Liam McHugh is one of the many NBC hockey personalities that made the move to TNT before the start of last season when the network took over part of the league’s TV rights. He has been at the center of the network’s studio coverage alongside Wayne Gretzky, Rick Tocchet, Anson Carter, and Paul Bissonnette.
On the most recent episode of the Sports Talkers Podcast, McHugh told host Stephen Strom that it is easy to understand why Bissonnette has been a breakout star on the show.
“He’s never going after anyone or anything in a negative way,” McHugh said. “There is a joy and a passion to everything he does. I don’t think he is ever trying to put anyone down or make anyone feel terrible.”
He said there is a “boyish charm” to Paul Bissonnette that audiences see. Biz’s colleagues see it whenever he is around The Great One.
“He is still a little kid, so he enjoys the stories and wants to ask Gretzky every question possible, but at the same time, he’s still Biz, so there’s no filter.”
McHugh says that as much as it is clear Bissonnette adores Gretzky, he has no problem making fun of his hero for his wardrobe choices.
As a professional broadcaster, McHugh says one thing that is clear is that Biz understands his role and the value of being the entertaining one on the TNT set. That doesn’t mean that the journeyman forward understands the sport any less than the rest of the cast.
“Listen, if he just wanted to be a straight-up analyst and nothing else and do no entertainment value, he could analyze any game at any time,” McHugh said. “He watches more hockey than anyone.”
Rather than try to analyze why Paul Bissonnette has become a star so quickly, Liam McHugh said it can best be explained with an old entertainment industry cliche.
“To use one of those weird Hollywood lines, the camera loves him. It does! It just does.”
