HBO last night aired the first episode of HBO’s "24/7 Flyers/Rangers: Road to the Winter Classic," and the "unquestionable stars" were Flyers G Ilya Bryzgalov and Rangers F Artem Anisimov, according to Pat Leonard of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Bryzgalov was "waxing on everything from the universe, to Chinese laws governing tiger hunting, to the extreme perception of fans in the City of Brotherly Love." Meanwhile, Anisimov's "true colors shone through during an inside look at his controversial rifle goal celebration last week against Tampa Bay." Both teams "received ample time on camera, but outside of Bryzgalov, the Rangers seemed to carry Episode 1 with great one-liners, quality storylines and some interesting in-game decisions" by coach John Tortorella. In addition, the "chronicling of Ryan Callahan’s Rochester roots and his blue-collar family was a nice touch, tying in the captain’s background with his identity as a player, and that of the Rangers." Callahan’s "post-game hug in Buffalo with his grandmother had her removing her glasses and wiping her eyes." Leonard writes, "HBO seemed to touch on all emotions in Episode 1, and the Rangers gave us a reason to tune in next Wednesday" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/15). In New Jersey, Andrew Gross wrote, "My first impression was that Flyers coach Peter Laviolette came across really well, well-spoken, intelligent, very passionate." Tortorella, "of course, comes across as very passionate as well and it was interesting to watch him blister Marian Gaborik on the bench." The "sequence showing the behind-the-scenes stuff from Artem Anisimov cocking his stick like a rifle and pulling the trigger after his shorthanded goal against the Lightning was fascinating." Gross: "It was good to see Anisimov's apology to his teammates, just as it was good to see how quickly his teammates essentially told him to forget it" (NORTHJERSEY.com, 12/14). Newsday's Neil Best wrote on his Twitter account, "Scenes in Rangers locker room after Artem Anisimov incident were '24/7' gold. Especially Sean Avery smirking at him" (TWITTER.com, 12/14).
FOUR-LETTER WORDS: ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun writes, "'24/7' came out of the gates with some early fisticuffs and F-bombs to reel in the audience, but settled down to begin character development, awe you with the kind of access networks have dreamed about for decades and left you wanting more." LeBrun: "Why fix what isn't broken, right?" (ESPN.com, 12/15). YAHOO SPORTS' Greg Wyshynski writes HBO filmmakers "were up to the task." Wyshynski also notes, "Unofficially, 43 F-bombs in Episode 1," while the first episode of last season's "24/7" had "somewhere between 66 and 68" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/15). ESPN.com's Katie Strang wrote her "three stars of episode 1" were Ryan Callahan's grandmother, Byrzgalov and Tortorella (ESPN.com, 12/14). On Long Island, Neil Best writes HBO "struck gold with its behind-the-scenes access." But the show "was not without its flaws, including an overwritten opening narration about the glory and heartache of the sport, as well as more scenic views of Manhattan than in an old Woody Allen movie" (NEWSDAY, 12/15). In Philadelphia, Marc Narducci wrote the first episode "was an interesting behind-the-scenes look at both teams." There was "nothing truly ground breaking, but well worth watching nevertheless." Narducci: "It was a decent start, but one has to hope that the pace is picked up in the next segment" (PHILLY.com, 12/14).
SETTING THE STAGE: Callahan said in the episode, “New York is a big stage and it comes with a little bit more pressure. I think that’s something that you have to accept and use as motivation.” Narrator Liev Schreiber noted the Rangers are one of the NHL’s “Original Six” teams, and “tributes to the team’s heritage line the walls of Madison Square Garden, constant reminders of expectations that never seem to descend.” Schreiber said of the Rangers' opponent in the Winter Classic, the Flyers, “own a history that doesn’t date back as far as the Rangers, but a pride with its own fervent flavor.” Since being founded in the late ‘60s, the Flyers “have been central characters in the saga of their sports-crazed city” (“24/7 Rangers/Flyers,” HBO, 12/14).
TWITTER REAX: ESPN's Craig Custance wrote on his Twitter feed, “If you missed 24/7, encore is starting now. Well worth the time. Torts and Bryz live up to expectations.” ESPN The Magazine's David Fleming wrote, "Last 15 min of HBO's 24/7 NHL was prob more interesting, touching & informative than all the NFL stuff I've watched this season, combined." Former NHL Senior Dir of Social Media Marketing & Strategy Michael DiLorenzo wrote, "I thought last night's HBO 24/7 was awesome. How good was Ryan Callahan's grandmother? Sharp as a tack." Yahoo Sports' Greg Wyshynski wrote, "The work HBO must have done to re-edit their first episode after Giroux is impressive. Wonder if that Simmonds segment was late addition too." Actor Michael J. Fox wrote, "Loved 24/7.Love NHLers...gritty stoic humble...respect for the game. No Sid vs Alex but great drama." Hurricanes C Zac Dalpe wrote, "HBO really gets it. 24/7 did not disappoint." Former MLB Rangers Managing General Partner & CEO Chuck Greenberg wrote, "Great start to the new HBO 24/7."
