Hockey Night's producer's ready for risky business
  
Aug 10, 2007 04:30 AM
by Chris Zelkovich
Toronto Star Sports Media Columnist

The new boss of Canada's most popular sports show was making the kind of claims one comes to expect from Hockey Night in Canada offices.

Sherali Najak, who was bumped up from senior producer to executive producer, was talking about how he plans to take things slowly, avoid jarring changes and keep the CBC's biggest cash cow on its usual conservative track.

"Hockey Night in Canada has not become popular over 52 years by drastically changing things," the Mohawk College product said yesterday after being named the replacement for Joel Darling, now the network's director of production. "My mission statement is to be true to the game, to be true to the viewer and to be responsible and efficient in how we manage the show."

With all respect to Najak, who has a stellar reputation in the TV world, I'm not buying it. Some fairly dramatic changes have already been made, more will come and they will happen faster than ever.

One reason is that they're needed. The show may be No.1, but it's been showing its age in recent years.

The game is the thing, but the show needs to surprise viewers from time to time with something more than Don Cherry's jackets.

Another reason is that Najak, the world's only Ugandan-born hockey producer, has a reputation for thinking outside the box. He pushed for Cassie Campbell to get a tryout as an analyst and is known for not being afraid to gamble.

"I'm not scared to take a chance," he said. "I think you have to fall a little bit to know what works and what doesn't."

Darling was fairly conservative in his approach and so was his boss, Nancy Lee. Najak's boss, Scott Moore, is also known as a guy who has never feared taking chances.

The changes have already begun. With Najak moving up, his senior producer role has been filled by Doug Walton, who was hired away from TSN.

Craig Simpson, whom Moore hired for Sportsnet when it launched nine years ago, has left his assistant coach's job in Edmonton and will replace Greg Millen as Jim Hughson's partner. When Bob Cole hangs up the mike, they'll likely be the lead pair.

"Craig's a terrific analyst," Moore said yesterday. "He will be the best in the business soon."

Analyst Harry Neale's workload will be reduced this season, so Millen will take some of that. There are also changes planned for the pre-game show and the uneven Satellite Hotstove.

"We need to be a little bit more aggressive and we need to be constantly improving," Moore said. Najak wants the latter particularly to have more of an edge, with strong debates.

"I remember when it started and it was about breaking rumours and trades, but the times have changed since 1995," he said. "You can get that stuff every second now."

Stay tuned for more.

i've said it before and will say it again.  CBC, get away from the talking heads format which is the hallmark of your intermissions (Coach's Corner in the 1st period, Hotstove League in the 2nd, Behind the Mask whenever).  Why not take a camera crew on the road with a player/team or maybe have a crew follow the likes of Sid the Kid or others to a favourite benefit cause, behinds the scenes stuff.  It would be great to tune in some weekend and see the Habs or Canucks or Leafs (ok maybe NOT the Leafs!) kibbitzing on a road trip...see the players away from the ice.
How 'bout putting cameras/mics on a group of player's wives during a game, edit it, and play it back the following weekend once it's been scoped down.  Ditto for player's families.  Wouldn't it be cool to see/hear the Neidermeyer clan taking in a Canucks game vs the Ducks or the Sakic family when the Av's are in town?

How about a "Week in Review" segment?  There are always team/player landmarks being reached throughout the week.

How about a "Where Are They Now" feature that takes a look at the stars of yesteryear and what they're doing now. Start with Howie Meeker...would love to see some file footage of him with his telestrator (roll it back boys, roll it back...)

And ya gotta expand on that little 60 second snippet after the 1st and 2nd intermission where the CBC rinkside reporter grabs a player and asks two questions, gives them a "comp" HNIC towel and goes to another commercial break.  It would be smarter to do this interview during the pre-game skate and the skate just BEFORE the start of the 2nd/3rd period.  Abit more time to spare.

Bottom line is, use your imagination and ditch the old crutch which is the "talking head" format.

I for one like the satellite hotstove segment, insiders take on events of the week. I did like the Arthur Griffiths radio show on the business of sport, HNIC should focus on that as well.