or


[04/29/09 - 12:11 PM]
NBC Cashes in on Poker's Popularity with 'Face the Ace,' New Reality Poker Game Show Premiering Saturday, August 1
The series will premiere on Saturday, August 1 and continue on Saturday, August 8 before future air dates on Saturday afternoons beginning in September.
[via press release from NBC]

NBC CASHES IN ON POKER'S POPULARITY WITH 'FACE THE ACE,' NEW REALITY POKER GAME SHOW PREMIERING SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

Hosted by Steve Schirripa ("The Sopranos"), Amateurs Play Against World-Class Poker Players in Heads-Up, No Limit Hold'Em For a Chance at the Ultimate Prize of $1 million

After Back-to-Back Saturday Primetime Shows, Series Will Air on Saturday Afternoons Beginning in September

UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. - April 29, 2009 - NBC announced that it is cashing in on the popularity of poker with the premiere of "Face the Ace," hosted by Steve Schirripa ("The Sopranos"), that will feature contestants selected from an online search who will showdown against superstar professional players in Las Vegas. The series will premiere on Saturday, August 1 (9-10 p.m. ET) and continue on Saturday, August 8 (9-10 p.m. ET) before future air dates on Saturday afternoons beginning in September.

"Face the Ace" will feature four smoked-glass doors -- behind each is a legendary professional poker player. In each episode, one or more lucky contestants get to pick an "Ace" and their opponent will emerge from behind one of the doors. They will play heads-up no limit Hold'Em, an exciting game that requires confidence, aggression and bluffing.

The contestant will play up to three different "Aces" in a series of heads-up matches. If the contestant wins his first match, he can elect to take what he's won and go home. If he wants to keep going, he can risk his winnings and plays a second heads-up match against a different "Ace" for substantially more prize money. If he wins that second match, he can leave his winnings behind and risk everything against a third Ace for a chance to win $1 million. If the contestant loses any match, he walks away with nothing.

Eligibility is open to anyone 21 and older. Potential contestants can go online at www.facetheace.com or www.fulltiltpoker.net to play for a chance to be on the show. Fulltiltpoker.net will host qualifying tournaments and the top finishers will go to Las Vegas for a chance to be a contestant on the show.

NBC also broadcasts the popular "Poker After Dark" (Mondays-Fridays, 2:05-3:05 a.m.; Saturdays, 1-2 a.m.; check local listings) and the National Heads-Up Poker Championship.

"Face the Ace" is created by Poker Productions, the producers of "Poker After Dark."





  [april 2026]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· SOPRANOS, THE (HBO)




[04/24/26 - 12:00 PM]
What's New on HBO Max This May
Highlights include season two of "On The Roam," comedy special "Josh Johnson: Symphony," documentary series "U.S. Against The World: Four Years With The Men's National Soccer Team," new episode of "The Yogurt Shop Murders," and documentary "The A List: 15 Stories From Asia And Pacific Diasporas."
[04/24/26 - 11:16 AM]
"Wuthering Heights" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max May 1
The Emerald Fennell film stars Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, whose forbidden passion for one another turns from romantic to intoxicating in an epic tale of lust, love and madness.
[04/24/26 - 09:01 AM]
Zizians Documentary Series Set at HBO
The multi-part documentary series explores the Zizians, an enigmatic group of young technologists who garnered national attention in 2025 after law enforcement linked members of the group to a series of violent crimes across the country.

[04/24/26 - 08:59 AM]
NBA Playoffs Return to NBC Sports Delivers Big Viewership Gains Over First Three Nights
NBC Sports' first six NBA Playoff games averaged 4.9 million viewers, up 38% vs. comparable coverage last year and the most-watched for the first Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights of the playoffs since 1994.
[04/24/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: New Featurette - Hulu Original Series "Rivals" Season 2
Ahead of the highly anticipated second season of the Emmy and BAFTA award-winning "Rivals," Hulu has released a new recap featurette.
[04/24/26 - 08:00 AM]
La La Anthony, Rutina Wesley, Taylor Polidore Williams, DeVaughn Nixon and Alexxis Lemire Join Season 4 of Hulu's Hit Legal Drama "Reasonable Doubt" as Recurring Guest Stars
Morris Chestnut, Joseph Sikora and Brandee Evans also return as recurring guest stars.

[04/24/26 - 07:01 AM]
"Scooby-Doo: Origins" Starts Production in Atlanta
A modern reimagining of the iconic mystery-solving group of teens and their very special dog.

[04/24/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Gordon" - First Look - Netflix
Based on the novel by Marcelo Larraquy, "Gordon" arrives on Netflix in 2026.
[04/23/26 - 11:41 PM]
Prime Video Unleashes UK's Biggest Digital Stars in Highly Anticipated Comedy Reality Series, "Would You Rather: Decide to Survive"
The series will launch exclusively worldwide on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories in June 2026.
[04/23/26 - 09:00 PM]
The Vampire Lestat's Gritty Cover of Billy Idol's Legendary Song "Dancing with Myself" Is Now Available on All Digital Platforms
AMC Global Media and Lakeshore Records released the single on the Vampire Lestat artist profile pages at major digital music services, including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
[04/23/26 - 03:13 PM]
"Euphoria" Season 3 Premiere Surpasses 20M Global Viewers, Up 68% vs. Season 2
Episode 2 matched the premiere with approximately 8.5 million U.S. viewers in its first three days.
[04/23/26 - 02:50 PM]
Goal! ESPN Airs Two Most-Viewed First Round Game 2's on Cable Ever, Continuing Successful Start to 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Monday's Philadelphia Flyers-Pittsburgh Penguins matchup (Game 2, 7 p.m. ET) delivered 1.6 million viewers and Tuesday's Boston Bruins-Buffalo Sabres matchup (Game 2, 7:30 p.m.) delivered 1.2 million viewers, setting the new Game 2 record.
[04/23/26 - 02:02 PM]
"The Cult of Natureboy," A New Four-Part Docuseries That Offers a Raw and Unfiltered Look Inside a Modern Cult, Premieres April 28 on Hulu
In 2016, a rising social media star named Eligio Bishop, also known as "NatureBoy," used his platforms to recruit followers into a group he called Carbon Nation, encouraging them to abandon their families and join his vision of a self-proclaimed Black utopia.

[04/23/26 - 01:03 PM]
Apple TV Sets New Comedy Series, Elizabeth Banks to Star and Executive Produce
The series is set to begin production in Los Angeles this year.
[04/23/26 - 12:19 PM]
USA Sports Delivers Most-Watched Match in LOVB Volleyball History to Cap Inaugural Season of Record Viewership on USA Network
The first Finals match on Thursday, April 16, which Salt Lake won 3-2 in a closely-contested fifth set, averaged 163,000 viewers, ranking as the most-watched LOVB game of all-time.