A pool series that would REALLY take off..

Russ Chewning

Russ Chewning

Short Bus Russ - C player
Silver Member
I posted part of this on another thread, but here is what I think would work.

I personally think what would be most successful would be a series where a top player (as we know them) "masquerades" as an unknown, and goes in to various pool halls and "matches up" with local players, and generally takes home the cash. Hence, they are not "really" unknown to the pool world, but everyone acts like they are for purposes of the filming.

Some sort of running commentary on camera as he plans out his moves, his "hustles", maybe with his backer. Cory would be perfect for this, as he has the "boy next door" look, but he has the stroke to take down the cash. Just set up a few fake matches with another good, or maybe not so good player on camera (with Cory winning most of the time, of course), get some memorable quotes on camera from some of the local "characters", and wah lah.. I really think you have a product.

I mean, how freaking entertaining would it be to see Cory match up with some guy with Cory playing one handed? And seeing the guy hand over his money? And get pissed about it? Seeing him about to quit, and seeing Cory reel him in with some other outrageous spot that the guy can't win with?

People like the idea of using your wits to get the other guy's money. That's what makes poker so popular. People like to gamble. They like to see other people gamble, if the money can be won consistently.

This series would have some staged matches, but poolplayers tend to be natural actors anyways. It goes with the territory. At least within their element of pool, they are good actors. THIS is the format we need. THIS is what will work. This is basically the EXACT formula that made both The Hustler and The Color of Money popular, minus woman drama. That could be worked in to the strip too, but it's not necessary. Look at the motorcycle building shows. They are not about building motorcycles, they are about personal relationships, and interesting situations. The art of building a nice chopper does have some appeal, but it is not why the Teutels are household names.

I mean, has something like this actual been tried? I heard about the Kid Delicious movie/show, whatever. But he's not really the look or the personality that TV is looking for. I want to see some young gun player with some personality "on the road" taking it down week in and week out. I want to see him planning out how to play so and so, to take the most money. Show his human side, too, blah blah, rey rey. Heck, I know a LOT of non pool players who would dig a show like this. It would be like watching a serialized version of The Hustler or Rounders, filmed in some version of today's "reality" format.

Whaddaya think?

Russ
 
Sounds like a really good idea. Heres a pefert name for it Hustlers. Could be kinda like that one show "Cheaters". Also you could through in a "Pimp my Cue" or a "Cue make over" as well. :rolleyes:
 
bnall said:
Sounds like a really good idea. Heres a pefert name for it Hustlers. Could be kinda like that one show "Cheaters". Also you could through in a "Pimp my Cue" or a "Cue make over" as well. :rolleyes:
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So.. Do you think it is really a good idea? Or just pulling my leg? :confused: :D

Russ
 
Russ Chewning said:
So.. Do you think it is really a good idea? Or just pulling my leg? :confused: :D

Russ
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I think it sounds like a good idea. You could even have fights from people getting hustle and all the other B.S. you see now on T.V. :eek:
 
That's a real reality TV show for you!!! I already thought that IPT was going to do something like that...too bad they didn't. I like the ideas, is still really good.....just need a hand camera. Probably will do this and post on youtube.com. Lots of action in Toronto.

Duc.
 
Yeah, perfect! Just the type of production pool needs to change it's stereotype and pull it out of the mud....:rolleyes:


Maybe, if we're lucky, the next golf tournament Tiger will knock out Mickelson with his nine iron to the head while Phil makes his final approach shot to the 18th green!

That would be AWESOME!!! and great for ratings too... screw being a gentleman in a gentleman's game.
 
I remember reading that a very similar show to this already aired last year.

It featured Jeanette Lee, partly disguised, hustling some locals in bars.

It didn't set the world on fire, but the concept has legs if produced well. That's the tricky bit!

Colin
 
i think you are right in a lot of points........people like the personal relationships and the rivalries and trash talking and the gambling and people having the nuts to go all in, and all that in poker. i say bring the top 100 players in the country ( and everyone knows thats a lot of interesting charachters ) let them each have $5000.00 dollars to play with and no one leaves till they lose all their money. no tournaments, just let them gamble however they want, haggle over weight and games and matches and all that until someone comes up winner. all professional pool organizations do is try to give pool some kind of image that makes families want to take their children to a pool hall and it doesnt work. the majority of people attracted to pool are attracted to the gambling and the hustling aspect of it and also the general atmosphere of the pool hall as well. and that is just my opinion.
 
i think they should do something along the lines of the drag racing show PINKS, it would be great to have challenge matches, and negotiating the spot. audition various shortstops from around the country to play top pros, with some creative editing it could be a great show.
 
"The backer"

Better yet. Have the network stake backers to run around the country making games with the players of their(the backers) chosing. At the end of the season, the lead backer takes down the prize money and keep what they made on the road. When you run out of money, you are eliminated.
 
No Pros, Thank you

I just would rather see a production of a real pool room with regular players. The real thing, with average A, B players. And all that goes on in the life of average joes hustlin and playing. Pros can get boring. But some pros would visit the pool hall once in a while just like real life. Matching up.
 
Colin Colenso said:
I remember reading that a very similar show to this already aired last year.

It featured Jeanette Lee, partly disguised, hustling some locals in bars.

It didn't set the world on fire, but the concept has legs if produced well. That's the tricky bit!

Colin
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I think it was Melissa Herndon, or at least there was a similar show that featured her. The show was about hustles and cons in general and one episode was on pool. Herndon was sent in to take down a loud mouth local. IIRC, it came out on AZB that it was all or mostly staged.

Cory
 
Russ Chewning said:
I posted part of this on another thread, but here is what I think would work.
....

Whaddaya think?

Russ
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I don't really think it would work, but then I'm was a skeptic about many things that went over the top when tried. The problem I see with it is it would still only draw pool players, but not any "regular" viewers. I also think a lot of pool players would be turned off. I know I would, I'd rather see 2 good pros duke it out legit, then see a known pro hiding his speed and playing a chump.
Cats. <== thinking of changing his logon to "Doubting Thomas" ;)
 
Colin Colenso said:
I remember reading that a very similar show to this already aired last year.

It featured Jeanette Lee, partly disguised, hustling some locals in bars.

It didn't set the world on fire, but the concept has legs if produced well. That's the tricky bit!

Colin
Click to expand...

The thing she dressed up and hustled locals for was a Sports Illustrated article. I don't think a TV show like this has ever aired.

-Andrew
 
Cory in DC said:
I think it was Melissa Herndon, or at least there was a similar show that featured her. The show was about hustles and cons in general and one episode was on pool. Herndon was sent in to take down a loud mouth local. IIRC, it came out on AZB that it was all or mostly staged.

Cory
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I think it was called the "Take Down." I watched it, because it was about pool, but it was kind of corny. I wondered if the other players asked about the cameras that were around. I don't think it was all taped with hidden cameras(i could be wrong). I did not think it seemed realistic to anyone who hangs out at poolhalls and gambling. Maybe i'm wrong, but it made it seem to easy to match up and win money. Player after player would line up to play and some of these guys seemed like they played real bad. Plus, I remember them talking about how she beat him and all, but she was getting a lot of weight if I remember correctly-they made it seem like she tortured him and he learned his lesson about hustling people. It was made for T.V. but still seemed unrealilistic. However, I would rather watch that then many other shows.
I always thought it would have made for great T.V. if they would have staged a match between McCready and some top pro, like Sigel or Strickland. It seemed that many non pool players watched the COM and would have been interested in watching the real life "hustler," Grady Seasons against a top tournament player. It would be like when Fats played Mosconi. That was a little before my time, but it seemed to have good ratings.
 
I think that the Ideal story line that would work would be more of a Documentary style, kind of like what's done before a heavyweight fight. Build up the players with their history & background then go into the areana. Base the show on local legends, pit the matches for real money gained from sponsors, each player wagers as if it where their own play till one is bust, they get the loot plus bragging rights. Till the next show down, this could chronicle say 20 players from different regions of the U.S. With a climatic battle of all players in Hustlers Tournament for King of the Table. No Known Pros. Just the Local Legends. What do you guy's think about that.

Black Cat :cool:
 
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