The Hustler (American game show)
| The Hustler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Game show |
| Created by | Richard Bacon |
| Directed by | Ryan Polito |
| Presented by | Craig Ferguson |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 19 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | January 4 – September 23, 2021 |
The Hustler is an American television game show that aired on ABC from January 4 to September 23, 2021. Hosted by Craig Ferguson, it follows five contestants who collaborate to build up a cash prize by answering a series of trivia questions. One of the contestants is secretly designated as the Hustler beforehand and given the answers to all the questions. By the end of the game, two of the honest contestants have been eliminated; the other two must correctly choose the Hustler in order to stop them from winning the entire prize.
In April 2022, it was reported that the series was cancelled.
Gameplay
[edit]The game consists of a total of 10 questions, each with four multiple-choice options. All of the questions are themed after the Hustler's personal life and interests. A hint about the Hustler is revealed on each turn, and the question is related to it. For example, if the clue indicates the Hustler is a fan of a particular television show, the question might concern a detail about that show.[1]
The team is given 60 seconds to discuss the question and decide on an answer. The Hustler has been given all the correct answers ahead of time and may use this knowledge as desired throughout the game. If the players do not reach a consensus before time runs out, they are given a few extra seconds to choose a response; a failure to do so forfeits the money for that turn. Each of the first nine questions adds $10,000 to the bank for a correct answer, while the last question doubles the entire total for a correct answer or cuts it in half for an incorrect answer. The team can bank up to $180,000 over the course of the game.[citation needed]
Eliminations
[edit]The Hustler eliminates one honest contestant each after the third and sixth questions. To protect their identity, every contestant is given a ballot with all five names and must mark one of them. The contestants place their ballots in envelopes and give them to the host, who sends them out of the studio via pneumatic tube capsule. The honest contestants' votes are discarded, and the Hustler's choice is eliminated with no winnings and must leave the studio through an exit concealed in a bookcase.[1]
Final vote
[edit]After the tenth question, the three remaining contestants each declare their guess at the Hustler's identity by placing cards with that person's name in front of their chairs. They are then given two minutes to debate the issue and may change their votes as desired during this period.[citation needed]
The true Hustler then stands up. If both of the honest contestants have voted correctly, they split the bank. Otherwise, the Hustler wins the entire bank.[citation needed]
Episodes
[edit]Series overview
[edit]| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 8 | January 4, 2021 | February 25, 2021 | |
| 2 | 11 | June 17, 2021 | September 23, 2021 | |
Season 1 (2021)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title [2][3] | Original air date [2][3] | Prod. code [2] | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "A Puzzle, Wrapped In An Enigma, Tattooed In Mystery" | January 4, 2021 | 105 | 2.08[4] |
| 2 | 2 | "Have You Ever Stabbed a Melon?" | January 7, 2021 | 103 | 3.99[5] |
| 3 | 3 | "The Ultimate Game of Deception" | January 14, 2021 | 101 | 3.29[6] |
| 4 | 4 | "Watch Out for the Quiet Ones" | January 21, 2021 | 104 | 2.81[7] |
| 5 | 5 | "How To Spot a Liar" | January 28, 2021 | 106 | 3.05[8] |
| 6 | 6 | "Sweet Deceit, Salty Insinuations, Spicy Revelations" | February 11, 2021 | 102 | 2.56[9] |
| 7 | 7 | "Every Tic Could Be a Tell" | February 18, 2021 | 108 | 2.67[10] |
| 8 | 8 | "A Little Bit of Finger Pointing" | February 25, 2021 | 107 | 2.66[11] |
Season 2 (2021)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title [2][12] | Original air date [2][12] | Prod. code [2] | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | "The Most Diabolical Game on Television" | June 17, 2021 | 205 | 2.00[13] |
| 10 | 2 | "Next Level Hustle" | June 24, 2021 | 201 | 1.99[14] |
| 11 | 3 | "Pick the Weird Stuff" | July 1, 2021 | 206 | 1.95[15] |
| 12 | 4 | "That's A Lot of Whips" | July 15, 2021 | 204 | 1.86[16] |
| 13 | 5 | "It's Not Shame, It's Just The Game" | July 22, 2021 | 207 | 1.70[17] |
| 14 | 6 | "Teamwork, HUZZAH!" | August 12, 2021 | 203 | 1.60[18] |
| 15 | 7 | "You're Overcompensating!" | August 19, 2021 | 211 | 1.71[19] |
| 16 | 8 | "A Real Imposter At Work" | September 9, 2021 | 208 | 1.29[20] |
| 17 | 9 | "Who's Twitchy Here?" | September 16, 2021 | 202 | 1.59[21] |
| 18 | 10 | "Connive and Strive" | September 23, 2021 | 209 | 1.85[22] |
| 19 | 11 | "A Little of This, A Little of That" | September 23, 2021 | 210 | 1.66[22] |
Production
[edit]The series was picked up by ABC on October 12, 2019, and began production during late fall.[23][24] The series premiered as a sneak preview on January 4, 2021,[25] before moving to its regular timeslot on January 7, 2021.[26] On April 7, 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on June 17, 2021.[27]
On April 1, 2022, it was reported that the series was cancelled after two seasons.[28]
Reception
[edit]Ratings
[edit]Season 1
[edit]| No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) |
Viewers (millions) |
DVR (18–49) |
DVR viewers (millions) |
Total (18–49) |
Total viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "A Puzzle, Wrapped In An Enigma, Tattooed In Mystery" | January 4, 2021 | 0.5 | 2.08[4] | — | 0.71 | — | 2.79[29] |
| 2 | "Have You Ever Stabbed a Melon?" | January 7, 2021 | 0.7 | 3.99[5] | 0.2 | 0.74 | 0.9 | 4.73[29] |
| 3 | "The Ultimate Game of Deception" | January 14, 2021 | 0.6 | 3.29[6] | — | 0.75 | — | 4.04[30] |
| 4 | "Watch Out for the Quiet Ones" | January 21, 2021 | 0.5 | 2.81[7] | — | 0.59 | — | 3.40[31][a] |
| 5 | "How to Spot a Liar" | January 28, 2021 | 0.5 | 3.05[8] | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | "Sweet Deceit, Salty Insinuations, Spicy Revelations" | February 11, 2021 | 0.5 | 2.56[9] | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | "Every Tic Could Be a Tell" | February 18, 2021 | 0.5 | 2.67[10] | — | 0.61 | — | 3.28[32][a] |
| 8 | "A Little Bit of Finger Pointing" | February 25, 2021 | 0.4 | 2.66[11] | — | 0.54 | — | 3.19[33][a] |
Season 2
[edit]| No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) |
Viewers (millions) |
DVR (18–49) |
DVR viewers (millions) |
Total (18–49) |
Total viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Most Diabolical Game on Television" | June 17, 2021 | 0.3 | 2.00[13] | 0.1 | 0.74 | 0.5 | 2.74[13] |
| 2 | "Next Level Hustle" | June 24, 2021 | 0.4 | 1.99[14] | 0.1 | 0.59 | 0.5 | 2.58[14] |
| 3 | "Pick the Weird Stuff" | July 1, 2021 | 0.3 | 1.95[15] | 0.1 | 0.53 | 0.4 | 2.48[15] |
| 4 | "That's A Lot of Whips" | July 15, 2021 | 0.4 | 1.86[16] | 0.1 | 0.46 | 0.4 | 2.32[16] |
| 5 | "It's Not Shame, It's Just The Game" | July 22, 2021 | 0.3 | 1.70[17] | 0.1 | 0.44 | 0.4 | 2.14[17] |
| 6 | "Teamwork, HUZZAH!" | August 12, 2021 | 0.3 | 1.60[18] | 0.1 | 0.54 | 0.3 | 2.14[34] |
| 7 | "You're Overcompensating!" | August 19, 2021 | 0.3 | 1.71[19] | 0.1 | 0.57 | 0.4 | 2.29[35] |
| 8 | "A Real Imposter At Work" | September 9, 2021 | 0.2 | 1.29[20] | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | "Who's Twitchy Here?" | September 16, 2021 | 0.2 | 1.59[21] | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | "Connive and Strive" | September 23, 2021 | 0.3 | 1.85[22] | 0.1 | 0.38 | 0.4 | 2.23[36][a] |
| 11 | "A Little of This, A Little of That" | September 23, 2021 | 0.3 | 1.66[22] | 0.1 | 0.36 | 0.4 | 2.03[36][a] |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "The Hustler: Craig Ferguson is the best part of an ill-conceived game". January 5, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "The Hustler Episode Listings". The Futon Critic.
- ^ a b "The Hustler Season 1 Episode Guide". Zap2it.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (January 6, 2021). "Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.4.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (January 11, 2021). "Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.7.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (January 15, 2021). "Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.14.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021.
- ^ a b Salem, Mitch (January 25, 2021). "Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.21.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (January 29, 2021). "Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.28.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (February 12, 2021). "Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.11.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (February 22, 2021). "Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.18.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 22, 2021.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (February 26, 2021). "Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.25.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "The Hustler Season 2 Episode Guide". Zap2it.
- ^ a b c Berman, Marc (June 18, 2021). "Thursday Ratings: Modest Returns for Holey Moley and The Hustler on ABC". Programming Insider. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
- ^ a b c Berman, Marc (June 25, 2021). "Thursday Ratings: NBC Combination of Making It and Good Girls Left at the Starting Gate". Programming Insider. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
- ^ a b c Berman, Marc (July 2, 2021). "Thursday Ratings: Under 9-Million Viewers For the 5 Broadcast Networks Combined". Programming Insider. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
- ^ a b c Berman, Marc (July 16, 2021). "Thursday Ratings: Big Brother Leads CBS to Modest Victory". Programming Insider. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c Berman, Marc (July 23, 2021). "Thursday Ratings: Summer Staple Big Brother Lifts CBS to Victory". Programming Insider. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (August 13, 2021). "Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.12.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (August 20, 2021). "Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.19.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (September 10, 2021). "Thursday 9.9.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (September 17, 2021). "Thursday 9.16.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Metcalf, Mitch (September 24, 2021). "Thursday 9.23.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (October 14, 2019). "The Hustler: Craig Ferguson-Hosted 'Mystery' Game Show Snags ABC Order". TVLine.
- ^ "New Craig Ferguson-Hosted Game Show, ABC's "The Hustler", Challenges Viewers to Hone Their Detective Skills". The Futon Critic. October 14, 2019.
- ^ The Hustler [@TheHustlerABC] (December 28, 2020). "He may have sensitive eyes, but does he have eyes to spot #TheHustler? 👀 Join us for a sneak preview after #TheBachelor premiere on Monday, January 4" (Tweet). Retrieved July 23, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "ABC Announces Early 2021 Unscripted Premiere Dates". The Futon Critic. November 10, 2020.
- ^ White, Peter (April 7, 2021). "'The Chase' & 'The Hustler' Renewed At ABC As Network Unveils Summer Unscripted Schedule With Shows Including 'Bachelor In Paradise'". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Michael Schneider (April 1, 2022). "Alec Baldwin's Match Game Canceled at ABC, Along With Card Sharks and More as Network Firms Up Summer Plans (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (January 21, 2021). "Live+7 Weekly Ratings: 'This Is Us' Winter Return on NBC Tops Overall Raw Lifts". Programming Insider.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (January 27, 2021). "NBC Dramas are Four of the Top Five Gainers Among Adults 18-49". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (January 31, 2021). "Live+3 Weekly Ratings: '9-1-1' and '9-1-1: Lone Star' Season Premieres Are Two of the Top Three Adults 18-49 Gainers". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (March 1, 2021). "Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ABC Is No. 1 Net for 2nd Straight Week Among Adults 18-49 with 'Bachelor' as Week's No. 1 Show". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (March 14, 2021). "Live+3 Weekly Ratings: 'Resident Alien' Tops Cable's Viewer Gainers, 'The Challenge' and 'The Walking Dead' Among Cable Leaders in 18-49 Gains". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ Berman, Marc (August 13, 2021). "Thursday Ratings: Field of Dreams Baseball Game Lifts Fox to Victory". Programming Insider. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- ^ Berman, Marc (August 20, 2021). "Thursday Ratings: Big Brother on CBS Tops Evening; Quiet Return for CW Drama Coroner". Programming Insider. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- ^ a b Berman, Marc (September 24, 2021). "Thursday Ratings: Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime Leads NBC to Victory". Programming Insider. Retrieved October 1, 2021.