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 | 17 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Production companies | |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | January 4, 2021 – present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
The Hustler is an American television game show that premiered on ABC on January 4, 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 2021, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on June 17, 2021.[1]
Game play[]
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 Hustler has the Olympic rings tattooed on their body, the question might concern what the Olympic rings themselves symbolize.
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[]
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.[citation needed]
Final vote[]
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.
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.
Episodes[]
Series overview[]
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||
| 1 | 8 | January 4, 2021 | February 25, 2021 | ||
| 2 | 11[2] | June 17, 2021 | September 23, 2021[3] | ||
Season 1 (2021)[]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title [2][4] | Original air date [2][4] | Prod. code [2] | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "A Puzzle, Wrapped In An Enigma, Tattooed In Mystery" | January 4, 2021 | 105 | 2.08[5] |
| 2 | 2 | "Have You Ever Stabbed a Melon?" | January 7, 2021 | 103 | 3.99[6] |
| 3 | 3 | "The Ultimate Game of Deception" | January 14, 2021 | 101 | 3.29[7] |
| 4 | 4 | "Watch Out for the Quiet Ones" | January 21, 2021 | 104 | 2.81[8] |
| 5 | 5 | "How To Spot a Liar" | January 28, 2021 | 106 | 3.05[9] |
| 6 | 6 | "Sweet Deceit, Salty Insinuations, Spicy Revelations" | February 11, 2021 | 102 | 2.56[10] |
| 7 | 7 | "Every Tic Could Be a Tell" | February 18, 2021 | 108 | 2.67[11] |
| 8 | 8 | "A Little Bit of Finger Pointing" | February 25, 2021 | 107 | 2.66[12] |
Season 2 (2021)[]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title [2][13] | Original air date [2][13] | Prod. code [2] | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | "The Most Diabolical Game on Television" | June 17, 2021 | 205 | 2.00[14] |
| 10 | 2 | "Next Level Hustle" | June 24, 2021 | 201 | 1.99[15] |
| 11 | 3 | "Pick the Weird Stuff" | July 1, 2021 | 206 | 1.95[16] |
| 12 | 4 | "That's A Lot of Whips" | July 15, 2021 | 204 | 1.86[17] |
| 13 | 5 | "It's Not Shame, It's Just The Game" | July 22, 2021 | 207 | 1.70[18] |
| 14 | 6 | "Teamwork, HUZZAH!" | August 12, 2021 | 203 | 1.60[19] |
| 15 | 7 | "You're Overcompensating!" | August 19, 2021 | 211 | 1.71[20] |
| 16 | 8 | "A Real Imposter At Work" | September 9, 2021 | 208 | 1.29[21] |
| 17 | 9 | "Who's Twitchy Here?" | September 16, 2021 | 202 | 1.59[22] |
| 18 | 10 | "Connive and Strive" | September 23, 2021 | 209 | TBD |
| 19 | 11 | "A Little of This, A Little of That" | September 23, 2021 | 210 | TBD |
Production[]
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.[1]
Reception[]
Ratings[]
Season 1[]
| 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[5] | N/A | 0.71 | N/A | 2.79[27] |
| 2 | "Have You Ever Stabbed a Melon?" | January 7, 2021 | 0.7 | 3.99[6] | 0.2 | 0.74 | 0.9 | 4.73[27] |
| 3 | "The Ultimate Game of Deception" | January 14, 2021 | 0.6 | 3.29[7] | N/A | 0.75 | N/A | 4.04[28] |
| 4 | "Watch Out for the Quiet Ones" | January 21, 2021 | 0.5 | 2.81[8] | N/A | 0.59 | N/A | 3.40[29][a] |
| 5 | "How to Spot a Liar" | January 28, 2021 | 0.5 | 3.05[9] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 6 | "Sweet Deceit, Salty Insinuations, Spicy Revelations" | February 11, 2021 | 0.5 | 2.56[10] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 7 | "Every Tic Could Be a Tell" | February 18, 2021 | 0.5 | 2.67[11] | N/A | 0.61 | N/A | 3.28[30][a] |
| 8 | "A Little Bit of Finger Pointing" | February 25, 2021 | 0.4 | 2.66[12] | N/A | 0.54 | N/A | 3.19[31][a] |
Season 2[]
| 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[14] | 0.1 | 0.74 | 0.5 | 2.74[14] |
| 2 | "Next Level Hustle" | June 24, 2021 | 0.4 | 1.99[15] | 0.1 | 0.59 | 0.5 | 2.58[15] |
| 3 | "Pick the Weird Stuff" | July 1, 2021 | 0.3 | 1.95[16] | 0.1 | 0.53 | 0.4 | 2.48[16] |
| 4 | "That's A Lot of Whips" | July 15, 2021 | 0.4 | 1.86[17] | 0.1 | 0.46 | 0.4 | 2.32[17] |
| 5 | "It's Not Shame, It's Just The Game" | July 22, 2021 | 0.3 | 1.70[18] | 0.1 | 0.44 | 0.4 | 2.14[18] |
| 6 | "Teamwork, HUZZAH!" | August 12, 2021 | 0.3 | 1.60[19] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | "You're Overcompensating!" | August 19, 2021 | 0.3 | 1.71[20] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 8 | "A Real Imposter At Work" | September 9, 2021 | 0.2 | 1.29[21] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 9 | "Who's Twitchy Here?" | September 16, 2021 | 0.2 | 1.59[22] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Notes[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Live+7 ratings were not available, so Live+3 ratings have been used instead.
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b 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.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "The Hustler Episode Listings". The Futon Critic.
- ^ "Listings – September 23, 2021". The Futon Critic. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
hustler, the: a little of this, a little of that (#210) [2nd season finale]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "The Hustler Season 1 Episode Guide". Zap2it.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Metcalf, Mitch (January 25, 2021). "Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.21.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "The Hustler Season 2 Episode Guide". Zap2it.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Berman, Marc (July 16, 2021). "Thursday Ratings: Big Brother Leads CBS to Modest Victory". Programming Insider. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Berman, Marc (July 23, 2021). "Thursday Ratings: Summer Staple Big Brother Lifts CBS to Victory". Programming Insider. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Metcalf, Mitch (August 13, 2021). "Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.12.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Metcalf, Mitch (August 20, 2021). "Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.19.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Metcalf, Mitch (September 10, 2021). "Thursday 9.9.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Metcalf, Mitch (September 17, 2021). "Thursday 9.16.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved September 17, 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?