Brian
01-06-2004, 07:03 PM
Televised poker has been very very good to Vince Van Patten and he's not ready to cash in all his chips just yet. The actor and television host has signed on to develop and host "Poker Dogs," a reality series set in the world of competitive poker.
LMNO Prods. is shopping the series to both networks and cable buyers, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Poker Dogs" would showcase professional poker players in elimination-style showdowns for large cash prizes.
"Poker players by their nature are natural storytellers," says Eric Schotz, head of LMNO. "Poker is the mechanism for (eliminating) the players, but there's so much more for us to tell about the players, about their strategies and how they play off each other."
"Poker Dogs" would enter a televised poker marketplace already approaching saturation. For years, ESPN has scored big ratings with its World Series of Poker championships, but the sports network has been joined recently by a diverse array of cable networks. The Travel Channel has gotten strong returns from "World Poker Tour" and Bravo has had some success with "Celebrity Poker Showdown." The Game Show Network is also at work on a poker series.
Van Patten, whose father is "Eight is Enough" star Dick Van Patten, is probably best known for his recent work co-hosting "World Poker Tour" on Travel Channel. His television credits include stints on "Baywatch" and "The Young and the Restless." He has also been seen in the immortal features "Rooster: Spurs of Death!" and "Rock 'n' Roll High School"
LMNO Prods. is shopping the series to both networks and cable buyers, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Poker Dogs" would showcase professional poker players in elimination-style showdowns for large cash prizes.
"Poker players by their nature are natural storytellers," says Eric Schotz, head of LMNO. "Poker is the mechanism for (eliminating) the players, but there's so much more for us to tell about the players, about their strategies and how they play off each other."
"Poker Dogs" would enter a televised poker marketplace already approaching saturation. For years, ESPN has scored big ratings with its World Series of Poker championships, but the sports network has been joined recently by a diverse array of cable networks. The Travel Channel has gotten strong returns from "World Poker Tour" and Bravo has had some success with "Celebrity Poker Showdown." The Game Show Network is also at work on a poker series.
Van Patten, whose father is "Eight is Enough" star Dick Van Patten, is probably best known for his recent work co-hosting "World Poker Tour" on Travel Channel. His television credits include stints on "Baywatch" and "The Young and the Restless." He has also been seen in the immortal features "Rooster: Spurs of Death!" and "Rock 'n' Roll High School"