The short lived hosting duties on Hockey Night in Canada for George Strombo

[vadim sharifijanov]

sook yin lee

 

[Killion]

sook yin lee

ugh.

 

[koyvoo]

Erica Ehm

 

[Killion]

Erica Ehm

.... alrighty then. gone from Strombo to most annoying MM Veejays huh?

 

[Johnny Engine]

Rick the Temp, clearly. And he'll go by that name.

If I had to guess the most obvious heir apparent, it might be David Amber - but more likely someone we haven't even seen yet.

 

[Michael Farkas]

One name that will likely be in the running somewhere is Jeff Marek...

 

[Johnny Engine]

One name that will likely be in the running somewhere is Jeff Marek...

Right, I knew a name was skipping my mind. New answer, it’ll be Marek.

 

[VanIslander]

I liked his casual voice. The mumbling was natural. I felt relaxed and chill when listening to his shows. He made for a good morning show host (one loathes those high energy morning guys, eh?).

 

[skeena1]

Good lord, I hope not. Burke is a train wreck with ZERO likability. I can't stand listening to him. I usually turn it off when he's on as he sounds like nothing more than an angry old man.

So, like Don Cherry?

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

if anyone has listened to damian abraham interviewing anyone, they would thank the gods for strombo.

but the greatest canadian public broadcaster of my generation remains, of course, sook yin lee. not even joking, killion.

 

[Killion]

if anyone has listened to damian abraham interviewing anyone, they would thank the gods for strombo.

but the greatest canadian public broadcaster of my generation remains, of course, sook yin lee. not even joking, killion.

Wat?

 

[Hot Water Bottle]

Jesse and Gene (Q107's finest) should host.

 

[streitz]

So, like Don Cherry?

I like him

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Wat?

who emse would you want retelling the crazy hoffman gf vs karlsson wife saga?

let’s call it definitely not the ottawa

 

[Al Camino]

Here’s the difference: Dave Hodge was the host of HNIC and Cherry’s original “Coach’s Corner” sidekick. After CBC fired Hodge, Ron Maclean took over both roles, but the ‘Ron and Don Show’ essentially made MacLean. He was the deferential sidekick who allowed Cherry to rant.

But when Strombo replaced MacLean, it was ONLY as HNIC host — MacLean remained Cherry’s sidekick on “Coach’s Corner.” Think about that: CBC wanted a new and different host (Strombo) but didn’t give him the kind of platform (Coach’s Corner) that created Ron MacLean’s star. In this respect, MacLean never left — his continued presence on Coach’s Corner would be akin to Johnny Carson delivering the opening monologue before every Jay Leno show. Gone but not really gone. Anyway, Strombo didn’t get the kind of vehicle MacLean had and viewers still got to see “the replaced guy” alongside Cherry every Saturday night.

Great point. Also I recomend taking a listen to that last Lede Podcast in which they interviewed Eliot Freideman and he has some very insightful view on why Strombo didn't last.

 

[Al Camino]

I loved Strombo and absolutely hate MacLean. And I'm about as big of a traditionalist as it gets.

I can't think of a TV personality I find more nauseating than MacLean. His fake-ass, name-dropping, schmaltzy, hokey, appeal-to-grandmas persona is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.

Strombo was great. It's weird that people label him a 'millennial MTV guy' because his whole style and demeanour is a throwback to hosts from the 50s/60s. Neutral, classy, well-spoken host who was a great interviewer and knew when to shut up and let the experts talk ... unlike MacLean who always comes off like he thinks he's the smartest guy in the room.

Felt the whole production seemed so much more professional and big-league with Strombo at the helm.

I think you hit the nail on the head! Schmaltzy is the perfect word to describe him. He's about as phony as a 3 dollar bill. He's almost like our Chris Berman. In that the words that come out his mouth are English but after he's done talking I often find myself wondering what the hell did he just say.

Anyone remember his work on Battle of the Blades? Pretty cringe worthy stuff. Fairly safe to say Strombo wouldn't have done that!

 

[McGuillicuddy]

who emse would you want retelling the crazy hoffman gf vs karlsson wife saga?

let’s call it definitely not the ottawa

I see what you did there.

 

[billybudd]

"felt.... American"?..... I wouldnt say that BC, most US Broadcasters have more sense than what Rogers tried to pull. US Broadcasters would not have recruited a host from the ranks of MTV, a VJ/DJ and installed him as "Host/Anchor"... and which by all accounts was done so on the recommendation/request of Gary Bettman who was a fan of Georges' having been a guest on his CBC chat show, enjoying his softball approach to questioning, conversation.

I'm not saying it's inconceivable that a US media company would try to install a guy whose only defining characteristics are tight pants and a silly haircut as host of a major sports program, but it's an idea that would be reversed inside of a month.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Personally, I didn't mind Strombo as the host. With him, it seemed more like a bunch of guys hanging out shooting the shit about hockey. About the only thing that could have made it better would be if they were getting drunk while doing that.