{image1} Brewers fans remember Matt Vasgersian as the colorful TV announcer who brought a little humor, a bunch of '80s pop references and a lot of spice to the art of a calling a baseball game. The popular broadcaster is now entering his third season working with San Diego Padres, but Milwaukee fans will have the opportunity to catch Vasgersian again as he hosts an upcoming series on the Game Show Network about tournament blackjack.

Beginning March 15, Vasgersian will emcee the "World Series of Blackjack," an hour-long game show modeled after the increasingly popular poker shows cropping up all over the TV dial.

"It was developed rather quickly," said Vasgersian. "(The Game Show Network) wanted to get into the casino gaming genre."

One of the executives just came back from Vegas, he said, and pitched the president of the network on the concept. "He said, 'Great, let's do a show,'" said Vasgersian.

Vasgersian didn't have to sell himself to land the hosting gig, he said. His resume was on file, so when the network looked back through their records, they found him rather quickly.

"I went in and read with Max Rubin, the color announcer. We clicked pretty well."

Vasgersian said he taped seven episodes this spring, which will air at 9 p.m. on Mondays. The contestants aren't celebrities, but they are quite a bit better than your average blackjack players, he said. Most are "more noteworthy" in the field, said Vasgersian, including authors on the card game.

"It's a pretty tight-knit circle, almost a subculture," said Vasgersian. "They actually knew of each other." Some even played in disguise to avoid tipping off casinos, where they could get kicked out for being too good.

The format for the show is simple. Each player starts with a $10,000 stake, and they play against each other. Winners from each preliminary game go on to a championship, where they compete for a $100,000 prize. The show was filmed at the Mohican Sun Casino and Resort in Connecticut.

Vasgersian said he thinks the show could do well, considering the popularity of recent poker shows.

"Everybody thinks they know how to play blackjack. I hope that's the success of the show," he said.

And even Vasgersian said he's learned a thing or two during his emcee duties.

"When you know the odds, it changes the way you choose to play your hand," he said. "I wouldn't consider myself an aficionado, but I don't want to be caught with my pants down. I don't take myself seriously, but I take my work seriously."

If the show is a success, Vasgersian said the show could expand to include celebrities, sports figures or more.

"I hope it has some legs to it. They're talking about doing this in different formats."

The show is just one new project for Vasgersian, who's keeping himself busy as an announcer while getting ready to serve as an Olympic correspondent this summer in Athens.

"I'm excited for this year, because of the new ballpark (in San Diego)," he said. "We're a much better team on paper. The division is ripe for some upstart to make a move in the West."

Recently engaged to a Milwaukee native he met while working for the Brewers, Vasgersian said he still misses life in the Midwest, too.

"There's a lot of stuff I miss about Milwaukee. The friendliness. I certainly miss working with Bill Schroeder to no end. We got along, and I think I complimented him well," he said.

"(My fiancé and I) would love to get married in Milwaukee," added Vasgersian, who will next be in Milwaukee at the end of May when the Padres take on the Brewers.

"It's always the first thing I look for when we get our schedule each year," he said.