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."





  [february 2026]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· SOPRANOS, THE (HBO)





[02/20/26 - 12:01 PM]
"Celebrity Jeopardy! All-Stars" Premieres March 13 on ABC, Streaming Next Day on Hulu
All three prior "Celebrity Jeopardy!" champions - Ike Barinholtz, Lisa Ann Walter, and W. Kamau Bell - will attempt to defend their titles against 18 of their most competitive fellow stars.

[02/20/26 - 11:08 AM]
"The 'Burbs" Continues Hot Start on Peacock
The series has generated nearly 1 billion viewing minutes on platform since its February 8 launch.

[02/20/26 - 10:37 AM]
Hallmark Renews "Mistletoe Murders" for Season 3
Sarah Drew, who also serves as executive producer, stars as Emily Lane, a small-town shop owner with a secret past.

[02/20/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Strip Law" - Official Trailer - Netflix
An uptight lawyer and a Vegas magician take on the city's most outrageous cases in this new adult animated comedy now streaming on Netflix.

[02/20/26 - 07:31 AM]
"Famous Last Words" Captures Interviews with Icons, Including the Late Eric Dane
Conducted by Emmy Award winner Brad Falchuk, the series presents an interview with the beloved "Grey's Anatomy" and "Euphoria" star Eric Dane, which was filmed last November.

[02/20/26 - 07:03 AM]
Video: A First Look at "Descendants: Wicked Wonderland" Revealed Ahead of Disney+ Debut This Summer
The teaser debuted ahead of the all-new "Descendants/ZOMBIES Worlds Collide: Concert Special," available today on Disney+.

[02/20/26 - 06:46 AM]
Paige Desorbo and Scott Evans to Host The Actor's Red Carpet: The 32nd Annual Actor Awards Official Pre-Show Live on Netflix
During the pre-show, winners for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture and Television Series will also be announced.

[02/20/26 - 06:02 AM]
TV One Presents A Definitive Tribute to an Icon with "Luther Vandross: Never Too Much" Premiering This Sunday, February 22 at 6PM/5C
Hailed by critics and audiences as a moving and definitive tribute, the film honors the life, artistry, and enduring cultural impact of music legend Luther Vandross.

[02/20/26 - 12:01 AM]
"A Friend, A Murderer" Launches on Netflix on March 5, 2026
This is the story of how a series of horrific crimes affected a rural community in Denmark and how a Danish town's close-knit community was transformed into distrust and fear.

[02/19/26 - 11:50 AM]
ABC Wednesday Comedies Deliver Audience Milestones as Romance Blooms With Valentine's Day Episodes
"Shifting Gears" earned 6.90 million Total Viewers and 0.99 rating among Adults 18-49, after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms.

[02/19/26 - 11:01 AM]
Oscar Winners Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin, Mikey Madison and Zoe Saldana Return to the Oscars Stage
All return to the Oscars stage after winning last year in their respective acting categories.

[02/19/26 - 10:32 AM]
Baseball Returns! ESPN to Stream More MLB Spring Training Games Than Ever
The offerings include four national games on ESPN, six games on ESPN Unlimited, and more than 250 out-of-market games via MLB.TV on ESPN platforms.

[02/19/26 - 10:00 AM]
Daring Dark Polish Comedy "The Stroke" Exclusive U.S. Debut Thursday, March 12, 2026 Only on European Streamer Viaplay U.S.
In a fearless performance, Jacek Poniedzialek plays a celebrated culinary critic and TV personality, brilliant and caustic, who built a career skewering bourgeois taste while privately unraveling.

[02/19/26 - 09:36 AM]
Nickelodeon to Air "Bedtime Stories with Ryan," Starring Ryan Reynolds, Beginning Monday, March 2, on Nick Jr. Channel
In the series, Ryan Reynolds reads new and classic bedtime stories as the tales magically come to life around him - creating a warm, playful and imaginative wind-down experience for kids and parents to enjoy together.

[02/19/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "STEEL BALL RUN JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The series premieres on Thursday, March 19, 2026, only on Netflix.