Skating with Celebrities

[proper stranger]

I was out last night and actually chose to tape this over Lost. I know, I know...I need help.

I don't think Lloyd and Kristy should have been marked so low on the technical score, but their program was pretty dull presentation-wise.

Even though Bruce has had too much plastic surgery, he seems like a good guy and I have to admire his guts (given his age and bad knees). Tai looks fantastic and I love the joy that comes through in her skating.

Todd cracked me up with the knee pads and wrist guards (which I would probably also need if I ventured out on the ice), but he seemed to be having fun during the routine. Poor Jenni can't dance, but gave it her all.

[Benni]

swanflake said:

benni said:

:

Brent Butt and Josee Chinard

Mike Meyers and Elizabeth Manning (They could drive each other crazy)

Elvis Costello and Alanis Morrisette

Haha, I think the names you're thinking of are Josee Chouinard, Elizabeth Manley (I don't like her, and she's too chunky to be skating with a bare midriff), and Elvis Stojko.

Are you guys making fun of my Skating with the Celebrities Canadian Style. What's a little spelling between friends? I put Rita McNeil together with Elvis Costello on the e-mail to CBC.

[kostgard]

Todd cracked me up with the knee pads and wrist guards (which I would probably also need if I ventured out on the ice), but he seemed to be having fun during the routine. Poor Jenni can't dance, but gave it her all.

Hee! I know! I was waiting for them to but a helmet on Todd when they started listing all his other padding. And poor Jenni - that was definitely white girl dancing.

Other than that, all I know is that I need to take up figure skating because Dorothy and Tai both still look fantastic! I can't believe they were the stars of their sport almost 30 years ago.

[swanflake]

The premiere got huge ratings with an 11.2 to "Lost's" 11.5, and I heard on "Access Hollywood" that they were ahead of "Lost" in the first half hour.

How ironic that watching a bunch of barely famous people with middle aged skaters is so much more appealing to America than watching the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships, which got rather dismal ratings[/color] with a 4.7 for the Saturday night broadcast last week, and under a 5.5 for the final group in the ladies' free skate. From 1992 to 1996 and again in 1998 the US Nationals got over a 10.0 for the final group in the ladies' free skate. The ratings for the competition have suffered a lot since they started going up against an NFL Playoff game. I think next year will be the first time in several years that Nationals won't be up against an NFL game, so the ratings might be better, but then again, we won't have Michelle or Sasha next year, so we might lose a lot of viewers because of the lack of any big star.

[Deleted]

It will be interesting to see what kind of ratings it gets on Monday nights. I have no clue what it's up against, since I'm not home Monday nights.

As for the Nationals, it probably isn't helping that much of it is relegated to ESPN (which causes my mother no end of pain, since Canadians don't get ESPN without a grey market satellite dish.) It's lost its "flavor of the month" status in the televised sports realm. (If only NASCAR would suffer the same fate.)

[Deleted]

swanflake said:

The premiere got huge ratings with an 11.2 to "Lost's" 11.5, and I heard on "Access Hollywood" that they were ahead of "Lost" in the first half hour.

How ironic that watching a bunch of barely famous people with middle aged skaters is so much more appealing to America than watching the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships, which got rather dismal ratings

[/color] with a 4.7 for the Saturday night broadcast last week, and under a 5.5 for the final group in the ladies' free skate. From 1992 to 1996 and again in 1998 the US Nationals got over a 10.0 for the final group in the ladies' free skate. The ratings for the competition have suffered a lot since they started going up against an NFL Playoff game. I think next year will be the first time in several years that Nationals won't be up against an NFL game, so the ratings might be better, but then again, we won't have Michelle or Sasha next year, so we might lose a lot of viewers because of the lack of any big star. [/quote]

We won't have Michelle next year. Is Sasha retiring too?

[swanflake]

spordelia said:

As for the Nationals, it probably isn't helping that much of it is relegated to ESPN (which causes my mother no end of pain, since Canadians don't get ESPN without a grey market satellite dish.)

In terms of hours of coverage on both ABC and ESPN, it's pretty much the same that it's always been (in recent history), but this was the first year that the Pairs and Dance finals weren't aired at all on ABC. They wanted everything on ABC to be Live this year. I'm not really sure what I think of that.

Is Sasha retiring too?

Yes, from what I've gathered. But anything is possible I guess.

[forever1267]

I can't believe I'm writing this, but Jillian Barbarie is actually talented at something. I might be smolted for saying that, but it's true.

[ramblingpj]

I was disappointed to see Todd Bridges fall and be eliminated. From what I saw, he did a remarkable job considering he had three weeks to learn how to ice skate. His partner could skate, but her dancing was another issue.

In my opinion, Jillian Barberie has an unfair advantage over the other celebrities because she took skating lessons as a child. So, of course, she is going to shine. Don't get me wrong, she did very good, and I was impressed.

I thought that all of the skaters did better on this show with the exception of Nancy Kerrigan and Dave Coulier. Their presentation was fair...not spectacular.

That older judge just needs to lighten up, and Dorothy Hamill looks good for her age.

[carrier76]

I watched this crap, and WOW I am not coming back. First off, Scott Hamilton and Kurt Browning both annoy like no other. Bruce Jenner makes me sick. I kind of hated Meno and Sands. Nancy Kerrigan? Plah. I have no idea who Lloyd Eisler is (please don't stone me for that). Yeah. And Dorothy Hamill was also horrifyingly annoying. Stop cringing when you flash your score! GOD.

Also, I'm very perplexed by John whats-his-name's participation in this. John, SASHA COHEN'S COACH. Don't you have more important things to worry about?

Having said that. My experience at US Nationals. Upon Swan's request, I will conjure up as much as I can remember. The increased ability from group to group was very remarkable. Swan, I do apologize as I can't remember what some of those girls you mentioned did. I just was very sad about Stephanie Rosenthal's lower-than-deserved marks, because she seems so open and fresh and charismatic. None of the advanced group skated a clean program, which was really surprising. The biggest hush came over the crowd when Kimmie felt at the end of her program. That was so sad, because she was spot on for the rest of it! After Emily Hughes skated, Sarah made the mistake of yelling in the stands. People followed the direction of the yell and pretty soon everyone was pointing and she got mobbed. Ha, ha. I was really excited to finally see a medal ceremony, and was UBER excited that they also did the men's ceremony that night! I am so pissed I only had one pic left for that. Evan Lysachek apparently has a following with all of the 12teens in St. Louis. Every time they said his name this big group of girls squealed. It was cute. YAY Matt Savoie. Michael Weiss was taking pics of the audience. Don't know what that was about.

I had a super, super time and wish I had more to report, but it was a lot fresher in my mind that night. If you have any questions I'll try to answer them.