NBC SPORTS

We realize it’s a long hockey season. And producers of national telecasts feel compelled to try new wrinkles to entertain, inform, and generate press. But the ill-advised idea to add actress

to Wednesday’s Rangers-Penguins telecast on NBCSN for a full period added zero. It also opened up Sarandon to an undue amount of criticism. Nice try with the gimmick, but now it’s time to shelve it.