Comcast SportsNet Chicago ‘parts ways’ with reporter; says reason not related to unfortunate on-air slip

Posted on by

Susannah Collins, whose unfortunate slip went viral this week, has been fired by Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

In a statement issued late last night, Phil Bedella, vice-president and general manager of CSN Chicago said:

“Due to circumstances unrelated to her on-air remarks Tuesday night, Susannah Collins and Comcast SportsNet Chicago have parted ways. We appreciate everything Susannah has contributed to our network over the past year and wish her the best in her future endeavors.”

On Tuesday, Collins, who had been working as a reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks, said during Game of the Minnesota series that the Hawks had enjoyed “a tremendous amount of sex” during a segment. She tried to correct herself by quickly saying, “success.”

The next day, Collins sent out this tweet:

Thanks for laughing along with me & my “tremendous” slip, guys. Who couldn’t use a good chuckle every now & then right?? #Whoops!

Apparently, CSN Chicago and the Blackhawks weren’t laughing.

Robert Channick in the Chicago Tribune writes that the slip-up brought attention to Collins’ work on a series of “raunchy” YouTube videos uploaded between 2009 and 2010.

As co-host of Sports Nutz, Collins pushed the boundaries of sports journalism — and good taste — with sexually explicit reports and potentially offensive racial stereotypes.

Produced by Middlebrow Media, the 16-video series drifted more toward lowbrow humor, with Collins and her female co-host, Sam Raddock, delivering everything from rowdy man-on-the-street interviews to a dramatic reading of the sexual exploits of former NBA player Darryl Dawkins’ from his autobiography “Chocolate Thunder.”

Obviously, CSN Chicago and the Blackhawks, a part owner in the station, knew of those videos when Collins was hired in September. She lists Sports Nutz on her bio:

But Susannah’s true calling came in 2009 when she was given an opportunity to host a new web-based sports show, Sports Nutz, allowing her to combine her love of sports with her charismatic, on-camera abilities.

 

So it’s difficult to buy that her slip-up wasn’t unrelated to the dismissal. The likely reason was the gaffe, which dragged up those “raunchy” videos, were a lethal combination to Collins’ stay at CSN Chicago.

 

 

6 thoughts on “Comcast SportsNet Chicago ‘parts ways’ with reporter; says reason not related to unfortunate on-air slip”

  1. What typical bull from Comcast. These people continue to be clueless at every turn. Of course, it could be the Blackhawks making them do it.
    We all know what the front office has become since they advent of
    “The Savior” John McDonough, who would have you think that the sole reason the Hawks won the Cup in 2010 was due to his influence and not something anybody else would take credit for.

    Collins was one of the few people over there who seemed to know what she was doing. She was much better than Tracy Whatever who averages about 30 second of air time a game.

    This from the channel that still employs a stiff like Pat Boyle.

  2. Welcome to national sports cable, Susannah! This is the best thing that’s ever happened to her.

  3. Thought hockey players had bigger huevos than that. Ms. Collins got the shaft for making an honest faux pas! CSN and the Blackhawks need a reality check.

  4. Absolutely ridiculous that she was fired. CSN obviously knew of her background and hired her to bring that very same personality to their station. Then they fire her because it brings negative attention to the station…shame on them, their integrity is shot and if the Blackhawks pushed them into it, shame on them as well. Talk about double standard, just watch “shoot the puck” during the second period intermissions.

  5. this is bullshit. who ever decided to let her go should have a 2×4 stuffed where the sun does not shine.

Comments are closed.