...isn’t a television series I’d make sure to catch every week, but one I’d watch if I came across it while channel surfing.
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The following is what happens when you give two degenerate gamblers their own TV show…
The only card games I´ve ever played are solitaire, Go Fish, and Uno. I´ve never played a hand of poker before in my life and couldn´t tell you what a straight flush is to save my life. I have enjoyed a few poker movies in my time like "The Cincinnati Kid," "California Split," and "Rounders." Poker enthusiasts will probably have heard the names Phil Laak and Antonio Esfandiari, but I don´t know either man from Adam. That´s okay though. Their show, "I Bet You," isn´t really about poker, but gambling in general.
Esfandiari emigrated from Iran to America when he was 9. He took up magic before becoming a professional poker player, which is why he´s earned the nickname, "The Magician." Laak is known as "The Unabomber" due to his penchant for wearing a hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses during games. The two are former roommates and the best of friends. In "I Bet You," Laak and Esfandiari take their gambling away from the poker tables and onto the streets. Throughout the series, we find the pair taking bets on just about anything while challenging each other to do outrageous things. It´s almost like "Jackass," but a lot less crass, violent, and scatological. Each episode focuses on our intrepid hosts learning a new skill and wagering on who can perform better. We follow their progress throughout the show while they make other bets, both big and small. Some of these bets include each man grabbing somebody off the streets and training them in poker to defeat the other´s respective choice or guessing what kind of underwear a woman is wearing. Laak and Esfandiari bet with their own money and a scorecard pops up after each bet to keep us informed of the tally.
"I Bet You" isn´t exactly gripping, thought-provoking programming. It´s brainless fun for the most part. Laak and Esfandiari are obviously great friends and the fun they have is downright infectious. The show does tend to get repetitive after awhile. A few bets, like trying to get a ride from a complete stranger, are repeated with slight variations.
The first season is available in this 2-disc set and the episodes included are as follows:
-Disc 1-
"Bartending" – Phil and Antonio learn how to tend bar and see who can collect the most tips. They also race to the Santa Monica fountain by getting a lift from a complete stranger.
"Strip Poker" – Phil and Antonio compete to see who can become the better dancer. They also teach a pair of strippers to play a game of, what else, strip poker. For obvious reasons, this is my favorite episode out of the first season.
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