Original language(s) English Production company(s) Freehand Productions First episode date 2005 Network Network Ten | Country of origin Australia No. of seasons 2 Original network Network Ten Final episode date 2006 Number of seasons 2 | |
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Similar The Joker's Wild, Stand Up Australia, Live Roulette, Acropolis Now, Good News Week | ||
Joker poker
Joker Poker was a late night Australian poker program on Network Ten which aired in 2005 and 2006. Series one was hosted by Adam Spencer, with series two hosted by Mike Goldman. Both series were co-hosted by New Zealand poker pro Lee Nelson and Australian model Laura Weston acted as hostess. The show was produced by Australian Production Company Freehand Group.
Contents
The show featured Australian comedians playing no-limit Texas hold'em poker. Four comedians compete in each episode on behalf of their chosen charity. It was recorded in the high rollers' room of Sydney's Star City Casino for the first season and in a studio at Fox Studios in Sydney for the second. The weekly winner donates $5,000 to charity, while the series winner donates $25,000.
A New Zealand version also aired in 2007.
Series one
Joker Poker was the first locally produced poker program to go to air in Australia. Hosted by Adam Spencer and Lee Nelson, it featured 40 local comedians during the course of the series. It aired on Saturday nights at 10:30pm.
Andy Lee won the first series. The final players were Andy Lee, Doctor Turf, Simon Kennedy and Jackie Loeb.
Charities
Star City Casino provided the $100,000 prize pool that was distributed by the winners of each round and the two final tables to the following charities:
Series two
Joker Poker returned in 2006, with Lee Nelson being joined by Mike Goldman in place of Spencer. Series two consisted of 12 late night Joker Poker shows (airing on Wednesday nights at 11:15pm), Sporting Joker Poker and Lee Nelson Invitational specials, and four Celebrity Joker Poker specials (airing Tuesday nights at 9.30pm).
Contestants
Comedians who appeared in series two included:
Celebrities who appeared on the Celebrity Joker Poker, Sporting Joker Poker and Lee Nelson Invitational specials included:
Charities
Wild Turkey provided the $140,000 series prize pool that was distributed by the winners of each round and the two final tables to the following charities:
New Zealand version
The New Zealand version of the show was hosted by Brooke Howard-Smith and co-hosted by Lee Nelson. The two series of the New Zealand version of Joker Poker (consisting of 12 episodes) began screening on TV3 Sunday nights at 10:30pm from 10 February 2007. The series was repeated on C4 with great results, airing on the following Wednesday nights at 8:30pm beginning 13 February 2007.
Sponsors for the series were Pokerstars.net, Sky City Casino and Wild Turkey.