Shana Hiatt's Return to TV Just Days Away

Shana Hiatt, who just a few months ago the World Poker Tour tried to Peacock-block™ from returning to television, will debut her new NBC show, "Poker After Dark", starring Shana Hiatt, in just 13 days (if you're counting), which in calendar terms is January 2, 2007.

The hour-long show, starring Shana Hiatt, who by the way certainly should be considered a viable candidate for the OWCPG of 2007, along with the likes of our favorite lip-stickin' hottie/druggie, Miss USA Tara Conner, will air at 2:05 a.m. ET/PT nightly, Monday – Saturday, and will star Shana Hiatt. Set in various casinos in Las Vegas, and starring Shana Hiatt, "Poker After Dark" will feature Shana Hiatt as the host and pretty much every named pro battling it out weekly for a winner-takes-all $120,000 pot and post-tournament interview with Shana Hiatt.

While the details of the show and who's playing has been reported over the past few months, an official press release from NBC was dropped today that confirmed details of the show and included a quote from Marc Graboff, President, NBC Universal Television, West Coast.

Loosely (very) paraphrasing what Graboff said about "Poker After Dark":

"Hey all you Red Bull-soused online poker junkies up past 2am on a Monday, turn your frickin tube on because Shana's back on TV and this time it's network and that means new spreads in Maxim, Stuff and FHM are sure to come so if you want to thank us, then watch Poker After Dark, starring Shana Hiatt. Thanks."

After the jump, his actual quote and the rest of the press release made pretty with photos of Shana from the "Poker After Dark" website.

NBC PREMIERES "POKER AFTER DARK" HOSTED BY SHANA HIATT
Hour-Long Nightly Show Debuts Jan. 2 at 2:05 A.M. ET/PT

NEW YORK – Dec. 19, 2006 – NBC invites viewers into the exclusive Las Vegas poker scene with its new late night show, "Poker After Dark," debuting Jan. 2 at 2:05 a.m. ET/PT. The nightly hour-long show, hosted by Shana Hiatt, one of poker's most recognizable faces, will air Monday – Saturday and features six poker professionals vying for a winner-take-all $120,000 first place prize.

Hosted by former World Poker Tour host Hiatt – dubbed one of Maxim magazine's "Hot 100 of 2005" – each night of original programming will feature an intimate look at one table as it develops over the week, culminating with a winner on Friday night. Saturday night's show – the "director's cut" – will recap the week's events with Hiatt and that week's winner offering commentary and insight into their winning strategy (airing from 1-2 a.m. ET/PT following "Saturday Night Live," check local listings).

Set in the back room of various casinos on the Vegas strip, "Poker After Dark" gives viewers an intimate look inside a poker game usually reserved for the eyes of the professional poker players themselves. "Poker After Dark" will feature the world's top pros, all miked during the weekly battles for the $120,000 pot – including Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Erick Lindgren, Jennifer Harman and Gus Hansen – fighting it out for poker supremacy.

"There's a vibrant late night audience looking for original programming," said Marc Graboff, President, NBC Universal Television, West Coast. "We felt this inside look at the professional poker scene is perfect for late night television and those viewers seeking an unique and original broadcast."

Hiatt, an East Coast native, hosted the World Poker Tour from 2003 to 2005. A former model, Hiatt has also appeared in the films "Must Love Dogs" and "Grandma's Boy."

"Poker After Dark" is produced in conjunction with Poker Productions, the only television production company owned and operated by top professional poker players. Producers Mori Eskandani and Eric Drache bring 63 years of combined poker experience to their company and both have played a key role in producing some of television's best poker shows, including both seasons of NBC's "Heads Up Championship," two seasons of GSN's "High Stakes Poker," three seasons of Fox Sports Net and NBC's "Poker Superstars" and CBS' "Intercontinental Poker Championship."

Comments

[clrusso]

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