AJ Benza shelved from High Stakes Poker

12.10.2009 12:20

AJ Benza, co-host of GSN's High Stakes Poker for five seasons, has been shelved from the popular poker show. According to Benza's blog entry, he was told last week that he will be replaced by a female co-host in the upcoming season six.

Benza does not mince his words commenting the decision by GSN and says that he was even willing to accept a pay cut to be able to continue hosting the show with Gabe Kaplan.

"I hope you like the female they toss in front of you. And I hope the repartee between she and Gabe works like ours did. And look on the bright side: If she stinks.....I might be back for HSP 7," AJ says on his blog, not bothering to hide the fact that he is unhappy (to put it nicely) about the decision.

The witty banter between Benza and Kaplan was an integral part of the show at least for this viewer, so it surely is a shame to see AJ go. Time will tell who his replacement is going to be.

Read AJ's blog entry here.

• aj benza
• gabe kaplan
• high stakes poker
• TV poker

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1. 
   kingstun s4, Mon, 10/12/2009 - 22:23

   good redince but a women host why put me on as host u would love it id be smoking blunts in the pre game introductions 

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2. 
   hotdog69, Mon, 10/12/2009 - 18:24

   the show works, AJ and gape work good together why change it? the last season was the worst so far and the next one will probs be even worse, its like they dont want the high ratings so they can take it off the air

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3. 
   FullOfGoose, Mon, 10/12/2009 - 17:19

   why does this show even need a host?

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4. 
   lolgodmaya, Mon, 10/12/2009 - 16:48

   WTF Benza+Kaplan = HSP! HSP isnt about eye candy,it's about pure poker.. eye candy can be the waitress, not someone who's suppose to talk poker

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5. 
   Azhidahak7 (not verified), Mon, 10/12/2009 - 15:10

   I dont agree, AJ Benza was really bad, he had no humour, no commentating skills and most important of all, he knew absolutely NOTHING about poker. Good riddance!!

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6. 
   short3, Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:17

   Agree, they were good together. Strange why they will break up a format that works.

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