Wild Card Poker I re-airs, casting for II ramps up

As the deadline for submissions nears and casting for Calvin Ayre's Wild Card Poker II gets heated, aspiring reality stars can turn to ION Television for inspiration, as the entertaining Wild Card Poker I returns to the airwaves next week.

Hosted by billionaire entrepreneur and Bodog Entertainment founder Calvin Ayre, the original Wild Card Poker was a hit, pitting seasoned poker pros against average Joes, celebrities and a mysterious wild card competitor in a quest for a $500,000 payday.

Among them: Chuck "Iceman" Liddell (UFC Champ), Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), "Boston" Rob Mariano (Survivor, Amazing Race), Shannon Elizabeth (American Pie), and poker pros Jennifer Tilly, Phil Laak, David Williams, Evelyn Ng, Josh Arieh, Michael Mizrachi, Humberto Brenes and Erick Lindgren.

The results: an engaging mix of personality, poker prowess and reality show posturing, with Bodog.com pro Arieh walking away from the final table with the half million spoils.

If you liked it the first time around, you'll be happy to hear round two is on tap: Starting Monday, May 28, Calvin Ayre Wild Card Poker I will air daily at 10 p.m. (EDT) on ION, culminating in a special three-hour marathon Saturday, June 2 at 8 p.m. (EDT).

"The series is unlike any other and embodies the Bodog poker lifestyle," says Bodog TV founder Calvin Ayre.

"Not only did we capture some incredible poker play, we managed to capture a few intimate moments that make the series and competitors that much more entertaining."

Now building on the success of the first season, they've upped the bar for Season 2 with 12 new contestants, all to be selected online via submitted audition videos or pictures, battling it out in a series of poker and lifestyle-related challenges for the largest prize in reality TV history - $2 million.

Want to be one of them? The audition process is still open, with the deadline set for June 3.

For all the details on the submission process and to see some streaming video of Season 1, including two exclusive semi-final table episodes that won't be seen anywhere else, visit Bodog.

courtesy of Christopher Hunt

News Added: 22 May, 2007

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