Making It Big on the Small Screen
I'm on national television. Every week. That's somewhat surreal to think about that. I guess being on TV has always been an aspiration of mine, but it certainly came about faster than I expected. And definitely in a way I never would have guessed.
I believe it was on November 4, 2007 that my life took an amazing turn for the better. I was sitting in my recliner, watching football in my underwear, a bag of Doritos in one hand, my laptop in the other- the pinnacle of an online poker player. I had just finished a Sit-N-Go at UltimateBet when I stumbled upon an ad on their site. It informed me that I could be the next TV Star. They would fly me to LA. Put me up in the casino. And film me playing poker alongside Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke.
"Neat," I said.
And I set to it. The job was easy: make an audition showing your love for poker and that you would be good for TV. Now I had been doing both a Scotty Nguyen impersonation and an Humberto Brenes impersonation for years with my friends at our home game. It only made sense to incorporate those mediocre impersonations with even worse ones, and then bring together all those characters into a glorious poker movie.
And I set out to make my Best Damn Poker Video. My roommate Chris and I talked it over and came up with a basic idea of myself dealing to a bunch of poker celebrities- all of course played by myself. I wrote down roughly thirty of the biggest names in the game and then narrowed it down to which ones I thought would be the funniest. What we came up was this.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dxSAqhkUnVc
I had such a blast filming this. Now in order to make a really audition good video, you must 1) be an idiot 2) have a LOT of free time.
Luckily, I excel at both of the aforementioned. It took me about 5 days to write, film, and edit my video. And it only cost around $50 to get all those wigs, extra sunglasses, fake beards, Spiderman masks, etc. I ruined countless takes by spitting up beer as Scotty, getting Jennifer's boobs lopsided, cursing as Phil, speaking incorrect Spanish as Humberto, along with simply forgetting my lines.
But I was confident and satisfied when I sent the video in. I hoped the staff at UB would like it. I played the waiting game and I began to doubt. But it all led up to that one fateful night when I got the call. (Actually they somehow called my parents first, who live in a different city, but that's another story). The point was: I was in. I made the cut. I was to fly out next week.
I then proceeded to run around my apartment screaming and dancing and celebrating and laughing and shattering anyone's fear that I had any masculinity whatsoever.
I can't remember exactly how many of us were chosen from our videos, maybe ten or so. But I'd like to think they had similar reactions.
You see, being on the Best Damn Poker Show has changed my life. Furthermore, anyone can do what I did. That's the beauty of the show. It doesn't take adept poker skill or a ten thousand dollar chip to qualify. Just a little creativity. The way I figured, sacrificing a couple days in exchange for a once-in-a-lifetime is a pretty safe bet. I like those odds.
I hope UB continues this series for a long time, and just like a real poker game, if you put in some work, get a little lucky, and play your cards right, you could come out a winner.
I'm anxious to see what audition videos get sent in next round. I hear the second season on the BDPS is going to put the first to shame.
Know when to hold ‘em,
Keith
