Mega Playoff: Game 1 Round 1======================================================================Rich Jeffries: Tonight's installment of the weekly newsmagazine "48 Hours Investigates" will not be seen at this time. That's because the investigative reporter dozed off about midway through the 23rd hour. (audience laughs) In its place, we present a tournament worth your time. ======================================================================
ROBERT TODD Rich: This is our top seeded champion, Robert McBride. So far, he has a cyber-cash total of CY$212,350. And this is our 4th seed, Todd Davis. His cyber-cash winnings total CY$123,850.
They're back to play in the semi-finals of the Mega Playoff -- in the game of high hands and high rewards. This is Net Poker.
Rich: And now, from the Bonus Island Resort and Casino in Gulfport, Mississippi, here are our host and dealer, Doug Morris and D.J. Hamilton!
(Doug walks out wearing a tuxedo with black necktie; D.J. walks alongside wearing a gold sequined dress) (more cheers as audience gives them a standing ovation)
Doug: Thanks, Rich. Helloooooooo, Gulfport! (more cheers) And a hello to all of you watching at home. Happy New Year to one and all. We're coming up on our sixth year of Net Poker -- and we're also coming up on some exciting changes to our show.
D.J.: Indeed we do, Doug. We'll talk about the changes later -- but we have a tournament to start. And we're starting with our #1 seed, Robert McBride, playing against our #4 seed, Todd Davis. The winner of this semi-final match-up plays against the winner of our next game between our #2 seed, Andy Silikovitz, and our #3 seed Josh Warren.
The winning semi-finalists, of course, advance to the final game -- where the victor is guaranteed to win at least CY$1,000,000.
Doug: Deej, as you head over to the cards board, I'll give a brief overview of the tournament rules. In a tournament game, we play three rounds of 5-Card Poker. Each round uses a different theme of questioning -- with the third round always using General Knowledge Multiple Choice.
In the tournament, we play for cyber-dollars instead of points. In this first round, each question is worth CY$500, the blind card question will be worth CY$750 with a payoff of CY$1250 to the player with the high hand. All those stakes double in the third round.
Also, when a new round starts, we don't reset the scores. The players simply build on their scores from the previous round. The player with the higher cumulative score wins the game, has that total augmented to CY$20,000 -- and then plays Deuces Wild Poker for a special jackpot prize of CY$100,000.
WHO AND
THE WHATS?Doug: Our first round theme is Who and the Whats? I'll name a famous musician or singer and you name his or her supporting group.
Some examples from an earlier show. If I said "Gladys Knight and the...", you would say "Pips". If I gave you "John Cafferty and the...", you would respond "Beaver Brown Band".
Robert cut the cards for this first round -- since he's seeded higher. Deej, it's time to get this Mega Playoff on the road -- with our first two cards of the tournament.
D.J.: OK, good luck Robert and Todd.
D.J.: The 9 of Hearts and the 9 of Spades.
Doug: Well, with no cards lower than a 9, we have nowhere to go but up. Here we go with the first question.
Paul Revere and the...
Doug: Todd.
Todd: Raiders
Doug: That's right.
ROBERT TODD Doug: Todd, you have the first CY$500 in the tournament. Just don't blow it all in the casino later. (light laughter from the crowd) Which 9 would you like?
(time passes) (buzz buzz)
Doug: Yeah, I know, lovely assortment to pick from, it's hard to choose. So, the coin toss will decide it. Heads, it's Hearts; tails, its Spades.
(Doug tosses coin; lets it land on the floor)
Doug: And it's -- heads.
ROBERT
TODD
Doug: Nines are in place. Let's see if we see something higher.
D.J.: Two cowboys. The King of Diamonds and the King of Clubs.
Doug: All right, next group.
Billy Vera and the...
Doug: Robert
Robert: I'll take a wild guess...Cowboys?
Doug: No. Todd, chance to steal.
(time passes) (buzz buzz)
Doug: Billy Vera and the Beaters. Their song "At This Moment" was part of an episode of "Family Ties". Same Kings up for grabs -- next question.
KC and the...
Doug: Robert.
Robert: Sunshine Band, no doubt.
Doug: And if Gwen Stefani were here, she'd say -- you're right.
Doug: OK, we're tied at 500. Which King, Robert?
Robert: King of Diamonds
Doug: Diamonds it is.
ROBERT
TODD
Doug: Well, let's see if we have *another* pair of up cards of the same rank.
D.J.: Ace of Spades and the 9 of Clubs.
Doug: Yin and the yang this time. Next question...
Hootie & the...
Doug: Robert.
Robert: Blowfish!
Doug: Right on.
ROBERT TODD Doug: Which card is Deej adding to your hand?
Robert: The 9.
Doug: Nine's yours...
ROBERT
TODD
Doug: ...Todd gets an Ace out of that exchange. Another couple of cards, por favor.
D.J.: The Queen of Hearts and the Jack of Hearts.
Doug: May not do wonders for the hands. But every cyber-buck's important. Todd will try to tie the score with this next musical act.
Bruce Hornsby and The...
Doug: Todd.
Todd: range
Doug: And the score's tie at a grand. (audience applause) Which card are we adding heading into the blind card, Todd?
Todd: queen
Doug: Lady in red for Todd.
ROBERT
TODD
Doug: ...and Robert gets a Jack. Now it's time for the blind card question.
Doug: Robert's looking for another 9, King or Jack. Todd could sure use another Ace, King, Queen or 9. This one's for CY$750 -- and then the high hand for CY$1250. Ready? Here's the blind card question.
Alvin and the...
Doug: Todd.
Todd: Chipmunks
Doug: Right on.
ROBERT TODD Doug: Todd, you lead for now. Will you have the lead at the end of the round? Might depend on the pick. Left or right card?
Todd: Left.
Doug: Left it is...
ROBERT
TODD
Doug: ...if that left card is a Jack or 9, we'll know Robert will win the CY$1250. Deej, let's see Todd's last card first.
ROBERT
TODD
Doug: An Ace for a better pair. But Robert's not out of it. A 9 will give him trips; another King or Jack will mean two pair. Otherwise, Todd collects the 1250. Let's see Robert's fifth card.
ROBERT
TODD
Doug: It's a 10. And Todd wins CY$1250.
ROBERT TODD Doug: So, after one round, Todd leads 3000 to 1000. (smooth jazz theme plays) When we return, Todd and Robert will aim for higher numbers -- with a theme all about numbers. It's Net Poker's Mega Playoff at the Bonus Island Resort and Casino in Gulfport, Mississippi.
(audience cheers; various boom camera images of the crowd)
ADVANCE TO ROUND 2
