Between them, the players on Celebrity Poker Showdown have hoisted Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, heck, even NASCAR championships. But only eight of them can lay claim to the coveted golden chip. The Bravo! TV series, which kicked off in 2003 and wrapped up three years later (and is now in reruns), was hosted by Canadian comedian Dave Foley and featured A-listers such as Ben Affleck, Macy Gray and Tom Green (well, they weren't all A-listers). Each season consisted of five Texas hold 'em qualifying games, with winners advancing to a charity championship.
Season One
Champion: Nicole Sullivan
Highlight: Game Two featured cast members from The West Wing, proving once again that information is power: The president (Martin Sheen) lost out to the communications director (Richard Schiff).
Canadian content: Tom Green was eliminated in Game Five by eventual winner David Cross with a straight on the river.
Season Two
Champion: Maura Tierney
Highlight: Norm Macdonald eliminated Adam Rodriguez in the first hand of Game Three, the only time this happened on the show.
Canadian content: After his stunning start, Macdonald eventually lost in a head's-up battle with Michael Ian Black.
Season Three
Champion: Seth Meyers
Highlight: Game Three, best described as "dysfunctional," featured four members of the Arrested Development cast.
Canadian content: Will Arnett.
Season Four
Champion: Mekhi Phifer
Highlight: From Matthew Perry in Game One: "If I ended up at the final table head-to-head against someone, I guess probably I'd pick Grimace. He seems to be the nicest of all the
McDonaldland characters."
Canadian content: Perry, and Ryan Stiles (who, like Perry, is "kinda Canadian.")
Season Five
Champion: Brad Garrett
Highlight: Game Five was only one hour in length, as Malcolm Jamal-Warner won the game in a paltry 19 hands.
Canadian content: Catherine O'Hara.
Season Six
Champion: Kathy Najimy
Highlight: In Game Two, Stephen Collins eliminated Howie Mandel and Meat Loaf on the same hand, the first time this happened during the show's run.
Canadian content: Mandel and Alex Trebek, who also fared poorly. (Anthony Anderson was heard to quip: "I'll make [Trebek]wish he was on Wheel of Fortune.")
Season Seven
Champion: Steven Culp
Highlight: Game One featured male stars from Desperate Housewives.
Canadian content: None.
Season Eight
Champion: Jason Alexander
Highlight: Alexander's head's-up comeback in the championship against Michael Ian Black, who had nearly 80 per cent of the chips, was the best in the history of the show.
Canadian content: None
Celebrity Poker Challenge
reruns air on Sundays at 11 a.m.
on Star!