Hustling the Hustler

Absolutely. Inspired by the HUSTLER starring Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason. The question -- WHO plays Gleason and WHO plays Newman, although Laura nicknames Rob "Illinois Skinny?"

A gotsta' see, particularly for veteran standup comedian Phil Leeds, who was everywhere on tv, even a lead-in act for performers like Barbara Streisand. Phil plays Buddy's "reformed" gambler brother Blackie. The name alone should make ya sit up and take note. He just happens to stop by and see Rob and Laura --- who have bought a new pool table? Holy smokes!

How about a friendly game of pool? Blackie sets the game in motion, and the bet bank grows and grows... Not surprising the way things go, however so much fun to watch Dick Van Dyke and Phil Leeds (gauranteed scene stealer) trade barbs. Super script by Carl Reiner, who did his homework when it came to pool. Even if you're not familiar with the game, still fascinating to see these guys rack 'em up. If you watch closely, Leeds borrows some schtick from WC Fields, a rascally pool player himself.

Lessons learned? Wait and see.

Funny Footnote; The new pool table is in Rob and Laura's basement, right? Whatever happened to that GIGANTIC boulder in the basement (that could not be removed!) when they bought the place? A trivia question that bugged lots of fans with good memories.

Best of SEASON 2 EPISODE 5 remastered CBS dvd box set. Now on blu ray for a new generation of fans. Thanks CATCHY TV and METV for the memories.

In "Hustling the Hustler", Phil Leeds plays Buddy's ne'er-do-well brother, Blackie. Apparently they have been estranged for years and when Blackie shows up at Buddy's office, Buddy tosses him out. A bit later, Blackie returns and meets Rob...and Rob invites him home for dinner. Unfortunately for Rob, he also invites Blackie to play pool with him...not realizing that Blackie is a pool shark...a hustler.

What happens next is not terribly surprising...though what Blackie does after he fleeces Rob is a bit of a surprise.

This is a decent episode...not among the best nor among the worst. It IS unusual and that is a big plus.

"Hustling the Hustler" followed in the wake of Paul Newman's "The Hustler," a film that revived the dying tradition of the pool hall to make it more popular than ever by the end of the decade. THE TWILIGHT ZONE starred Jonathan Winters and Jack Klugman in "A Game of Pool," SANFORD AND SON did "A House is Not a Pool Room" in 1973, while Carl Reiner covered the bases with this believable comic statement about how a family can be embarrassed by the antics of a black sheep hustler, here casting Phil Leeds in one of his earliest television roles, a beloved performer familiar to millions right up to his 1998 death. Buddy receives a visit from 'black sheep brother' Blackie Sorel (Leeds), not seen since his exile to South America due to a reputation of luring Buddy's associates into a 'friendly' game of billiards, now a legitimate real estate agent in Rio De Janeiro determined to prove he's turned over a new leaf to make amends to Buddy. Rob's timely arrival offers Blackie an opportunity to take full advantage of a new pigeon, after Mr. Petrie reveals that he has a pool table in his basement ("Laura gave it to me to keep me off the streets!"). A dinner of boiled frankfurters gives way to a demonstration, not by Minnesota Fats but 'Illinois Skinny' (as Laura calls Rob), soon to get serious with a small bet that grows into a $300 deficit for Blackie, double or nothing on one final rack. At this point, Blackie gets out his hand powder to dry his palms, cunningly outmaneuvering his opponent into a dazzling display of billiard showmanship (''this won't take long, Mr. Petrie!") that will prove to be the needed ice breaker for long estranged brother Buddy. Even Mary Tyler Moore gets to show off like Steve Mizerak for a final sequence 3-shot that leaves her spouse in disbelief: "wait till my mother finds out I married a pool shark!"

This is a strange and frustrating episode. If Buddy's brother is reformed why does he claim to have loaned Buddy money; he did not. Pretend to have lost his wallet; he did not. And why would he go to Rob's house when he had no idea Buddy would come later ! And if that's true, then he hustled Rob just like his old ways ! This whole episode doesn't add up at all !