04/19/24
April 29, 2003
Second Fiddle?: I'll let you decide, but for my money Ron MacLean is and should remain a staple of the CBC. This post is basically to give props to the guy on the left.
Same here ... I don't get to see him much, but I was in Toronto the night he and Grapes squared off on the war in Iraq. Even being a pro-war American, I appreciated his comments. He's class.
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:23 PM on April 29, 2003
The 2nd-string version of MacLean and Cherry is pretty damn good too. Scott Russell and Kelly Hrudey are also a fantastic duo, and when it comes time for M&C to retire, these guys will slide into the top spot with no problem. Russell is as smart and loquacious as MacLean. All he lacks is the dry wit, but I think it would be out of character for him to try it. Hrudey has been groomed as the replacement for Cherry, and he's ready anytime they need him. He doesn't have the bombast of Don, but he definitely knows the game and has no problem being argumentative if necessary. The best part about him is that he's got MacLean's wit and doesn't fumble on words like Cherry does. For all you Americans that don't get a chance to see these four gentlemen during intermissions, I highly recommend you try to catch the broadcasts on a satellite dish. You'll quickly realize why Hockey Night in Canada is the top rated show in Canada.
posted by grum@work at 08:51 PM on April 29, 2003
I thought that was because aside from HNIC, all you had to watch were old SCTV reruns and Rick Mercer.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:07 PM on April 29, 2003
Actually, if I remember correctly it finishes with better ratings than any American show that gets picked up in Canada on Global/CTV/CITY. And don't be dissing SCTV. Even 20 years later the reruns are still funnier than anything SNL or MAD TV puts on the air today. /defensive Canadian
posted by grum@work at 06:35 AM on April 30, 2003
I picked up NHL Center Ice this year, and was amazing at how much better the CBC games were. Much better analysis and better beer commercials. I want my Don Cherry Bubba or Tall Boy.
posted by emoeby at 08:36 AM on April 30, 2003
Calm down, Grum. :) I was just teasing. Actually, my girlfriend and I had the same discussion last night, and HNIC does beat any 'Mericun show airing there. If you haven't found it, there's a terrific anniversary book on the Second City clubs that includes a double CD of some of the best comedy pieces. The best — Mike Myers explaining to an American businessman that he can't cross the border because Canada's closed for remodeling.
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:49 AM on April 30, 2003
wow, this thread took a severe turn...cable and satellite packages are the only way HNIC makes it south of the border, and its worth every penny....though we should be refunded for time spent watching 'r-r-r-roll up the r-r-r-rim to win' spots. emoeby, i've had this argument about the CBC's coverage being kick-ass with with a buddy of mine, and he chalked it up to me favoring the home team. he certainly has a point, but analysis over all down here is lacking. Except JD. JD is the best hockey personality on the tube in the lower 48, though the production team of MSG leaves something to be desired. quick aside: "This Hour Has 22 Minutes" segment when someone, i think its ray mercer, travels to the states and asks regular people about canada's out of control nuke program and super-smart monkeys growing medicinal herb. the responses are priceless.
posted by garfield at 09:09 AM on April 30, 2003
For the last two years, I’ve ordered the hockey package (InDemand) from my lovely local cable provider and it’s the single smartest decision I’ve ever made. It is worth every last penny. For about $150 (‘Mericun) we get all the freakin’ hockey games all year long and over the first two rounds of the playoffs. There is still nothing better than falling asleep to a meaningless Canucks/Kings game in the middle of the season. Maybe I’m too easy to please, but that my friends, is all that I ask for in life. As Grum suggested it might earlier in the discussion, it opened my eyes to the CBC’s coverage, particularly their personalities. I think their technical production is still shy of ESPN’s, but I’ll choose their feeds over any other just for Coaches Corner and the Satellite Hot Stove. If you’re a fan of hockey and you find your life lacking with just four or five games a week, I strongly recommend you look into NHL Center Ice. One Saturday in January or thereabouts, we had hockey for about 14 straight hours and most of it from the CBC. They started “Super Hockey Day” (or whatever it’s called) with Ron MacLean reporting from the artic circle around noon and proceeded to offer hockey well into the wee hours. There were something like fourteen games on that day, not to mention three or four hours of hockey coverage without any games actually being played. It was hockey all day long and then some. It was a good day. CBC’s game coverage also includes a short video montage of highlights from the first two periods. They call it something terrible like “Sweaty Men” but somehow it’s still really cool. It’s just quick edits of all the important action in the game so far. It includes checks, checks, more checks, snippets for the goals, battles in the corners and all the other good stuff. (Someone remind we of what it’s called. It’s not “sweaty men” but whatever they named it, it’s terrible). And you get to watch the commercials, lots and lots of commercials. It’s great to catch the ads for local establishments in places like Winkler, Manitoba. How can you beat that?!? Cheesy Tim Horton’s spots and the aforementioned “r-r-roll up the r-r-rim” ones make my blood curdle. And as a side note, watching league-wide coverage I have to say Florida’s “Hockey makes you tougher campaign” is tops. Anyway, I’ve rambled enough. The moral of the story is that if you like hockey and don’t get this package or don’t find a way to watch Canadian coverage, be sure to sign up next year. At most, you’ll learn to love MacLean and Cherry. At the very least, you’ll learn about the third line left wing for the Calgary Flames and why the Coyotes suck so much.
posted by 86 at 12:23 PM on April 30, 2003
I absolutely love Hockey Night in Canada. The hockey analysis beats the crap out of anything we have here in the States, and it's great when one of your friends turns to you and says "Don Cherry's going to be all over him for that play in beween periods", and you just know he's right. I have to say, though, that part of the appeal of Canadian TV is the crappy production values. They really are just so bad sometimes. The in-game camera angles and such are fine, but once the on-ice action stops, the fun begins. The sets in the shows look like painted cardboard, and all seven or eight of the commercials they show mention the word "Canadian" or "Canada" at least twice (unless like Canadian tire, the name is already in there). Anyway, there are more than a few reasons to watch hockey on CBC. I always have this fantasy of smashing through the in the middle of Coach's Corner like the Kool Aid Man.
posted by Samsonov14 at 01:06 PM on April 30, 2003
Yeah, Sammy I forgot about the Canada mentions all over the place in Canadian commercials. My favorite is Ford, whose vehicles are apparently, "Built For Life In Canada." Huh?
posted by 86 at 01:30 PM on April 30, 2003
I love CBC. They used to include CKWS as channel 11 here in upstate NY for a long time, but cut the channel out about 8 years ago. The night of the big ice storm, when we had to watch SU-Texas on the rabbit ears, though, we got a great CBC signal for a while. Even though I hadn't seen it in years I knew what it was without even looking up at the screen. I had NHL Center Ice (and everything else for that matter, being a lawbreaking scumbag) when I was out in Cali, and one of these days I'll have them ship me the extra dish and receiver we had in the house so I can have it all again. Somehow I always managed to miss HNIC since I was always busy but I got to enjoy many midweek games, especially Canucks games with my old roommate (he's from Victoria). Nothing beats it. As for commercials, you gotta love the Carolina Click it or Ticket campaign... OK, maybe you love that one only if you're from Oswego... It's just painful watching him try to "act" while driving the Zamboni. Somehow I missed the rrrroll one, which, according to this thread, is a lucky break for me.
posted by Bernreuther at 02:30 PM on April 30, 2003
86, i think its called 'behind the sweat' or something. grum, a little help. and the FLA FoxSports ads are the best. Hands down. Picture this: a guy loading bags into the trunk of his car, and a massive dumptruck rolls back into his legs, seemingly crushing his lower limbs. then he proceeds to swipe his pants, as if he felt the tickle of an insect crawling on him. i have to give it up for ESPN hockey production value. it is pretty damn good. its MSG that truly grates me(and makes up the basis for my broad generalization). the guy in the replay booth seems to think setting up a goal means seeing the puck cross the line. horrendous. CKWS, isn't that out of Kingston? how i miss the Wok-In.(sorry, obscure restaurant reference)
posted by garfield at 03:24 PM on April 30, 2003
Garfield, I think it might be "Smell the Sweat". All I remember for sure is that the title makes me think "no thanks", every time I see it.
posted by Samsonov14 at 06:31 PM on April 30, 2003
"Smell the Sweat" isn't CBC. It's a Leaf Sport thing... which, generally, means any Leaf game NOT on Saturday. My favorite is Ford, whose vehicles are apparently, "Built For Life In Canada." Huh? The Ford plant is 15 minutes walk from where I live, so, in a way, they are. I hate Ford, though, so whatever. Anyway, sure, our commercials might be cheaper -- but they tend to be more amusing and entertaining (as far as ads go).
posted by mkn at 11:41 PM on April 30, 2003
Man, how can you all complain about ANYTHING even remotely tied to Tim Horton's?!? As a 'Mericun who just spent his first weekend in Tronno, my god, if you all will let me in, I'm moving, and preferably into a booth at a Tim's!
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:21 AM on May 01, 2003
nothing wrong with their joe, just their ads.
posted by garfield at 01:23 PM on May 01, 2003
Props much deserved. Ron's an icon. Great link.