Poker-hybrid TV shows have a chequered history. Think of Antonio Esfandiari and Phil Laak in the short-lived series I Bet You, if you can bear it. Picture if you will the NBC gameshow-poker hybrid Face the Ace, which began in 2009 and ended in… OK, also 2009. They don’t always work, and studios get twitchy around recommissioning them. Until now… and the Game of Gold?
We Need to Talk About Narrative
The problem for any poker reality show that relies on narrative is keeping the audience. Everyone loves a poker show you can tune into and enjoy the action without knowing anything that has come before it. It’s why cash game streams are so popular. Tournaments take more time to watch and viewers – even in events as huge as the WSOP and WPT final tables – crave context in order to root for players.
Reality TV is even more reliant on context, needing a strong narrative to navigate multiple episodes of an ongoing drama, albeit featuring real people. This is definitely the case with Game of Gold, this week announced by GGPoker as poker’s most exciting and ‘revolutionary’ new poker show.
With 12 episodes featuring 16 poker players you’ll love or hate, Game of Gold debuts on November 15th, with a blend of poker action and ‘survival’ seeing a single prize of $456,000 on the line. Which of the 16 poker players will win it? We’ve spoken to one of them in order to find out exactly how the game might play out – six-time WSOP bracelet winner Josh Arieh.
Josh Arieh on ‘Once in a Lifetime’ Experience
“This style of show plays right into my strengths.” ~ Josh Arieh
Arieh’s particular poker skills and adaptive personality certainly put him among the frontrunners for the show, which will be streamed from November 8 to December 4 this winter. Casting is everything in a poker reality show. With different characters clashing on and off the felt, how well have GG created the dynamics of the show?
“It is definitely a once in a lifetime experience,” Arieh says. “The different personalities are great! I’m having a blast getting to know people that I never really would have spent time with otherwise.”
Playing different formats of poker at the WSOP and other festivals has helped Arieh put together a very varied poker resume. With games such as Indian Poker taking place alongside No Limit Hold’em Sit ‘n’ Go’s, Arieh’s adaptability is a key part of his poker make-up.
“I’ve always loved my ability to think outside the box, to think on the fly,” he says. “I think that this style of show plays right into my strengths.”
Arieh has plenty of support in his corner, not least from his fiancée Rachel, who will become Mrs Arieh in 2024. Having Rachel and former Survivor legend ‘Boston Rob’ Mariano close by to help him is a huge asset he’s grateful for.
“Both Rachel and Rob are extremely smart people and they are assets in my life no matter what,” Arieh says. “Having people like them to bounce ideas off and just to have them to tell me things, make me a much more rounded person.”
Only one player will win the $456,000 in what seems like a nice nod to the popular Netflix show Squid Game. What would Arieh do with the winnings – transform his forthcoming wedding or add it to his bankroll for the Big One for One Drop in December?
“I have the perfect place for $456k! We are looking for a place in Vegas, so this could make the place just a bit nicer.”
Which Other Players Are Taking Part?
“Game of Gold takes all the best parts of traditional poker shows, adds exciting new elements, and mixes them together with reality TV” ~ Daniel Negreanu
Arieh will have to do battle with 15 of the finest minds in the game on Game of Gold when the show kicks off on Wednesday on the GGPoker.tv YouTube channel. With the show filmed in the former Olympic city of Seoul in South Korea and hosted by legendary poker presenter and GGPoker ambassador Ali Nejad, legends of the game are taking part.
Poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu is the biggest name in the game, with fellow GGPoker ambassadors Jason Koon, Fedor Holz and Kevin Martin all in the game too. Kevin Martin has previously won reality TV show Big Brother so can count himself among the favorites. More random elements such as Charlie Carrel, Dan ‘Jungleman’ Cates, Andy Tsai and Johan ‘YoH ViraL’ Guilbert, Lukas Robinson, Michael Soyza and the former WSOP Main Event runner-up David Williams will be threats too.
Four female players could prove the most talented group to monitor as the days and weeks of action include Global Poker Award Breakout player Kyna England, Indian Instagram personality Nikita Luther, Ukrainian poker star Olga Iermolcheva and poker legend Maria Ho.
Any of the players above could win, but there’s no doubt about the biggest draw, poker icon Daniel ‘Kid Poker’ Negreanu.
“Game of Gold takes all the best parts of traditional poker shows, adds some exciting new elements, and mixes them together with reality TV to make something truly revolutionary,” the GGPoker Global Ambassador said. “If you have even the smallest bit of interest in poker, you have to check Game of Gold out. As to the question of whether I won the $456,000 or not – well, just watch and you’ll find out for yourself!”
With the first episode of Game of Gold available from Wednesday November 15 at 12:00 UTC, subsequent episodes are being screened every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through December 4.
Check out the official GGPoker trailer for the poker TV event of the year… and have fun trying to pick a winner!