Stars On Ice

Re: Stars On Ice

The "I'm Your Man" song was written and recorded by the great Leonard Cohen. IMO, Leonard should be our poet laureate, except he sings. I'd be happy for anybody to skate to any Leonard Cohen song any time. There are so many great ones, they shouldn't have to limit themselves to "I'm Your Man," but it's okay. It's great for pairs skaters and it gave Jenni and Todd a chance, as someone said, to do something unsappy.

Bleuchick, I will be happy to do 1000 words on the Cowboys, but I'm sleepy so it will have to wait. Maybe I will dream about chaps and horses and a place a guy can hang his hat:smokin: BTW, in <em>International Figure Skating</em> there was a blurb about John Z modeling for Giorgio Armani. The Armani rep said JZ was the model who best embodied the Armani style. As far as I'm concerned, JZ can embody anything

As for my friends 9yo: As I recall 9, there were a lot of things I could talk about but didn't know about. I could see myself saying, "Ooh, gross! He's touching her on her panties!" and if my mother said John Z was handsome (in 1965, women in their 30s didn't call a man "cute"), I might have said, "I'm going to tell Daddy you want to wear your sexy nighty for that guy!" having only a vague idea that hearing Mom say a man was handsome had something to do with sexy nighties. But that was me, a girl, 35 years ago. God only knows what kids know now. The funny thing is, my friend and her husband nor any of their friends have hot tubs. No one the 9yo knows has a hot tub. So it may be a TV thing. Ah, these kids today! Nothing like the sweet innocent kids in my day, who by 1969 were running around naked at Woodstock:lol: Anyway, I just mean that with all the stuff kids can see on MTV, the Internet (parental controls--yeah, sure), and everywhere, that a little sauciness in some SOI numbers are nothing. Just think Christina Aguilera and "Dirty" or any one of a zillion pop videos.

One thing I really liked about the cowboy number was that the guys held hands and did partnering moves. In certain other cultures, physical affection between men is standard fare, but in the US, about the only place guys can hug each other is if they're on a team for a macho sport, like football. I thought it was great to see hunky guys being physical with each other.

And my, my, it is true. There is something about John Z wearing that hat. I'm going to sleep right now and will try to guide my dreams appropriately
Rgirl
BTW, in high school, my first boyfriend's nickname was Cowboy and my pet name for his nickname was C'<strong>boy</strong> said like "C'mon" with the emphasis on the second syllable. Now he was cute. Dumb, but cute:smokin:

Re: Stars On Ice

Well, I loved the show today. I think they showed us quite a bit for only having an hour and a half broadcast. Did we actually see every single skater's solo number? (Or at least one of theirs) That is great. And could you imagine if they only had an hour of this though!?!? What all would they have chacked? Would we have seen the cowboys? Or worse, would I have not gotten to see several close ups of John and David during the broadcast?!?! That would have been tragic.....

Highlights for me....

*J&D-Love them....although I was hoping to see Come Fly with Me instead of LTS simply to get it on tape this year! And actually, I liked ALL the pairs today. They have great numbers this year that really seem to suit their styles and Anton as Elvis is TOO much fun! :rollin:
*Todd-He rocks. I loved seeing him at the Hallmark and he is just awesome in SOI too. Can't wait to see him skate again.
*Sing Sing Sing-I wasn't sure what to think when I read reviews of this but it was cool. I liked it a lot!!

The BEST part though is what I have now officially dubbed the Eye Candy Number.....how much fun was that?!? :rollin: After I stopped hyperventilating about how hot Dave, John, and Alexei looked, that was the best number of the day!! LOL :lol: I think that will be my fave number when I see the show live too.... And I don't think it was too bad in terms of whether young kids should be watching it or anything. Like someone else said, they see much worse just watching TV these days. SOI has always seemed to be a bit more of an adult minded show than COI which seems to have been tamer over the years. Just my opinion though... I thought it was great!! LOL :rollin: Bring on the Eye Candy for this gal!! LOL

Re: Stars On Ice

Well, I was rather disappointed. Not by the show itself, but by how and what they showed us. Blah. The cowboy number would be great if not for those crazy cameramen. They really didn't know what we would like to see.

Anyway, I liked S&P, Todd, Alexei, B&S and R&S. M&S are getting a little boring, they should try something else. IMO it was one more of those "Oh look, how we love each other" numbers. Can't say that I liked what Kurt did (too much public harassment and miming). And I hate Scott's Figaro program! They should have showed us the cowboy number instead of it, this time from different camera angles. Never too much of a good thing, lol.

Btw do they have only one female single skater this time?

Re: Stars On Ice

I have to jump in here. I guess I'm the only one that didn't like the overall show this season!
I do adore cowboys :lol:
Maybe I'm grumpy because there was no Ilia or Kristi!

Here's my review........for what it's worth......

Sandra is in on the pairs sandal. Why you ask...well I'll tell you..... LOL.... She lets S/P do what they do best ....Slap, Tickle and Tease and gives B/S that horrid routine where their best assets are buried deep....... very deep.

Kurt! Kurt! We know you are the greatest comedian on ice ever.... with an impeccable laugh timing. But We seen this a million times before. Enough already. It's not skating. It isn't even funny anymore.

Wasn't Kat wearing a very old dress or maybe a new one that was so similar that no one would notice if it were new? She didn't do anything that any other female couldn't do at least twice as good... no make that at least three time better.

Yags looked like he wasn't comfortable doing his racecar number. Doesn't bode well for an entire grinding season. Anyone else think some of his upper body movements served no purpose at all and well .......some movements looked plain silly?

I also hate Scott's Figaro program! Didn't like it when it was new ......what about five years ago now... or the zillion times I seen it since. Couldn't SOI show something that people might want to pay to see live in this spot?

M/S, yet anther sugary coated boring "I'm so in love" routine. Would anyone notice if they did the same routine since 1998. Oh That's right it is the same routine!!!! The other pair teams in the show make them look slow and tired.


Todd's Poetry..... spewing on about standing naked in the spotlight... These are the words that nightmares are made of...I'll never get over this.... I may need therapy.....

Maybe I did this a little tongue in cheek but I was hoping for better after my disappointment in Brian's show and that Diva thing......
hoping that I don't have to duck and hide, LOL!

Re: Stars On Ice

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Yags looked like he wasn't comfortable doing his racecar number. Doesn't bode well for an entire grinding season. Anyone else think some of his upper body movements served no purpose at all and well .......some movements looked plain silly? [/quote]

ik98, what movements served no purpose and which ones looked plain silly?

I was really disappointed with the show. I have tickets for next month and hope the live show will be better. Also, I hope that A&E will televise the whole show.

On another board that I go to said that the opening number on TV is actually the finale. Bad editing!!!

Dee

Re: Stars On Ice

Finally I find a place where at least a couple of people also had negative reactions.

Dunno, maybe I'm just not into this kind of show anymore. Maybe the out-of-order broadcast made it seem more disjointed and themeless than it does in person. But I’m starting to think SOI stands for Schizoid on Ice. To go from Cowboys to Roca & Sur’s Prayer, from Elvis & Marilyn to Misere ...? I guess their idea is to have something for everyone. But it just doesn’t click for me.

A couple positives: I loves me some Kurt. Definitely. As always. Trying to do something on skateguards was innovative. But boy, did that first fall look genuinely painful.

And I liked the pairs/Todd thing quite a bit, (even if the narration reminded me of open mike night at the local coffee house ). It was appropriate and touching to do a commentary on all that’s happened.

But Elvis/Marilyn ? Please tell me B & S aren’t getting Luluized. (Every once in awhile, SOI takes someone who was an exquisite classical skater and turns them into ... whatever that was.)

I thought Cowboys' ending (with the hats) was a bit much. BTW on rssif Lorrie Kim joingly said this was perhaps SOI’s “Tribute to Gay Rodeo.” (Seeing as Lorrie founded the Rainbow skating website, you could hardly call her homophobic. She has a long explanation of why this looked more like what you'd see in a club aimed at gay men, not straight women. And I think I agree with her.)

Include me on the list of people who find Scotty H. annoying at times. And his comedy not funny. Would have paid $65 just to see Katia on the telecast.

It's become frustrating to watch Yags force his way through a routine when he looks in pain. (BTW I *never* get what some of his mime is supposed to be about.)

Finally, if I was ever going to pick someone to top Beacom’s “I’m Your Man,” it would not be Meno and Bland! Zzzzzz.

But did I mention I loves me some Kurt?

Re: Stars On Ice

IK98, I wonder why B&S sign up with SOI, I wish they have stayed with COI. I think their talents shine through, those deep edges and SPEED they generate on the ice.

The Cowboy routine is brilliant, there is something for everyone. Remember some of the Disney cartoons, sometimes they show something with some sexual themes that could only be understood by adults, but little kids are laughing at what was shown on the surface.

Re: Stars On Ice

I just thought the cowboy routine was tongue in cheek. I thought it was cute and liked it.

Stars On Ice

I haven't posted on this kind of topic for a while so here goes. I'm just happy that my husband fell asleep around the time it was coming on and I got to watch it since football is usually on, but I haven't been watching alot of skating anyway since Oksana B. hasn't been on t.v. lately but I really enjoyed this Stars On Ice, my favorite show is COI but this SOI was all around very HOT! with all the guys and stuff.


Nicole Bobek- she was great, I would have liked to have seen a different costume than the one she used last year, but I still like it, she has either gained some weight or filled out but she still looks great, just different to me. And the Abba choice for music was great, I've been waiting to see someone skate to them, though I MUCH prefer to see Oksana B. skate to it, I think it would be perfect for her.

Kristi Yamaguchi- wow, she has really kept up her skating, triples? No problem! I like her new short flipped hair style alot. I liked her music and costume.

The Will Smith number was put together well, it had a sexy edge to it.

Scott Hamilton-I made myself watch him only because I like that song "Chucky's in love" and I hadn't heard it it years. I like Scott's personality but don't enjoy too much of his skating, well some of it.

Sale and Peltier- Loved seeing someone skate to Journey! I think it was choreographed well, I liked the two "pair illlusions" they did, that was different, as well as Jaimie's handstand on David's arm, that looked plain scary! but it was neat and probably unprecedented?

Anton and Elena- He looked good as Elvis! I think Elena should have had blonder hair or a wig or something , she just didn't give me the impression of being Marilyn Monroe, but oh well. There were also too many times that Marilyn's voice cut in and messed up the flow of Elvis's song.I think my favorite part was seeing Elena dance like that in Hound Dog, it was sort of that dirty 50's dancing like they did in Grease.

Katarina Witt-my first thought when she came on was that dress is so old! why doesn't she wear something else? I admire her for still being able to do doubles but the Barbara S. program did nothing for me.

Kurt Browning- same old clown routine or clown "attitude" only wearing hobo clothes or train engineer clothes instead of a clownsuit. I admire his fast feet but the routine was boring.

Kyoko and John-Wow, wow, wow, that routine was soooo hot and sexy! , I loved that part where John is holding Kyoko in his arms on her back and swinging her around and then he goes into a one foot spin with her and she puts her arms around his neck. That is just a neat move! Great Bon Jovi song.

Jenny and Todd- That was so different seeing them skate to what I call Gary Beacom's signature piece. I don't think I've ever seen them be quite so gymnastic.I liked it.

The Cowboy Routine-when the routine first began, it was so hot! but why did they have to start putting their hands on each other! I was enjoying it until they started doing that, that kinda turned me off. But in the beginning, it was like a Chippendales show! John Zimmerman!!! He was the best cowboy in the show, by far. It was neat to see Alexie, getting into something so uniquely American as the "cowboy". The pushups were hot. The jumping on each other, holding hands and swinging each other around could have been so left out! How did they get those hats to stay like that?! That was a very risque move, all in all that routine was EXCITING!

Alexie Yagudin- Someone said that his program was a "racecar program" . I didn't know that. I thought it was supposed to be like he was in a discoteque on a dance floor skating to techno music, but I did recognize the driving moves. Anyway I always enjoy his high energy footwork but in this program he used his whole body, he really is a true skating champion, I hope he gets his hip problem taken care of.

Eleana and Anton-David and Jaimie- I liked Elena's cartwheel move right before Anton holds her leg behind his back and spins her around, and those death spirals were in perfect unison, and then when they all four meet at a dead stop facing each other, that's a great moment.
As for Todd, I didn't mind him being there in the middle of them, but it didn't sound like him talking for some reason.


Anyone else I didn't mention, I didn't tape probably because I don't enjoy their skating. All in all I'm glad I didn't miss this particular SOI.

Re: Stars On Ice

Um Skatingfantasy - Kristi and Nicole aren't in SOI this year. I think you're combining Divas on Ice with the SOI broadcast. Which is fine - I just don't want people to get confused thinking the Kristi and Nicole are part of SOI this year. Kristi retired from the tour and Nicole has never been part of SOI.

I didn't catch the whole broadcast. But I didn't hate B&S - maybe reading all the posts about it made me think it would be worse. Anton looked like a cross between Elvis and Chaplin, but I still liked it overall. I think their handlers concieved this program to play to a N. American audience. Personally I would have enjoyed a classical piece from them.

I got a little lost with the Todd talking piece and the pairs. I'm sure this plays better live than on TV. Todd is a favorite of mine and he didn't disappoint on his solo number.

I flipped the channels during Kat. Nuff said -except to say that Yuka is sorely missed. And Lucinda's Bolero (from Diva's) would have been awesome to see in SOI.

Kurt - I adore him. But I also agree with those that say enough with the clownish numbers. Nothing will top his clown routine from two years ago. This year's number paled in comparison. Sure skating on guards is different. So's squirting milk out of your nose while standing on your head. Doesn't mean it's entertaining to watch.

I missed the finale! That's usually my favorite part! Ah well.

Re: Stars On Ice

Arghghgghhhh! I screwed up taping the show (I take great pride in being a perfect VCR programmer...)! The good news is that I had just seen SOI the night before and was still all tingly

What I would like to know from you fine people is a list of what programs they actually showed--here is what I know so far
Opening number (which was actually the closing number)
Scott's ballet routine
B/S Elvis/Marilyn routine
S/P sexy number
M/S not too sappy program
Todd narrarating w/B/S and S/P
the HOT Cowboy number

Okay, those who are going to the show will not be dissapointed. I had a fabulous time! The REAL opening number was great--starting with Todd and slowly building to the whole cast.

Alexei must have been feeling good in Seattle because he had 3 solo numbers! The first was fun but wimpy in the skating department. The other 2 were great (the racing car one and the "ice humping" one--but hey, he did a 3/3/2 right in front of me!!)

Todd had 2 solos (the big band one and the vocal one) As you can see I didn't pay $15 for a program so I am clueless to the songs (well, I'm clueless anyway, but that's for another thread ) I didn't particularly care for the one where he cited poetry and the pairs skated (yes, it was well done but I would have rather had another B/S solo...)

M/S program were fine and not as sappy as normal but man do they skate slooooooow! I/Z had a TERRIFIC program--they really set the mood! Rocca/Sur were stunning--I hardly breathed throughout their program!

S/P had two solos--I liked the Sinatra one better. They have incredible lifts!

B/S Elvis/Marilyn number was a lot of fun in person. I really wish they had another solo that displayed their gorgeous line and unequaled grace...

Kat Witt--she had this one number with Gorsha Sur and John Zimmerman that was very charming and enjoyable. Her solo number was nice but not as commanding as I would have liked. I think she does better at very dramatic or comical (I loved her "Lemon Tree" program!) This year SOI was really missing a strong female lead, why oh why wasn't Yuka there?

Katia WAS THERE!! She is always a delight to see! She is so petite but manages to generate great speed! She did her Russian Folk program.

Kurt's programs were fun, but I would've liked to see one comical number and one amazing number rather than 2 comical programs...

The Cowboy program was FANTASTIC! I'm so glad they showed that one on TV--even if the cameramen messed it up! Sometimes I don't think they should bother showing group numbers on TV--it's hard enough seeing them live, I always feel like I should have eight eyes or something! What was terrific about the cowboy number in person was they had all those sexy men skating "together" more, even when they paired up they were more or less in a line and they tended to hold the postion longer so you didn't feel like you were missing something on the other side of the rink...they choreographers had fun with this one!

I hope they air SOI again and for more than 1 1/2 hours!! (and I return to my perfect VCR progamming ways<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/ohwell.gif ALT=":\">

eliza88

Re: Stars On Ice

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Alexie Yagudin- Someone said that his program was a "racecar program" . I didn't know that. I thought it was supposed to be like he was in a discoteque on a dance floor skating to techno music, but I did recognize the driving moves. [/quote]
SkatingFantasy, Alexei is a fan of Robert Schumacher (sp?), Formula 1 race car driver and dedicated this program to him.
<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Anyway I always enjoy his high energy footwork but in this program he used his whole body, he really is a true skating champion, I hope he gets his hip problem taken care of.[/quote]
I very much enjoy whatever he does.

Dee

Re: Stars On Ice

eltamina, I thought that it was hard for B/S's speed, grace and their deep edges, as well as their ability to hit great poses was lost in the Elvis/Marlyn number.

Well Dee it's hard to explain the silly Yags moves if you watched and didn't see anything silly, LOL. I guess to each his own! Yags feet are marvelous and probably the best on ice. I just thought that the waving over the head a few times with one hand, the rotating pinwheel arm rotations served no purpose and there was a time, at least to me he did movements of someone imitating an ape. I thought these movements as well as a few others did nothing for the program!

Re: Stars On Ice

don't shoot me, but I never could stand Gary Beacom. Can't stand him or his nutty routines. Ok, and please don't crucify me, I don't want to see Scott H. skate anymore. Love him, but enough already, retire!! (I am awaiting my noose!)

Forgot to watch Stars on Ice, but who cares, I'll see it in March.

Alexie

Dee4704, thanks for the info about Alexie liking that racecar driver. I like to keep up to date with these little tidbits of info about my favorite skaters.

alexie

OOps. 4707!

Re: alexie

Skating Fantasy, I think you have such good taste in your favorite skaters. I think once you know what the theme is about then it is easier to understand the movements and how then they make sense. I thought he outdid himself with Winter but I really love this program and all the different moves. I am totally exhausted when he finishes the program.

Dee

Re: Stars On Ice

I thought that it was hard for B/S's speed, grace and their deep edges, as well as their ability to hit great poses was lost in the Elvis/Marlyn number.

______

IK98, I agree, I love to see B&S skate to more classical pieces.

Racecar Alexei

This was the first time I saw Alexei's racecar program, and I loved it. It's way better than actual Nascar, driving around in a circle constantly making the same turns in the same direction is not a sport.

I wasn't the only one who loved Alexei's program, the 5 year old boy I was watching this with loved it too. Halfway through the routine, he said, "he's good!" Then, at the end of the program, the kid stood up and clapped (I thought the audience should've done so, too). Then he spent the rest of the afternoon running around the living room making the exaggerated driving motions that Alexei made. I'd call that a ringing endorsement.

Re: Racecar Alexei

Fetal, if you liked Alexei's program shown on SOI, then you would have loved the Skate America version. I go to the Alexei Yagudin Discussion board too and they said that he skated the Skate America program slower than another show he was in (I can't remember what show it was). Skate America was when his hip really started bothering him. I just couldn't believe that he could skate it faster than he did then but they assured me that he could and did.

I was telling Laura (Princess Leppard) that over the holidays my 6 year old nephew was watching skating with me (Evgeni was skating at the time) and I asked him if he liked it and he said yes, got off the couch and got into the bielman position. Laura suggested I get him some skates.

Dee