ENTERTAINMENT: Play poker with the pros

  First poker took over your TV set. Now it’s nudging its way into the Las Vegas show listings. “The Real Deal” will debut in October as a (mostly) afternoon show in the Venetian theater which hosts Wayne Brady at night. The plan calls for eight shows per week, at 4 p.m. on six afternoons, along with two evening shows on nights Brady doesn’t perform.
  I guess “show” should be in quotes because “The Real Deal” is an interactive, hybrid game-show concept that’s probably more akin to “The Price is Right — Live” at Bally’s than to anything else on the Strip.
  The way it’s explained, six audience members will be called to sit at the table with two name poker pros, who will rotate. For the ninth round, the entire audience will participate using touch-screen devices. Technology will enable the audience to see everyone’s hand, and a name comedian/host  — still to be announced — will fill in the down time by improvising with the audience.
  Everyone plays for prizes, not cash, but at least there’s no buy-in beyond the ticket price (also to be announced).
  “The poker players are loving (the concept) because it’s not so heavy and they can show their light side,” says publicist Terry Willis. The poker stars announced to participate: Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Jr., Antonio Esfandiari, Gavin Smith, Eli Elezra, Jennifer Harman, Phil Laak, Scotty Nguyen, and Todd Brunson.
  The show sounds limited in its appeal, and you could talk to the producers of the bygone “Hats!” musical (for and about the Red Hat Society) about the dangers of so narrowly defining an audience. But it does sound more viable than the recently showcased poker-themed musical, “All In.” That one will only see the light of day if its producer foots the bill as a vanity project. But Phil Hellmuth (pictured) is attached to both projects, so either way he wins!