Tilt

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Tilt ranks 2,555 out of the 18,228 shows on TV.com.

The 77 users who count themselves as Tilt fans have written a total of 5 reviews.

Status

Premiered

Ended

Genre

Theme

Three aspiring gamblers team up to attempt to bring down the "King of Vegas," Don Everest. "The Matador" has achieved that nickname through countless victories, mostly against those interested in bringing him down. But when a man named Seymour (Kenneth Walsh - The Practice, Judge Harrod) comes knocking,... more »

Three aspiring gamblers team up to attempt to bring down the "King of Vegas," Don Everest. "The Matador" has achieved that nickname through countless victories, mostly against those interested in bringing him down. But when a man named Seymour (Kenneth Walsh - The Practice, Judge Harrod) comes knocking, Eddie (Eddie Cibrian - Invasion, Russell Varon), Clark (Todd Williams - Third Watch, Detective Barlow), and Miami (Kristen Lehman - Killer Instinct, Detective Danielle Carter) decide to attempt to take down "The Matador" and all his glory.

Everest is good buddies with the president of the Colorado Casino, Bart "Lowball" Rogers, or at least he tries to be. Together they call the shots at the casino, and sometimes that means inflicting pain on those considered threats in any way to "The Matador," "Lowball" or the casino in general.

The series unfolds during nine episodes, revealing information from the character's pasts, and also the present day action of running a casino and trying to take down a legend.

Character Guide:

• Don "The Matador" Everest:
The King of Vegas. "The Matador," having earned his nickname for taking on all of the bulls that try to slay him, is the undisputed champion of Texas Hold 'Em. He "wrote the book on the game," and the road to greatness goes through him. On his way to earning countless riches by mastering poker, "The Matador" amassed a loyal group of influential backers. Some believe that he uses this influence to rig the game and that he can't win on his own. But no one really knows for sure. One thing is certain ... The Matador is the most ruthless and feared player in town.

• Eddie:
The women find him handsome, charming and intuitive. He is one of the most gifted young poker players on tour. He's one of the new young guys of Texas Hold 'Em, and is looking to take down the old guard. Eddie, born to a -addicted father and an emotionally distant mother, turns to cards for his escape. He is looking to take down the big dog, "The Matador."

• Miami:
She's sexy, seductive, and as tough a poker player as any in Vegas. She desperately wants to take down The Matador for personal reasons. She had left the game not too long ago but now plans to make her triumphant return to the big show.

• Clark:
A degenerate gambler who is just as talented as Eddie. He has never lived up to his father's expectations and turned to poker as an escape. His quest to prove his father wrong is manifested in his many insecurites. He plans to rid himself of his family by sitting at the top of Vegas.

• Nickel:
He lost his only brother to an addiction and is out for sweet revenge. When his life spiraled out of control, he sued The Matador and The Colorado Casino. His brother, Wayne, had made a videotape in which he revealed all of the ways in which The Matador rigged games. He will stop at nothing to prove to everyone that The Matador is a con artist, not a poker champ.

• Dee Everest
Daddy's little girl? Hardly. This wild-child of Sin City is looking to have fun. But when you're the daughter of "The Matador," people tend to treat you with kid gloves. Makes it tough to earn a living, but she needs money to live a certain lifestyle. If "The Matador" keeps bankrolling Dee, will she and Eddie be able to maintain a real relationship, or is "The Matador" just using her to keep tabs on his new protégé?

• Bart "Lowball" Rogers
Bart "Lowball" Rogers is the president of The Colorado Casino and a longtime friend of "The Matador." These two conquered Las Vegas together, but it's clear that their old alliance is about to fold. He's under an enormous amount of pressure attempting to control the money and chaos from the current craze. But he's also a cagey, political animal, intent on convincing the owner of the casino that they need to operate on the up and up. One thing is clear ... "Lowball" will have to be one step ahead at all times if he plans to survive.


FAQ:

What does "tilt" mean?:
"Tilt" is a well known term in Vegas. It essentially means off-kilter. When you're at the table, you're in the zone, and you have that edge. Then, all of a sudden, something happens that takes you off your game and that little thing is all it takes to lose in Vegas. (i.e.: a bad hit, too high a raise, etc.)

Is this the first drama from ESPN?:
No, it is the second. Playmakers was an EOE drama that debuted in 2003. It was a hit but the NFL, the league that it was essentially portraying, pressured ESPN to scrap it.

Can a drama based on poker actually work?:
There have been several movies based on poker that have been successes. The list includes: Rounders, The Cincinnati Kid, Maverick, and Luckytown.

Is The Colorado Casino a real casino in Vegas?:
No, The Colorado Casino, which most of the show action takes place in, is fictional. However, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is a real event. It is held at Binions Horseshoe Casino in Vegas.

Is the show filmed in Las Vegas?:
It is actually filmed in a warehouse in Toronto, Canada.


ESPN Broadcast History
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January 13 - Thursdays 9:00 - 10:00 PM
(Presented in HDTV on ESPNHD)less «

• Season 2?

  Will there be a season 2 of TILT?

  Will there be a season 2 of TILT?less «

  Colz Last online Nov 28, 2007
  7 comments, last one Oct 2, 2007 + Add Comment

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  9.5 Superb

  Review hide « show »

  For a poker show, this show was more then I could have ever asked for when I sat down to watch it on a weekly basis and the fact that it was cancelled after only one season is very dissapointing. and considering where they left us at the finale, a second season would have been great and with how big poker has gotten since Tilt went off the air I am very surprised that we havent gotten a second season yet. The cast was unknown, yet they all did a great job in there first big role on TV. I wish this show would come back for a second season, thought that seems highly unlikely at this point in time.

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  cavanagh15 Added Jan 3, 2007 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  This was like rounders coming to a tv series. hide « show »

  The show was great. It consists of a few card players trying to get the chance to take down the best poker player in the world who at one point has beat them good in a game already. The guy who plays Don (the best player in the world) did a very good job of showing how he was so good at winning and at the lifestyle of someone who plays poker and is good at it. Another angle of the show had a brother who was a PI I believe loooking into his brothers death and it has something to do with the poker going on at the casino that Don likes to play at. The casino is dirty and they have people coming to investigate. This show was very exciting and every episode would deffinately keep your attention. As far as a poker tv series it will never get better then this show was.

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  joshjr Added Oct 2, 2005 All my reviews
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  9.6 Superb

  Doing what Rounders did...And just as sweet hide « show »

  This is such a great show! They took a sport in which is so great and made a show that is pretty true to life. People are really that good at reading people, and the story arc was really well thought out. The story was just as good as Rounders, and ESPN did such a great job, and they used real poker players. Mainly they used Phil! What else is there to say about a show that is one of the best that was on Tv this last year. The only negitive thing I have to say about this show is that it only ran for 9 episodes.
  
  "Quote Nevermore"
  

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  wbfreak54 Added Aug 6, 2005 All my reviews
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  8.3 Great

  Tilt is a show that talks about life in Las Vegas.
  It talks about what kind of city is Vegas, and the way it talks about Vegas tells what the atmosphere in Vegas is like. And also Michael Madsen's acting gives a gritty image of how corruption rules hide « show »

  Tilt is a show that talks about life in Las Vegas.
  It talks about what kind of city is Vegas, and the way it talks about Vegas tells what the atmosphere in Vegas is like. And also Michael Madsen's acting gives a gritty image of how corruption rules Las Vegas.

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  Serpico191 Added Jul 28, 2005 All my reviews
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  9.8 Superb

  A good show with an outstanding cast. Well-acted and very well-scripted. A must-see show for anyone that even THINKS about playing poker. hide « show »

  This show is one show that every poker player and spectator must see. From the gritty realism of much of the actual play to the no-nonsense delivery of the critical plot points, this show is a work of art in a time when it seems every new TV show is just copying every other show with good ratings.
  
  What can I say about Michael Madsen? I can't say enough about such a brilliant actor. He plays the arrogant jerk to perfection, without forgetting the intimidation factor of his role. He comes across as a true criminal mastermind, and instead of just committing petty crimes, he sets out to take over an entire subculture - poker. The character is the bad guy, but the kind of bad guy that people could possibly feel sorry for, and even want to triumph in the end. He's the kind of enemy that would be missed when vanquished, the ultimate challenge, the final epic opponent.
  
  Eddie Cibrian, Kristin Lehman, and Todd Williams act their characters out well. The nuances are so subtle, yet they add to the three-dimensional characters like a dash of cilantro to a fine dish. You don't notice them consciously, but they enhance the realism and experience. The self-absorption of Eddie, the coyness of Miami, and the desperation of Clark are all there. They play very real characters that all serve a purpose in the Tilt world.
  
  Chris Bauer plays Lee Nickel, a sheriff whose brother was murdered after defecting to authorities. The anger and hatred for Don Everest is always present in this character, and it is convincing, to say the least. His role is crucial in the series, and he does his job well.
  
  Don McManus is Lowball, a down-and-dirty executive in the Colorado Casino that doesn't even hesitate to commit crimes and help The Matador further his stature. Of course, he is quite selfish, and becomes jealous of Matador's standing in the company. He is envious that The Matador has the ear of his own boss...and he comes across very well in his part as the former favorite child, so to speak, who hates that another is gaining more favor and trust than he.
  
  Finally, who could forget Amelia Cooke? Her character (Dee Everest, Don Everest's daughter) seems to be more of a promiscuous woman than someone that is honestly interested in Eddie for a long-term relationship. She is one of a couple of ladies on the show that add sex appeal to the cast, and even though her role is more of a minor one, she stands out. I think her character is quite important overall, even in a minor capacity, because she occupies some of Eddie's time, and may possibly be Eddie's motivation, or part of his motivation, to get at Don Everest.
  
  The acting is top-notch, the directing and scripting is brilliant, and the casting is beautifully done. This show is one of my top all-time favorite television series. It's one of only two shows I've ever been on the edge of my seat to see every single episode, and to buy the season on DVD the very day it was released. Outstanding show, and good work to every single person that helped create this masterpiece!

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  Ripken38 Added Jul 26, 2005 All my reviews