'Calvin Ayre's Wild Card Poker' To Debut April 15th

For those of us who don't have enough poker to watch on television, mark your calendars on April 15th for the debut of BoDog founder Calvin Ayre's poker show on the Fox Sports Network.

'Calvin Ayre's Wild Card Poker', which was filmed last month at the "Compound" (actually Calvin Ayre's private residence), will bring together forty people to participate in a poker tournament amid the lush surroundings of the Caribbean. They also were able to enjoy their stay in the tropical paradise as well, with several parties and other gatherings that were all captured on film as a part of the six episode series.

"We initially set out to create a poker and entertainment show that would offer television viewers a glimpse into the 'Play Hard' lifestyle," said Mr. Ayre. "What we got was a television show entirely unlike any show you could imagine. With unexpected twists and turns, including some of the intimate moments captured by the cameras, the millions of viewers tuning in each week will see a fantastic show with a lot of tense scenes at the poker table."

The site's players became a part of the show, as twenty members were chosen during a contest held on the site. The prize for winning the tournament could be potentially large for one of these twenty, as the tournament offered up a $500,000 grand prize to the winner. It will not be an easy trek for any of these players to capture the bounty, however.

Also along for the fun at the Compound were several celebrities who will present some serious challenges for the the sites members. UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell, actors Cheryl Hines (a prominent participant on "Celebrity Poker Showdown" known for her work on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm"), Willie Garson ("Sex And The City") and Josh Malina ("The West Wing") and musicians Willa Ford and SR-71's Mitch Allen led the contingent of celebrities to the tables. The real threat, however, could be the professional poker players amassed to face off during "Calvin Ayre's Wild Card Poker."

Newest team member Evelyn Ng joins the current crop of Team BoDog for the event in Costa Rica. Also featured in the play of the poker are her fellow mates Jennifer Tilly, Phil "The Unabomber" Laak, David Williams, Josh Arieh, Jean Gluck, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi and his wife, Lily, Humberto Brenes and Erick Lindgren. To add even further to the drama, an unknown "Wild Card" player will enter into the final table during the conclusion of the series, which will be shown on May 20th.

Overall, it should be an interesting six week journey into the world of high stakes poker and living the high life of a billionaire. "Calvin Ayre's Wild Card Poker" promises some twists and turns along the way and it could be worth some time to check it out when it debuts on the Fox Sports Network from 11PM-1AM on April 15th (be sure to check your local FSN affiliate for exact times).

Ed note: Make enough to buy your own compound at Ultimate Bet