Poker Face is a Peacock original series that blends mystery and drama, appealing to fans of detective stories. Created by Rian Johnson, known for films like Knives Out, the show features Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, a character with an extraordinary ability to tell when someone is lying.
This skill leads her on a road trip across the USA, solving crimes in each episode. Each episode follows a “howcatchem” format, revealing the culprit early and focusing on Charlie’s investigation.
The series also features performances by Benjamin Bratt, Simon Helberg, Adrien Brody, Judith Light, Chloë Sevigny, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lil Rel Howery, Ellen Barkin, Stephanie Hsu, Tim Blake Nelson, Rhea Perlman, Nick Nolte, Giancarlo Esposito, Katie Holmes, John Mulaney and Cynthia Erivo.
The series (which premiered in January 2023) is available for streaming on Peacock (in the USA) and Showmax (in South Africa). To date there have been 2 seasons of the show. It has not been renewed for a third season yet.
There’s probably a lot that you don’t know about this show, but today my aim is to change that…
Here are 10 Interesting Facts you might not know about the Poker Face TV Show
1. The role of Charlie Cale was “completely cut to measure” for Natasha Lyonne. She not only stars in the series but also co-wrote and directed an episode. Her unique persona and “wise-cracking casino worker” character have been widely praised.
2. Poker Face has received widespread critical acclaim. Season 1 earned a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Season 2 debuted with a perfect 100%, proving its consistent quality. Critics have lauded its clever dialogue, smart mysteries, and Natasha Lyonne’s performance.
3. Besides the popular detective series Columbo, the show draws visual and tonal inspiration from 1970s American cinema, including directors like Robert Altman and Peter Bogdanovich. Natasha Lyonne has also cited Elliott Gould’s performance in Altman’s The Long Goodbye as an inspiration for Charlie Cale.
4. Poker Face was filmed in various locations, including Newburgh, New York, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Laughlin, Nevada, adding to the diverse American backdrop of Charlie’s journey.
5. While Season 1 saw Charlie on the run from a specific mob boss, Season 2 resolves that overarching storyline relatively early, allowing the show to lean even more into its pure case-of-the-week format, similar to its Columbo inspiration.
6. Rian Johnson and the team specifically aimed for Poker Face to be a “comfort food” show in an era dominated by heavily serialized, “prestige” dramas.
They believed there was still an appetite for standalone mysteries that offered satisfying conclusions each week. This approach was initially met with some skepticism when pitching the show, with concerns about whether modern audiences would “forget how to watch” such a format.
7. Poker Face‘s unique structure, where each episode features a new cast of characters, has been a boon for guest actors. Judith Light notably won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in Season 1, marking Peacock’s first Emmy win. Season 2 has continued this trend, with many high-profile actors being submitted for Emmy consideration.
8. While Poker Face has its goofy and fun elements, critics have also noted its “sharp existential undertone and an understanding of working-class realities.” Charlie often interacts with everyday people in “underseen, non-aspirational, little pockets of America,” and the show is praised for never being condescending or pitying towards them.
9. Despite its seemingly effortless charm, Poker Face is a challenging show to produce. Since Natasha Lyonne is the only consistent cast member and the location changes every week, the crew faces the daunting task of building entirely new sets and environments for almost every episode.
As Rian Johnson put it, “There’s no crime lab to cut back to. There’s no hero’s apartment to cut back to. One week is a baseball field. The next week is a grade school. The next week is an alligator. There’s no place to hide.”
10. A key aspect of Charlie’s character that the creators highlight is her “unflagging empathy” for everyone she meets. Despite her lie-detecting ability, she approaches people with openness and doesn’t judge them, which allows her to connect with a wide range of individuals and uncover the truth.
Well, there you have it, 10 Interesting facts you might not have known about Poker Face. If I’ve left out something important, feel free to comment below.
Not familiar with the show? Check out the trailer for Poker Face‘s first season below:
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