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Hockey Night's Saturday debut elegant but staid

WILLIAM HOUSTON

Globe and Mail Update

Latest comment posted at 12:49 PM EST 09/10/07

Hockey Night in Canada returns with new look but little excitement ...Read the full article

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  1. Andrew Keller from Canada writes: Colon Campbell's record is a joke. Why they bothered to have him on the show, I have no idea. Pronger suspended twice in the playoffs for one game each suspension. Downie was a scapegoat even if teams were warned. Mellanby's idea of a greater suspension because it was D Mcammond is absurd. WE NEED CRITICS on CBC, not corporate talking heads like Campbell and Gainey. If the host can tell you the answer why ask? Neither will stir the pot or reveal anything.
  2. Jeff Taylor from Canada writes: Houston was right. The set is dreary and the show was dead. Bring back the old hotstove! At least it had a pulse. The idea of using execs and ex-players on the hotstove is stupid. They almost never say anything interesting or challenging.

    Unfortunately, HNIC showed how misguided it is by giving Maclean a new contract. He's so in love with the sound of his own voice that he forgets he's supposed to be the host. And if you actually listen to what he says, it becomes apparent that he can barely convey a coherent idea.
  3. Marc Johnson from Montreal, Canada writes: I thought Hockey Night in Canada was supposed to be about the players - at least that's what Ron MacLean is always inclined to say. And then on the first pre-game show of the season, they spend a combined 15 minutes on 2 general managers. What a pathetic start to the "new" season.
  4. Rick C from Canada writes: I did not see the broadcast but if Houston is right and Don Cherry and a re-run of a fight were the highlights it had to be pretty bad!
  5. Rob Kirsic from Brampton, writes: Too bad HNIC didn't get Lowe and Burke on as the 2 GMs to interview, that would have been fantastic to see.

    I don't know what everyone is so upset about, HNIC is based on tradition, usually - unless I'm wrong - that means there's an unwillingness to change for the sake of change...or to improve something unless it's overwhelmingly needed (which everyone who watches, including myself seems to think, but not the people who put on the production)

    Also, Mr. Houston, you're review on Mr. Cherry is a bit lacking. You say "Cherry was, as usual, lively, provocative (he aired a fighting clip) and entertaining. What a concept." You failed to mention an important fact that everyone slags the guy on...he called for the Downie suspension to be longer (although he discredited himself right after that by suggesting he was a useful player). You mention the obvious but miss an important part which at least would try to show Don in a different light so that you and Zelkovich in the Star can continue to slag on him without presenting all the facts.
  6. Blair . from vancouver, Canada writes: HNIC got one thing right, the late broadcast with Hughson and Simpson was pretty good. Liked Simpson quite a bit and thought he was a strong addition. Also thought it kicked the crap out of the early Leafs/Habs broadcast. Cole and Millen continue to be painful.
  7. bob depaola from montreal, Canada writes: I certainly was not too impressed with the new fromat HNIC...Ron MacLeans boring style and cocky attitude is still there and Don Cherry still carries on with his tough guy style and ridiculous clown like dress code....its unfortunate that most Canadians do not have the opportunity to watch the French crew on RDS...they are a class act who call the game the way it should be called and carry out there interviews with class and style ...it is really unfortunate that the CBC sports dept did not make a real change to HNIC by making it a truly non biased, intereresting Canadian sports feature....rather than a Leaf, Leaf,Leaf broadcast....what a pity to all of you who cannot access RDS.....
  8. Gideon Goldshlager from Canada writes: bob- nobody wants to listen to the RDS broadcast because nobody speaks french, or wants to listen to a bunch of french guys and their annoying voices. besides that, i have seen it on a few occasions and found the production qualities to be quite inferior.

    that said, i'm not a fan of the english version either. when will tsn get the rights?! sigh.
  9. Howard Beale from Canada writes: The first half of HNIC with it's Leaf centric point of view is as irrelevant to most Canadians as is the CBC itself. Most nights I'd rather flip around the dial watching highlights from other games than watching the Maple Leafs.
  10. scott ballard from Portland, writes: I grew up in Canada watching HNIC and recently moved to the US. The network coverage here is awful. And as far as I am concerned CBC does the best sports coverage in North America. Down here sports coverage is so commercialized. It takes away from the momentum of the games and my interest personally. I have never seen so many commercials for beer and home repairs in my life. TV timeout?? Stupides concept I have ever heard. Watching hockey on CBC is a breath of fresh air, they focus on the sport not the sponsors. Be thankful for what you have and that Bettman hasnt, by his own choice I am sure, impacted CBC's coverage.
  11. tad bradley from toronto, Canada writes: Re Mellanby's "information" ... misinformation. If you leave your feet you are losing velocity and leverage, blunting impact, reducing force. When we leave our feet we are gliders not jet planes. Simple physics. Certainly Downie changed the point of impact by jumping but in no way did he increase his velocity. Try jumping and punching someone--you knock yourself backwards.
  12. Ed Flynn from Quispamsis, Canada writes: I'm tired of Coach's Corner and I'm tired of Don Cherry. Colorful, yes. Passionate, yes. Professional? Hardly.

    The 2nd intermission was terrible. The "stove" - whatever it's called now - is definately not hot. The set might have appeared appropriate had the CBC figured out beforehand how to shoot the angles. Not only were we looking at the panel from side and rear angles, but, we were forced to watch the videos on the studio's screen. Sad. Cut to a highlight in the manner that an NFL broadcast does. I don't have to squint to see a clip that's being played behind Chris Berman while he discusses it with a member of his panel.

    And the panel itself? Eeesh. Tie Domi not available? What ever happened to experts or journalists or former players who could weigh in objecitvely as opposed to mere pandering. Colin Campbell now belongs in a soundbite or one-on-one. "Colie this" and "Colie that" is far too provincial or parochial for what's supposed to be the preeminent hockey telecast in North America.
  13. RJ Canuck from Toronto, Canada writes: I for one will miss Bob Cole when he's gone. He's the last of the great Foster Hewitt/Bill Hewitt/Dan Kelly/Danny Gallivan dynasty. I didn't see the 2nd intermission, but anything has to be an improvement over the usual Eric Duhatschek/Pierre LeBrun borefests.
  14. Mike Quinlan from Gatineau, Canada writes: Sometimes CBC just loses it and forgets that television is an entertainment industry first and foremost, and this is true even when it comes to news production. When its boring people tune out.
  15. graham g from Canada writes: Yes and Greg Millen told us all, all , all the same stuff about the goalies again.

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