CHANNEL Nine commentator Phil Gould is replacing Matthew Johns on tonight's Footy Show after Johns was stood down indefinitely.
Gould has spent the day with the Johns' family. The show will be devoting a large section of the program to the Sharks scandal.
Special section: Full coverage of Matthew Johns sex scandal
Meanwhile, Channel Nine has already started the process of scrubbing all signs of Johns from its past - it has removed his photo from the masthead of its Footy Show website.
Now only the two remaining panellists, Andrew Voss and Paul "Fatty" Vautin are in the picture.
Today, Vautin defended his support of Johns on last week's Footy Show
And without Johns, who has been stood down but not sacked, the show will be fighting for survival.
The tired program depends on Johns for success in the same way the Newcastle Knights once relied on his brother Andrew.
The program has suffered from dismal ratings and controversial incidents in the past, including host Vautin insulting a disabled security guard last year.
Poll: Should Johns have lost his job?
Now media commentators said the loss of Johns could be enough to kill the show after 15 years.
Fusion Strategy media analyst Steve Allen said the failure to groom current players to join the on-air panel could prove costly.
"The show's executive producers should have started on generational (changes) five years ago because now it's like the last man standing," Allen said.
Gallery: Matthew Johns in crisis
"They should have had young players. Someone who can speak well, present well and has a real knowledge of the game. I would think there were half a dozen candidates."
He said without Johns and his alter-egos - including the hard-drinking Reg Reagan - the program would lack humour and the freshness it needed to survive.
Take our NRL sex scandal survey
"They have stood him down but I wouldn't think they will dismiss him," Allen said.
Sex claim girl 'a willing participant'
While the program proved a ratings failure last year, The Footy Show has this year been winning its Thursday night timeslot.
Allen said he expected the program would stay on air for the 2009 footy season.
Tomato Sauce:
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25480755-5001021,00.html