Setup, Logistics, and Personalities
The first seven tournaments were taped at the Palms Casino in Paradise, Nevada in front of a live studio audience. With the eighth tournament, Harrah's Entertainment became the "official casino of Celebrity Poker Showdown."
When a player was eliminated, he or she moved to the "Loser's Lounge" to watch the rest of the game. With the move to New Orleans for the eighth tournament, the Lounge was renamed for sponsor Southern Comfort as the "SoCo Lime Lounge".
The first series was hosted by actor/comedian Kevin Pollak, most episodes of his short-lived run were an hour in length, and the Championship telecast was two hours in length. Pollak's run lasted only one tournament. In 2004, the show officially expanded to two hours in length and actor/comedian Dave Foley took over hosting. Most episodes of his run were two hours in length, and only one episode (the Championship telecast of the fifth tournament) was an hour in length. Professional poker player Phil Gordon provided the color commentary for the first seven tournaments. Phil Hellmuth took over the commentary spot in the eighth tournament.
All the games were officiated by Tournament Director Robert Thompson. Thompson was noted amongst viewers of the show for the catchphrase, "Shuffle up and deal!"
Several celebrities have appeared in multiple tournaments, and five have won games in separate tournaments. David Cross won in the first and third tournaments; Dulé Hill won in the second and seventh; Kevin Nealon won in the fourth and seventh; Jason Alexander won in the fifth and eighth; and Michael Ian Black won in the second and eighth tourneys. No celebrity won more than one championship game.
The series was produced by Andrew Hill Newman and Joshua Malina.
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