Katarina and Kurt Commentating

[SkateFan4Life]

I've enjoyed watching Katarina Witt and Kurt Browning commentate at Nationals. Granted, their role hasn't been that large, at least not up until now, but I truly enjoyed their candor, their enthusiasm, and their obvious enjoyment at being on the scene.

Interesting, Kat said she was greatly impressed with Emily Hughes, who had had very strong and "positive" training sessions throughout the week, and she picked Emily as someone who would do very well this year at Nationals. Watching Emily's strong short program reminded me a lot of watching Katarina back in the early 1980s', when she was a young up and coming teenage figure skater bursting on the scene. Young Kat skated with such youthful joy and enthusiasm, and she attacked her jumps in much the same way that Emily attacks her jumps.

 

[Jasper]

I like Katarina, although her part is very small.

I hate Kurt Browning's commentary. He's just so annoying and cheesy and too chatty. And he jinxes everyone! Paul Wylie and Susie Wynne should commentate everything, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[dancindiva03]

I really didn't enjoy the Kurt & Katarina duo. Kurt is just way too over the top, and their gushfest for a very flat and uninspired performance by Sasha was just ridiculous. Too many cooks spoil the soup... and too many commentators makes for a great big headache!

 

[mememe]

I really didn't enjoy the Kurt & Katarina duo. Kurt is just way too over the top, and their gushfest for a very flat and uninspired performance by Sasha was just ridiculous. Too many cooks spoil the soup... and too many commentators makes for a great big headache!

I'm with you -- I haven't liked Kurt wherever he pops up in these broadcasts. He seems to have no reference point in U.S. eligible skating, so he's gabbing on and on about who's thinking what and what people are feeling right now, who's going to hit what when, and making a lot of lame, notice-me-I'm-here cutsy jokes.

I've always been a fan of Katarina, but that bit she and Kurt did on Sasha's TAPED short program was cringe-worthy. They babbled like they had no idea what to do or say about something they'd already seen and should have formed opinions on. The lamest part was Kurt telling us that one feels "comfortable" when Sasha skates and she's always perfect and when you're perfect, then everyone's just waiting for you to make a mistake. I've got news for you, Kurt -- the reason everyone is always waiting for Sasha to make a mistake is NOT because she's "perfect" all the time, but because she almost inevitably DOES make at least one major (usually one that can be termed "silly") mistake in her programs. Even her biggest fans aren't "comfortable" when she skates, because they worry about her making that "expected" mistake. I was very happy that Sasha skated as well as she did, coming off the flu, and I hope she skates well tonight -- but Kurt, don't expect anyone in the arena or watching on television, from John Nicks to me, to feel "comfortable" when the "always perfect" Sasha skates -- and please do a little research on what you're commenting on before telling people what you don't know.

Hopefully, they won't pair these two again -- Kat by herself or with someone who's good at their job is OK. But Kat with Kurt ... yuck. I hope Kurt isn't going to be a regular on U.S. skating broadcasts.

 

[Jasper]

I really didn't enjoy the Kurt & Katarina duo. Kurt is just way too over the top, and their gushfest for a very flat and uninspired performance by Sasha was just ridiculous. Too many cooks spoil the soup... and too many commentators makes for a great big headache!

Agreed. ESPN always feels like the more commentators, the better. They over-stuff Grand Slam tennis coverage with way too many commentators as well. Fewer is better. Just Paul and Susie for figure skating, please! And Terry's not bad, so he can stay.

And that "gushfest" was silly, especially considering that it was relatively poor and slow from Sasha.

 

[Jasper]

Hopefully, they won't pair these two again -- Kat by herself or with someone who's good at their job is OK. But Kat with Kurt ... yuck. I hope Kurt isn't going to be a regular on U.S. skating broadcasts.

Unfortunately, I think he will be covering all the ABC events with Dick Button and Peggy Flemming from now on. Only on ESPN are we free from these annoying personalities.

 

[JonnyCoop]

I have mixed feelings re. Kurt as commentator. He's a little obnoxious, rather in the way that Scott Hamilton was during his early days as a commentator (tho thank God a little more low key than that) and he's got kind of a nasally voice but right off the top of the Men's Final broadcast when he made that comment about "[Weir] and his pet glove, Camille", I just about fell on the floor So I personally found that so amusing (mostly due to his delivery) that I forgave him for being a little harder to take as the broadcast went on.

In regards to Witt, I pretty much in general got tired of her long about 1988, so in regards to her as commentator I could do without her.

I think Tracy Wilson ROCKS as a commentator; I wish we had more of a chance to see her do her thing in that department on THIS side of the border.

 

[Kara Bear]

I think Tracy Wilson ROCKS as a commentator; I wish we had more of a chance to see her do her thing in that department on THIS side of the border.

Smile, I got to watch Tracy aaaallll week

 

[SkateFan4Life]

I really enjoy Kurt's commentary. Sure, he's "chatty", but he also calls a spade a spade, in a nice way, and points out mistakes along the way. He even has the courage to disagree with Dick Button on live television.

 

[JonnyCoop]

I really enjoy Kurt's commentary. Sure, he's "chatty", but he also calls a spade a spade, in a nice way, and points out mistakes along the way. He even has the courage to disagree with Dick Button on live television.

I remember being a bit shocked at that, too, actually. I wonder if he's gonna get his work visa revoked for that??

 

[Teenes]

Kurt's signed as an ABC/ESPN commentator for 2 years, covering five events: Skate America, US Nationals, Worlds, and then two TBD events (this year Campbell's and Marshalls).

 

[Rgirl]

Yuck.

Kurt seemed like he was trying too hard to be cute and funny. And generally I like Kurt.

When Kat compared Sasha's skating to "the feather in 'Forrest Gump'" I could understand Elvis Presley's impulse to shoot his TV.

Too bad they couldn't have used Paul Wylie as a commentator. I thought he was outstanding during the GPS and GPF. Maybe it's because he was never World champ. But then he does have that Olympic silveår medal...

Ah, the whims of fate.

Rgirl

 

[FreeKatie]

While I like Kat and Kurt, I was surprised by how much Kat gushed over Sasha. Either of them are better than Scott Hamilton - that guy gets way too excited and screams into the television! Good old Dick Button is still my favorite.

My favorite commentary moment was when Peggy was kind enough to point out that some unfortunate young lady had fallen right to the music, to which Dick replied "I'm sure she's happy about that"

 

[heyang]

I was ok with Kurt during various parts of the broadcast. However, Kat seemed like she was reading off a teleprompter. I did not understand the feather comment either. Does it mean that her skating his reminscent of the gentle floating of a feather in the air or does it reference whimsical nature of a feather's flight path?