Television personality Leeann Tweeden has been named host of the fourth season of NBC-TV’s popular late-night poker show “Poker After Dark,” NBC announced.

She replaces Marianela Pereyra, who took over as host last year when the show’s original host, porn model Shana Hiatt, became pregnant.

Tweeden has served for the past seven years as a reporter and talk show co-host on the Fox Sports Network (FSN), but has experience working poker events.

In 2006, she co-hosted the Mansion Poker Dome Challenge on FSN.

And this year, she is hosting NBC’s National Heads-Up Poker Championship, which was taped in Las Vegas earlier this year and began airing this month.

As for “Poker After Dark,” the show can use some positive pubicity.

Earlier this year, PokerHelper.com reported how convicted child predator and ex-con “Sean” Sheikhan was appearing on the show during a theme week about poker loudmouths.

The slimy Sheikhan has not appeared on any poker TV shows since.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)=A0