I don't like how PAD, HSP, WSOP events, ect, all seem to value the commentators over the table talk. I don't think I'm alone when I say that most people enjoy the table talk over the commentators babbling. Further more, it seems like when ever the commentators are not talking, the table talk is really muted. I find myself having to bast my TV just to hear any bit of table talk and as a result I have Gabe Kaplan yelling at me for an hour haha. The one show that I think has it right is the Poker Stars Big game. The table talk is at the same volume and the commentators aren't always talking. Just my 2 cents.

I seem to remember the big game mixing out a lot of the table talk actually. PAD has it the most right in regards to this. Nejad rarely talks over the tabletalk

Nejad talks so little during the game it's hard to justify his paycheck. In fact that may be why many commentators talk as much as they do.

But I agree the table talk on PAD can be very hard to make out sometimes.

WSOP I disagree. Why would I want to hear about the lives of 5000 random unknown guys. Listening to what any of those guys has to say would be so boring (imagine yourself playing poker, would you really want to watch that on TV). At least Norm and Lon are amusing-ish.

PAD I disagree completely. Its already 95% table talk, 5% Ali Nejad. And when he does talk, its just "this guy flopped top two" or "that guy bets $25K with middle pair" which we can already see with our own eyes. He's seriously totally useless.

And HSP, Gabe is the best in the business. When AJ was there, we got to see (or listen to rather) some of the funniest moments in televised poker history. 1 million times better than having to hear how many pushups Antonio can do. Or was it how many pushups does Phil think that Patrik's wife thinks that Daniel's dog thinks that Antonio can do?

They mute some table talk because sometimes multiple people are having multiple conversations. Usually if the entire table is in on one conversation they will air the table talk and this is true for virtually every show.

I do agree and wish we got more table talk. I do really appreciate good commentary (gabe, joe, ali are the top guys) but hearing the actual table talk is preferable.

I think maybe it is hard sometimes to get microphones in the right spot to pick up the table talk well enough. The cameras can be a further away but the mics need to be closer and on booms which makes it more complicated.

Lol, I'm pretty sure they have each player mic'ed. It's not a technical difficulty, it's a question of the writers and producers choosing to have the commentators speak over the players at any given point since all the commentating is added on after the show has been pieced together.

If you consider that, it becomes less frustrating when you feel like you might be missing out on a juicy conversation. Chances are that if something is interesting at the table it will make the final production cut.

CAn't say I disagree with you but....what is posting it here going to do except get a debate going about it. Contact the networks directly if you want something done about it. Or get a poll going here and actually send it on, unlike others that do it just for their own peace of mind.

GL

PAD tends to get extremely boring with just the table talk tbh

I agree. The only program it doesn't bother me on is HSP. The ratio of table talk to commentary is optimum and you rarely miss any worthy banter.

You talk about TV in general, not only poker OP !

i think some of you are romanticizing the idea of table talk simply because some recent episodes of the big game had a lot of it. in my experience for every 1 episode of poker programming with engaging and interesting table talk there's like 4 that are incredibly boring and quiet. sometimes the commentary helps make it watchable, especially for more recreational viewers who aren't deeply into the strategy behind the game

I think the best is a combination is a mix of commentators and table talk if there is any.

I agree I like the table talk, which is why I like PAD. IMHO, the reason WPT, WSOP, and HSP can't show the table talk is because the hands are cut too much to have coherent table talk. They only show like 5% of the hands played, and from what I've heard, there is even a lot of tape on the cutting room floor that takes place during a hand. (Like they may only show someone tank for 10 seconds rather than 45 seconds.) So, the talk wouldn't flow with all the cuts. You'd be hearing someone talk about their dog, and due to a cut, the second half the sentence would be about their girlfriend. It just wouldn't flow right.

However, PAD shows more like 90% of the hands and doesn't cut much (or at all) during a hand, so the table talk can flow through the hands and be sensible.

yeah this could get really confusing if they're like "...and then she crapped all over the floor" because sometimes girlfriends do that too

PAD is so relaxing and chilled because of how little Nejad talks. I like the way he does it. But on certain shows such as the WSOP, I definately prefer the commentators doing most of the talking.

Most poker players are liars and have mild social disorders

Come to think of it, compared to earlier seasons of PAD where the weekend Director's Cut was mostly straight-through poker action (and was much more watchable), the revamp showing highlights of the week does have way too much chatter and flash. As in this hand which sent poker brat Phil Hellmuth to the rail.

HSP was good at allowing to hear the poker table talk if it was juicy or was some kind of crazy comment. PAD started that way too. WSOP broadcasts it's all Norman Chad for the most part.

The banter is good if they allow it to be heard. I liked hearing Doyle's stories on PAD. They are from a different time space in our history and it sheds some light usually on how it used to be. That makes it worth watching all the more.

Remember one thing about the WSOP broadcasts on ESPN...their target audience is NOT hardcore poker players. Instead they are targeting casual players and even folks who have never played. These are broadcast in prime time on a major cable network. It's all about the MONEY, which is based on TV ratings and thus the advertising rates ESPN can charge. In short, it's all about putting butts in seats in front of the TV tuned into the WSOP show. ESPN could care less who those butts belong to. Therefore, we get hand analysis that is plain as day to us. And, we get Norman's sick jokes, that ESPN believes that everyday folks fine entertaining. In contrast, HSP and PAD are geared more for an audience who does play poker.

I think Nejad does a great job on PAD, and there's a good ratio of commentating and table chatter. The only time though that I really don't want to hear commentating is when they have side games going on, which are always hilarious. Obviously this makes PAD: The Cash Games and HSP the best programs to watch because there's so much side action. But for the most part, I don't mind the commentating.

You're not alone, but you are incorrect. Most poker shows aren't geared towards diehard poker fans. Many hardcore players would rather hear the table talk during these shows, but the target audience of casual players and people flipping channels are drawn to the color commentary.

They already know we're going to watch so there's no point in marketing to us.

I think it's a question of how much you know about poker. When I was a casual watcher, I liked the commentary to better know what's going on.

After I started playing more, I wanted to hear table talk as I realized it's a part of the game.

But this one I dont understand at all...they mute the table talk a lot and the only show where it has annoyed me is Pokerstars Big game.

Simple solution:

Have the commentators sit at the table and crack jokes during the lulls in table talk