Bodog Set to Begin Filming Poker Reality Show

Bodog CEO Calvin Ayre will host a six-episode reality show at the Bodog compound in Costa Rica in hopes of finding the next big poker star. Fox Sports will begin filming this week. Co-hosted by 2003 Miss World Canada, Nazanin, the show is scheduled to air Saturday nights from 11:00pm to 1:00am, starting April 15.

Forty players, a mix of celebrities, poker pros, and amateurs, will compete in five single table tournaments (one each), with the winner receiving $50,000 and a seat at the sixth, and final, table. The champion of that final tournament will win $500,000.

The C-list celebrities are “Boston” Rob Mariano from Survivor, actors Josh Malina, Cheryl Hines, and Willie Garson, recording artists Mitch Allen from SR-71 and Willa Ford, Ultimate Fighting Champ Chuck Liddell, and surfer Jon Rose. The one “real” celebrity is Jennifer Tilly.

The poker pros on hand are Phil Laak, David Williams, Josh Arieh, Evelyn Ng, Michael Mizrachi, John Gluck, Humberto Brenes, Lily Mizrachi, and Erick Lindgren.

March 8, 2006