Filmed before a live audience at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Celebrity Poker Showdown features five celebrities competing against each other for a piece of the $250,000 prize pool in a game of No Limit Texas Hold'em poker for the charity of their choice. Each week a new crop of stars take to the table to challenge their peers. The winners from the first five games go on to compete in the championship in sixth episode finale.
Viewers will have the inside track on the hands the different players are holding via hidden cameras. They will also be able to hear from the eliminated players, who will watch the remainder of their respective matches from the Loser's Lounge, via closed circuit television.
All players are guaranteed at least $5,000 in prize money. Just for making it to the finals, fifth place will win $7,500, fourth place will win $10,000, third place will win $12,500 and second place will walk away with $20,000 for their charity. The "Celebrity Poker Showdown" champions will each walk away with $100,000 for the charity of their choice.
Celebrity Poker Showdown is hosted by comedian/actor Kevin Pollak (A Few Good Men, The Usual Suspects) joined by expert poker commentator Phil Gordon. Gordon is a world class poker player who has won nearly $1,000,000 in poker tournaments in the last two years including a 4th place finish in the 2001 World Series of Poker and a first place finish in the World Poker Tour: Aruba (professional division) in 2002. Dave Foley("NewsRadio", "The Kids In The Hall") replaced Pollak in season 2.
| Celebrity Poker Showdown Tournament 1 |
|---|
| | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|
| Game 1 | Willie Garson | Ben Affleck | Don Cheadle | Emily Proctor | David Schwimmer |
| Game 2 | Richard Schiff | John Spencer | Timothy Busfield | Allison Janney | Martin Sheen |
| Game 3 | Nicole Sullivan | Peter Facinelli | Mo Gaffney | Michael Ian Black | Hank Azaria |
| Game 4 | Paul Rudd | Ron Livingston | Sarah Silverman | Shannon Elizabeth | Coolio |
| Game 5 | David Cross | Mimi Rogers | Carrie Fisher | Scott Stapp | Tom Green |
| Championship | Nicole Sullivan | David Cross | Paul Rudd | Richard Schiff | Willie Garson |
| Celebrity Poker Showdown Tournament 2 |
|---|
| | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|
| Game 1 | Rosario Dawson | Wanda Sykes | Travis Tritt | Mena Suvari | Jerome Bettis |
| Game 2 | Dule Hill | Danny Masterson | James Woods | Timothy Busfield | Mo Gaffney |
| Game 3 | Michael Ian Black | Norm Macdonald | Jeremy Sisto | Star Jones | Adam Rodriguez |
| Game 4 | Lauren Graham | Christopher Masterson | Matthew Perry | Sara Rue | Sean Astin |
| Game 5 | Maura Tierney | James Blake | Jon Favreau | Tom Everett Scott | Andy Richter |
| Championship | Maura Tierney | Lauren Graham | Michael Ian Black | Dule Hill | Rosario Dawson |
| Celebrity Poker Showdown Tournament 3 |
|---|
| | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|
| Game 1 | Dave Navarro | Richard Kind | Jennie Garth | Willie Garson | Jerry O'Connell |
| Game 2 | Jeff Gordon | Angie Dickenson | Ron Livingston | Kathy Griffin | Penn Jillette |
| Game 3 | David Cross | Peter Facinelli | Jason Bateman | Will Arnett | Judy Greer |
| Game 4 | Steve Harris | Mimi Rogers | Kathy Najimy | Michael Badalucco | Bobby Flay |
| Game 5 | Seth Meyers | Jeffrey Ross | Amy Poehler | Gail O'Grady | Hank Azaria |
| Championship | Seth Meyers | Dave Navarro | Steve Harris | David Cross | Jeff Gordon |
