Quote:
Originally Posted by joeydb
We need a televised tournament, edited the same way that the format of WSOP was a couple of years ago - setup of strategy, highlights of big scores, odds changes, shots of celebratory and disappointed players. The leaderboard. In my humble opinion there are similarities that can be drawn.
And another key ingredient of the WSOP Main Event fields: distinctive and colorful personalities. Horse racing has had those in abundence forever.
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I just don't see how it could be made dramatically interesting to watch. Not because handicapping isn't interesting, but because it's internal (most of it happens in the head). Even with poker, in the televised games I've seen, they have a camera so that the audience gets an omniscient view of the game- they see the cards the other players don't, which heightens the viewing interest, because the game just isn't exciting enough without that extra knowledge. Plus, the action actually happens during the game itself- the players change strategy, betting tactics, etc., depending on how the game is unfolding. In handicapping, it's all done before the race starts. Plus, poker players are facing their opponents throughout a single game, while handicappers are staring at a screen for two minutes several times over the course of a contest.
If someone can figure out how to make the actual analyzing the past performances dramatically interesting, as in, the audience is chewing their nails with anxiety over which horse the player is going to select, they'll have a, well if not a million dollar idea, at least a hundred thousand dollar idea. I just can't figure out how the process of handicapping could be presented as exciting to watch, and compelling in its immediacy. Because good TV is all about conflict and excitement in that moment. Not saying it's impossible, but I can't figure out how it could be done.