Can Eddie McGuire save The Footy Show, asks Colin Vickery

THE stunning announcement has been made. Eddie McGuire is returning to the TV show that made him a superstar. Can he save The Footy Show, asks Colin Vickery.

• Eddie McGuire returns to The Footy Show: We’ll let Sam off the leash

CAN Eddie McGuire save The Footy Show?

That is the question everyone is asking after the stunning announcement that the Hot Seat host and Collingwood president is returning to the television show that made him a superstar.

If McGuire, who fronted The Footy Show for its first 12 seasons, can revive the ailing program it will rate as one of the greatest TV comebacks of all time.

McGuire was forced to give up hosting The Footy Show when he became Nine Network CEO in 2006.

Then-Nine Network CEO Eddie McGuire with James Packer and Geoff Kleemann in 2006.

Back then, it was a phenomenon with The Grand Final Footy Show guaranteed to pull in more than a million viewers.

The past decade has been a rollercoaster. Garry Lyon and James Brayshaw took over from McGuire and the emphasis was on fun over serious news-breaking.

In 2009, there were more changes when Trevor Marmalade was axed and Billy Brownless and Shane Crawford took on more responsibility with mixed success.

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In 2015, comedian Dave Hughes came on board to help generate laughs but he has always been an uncomfortable fit.

Another blow came when Lyon stepped down citing mental health issues following revelations of his affair with Brownless’ former wife, Nicky, in early 2016.

Brayshaw was convinced that he could host solo, but Nine management had other ideas. By March, Rebecca Maddern, the show’s first female co-host, had joined the team. By year’s end Brayshaw was gone, reportedly after a contract dispute, and Nine got Footy Classified co-host Craig Hutchison to fill the chair.

But Hutchison never clicked. He lacked the requisite charisma. He had no “it” factor. That isn’t a problem with a niche 10.30pm chat show, but it is a major setback when you are in prime time.

Dave Hughes, with Bec Maddern and Shane Crawford, has always been an uncomfortable fit on The Footy Show.

The 2014 Footy Show team: Billy Brownless, Sam Newman, Garry Lyon and James Brayshaw. Picture: Calum Robertson

Craig Hutchison, with Eddie McGuire in May, has never clicked as The Footy Show co-host.

Sam Newman has been there through all the drama.

But this year something has been off with the veteran.

Newman has seemed angry, frustrated or just plain bored on shows. I’m sure he’d have rather been on his boat.

Those emotions have been reflected in declining ratings as viewers steadily deserted The Footy Show.

Newman’s performance on Thursday night’s show was the final straw.

Maybe it was because he was reportedly gagged from commenting on calls for McGuire to step down as Collingwood president, but I’m sure there was something deeper involved.

But is McGuire the answer? We saw what happened when Daryl Somers tried to revive Hey Hey It’s Saturday.

Nostalgia can only get you so far.

The Footy Show cast members in 1996: Doug Hawkins, Trevor Marmalade, Eddie McGuire and Sam Newman.

Eddie McGuire and Sam Newman in 1996.

In one sense, McGuire has nothing to lose. When you’re only getting 155,000 viewers in Melbourne the only way is up. And McGuire loves a fight. Right now his Hot Seat quiz show is locked in a pitched 5.30pm battle with The Chase Australia. The Footy Show versus The Front Bar is another chance to put on the boxing gloves.

There is no doubting McGuire’s passion. There is no questioning his ability to break news stories. and he is the best host of live fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants shows in the game. You also know he will knock heads if he thinks some of the people behind the scenes can do better.

Perhaps best of all, McGuire is a master wrangler of Newman, instinctively knowing when to let him off the leash and when to rein him in before he gets himself — and the show — into too much hot water.

Some will say that McGuire will be stretched too thin with The Footy Show on top of his Hot Seat, Collingwood FC, Triple M radio and Foxtel commitments, but this is a man that loves to keep busy. Boredom is McGuire’s worst enemy.

So I’m excited to see whether a McGuire, Maddern, Newman combo can create magic.

If McGuire can’t do it, no one can. If he fails, you might as well shut up shop.