SoapNet, the Disney-owned cable network that has been airing reruns of daytime and old school soap operas for years, has announced its second original program; this one based on the wives of professional hockey players. From The Hollywood Reporter:
“MVP: The Secret Lives of Hockey Wives” (working title), produced by Toronto-based Screen Door, revolves around the on- and off-the-ice drama surrounding the Canadian Mustangs hockey team and the women in their lives. It marks the channel’s second original scripted series following the “General Hospital” spinoff “Night Shift,” which broke network records during its run in the summer.
I find it a little strange that, if they wanted to highlight a sport in their new series, they’d settle on hockey. Sure, hockey players can be super hot. But they also skate around with masks and bulky padding on (not exactly titilating) and the sport isn’t exactly the most popular in the U.S. Now calm down, I’m not dissing hockey, it’s just odd to me that they’d choose it for this show (though the Toronto-based production company is probably a clue). Alas, I’ll definitely tune in to see how it is.
The series premieres June 19. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
on Apr 3rd, 2008 at 12:53 AM
It’s obviously a copy of Footballers Wives that was on BBC in Britian.
on Apr 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 AM
This series ran in Canada this past fall and winter on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp). It received poor reviews and ratings (and had since been cancelled). I tried to get into it, considering it was a look at the sexier side of hockey. Alas, the acting was pretty lousy, and the actors weren’t all that hot. Also, the off-ice action was really toned down, especially compared to Footballers Wives. It wasn’t sexy enough to keep my interest.
It could have been something really good and edgy. Ultimately, it was a failed experiment for the CBC, which is sad considering that hockey is huge in Canada. Maybe it will find a better home on SoapNet.
on Apr 3rd, 2008 at 6:36 AM
Hockey Wives was CBC’s attept at a slick, hip series (see also J-Pod), which despite a big advertising campaign, never seemed to catch on. The guys were pretty good looking (incl. Peter Miller, who played the hot bf Nino in Mambo Italiano), but I never watched a whole episode so can’t really comment on the quality of the show. Lots of designer suits and over-styled hair. It was apparently quite an expensive show to produce, so I’m happy the producers may recoup some of that in selling the show to other countries… it’s so difficult to get an original series produced in Canada.
http://www.cbc.ca/mvp/
on Apr 3rd, 2008 at 2:32 PM
I have to disagree vigorously with the two reviews written above. The series was cancelled in Canada owing to lack of interest in the Ontario marketplace; however, it actually did quite well in other parts of Canada. The principal stars of the series: Trevor LeMond (Dillon Casey), Gabe McCall (Lucas Bryant), and Damon Trebuchet (Peter Miller), are hotter than hell, and there are some very steamy scenes in several episodes, although nothing whatsoever of a homoerotic nature. Nevertheless, the series was exceptionally well done. I saw every episode and was eminently disappointed to learn that it was cancelled. Of course, the series had all the typical sorts of trash that one finds in programs of this type: infidelity, macho bravura, female sexploitation, etc., etc., but it was surprisingly intelligent and well-scripted. I did see Footballers’ Wives as well, and found them to be comparable. It is surprising that a Disney Channel would pick up the series, however.
on Apr 5th, 2008 at 9:05 AM
I have been corresponding with the producer of the show and she had told me that if the second season of the show had been produced there was plans of a male hockey wife (gay relationship) . I did watch the show and liked it. although most of the female characters drove me nuts except for the wife of the hockey player that died and the swwet virginal girlfriend of gabe.
on May 27th, 2008 at 9:26 PM
The first episode of this series is now going to air on ABC on June 20th after the Daytime Emmy awards show, the night after it debuts on Soapnet.