang in season’s one through five of High Stakes Poker on GSN. Much to the disdain of the fans (yours truly) and the internet faithful, who protested and even started a petition to get him back in the announcing booth, A.J. Benza saw his contract end along with the last straddle bet of season five. The show must go on, as Freddie Mercury once eloquently sang it, and in Benza’s absence, that is exactly just what High Stakes Poker Season Six did. According to network ratings, the under carriage set remodel, the fresh cast wax, and that new host smell has paid off and in spades (PUN INTENDED!?!?!?!?!?!?!).
It has been reported that High Stakes Poker viewership has increased a respectable 27% from season five: 25% with adults 25-54 and 29% among the coveted men’s 25-54 demographic.
“We’re very gratified to see this season of ‘High Stakes Poker’ performing so well among these important demographic groups and we can attribute it to an especially strong player lineup this season,” said David Schiff, GSN’s Vice President of Programming and Development. “We have some of the biggest names in poker this season, including more international players, and the viewers are clearly responding to the outstanding game play.”
“‘High Stakes Poker’ has evolved a great deal from Season 1 and, in Season 6, the level of play has reached new heights,” featured pro Daniel Negreanu states. “Not only are the players in the game improving, but I imagine the viewers who get a glimpse into some of these great poker minds are also learning a lot about the game.”
New heights it has reached and outstanding it has been thus far. While some of the previous seasons saw big pots from players with an even larger will to gamble, the plays on season six have seemed more technically sound than previous seasons. With the absence of players like Sammy Farha and Jamie Gold to fluff up pots with their inability to fold, or the deep pockets of people like Cirque du Soleil CEO Guy Laliberté or Laker’s owner Jerry Buss to toss around change like it’s Monopoly money, this season’s offering has brought out the best poker from a handful of the best players in the world. So far, it has not disappointed.
If you missed last week’s episode, here it is for you below in all its glory.
WE still need AJ to banter with Gabe
high stakes would be better with out gabe his hummor is awfull he does no the game but his remarks and the way he talks is awfull AJ should be back