Completely agree. HSP is supposed to be entertainment first and foremost. It should be entry level stuff that even casuals who dont know much about poker would enjoy to some degree.

The last two episodes have failed to entertain.

Schwimer was a perfect HSP addition. Loose players who talk when they are involved in hands is the perfect combination for entertaining poker TV.

Lynne was also great for the game+ JRB.

I'm not sure I'd agree with that, considering HSP is on a subscription service platform PokerGo. It's not getting the casual channel-flippers who just happen to land on it, like maybe Poker Night in America on CBSSN or NBCSN, etc. Any program produced exclusively for PokerGo has to assume a somewhat knowledgeable poker audience will be viewing, since it is essentially pay-per-view poker content.

I have to add that the thing about JRB is that you dont notice how important/good he is for the game, until he is gone like the last couple episodes.

But they will eventually be on one of those TV stations, that’s why they are 45 minutes long with clear spots where commercials will go

Can’t really blame PokerGO too much for last couple of episodes, I mean on paper that lineup should have been entertaining enough. One of the most famous hands in HSP was Ivey vs Durr, PokerGO is just running bad this session.

It's an interesting table again, just not the way you guys want it to be or something.

HSP back after a decade with Gabe, AJ, Dwan, Ivey, etc. and NVG still isn't satisfied

HSP a decade ago was Free. You tend to expect more when you have to pay.

Nice strawman.

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IMO, a lot of the hype with HSP is nostalgia. It was a fun new experience seeing Dwan Ivey Antonius Negreanu etc. battling it out 10+ years ago with non-solver strats.

But now a decade later, a lot of the storylines are tired, played, or not the same. Ivey looks uninterested and not himself. Dwan isn't the "online kid" trying to beat the live pros anymore. Hellmuth's whining feels like more of a forced shtick now.

People want to relive that first time excitement they remember seeing all the big names clashing. We can't expect to see the same rush a second time through seeing it all.

I still think its pretty good television. Maybe would be good to mute some of the less entertaining table talk. It should be easier putting together fun lineups once more people are vaccinated and traveling.

Also would like if the show moved on from the same dated intro/outro music.

Nothing in this life is free. They got money from the satellite or cable company or whatever and then they charged you.

Given the fact that it costs me less to do Hulu live TV and Netflix and PokerGO and other stuff than my direcTV back in the day a case can be made that are actually paying less

But whatever, it’s $10

HSP was free a decade ago for those who lived in their parents' basement.

It was free for everyone who didn't get GSN thanks to a user called anontroll on that site which is probably still banned from being mentioned on 2+2. He would upload every single episode immediately after broadcast. Everybody around the world who enjoyed HSP back in the day owes that guy a beer.

It's just a reflection of a reality. And a good one at that.

The de-mystifying of poker pros is wat makes it really interesting. You have to see it for what it it is though. Just look at how billionaire Chamath presents himself as opposed to te rich business-men in the early seasons, such as the Lakers-boss.

Totally different!

Dwan gets loads of respect from the table. He has proven to be a a very good survivor. Hellmuth as well actually in his weird ways. How about JRB. Some people not so good, especially the absentees.

Then we have these new rich live players - most of them seem a bit silly / would go broke eventually. Except for Solomon. He doesn't seem very good compared to proper players, but does have a very unique style that seems to work wonders. That would indicate he's pretty smart. Almost like Ivey or something, really good adjustments.

Its because hes talking a lot during hands. Even when a lot of what he says is nonsense its A LOT better than silent robots. There should be a stipulation for participation on HSP that you need to talk during hands.

Yes. That plus he have a good sense of humor. He has some funny jokes/comments and plays with his heart outside his t shirt. Like he is genuinely tilting when things go bad, not the staged mad stuff from Hellmuth. I love that alot.

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Dwan is a very personable guy at the tables. Thought he sometimes comes across a bit weird in interviews, but at the table he gets involved in good conversations and seems to be liked and respected by everyone. That, and being willing to give action, you can see why he'd be invited to a lot of games.

His game seems to have moved on from where it was in the initial HSP episodes. Less crazy than it was, but that's probably a function of the fact that no-one these days could get away with the stuff he was pulling back then. Top level pros probably call at the right frequencies and the rich Asian amateurs he plays with would be less likely to be willing to fold to his crazy bluffs. Great to see him doing well.

Unfortunately none of them can afford to pay for said beer.

I never rewatch S7 when I do a rewatch, but it's so amazingly bad.
Phil Ruffin absolutely destroys the game sun-running, and just snap 100K calls with K3s on AK986 type boards. "I had a King..."

I just started watching S8

Is there a reason they are beeping out the curse words if this is only airing on PokerGo?

It's going to be on TV eventually

If I remember correctly from S7 the show turned awful because it became "5 pros bumhunting 3 whales" instead of actual high level poker. Anyone could wait for monsters and then try to stack a rich whale.

Ses 4 and 5 is for sure worth rewatching though. Amazing stuff.

Especially season 4 with the Farha and Gold rivalry going on nearly every episode is just unbeatable entertainment.

Ses 5 as mentioned is worth rewatching just to study closer how Dwan totally runs over the game.

Season 6 episode 1 is undeniably the best episode of the series. And season 6 is the best season imo.