Casting has begun for a made-for-TV movie (in two-parts, natch) tentatively titled The Don Cherry Story.

The movie’s author? Cherry’s son, Tim.

The script follows the Coach’s Corner star’s early life in hockey’s minor leagues. It ends, oddly abruptly, when Cherry met the CBC’s Ron MacLean nearly 25 years ago.
“We’re trying to find out if Brad Pitt can play the leading role,” Cherry joked.

(Er, at least I think it was a joke.)

Provided the CBC gives it the green light (and really, why wouldn’t it? Sadly, it will likely be one of the most-watched programs of the year), shooting should start within a few months. It is expected to air during next spring’s Stanley Cup playoffs.

Poking around the Techknowledgy site [internal link] this morning, I learned that CBC developed the instant replay. Actually, it was a fellow named George Retzlaff who, in the 50s, was the producer/director of Hockey Night in Canada.

George experimentally used a “hot processor” to develop a kinescope (film) recording of a goal within thirty seconds. Instant replay was born!

George Retzlaff was the first HNIC switcher. He was promoted to producer/director half way through their first televised season. George had an innovative vision of how to broadcast sports. He produced and directed HNIC for 20 years and devised many of the techniques and camera angles still used 50 years after HNIC’s 1952 television debut. In 1973, George became the original recipient of hockey’s Foster Hewitt Award for excellence in sports broadcasting.

He died four years ago.

UPDATE: George’s daughter added these comments:

George Retzlaff was my father. He did invent instant replay, but he tried it without permission and they told him not to do it again. It was on hold for a couple of years before it was done again.

George Retzlaff is being honoured at a CBC awards dinner on November 20th, 2007 at the Royal York, as others for their work in CBC sports.

Jan
His daughter

Thanks Jan!

Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean has signed a deal with the CBC to continue for the next next seven seasons.

The new deal will run through the 2013-14 campaign, which coincides with the television deal struck by the CBC and National Hockey League in March.

MacLean joined the network in 1986 and hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs’ telecasts on HNIC before becoming the full-time national host the following year. His role expanded over the years to include hosting CBC’s coverage of the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games, world track and field championships and Calgary Stampede.

More at cbc.ca

Hockey Night in Canada will get its own special radio show on the Sirius Satellite Radio network. CBC owns 40% of Sirius Canada. The new host will be Toronto’s Jeff Marek, who is currently at AM 640.

HNIC Radio will air from 4-6 p.m. ET starting October 1.

Marek received the job offer about a month ago and told the Globe and Mail [full article] that he couldn’t say no. “It’s a dream… As try to play it off like, ‘oh yeah, I’m cool and professional and detached.’ Hockey Night in Canada, I’ve grown up watching this thing since I was old enough to turn on the television.”

The entire Hockey Night In Canada schedule on CBC will be streamed online when the season begins September 29.The HNIC schedule will include 85 games — more games than any other broadcast season. In addition to the game, CBC will also stream the pre-game show, and the After Hours pre- and post-game shows.

Thursday marked a changing of the guard at Hockey Night in Canada as Sherali Najak was appointed the show’s executive producer.

Najak takes over for Joel Darling who was promoted to director of production for CBC Sports after serving as executive producer for HNIC since 2000.

Najak’s new role will include overseeing HNIC’s entire broadcast package, in addition to providing a long-term vision for the show over the next seven years, as CBC Sports moves forward with its new contract agreement with the NHL through the 2013-14 season.

Najak has been the senior producer for HNIC since 2002. Doug Walton, formerly of TSN, was named Najak’s replacement as senior producer Thursday.

More at CBCsports.ca

That’s “re-sign” as in “sign again” - not “resign” - an important hyphenation, no?

Despite speculation that they might be on their way out, and mixed reviews on this very blog, Hockey Night in Canada announcers Bob Cole and Harry Neale will be returning for at least another year.

Cole, 74, and Neale, 70, have been working together since 1986. According to the Toronto Star, CBC Sports exec Scott Moore is “happy to have them both back”:

Bob’s a legend and I want to make sure he’s a part of Hockey Night In Canada as long as he wants to be in some way, shape or form.

-PG

The Globe and Mail speculated late last week that it might be time for the CBC to retire Hockey Night in Canada’s play-by-play team.

Will the longest tenured play-by-play team in Canadian broadcasting, the CBC’s Bob Cole and Harry Neale, return to the Hockey Night in Canada booth next season?

It’s too early for a CBC announcement, but you can anticipate one of two decisions: Either the network will thank Cole, 74, and Neale, 70, for their long and estimable contribution to the show and say goodbye. And Jim Hughson will be offered Cole’s spot as the No. 1 play-by-play caller, and the CBC will look for additional announcing and analytical talent.

Or Cole and Neale will both be given another one-year contract, with perhaps a reduced workload and the understanding they will retire at the end of 2007-08.

I don’t watch a lot of hockey (I know, I know…) but I’ve always really liked their input and commentary. Then again, I’m a bandwagon-jumper (Go Sens! What? They lost?) so what do I know.

What do you think? If you were in charge of Hockey Night in Canada, would you pick them up for another year or find new people?

Hockey Night in Canada’s Don Cherry made his debut on American television for NBC’s coverage of the Stanley Cup’s finals. If you missed it (which, of course, you did because you were watching CBC coverage of the game), you can see it again here.

The theme to CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, considered by some Canadians to be Canada’s other official national anthem, is now available on iTunes.

Hockey Night In Canada’s Saturday night time slot will be back for the upcoming round of Stanley Cup playoffs. The NHL opted to hand NBC the lucrative slot because the network wanted to showcase Penguins star Sidney Crosby. The CBC draws a larger audience on Saturday nights than it does for afternoon telecasts.

Okay, I’m a bandwagon jumper. But this year, I’m actually following my team (Go Canucks!) in the first round of the post-season.

Except right now, Hockey Night in Canada is airing the Calgary game. (Hmph. Calgary.)

Well, in case you want to catch a game that’s not being aired, you can tune into CBC’s NHL streaming channel. Don’t forget to hit the “Pop Out” link to keep it on your desktop while you do other things.

I wonder if Bev Oda’s watching online?