Many non-poker fans wonder how anyone can possibly be entertained by watching poker on television. The fact of the matter is that the episodes are generally edited to include only the highlights, but the other important aspect is commentating. Without great commentators, any poker show would be ruined. There are some names in the poker world that are associated with both commentating and poker playing, but the list is quite short.
It really is amazing how many non-poker players have made their way into the commentators booth. Of course, every commentator knows how to play the game, but this doesn’t mean that they are qualified to offer insight and criticism into any play that is observed. Nonetheless, many poker shows are run by hosts who have not the slightest clue, but hey, sometimes that makes it even funnier.
Mike Sexton
Mike Sexton is a renowned poker player. He was a close friend of the great Stu Ungar and remains one of the top all around poker players in the world. Before he became a host of the World Poker Tour, Sexton was ripping up the card rooms.
Don’t let his commentary skills fool you, though, as he is still quite a force in the games. Sexton is widely known as one of the biggest promoters of the game of poker. He has worked in many different fields in the industry that extend beyond actual play. He is a commentator, works with a charity organization that he helped to found, and a great poker player.
Howard Lederer
Howard Lederer is one of the original poker stars of the poker boom (and is also speculated to be one of the owners of Full Tilt Poker). The Professor, as he is known by many of his fans, has used his poker success to aid in his commentating career.
He has been a commentator for a handful of different poker shows, most of which aired on the Fox Network. Lederer is one of the brightest thinkers in the game, and his insight into the game makes him a perfect fit in the booth.
Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth is known more for his play, for better or worse, than his commentary skills. Though surprising to some, Hellmuth has actually done quite a bit of commentary. Hellmuth has been a part of live broadcasts from a number of World Series of Poker events, dating all the way back to the 90s and beyond.
Hellmuth has been a part of the poker scene for much longer than most people realize, and all of this experience has allowed him to earn some TV time away from the table (as well as an endorsement from UltimateBet.com). If Hellmuth ever decides to throw in the towel, and it is highly unlikely that he will, there is definitely a spot open for him as the co-host on one of many poker shows.
Gabe Kaplan
Gabe Kaplan’s dry humor has allowed this former TV star to regain some exposure in the world of show biz. While saying that Kaplan is still a prominent figure in Hollywoord would be pushing it, it is certain that Kaplan is one of the premier announcers in poker. The majority of his poker commentary work can be found in various seasons of High Stakes Poker, a televised poker cash game series. He worked with a co-host, A.J. Benza, for many of the seasons, but has recently found himself working solo.
Some were upset when Kaplan was left to work alone, as much of his style relies on a partner’s input or occasional laugh. Kaplan is known much more for his commentating than his actual play, but the truth is that Kaplan has a little under 1 million dollars in lifetime tournament earnings. Few commentators can compete with the poker resume that Kaplan has compiled.
Phil Gordon
Phil Gordon might not be the best poker player in the world, but he is a pretty good commentator. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon did not actually start out in poker. He had worked a variety of other jobs before he decided to jump into poker, largely as a retirement type endeavor that would leave him room for some profitability. He got involved at just the right time, as the poker boom was encompassing the world. Gordon suddenly went from everyday guy to poker superstar.
He was able to parlay his good fortune into a number of commentary positions. Gordon worked with ESPN for the 2006 and 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event live broadcasts that were made available as pay per view television. In addition, he has worked on a handful of different Bravo and ESPN poker themed programs. Gordon might not be well-known for commentating, but he has done a great job on an assortment of shows.
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Written by Jonathan Wanchalk on July 20th, 2010