With all the discussion focusing on getting better TV coverage lately, I started thinking: given a decent sized budget and creative control, what type of program would you create?
Here is my idea, what is yours?
My goal would be to get people interested in watching that normally do not watch pool on TV. The idea is to increase viewers and hopefully, eventually, interest in the game. I agree with other posters that gambling and pool’s more colorful characters should be emphasized. So, I would mix pool with reality TV. Really.
Get a group of top players, say about 10. Have them all start with a sizable stake, say $25k. Now, let pool hustlers be pool hustlers. The players are to match up until only one remains with the cash. Let the players match themselves up. This would give a good mix of games and spots and tons of wolfing and entertaining banter to film. The match up and play would take place over a couple of weeks providing enough material for a whole season of entertaining TV. If the players are not matching up and busting each other, the host can step in and get things moving. In the end there must be just one player with all the dough.
By filming not only the play, but also the negotiations there would be plenty of material for a competent editor to put together a show that is very entertaining for non-players. The interviews and hearing the players trash each other would be fun.
The players would pick there own games when they match-up. This would be interesting because we would get more than just 9 ball. Most people have never heard of banks or one-pocket and seeing these game would introduce something entirely new to an audience that thinks it already know the rules to pool. While you may think these games would not play well on TV, remember, we are creating entertainment, not true sports coverage. The games can be easily edited and speed up to make them more interesting. After all, do you really thing they show every hand from the WPT final table?
I am not sure I am explaining my idea very well, but hopefully you get the general idea. I really do think something like this would be popular.
Here is my idea, what is yours?
My goal would be to get people interested in watching that normally do not watch pool on TV. The idea is to increase viewers and hopefully, eventually, interest in the game. I agree with other posters that gambling and pool’s more colorful characters should be emphasized. So, I would mix pool with reality TV. Really.
Get a group of top players, say about 10. Have them all start with a sizable stake, say $25k. Now, let pool hustlers be pool hustlers. The players are to match up until only one remains with the cash. Let the players match themselves up. This would give a good mix of games and spots and tons of wolfing and entertaining banter to film. The match up and play would take place over a couple of weeks providing enough material for a whole season of entertaining TV. If the players are not matching up and busting each other, the host can step in and get things moving. In the end there must be just one player with all the dough.
By filming not only the play, but also the negotiations there would be plenty of material for a competent editor to put together a show that is very entertaining for non-players. The interviews and hearing the players trash each other would be fun.
The players would pick there own games when they match-up. This would be interesting because we would get more than just 9 ball. Most people have never heard of banks or one-pocket and seeing these game would introduce something entirely new to an audience that thinks it already know the rules to pool. While you may think these games would not play well on TV, remember, we are creating entertainment, not true sports coverage. The games can be easily edited and speed up to make them more interesting. After all, do you really thing they show every hand from the WPT final table?
I am not sure I am explaining my idea very well, but hopefully you get the general idea. I really do think something like this would be popular.
