Poker Web Watch / Dave Allan / 15 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Series six of the popular poker show High Stakes Poker is about to be filmed but a key man will be missing from action. Popular commentator, AJ Benza has been sensationally axed by the shows producers GSN and is going to be replaced by a mystery woman.

Mr Benza was part of a popular double act with fellow presenter Gabe Kaplan, the pair always bouncing off each other with jokes, innuendos and made up stories. The repartee between them was second to none.

The executives of GSN, Barry Nugent and David Shiff had previously hinted that Benza would be replaced by a female co-host during an interview last week which prompted an angry response from the former gossip columnist. Benja likened the decision to ruining a pizza, saying, "If you got the best pizza in town for 5 seasons, why try and add licorice to it?"

If reports are correct, Benza offered to take a pay cut in order to stay on the popular show, which over the past few seasons has read like a who's who of poker, with the likes of Daniel Negreanu, Tom 'durrrr' Dwan and Doyle Brunson amongst those appearing on the show.

As expected rumours of who the mystery woman replacement will be with the current favourite being Shana Hiatt, the reporter and presenter of the recently dropped World Poker Tour series, though many fingers are pointing towards Vanessa Rousso.

Nothing in show business is certain and GSN are expected to make a form decision during Friday 16 October. Whoever it is, they will have a hard job filling AJ Benza's shoes that is for certain.