AJ Benza Fired as Host of High Stakes Poker

AJ Benza has been fired as co-host of High Stakes Poker. This is a bad move by the Game Show Network. Benza has good chemistry with Gabe Kaplan and has also earned lots of viewer goodwill over his 5-seasons of co-hosting.

Since Benza is a relatively unknown outside of his work on the show and has even offered to accept a pay-cut I don't think this move was financial in nature. I would guess his departure is due to one of these two reasons:

1. Just a plain stupid move by the GSN executives.

2. A power play by Poker Stars trying to insert one of their pro players as co-host as a way to turn the show into a defacto hour long Poker Stars infomercial.