5 Ideas for VERSUS’ New Year’s Eve Show

When we heard about VERSUS’ New Year’s Eve show (Thursday, December 31st, 11-12:30 ET) we were conflicted, but excited.  First of all, who was going to watch this?  Why check out 90 minutes of pretty mediocre hockey chat when you can see how close Dick Clark is to the drain this year?  Won’t anyone wanting hockey chat just turn on On the Fly instead?

But you’ve gotta’ hand it to VERSUS.  This is a solid idea to throw out there.  This is them testing the waters for a potential late night hockey show, I think.  We heard that VERSUS was thinking of upping the hockey programming after the Olympic break, and maybe this is a potential preview.  Regardless, it gets VERSUS into the Winter Classic hooplah.  I’m just curious if this has anything to do with ESPN jumping into the fray and sending a crew and commentators to the game.

So, with that said, here’s 5 suggestions for the show:

1. Go After a Hockey Band, Not a “Name” Band For House of Blues Segments

VERSUS is dispatching reporter Charissa Thompson to the House of Blues in Boston for part of the show, and it’s assumed that a band will be performing as part of the shindig.  Please make sure you get The Zambonis, or some folks with hockey cred.  No one wants to see some C-level alternative rock or, worse, active rock band try to plug their new record in free Bruins/Flyers jerseys.  Either get me the Dropkick Murphys, or get me death.

2. Play Around with the Format

This can be part-NHL 2Nite, part year-in-review, part entertainment show.  Don’t stick to one thing.  It’s New Year’s Eve, and it’s supposed to be 90 minutes and fun, it should be a little disjointed.  As long as it remains fun and watchable, there should be no problem here.

3. Don’t Bother Competing with the Ball Drop

It’d be nice to do something, but let’s face it, we’re all going to turn somewhere else to see the new year ring in.  Just quietly go to commercial for a few minutes at 11:58 PM and come back and wish everyone a happy new year.  It’d probably be for the best.

4. Keep it Light on the Winter Classic Sob Stories

There can be the temptation to overuse the feature stories on how all these hockey players played on frozen ponds as a kid and their parents drove them to games at 5AM and etc.  We get it.  Combine that all into one feature, don’t spread it around like some themed “Outdoor Memories” recurring segment.  It’ll just get really tiring.

5. Stick Around For Some Winter Classic Post-Game

Get people used to checking in on VERSUS on January 1st, considering there are rumors of another game featuring Canadian teams for next year.  Surely, NBC’d pass up on that game and give it to VERSUS, right?