Gabe Kaplan out as 'High Stakes Poker' host, replaced by Norm MacDonald

Folks at Game Show Network have changed things up again in regards to "High Stakes Poker," and it's not likely for the better. Gabe Kaplan is out as the show's host after six seasons and is being replaced by comedian Norm MacDonald.

Kaplan worked solo in the booth last season and, while he fell a little flat without A.J. Benza, he remains poker's best commentator. MacDonald may be an "avid" player (according to GSN's press release), but he won't be able to match the cash game experience Kaplan provided.

The new season premiers at 8 p.m. Feb. 26, but I'm running out of reasons to watch.

Worse than GSN's call to switch Kaplan for MacDonald is Full Tilt Poker's decision not to allow its sponsored pros to appear on the show. That means no Phil Ivey, no Patrik Antonious and no Tom Dwan.

phil-ivey-04.jpgAP PhotoNo Phil Ivey on "High Stakes Poker" this season.
No, thanks.

So for poker involving Full Tilt's pros, I need to watch "Poker After Dark," a Full Tilt-sponsored show on NBC. (They don't allow PokerStars' folks on there anymore.) And, for the rest, I have to watch "High Stakes Poker." Yuck.

The rivalry between the two sites hurts the casual viewer here, but maybe some other unknowns can be developed into TV pros. Or maybe I just being optimistic because I don't want to see my once-favorite poker show go down the drain.

The Season 7 lineup does include regulars Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Laak and Doyle Brunson, along with World Series of Poker main event champion Jonathan Duhamel. Young stars Jason Mercier and Phil Galfond are back for antother round, too.