Poker Reality TV Shows in the Works

World champ Joe Cada is getting his own reality TV series.

Nothing sells on television these days better than reality shows. Whether it’s the Real Housewives or the Top Chefs or faded stars learning to dance, TV executives love them some reality. And as the hundreds of hours of programming on ESPN and other cable networks prove, TV audiences can’t get enough poker. Mix the two and you’ve got the makings of two upcoming reality TV shows.

The first is called 6th Street: Life After the River and features reigning world champion Joe Cada. Think HBO’s Entourage crossed with 2 Months, 2 Million and you’ve got the idea behind this series. There’s the November Nine, the win over Darvin Moon, the subsequent media circus, the girlfriend, the nightlife, and the friends who somehow find a way to hang on for the

ride as their buddy enjoys life as the youngest Main Event champion in World Series of Poker history. Plenty of drama there, no? Joe Cada and 6th Street will likely hit the small screen this fall.

The other poker reality series in the works right now has less star power, so it’s banking on the natural drama of unknowns trying to make a big score. The yet-to-be-named series is being produced by Headsup Entertainment, the company responsible for the popular Canadian Poker Tour. Between 12 and 16 contestants will be chosen from a casting call that will screen thousands of potential contestants, so this show is more American Idol than Kim Kardashian. Headsup is currently negotiating with sponsors and planning to have the series completed in time to air this fall.