"Poker Face" is an American crime drama television series created by Rian Johnson for the streaming service Peacock. Stylized as a "case-of-the-week" murder mystery series, it stars Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, a casino worker on the run who entangles herself into several mysterious deaths of strangers along the way.
Peacock announced the series in March 2021, with Lyonne attached and Johnson as director. Nora Zuckerman and Lilla Zuckerman were named as co-showrunners. "Poker Face" consists of 10 episodes and debuted on January 26, 2023. The series has received critical acclaim. Named after the NBC logo, Peacock is a streaming service from NBCUniversal. In March 2023, the service reached 22 million paid subscribers.
Shefik appears as a BBQ Patron in Season 1, Episode 3 of "Poker Face". The episode, titled "The Stall", was written by executive story editor Wyatt Cain and directed by executive producer Iain B. MacDonald. It was released on Peacock on January 26, 2023.
Arriving in Texas, Charlie is followed by a volatile stray dog. The dog eats the food of customers at a barbecue restaurant owned by the Boyle brothers. The business-minded Taffy Boyle demands Charlie pay off what the dog ate. She takes a temporary job at the restaurant and bonds with George Boyle, the kind head chef. When she lends him a copy of the film Okja, he is deeply moved by its animal rights messaging and plans to give up his stake in the business. Unable to afford to buy him out, Taffy and his sister-in-law Mandy pre-record a segment for his radio show, which he plays to give himself an alibi as he drugs George, seals him inside his trailer, and suffocates him with smoke from a grill. He is attacked by the dog, who he beats.
George's death is ruled a suicide, and a departing Charlie finds the dog, realizing that the wood it was hit with is the same wood used to create the smoke that killed George. After confirming that Taffy could have killed him during the broadcast by testing it herself, she brings her findings to Mandy and realizes she let someone else discover George's body to give her an alibi. Charlie confronts Taffy and reveals that the lack of the sound of a repeatedly passing train in the area confirms his recording was not live, while she has Austin, a man working at the radio station, impersonate Taffy and trick Mandy into thinking he is going to confess. She berates him for jeopardizing their plan and sells him out to the police, only for Austin to play her call on air while she is with the police. Charlie leaves, and Austin dedicates a show to her, having kept the dog for himself.
The episode featured appearances by Lil Rel Howery, Danielle Macdonald, Shane Paul McGhie, and Larry Brown.
Credits
- Director: Iain B. MacDonald
- BBQ Patron: Shefik
Last Updated: June 12, 2023
