MONDO EXTRAS

Okay, this is starting to get old. I think I thought this was going to be more like watching Toby, C.J., Leo, et al., play. More witty commentary, and just more commentary generally. I think perhaps it's only fascinating to watch poker if (a) you actually get the game and (b) you're watching players who are really, really good. Mind you, it's slightly less boring than watching major-league sports, at least until people start punching each other. Do people get into fisticuffs in televised poker games? It seems too sedate for that. Next hand, John's got a pair of Aces, and he only has about five grand in chips. Pollak makes several bland remarks as the game proceeds. Richard soon folds and John wins the pot of $9,600. Tim congratulates John on a game nicely played.

As the next game begins, Tim wonders if there's an extra seat in the Losers' Lounge. John starts to bet on a lousy hand, while Phil and Pollak freak, and then suddenly comes to his senses, saying, "No, these are the worst cards I've ever had." Richard calls, Tim checks, and things seem to be going Richard's way. But the pot's only $1,200. The pot gets up to $5,200, and Richard wins, but both hands looked weak to me. Then we have a segment of Timothy talking about Richard as an opponent while we gets several shots of Richard clowning around with his hats and glasses. And it's time for another commercial.

And another commercial means another chip count: Richard has 37,600; John has 8,500; Tim's sinking fast with 3,900. Phil advises Richard to play conservatively now. Not that Richard can hear him. For some reason I don't quite understand, Richard doesn't seem to be playing the next hand. Timothy eventually bets everything -- which, in his sadly diminished circumstances, only brings the pot to $6,500. ("Only," she says, like she would even risk sixty-five cents on a card game. Like six and half grand wouldn't buy everything on her Amazon list and leave room for a very expensive day at a spa.) John calls, and they show their cards; the river card's no help to Timothy, and he's out. He hugs everybody and makes his way to the Losers' Lounge, while Allison expresses her surprise; she thought he would win. Timothy sits down on the couch and throws more metaphors and clichés at us about the last round than have appeared in the entire rest of the show.

Phil reminds us that Richard has a three-to-one chip lead, but says that John has enough to be a "real threat." Richard wishes John good luck, and they bump fists.