Joker Poker

Joker Poker was a late night Australian poker program on Network Ten which aired in 2005 and 2006. The 2005 edition was hosted by Adam Spencer, with the second and final edition hosted by Mike Goldman. Both were co-hosted by New Zealand poker pro Lee Nelson and Australian model Laura Weston acted as hostess. The show was produced by Australian Production Company Freehand Productions.

Joker Poker
GenrePoker
Presented byLee Nelson
Adam Spencer
Mike Goldman
Country of originAustralia
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons2
Production
Production company(s)Freehand Productions
Release
Original networkNetwork Ten
Original release2005 –
2006

The show featured Australian comedians playing no-limit Texas hold'em poker. Four comedians compete in each episode on behalf of their chosen charity. It was recorded in the high rollers' room of Sydney's Star City Casino for the first season and in a studio at Fox Studios in Sydney for the second. The weekly winner donates $5,000 to charity, while the overall winner donates $25,000.

A New Zealand version also aired in 2007.

Season one

Joker Poker was the first locally produced poker program to go to air in Australia. Hosted by Adam Spencer and Lee Nelson, it featured 40 local comedians during the course of the inaugural season. It aired on Saturday nights at 10:30pm.

The first season was won by comedian Andy Lee. The final players were Andy Lee, Doctor Turf, Simon Kennedy and Jackie Loeb.

Charities

Star City Casino provided the $100,000 prize pool that was distributed by the winners of each round and the two final tables to the following charities:

  • The Westmead Hospital
  • The Heart Foundation
  • Prince of Wales Foundation
  • Canteen
  • The Australian Red Cross
  • Barnardos Australia
  • The Mirrabel Foundation
  • The Fred Hollows Foundation
  • The Aids Trust of Australia
  • Amnesty International

Season two

Joker Poker returned in 2006, with Lee Nelson being joined by Mike Goldman in place of Spencer. The second and final season consisted of 12 late night Joker Poker shows (airing on Wednesday nights at 11:15pm), Sporting Joker Poker and Lee Nelson Invitational specials, and four Celebrity Joker Poker specials (airing Tuesday nights at 9.30pm).

Contestants

Comedians who appeared in season two included:

  • Episode 1: Jean Kittson, Steve Bedwall, Rusty Berther, Greg Fleet
  • Episode 2: Anh Do, George Kapiniaris, Lisa Ricketts, Josh Lawson
  • Episode 3: Ben Hewett, Akmal Saleh, Fitzy, Mick Meredith
  • Episode 4: Subby Valentine, Tommy Dean, Simon Kennedy, Bev Killick
  • Episode 5: Brendon Jones, Anthony Mir, Pommy Johnson, Rash Ryder
  • Episode 6: Chris Wainhouse, Russell Fletcher, Cindy Pan, Kip Wightman
  • Episode 7: Tahir Bilgic, Jason Gann, Bruno Lucia, Adam Saunders
  • Episode 8: Tim Smith, Cal Wilson, Damian Callinan, Ewan Campbell
  • Episode 9: Julian Schiller, Tony Moclair, Tanya Bulmer, Marty Fields
  • Episode 10: Gabby Milgate, Chris Franklin, Jackie Loeb, Mario Dorio
  • Final Table 1: Rusty Berther, Josh Lawson, Akmal Saleh, Subby Valentine, Pommy Johnson
  • Final Table 2: Chris Wainhouse, Julian Schiller, Damian Callinan, Tahir Bilgic, Mario Doria

Celebrities who appeared on the Celebrity Joker Poker, Sporting Joker Poker and Lee Nelson Invitational specials included:

Charities

Wild Turkey provided the $140,000 prize pool that was distributed by the winners of each round and the two final tables to the following charities:

  • Clown Doctors
  • Amnesty International
  • Matthew Talbot
  • Variety Club
  • Surf Life Saving Association
  • Motor Neurone Disease
  • Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne - specifically the Genetics Department
  • Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
  • Trisha & The Reach Broadridge Fund
  • Kids Help Line
  • Bonnie Babes Foundation
  • Challenge Kids with Cancer

New Zealand version

The New Zealand version of the show was hosted by Brooke Howard-Smith and co-hosted by Lee Nelson. The two editions of the New Zealand version of Joker Poker (consisting of 12 episodes) began screening on TV3 Sunday nights at 10:30pm from 10 February 2007. The series was repeated on C4 with great results, airing on the following Wednesday nights at 8:30pm beginning 13 February 2007.

Sponsors for the New Zealand were Pokerstars.net, Sky City Casino and Wild Turkey.

Contestants

Season one
  • Episode 1: Jamie Linehan, Angus MacDonald, Ali Williams, Ben Boyce
  • Episode 2: Craig Parker, Mark Ferguson, Che Fu, Pam Corkery
  • Episode 3: Tim Shadbolt, Raybon Kan, Aja Rock, Steve Devine
  • Episode 4: Peter Urlich, Hayley Holt, Elizabeth Gray, Monty Betham
  • Episode 5: John Afoa, Daniel Braid, George Pisi, Jeremy Corbett

Season two
  • Episode 1: Amber Peebles, Dave Gibson, Nick Dwyer, Jamie Carroll
  • Episode 2: Dai Henwood, Teuila Blakely, Jessie Gurunathan, Phil Bostwick
  • Episode 3: Mark Williams, Dallas Tamaira, Mu (Chris Faiumu), Devin Abrams
  • Episode 4: Anna Scarlett, Temepara George, Sione Faumuina, Joe Cotton
  • Episode 5: Mikey Havoc, Simon Doull, Will Wallace, Chris Belbin

Charities
  • NZ Breast Cancer Foundation
  • Kidz First Children's Hospital
  • Starship Children's Hospital
  • Starship Foundation
  • Special Olympics NZ
  • SPCA
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