Hallmark's 'con' with innovation continues

Hallmark's 'con' with innovation continues

MUMBAI: It may have failed to make a dent in India on the ratings front. However that is not stopping Hallmark from innovation as far as introducing new specials is concerned.

Earlier this month it had announced its show Child Of Our Time. The show tracks a generation of British babies for the next 20 years. Now it will take a completely different path with its new series Hustle.

The show which deals with con men trying to score will air every Tuesday at 8 pm from 1 February. Fans of the caper film Oceans 11 may want to check out this series. The crime series deals with a group of 'long con' artists, lead by the recently out of jail master, Mickey Stone.

They get together to make quick bucks by scamming the wealthy out of all they've got. A shares scam, the arts world, a health spare and a casino will be targeted by these criminals. The show has been shot in a very stylish manner. There are funky moments when the action slows down and the characters talk to the camera.

Since the criminals target the rich and greedy the viewer is encouraged to join in the fun. However not all their best laid plans always go as they expect them to. In the UK, the British show was hyped up in a big way before it went on air last year on BBC One. There were lots of trailer activities as well as ads on television, print and radio.

Talking about the different characters Hustle's script editor Karen Wilson said, "Stone is in a class all his own. He is out of prison, and keen to get back in the game. His old team-mates have been busy while he's been inside. Ash has been doing the flop, Stacie the dip and Albert's just continued being Albert.

"However Stone wants them back together. This will be his last score before he retires. So it's important he has the right team. This crew is not about conning little old ladies out of their pension - they're strictly major league."