Courtney Friel

We have all heard the jokes. They usually start out questioning how a blonde would go about screwing in a light bulb, and end when the fair haired maiden attempts to light the room with Tic-Tacs. It is popular in our society to question the intellectual capacity of the flaxen the haired woman. In the case of Courtney Friel, this would be a tragic mistake. When the World Poker Tour replaced the very popular Shana Hiatt, they went for somebody who was more than just a Hooter's girl whose only discernable talent is filling out an evening gown. The choice of Courtney Friel as the WPT host brought a cerebral quality that few people outside of the profession of "Mad Scientist" possess. After receiving a BA in political science from San Diego State University, Courtney started down the road of broadcast journalism. In the past she served as a story contributor, correspondent and anchor person for a number of news outlets, primarily in CA. Becoming the Travel Channel's host of the WPT does not mean she has given up on other pursuits. While globe trotting in the name of poker, she also reports for the CBS affiliate in Palm Springs and (to the delight of nerds everywhere) hosts a video game show seen stores across the country. Unlike her predecessor, who rode astride the crest of the Ms. Hawaiian Tropics contest and Playboy, to secure her position, Courtney got there based on an education and a proven history in the broadcast industry. This is a fact that may resonate with a percentage of the audience, but there are still those who will only note how she looks in an evening gown. Starting March of 2006, Courtney can be seen conducting her hosting duties every Wednesday evening on the travel channel at 9 p.m. ET/PT.Article of the Day Archive