Press
NEW YORK - April 2, 2007 - Phil Laak and Antonio Esfandiari are more than championship poker pros. They're best friends who take their passion for wagering into everyday life in I Bet You, an unscripted reality series on MOJO. Not content to pursue their competitiveness at the poker table, Phil and Antonio visit Los Angeles, New York and of course Las Vegas - and they bet on anything and everything along the way. Their spontaneous natures and cleverness make this a true "buddy show." The fast-paced, off-the-cuff bets range from a challenge to see who can beat each other in roller derby, to who can better coach a YMCA youth basketball team. The eight episode weekly half-hour series - all shot in 1080i HD - is set to premiere Monday, May 7 at 9PM ET/PT on MOJO. Each episode repeats Wednesdays at 10:30PM ET/PT. *Note: On May 1, INHD officially changes its name to MOJO.
Phil Laak, nicknamed "The Unabomber" because of his trademark hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses, is a multi-million dollar money-making championship poker player. The past few years have been especially successful for Phil; he won the 2004 World Poker Tour Invitational, placed 2nd in the 2005 World Series of Poker Pot Limit Hold 'Em Event, and took home £150,000 (more than $290,000) in London's first annual William Hill Poker Grand Prix. He is well-known on the poker circuit for his unique celebratory antics like dancing around the tables, doing push-ups and smacking the floor following miracle saves.
Antonio Esfandiari, nicknamed "The Magician" because he began performing magic professionally at age 21, hails from Iran where, ironically, playing cards are outlawed. Only 27, Antonio is characterized by his entrepreneurial spirit. He is the youngest player to win a million dollar poker tournament, and the youngest to win a televised World Poker Tour event. Antonio is a VIP partier in his now home town of Las Vegas, where he's known to run up huge tabs, and then surprise his friends at the end of the night with a bet to see who must pick up the check.
Each episode of I Bet You features "A, B & C" bets - wagers of varying intensity and competitiveness. "A" bets tend to involve large sums of money - Phil and Antonio's own money! They bet on anything, from who makes more tips in an hour after taking bartending lessons, to who is judged as the better performer after learning a routine from theater dance instructors. "B" bets always involve a poker game, usually one in which the guys pick random amateurs and attempt to coach them to victory. In one such attempt at coaching, Phil and Antonio offer poker tips to two dancers from the Olympic Garden Cabaret Club, and let's just say more than money is lost. "C" bets are impromptu wagers that pop up throughout the day, like who's first to Danny DeVito's home using a popular Hollywood "Map to the Stars," who collects more money panhandling on a street corner, and who convinces someone to get a tattoo of Antonio's name.
I Bet You is produced by NorthSouth Productions; Mark Hickman and Charlie DeBevoise are Executive Producers. Thom Hinkle is Director. Executive Producer for iN DEMAND is Emilio Nunez. Siobhan Graham is Supervising Producer.
About INHD/MOJO Since it launched in 2003, INHD has been a pioneer in hi-def television and is among the most widely distributed HD networks on cable. It consistently earns high marks from HD viewers for the pristine quality of its 1080i picture and Dolby 5.1 sound and ranks as a viewer favorite. MOJO was created exclusively for the discerning male, with attitude, wit and style, and becomes the network name as of May 1, 2007. Original shows are about lifestyle interests including high tech, finance, adventurous travel, music, cuisine and spirits. Other programming includes comedy-reality series, high profile professional and college sports, movies, concerts and big events. The network is 100% high definition and available as part of the HD offerings from such cable operators as Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Cox Communications, Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Mediacom and Patriot. INHD is owned by iN DEMAND Networks, whose shareholders are Comcast iN DEMAND Holdings, Inc., Cox Communications Holdings, Inc., and Time Warner Entertainment - Advance/Newhouse Partnership.
For more information, please write to pressoffice@indemand.com or call 646.638.8206.
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