Who are The Hustlers?

People at my local bar who are not pool players were talking about it and asking me if I watched it. They also had it on a couple of the tvs there.
Cool. Maybe Pool will see a Poker like resurgence if these kind of shows catch on and are successful.
 
I just watched the first two episodes and thought it was pretty entertaining. The market for this show isn't pool players but the general public. As far as it hurting the games image, the Color of Money started a boom that lasted over 20 years basically doing the same thing.

Can't wait to see what Mikey adds to the show. Looking forward to it.
 
Hey this was really fun - nice job!

Watched the first 2 episodes online (I don't have a TV but have a cable internet package)

Nice job getting a good mix, for people who know pool and for someone just flipping channels. I like this format much better than something like "The Big Break" on the Golf Channel. Showing some shots, explaining rules and some evolving storylines for the non-pool player. Gonna tell some of my "pool curious" friends to check it out.

I do hope you maybe get a change to show Mike in tournament or something, just so people get a chance to see that side of pool maybe too

Anyways congrats and hope it does well! And I saw Earl's back in one of the episodes! Ha
 
Cool. Maybe Pool will see a Poker like resurgence if these kind of shows catch on and are successful.

Yea but if they learn from that show, they will never know what order to shoot the balls in 9 ball. 4 before the 1? Sure, that looks legal. Balls moving around the table between shots, must be OK, I'll just push the ball over a bit myself. Talking nonstop in middle of a game, looks like it's OK to do, I'll just yell in the guys ear about how he sucks while he's in the middle of a shot.

Saw the preview between the game that the girls were going to make and it went from asking to play to full on crazy in about 30 seconds. Looks like I'm skipping episode 3.

Second episode was better than the first, but that fake top players in New York list and magical ball movement between shots is really turning me of the show. Nothing to do with the people participating, I'm sure a bit of a change in writing and editing will make it more watchable for pool players.

This is how a pool show should look like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqQ2lmdfh8U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU6MC3OCa9M
 
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Yea but if they learn from that show, they will never know what order to shoot the balls in 9 ball. 4 before the 1? Sure, that looks legal. Balls moving around the table between shots, must be OK, I'll just push the ball over a bit myself. Talking nonstop in middle of a game, looks like it's OK to do, I'll just yell in the guys ear about how he sucks while he's in the middle of a shot.

Saw the preview between the game that the girls were going to make and it went from asking to play to full on crazy in about 30 seconds. Looks like I'm skipping episode 3.

Second episode was better than the first, but that fake top players in New York list and magical ball movement between shots is really turning me of the show. Nothing to do with the people participating, I'm sure a bit of a change in writing and editing will make it more watchable for pool players.

This is how a pool show should look like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqQ2lmdfh8U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU6MC3OCa9M
What you notice in the clip you have is the steadiness of the camera. On the TV show they are using the Hand held type giving the effect of like the "Blair Witch" movie. It becomes horrible and dizzying to watch in a short time.
 
I'm still willing to give this show a longer look-see.

I like the fact that there are mid level amateurs in the mix. Ppl need different players to relate to. If this show is to bring in the mainstream, it has to cast a wide net, so to speak.

I also like the fact that its giving the world a peek at what goes on in an average poolroom, even if it is hammed up a bit. Iwould imagine that most ppl have seen poolrooms around but nvr ventured into one.

Granted, there are a few things that are off putting but remember, this is a "reality show". BTW, reality shows aren't meant to be accurate, factual documentaries. They're meant to take everyday ppl, whether they can act or not and catch their drama, using a scripted outline that is conducive to a few cast members looking like asses. Jersey shore or the Real Housewives Of, comes to mind.


Eric >nothing is worse than Real Housewives Of
 
Yea but if they learn from that show, they will never know what order to shoot the balls in 9 ball. 4 before the 1? Sure, that looks legal. Balls moving around the table between shots, must be OK, I'll just push the ball over a bit myself. Talking nonstop in middle of a game, looks like it's OK to do, I'll just yell in the guys ear about how he sucks while he's in the middle of a shot.

Saw the preview between the game that the girls were going to make and it went from asking to play to full on crazy in about 30 seconds. Looks like I'm skipping episode 3.

Second episode was better than the first, but that fake top players in New York list and magical ball movement between shots is really turning me of the show. Nothing to do with the people participating, I'm sure a bit of a change in writing and editing will make it more watchable for pool players.

This is how a pool show should look like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqQ2lmdfh8U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU6MC3OCa9M



Please, do us all a favor and skip episode 3. Your mundane droning and moronic critiquing is simply uncalled for. If you don't like the show, that's cool but why drag it down for the rest of us, over and over again......day after day?

Oh right, I forgot. You're the same guy who not long ago, went out of his way to create a post about how bad Emily plays. I hope this latest barrage of trashing for no reason makes you feel just as warm and fuzzy.
 
Please, do us all a favor and skip episode 3. Your mundane droning and moronic critiquing is simply uncalled for. If you don't like the show, that's cool but why drag it down for the rest of us, over and over again......day after day?

Oh right, I forgot. You're the same guy who not long ago, went out of his way to create a post about how bad Emily plays. I hope this latest barrage of trashing for no reason makes you feel just as warm and fuzzy.

If I remember the post about Emily, it was not about how she plays but the fact that someone was promoting a match with mediocre players as an exhibition match with paid attendance.

If you go to a bad movie will you just say "well at least they made a movie" and not tell your friends it was bad? Had a hyped up restaurant serve you crappy food, no-one will say anything or will there be bad reviews of the place all over? How is this show different? Most of the show is OK, two things that bug the hell out of me, fake games, fake best NY players list.
 
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If I remember the post about Emily, it was not about how she plays but the fact that someone was promoting a match with mediocre players as an exhibition match with paid attendance.

If you go to a bad movie will you just say "well at least they made a movie" and not tell your friends it was bad? Had a hyped up restaurant serve you crappy food, no-one will say anything or will there be bad reviews of the place all over? How is this show different? Most of the show is OK, two things that bug the hell out of me, fake games, fake best NY players list.

If you paid to see Emilys game and felt ripped off, I could understand. Taking it upon yourself to dig up some old exhibition match and bash the players in it, completely different.

Some of us are excited about the show, can't you just respect that and let it go? We all know you don't like it, we get that. Even Siskel and Ebert trash movies and move on, why cant you?
 
What the hell happened to Steinway? I use to stop by for their wed night open event and the place would be packed. This past Wednesday there might have been 15 players in the event, none of whom i'd consider open players. There were no spectators just the locals who come in to play chess etc. WTH?

PS- The show was way better than i expected with way better acting.
 
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What the hell happened to Steinway? I use to stop by for their wed night open event and the place would be packed. This past Wednesday there might have been 15 players in the event, none of whom i'd consider open players. There were no spectators just the locals who come in to play chess etc. WTH?

PS- The show was way better than i expected with way better acting.

The Wed tournament is for A players and below now. No open/pro. But the Wed tournament is normally a smaller turnout.
 
Ok...just watched episode one. Good show, about as good as you could expect from the premise. The top 5 stuff is just a vehicle to provide an arc for the narrative. You could have a tournament or the road to a tournament be the arc, but that might be a bit much to hold the general viewing audience throughout the season. I wish they had more pros than just Mike Dechaine and Jennifer Barretta, but there it is. I think if anything, there's maybe TOO MUCH pool for the non-pool playing audience. I mean, think about it. The Hustler had maybe 10 minutes of actual pool footage in the whole movie. The back story and character development is what got it Oscar nominations. Unless you're a hard core pool fanatic, pool action starts to get old fast. I like the way it's presented and actually like the characters. It could have been WAY too cheesy, but resisted the temptation. I'll keep watching, and hope it catches on. Then they can add characters/tweek it to make it work better.

Still holding out hope for a Greenleaf biopic...that would be epic.
 
The Wed tournament is for A players and below now. No open/pro. But the Wed tournament is normally a smaller turnout.

I have only gone on Wed night so my comparison is apples to apples. I guess without the better players there, it just kills the turnout in both players and spectators. Spectators even more- who had gone there to watch stellar play. I dont know why they would change things when they have a handicapped tournament on Monday night open to the lesser players.

Sure looks like they shot themselves in the foot and diminished their reputation. It was "We are New York, come one come all, we will take on anyone" Now It's just another ho-hum pool room. IMHO of course.
 
It's a TV SHOW...it has to be neither factual nor real! Let it go...:D The majority of us here are just happy to have a show on tv about pool, without feeling the need to really criticize it.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

It was honestly better than I was expecting. Problem is I don't see who their target audience is. Regular joe people that don't already care about pool will not be intrigued by this show at all, and actual pool players should easily see how bs everything is. So who's left to watch? I mean some pool players will still watch it (I might), but is that niche market enough to keep the show on the air for more than a few episodes? Prob not...
 
It's a TV SHOW...it has to be neither factual nor real! Let it go...:D The majority of us here are just happy to have a show on tv about pool, without feeling the need to really criticize it.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

You are correct and they don't require a mission statement or even a goal. It is just a TV show and entertainment.
But sometimes TV can be more and actually accomplish something. I guess that is what most were hoping for. The show is pretty much mindless nothing so far and that is a shame. They actually made it to TV and this is what they choose to do.

I believe the pool room itself needs to be the focus and not so much these few individuals. I want to know more about the pool room, the business and it owners. The day to day operation. This is what all the other successful reality shows do, it is a proven formula.

We all love Shark tank and the shows about the restaurants and pawn shops. Everyone loves the entrepreneur shows. I would love to see how they run their pool room and hear about the owners. I think almost any pool player would fine it more compelling then these goofballs playing fake pool games.
 
You are correct and they don't require a mission statement or even a goal. It is just a TV show and entertainment.
But sometimes TV can be more and actually accomplish something. I guess that is what most were hoping for. The show is pretty much mindless nothing so far and that is a shame. They actually made it to TV and this is what they choose to do.

I believe the pool room itself needs to be the focus and not so much these few individuals. I want to know more about the pool room, the business and it owners. The day to day operation. This is what all the other successful reality shows do, it is a proven formula.

We all love Shark tank and the shows about the restaurants and pawn shops. Everyone loves the entrepreneur shows. I would love to see how they run their pool room and hear about the owners. I think almost any pool player would fine it more compelling then these goofballs playing fake pool games.

You know, I think you're on to something here...a view of the pool world from the vantage point of a pool room owner would actually be quite compelling for a larger audience...you can still have all the action you want, with a constant revolving cast of characters, any drama you want to portray, a picture of life in Queens NY from the other side of the bar, so to speak. Plus you've got a Great Big Greek family running the place that can play into it, too. And there's always Earl, on the 10 footer handing out life lessons.

The good news is that this is only the first of three TV projects dealing with pool in the works. (reality show about pool being scouted in Atlanta, and the Earl and Dennis Hatch thing) Although, I guess that with us AZB'ers, you could televise the U.S. Open shot by shot 24/7 on ESPN with free ice cream to boot, and we'd complain that we'd rather see 1 pocket....:embarrassed2:
 
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The good news is that this is only the first of three TV projects dealing with pool in the works. (reality show about pool being scouted in Atlanta, and the Earl and Dennis Hatch thing) Although, I guess that with us AZB'ers, you could televise the U.S. Open shot by shot 24/7 on ESPN with free ice cream to boot, and we'd complain that we'd rather see 1 pocket....:embarrassed2:[/QUOTE]

I sure wouldn't complain, worst part would be that the ice cream would have to be
lactaid and sugar free, dam'n
 
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