an honest review of the hustlers

When the movie "The Hustler" was released in 1961, I remember the complaining from the pros how the movie denigrated the game of pool. Right after the movie's release pool exploded all across the country. The pros stopped complaining. The same thing happened after the release of "The Color of Money".

Understand that 99% of Americans have never set foot into a real poolroom.
Understand that 99% of Americans don't know all the rules of 9-Ball.
Understand that 99% of Americans wouldn't know SVB, Earl, Darren, Dennis, or Alex if they were sitting next to them on a 6-hour cross-country flight.

Now, for the first time in decades, something about pool has made it on TV, albeit cable. Please, guys, stop your whining and let this reality/un-reality show play out. Only good things can happen from this.
I think you are right, with the current state of things, it can only help. You just have to wonder, where is there is to go on the show with their formula. You can't keep telling the same joke over and over.

Has the whole 10 episodes been taped already?
 
I keep reminding myself that this show wasn't made for me, or us. It was made for the casual Friday night slap who doesn't play pool and is looking for something to watch. It does have characters to like and not like so that is a positive. My only issue was really the setup in the first episode. Tell me more about who these people are and why I should care. That's not a knock on the cast but more the writers and producers.
 
I disagree. There are several threads on here now about this show & they all seem to have 2 camps. The crotchety hardcore whining about how fake & ridiculous this all is & thereby a travesty. Then then the other camp which I side with that states this is exposure that will draw attention & new players to the game.

This show is meant to market the game to those who DON'T play now. We don't need to sell pool to the hardcore, we're already in it. We need something, anything, that draws new blood to the game. Once that new blood finds their way in they can sort out the pool world for them. I just want to see a cue in 10's of thousands of new players hands & see them bit by the bug driving a need for more halls & places to play.

You say you'd like to see 1 pocket, that's never going to sell to newbies that don't play, too complex, even boring as watching paint dry to the uneducated non player.

Yes as pool players, hardcore ones, we see some of the things in this show that don't add up, but it isn't for us, it's to draw in those that DON'T play, which is good for all of us who do.

Having said the above I'll give a perspective of why I think what they have here is good & will sell. They have included a variety of people who DO play & appeals to a wide group of people. That you can be older like Finnegan, that you can play as a female & compete with men like Jennifer, Smiley & Emily. That you can be someone like Ross that is a skater, etc, etc. it's subliminal statement is that it is a game EVERYONE CAN PLAY. That you can be young, old, female, male, black, white, fitness minded like Jennifer & her husband, a skater like Ross. That no matter who you are, your background, your other interests that pool can be a game for you, it sells mass appeal

. As far as choice of game goes I can remember sitting in my pops pool hall as a kid listening to him & his former road partners lamenting when 9 ball became the prevalent game signaling a death knell for straight pool, the game him and his friends loved & had been the discipline that champions of this game had been judged by prior to 9 ball. I remember telling him to get over it, that it wasn't what him & his former road partners loved but it would keep the game alive & it did. If you're trying to market to a new group of people you have to have something easy to understand
and fast paced to attract attention to it and straight pool & one pocket can't and won't do that.

I play a number of disciplines, banks, one pocket, straight pool & 9, 10 & 15 ball Rotation. I love them all but if you're going to draw a new group you better go for something that is simple, easy to understand & play & that's not one pocket. It's about appealing to new players, not to us.

As far as your comment on the females on the show, well Jennifer & Smiley play pretty good & Emily is up & coming & whether you like it or not appealing to women which is what it's about with them is a smart thing to do. Again, I like that the forethought to include a cast that is young, old, black, white, foreign born, male & female, I think it's slick subliminal marketing genius.

It's often commented on here that the vast majority of the membership here is a little long in the tooth with 1 foot in the grave & that's true but we all aren't. Some are young, some like me in the middle neither young nor old. While the choices & fare put forth on this show may not appeal to our older members here remember, this isn't meant to appeal to us, but to the non playing public attempting to draw them to play thereby securing a future for this game.

I don't think viewers are running to Alaska to become a Bushperson ,Craber, GoldMiner , or Gunsmith ,so I would not be quick to think pool will be any differant

People would love to think the Color of Money brought pool up ,, but the reality is the APA brought a 100 times the players into pool in those yrs after it picked up on the failed St, Louis Bush league in early 80s and quickly was turning it into a National empire ,
Mind you during a thriving economy ,, it's unrealistict to expect anything close to the spike in those yrs ,,

1
 
Yes, the entire season has been filmed.

I think you are right, with the current state of things, it can only help. You just have to wonder, where is there is to go on the show with their formula. You can't keep telling the same joke over and over.

Has the whole 10 episodes been taped already?
 
we'd like to check it out, but we dont have cable. any links to see it?

i'm gathering that approx 50 AZBers watched it, based on the posts herein. can anybody add stats if their pool rooms aired it (you know, to promote the game which is their business)? i can tell you that ours did not. but then again they dont even buy the streams.

it'll be interesting to hear the #s from the promoter. hopefully they are high.
 
I disagree. There are several threads on here now about this show & they all seem to have 2 camps. The crotchety hardcore whining about how fake & ridiculous this all is & thereby a travesty. Then then the other camp which I side with that states this is exposure that will draw attention & new players to the game.

This show is meant to market the game to those who DON'T play now. We don't need to sell pool to the hardcore, we're already in it. We need something, anything, that draws new blood to the game.

"I may be in what you're calling the "crotchety hardcore whining" camp then, but a question for those of you in the other camp? How many times over the past 15 years or so have we seen y'all making the same claims about things that were gonna be the shot in the arm that pool needs only to see it do nothing in the long run? The magazines promoted Poolhall Junkies like mad and it was gonna be the next Color of Money...

Then the IPT was gonna be the godsend. After one of the tournaments, there were people on here who wanted to put Trudeau in the Hall of Fame...

Now I admit, I've only seen parts of both episodes, but what I saw couldn't keep my interest for more than a few minutes. In one they were barking at one another and I watched enough to see the guy who was over the moon about beating a girl...

The other was the one where the Brit was going off about Dechaine's big head and they were bleeping out half the words, who wants to watch that with their kid in the room? How exactly is this show gonna bring new blood into the game if it isn't even interesting or decent enough to keep hardcore people watching?
 
"I may be in what you're calling the "crotchety hardcore whining" camp then, but a question for those of you in the other camp? How many times over the past 15 years or so have we seen y'all making the same claims about things that were gonna be the shot in the arm that pool needs only to see it do nothing in the long run? The magazines promoted Poolhall Junkies like mad and it was gonna be the next Color of Money...



Then the IPT was gonna be the godsend. After one of the tournaments, there were people on here who wanted to put Trudeau in the Hall of Fame...



Now I admit, I've only seen parts of both episodes, but what I saw couldn't keep my interest for more than a few minutes. In one they were barking at one another and I watched enough to see the guy who was over the moon about beating a girl...



The other was the one where the Brit was going off about Dechaine's big head and they were bleeping out half the words, who wants to watch that with their kid in the room? How exactly is this show gonna bring new blood into the game if it isn't even interesting or decent enough to keep hardcore people watching?


Don't look now, I think someone's on your lawn, go get 'em
 
If this reality show (how can a show be real with a hundred people on the back side of the camera?) is the vehicle that saves pool, let me off the bus.
Currently, there is another thread going down the first page of the main forum that is about a father congratulating his 16 year old son for winning his division in the Colorado State Jr. Eight-ball championships. It's had thirteen responses and is almost off the page.
So far there are five threads going regarding this TV show with almost a hundred responses. Does anyone not see the disparity?
You're backing the wrong horse, folks, and it will come back to haunt you.

I never said "the vehicle" I described it as "a vehicle" as in one of many that could help pool.
why are some always looking for "the one" magic savior? IMO in todays flash in the pan media, as long as pool is kept in a spotlight (reality series, espn3 streaming mosconi cup, etc) its going to be a combination of many things to bring in more to the sport.

For those who heckle this reality series, when was the last time you watched Bar Rescue, Restaurant Impossible, Ax Men, Bering Sea Gold, etc....The Hustlers is on par in terms of production value, content, and presentation.

and personally, I already know it works because my wife watched the show and she never watches anything pool related.

They have something good here, and from what I understand, more reality series to follow. This will be a fun ride on this vehicle.

I'm in!
 
A constant theme that keeps repeating itself here is that because the show is a vehicle designed to attract the non-playing, "mainstream", man-in-the-street, and not existing pool players, it doesn't need to be a quality, well made product.

This is said as though the man-in-the-street does not recognize, care about, appreciate, nor is attracted to quality. That's makes about as much sense as opening a restaurant and believing that you can serve garbage food because most of the customers you're trying to attract aren't chefs. Insane.

Besides, why, in the world, does anyone think that producing a quality product which attracts both the novice and experienced player is impossible?

The Hustler and The Color Of Money sparked a tremendous amount of interest in pool not because they were merely about pool and shoved down the public's throats, but because they were major, professional, productions, complete with big budget star quality, well written scripts based upon quality novels, and well financed marketing and advertising.

Had either one of these movies been of a similar quality to the current "The Hustlers", they too would have accomplished exactly nothing to advance the game of pool.

Oh well, another missed opportunity. :frown:

J
 
I just can't stand pool shows that don't stick to reality! Many times I see shots that are completely staged and against the rules. At one point there was a 1-8 combo with just the 9 left on the table. Can anyone even imagine a rack of 9 ball with just the 1, 8, and 9 left? At the 54 minute mark of the first episode, Emily clearly shoots the 2 ball in the corner with the 1 ball sitting just to the right of her shot. Umm, wtf?

A little reality in reality TV would certainly help.

*edit* Cripes! just 2 minutes later there is a cut shot (cut shot as in TV cut shots) where she hits a ball in the corner and comes out 2 rails. She makes the ball (which I couldn't see because the cut shot came in after she got the ball in) but as you watch the cue ball travel the 1 ball is CLEARLY up against the other rail. What ball did she just shoot in? The zero ball maybe?

Yep, the shot skipping around was horrible, especially for a show that is about pool.

They need to find a different editor or not re-shoot messed-up shots.

Show was clearly made for those that like Jersey Shore more than The Hustler which should at least help the viewership numbers.
 
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A constant theme that keeps repeating itself here is that because the show is a vehicle designed to attract the non-playing, "mainstream", man-in-the-street, and not existing pool players, it doesn't need to be a quality, well made product.

This is said as though the man-in-the-street does not recognize, care about, appreciate, nor is attracted to quality. That's makes about as much sense as opening a restaurant and believing that you can serve garbage food because most of the customers you're trying to attract aren't chefs. Insane.

Besides, why, in the world, does anyone think that producing a quality product which attracts both the novice and experienced player is impossible?

The Hustler and The Color Of Money sparked a tremendous amount of interest in pool not because they were merely about pool and shoved down the public's throats, but because they were major, professional, productions, complete with big budget star quality, well written scripts based upon quality novels, and well financed marketing and advertising.

Had either one of these movies been of a similar quality to the current "The Hustlers", they too would have accomplished exactly nothing to advance the game of pool.

Oh well, another missed opportunity. :frown:

J
You touched on something and it may be the most important point. To be honest, I had to check my cable guide to see if I even had TruTv in my line up.

I discovered I did. The only way they can attract any viewers will be if they do cross over advertising for the show on other networks. If they are I have not seen any. Baring that, the only viewers they will get are people who also watch the ' The Worlds dumbest criminals" or their line up of informercials they have.

The rest of the public will never know the show ever existed. I don't see them spending 5 cents promoting the show and because of that, even if it is great, it is doomed.
 
A constant theme that keeps repeating itself here is that because the show is a vehicle designed to attract the non-playing, "mainstream", man-in-the-street, and not existing pool players, it doesn't need to be a quality, well made product.

This is said as though the man-in-the-street does not recognize, care about, appreciate, nor is attracted to quality. That's makes about as much sense as opening a restaurant and believing that you can serve garbage food because most of the customers you're trying to attract aren't chefs. Insane.

Besides, why, in the world, does anyone think that producing a quality product which attracts both the novice and experienced player is impossible?

The Hustler and The Color Of Money sparked a tremendous amount of interest in pool not because they were merely about pool and shoved down the public's throats, but because they were major, professional, productions, complete with big budget star quality, well written scripts based upon quality novels, and well financed marketing and advertising.

Had either one of these movies been of a similar quality to the current "The Hustlers", they too would have accomplished exactly nothing to advance the game of pool.

Oh well, another missed opportunity. :frown:

J

I absolutely understand and agree that the hustler and color of money were of high quality. They were shot on film, with great screenwriting, great directors, world class actors, large production budgets, etc.

In 2015, feature films are being shot on HD video and processed to look like film. movie lengths are shorter as well as editing, which has become rapid fire paced in everything from major motion pictures to television commercials. Movie theaters have all gone to digital protection per Hollywood mandate. Video game sales dwarf Hollywood, with video game industry doubling Hollywood's intake in 2013.

What you see in the Hustler and Color of Money is sadly a long gone era. We will never get it back. Attention spans of viewers had dropped considerably.

With that being said, you either adapt or give up.

The Hustlers series is well edited and has a decent production value too, when compared to other reality series trying to start out. I would be the first to honestly say it's a cheap failure, but it's not. There is a decent product here for the media market of 2015 and it can be built on.
 
finnegan was not exaggerated, as a matter of fact, he seemed nervous and held back. he's obnoxious, 10 times worst than that, but not in a bad way, he's very friendly with his banter, he likes to get action going. he comes off as a dick sometimes, but it;s the nature of the action. I;ve always thought dechaine to be a dick, in interviews and his facial expressions and stuff, but he doesn't seem like a bad guy, goes to show you to not judge someone until you know them.

also, I hope SVB makes it on some of these new shows, he's not only the greatest 10 baller so far, he's an inspirational story, super nice guy, and could be a way to show that good guys are part of the game, I hate that pool comes off as shady. so many good people are part of the game, I've never been prouder to be a pool nut, this is a good time for pool.

I agree there about Shane, him, Earl, Dechaine, Alex P, their normal chatting in pool rooms that we see and hear on the streams is much better than the constant trash talk in the show. Once the country sees the deaf kid growing up to be one of the top players in the world, maybe 16 yr old Wu winning the world title after running out the last several racks, that should inspire people to play and stay in the game. Not try to go to a pool room to see people running their mouths trying to get the most attention.
 
I absolutely understand and agree that the hustler and color of money were of high quality. They were shot on film, with great screenwriting, great directors, world class actors, large production budgets, etc.

In 2015, feature films are being shot on HD video and processed to look like film. movie lengths are shorter as well as editing, which has become rapid fire paced in everything from major motion pictures to television commercials. Movie theaters have all gone to digital protection per Hollywood mandate. Video game sales dwarf Hollywood, with video game industry doubling Hollywood's intake in 2013.

What you see in the Hustler and Color of Money is sadly a long gone era. We will never get it back. Attention spans of viewers had dropped considerably.

With that being said, you either adapt or give up.

The Hustlers series is well edited and has a decent production value too, when compared to other reality series trying to start out. I would be the first to honestly say it's a cheap failure, but it's not. There is a decent product here for the media market of 2015 and it can be built on.
I don't know who is paying the bills but the goal now is to get a second season so they can flesh this thing out. The channel has been giving it a lot of play it has repeated a bunch of times.

Even though I said I thought it was not a good show, I am on their side and want to see them fix it and maybe come up with a winning formula that is sustainable. My problem with what they are doing is it loses your interest quickly.
 
A constant theme that keeps repeating itself here is that because the show is a vehicle designed to attract the non-playing, "mainstream", man-in-the-street, and not existing pool players, it doesn't need to be a quality, well made product.

This is said as though the man-in-the-street does not recognize, care about, appreciate, nor is attracted to quality. That's makes about as much sense as opening a restaurant and believing that you can serve garbage food because most of the customers you're trying to attract aren't chefs. Insane.

Besides, why, in the world, does anyone think that producing a quality product which attracts both the novice and experienced player is impossible?

The Hustler and The Color Of Money sparked a tremendous amount of interest in pool not because they were merely about pool and shoved down the public's throats, but because they were major, professional, productions, complete with big budget star quality, well written scripts based upon quality novels, and well financed marketing and advertising.

Had either one of these movies been of a similar quality to the current "The Hustlers", they too would have accomplished exactly nothing to advance the game of pool.

Oh well, another missed opportunity. :frown:

J

Why is it imposible ,, that answer is simple,, you don't have APA league operators beating the streets in every state starting new pool leagues ,, and you only have a fraction of places they had to work with ,,

1
 
I agree there about Shane, him, Earl, Dechaine, Alex P, their normal chatting in pool rooms that we see and hear on the streams is much better than the constant trash talk in the show. Once the country sees the deaf kid growing up to be one of the top players in the world, maybe 16 yr old Wu winning the world title after running out the last several racks, that should inspire people to play and stay in the game. Not try to go to a pool room to see people running their mouths trying to get the most attention.


You really think America wants to watch Shane or Wu run multiple racks? Hell no. Without the drama, they don't even want to see Earl.
 
Where's the drama in golf?

The drama unfolds every time Tiger strays.... does it or does it not? Admit it, America as a whole is more concerned about who Tiger screws, even when hes not contending.

But seriously.....how can you compare a reality TV show to golf?
 
The drama unfolds every time Tiger strays.... does it or does it not? Admit it, America as a whole is more concerned about who Tiger screws, even when hes not contending.

But seriously.....how can you compare a reality TV show to golf?

That drama is only in the tabloids, yet millions tune in every tournament. I just wanted to know where is the drama there?
 
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