The Time I Appeared on ABC’s The Hustler

A while back, in 2021, I had one of the most surreal experiences of my life – appearing on ABC’s hit game show, The Hustler. If you’ve ever watched the show, you know it’s full of twists, secrets, and a whole lot of bluffing. Being on that stage, with the lights glaring and the cameras rolling, was something I’ll never forget.

It all started with a simple introduction. “What about you, Sean? Where are you from?” the host asked. I smiled and said, “I’m from South Florida, Fort Lauderdale.”

Then came the inevitable follow-up. “What do you do down there? Do you just hang around the beach and go out at night?”

I laughed. “No, I’m a community organizer and media producer.” But I couldn’t resist adding, “So… I hang around the beach and go out at night – as much as I can.”

The experience was as much about having fun as it was about the competition. For those who don’t know, The Hustler brought five players together to answer trivia questions, with each correct answer adding $10,000 to the pot. The catch? One of the five players, The Hustler, secretly knew all the answers because the questions were based on their life. It became a game of deduction, deception, and teamwork.

That night, standing there as part of the crew, I realized how much my work as a community organizer and media producer had prepared me for moments like this. Building connections, reading the room, and thinking on my feet – all of it came into play on The Hustler’s stage.

Unfortunately, for those curious to watch the episode, The Hustler is no longer available to view online. The show was canceled after two seasons, just as it was gearing up for a third.

While I can’t reveal how far I made it (you’ll have to take my word for it!), the experience was a reminder that life can take you to unexpected places – even prime time television.

So if you ever get the chance to take part in something wildly out of your comfort zone, do it. Whether it’s a game show or a new project, the experiences you collect along the way are often worth more than the prize at the end.

Until the next adventure,
Sean A. Russell