Kurt Browning's "Gotta Skate" - UGH!

[SkateFan4Life]

My apologizes to all Kurt Browning fans (and I very much admired his skating during his competitive years). I watched a portion of the latest "Kurt Browning Gotta Skate" television special this afternoon. What a borefest, IMHO!

The cast was the same group of Canadian skaters - Brian Orser, Sale and Pelletier, Jennifer Robinson, Shae-Lynn Bourne, Elvis Stokjo - that seem to always show up in Browning's specials. Also appearing were the pairs team of Yuko Sato/Jason Dungjen.

I liked the fast footwork displayed by Stokjo in one of his numbers, but that was basically the only number I really liked in this show. IMHO, the choreography looked as though it had been thrown together in one quick rehearsal section.
The musical selections were plain AWFUL, IMHO. And the fans - screaming like a bunch of silly teeny boppers. Give me a break, guys.

Jennifer Robinson is a beautiful young woman, but her skating is junior level.
Weak jumps, double-footed landings, and non-existent musical interpretation.
What was she doing in this program? OK, she was Canadian champion for a number of years.....I guess that explains her inclusion.

The last number was a hodgepodge of frenetic group skating around the rink, with Kurt wearing an idiotic Elvis Presley wig.

Again, my apologies to all who are fans of these skaters. I'm not bashing any of them personally - just this show! UGH!

 

[Tonichelle]

I found this to be one of the better ones... his first was his best one

I don't understand how you can say it's teh same cast. Jennifer joined the "cast" only last season... Josee was not there... and aside from Jason there were no American skaters when in the past there've been quite a few... the cast changes from year to year.

personally I wouldn't mind it being the same cast every year. They are all very enjoyable to watch.

You want triple jumps, watch a competition... this is for entertainment... not tricks...

the only 'boring' one for me was Elvis, but they managed to work him into some great group numbers....

 

[76olympics]

I turned it on-but just could not get interested in this one for some reason. I like all of the skaters-but the bits I saw just didn't make me sit down and watch. A few of the exhibition shows strike me this way-not just this one.
I was really surpised the other week at how much I enjoyed the "Salute to American Music" program. The musical selections and the way it was produced seemed fresher than most of these shows.

I think the saturation in mid to late 90s made me a little jaded. That said-if I am home, I will always check any skating show out. I did watch the Marshall competition yesterday with a good bit of interest. I just wish Sasha could pull it together!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I liked the show very much, and I give credit to Lee Ann for those interesting and fun ensemble numbers.

There is nothing Kurt does that bores me and at his age, it is remarkable.

It was nice to see Elvis again although he could lose a few pounds. He was looking more like Boitano in physique.

Sale and Pelletier can do no wrong. They continue to grow and would still be a top team in today's competitions.

Shae Lynn was amazing. It just goes to show if you are a good skater you don't need all those air rotations - just a lot of schmaltz. Great 'all that jazz'.

Joe

 

[Patches]

Geez - did you get up on the wrong side of the bed? I watched the show and thought that it was just what it was supposed to be - skating for entertainment purposes. If you want triples, etc. watch a competition. While I am not a big Jennifer fan - I really thought she looked lovely and skated very well!

 

[Flora MacDonald]

Brian Orser can move me to tears just skating in circles.
He just does it so well.

 

[Ladskater]

I really enjoyed the show. To me Kurt, Brian and Elvis skating together is a real treat - "the three amigos" reunited. At one time they competed against one another and all left their mark on figure skating as well as are good role models for upcoming Canadian male skaters.

Elvis is an athletic skater. His style is based on his great jumping technique. I don't find him boring at all.

Jennifer looked the most relaxed I have seen in years. Really got "into her knees" and skated well.

Shae-Lynn was awesome.

Both Kurt and Brian can do anything on the blade and make it look easy.

I did not see the program in its entirety, but caught most of it.

This is a skating show afterall, not a competition and these skaters have all "earned their stripes."

I thought it was well done and entertaining.

 

[TRAxel]

Brian Orser can move me to tears just skating in circles.
He just does it so well.

I am with you Flora especially when he skates to "The Story of My Life"
He is just heavenly to watch.

Unfortunately, I cannot comment on the show yet (forgot it was on!) my Mom taped it so I will be borrowing it from her. I'm sure the show will not BORE me though.

 

[NJSk8Fan]

I enjoyed this show much better than the Bocelli show and also thought it was better than the last couple "Gotta Skates". It was a FUN show, light hearted and easy going. I thought the music was fine, the skating was great, the cast was wonderful.

 

[Dee4707]

I enjoyed this show much better than the Bocelli show

Of both of the shows, I enjoyed the Bocelli show much more. His singing is awesome!!!.........and the skaters interpreted the music so elegantly. I especially liked the duet of Andrea and the young lady.

The only skaters that I really enjoyed watching was Brian O. and Shae in Kurt's show. Other than that, it was a big hoe down.

Dee

 

[SkateFan4Life]

Geez - did you get up on the wrong side of the bed? I watched the show and thought that it was just what it was supposed to be - skating for entertainment purposes. If you want triples, etc. watch a competition. While I am not a big Jennifer fan - I really thought she looked lovely and skated very well!

I assure you that I did not get up on the wrong side of the bed yesterday. I was merely stating my opinions about this particular show, which I'm entitled to do.
And while I respect all of the opinions on this message board, I stand by my assessment of "Gotta Skate".

Triple jumps are absolutely appropriate for this type of show, providing, of course, that the skaters can still perform them. IMHO, of course.

 

[bleuchick]

I assure you that I did not get up on the wrong side of the bed yesterday. I was merely stating my opinions about this particular show, which I'm entitled to do.
And while I respect all of the opinions on this message board, I stand by my assessment of "Gotta Skate".

Triple jumps are absolutely appropriate for this type of show, providing, of course, that the skaters can still perform them. IMHO, of course.

If you have Oxygen Network, watch The World Team Challenge with the SAME skaters doing triple triple combo, triple twist. triple lutz(HUGE) and in a PRO competition.

 

[Jhar55]

Myself I loved the show. Enjoyed ShayLynn's skating even without any jumps and no matter what music she used it was mostly all the same footwork. She really seemed to come alive to the 50"s group music. As for Katrina she really need to retire that purple dress with the black trim I am tired to see it. As always enjoyed Elvis. With not getting much skating on TV anymore we should just enjoy while we can.

 

[Piel]

The finale was my favorite part of the show. I don't care for a lot of the rockabilly music they used. Shae Lynn was great. Jennifer Robinson is a beautiful girl but I hated the Tupelo number. I'm not sure what they are called but the little prancing steps remind me of when they ask horses to count and they stomp out the number with their hooves. I don't get Brian Orser.

 

[Tonichelle]

considering this is a professional show, and not a competition, the skaters are not entitled to do anything but entertain...

 

[Tonichelle]

The finale was my favorite part of the show. I don't care for a lot of the rockabilly music they used. Shae Lynn was great. Jennifer Robinson is a beautiful girl but I hated the Tupelo number. I'm not sure what they are called but the little prancing steps remind me of when they ask horses to count and they stomp out the number with their hooves. I don't get Brian Orser.

unfortunately he left a lot to be desired this time around.... "Somewhere in Time" is his program for this show it seems... this is the second or third time he's used it... If he's going to repeat he might want to revive "Story of my Life" that one is his best ever :yes:

 

[Linny]

Spotty

The program was spotty. Some good numbers, some not as good, IMO.

Jennifer Robinson wasn't so hot in Tupolo, but was much better in the second number. Methinks it wasn't the skater or the skating, but that the choreography in the second number was much better for her. Tupolo involved a lot of mincing steps that went nowhere. The second number (M Bolton singing live) had a lot of steps that moved across the ice and highlighted this skater's talents.

Jen has never been one of the biggest stars around but she has held her own.

I'm confused about Shae-Lynn - dance skaters are famous for twizzling. They do it backwards, forwards, multiple times in every direction. Why don't her solo numbers include twizzles?

Somewhere in Time isn't Brian O's best number... but perhaps this program was taped right near the death of Christopher Reeve who starred in the movie Somewhere in Time. Maybe Brian wanted to perform a tribute...

The pairs skills demonstrated by Dundjen and Sato improve year by year. That's nice to see. Yuka certainly is a hard working skater! Of course, they still aren't up to the level of Sale/Peletier, but neither would anyone reasonable expect them to be. Still, their programs were fun.

The standout, IMO, was the Sale/Pelitier version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. I think they picked the song because it is performed by Canadian Artist Jewel. It wasn't my favorite version, but they did an excellent job with it. If anyone has ever heard Eva Cassidy (she's the performer for Michelle Kwan's Fields of Gold) to Somewhere Over the Rainbow... well, 'nough said. She wasn't Canadian.

Linny

 

[Tonichelle]

Jewel was born and raised in Homer, Alaska (ok she was in Anchorage for a time too) so that would mean she's an American singer

 

[Piel]

If anyone has ever heard Eva Cassidy (she's the performer for Michelle Kwan's Fields of Gold) to Somewhere Over the Rainbow... well, 'nough said. She wasn't Canadian.

Linny

I don't think that Cassidy had a bad song. Her "Songbird" (was in "Love Actually") is better than Christine McVie's, IMO.

 

[IDLERACER]

I finally had the opportunity to sit down and watch this thing. There was one element that took place during the two big ensemble pieces that I have absolutely never seen before...pair skaters switching partners (Dungjen & Salë and Pelletiër & Sato). I wonder why no one has ever tried this concept before. :think:​