Garrett, who gained fame for his role as Ray Romano’s brother on the television show “Everybody Love Raymond,” started play Tuesday with a healthy chip stack of $69,400. He has a comedic flair that takes over at a poker table, sometimes becoming so talkative that it annoys other players.

But Michaels actually enjoyed it, far from intimidated despite playing in his first World Series of Poker, and only second live event.

“He’s just talking a lot and he’s kind of funny,” said Michaels, who plays often — and almost exclusively — online. “He’s keeping the game a lot looser, and everyone is much happier, so it’s a better environment for me.  It’s better than like, a quiet table where everyone is doing nothing but playing.”

Garrett’s presence also distracts attention from him, as he protects a large chip stack that was at $175,000 first break.

“I’m not doing anything stupid, because I don’t want to waste it all away,” Michaels said. “When you have the big stack everyone thinks you’re bluffing all the time. So I’m just playing really tight, and it’s working so far.”

Michaels said he’d much rather sit next to a celebrity like Garrett than a big-name poker professional, first because of the skill level, and second because “he’s a lot more fun.”

And as far as sitting next to an attractive woman? Michaels picks celebrity then, too. “Less distracting.”

Unless of course, the woman is a celebrity herself.

Unfortunately, Garrett did not make it to the second break of the day, busting out when his pocket kings went up against pocket aces.

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