Hustling America

TV conman Alexis Conran travels across America in the footsteps of history's greatest hustlers. He is hoping that his skills in deception and magic will allow him to pull off the hardest cons of all, known as proposition bets – outlandish wagers that are almost impossible to win unless you know the cunning secret behind them.
These bets were originally used to con people out of their money – but for Alex this is not about the cash. He is on a personal mission to measure himself against the most infamous hustlers in America, where these ideas originated. In this opening episode, he traces the roots of the man thought to have been the most skilled and devious hustler of all – Titanic Thompson. In Dallas, Texas, Alex makes a Titanic-inspired bet with the owner of a car hire company that could win him some expensive wheels. He also meets Thommy Thomas, Titanic's son and himself a former card cheat.
In Joplin, Missouri, Alex attempts an unusual trick shot at a local pool hall. Driving on to Arkansas, Alex recounts the story of Titanic's first win at the age of 11. The future con artist extraordinaire reportedly won an expensive fishing rod by training his dog to fetch a marked stone thrown into the river. After a bit of canny preparation, can Alex equal his achievement? (Verleiher-Text)