Following the winger's condition very closely were producers and executives at CBS television network. CBS approached Gagne last June, after the season had concluded, about a possible television career if the left winger was unable to continue playing because of his head injuries sustained from brutal on-ice collisions.
The network had been in the process of bringing back the hit 80's detective show Cagney & Lacey, but had been unable to reach a contract agreement with Sharon Gless, the actress who played Christine Cagney during the show's original run. The network needed to move quickly in finding a replacement as filming was set to begin less than two months later in August of 2008.
"There was a lot of interest in bringing the show back for another go around with the original cast," said CBS executive, Scott Ribble. "But, truthfully, we wanted to change the show a bit to have a male-female team. And we needed the proper name. It's all about the name."
The key to bringing Gagne (pronounced Gon-yay) onto the show was getting him to anglicize his last name and abandon the French pronunciation.
"We wanted Gagne to rhyme with Cagney and we felt that would have been the formula for a hit TV show. We wanted Gag-nee not Gon-yay. Gagne & Lacey," said Ribble.
When asked whether having a male, with no acting experience, fill in for Cagney would affect the show's message and following Ribble responded,"The original show was revolutionary and cutting edge, but we would run with Simon's story of making him a hockey player turned cop on the mean streets of Philadelphia."
The show's setting would have moved from New York City to Philadelphia and writers had Gagne wearing hockey shorts while policing the neighborhoods. The tough cop would carry a firearm, but would never use the piece instead threatening thugs with old Zamboni parts he keeps in the trunk of his squad car.
"The French Canadian accent would be difficult for an American audience so we would have had a voice-over for Simon similar to a Sylvester Stallone voice," said writer, Jake Jenkins.
CBS made a formal offer to Gagne on June 15, 2008 and requested an answer by August 5, at the latest. The offer was never made public, but was said to be financially generous and possibly included three guest appearances on a CSI of his choice.
"[CBS] offered me a lot of money and CSI, which was difficult to turn down. The headaches were so severe that I had to look toward Hollywood. I love hockey but a television career would have been really favorable ... really bien."
Quebec Province in Canada—Gagne is from Ste Foy—loves their hockey players, but are infatuated with their television cop show heroes. Quebec City has a day honoring all the actors in CSI: Halifax and CSI: Portland (ME).
On August 4, 2008 Gagne sent the most difficult text message he has ever had to send. After composing the message for over an hour the Flyer hit the send button:
Dear Guys at CBS,
Over the past several months I hv made tremendous strides in my recovery frm concussion symptoms. It is with mixed feelings that I in4m you that Gagne & Lacey will have 2 wait as I have chosen 2 continue my NHL career & my quest 2 win a Stanley Cup with Philadelphia Flyers. I wish you luck with your search.
Two days later CBS announced an agreement had been reached with Norville "Shaggy" Rogers (aka Shaggy) from Scooby-Doo fame. The contract called for Shaggy to become Shaggny making it fit the shows title. Executives felt Shaggy's crime solving background and long arms would benefit the show.
Shaggy, a cartoon, has been drawn into every scene and has given Tyne Daly, the actress playing Beth Lacey, all she can handle.
"This is a low point for me," said Daly. "The writers have him saying Zoinks about 35 times per episode."
"Perhaps we could have lured Simon from hockey if we brought back Simon & Simon. Calling it either Simon & Simon & Simon or Three Simon's. Perhaps Two Simon's and One Simon if the show aired exclusively in French-speaking Canada." said Ribble.
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