IceNetwork Announcers for U.S. Nationals | Golden Skate

IceNetwork Announcers for U.S. Nationals

Art&Sport

Medalist
Joined
Apr 28, 2011
Under the IceNetwork schedule, the list of announcers is provided:

ANNOUNCERS

Icenetwork.com's announcing team is headed up by Mike Mancuso, who will be joined in the booth by 1996 U.S. silver medalist Tonia Kwiatkowski, 2006 Olympic silver medalist ice dancer Tanith Belbin and three-time U.S. champion Michael Weiss.


BACKSTAGE LIVE

In addition to broadcasting the competition, icenetwork.com will provide FREE behind-the-scenes video from Omaha to all registered users. This coverage will include interviews, "AT&T ICE Desk Live" segments, special features, senior practice sessions, press conferences and more. Belbin, Weiss, 2002 Olympic champion Sarah Hughes and 2011 U.S. champion Ryan Bradley will comprise icenetwork.com's backstage team.




So, does that mean Peter Carruthers is not returning for backstage coverage? Apparently, since his name is not listed. I think it's really too bad that Johnny Weir decided to make a comeback as a figure skater instead of sticking with broadcast commentary for figure skating, since he did such a great job for IceNetwork last year in commentating the senior men's event. During their Ice Desk interviews together last year, Peter C exhibited a playfully antagonistic relationship with Johnny, but as usual, Johnny held his own. I wonder if had Johnny not decided to make a comeback as a skater whether IceNetwork was interested in having him commentate at Nationals again.

I am less than thrilled that Michael Weiss will be doing the commentating for the men's event at Nationals. Of course Michael is a good guy and upstanding past National champion, but his commentating is so generic, bland and PC, which will be so blah when combined with the mind-numbing chatter of co-anchors Tonia K and Mike Mancuso.

I will be interested to see Ryan B in action backstage. I think even Ryan B would have been more interesting as a commentator for the men's event, than Michael Weiss. Or, even Tim Goebel, Todd Eldredge, Rudy Galindo or Paul Wylie would be better than Michael Weiss, IMHO. But likely Goebel, Eldredge, Galindo, and Wylie were either not interested, or simply weren't asked. I'd even rather hear from a past skater that is lesser known like Derrick Delmore, than sit through Weiss' (okay, but) decidedly bland viewpoints.

Of course, the on-air NBC coverage this year, as usual, is not going to be much better. Johnny showed last year that there is a higher level of commentary that can be achieved. Johnny wasn't perfect, but he was fearless (like a Honey Badger :laugh: ), funny, skillfully observant, and he demonstrated a great knack for providing informative analysis that didn't have an agenda behind it. Johnny also framed the entire event so beautifully in just a few words after Jeremy Abbott's great free skate performance.



ETA:
Anyway, I'm ready for Nationals right now. And I guess I should wait and see how Michael performs. Tonia has always done an adequate job, as has Michael during the GP, but they're both overall pretty bland. IMO, the key is to bring interesting insights without talking too much just to fill the air.
 
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Art&Sport

Medalist
Joined
Apr 28, 2011
Is it worth paying the season pass price to watch Nats live?

Well, for me, yes. I like seeing the entire event and all of the skaters (not everyone who skates will be uploaded on youtube eventually). You also get more than just U.S. Nationals when you subscribe. I think the cost is too high, but I end up shelling it out every year.
 

katymay

Medalist
Joined
Mar 7, 2006
I too will miss Johnny Weir, he really brought life to the proceedings. Love him or hate him, I agree he is a talented commentator. The rest? meh. Bring back Weir.
 

yelyoh

Medalist
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Country
United-States
Yeah Mathman I liked Tara's commentary. She didn't pull any punches and was informative.
 

kwanatic

Check out my YT channel, Bare Ice!
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Joined
May 19, 2011
Does anyone know who did the commentary for the ladies last year? It was Tonya K. and some other lady...the other lady was awful! Her voice made her sound like she was hunched over, two seconds from falling asleep and her commentary was just...ugh. I didn't like her at all...

Shockingly, Tara has become one of my favorite commentators. She doesn't get overly excited a la Scott/Sandra. Her commentary is pretty even and insightful...
 

Jammers

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 4, 2010
Country
United-States
Where's Peter Carruthers? He's always with the Icenetwork. He's gets on my nerves at times but he does usually know what he's talking about.
 
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Jammers

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 4, 2010
Country
United-States
Does anyone know who did the commentary for the ladies last year? It was Tonya K. and some other lady...the other lady was awful! Her voice made her sound like she was hunched over, two seconds from falling asleep and her commentary was just...ugh. I didn't like her at all...

Shockingly, Tara has become one of my favorite commentators. She doesn't get overly excited a la Scott/Sandra. Her commentary is pretty even and insightful...

That was Sarah Hughes. Yeah she has a awful voice.
 

Art&Sport

Medalist
Joined
Apr 28, 2011
That was Sarah Hughes. Yeah she has a awful voice.

Someone must have suggested to Sarah that she take voice lessons.* God knows she needed to do something -- her voice was so whiny and annoying (even though she did have fairly interesting things to say at last year's Nats).

*Her voice seems to have improved a bit, at least during the AT&T Ice Desk video broadcasts from last Fall that are up on IceNetwork.
 
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