Who are the best television commenters?

[Becki]

Is it really only 2 syllables? I always say di ce KAY with ce sort of slurred into the di if that makes sense, but still 3 sounds - maybe more like di,ss KAY. I have no background in Japanese and no authority to speak on this - just wondering

Well, based on Japanese pronunciation, it is just two syllables (someone please correct me if I am wrong). Daisu-ke is how I pronounce it.

 

[WeakAnkles]

Dick Button, especially when he let his Inner Biatch come out (I'm not sure if he actually did this or I am not remembering it correctly, but didn't he compare Bonaly's free leg in a layback to a sausage once? LOLOLOL!). And nothing could compare with Dick Button and Peggy Flemming during their Good Cop/Bad Cop days.

I'm also partial to Judy Blumberg. Tracy Wilson is wonderful too, but there is something about those stern taskmaster commentators--as an amateur viewer I've learned the most from them.

And would someone please sneak some valium into Scott Hamilton's drink before he hits the mic? Not a large dose, mind you, but still...

 

[TelmoFe]

I like the commentators of British Eurosport, Dick Button and Kurt Browning.

The portuguese commentators on Eurosport are very bad. Once I heard a spannish lady very bad... and a canadian lady on Bold with a strange voice.

 

[Olympia]

Dick Button, especially when he let his Inner Biatch come out (I'm not sure if he actually did this or I am not remembering it correctly, but didn't he compare Bonaly's free leg in a layback to a sausage once? LOLOLOL!). And nothing could compare with Dick Button and Peggy Flemming during their Good Cop/Bad Cop days.

I'm also partial to Judy Blumberg. Tracy Wilson is wonderful too, but there is something about those stern taskmaster commentators--as an amateur viewer I've learned the most from them.

And would someone please sneak some valium into Scott Hamilton's drink before he hits the mic? Not a large dose, mind you, but still...

Speaking of Peggy Fleming as Good Cop, I remember her behavior when she was interviewing Debi Thomas after Debi had kind of melted down in the free skate at Calgary in 1988 and ended up with a bronze. Debi was plainly just managing to hold it together. Peggy was partway through a bunch of the inevitably uncomfortable questions (off the order of "How did you feel when you stumbled the first time..."), and at one point she simply ended the interview by putting her microphone down and reaching out to hug Debi. The perfect thing to do at the moment. Why grill the poor girl further with questions that would have provided no enlightenment to the audience anyway? Instead, Peggy acted with simple human compassion.

 

[Bartek]

I've always wondered if Peter was told to ask those stupid questions or he came up with them on his own. I love the way Sasha just shut his mouth here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7WGuTy9CwQ

My favourites are definitely Dick and Peggy (I wish they could be back), British Eurosport guys, Tara Lipinski and Kurt Browning. I hate Sandra Bezic and Scott Hamilton. I don't like PJ Kwong eighter.

Is Susie Wynne still commenting? I remember she provided some good details. In general I wish ESPN/ABC could broadcast skating again, so that I can hear Dick and Peggy again.

 

[ivy]

Here it is spoken by a Japanese person. (Click on the little blue triangle. ) To my ear there is a slight lingering over the a-i in "dai," as well as an unstressed "su" at the beginning of "suke"

http://www.forvo.com/word/takahashi_daisuke/

Thanks MM it does seem like 4 sounds da i su ke

 

[CoyoteChris]

I like what jcoates and Toni said....Actually, I like the vast majority of them....if people want to hate Scott, that is fine for them....to me he is a happy medium....and when he has something to say, like he had about
Evan not skating at SA, he still said it in a classy way. He seems to need valium some time cause he loves the sport and the skaters and he feels....he cares....The all time best Americans were Dick and Peggy....they were ying and yang, like Siskel and Ebert....the all time worst was NBCs Greg Gumbel, Bryant Gumbel's brother. See 1995 Worlds, 1994 Lillehammer. He was the one that suggested nude pairs skating....
As for Peter, he is going up on my list when he started dissing skaters for grabing their ankles and spinning, or, as we like to say in my group, doing the Crack-a-toe-ah...

 

[daphna]

i love the Eurosport guys!

 

[jcoates]

Speaking of Peggy Fleming as Good Cop, I remember her behavior when she was interviewing Debi Thomas after Debi had kind of melted down in the free skate at Calgary in 1988 and ended up with a bronze. Debi was plainly just managing to hold it together. Peggy was partway through a bunch of the inevitably uncomfortable questions (off the order of "How did you feel when you stumbled the first time..."), and at one point she simply ended the interview by putting her microphone down and reaching out to hug Debi. The perfect thing to do at the moment. Why grill the poor girl further with questions that would have provided no enlightenment to the audience anyway? Instead, Peggy acted with simple human compassion.

Peggy says in her memoir that she hated doing the K&C interviews in Calgary. She was uncomfortable with questioning the skaters so soon after getting their marks. ABC had a long history of doing that going back to the 60s. It was usually Dick who did it, but they did use Peggy, David Santee Donna De Varona as well.

I've always wondered if Peter was told to ask those stupid questions or he came up with them on his own. I love the way Sasha just shut his mouth here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7WGuTy9CwQ

My favourites are definitely Dick and Peggy (I wish they could be back), British Eurosport guys, Tara Lipinski and Kurt Browning. I hate Sandra Bezic and Scott Hamilton. I don't like PJ Kwong eighter.

Is Susie Wynne still commenting? I remember she provided some good details. In general I wish ESPN/ABC could broadcast skating again, so that I can hear Dick and Peggy again.

The last interview I saw with Suzie included info about her doing coaching in Chicago. She has done very occasional commentating on Universal Sports but not much.

 

[Antilles]

I can only comment on North American announcers. For the non-skaters, I enjoy Rod Blacn and Terry Gannon. Black can pour it on a little thick at times, but both show a real love for skating and Black's learned quite a bit of the technical stuff over the years.

For skaters who commentate, I like Tracy Wilson, but only when she's not commentating on Canadians and their closest competitors for medals. That would actually be true for all Canadian commentators. Their pro-Canadian bias has to go. I also enjoy Kurt Browning and Susie Wynne.

 

[derplutz]

Rod Black makes me laugh, so I'll go with him

 

[aniela]

I get tired of his crush on Anna Capellini.

you probably have never heard Russian commentator (and technical specialist) Petr Durnev he has a HUGE crush on Anna. I remember when at NHK 2010 he was asking: "What can I do, Vassily (the other commentator)? She's just too cute" and after their bad performance: "Oh, my little girl... what happened?" he even called her "карамелька" (caramel drop)

 

[Scrufflet]

As a Canadian, I feel quite fortunate in the people we've had over the years:

Johnny Esau could get you really excited. Paired with Debi Wilkes, they were a good duo.

Rod Black, Debi Wilkes and Tracy Wilson were a super team! I always felt like I was sitting down with a bunch of good friends for a beer. Rod was Mr. Enthusiasm, a lot of fun, had a crush on Shae and was fiercely patriotic. Debi gave intelligent comments, I thought and she worked well with the other two. When Tracey started, she seemed afraid to give an opinion but she soon found her legs and developed into a first-rate commentator. I feel that she gave credit to the skaters, regardless of country. In a sense, I think she's educated Canadian skating fans to value the skating first and foremost. She didn't trash anyone but always offered suggestions as to how they could improve. And she removes herself from the equation; it's never about her, it's about the skaters! I know some accuse her of being biased but frankly, that's not been my impression over the years. I think she's great!

I also liked Paul Martini, solo, and with Barb. He's really added a lot to the analysis. And Barb says "awesome"!

P.J. Kwong is a treasure! Her commentary on Bold was absolutely wonderful the last few years. She was really good at getting skaters to visit and comment along with her. I felt like I was standing by the boards listening in. Josee Chouinard and David Pelletier were two who joined her and I was amazed at how interesting it was. I'm glad P.J. is in the mix.

Kurt Browning has turned into a wonderful commentator. I knew he had it in him but he was driving me crazy when he would divert attention to himself in every comment. He's learned, followed Tracy's model, I think. I like the team they make.

Anyone I don't like? Well, sorry to say but I wish Sandra Besic would stick to what she's good at,skating shows, like BoB. Comments like "_______ is a precious talent that needs to be nurtured and cherished..." or close to that drive me nuts. That's always the point at which my husband enters the room and asks what drivel it is!

 

[blue dog]

Speaking of Peggy Fleming as Good Cop, I remember her behavior when she was interviewing Debi Thomas after Debi had kind of melted down in the free skate at Calgary in 1988 and ended up with a bronze. Debi was plainly just managing to hold it together. Peggy was partway through a bunch of the inevitably uncomfortable questions (off the order of "How did you feel when you stumbled the first time..."), and at one point she simply ended the interview by putting her microphone down and reaching out to hug Debi. The perfect thing to do at the moment. Why grill the poor girl further with questions that would have provided no enlightenment to the audience anyway? Instead, Peggy acted with simple human compassion.

I agree that a lot of commentators need to show their human side from time to time. I remember when Christine Brennan was given a mic by ABC one year for nationals, which happened to be the year Angela Nikodinov's mom died. When Christine interviewed Michelle Kwan, she brought up Angela's mom's death--and while Christine would ask questions and talk about Angela's mom, she had the biggest smile on her face!