TV, Movies and YouTube Videos

This blog covers how TV, Movies and YouTube Videos have added jet fuel to the poker firestorm.  It starts with our core makeup. 
 
The excitement and desire to gamble is part of our DNA.  It is reflected by what we watch.  There have been several TV shows and movies over the years on poker.   Below are some of the key ones.
 
The first major TV series was called Maverick starring James Garner.  It was about gamblers living by their wits and charms and ran from 1957 to 1962. 
 
In 1965 the movie The Cincinnati Kid was released.  It was about a crackerjack stud poker player (Steve McQueen) who wants to challenge “The Man” (Edward G. Robinson).  It had an all-star cast that also included Ann-Margret, Tuesday Weld, Karl Malden and Joan Blondell. 

The movie Rounders with Matt Damon and Edward Norton came out in 1998 and initially did poorly in theaters.  It was ahead of its time.  However, since it was a lot about Texas No-Limit Hold’em it gained a huge following over time with poker players.
 
The 2006 James Bond movie Casino Royale introducing Daniel Craig is centered around a high stakes Texas No-Limit Hold’em poker tournament.  It is currently #8 on the all-time list of James Bond movies grossing almost $670 million.
 
In 2017 a movie called Molly’s Game about the true story of Molly Bloom (a beautiful young Olympic-Class skier) who ran the world’s most exclusive high stakes poker game for a decade (before she was arrested by the FBI) came out.
 
Today there are many live programs on Texas No-Limit Hold’em on TV as it continues to gain in popularity.  Also, there are an impressive number of YouTube training videos, videos of high stakes games, major events and more.  You can watch how the best players in the world approach the game.  They can be watched almost anytime, anyplace, and on many devices.

In the next blog we will cover Easy Access to Live Games,  The Mavericks of Poker, Osmosis, and Poker Strategy Software.

Stay tuned!

Chuck