The recent explosion of interest in poker, in particular Texas Hold 'Em, has to be the most fascinating craze I've seen in years. If there's any doubt that TV is still the biggest trend machine, the poker phenomenon snuffs it. As far as I can tell, it started with the Travel Channel.

I caught a few episodes last year and thought it was strange programming for a channel ostensibly dedicated to exploring the world's many destinations. It wasn't a Vegas special. It was a poker show. I couldn't turn it off—I just had to see the river.

The channel was soon running ads for its program in practically every 12-minute rotation. Viewers increased exponentially. Then came coverage by ESPN and Bravo. Bravo—formerly the "old movie channel"...televising poker.

So how is it that a game once associated with toothpick-chewing, Lee jean-wearing, giant belt buckled, leatherfaced cattle rustler types like this guy has crept into the mainstream? Four reasons, in my view:

4. The addicting nature of the game.
3. The money and "anyone can play" aspect is alluring.
2. Excellent coverage by the aforementioned channels.
1. Celebrity involvement.

Specials like Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown have brought people to the game who otherwise wouldn't have given a damn. The power of celebrity. Sigh...

Your in-flight magazine is likely to have an interview with some guy from the midwest who won it all in the nineties, before anyone cared. There are online games popping up everywhere. It's the Thing To Do on college campuses. There are poker magazines, poker websites, dedicated Web logs, open tournaments popping up in bars across the country, and a long list of upcoming Big-TV events. ESPN is set to air 22 one-hour episodes of the World Series of Poker. And there is talk of...gulp...The Poker Channel. Coming soon to a cable box near you.