Blackjack certainly is a challenge to make interesting for TV. I actually think the Power Play chip and the KnockOut hands make a lot of progress in that regard.
The proof will be in the rest of the shows of WSOB III, and I look forward to hearing feedback as this develops.
Also, CBS is airing Ultimate Blackjack Tour starting in September, and that format includes eliminations on hands 8,16 and 25, as well as a secret bet that can be used once per round. Gimmicks? Yes, but hey, blackjack tournaments needed something to up the excitement in the first half of the round. Seeing a bunch of players betting minimum bets for 15 hands was like watching paint dry. Will these rule changes fix it? The jury is still out. We'll see.