NHL HBO 24/7

[archibalduk]

I was watching the Pens/Caps 24/7 DVD earlier today and it made me think we must be due another one of these very soon. Sure enough, HBO 24/7 will be back starting from 14 December: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=688204

The Wings and Leafs are far from my favourite teams, but it's still nice to see the show back again. I just hope it doesn't get too mediocre like the the Rags/Flyers series (IMO the first one or two episodes were great but then it all got a bit dull). I'm still waiting for that series to be released on DVD like the first series of episodes...

[batdad]

this one is not going to be all that great. Neither team really has much for personalities off the ice. No Bryzgalov here. No Talbot or Hartnell. Here is to hoping that someone steps outside the box to have fun.

Should be interesting for Babcock...he is going to be real busy with this, coaching the Wings and dealing with Olympic stuff for Canada...

I dunno..any nutso personalities on either team? Someone good for a laugh or two. I hope it is there.

[philou21]

Well with the Leafs there is Phaneuf and Orr maybe? We could see if they are idiots off the ice too. Maybe Kadri?

[Primis]

I think there will be more things than you expect. This Wings team isn't as cohesive and "robotic" as past ones. Also, Pavel Datsyuk is really, really funny, and Johan Franzen and a couple other guys sometimes don't think before saying things. There's also developed a bit of Veteran vs Youngster schism within the team I think. The Dan Cleary thing really aggravated that this season. Also if he ever gets called back up Jordin Tootoo is probably good for the cameras and storyline.

Kyle Quincey is also.... I don't even have words for him. It's summed up best by a few weeks ago the Wings players on an off-day gave out ice cream to people and the lone picture of Quincey's involvement in the event was him sitting alone in the front of the ice cream truck, playing with the bell. That was the most Kyle Quincey thing ever.


And the Leafs, my gawd. They would be drama without HBO. Imagine if the wheels have started to come off?

I won't see em' though. Don't get HBO.

[archibalduk]

I won't see em' though. Don't get HBO.

Me neither, but usually somebody uploads it to Youtube.

[squadz]

Can't wait. I'll actually be at the Winter Classic, going to try to find those cameras and jump on.

[batdad]

Good.. No posts yet about this. On last night in USA....We Canadians...you know the ones who care? We do not get it until tonight. And with swearing beeped out. Ugh.

[archibalduk]

For non-NA users, there's an HD version on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfSZ5YC04U8

I'll be watching it tomorrow evening. Hopefully without any beeped out swearing. Seeing as half the point of the show is the obscene volume of swearing!

[Primis]

We Canadians...you know the ones who care?

So the 15% of Canadians?

[batdad]

More than that .0000000000002% of Americans.


Oh and would not have missed much. Bloody boring. Dion Phaneuf B>>>>O>>>>>R>>>>>I>>>>N>>>>>G
Alfredsson, Howard......BORING>

Coaches....boring and staged rubbish with Carlyle.

[archibalduk]

Yeah it was really dull. When it's this dull, it really hammers home how formulaic it is.

Btw, I thought Phanuef could do with a few more suits and shoes. Didn't have enough in that wardrobe of his.

[batdad]

And a Bentley, and 400 baseball caps, and a wife who is semi hot, but a C list actress IMHO. Funny how Dion (who is notoriously private) lets cameras into his house....wonder if his wife needs a gig? LOL. Poor Dion. And to snap like he did when asked about his suspension. "How do you think I feel?". Come on Dion dude is just doing his job, but I forgot...you have no personality.

[philou21]

They are even married since this summer. Thought they weren't together anymore haha

[archibalduk]

Only semi hot?!

[batdad]

Yeah...plastic face. Boring looking. No excitement from me for that one. Average looks, dolled up for TV to make her look like a 7.

[archibalduk]

I'd give her a 7 or 8. It really says something when the wives/girlfriends are the hot topic from the first episode! Bring back Bryzgalov. He was ace. Howard is just a bit weird IMO.

Torts and Beaudreau were fun too. I'd love a Nucks v Ducks 24/7 next season!

[batdad]

More likely Florida-Nashville than anything involving a Canadian team other than Leafs or Habs

My bet is that if Sutter allows it...LA Kings are involved next season. And maybe the Islanders in the new building, but not likely them. Patrick Roy in Colorado.

[archibalduk]

I bet Patrick Roy would be fun to watch!

[jesterx7769]

It was a good production but uneventful. Being that it is the first episode, some pros and cons

Pros:
-Thought both coaches came off well. Babcock is one of the best in his generation when you look at sustained success and the international achievements. Carlyle came off as a successful coach trying to turn around an important franchise.

-Both franchises history came off well. As a Detroit fan its obviously important to me, and its something they showed/talked a lot about. The wall in Joe Louis with all the accolades on it is a cool thing to see in person.

-Phaneuf's suspension was handled well. Going from the hit to the GM/VP, to then seeing him get the news. Contrary to what someone else said I don't think he "snapped" at the camera man at all. He didn't say "how do you think I feel" in a mean way, more of an honest "duh" type of thing.

-I thought Lupul came off well in the whole thing, good timing from showing him rehab to first game back.

-Thought Kadri came off well, I like him a lot as a young player so glad to see his air time and well spoken.

-Alfredsson part was decent. Wasn't a big fan of him coming to Detroit on a one year deal for the money but he is well respected in the league so showing him outside of hockey was probably good for the show.

Cons:
- Not to beat a dead horse but the Phaneuf thing came off really bad. I'm not sure if he knew they were going to portray his wardrobe as much as they did but I thought that made him come off really, really bad. Not just because he likes clothes but with him being boring and the Captain, you would like the top draft pick and captain of a historic franchise to care more about clothes, car and his actress wife who all I can think about is Avery. In fairness to him I think it was more about the editing.

-No real Zetterberg or Datsyuk stuff from a Wings fan is disappointing, I think there was only one real Z interview. Obviously there are more episodes but when you talk about Datsyuk being a top player it would be nice to hear from him. On the same note from Toronto not hearing from Kessel yet was kind of a downer.

-Didn't feel the young guy restaurant part at all. As a Detroit fan that is our worst nightmare right now, a bunch of young guys we hardly know and have barely contributed yet. I'm glad they get along, but it just didn't sit well personally with me seeing the future of this down franchise all look like 16 year old frat buddies at dinner in Florida.

-There was a lot of Cleary and a lot of people in Detroit don't really like him anymore due to the money he has gotten to stay and be a fourth liner. Hard working long term vet but meh.

-Same thing with Weiss. I get they showed him because of Florida and they needed a story but as a Detroit fan its hard to see him getting almost 5m on a long term deal and not be upset.

[batdad]

THey showed Cleary, Weiss, and Alfredsson from Detroit because the guys who have been there are B--O---R---I--N--G in public.

I have seen Dion's act enough to know he was dealing with the reporter asking the question about how he feels in a contemputous manner.

Yeah the episode is setting things up for sure. But the scenes with Carlyle were staged for the most part. Laffs looking after their image, and really being careful about what gets caught on camera. HBO was really trying to get some drama out of the Phaneuf suspension and it well......flopped badly.

The closest they came to drama and interesting was Alfie's wife. She looked none to happy.

The best moment was definitely Weiss saying " I am watching my highlights" Almost like he was chastising someone for speaking to him at that moment. LOL

Babcock oozes knoweldge and class....that is what makes him boring. No temper tantrums.

And after the Boudreau stuff the teams are going to be really careful and the result will be that this or the next 24/7 will be the last. Not going to see much interesting stuff.

[philou21]

The best moment was definitely Weiss saying " I am watching my highlights"

The tape must be short.

[RomaGoth]

The best moment was definitely Weiss saying " I am watching my highlights"

The tape must be short.

Ouch. As a Wings fan I have been highly disappointed in Weiss so far. Well, he has 4 years after this to get it straightened out....

[Primis]

The best moment was definitely Weiss saying " I am watching my highlights"

The tape must be short.

I bet it's much longer than the highlight reel of Filppula's entire DET career.

[philou21]

But he is supposed to be sooo good. Now that Stamkos is injured he's on fire!!