an honest review of the hustlers

[macguy]

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

They gin it up constantly. How many times can we hear about Phils wife's cancer or what his kids are doing. They always focus on players who have survived cancer or their father just died as they play the tournament.

One player I believe has had a transplant and they always talk about him when he is playing. Golf loved stories about the players private lives.

I am not sure but I think the player in the second episode was hurt in the Boston bombing. They really missed out on that if he is the guy. They could have had him on every news show, cnn, msnbc and so no and promoted the show.

 

[jimmyg]

Where's the drama in golf?

You want drama? I'll give you drama!

Underdog wins; fan favorite wins; fan favorite loses; underdog almost wins; fan favorite almost wins; great shot to win; easy shot to win missed; hole in one; amazing shot; amazing miss; close match; best score ever; worse score ever......it's the game, was always the game, and always will be the GAME. Players come and go, the game lives on.

J

 

[TheLoneSilencer]

I'll leave it for what it is - an embarrassingly bad "unreality" show that has nothing to do with pool.

pj
chgo

We actually agree on something. I watched most of each episode & it is absolutely beyond pathetic.

 

[Cardigan Kid]

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.

Yes, they can absolutely build on the foundation. Drop the list as it is now and Maybe create a money count in winnings and see who is the top hustler at the end of the season. Take the cameras to a major tour stop with all the characters entering. Follow dechaine to mosconi cup when he makes the team this year. Lots of avenues and possibilities to branch out to something more.

 

[one stroke]

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

You obviously don't watch much golf ,, never the less it's stupid for people to compare pool to golf , they have absolutely nothing in common




1

 

[chefjeff]

A friend calls this weekend and tells me to tune to TRU. I asked him, "What's on?" He says that I've gotta watch this pool show.

I tried to talk to him about it, but he wanted to hang up to finish watching the show.


That reminds me of what the farmer said when his cow died: "She never did that before."



Jeff Livingston

 

[Tramp Steamer]

A friend calls this weekend and tells me to tune to TRU. I asked him, "What's on?" He says that I've gotta watch this pool show.
I tried to talk to him about it, but he wanted to hang up to finish watching the show.
That reminds me of what the farmer said when his cow died: "She never did that before."
Jeff Livingston

But, don't forget Jeff. As every good farmer knows, you can't beat a good sheep. :wink:

 

[nateobot]

I enjoyed it. Better than half the mind numbing shit i watch on tv. When do we get to see mikey play?

 

[jimmyg]

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

That would certainly help, but the APA was founded in 1979 and pool was already in it's heyday long before then. In the fifties and sixties, even before "The Hustler", in many parts of NYC you could barely walk a block or two without seeing a pool room, which brings up some interesting questions about the evolution of a "product's" popularity.

So, the questions are begging to be asked; Did the movies and pool rooms simply follow pool's popularity and not create it? Or did the movies merely stimulate a temporary resurgence of an already popular pastime on it's down slope?

And lastly, if the movies were poorly made and financed, unadvertised, "C" grade movies without star quality casts and not based on well written novels, would a resurgence have even occurred? I submit not.

J

 

[one stroke]

That would certainly help, but the APA was founded in 1979 and pool was already in it's heyday long before then. In the fifties and sixties, even before "The Hustler", in many parts of NYC you could barely walk a block or two without seeing a pool room, which brings up some interesting questions about the evolution of a "product's" popularity.

So, the questions are begging to be asked; Did the movies and pool rooms simply follow pool's popularity and not create it? Or did the movies merely stimulate a temporary resurgence of an already popular pastime on it's down slope?

And lastly, if the movies were poorly made and financed, unadvertised, "C" grade movies without star quality casts and not based on well written novels, would a resurgence have even occurred? I submit not.

J

Yes but it took them a few yrs to really start digging in and then came Tap ,, the leagues brought in so many players because it boasted that any skill level could be ,, this was a far cry from the dog eat dog world of pool before then ,, and the handicap system made it so you would have to get rid of players and find new players ,

The players who never played became a hot commodity and every team captian then became a sales person for the league ,, a truly brilliant concept ,,
I could not even count how many new players I plucked off of bar stools to play not to mention the leages I started ,, and there were thousands of people just like me

Now 90% of those places are gone ,, it's all about numbers ROI per square foot ,,pool simply does not generated enough cash ,, the ones now have all the teams from the ones that failed and even some of those are still struggling ,
So it's hard to imagin things changing anytime soon

1

 

[drhanson]

I absolutely despise all reality TV but I forced myself to watch this and I'll attempt to watch the remaining episodes. I really liked Mike's performance, he did well. I didn't like the poor sportsmanship at all, and I hope that new players don't emulate that bad behavior. Aside from that, I think almost any exposure to the game is good. In balance I think its a plus.

 

[jhanso18]

THIS IS NOT A SHOW FOR POOL ENTHUSIASTS.

It is is a show for the masses. I still thuroughly enjoyed it. It's cheesy, and not at all a representation of real pool, or even real hustling. It is however an enjoyable show, for a reality TV show. It feels staged and fake, but it doesn't bug me, because all reality TV is staged and fake. I will watch every episode, via DVR of course.

It does do a few things I like though. It does bring pool into a new light. It does have two top American players. It also has a kind of swagger to the show. It makes me want to go visit steinway and take a shot at these guys. Not saying I can beat any of them, but it gives that pointed kinda of feel. That "We're the best and there's nothing anyone can do about it" kinda of feel. Makes me want to play them.

I would compare this with my other favorite hobbie's hottest TV show. Street Outlaws. If you've ever raced, or street raced, you know the show is FAKE as fake can get. It doesn't matter because people tune in by the MILLIONS. They're not even illegally racing. They are closing roads with permits, and renting an air port, but that doesn't stop people from loving the fake out laws. I would guess just as many people watch that hate it, as like it. It's relatable. It relates to the enthusiast enough to watch, and to the lamen for the same reason.

The cars from Street Outlaws really are fast, just like the players from Hustlers, are really good/decent players. Probably, real pool hall junkies like the rest of us. The show has to be fake, because what I love about pool doesn't sell to the masses. If this means I will see even an extra 10 guys walk into my pool hall, or 10,000 people nation wide, pick up a cue that might not have other wise, I would call this show a HUGE success for pool.

 

[philly]

I watched the first episode. I liked it even though some of the woofing was over the top. But has anyone here that has ever hung out in poolrooms not known a guy like Finnegan? Things can be slow and a guy like that comes in and gets things moving. Yes there's a time and a place for all that and pool rooms are more "genteel" now but I like some of the characters that frequent the rooms. They're colorful. I always say that in pool everyone is an original and I like that. Back to the show. I thought they over edited the nine ball games. I would have liked to seen the camera stay with the player for at least a few shots like it was a stream. All in all, I enjoyed it and will continue to watch it as I can't get enough of the pool culture. Good or bad.

 

[ctyhntr]

To emphasize Finnegan's role as the 'Godfather, maybe the show should have him pose with the cat, like the supervillian from the James Bond films.

I can literally see the scene in my mind. Finnegan is at home. Phone rings, and he picks it up, while absently petting his cat. Mike Dechaine is on the line, and they're talking about coming back down on Friday to cook some fish;hustling euphemism. Finnegan's wife asks, are we having company for dinner? Finnegan quips 'Nah, this Bacalao is only at Steinway'.

I watched the first episode. I liked it even though some of the woofing was over the top. But has anyone here that has ever hung out in poolrooms not known a guy like Finnegan? Things can be slow and a guy like that comes in and gets things moving. Yes there's a time and a place for all that and pool rooms are more "genteel" now but I like some of the characters that frequent the rooms. They're colorful. I always say that in pool everyone is an original and I like that. Back to the show. I thought they over edited the nine ball games. I would have liked to seen the camera stay with the player for at least a few shots like it was a stream. All in all, I enjoyed it and will continue to watch it as I can't get enough of the pool culture. Good or bad.

 

[PINKLADY]

stupid question - why are 50+/- AZBers doing the jobs of the promoters on a #1 pool site/forum?

wasn't this supposed to have originally aired back approx MAY 10? the whole season's been apparently filmed. there's been plenty of time for them to clean it up.

the only ones i see doing the promoters' jobs, are MikeyFrost & Smiley. i hope they are getting paid for said. cause we still can't view it & want to support it.

a response to their 15 threads, from TruTV, would be appropriate. but then again, it's pool....

 

[denzilla171]

It was entertaining and better than I expected. Best of all, after the show ended. My 12 year old wanted to play some pool. He normally just wants me to go. So he can play video games on the TV.

Larry

And there you have it... the show is a success.

 

[CaptainHook]

The Irish character backed out of a handshake deal on the game with Mike D. That was just wrong, he agreed to the game and then decided he didn't like it. Not a very good gabmler or player.:boring2:

 

[hang-the-9]

THIS IS NOT A SHOW FOR POOL ENTHUSIASTS.

It is is a show for the masses. I still thuroughly enjoyed it. It's cheesy, and not at all a representation of real pool, or even real hustling. It is however an enjoyable show, for a reality TV show. It feels staged and fake, but it doesn't bug me, because all reality TV is staged and fake. I will watch every episode, via DVR of course.
-snip-

And there is where the thing is a total miss for me. I don't like the fake setup "reality" shows where they tell them how to act, what to say, setup situations for them, and I don't like a pool show that is light on actual pool and cuts in and out of shots playing a rack in random order.

So instead of having half of a good thing, for me it's no good things. Sad thing is that I'll probably watch more of the show anyway because I'm sure the people in the show are just happy to be in the show and sitting though an hour of silliness is not the worst thing I can do to help them out.

 

[hang-the-9]

I watched the first episode. I liked it even though some of the woofing was over the top. But has anyone here that has ever hung out in poolrooms not known a guy like Finnegan? Things can be slow and a guy like that comes in and gets things moving. Yes there's a time and a place for all that and pool rooms are more "genteel" now but I like some of the characters that frequent the rooms. They're colorful. I always say that in pool everyone is an original and I like that. Back to the show. I thought they over edited the nine ball games. I would have liked to seen the camera stay with the player for at least a few shots like it was a stream. All in all, I enjoyed it and will continue to watch it as I can't get enough of the pool culture. Good or bad.

If a guy like that walked into my regular pool room, the only thing he'd get moving is his butt out of there. The room is usually filled with kids, woman, casual players, retired folks, charity events, none of them will fit in there acting the way they do on the show.

 

[macguy]

And there is where the thing is a total miss for me. I don't like the fake setup "reality" shows where they tell them how to act, what to say, setup situations for them, and I don't like a pool show that is light on actual pool and cuts in and out of shots playing a rack in random order.

So instead of having half of a good thing, for me it's no good things. Sad thing is that I'll probably watch more of the show anyway because I'm sure the people in the show are just happy to be in the show and sitting though an hour of silliness is not the worst thing I can do to help them out.

I re-watched it on demand and did some going back and stopping the picture. I am not so sure some of the shooting has not been altered. I see at least once where the balls move to a different position as the conversation continues. It would seem it had been edited for effect and the conversation may even have been done as a voice over.