It will be an exhibition -- with the audience and TV viewers calling in to decide the winners. Here is the link:
http://www.usfigureskating.org
http://www.usfigureskating.org
Marshall's News
- Thread starter attyfan
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
Ha ha, thanks for the link Attyfan. What a farce. Serves them right for taking the event away from Detroit and giving it to Boston.
Do the folks on the Michelle Kwan forum know about this? That they can vote for the winner?
I wonder if it was the skaters who insisted on not doing a real competition?
Anyway, I'll be watching with my speed dialer at the ready, LOL.
MM
Do the folks on the Michelle Kwan forum know about this? That they can vote for the winner?
I wonder if it was the skaters who insisted on not doing a real competition?
Anyway, I'll be watching with my speed dialer at the ready, LOL.
MM
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2003
OMG, THIS is pathetic, IMO
So....let me make sure I've got this straight. In an Oly year, the top contenders in Singles and Mens (noteable exception Meissner unless I missed something) are actually signing up for this? A popularity contest?
We should insist that they all "sing" for this "Skating Idol" competition, and at least let them all Save Their Bodies (tm) (if not their souls) for actual competition.
Bleh. I'm dumbfounded.
DG
So....let me make sure I've got this straight. In an Oly year, the top contenders in Singles and Mens (noteable exception Meissner unless I missed something) are actually signing up for this? A popularity contest?
We should insist that they all "sing" for this "Skating Idol" competition, and at least let them all Save Their Bodies (tm) (if not their souls) for actual competition.
Bleh. I'm dumbfounded.
DG
Doggygirl -- when I first read about this, I thought the same thing as you did -- it is even worse than Campbell's, which at least gave some CoP feedback. On second thought, though, I don't think it is that stupid for the skaters to participate. After all, only one can win the OGM, so ordinary common sense indicates that some steps be taken "just in case" they lose. If they sell a lot of seats (at $150 a pop), then they will still be highly desired by the skating shows -- despite the lack of an OGM, they will be demonstrated as strong draws (sort of like Browning or Steve Cousins with SOI).
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2003
The format change renders this event meaningless. Of course none of the cheesefests really mean much in the ISU competitive picture. But if the skaters were performing their long programs and getting judged, it would at least be good competition practice and an opportunity to get feedback on the programs. Now, it just serves no purpose at all.
If I were the skaters, I would refuse to attend this, or at least try whatever I could to get out of it. This event is a huge waste of time for them, especially during such an important year. When you factor in travel time, it will probably cost most of them half a week to a full week of practice, for very little gain.
If I were the skaters, I would refuse to attend this, or at least try whatever I could to get out of it. This event is a huge waste of time for them, especially during such an important year. When you factor in travel time, it will probably cost most of them half a week to a full week of practice, for very little gain.
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2005
So Figure Skating has become a reality show. Great. Just great. In their desperate plea for viewers these networks aren't gaining a large number anyway, and they're losing some of their most faithful skating fans because they have made the competition such a farce. Why don't we put the skaters on an island in the Carribean and the one with the lowest CoP score gets thrown to the sharks.
Let's give Michelle the $50,000 and be done with it.
Let's give Michelle the $50,000 and be done with it.
It said that Sasha and Michelle were scheduled to appear. When Michelle had to withdraw, it said that she would need 2 weeks off the ice (which would have expired on Oct 19 or 20) and up to a month of rehab, so she should be fine by the Dec 11 cheesefest -- she should have been fine by the time of CoR, but the ISU rules wouldn't let her switch events. If Sasha is not well enough to go to TEB, she might be too badly injured to appear at Marshall's, but I heard on Sashafans that she is recovering, and should be able to go to France, so that won't be a problem.
Well first everyone was screaming how dare the USFS schedule a comp just before GP final and Nats and how it will take so much out of the skaters. Now the USFS decided to make it a fun competition to allow skaters to make money and maintain its end of the contract with ABC and now everyone is still screaming. This is an easy competition and a fun break/opportunity for the skaters. Plus it's a good opportunity to promote the younger skaters. Maybe people will warm up to Kimmie if she skates a fun exhibition that showcases her personality. Alissa might win the whole thing with her entertaining spins and Emily has such a great personality that seems ideally suited for exhibitions.
I'm just
that it's going to be live!!!!
I'm just
that it's going to be live!!!!
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
I agree with Soogar. Take it for what it's worth. Wouldn't it be funny if this format turned out to be a big hit with the TV audience?
So, who will win the popularity contest? We know that Sasha won the Michelle Kwan trophy last year for being the most popular skater in the U.S., along with the Haydenettes. But I wouldn't count out the newly formed 'Lissa's Legions when it comes to turning out the vote.
MM
So, who will win the popularity contest? We know that Sasha won the Michelle Kwan trophy last year for being the most popular skater in the U.S., along with the Haydenettes. But I wouldn't count out the newly formed 'Lissa's Legions when it comes to turning out the vote.
MM
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2005
Me, three. Give 'em a break. Not only do the skaters need to make money, too, (and show they can be an audience draw for the professional shows when they retire from eligible competition) but they need to have some fun skating, too. ESPECIALLY in a year that's All About the Olympics.
And hey, people like reality shows and call-ins. (I confess to calling in on "Dancing with the Stars: The Rematch" and "So You Think You Can Dance.") Possibly they will decide they like skating, too, and watch when they don't get t call in, too.
And hey, people like reality shows and call-ins. (I confess to calling in on "Dancing with the Stars: The Rematch" and "So You Think You Can Dance.") Possibly they will decide they like skating, too, and watch when they don't get t call in, too.
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2003
I don't think the idea of the exhibition is a bad one, at all. It's not that much different than a COI show, except WE get to tell the skating world,what we like (finally!) or don't like to see.
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2003
MM 
Confused
This could be fun for the audience. Michelle need only show up and to paraphrase Sports Illustrated eat a cup of yougurt on the ice to win a call in vote.
Alissa and hopefully Kimmie will be in Tokyo on Dec 16 (Marshall's is Dec 11) for the GP final. Kimmie will have competed in NHK the week before in Osaka so I doubt if she gets beamed back for this. Maybe they'll broacast it live on the jumbotron from somewhere in Japan back to Boston. That way Mao, Shizuka and Miki could compete --- maybe let the Japanese vote too. Now that would be an event!
Since this is aimed more at American Idol junkies it could be successful in getting high enough ratings to keep Marshall's from closing its checkbook.
For me, I'd rather see them televise Jr Nationals in Colorado -- at least it would be a sporting event. COI I'll go see when it comes to an Arena nearby.
If Kwan shows she'll win, probably the same with Tim since he's probably the only eligible guy skater remotely known by the public.
Since I don't think the GPF skaters will show, it would take Yuka and Todd to get me interested in the competiton.
It has become obvious USFSA vis a vis ABC & TV is in really really serious trouble. This just demonstrates how totally desperate they are. Maybe if they change Olympic competitive figure skating to something else then people WILL watch. But then it is something else and why not turn it over to the Collins', Hamilton's, and Boitanos and call it Icecapades or whatever? It is no longer olympic eligible competitive figure skating.
This could be fun for the audience. Michelle need only show up and to paraphrase Sports Illustrated eat a cup of yougurt on the ice to win a call in vote.
Alissa and hopefully Kimmie will be in Tokyo on Dec 16 (Marshall's is Dec 11) for the GP final. Kimmie will have competed in NHK the week before in Osaka so I doubt if she gets beamed back for this. Maybe they'll broacast it live on the jumbotron from somewhere in Japan back to Boston. That way Mao, Shizuka and Miki could compete --- maybe let the Japanese vote too. Now that would be an event!
Since this is aimed more at American Idol junkies it could be successful in getting high enough ratings to keep Marshall's from closing its checkbook.
For me, I'd rather see them televise Jr Nationals in Colorado -- at least it would be a sporting event. COI I'll go see when it comes to an Arena nearby.
If Kwan shows she'll win, probably the same with Tim since he's probably the only eligible guy skater remotely known by the public.
Since I don't think the GPF skaters will show, it would take Yuka and Todd to get me interested in the competiton.
It has become obvious USFSA vis a vis ABC & TV is in really really serious trouble. This just demonstrates how totally desperate they are. Maybe if they change Olympic competitive figure skating to something else then people WILL watch. But then it is something else and why not turn it over to the Collins', Hamilton's, and Boitanos and call it Icecapades or whatever? It is no longer olympic eligible competitive figure skating.
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- Joined
- Aug 29, 2003
It's was going to be an exhibition with or without the call in voting. The added feature doesn't change that.
Anyways, it's an Olympic season, they're just trying to divvy up new skating fans to watch this year. ESPN has been replaying the same comps over and over, lately, for the same reason, probably.
Anyways, it's an Olympic season, they're just trying to divvy up new skating fans to watch this year. ESPN has been replaying the same comps over and over, lately, for the same reason, probably.
This is a new touch. I'm not too sure what to think about this, but I don't understand all the negativity.
I like the idea, but I think in order to maximize the number of viewers, this should have been a primetime event (rather than in the afternoon). But maybe they would REALLY be ratings-challenged if they did that?
Just think- now YOU, sitting at home, can finally be a judge. YOU have input into what the skater's fate is going to be. Isn't this what skating fans wish for? After all the complaining about judges, I would think that people would welcome this kind of format where the audience is the judge. BUT-
(and this is a big one)
The only problem I see here is we may have the "American Idol" phenomenon where the best skater may not necessarily win. It's going to be a popularity contest. And if it is, guess who's winning? (I don't even need to name names :sheesh: ) The other skaters may not have a chance. But then again, maybe people will really judge the competition fairly and it won't simply be a "popularity contest".
JMO.
I like the idea, but I think in order to maximize the number of viewers, this should have been a primetime event (rather than in the afternoon). But maybe they would REALLY be ratings-challenged if they did that?
Just think- now YOU, sitting at home, can finally be a judge. YOU have input into what the skater's fate is going to be. Isn't this what skating fans wish for? After all the complaining about judges, I would think that people would welcome this kind of format where the audience is the judge. BUT-
(and this is a big one)
The only problem I see here is we may have the "American Idol" phenomenon where the best skater may not necessarily win. It's going to be a popularity contest. And if it is, guess who's winning? (I don't even need to name names :sheesh: ) The other skaters may not have a chance. But then again, maybe people will really judge the competition fairly and it won't simply be a "popularity contest".
JMO.
My husband (rightfully) said when I told him about this...
If figure skating wants to be taken seriously as a sport, this is not the way to do it.
I agree.
(And my husband knows first hand -- from my experiences as an adult skater -- just how tough this sport can be. All he has to do is imagine my experiences times 12 to get what the elites go through. It's a very challenging physical sport, not a dance contest.)
If figure skating wants to be taken seriously as a sport, this is not the way to do it.
I agree.
(And my husband knows first hand -- from my experiences as an adult skater -- just how tough this sport can be. All he has to do is imagine my experiences times 12 to get what the elites go through. It's a very challenging physical sport, not a dance contest.)
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