Phil Hellmuth is the new host of Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown, replacing "tiltboy" Phil Gordon. Phil Hellmuth is the best poker player in the world according to Phil Hellmuth. He's quite a character and it will be interesting to watch what value he can add to the show.
Earlier this month the news broke that Phil Gordon had left as host of the Celebrity Poker Showdown to pursue a different direction in his TV career. Gordon is ready to move on to host tournaments for professional poker players. In a press release he stated: "After 42 episodes of Celebrity Poker, I just want to see people play in turn, bet more than $200 into a $5000 pot, and know when they have the nuts."
Gordon continued with "Nothing would give me greater pleasure than saying ‘Phil Hellmuth loses another big pot and it looks like he's ready to implode!’ on nation television." Ironically it is Gordon's nemesis Phil Hellmuth that will be replacing him in the next season of the show.
Phil Hellmuth has won a total of nine World Series of Poker bracelets. In 1989 he was the youngest player ever to win the main event of the World Series at the age of 24, a record still standing today. Hellmuth will co-host the Celebrity Poker Show with comedian Dave Foley.
Kudos to Bravo for deciding to take the new season to New Orleans in an effort to help the city regain some of it's former glory after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city in August last year. The show will be filmed at Harrah's New Orleans. The casino just re-opened on February 17 after extensive repairs. All celebrities participating in the show will be playing for charities benefiting victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The new season of the Celebrity Poker showdown is scheduled to start airing on the Bravo network in the spring. Don't miss it!