Ronnie O'Sullivan's American Hustle (2017– ) User Reviews

Could of been better

[jamdoodle · 8/10 · 13 February 2017]

Just like to say firstly that I like the show but... it could of been so much better. The subject matter is good and the idea to take Ronnie to the land of Pool is a great one due to his undoubted talent in all forms of the green and blue baize. The problem was that is seemed a little too rushed due to the (less than an hour) format they had to squeeze the programme into. The places and factories they visited are interesting to the viewer but leaves you wanting more from the visit and more importantly from the Ronnie who was clearly enjoying himself.

Secondly as the whole point of the show was to play pool and hustle. The time where he is actually doing this, the viewer is left with only short out of sequence shots of both Ronnie and his opposition at the table. The viewer is left with no idea of how the games went without being told the out come by the voice over guy. As the balls on the table and the sequence in which they where potted was all over the place!

Again I know they couldn't spend the time showing a full game but maybe if a second series is possible, consideration should be made to this issue.

OK-ish travelogue but Ronnie's not a presenter

[loveagoodstory · 3/10 · 26 February 2017]

Ronnie's snooker pedigree and record are both exemplary and he's nearly always a good interview in any tournament he's playing in. Normally when he's talking, it's about himself or the game of snooker and he's got plenty to say on both.

This programme is a travelogue, with each episode taking him to a different U.S. city that they can both explore and play pool in, the latter for the hustle of the title.

Something like half of the episode is Ronnie playing pool, with a matches in local clubs being compressed into a few minutes. That means you don't get much Ronnie-play to watch, with none of the drama of a normal match being allowed to build.

The rest of the episode is a tour of some highlights of the city, sometimes including things relevant to pool such as a factory or supplier. Unfortunately, Ronnie has little to say and when he does it's just fairly inane lad chitchat. His co-host does his best to keep the situation alive but sadly Ronnie ain't no presenter. At times, he comes across as bored with what's in front of him, like a 20-y.o. on holiday with his girlfriend, dutifully doing the sightseeing excursion while eyeing up the nearest pub.

Watch it if you're a thorough Ronnie fan or you're interested in the subject matter. Otherwise don't expect it to draw you in - Ronnie might as well not be there for large parts of it, bless him.

Disappoint, sadly

[info-40907 · 2/10 · 7 September 2023]

I love pool and American history, this show could have provided insight into both but sadly not.

The editors need to realise that pool players study a table, we watch the break, observe positions and work angles. During a set of games against the Scorpion, potted balls were retailed, angles and ball positioned changed, all under the premise of the correct sequence, bad editing. I'd also swear that the cue went in on the first break, but heavily edited.

The American history wasn't good. That is apart from the visit to the civil rights museum, the only good part of the show.

Maybe the next episode makes up for the one I've just watched, if it does, I'll edit this review.

A poor combination of ideas

[finkelman · 2/10 · 21 February 2019]

Unfortunately, this show was ill-conceived. While the premise sounds like it has potential, it simply couldnt be executed to satisfy the two audiences it seems to target: Pool players and history buffs.

For those interested in pool/billiards, they will be disappointed. While Ronnie does play some pool, the games are edited down to just a couple minutes. Even when talking to legends of the sport, they spend no time with them. They get a couple sound bites out of them, but there is no real dialogue. Pool players want to see the games, the techniques and decision making used. None of that is here.

Then there is talk of hustling, which Ronnie does none of. While some pool players in the US will know who Ronnie is, most wouldnt. Even though he says he doesnt, I dont believe for a fraction of a second that Ronnie doesnt know how to hustle. That being said, it would be hard with a camera crew. Additionally, I assume this is a family program, so I doubt the History Channel wants to promote gambling. So why even push that angle, the little that they do?

Then there is the history. They go to various cities and see historic places. They spend so little time at each place, that there is no value. Add in the fact Ronnie doesnt show any real personality, that the co-presenter does most of the talking.

SImply put, you cant condense all the subject matter people would want into such a short show. That coupled with a less than interesting host, you are left with a show that cant hold anyone's interest.