or


[01/15/05 - 12:00 AM]
Gamblin' Granny' Creates #1 Poker Show in America, 'Ultimate Poker Challenge'

[via press release from Ultimate Poker Challenge]

'Gamblin' Granny' Creates #1 Poker Show in America, 'Ultimate Poker Challenge'

90-Year-Old C.E.O. Is Poker's New Queen

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 15 -- At age 90, Florence Pugliese is not your average poker player.

Pugliese, the C.E.O. of Passport International Productions of CA, Inc., gambled on her son's idea to produce a poker show that everyone could enjoy. The result was "Ultimate Poker Challenge," the first syndicated poker program, which reaches more U.S. households than any other poker show.

Americans are tuning in to watch their favorite players compete for cash and prizes on "Ultimate Poker Challenge," thanks to Mrs. Pugliese. "The show brings the thrill of Las Vegas right into your living room," said Mrs. Pugliese.

"Ultimate Poker Challenge" brings together male and female; amateurs and pros alike to compete for a chance to play in the semi-finals and a shot at the championship title, cash and prizes. Nick "The Kid" Bouyea of New York, proved, anyone can win. Just 22, Bouyea advanced to the semi-finals in the opening tournament. But this isn't just a man's game. Kathy Liebert beat out six male players during the sixth week of play.

"Ultimate Poker Challenge" is the only tournament offering an unprecedented seven seats per table, 26 final tables and 182 chances to participate in televised tournament action. "Ultimate odds for anyone wanting to get in on the action," said Dan Pugliese, Executive Producer. Each week, field correspondent Brandi Williams, named one of the 50 sexiest women of 2004, entertains viewers with her allure, smile and Vegas style. Brandi will be joined by world-renowned poker player Daniel Negreneau during the semi- finals on February 12 and 19 and the legendary Doyle Brunson, along with his son Todd, during the championship tournament on February 26. "Ultimate Poker Challenge" will be re-aired in its entirety beginning in March. Passport Entertainment will be in Las Vegas January 25 - 27, to introduce a new season of "Ultimate Poker Challenge" at NATPE.

"Ultimate Poker Challenge" is produced by the International Poker Championship Series, Inc. and distributed by Passport Entertainment. For more information, please visit http://www.ultimatepokerchallenge.com.

About Passport Entertainment

Passport Entertainment is a division of Passport International Productions of CA, Inc., a full-service production and worldwide distribution company, which maintains an extensive catalog of audio, television and video programming. For more information, please visit http://www.passportproductions.com.

For further information please contact: Victoria Robles of Passport Entertainment, +1-818-760-1500, victoriar@passportproductions.com

SOURCE Ultimate Poker Challenge
Web Site: http://www.passportproductions.com





  [january 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· ULTIMATE POKER CHALLENGE (SYNDICATION)





[06/01/26 - 12:06 PM]
2026-27 CFP Broadcast Schedule Revealed
The home of the CFP since its inception in 2015, ESPN is in the first year of its new expanded package, which includes five games sublicensed to TNT Sports.

[06/01/26 - 11:04 AM]
ESPN Scored Most-Watched NCAA Women's College World Series Opening Thursday on Record
Arkansas-Nebraska averaged 1.4 million viewers, with a peak of 1.6 million.

[06/01/26 - 11:00 AM]
Thor and Loki Join the Iron Friends in New "Marvel's Iron Man and His Awesome Friends" Episodes, Rolling Out June 11 on Disney Jr. and Next Day on Disney+
guest stars for the series were also announced today, including Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts as Dizzy Doubleday, a baseball player who loves to help young kids learn the game.

[06/01/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Love Island UK" - Season 13 - Trailer
Stream the new season June 4 on Hulu.

[06/01/26 - 09:03 AM]
Paramount+ Sets Streaming Debut for Baz Luhrmann's "EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert"
The film will make its streaming debut June 3, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and in Canada on July 24.

[06/01/26 - 08:27 AM]
ESPN Scores Most-Viewed Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Final Since 2015, The Latest Viewership Successes Headed Into the Stanley Cup Final
Across four games on ESPN, the series averaged 2.2 million viewers and was up 44% vs. the Western Conference Final last year (Edmonton vs. Dallas) which went five games on ESPN.

[06/01/26 - 07:15 AM]
ABC's Exclusive Coverage of the 2026 NBA Finals Begins June 3: New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs
The matchup marks the Knicks' first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 - and their first ever on ABC - and the Spurs' sixth NBA Finals appearance on ABC.

[06/01/26 - 07:15 AM]
Queen Latifah, P!NK, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Whitney Leavitt, and More to Celebrate "Chicago's" 30th Anniversary with Special Performance at "The 79th Annual Tony Awards" Live Sunday, June 7 on CBS
Broadway's biggest night will also feature performances from "The Lost Boys," "Schmigadoon!," "TitanĂ­que," "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)," "CATS: The Jellicle Ball," "Ragtime" and "Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show."

[06/01/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "I Will Find You" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Wrongfully imprisoned for murdering his own son, a father sets out on a desperate rescue mission after learning the boy may still be alive.

[06/01/26 - 06:19 AM]
BAFTA Award-Nominated Drama "What It Feels Like for a Girl" Heads to the U.S. on Prime Video Starting This Pride Month
The eight-part series has quickly become one of the UK's most celebrated new dramas, earning widespread critical acclaim and significant industry awards recognition for its fearless storytelling, emotional honesty and ground-breaking portrayal of queer working-class life in early 2000s Britain.

[05/31/26 - 11:31 PM]
Video: "Raakh" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
"Raakh" is a haunting crime investigation that begins with the disappearance and murder of two teenagers in Delhi.

[05/31/26 - 09:45 AM]
The Quest for the Stanley Cup Reaches Its Peak: ESPN Exclusively Presents the 2026 Stanley Cup Final Presented by Geico
The series continues in Raleigh, N.C. with Game 2 (June 4) before shifting to Vegas for Game 3 (June 6), and Game 4 (June 9).

[05/29/26 - 03:02 PM]
"20/20" Is Friday's No. 1 Newsmagazine, Leading "Dateline" in Total Viewers for the 5th Consecutive Broadcast Season
"20/20" improved on the previous season in Total Viewers (+5%/+170,000 - 3.672 million vs. 3.502 million).

[05/29/26 - 03:01 PM]
ABC News Is #1 in Total Viewers Sunday Morning and in Late-Night
"Nightline" posted double-digit gains week to week in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.

[05/29/26 - 01:01 PM]
Video: Peacock Releases Summer Sizzle for "Days of Our Lives"
Audiences can access the past season and new episodes every weekday.