Two hot girls. Poker. Barcelona. It all sounds pretty good, right? Well, that’s exactly what you’ll get with the pilot episode of the new reality TV show Living the Life, created by Josh Kimmel and starring The Real World’s Trishelle Cannatella and Survivor’s Amanda Kimmel.

What started out as a documentary, turned into a series that follows the girls as they travel the poker circuit. Thus far, only the pilot episode – filmed last year in Los Angeles and at the European Poker Tour Barcelona – has been filmed by Kimmel’s Montreal-based production company, Running Hooks Pictures, but more are in the pipeline.

Living the Life is about us playing poker, but it’s also about everything else that we do, Amanda Kimmel, who rose to fame in three seasons of Survivor, told PokerNews in an interview last year. “Whatever city we go to, be it London or wherever we go to play an EPT, it’s also about the stuff that happens there, the reality of living the life of a female poker player in each of these places.”

Josh Kimmel, who is no relation to Amanda, recently sat down with PokerNews to talk about Living the Life:

PokerNews: For those who don’t know you, can you tell us a little about yourself such as your background in TV and film, as well as in poker?

Josh Kimmel: I’ve been playing poker since I was about 12 years old but didn’t really start taking it seriously until about 2004. Fortunately, I’ve been a consistent winning player, and the game has allowed me to travel all over the world. I haven’t traveled much in the past couple of years, but I intend to get back into the swing of things this year. On the entertainment side of things, I started off as an actor in 2000. Then, in 2006, I started producing some short films, which led to feature films, TV shows and now reality TV.

How did you come up with the name Living the Life? Likewise, how did you go about getting Amanda and Trishelle as the stars?

Amanda Kimmel at the EPT Barcelona

In my mind, when you’re traveling the world, making your own schedule and making a good living by playing a game, to me that’s “Living the Life.” I was looking for two interesting & attractive girls that played poker, preferably girls that people already knew from TV. That’s not too much to ask, right? When Amanda mentioned to me that she didn’t really know how to play, I felt it was a good opportunity to have her learn the game from scratch and compete at the same tournaments as Trishelle, but as a novice. So in Episode 1, “Barcelona”, they both play the Main Event at EPT Barcelona.

What is the show about?

Basically, the show follows two girls as they travel the world playing poker. We’ll see their lives on the road, what they do and how they get along with each other – or don’t.

Would you say this is a show about poker? If not, how would you describe it?

Actually, I’m trying very hard to not categorize this as a “poker show.” This is a lifestyle show. We just happen to be exploring the girls’ world that they are a part of, and that world is poker. The fact is that networks are very scared of the word “poker.” They directly compare it to gambling games like roulette, blackjack or craps. However, most experienced poker players will tell you there is a huge element of skill involved, and if possible, you don’t want to “gamble” at all.

The project started off as a documentary and then changed to a reality TV show. What accounted for that shift?

After going through about a dozen casting changes, I realized this would probably be best suited for TV, rather than for the festival circuit. Besides, a lot more money can be made when you’re shooting a dozen episodes per season. Just ask 2012 WPT Paris Champion Matt Salsberg who did Weeds for like eight years!

We know the pilot episode will focus on Barcelona, Spain. Where else have you filmed or do you plan to film in the future?

We have only shot the pilot episode, but we’re looking to film 10 episodes per season. I’m currently working with our distributor on the tentative shooting schedule. PokerStars was so accommodating at EPT Barcelona, so we’d be happy to film at other EPT or LAPT events. I think it would be great to shoot in London, Monte Carlo, Columbia and Punta del Este, so those stops are definitely at the top of my list.

How is this show different than other poker-related shows, especially reality poker shows, that people might have seen?

I don’t even think we’ll be considered similar to the other poker shows. First, we will not be focusing on the hand-to-hand action. Second, viewers will get the opportunity to see what happens off the felt while at these major events. In my mind, it really comes down to the girls, and if their characters are appealing. The people who have seen the pilot episode definitely think the girls are very interesting!

As the creator, what has been the highlight of filming thus far for you?

On any project I’ve ever produced or created from scratch, it’s always shocking when I see the whole cast and crew that shows up on set for the first day of filming. It goes from an idea in my head, to being on paper; then people show up to film that idea, then you edit it, and then you see the final product.

What has been the most difficult aspect of this project?

Honestly, there were a lot of difficulties – too many to name, and none that I really want to bring up. I’m confident that they’ll be ironed out before we shoot Episode 2, and then we’ll have a whole new group of difficulties.

Amanda Kimmel and Trishelle Cannatella

Will we be seeing any cameos from poker pros? If so, can you tell us who to expect?

Jamie Gold is in a really fun scene where he tells the girls that they should have a last longer bet. I know what many people wanted to see as the girls’ last longer bet, and you’ll certainly be entertained by what one of them did. You’ll also see cameos from Daniel Negreanu, Jonathan Duhamel, Barry Greenstein and Xuan Liu. I had a chance to show Daniel and Xuan their snippet while they were at WPT Montreal, and it put a smile on their faces.

The show is produced by Running Hooks Pictures. Sounds like a poker name for pocket jacks. What’s the story there?

[Laughs] Yes, it certainly is. When I created the company, before any poker project was even on the horizon, I wanted a company name that had something to do with poker. The name is pretty self-explanatory for any poker player. The name is basically when you catch running jacks on the turn and river. If you see the opening company intro at www.runninghookspictures.com you’ll see the jacks falling from the sky.

It looks like Running Hooks has an upcoming project titled The Grind. What can you tell us about that?

This is a script that I co-wrote. I wanted to produce a poker movie that poker players will appreciate for the story, as well as the realism within the game. I can’t take another father and son going to the WSOP where they end up heads-up with each other and have a royal flush versus straight flush – that’s absurd. Every big agency in Hollywood has read our script and love it. They are comparing it to 21, but for poker instead of blackjack. We had talent and funding attached, but after Black Friday, many problems arose and I had to pull back from the project. It’s actually fresh again on the burner, and I think we’ll get it going this year.

What’s next for Living the Life? When can it air or where can people watch it?

Unfortunately, I’m not permitted to give any network details just yet, but you can expect to see us at upcoming circuit events this year while we film our subsequent episodes. As we get updates, we’ll post them up on the Twitter account @LivingLifeTV. We’ll also break the news and details to PokerNews, so please do check back here.

Check out the trailer for Living the Life right here:

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Check out the original source here! Originally from PokerNews.com

September 05 2012, Chad Holloway

Has the Partouche Poker Tour reneged on “5,000,000 guarantee? That story and more in tonight’s edition of the Nightly Turbo.

In Case You Missed It

PokerNews is proud to inform you that it will be on hand to live-report two upcoming events: the WPT Grand Prix de Paris and WPT Malta. Find out all the details here.

The PokerNews Crew is back to break down all the latest stories and to talk with Scott Long about the recent Ante Up Magazine cruise PokerNews‘ Chad Holloway went on. Listen here, and don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes.

Join Kristy Arnett in a free fantasy football game at DraftDay! PokerNews has teamed up with DraftDay this week to bring you an exclusive FREE Week-1 fantasy football contest that awards $1,000 in prizes. Only takes a few minutes to sign up.

Want to know what it’s like to be a PokerNews Blogger? Chad Holloway tells you about his trip to Barcelona for his first European Poker Tour in Life on the Road: PokerStars European Poker Tour Barcelona.

Dan Smith is on top of the Global Poker Index Player of the Year race. Find out how he got there in our GPI Player of the Year analysis.

Has Partouche Reneged on “5,000,000 Guarantee?

The Twitterverse exploded on Wednesday with news that the Partouche Poker Tour (PPT) Main Event would offer a “4.3 million prize pool, not the previously advertised “5 million – a fact that did not sit too well with players.

iGamingFrance contacted Maxime Masquelier, Head of Partouche Poker Tour, who said: “For a buy-in of “8,500 I think we can be proud of the final figure. At no time did we say that “5m was secured when it is guaranteed in writing.”

A thread on TwoPlusTwo was started and offered various pieces of evidence contradicting Masquelier’s assertion that nothing was in writing. One such piece of evidence was a cache on Google, which clearly stated: “The Partouche Poker Tour and “5 million guaranteed!”

Likewise, numerous banners and advertisements were shown alongside updated versions that had removed any mention of a “5 million guarantee.

Rumors then circulated that the prize pool was not guaranteed but merely a marketing gimmick on the part of Partouche.

One thing is for sure, with the Partouche Main Event still taking place, the drama and ramifications of this story is far from over.

For more on this situation, visit iGamingFrance.

Partouche Main Event on to Day 2; Dwan Plays One Hand

The 2012 Partouche Poker Tour Main Event continued at the Palm Beach Casino in Cannes on Wednesday with Day 2 action. The “8,500 event drew 489 players over two starting flights, but by the end of the night, the field had been whittled to approximately 122 players.

Some of those who fell on Day 2 were Jason Mercier, Todd Terry, Robert Mizrachi, Juha Helppi, Vanessa Selbst, Patrik Antonius, Pius Heinz, and Taylor Paur, just to name a few. Two others who fell were the defending champ, Sam Trickett, and Tom “durrrr” Dwan. The latter opted to buy in just prior to the start of Day 2 when registration closed. It was not money well spent.

With that said, approximately 122 players survived the day including Davidi Kitai, Philipp Gruissem, Andrew Lichtenberger, Justin Bonomo, Mohsin Charania, Michael Mizrachi, Fabrice Soulier, Tristan Wade and Tobias Reinkemeier. Here’s a look at the top 10 chip counts headed into Day 3:

Check back for daily updates on the Partouche Poker Tour Main Event right here in the Nightly Turbo.

World Poker Tour and SKS365 Group Join Forces for Season XI

The World Poker Tour has added a new sponsor for Season XI – SKS365 Group’s PlanetWin365 will be the title sponsor of WPT National Slovenia, a “1,650 re-entry event, scheduled at Casino Perla in Nova Gorica from October 19-22, 2012, and then again at the WPT Prague Poker Festival from Dec. 7 through 8 for a “440 side event.

“In recent years, poker has become more and more of a real sport and World Poker Tour is known by fans and followers of poker as the best [in the business],” said Paolo Carlo Tavarelli, CEO of SKS365Group. “For PlanetWin365, sponsoring these events means to be at the top of the game in the world of poker. We consider WPT a first-level partner, famous, strong, and compatible with our brands’ targets. For this reason, we are sure that our collaboration with WPT on these four events will bring us full and mutual benefits.”

“PlanetWin365 is one of the best known and most trusted companies in online sports betting,” said WPT CEO Steve Heller. “We are excited to have them join us as a sponsor for this current season of World Poker Tour events, and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with them moving forward.”

Founded in 2009, the SKS365 Group aims to promote online gaming services as is headlines by PlanetWin365, “not only a simple operator but a real revolution, a new way to intend gaming both from the operator and the costumer point of view to address the two sides of the same coin. The gaming experience, more wide and varied than ever before, constantly enriches with innovative, unique and always evolving contents.”

Learn more on the WPT/SKS365 Group relationship at sks365.com.

Democratic National Platform Does Not Mention Online Poker

The Democratic National Convention is happening now, and as a part of that, Democrats have released Moving America Forward: 2012 Democratic National Platform. No where in the platform’s 39 pages does it so much as mention the words “poker” and “gambling.” As the Rich Muny, vice president of player relations for the Poker Players Alliance, tweeted:

The Democratic National Platform came about a week after the GOP platform included a clause seeking to prohibit Internet poker for the fourth consecutive presidential election. On page 32 of the GOP platform, under a section titled “Making the Internet Family-Friendly,” the text reads: “Millions of Americans suffer from problem or pathological gambling that can destroy families. We support the prohibition of gambling over the Internet and call for reversal of the Justice Department’s decision distorting the formerly accepted meaning of the Wire Act that could open the door to Internet betting.”

“We were hoping they’d just remain silent on it this year,” Muny said of the GOP’s platform. “We thought there was a decent chance they would just let it go and not speak on the issue at all. I hadn’t heard it mentioned at the convention. But it’s very difficult to get something removed when it’s on the previous platform.”

For more on the GOP platform and clause regarding the prohibition of Internet poker, have a look at Matthew Kredell’s recent analysis.

Weekly Online Poker Traffic Update

Online poker is on the rise according to PokerScout.com. Traffic rose 0.8 percent last week, which meant a 6.5 percent rise over the past three weeks. With that said, PokerStars fell 3 percent this week after the conclusion of its 85th billionth hand promotion – though it’s worth noting the traffic is still up 10 percent from where it was before the promotion.

The biggest mover of the week was the Microgaming Network, which saw a robust 33 percent gain. The exact reason for the large increase is unknown, but a new MicroGaming client introduced at the end of August offers one explanation.

According to PokerScout.com, here are the biggest movers in the Top 20:

Top Three

• Microgaming Network’s 33 percent traffic increase vaulted the network from 11th place to eighth, swapping spots with Revolution Gaming.
• PokerStars.es moved up from 10th to ninth, trading places with sister site PokerStars.fr.
• PeoplesNetwork.it climbed from 20th to 18th.
• PartyPoker.fr lost one spot, landing in 19th.
• Everest Poker rejoined the top 20 in 20th place, knocking International.it out of the top 20.

For more information on the movers and shakers, be sure to check out PokerScout.com’s Weekly Online Poker Traffic Update.

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