[Rumour] Ron Maclean to replace George Stromboulopoulos on HNIC

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I don't mind George leaving but this could have been an opportunity for HNIC to bring in someone new instead going back to the old.

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Strombolopoulos was never going to "accepted" regardless of how he performed at his job.

He's gone because old people didn't like him (even though the guy is hardly young at 43). I'm not a big fan of Strombo, but doing back to Maclean just shows what a stranglehold the 55+ audience has on HNiC and anything associated with the CBC. The Boomers have a death grip on the show, and I expect we won't see Maclean replaced for another 10 years now.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by MoreDrank

It's harsh for Sportsnet for pillory anybody on the broadcast team because ratings are down. Firing Strombo isn't going to make all the teams in Canada better at playing hockey all of a sudden.

This.

Viewership hurt due to the poor seasons and lack of playoffs from the Canadian teams.

I really don't get the dislike for Strombo. To say the guy was not able to lead the panel, what the heck does that mean? I don't recall much in the way of segments that had no focus, irrelevant topics, or whatever constitutes lack of leadership.

Panel not respecting him because he didn't play? It is more what they do to Friedman, and it is in good fun.

He may introduce a topic and not be an expert but usually leaves it as a question and hands it over to the panel. If anything, in a similar format I could see how Maclean may be tempted to over contribute his opinions.

He did his job. I didn't mind him.

Even if people didn't like him I think it sounds more like internet warriors that think he was horrible. Seems there is a bit of a leaning on CP lately to groupthink and lynch mob mentality.

Oh well. It's your internet to do with as you please. Carry on.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

I bet Cherry makes more.

Cherry's segment has a named sponsor who likely pays a pretty penny to have their name mentioned at the top of Coach's Corner each week, with a commercial running between the intro and the actual segment.

That sponsorship at least offsets some of Cherry's salary if not pays for it entirely (with a little profit left over for Rogers).

When Cherry stops doing Coach's Corner, the value of that segment of advertising will plummet.


I'd bet that MacLean makes more than Strombo was, but he's already in the building every week anyway, so it won't cost them any more to have him host the whole show.

[Timbo]

While true many 55+ do not like George. It can be said the older crowd (of which I am one of) resist change. I mean I know folks who despise Elliot ... Because of his profile and colourful socks, l tell them listen to what he says,because I believe he is extremely intelligent and has great inside information. But the 55+ crowd for a large part don't voice their opinions on the Internet. Unless of course you count yelling at clouds.

I did not mind George other than his wardrobe and to much touchiness.
I think his being replaced is more due to abysmal Toronto ratings and the lack of Canadian teams in the playoffs.
Also he certainly did not bring younger viewers.

I like Ron McLean very much but I believe given the climate of Hockey in the last season he would not have made much difference.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by getbak

Cherry's segment has a named sponsor who likely pays a pretty penny to have their name mentioned at the top of Coach's Corner each week, with a commercial running between the intro and the actual segment.

That sponsorship at least offsets some of Cherry's salary if not pays for it entirely (with a little profit left over for Rogers).

When Cherry stops doing Coach's Corner, the value of that segment of advertising will plummet.


I'd bet that MacLean makes more than Strombo was, but he's already in the building every week anyway, so it won't cost them any more to have him host the whole show.

Could we ditch Cherry and have Hartley and Tortorella debate topics instead?

[CsInMyBlood]

Great news, Strombo was not good.

[sun]

His suits were more ridiculous than Cherry's.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by sun

His suits were more ridiculous than Cherry's.

He made remarks about them himself.

I don't know if you guys know this, but many personalities on TV who are not Don Cherry have their suits provided as promotional consideration.

[ignite09]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

He's gone because old people didn't like him (even though the guy is hardly young at 43). I'm not a big fan of Strombo, but doing back to Maclean just shows what a stranglehold the 55+ audience has on HNiC and anything associated with the CBC. The Boomers have a death grip on the show, and I expect we won't see Maclean replaced for another 10 years now.

Really? As someone in his early 30's I call BS. Sounds more like you would rather blindly label people who disagree with your opinion then have a spirited conversation on this issue. Calling people who aren't fans of Strombo "old" seems like a lazy way to make your opinion valid.

[Timbo]

Originally Posted by sun

His suits were more ridiculous than Cherry's.

Have you been downtown lately? So many shrunken suit dudes strutting about.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by ignite09

Really? As someone in his early 30's I call BS. Sounds more like you would rather blindly label people who disagree with your opinion then have a spirited conversation on this issue. Calling people who aren't fans of Strombo "old" seems like a lazy way to make your opinion valid.

Agree entirely. Strombo just isn't good at his job. Maclean was and will be far better. Yeah they need to have a replacement plan for Maclean and Cherry but not some wannabe hipster. Find some young talent to replace them with / not just somebody younger.

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I don't think Strombo was great, but he wasn't the problem either.

Hrudey and Friedman are the only analysts on that panel that I actually like. Get rid of the likes of Damien Cox, Glenn Healy, etc.

^^this. As long as Cox and Healy are around, it's going to be what it was.

[Timbo]

Will we ever see a female host? It's acceptable regionally when will it be nationally?

[calumniate]

Strombo seemed so squeaky clean. Spoke too fast a lot of times I thought. He was just too hyped up

[ricosuave]

Strombo is much better at one to one conversations, rather than leading a group discussion that he really didn't seem to know much about.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I know some people will be happy. While I like Ron McLean, I feel like if George would have been given more time to develop a following it would've been better

I agree completely, in fact I actually preferred Strombo already. But we know how much hockey fans love change, especially sweeping change. So this is no shock at all.

[ignite09]

Originally Posted by calumniate

Strombo seemed so squeaky clean. Spoke too fast a lot of times I thought. He was just too hyped up

Strombo the host reminds me of "bitch" Stewie from Family Guy. Not to bright, and needs to be everyone's best friend. Not a good personality to have for national host.

[GGG]

I liked Strombo on the panel. Give Ron the same environment and he'd be far worse. Cox and Healy were just bad. I thought Strombo did a good job engaging the panels hockey expertise and challenging it

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

He's gone because old people didn't like him (even though the guy is hardly young at 43). I'm not a big fan of Strombo, but doing back to Maclean just shows what a stranglehold the 55+ audience has on HNiC and anything associated with the CBC. The Boomers have a death grip on the show, and I expect we won't see Maclean replaced for another 10 years now.

You're hilariously underestimating how ingrained Maclean is in the Canadian hockey world. It's not just the boomers that love him. The amount of whining I've heard about Strombo from my 20 and 30 year old friends is crazy. All the while singing the praises of Maclean.

The guy is an institution in this country, and it's certainly not just the boomers who are bringing him back.

Sportsnet showed little-known to no regard for the rich history that was HNIC in CBC. They could desperately use some of that storytelling Maclean and company did so well.

[zamler]

A stinging unendorsement. Glad Stroumboulopoulos will no longer be hosting he was very irritating on a good day.