Parents' Guide to

Face the Ace

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Tedious gambling game show pits amateurs against poker pros.

TV NBC Game Shows 2009
Face the Ace Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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What's the Story?

Amateur poker players get the chance to FACE THE ACE in this game show, where contestants can win up to $1 million if they manage to beat a world-class professional gambler. Steve Schirripa hosts the show, but most of the action is focused on the green felt table where the two players go head-to-head.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about gambling. Do you think poker is a game of skill or chance? Why do you think so many TV shows and movies make gambling seem exciting and fun? What side of gambling is more common, winning or losing?

  • Skilled poker players can win huge sums of money. Does that sound like a fun job? What would it take to become a poker pro? Do you think other people lose a lot of money trying to make it to the top tier of the game?

TV Details

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