OMG this show was sooooo painful to watch.
the hustlers
- Thread starter billf59
- Start date
Face it, this show will expose more new faces to the game than The Hustler or TCOM. Like it or not..... Oscars only get you so many eyeballs in the theatre, on DVDs and PPV. Reality TV reaches far more every day people. Embrace this or just kiss pool good bye.
First of all I'm glad to see a Pool reality show that finally made it to TV. There have been at least six other attempts at this in the last two years.
I liked the show, warts and all! The casting is good with interesting characters who are well defined. The production qualities are very good and it is well edited, switching back and forth from live action to sound bites by the players.
Finnegan is terrific as the man in charge. Dechaine is perfect at just being himself. I also like Gary, the hot headed Irishman, and Jen Baretta and Emily Duddy handle their roles equally well. Ross and his self centered girlfriend Amy are an interesting couple as well. The dialogue comes off as not too contrived and the pre-match handicapping is handled well and is clearly explained. I also like the way players describe a difficult shot and the graphics that are shown with the explanation.
I know that the "ladder" to the top is an added gimmick, but it makes the match ups a little more appealing than just playing for money. We all know that Jayson Shaw is the man in New York, but so what. The players they pick can all play pool good enough to be compelling.
I really enjoyed how Mike and Jarrod came off as the out of town hustlers, which they truly are. What makes this show work imo, is that it really has that touch of reality to it. The matching up process makes that all very clear. The conversation is not much different than what you would see in a typical action room. I also enjoyed hearing each players attitude about how to match up and what constitutes a good game for each of them.
All in all, I think it's good for pool (and very good for Steinway - a sixty minute commercial!) and much better than some of the ill fated movies that we've had to endure over the last decade or so. I hope it lasts for a full season and hopefully beyond.
I don't know who produced this show but they have my vote! :thumbup2:
I liked the show, warts and all! The casting is good with interesting characters who are well defined. The production qualities are very good and it is well edited, switching back and forth from live action to sound bites by the players.
Finnegan is terrific as the man in charge. Dechaine is perfect at just being himself. I also like Gary, the hot headed Irishman, and Jen Baretta and Emily Duddy handle their roles equally well. Ross and his self centered girlfriend Amy are an interesting couple as well. The dialogue comes off as not too contrived and the pre-match handicapping is handled well and is clearly explained. I also like the way players describe a difficult shot and the graphics that are shown with the explanation.
I know that the "ladder" to the top is an added gimmick, but it makes the match ups a little more appealing than just playing for money. We all know that Jayson Shaw is the man in New York, but so what. The players they pick can all play pool good enough to be compelling.
I really enjoyed how Mike and Jarrod came off as the out of town hustlers, which they truly are. What makes this show work imo, is that it really has that touch of reality to it. The matching up process makes that all very clear. The conversation is not much different than what you would see in a typical action room. I also enjoyed hearing each players attitude about how to match up and what constitutes a good game for each of them.
All in all, I think it's good for pool (and very good for Steinway - a sixty minute commercial!) and much better than some of the ill fated movies that we've had to endure over the last decade or so. I hope it lasts for a full season and hopefully beyond.
I don't know who produced this show but they have my vote! :thumbup2:
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I agree with your review 100%. I was looking forward to another horrorible try at a pool tv show, and got supprised. We all know that this kind of show is going to be scripted, but this one was/is very close to what goes on in an action room or bar. IMO there are three kind of billiard room or action bar. Perhaps some that didn't like it because they have never been in a true action place. Like Jay said above, the show had a lot of REAL in it. I think the best AZB'ers can do to help keep it on is keep putting it on Facebook and the other social media. Maybe someone can tell us how to look up the #'s watch for the show each week. Johnnyt
Thank you!
So now I'm watchin Ep2, and I'm loving it!
Do I want to see higher stakes? Sure. Do I want to see Shane and Dennis? Sure. Do I want to see DCC-like woofing? I already get a healthy dose annually!
But so far, this show is good. It can reach the everyday league player and beyond. Hard core pool people like AZ, ... we don't need to be "reached." We're already in. So what if it's not reality?
Freddie <~~~ living in non-reality
Precisely, as Cornerman said hardcore players don't need to be reached, we're already in. In a world with all the entertainment that technology brings, anything that pumps life into this game we all love is a good thing.
I agree with Jays assessment with a couple thoughts. To those that have already 'disliked' it remember that when Seinfeld first went on the air it did not do well at all. With that in mind I thought it was entertaining, if they can develop a long term show on this remains to be seen. At least they were playing on a 9 ft. table and it looked to have some fairly tight pockets as well. What's not to like about Jennifer, Emily and Amy? The guys even acted pretty darn well. She is a great looking women and was very comfortable as an actress. Lots of pluses as far as I am concerned and if you want to pick it apart just look closely at all the other nonsense that is on TV. Most of all of the drama reality shows are all based or pure BS nothing more or less.
I'd like to see them start to incorporate leagues into this show if possible since they are the life blood of pool in this era. There certainly is lots of drama in leagues! I'll continue to watch it to support pool and hope the writers, actors and staff can manage to keep it going
I'd like to see them start to incorporate leagues into this show if possible since they are the life blood of pool in this era. There certainly is lots of drama in leagues! I'll continue to watch it to support pool and hope the writers, actors and staff can manage to keep it going
Do we really care if see new people blowing chalk, practicing pop breaks, and using BK2 butts as the basis of their playing cues?
Last night was Ep 2 and touted as the premier, right?
I see bits of Ep 1 on TruTV and Youtube and a funky "it's free, but give me your credit card" to see the full Ep 1. I didn't see Ep 1 on TruTV app on Xfinity.
Anyone know a link to the full Ep 1? Did I just miss it on the TruTV App?
Freddie <~~~ or could do a search on AZ
I see bits of Ep 1 on TruTV and Youtube and a funky "it's free, but give me your credit card" to see the full Ep 1. I didn't see Ep 1 on TruTV app on Xfinity.
Anyone know a link to the full Ep 1? Did I just miss it on the TruTV App?
Freddie <~~~ or could do a search on AZ
Ditto to your ditto
Yeah we needed permission from the production company to do a decent interview with Mike D so they let Mike H preview an episode beforehand so he would " know what he was talking about " during the interview. I thought it was pretty cool that they did that.
im not a big fan on reality TV in the first place, as in, ive never actually followed a reality series throughout an entire season. but here is my take from watching the 1st episode (didnt have time to watch the 2nd)
i think the production is good, cameras, the game with visual diagrams on the table were cool, good cast, chicks are definitely hot.
it seems like an above average show in this respect. ive seen some shit reality shows, that were not this well made.
as far as content, acting, interest etc. i think the acting is decent, on par with most other reality shows. reality shows arent exactly known for their oscar winning performances.
im a pool player so this is my take/bias, i found the 'matches' to fall short. i felt it was kind of boring, not really that intense. like the matches are more of a 'hurry up' kind of a thing. i think they shouldnt edit the matches so much, allow the camera to role for a bit to see the flow of the game. even with the time restraints, i dont think they should chop up some of the these matches too much.
all in all i give it a solid B, ill probably watch ep 2 see what happens. its hard for me to gauge what a non pool playing viewer is thinking though. see what happens.
i think the production is good, cameras, the game with visual diagrams on the table were cool, good cast, chicks are definitely hot.
it seems like an above average show in this respect. ive seen some shit reality shows, that were not this well made.
as far as content, acting, interest etc. i think the acting is decent, on par with most other reality shows. reality shows arent exactly known for their oscar winning performances.
im a pool player so this is my take/bias, i found the 'matches' to fall short. i felt it was kind of boring, not really that intense. like the matches are more of a 'hurry up' kind of a thing. i think they shouldnt edit the matches so much, allow the camera to role for a bit to see the flow of the game. even with the time restraints, i dont think they should chop up some of the these matches too much.
all in all i give it a solid B, ill probably watch ep 2 see what happens. its hard for me to gauge what a non pool playing viewer is thinking though. see what happens.
Cat in the trees or on the table what's the difference ,, it's entretainment either way just like the other 400 Chanel's had in the same time slot
It's good that some of these players make some money because only 1 of them can make money in the real pool world by playing
The inherited problems with pool won't get fixed by a show or 10 shows , infact now that I think about instead of going to the pool room to watch the action , I'll just stay home and watch it
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