[Rumour] Ron Maclean to replace George Stromboulopoulos on HNIC

[McG]

Count me in the wish the "wasn't necessarily a George fan but would have kept him before bringing back Ron Maclean" camp.

Maclean at his worst was the "hometown hockey" stuff; terrible television. dragging former maple leafs all over the country...crazy. I love the idea of hockey on tv whenever or wherever we get it, but seriously, is there only one guy that can host hockey in the country?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

My opinion of him worsened after reading his book as well. He came off as quite arrogant and self-centered.

His ego has grown beyond all reasonable limits.

His image as the spokesperson for all things "Canadian" is contrived and phony. He insists on inserting his "brand" into every discussion.

Ex. He made sure he introduced The Tragically Hip finale (from Brazil), then later bragged about how he had the whole catalogue, (and therefore was just a little bit more Canadian than everyone else).

Ex. "As Maple As".

Don't get me started on the puns.

[GioforPM]

I think Strombo got jobbed a bit by the fact that no Canadian team made the POs (and none were even very good), leading to lower interest and ratings.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I think Strombo got jobbed a bit by the fact that no Canadian team made the POs (and none were even very good), leading to lower interest and ratings.

If anything, Strombo got jobbed by just not getting enough time or direction to settle into a role.

I didnt like him per se, but I didnt mind him. He just never got a chance to make the job his and in proof of that the networks are just running home to Mama and going back to old 'Tried, Tested and True.'

Strombo was a risk. And he might have paid off, but I think SNet execs were too hasty on the Panic Button.

They paid a fortune for these rights and I guess they thought they were going to pay off right away, same with Strombo, throw him in there and profit!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Locke

If anything, Strombo got jobbed by just not getting enough time or direction to settle into a role.

I didnt like him per se, but I didnt mind him. He just never got a chance to make the job his and in proof of that the networks are just running home to Mama and going back to old 'Tried, Tested and True.'

Strombo was a risk. And he might have paid off, but I think SNet execs were too hasty on the Panic Button.

They paid a fortune for these rights and I guess they thought they were going to pay off right away, same with Strombo, throw him in there and profit!

True. I bet if you looked for old tapes of Maclean when he replaced Hodge, he wasn't very smooth.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The typical Hockey Night in Canada viewer is presumed to be a 58 year old dude from Brampton. Why the CBC aims for a much older audience than the networks that broadcast the NFL is anyone's guess.

It isn't the CBC any more. It is Sportsnet and they tried to change who they aimed for and they failed.

I think there is a lot in what some have said. Sportsnet went for the Big Bang when it came to changing the show and that either alienated or shocked a lot of viewers.

I like Strombo, but did not like him in the anchor role at HNIC. Had he been allowed to establish credibility and evolve in to the role, it may have worked out.

[McG]

perhaps on the "win now or develop for later" scale, rogers felt like their sunk costs had to move to a "win now" scenario.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by McG

perhaps on the "win now or develop for later" scale, rogers felt like their sunk costs had to move to a "win now" scenario.

I'll wait and see what it is like this year, but I fear they are now stuck in the middle between the past and future.

I'd rather have either the old HNIC full on, or something completely new.

Now we have a bastardized Frankenstein version of it with components of the old HNIC with some half-arsed attempts to make it fresher.

The net effect of which could be a dog's breakfast.

[Toonage]

They made mention of David Amber "co-hosting" or something along those lines so I wonder if they don't start off with Maclean handling the lions share of the duties but as the season progresses we see more of Amber in the role. A slow transition to the new chosen guy.

[calgaryblood]

On Don Cherry, I believe you need to just realize he's an old man that yells at clouds and then his content becomes entertaining. I take nothing he says seriously and with a pound of salt and it just becomes fun to watch.

I love watching coaches corner just to see what crazy thing he is going to say next.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

On Don Cherry, I believe you need to just realize he's an old man that yells at clouds and then his content becomes entertaining. I take nothing he says seriously and with a pound of salt and it just becomes fun to watch.

I love watching coaches corner just to see what crazy thing he is going to say next.

Ron and Don should have just done the Sunday show dripping with Canadiana and schlock that is home town hockey. Then move HNIC forward. Instead we'll now get 2 orgy's of Tim's, Scotiabanks 5th Season and Ron Mclean.

[MrMastodonFarm]

David Amber is also a host, he should have just gotten the gig full time but Sportsnet probably got scared and went with the familiar face. Amber will host HNIC for game two.

For all of Ron's follies, and there are many, he does set the mood and has a way of setting up the game that few broadcasters do. Yes he can be over the top and his cliches are endless but not many paint a picture as well as McLean, even if the paint is running low.

[bluejays]

I'm on board with Mclean knowing his stuff very well. He's pretty smooth, has a really good knowledge of the game, and his puns, though cheesy, are pretty slick. His ego has subtly grown over the years though. I've never been a fan of Canadiana except during the Olympics. Ron gets a bit annoying when talking Canadiana whenever given the chance.

[Weitz]

Haha some of you guys must hate that "this is hockey night" commercial.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Toonage

They made mention of David Amber "co-hosting" or something along those lines so I wonder if they don't start off with Maclean handling the lions share of the duties but as the season progresses we see more of Amber in the role. A slow transition to the new chosen guy.

I believe Ron will be hosting the early games and Amber will handle the late games because Ron needs to travel to the Hometown Hockey host city for Sunday. Ron will probably just do the pregame show, and the first two intermissions for the early game, then Amber will take over for the postgame show for the early game, leading into the late game.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by getbak

I believe Ron will be hosting the early games and Amber will handle the late games because Ron needs to travel to the Hometown Hockey host city for Sunday. Ron will probably just do the pregame show, and the first two intermissions for the early game, then Amber will take over for the postgame show for the early game, leading into the late game.

Hometown Hockey needs to go the way of the 5th season. I'm glad we get a Sunday night game but the whole production is cringe worthy.

[Corral]

I don't get why folks bash Ron Maclean for having a big ego or being full of himself. He works in a position that is surrounded by egos and men full of themselves. why he would be any different is beyond me. And I agree with Greenlantern the HNIC panelists seem to be having more fun - I think they know now they can have an off-night and someone else will still carry the show.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by polak

Sure you can, you just have to give him a few years to establish familiarity and get his feet under him with a new show and a new direction. George is a lot better at his job, a broadcaster and host, than Ron is or ever was.

James Duffy would have been better than both though.

They could have developed Strombo by having him host the Wednesday night national game, or getting him to do the regional telecasts. They needed to give him the reps and a smaller stage. They shouldn't have simply handed him the keys to HNIC.

Rogers set him up to fail. Which shouldn't surprise anyone.

James Duthie would have been great, but TSN purposefully and spitefully locked up their broadcasting talent. And since they didn't have to pay a ####zillion dollars for NHL rights, they could afford to spend a couple million extra on passive aggressiveness.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Hometown Hockey needs to go the way of the 5th season. I'm glad we get a Sunday night game but the whole production is cringe worthy.

Its the embodiment of the old CBC, Ron and Don Tim Horton's, 5th Season Canadiana. Lets put it all in one place so I can avoid it.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Corral

I don't get why folks bash Ron Maclean for having a big ego or being full of himself. He works in a position that is surrounded by egos and men full of themselves. why he would be any different is beyond me. And I agree with Greenlantern the HNIC panelists seem to be having more fun - I think they know now they can have an off-night and someone else will still carry the show.

Agree, too much is spent looking at his faults. The guys is a great TV personality and he is very easy to listen to. His knowledge and connections help too. Bunch of people hate him because he likes the Oilers and others hate him because he works out of Ontario.
And they may be catering to the 50+ crowd because the younger generation spends intermissions arguing on internet forums rather than watching live TV. And then of course they are the first ones to cut cable too. So maybe the seniors are a good audience?