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  Anybody who has spent time in a cubicle has heard terms like "paradigm" thrown about by guys in Armani suits who probably would find the Teletubbies intellectually challenging. Whereas such words are out of place during any meeting where the company picnic planning is the last agenda item, they fit perfectly when describing the World Poker Tour.



  The proper definition of a paradigm is as follows: one that serves as a pattern or a model. This is an accurate description for the WPT. Ever since its inception in 2002, it has been the model for what poker programming should look like.



  The World Poker Tour, is as the name implies, a world-wide concern. The WPT consists of a series of Texas Holdem tournaments held at different casinos around the globe. Part of the appeal of this particular show is that it is not exclusive to professionals or amateurs. The WPT is open to anyone who either wins a satellite where a WPT seat is the prize, or can come up with the buy-in amount (the buy-ins range from $5000 to $25,000). Not only does this allow people to see the players who are the sport's bread and butter celebrities, but it also offers hope to anyone that they can someday compete on an equal playing field with the giants in the sport.



  The people who put the World Poker Tour together have been also very good at getting the right talent behind the mic. Shouldering the commentating duties are poker pro Mike Sexton who brings his knowledge of the game and the credibility of a World Series of Poker bracelet to the table, and actor Vince Van Patten. The position of interviewer has been a rather transitory one. First Shana Hiatt stalked the floor, looking for players who wanted to talk to her. Courtney Friel took over after Shana's departure, and filled her shoes admirably. Today, the interview microphone is handled by former model Sabina Gadecki. This woman is exactly the sort of thing that earned the fictional band Spinal Tap a reputation for being hard on drummers.



  This show airs every Saturday and Wednesday at 8pm Eastern Time on the Travel Channel.