NBC invites viewers into the exclusive Las Vegas poker scene with its new late night show, “Poker After Dark,” debuting Jan. 2 at 2:05 a.m. ET/PT, it was announced today by Marc Graboff, President, NBC Universal Television, West Coast. The nightly hour-long show, hosted by Shana Hiatt, one of poker’s most recognizable faces, will air Monday - Saturday and features six poker professionals vying for a winner-take-all $120,000 first place prize.

Hosted by former World Poker Tour host Hiatt - dubbed one of Maxim magazine’s “Hot 100 of 2005″ - each night of original programming will feature an intimate look at one table as it develops over the week, culminating with a winner on Friday night. Saturday night’s show - the “director’s cut” - will recap the week’s events with Hiatt and that week’s winner offering commentary and insight into their winning strategy (airing from 1-2 a.m. ET/PT following “Saturday Night Live” check local listings).

Set in the back room of various casinos on the Vegas strip, “Poker After Dark” gives viewers an intimate look inside a poker game usually reserved for the eyes of the professional poker players themselves. “Poker After Dark” will feature the world’s top pros, all miked during the weekly battles for the $120,000 pot - including Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Erick Lindgren, Jennifer Harman and Gus Hansen - fighting it out for poker supremacy.

“There’s a vibrant late night audience looking for original programming,” said Graboff. “We felt this inside look at the professional poker scene is perfect for late night television and those viewers seeking an unique and original broadcast.”

Hiatt, an East Coast native, hosted the World Poker Tour from 2003 to 2005. A former model, Hiatt has also appeared in the films “Must Love Dogs” and “Grandma’s Boy.”

“Poker After Dark” is produced in conjunction with Poker Productions, the only television production company owned and operated by top professional poker players. Producers Mori Eskandani and Eric Drache bring 63 years of combined poker experience to their company and both have played a key role in producing some of television’s best poker shows, including both seasons of NBC’s “Heads Up Championship,” two seasons of GSN’s “High Stakes Poker,” three seasons of Fox Sports Net and NBC’s “Poker Superstars” and CBS’ “Intercontinental Poker Championship.”

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