I met Matt Geiler for the first time Thursday morning at the World Series of Poker media event at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

I was at his table, sitting two chairs away from him. I found the host of KXVO 15’s 10 p.m. news to be laid back, even a tad quiet.

And then the camera started rolling.

In an instant, Geiler transformed into the wild and goofy guy we see each weeknight on the Omaha TV station.

It wasn’t long before he was the first person knocked out of the charity event, calling the rest of us charlatans and his station “Omaha’s news leader.”

It was funny. It was even better when I watched it later that night.

Since April, KXVO (Time Warner channel 15) has programmed a different kind of news program.

I like to call it Cartoon Corral  — for those of us who remember the afternoon kids show — for 18- to 34-year-olds.

That’s a compliment, by the way.

The show has little, if any news, some weather, and a bunch of sketches featuring funny man Geiler. The news it features is Geiler’s humorous take on celebrity tabloid headlines.

It’s no surprise KXVO is going in this direction, especially after seeing the success Comedy Central has had with “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report.”

Former MTV VJ Brian McFayden was the first host for KXVO news. He gave way to stand-up comic and improv artist Geiler in August.

“We think we’re building quite a bit of momentum for the show as far as what we’ve accomplished,” producer Taylor Stein said. “We have ideas up the wazoo.”

One of them is filming the show in front of a live studio audience, he said.

I agree the show is gaining momentum. Geiler and his crew — Stein, director Jeff Vanroy and photo journalist Kyle Benecke   — are becoming more and more visible. They put many of their sketches on YouTube.

“It’s weird,” Stein said. “I’ll be in the Taco Bell drive-thru and the guy in the window will say, ‘Hey, you’re the guy on TV.’”

 Stein said he thinks they’re off to a good start, but knows they have a long way to go.

Unfortunately, the suits — KXVO is owned by Mitts Broadcasting Company and operated by Pappas Telecasting — determine the show’s success by ratings instead of Taco Bell shout-outs and YouTube hits.

“We believe in what we’re doing,” Stein said. “It’s something new and different. But in the end, it’s a business. If we don’t produce ratings, we know we won’t be able to carry out the goals we have.”

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.