Sky's No-Limit for 'Tilt'

JAY NANDA

Herald Staff


If you can disassociate the term "bear trap" from all things hunting and convince yourself "flop" doesn't describe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, you're set for a high-stakes game of poker.

Or, at the very least, you're ready to indulge in ESPN's latest delving into drama - "Tilt" (9 p.m. on Thursdays).

Set in the fictitious Colorado Casino in Las Vegas, "Tilt" is about a group of young, beautiful card sharks and a cop from Des Moines, Iowa, who are out to take down Don "The Matador" Everest (played by Michael Madsen of "Free Willy" and "Die Another Day" fame), the dirtiest player in the game since Ric Flair.

Right on

Following the obligatory fight scene in the first five minutes of the pilot episode, "Tilt" picks up steam. The highlight is the underground poker game at a strip club that has two guys threatening to settle their issues with guns - before they choose to give peace a chance.

• Even if poker isn't your thing, tune in to see Kristin Lehman (of the Showtime series "Poltergeist"). The Canadian plays a card shark named Miami who isn't exactly sore on the eyes - and she doesn't take crap from the fellas, either.

Besides, as Samuel L. Jackson said in "XXX:" "There's always a girl."

Don't go there

ESPN's disclaimer says the show is not meant for those under 14. Evidently, the sex-in-the-bathroom scene involving The Matador is appropriate for 15-year-olds.

The grade

"Tilt" shows promise and should benefit tremendously from the popularity of the network's "World Series of Poker." But stick to sports, ESPN, and leave the drama for "CSI." Three remotes.


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Jay Nanda prefers to stick to traditional card games such as "UNO" and "Go Fish." He can be reached at 745-7016 or jnanda@HeraldToday.com.