Let me state upfront that I desperately want The Hustlers to succeed. But, for billiards players, the new reality series can be a frustrating television show to watch.  Some of the editing is sloppy, such as showing the balls in 9-ball getting pocketed out of order. Some of the games feel staged, though cast member and series tub-thumper Michael “Mikey Frost” Farley swears that is not the case. And, of course, most irksome and preposterous is The List, a ranking at Steinway Billiards of the top five players in New York, which provides the central plot thread to the series (as characters try to move up the List), but is otherwise pure fantasy, with top amateur player Gary O’Callaghan holding the coveted top spot.

But, guess what? The Hustlers was not produced for a viewing audience of pool players. It was produced for a mainstream, hopefully very large, audience that probably knows only nominally more about competitive billiards than it does about pawnbroking. Yet, Pawn Stars, the History Channel’s runaway reality success story, has commanded a viewing audience of 7 million people, which is a helluva lot more people than work in the country’s 10,000 pawn stores. So, the real question is not how verisimilar The Hustlers is to pool but how well The Hustlers works as reality television entertainment.

As I recently wrote in my blog post “Billiards Reality Shows Beware,” reality television has not been kind to billiards, though the sport has always seemed ripe for the genre. Fortunately, The Hustlers, which premiered on May 22, 2015, has the right backing behind it, starting with the show’s creators, Pilgrim Studios, the production house behind Street Outlaws and Fast N’ Loud, two popular cable shows that have experienced viewer levels of 3 million and 2.5 million, respectively. Then, there is TruTV, the cable network airing The Hustlers. Approximately 89.7 million American households receive TruTV, a network known for its original reality programming. Finally, two of the show’s cast members are Mike Dechaine and Jennifer Barretta (the star of 9-Ball), both nationally ranked and recognized billiards professionals, who should lend an aura of authenticity to the series. Talk about giving The Hustlers the edge.

Emily Duddy

The series, which is largely filmed on location at Steinway Café & Billiards in Queens, NY, revolves around a 13-member cast of pool players (of varying abilities) and pool hall denizens. Most of the players are competing either to maintain their spot on, or move up, the aforementioned List, which is managed by William Finnegan, the “Godfather of Steinway Billiards,” a venue he adoringly refers to as “pool heaven” and “my second home.” In addition, two of the players, Mr. Dechaine and Jarrod Clowery, are transplants down from Boston, who have come to hustle (or, in the words of Mr. Finnegan, “rob the place”).

Having watched the first two episodes, I think The Hustlers gets several things right regarding the game of pool. First, the series introduces viewers to a number of variations of billiards (e.g., 9-ball, Scotch doubles) and to a myriad of (hustling) negotiation tactics to gain an edge over an opponent, ranging from determining who breaks and racks to deciding how many games to cede or which ball to “give.” Second, the series chalkboards key shots with the players providing voice-over commentary on how to hit a ball with English, how to position a lead, and/or how to set up a game-winning combo. For the untrained viewer, who hopefully comprises the bulks of the audience, these quick critiques reveal the less flashy and far more strategic side of billiards. And third, the series shows some great pool-playing, including not only the obvious telegenic masse and jump shots, but also multi-ball runs, combinations, and safeties.

My concern, however, is about the more fundamental staples of good reality television: interesting characters; small, unexpected moments of intimacy; and, of course, real, emotional conflict. And on this scorecard, The Hustlers is showing some early signs of struggling.

“The Godfather of Steinway Billiards” William Finnegan

Granted I’ve only watched the first two episodes, but the character development is so far lackluster. The most interesting character is Mr. Finnegan, who is boisterous, comical, and self-aware. He’s a classic trash-talker, who feeds off the energy of the crowd. As his opponent Emily Duddy says in the first episode, “The only way Finnegan can beat me is if he gets under my skin.” Unfortunately, the producers sink to some cheap scripting tactics by trying to position Mr. Finnegan as an unrepentant sexist, who says, “Is [Emily] a star? Yes, in the kitchen,” and “You can walk around in a bikini. You still won’t win.” These lines do little to create authentic conflict.

Mr. Dechaine is also an enjoyable character. He is slick, unflappable, and conniving. He most personifies the hustler ethos, the ability to “take any advantage, that’s what the hustle is all about.” According to Kickin’ Chicken on the AZ Billiards Forum, “Mike stole the show thus far with him being himself, playing world class speed with total comfort on how to make the right games.” Mr. Dechaine is one of the top players in the country, so his hustle tends to revolve around giving away the minimum amount. That said, the level of adulation the other players show to Mr. Dechaine, endlessly repeating that he’s a top player, not only undermines Mr. Dechaine’s stated goal to “get on the List and win a lot of money,” but also reminds viewers that the List is simply a plot device.

At the other end of the spectrum, the least enjoyable and least interesting characters are “The Skateboard Kid” Ross Lacy, a henpecked twenty-something, who lives with his girlfriend Amy Tabarovsky, the resident witch, who bullyrags Ross into playing games, thereby earning the duo the self-proclaimed “single most obnoxious couple ever” moniker. Perhaps, the producers are trying to position her as a green baize Omarosa, but currently she lacks even a scintilla of the cleverness of the famous villainess from The Apprentice.

Like the majority of billiards aficionados, I am dying for The Hustlers to succeed. And, while I’m critical of aspects of the show, I’m also excited to watch the rest of the series and to hear how it inspires others.

In closing, I wanted to share this AZ Billiards Forum message from Macguy, entitled “A confession regarding The Hustlers”:

I was one of the first out of the box who didn’t really like the first few shows. It has gotten better with episodes 3&4, much better. Here’s the thing, I don’t play that much anymore other than at home once in a while. ..Well the last few nights I had the urge to go out and play and last night I did go to the pool room. It is not a great pool room with poor lighting but it is only 10 minutes away. I had fun and even got into a cheap ring game for a few hours. I know it is because of watching The Hustlers show I felt like going out and playing. I can’t believe I am that unique, I wonder if it has had the same effect on anyone else.