Face the Ace (NBC)

The contestants are amateurs, but they're not novices; they know what they're doing, and the game moves quickly enough. Expert commentators explain the action, though they don’t explain the rules or much of the strategy -- this isn’t a show for people who aren't already well-versed in the tactics of Texas Hold ‘Em. The problem is that poker doesn’t make for a great spectator sport. There’s not much to see, and the chit chat between the players as they size each other up is banal at best.

Schirripa is even more of a distraction. He’s affable, but his introductory comments are inane and annoying. The poker pros are good spirited, but they’re playing below their level, and they don’t seem to have much interest in the game at hand. The only people who would really have much interest in this game show are the contestants, since they're the ones with the chance to win money.