Isolation Booth: BallBusters

I still stand by my claim that the show would be better if they called it BallBusters, but I digress. Tonight was the world premier of BallBreakers, and I can tell you that I’m thoroughly impressed with the show. Of course, like any show, it has its shortcomings, but in the end, BallBreakers is a solid show that throws traditional pool shows out of the window and ushers in a new style of pool. Their tagline is truth: it IS pool on steroids.

The object of the game is simple: play a round of 9-ball pool. Each player puts a set amount on the game as a bet, and the winner of the game gets the money. The interesting part of that aspect comes with side bets. A player can bet on almost anything. Will the shooter run the table? Put some money on it. Do you think he’ll scratch? Put some money on it. The betting element puts some spice into the game, but with the way that it’s currently implemented, it distracts from the gameplay. Not enough to ruin the game, mind you, but just enough for it to be disjarring.

The other cool part is what are called shotgun games. They’re little minigames to determine stuff, like who controls the next break. The one that I paid attention to was something not unlike Lightning Pool, where you have to sink in as many balls as you can in 60 seconds. It adds a bit of spice to the game, although the fast-forward recap they pulled off tonight made it less interesting.

That’s one of the things I really noticed, though. Besides fast-fowarding the mini-games, the fast-forward recap that they did was rather good. It was fast-paced (of course, to save time), but it dropped you straight into drama, which is where you wanted to be in the first place, without missing any of the good shots.

I can’t wait to see the next episode. Sal Masekela did a good job as host, and Ewa Mataya Laurance is very knowledgeable about the game of pool. Adrianne Curry didn’t make a splash in my mind, other than “Get the crap out of the camera shot.” Good job with this show, GSN. Keep it coming. B+!