Yakkety-Yak, Don't Come Back !

[SkateFan4Life]

Does anyone out there occasionally feel the same annoyance I feel at the constant, incessant, yakking that's dished out by the "expert commentors" at televised figure skating events?

I realize that the function of the expert is to educate the viewing public on what's going on during the program, and, for the many folks who aren't familiar with the various jumps and spins, this is wonderful. Explain to everyone the technical problems a skater is having - flutzing, etc - and label each jump. OK! :thumbsup:

On the other hand, must we listen to a lot of useless yakking between the commentators? It's nice to know that Dick Button, Peggy Fleming, and Terry Gannon are buddies, but for Heaven's sakes, do they need to carry this into the air? Who cares about their personal likes and dislikes? Who cares to hear about a skater's hobbies during a performance? I sure don't. I remember one case that still rankles me a bit - an American skater (I won't name her) was competing, and the above-mentioned trio waxed lyrical on her charitable works and good deeds DURING HER PERFORMANCE. What in the world does that have to do with her performance? Maybe they were trying to contrast her with a certain blond American skater who was associated with an infamous knee bashing of a fellow competitor - who knows. :scowl:

I've heard that British commentators are known for their understatement. That must be truly refreshing. As it is, we Americans like to TALK so much, and sometimes we just don't realize that sometimes "less is more". I for one have clicked "Mute" on a number of occasions, and I'll probably have to continue to do so.

With Nationals just around the corner, I guess I'll have to make sure the remote is in perfect operational order.

 

[orchid]

The only bit of information I would like to have, i almost never get. That is what is the name of the music each skater is performing to? And the composer and artist.
Preferably as text on the screen before the skater begins.

I do not want a list of every other skater using the music past and present.

I recall several years ago at the US Nationals, Mz. Peggy announced the music selection. At another Nats, she had to inform us of the designer of some of the ladies costumes. Who cares, really? Does Vera Wang receive a commission each time her name is mentioned on the air?

 

[thisthingcalledlove]

The only bit of information I would like to have, i almost never get. That is what is the name of the music each skater is performing to? And the composer and artist.
Preferably as text on the screen before the skater begins.

I do not want a list of every other skater using the music past and present.

I recall several years ago at the US Nationals, Mz. Peggy announced the music selection. At another Nats, she had to inform us of the designer of some of the ladies costumes. Who cares, really? Does Vera Wang receive a commission each time her name is mentioned on the air?

That was in 1997, when she announced who made whose costume lol. I think the list was:

Lauren Sheehan
Vera Wang
Jeff Billings
Tanja Bass

HAHAHA

I "love" it when they go into detail of who'd skated to whose music. I'm surprised Peggy didn't make fun of Nicole at those nationals, when Nicole skated to Giselle (which, it turns out, Peggy skated to over forty years ago).

 

[Mathman]

That was in 1997, when she announced who made whose costume lol. I think the list was:

Lauren Sheehan
Vera Wang
Jeff Billings
Tanja Bass

HAHAHA

I'M NOT WORTHY! (Where's that little bowing smiley.)

I take my hat off to anyone who can not only remember this detail from a 1997 event, but can even remember the list of designers!

MM

 

[Jhar55]

Even though it will never happen but it would be so nice if they kept their comment until the skater has finished.

 

[kemisha]

i honestly enjoy the comments in the moment, so long as they are in english and i can understand them. but for programs that i'm going to save and replay over and over consistently, they do get annoying. i wonder if commentators realize that their comments become part of our experience with that skate.

 

[treeskater]

Again, it is the producers that push for the audio chatter, not the commentators you hear. If you want to complain, write the producers!!! The commentators are doing what their boss says to do.....

 

[Linny]

The Details

I love the details, otherwise I wouldn't be here at GS looking for the dish.
Linny

 

[SkateFan4Life]

And sometimes the commentators have to yak about the skater's past performances - as if we really want to hear about past history. For Pete's sakes, let's concentrate on the here and now and stay focused on what's happening on the ice - not what happened three years ago! :scratch:

 

[Tonichelle]

I think comparing a program to show where the skater has improved is ok, so long as they take a breath here and there...

what annoys me is when one commentator, normally Peggy, though Kurt Brownig and Boitano have also been treated the same, gets yelled at for having an opinion by Button. They will say they like something or that the program was very good for that particular skater and not only will Button get upset that someone suggest it, he then lists a million reasons why they're wrong and his tone is so condescending that it's more than annoying.... it's no wonder why he has the most airtime, no one wants to compete anymore!


and if people didn't want to hear about past competitions and skaters, we wouldn't have message boards where they can come and talk about the "good ol days."

 

[Crizzy]

I remember watching the 2005 worlds, I believe it was the German commentators, I can't remember. But anyway, the commentator were breathing heavily. It was icky. I didn't know whether he was having an asthma attack or what. Yeah, I agree about the excessive talking. I think even though the Marshalls set up was not my forte, I enjoyed watching the performances without all the hollering.

 

[Kwan101]

I agree completely- I watch for skating, not for commentary.

 

[thisthingcalledlove]

I remember during the free skate of both B/S and S/P at the 2002 Olympics, Tom Hammond, Sandra Bezic, and Scott Hamilton restrained their comments to ONE during each program (the only one I can honestly remember was when Scott Hamilton said during S/P's free skate- Throw triple loop and the gold is theirs...). Then, of course, we couldn't shut them up afterwards.

 

[Spirit]

Technology keeps getting better. I long for the day when, for any sporting event, we have a menu option to hear the commentators or not.

 

[SkateFan4Life]

Technology keeps getting better. I long for the day when, for any sporting event, we have a menu option to hear the commentators or not.

Three cheers for the MUTE button!

 

[LizzieBeth]

My pet peeve is when the commentators start yakking about trivia that is NOT RELATED to the skater on the ice. Are their minds wandering?? What's next - taking a cell phone call during the performance?? I wish they would just shut up and give their comments during the slow motion replay.

 

[Engwaciriel]

I guess this all depends on who the commentor is. The Swedish skater Filip Stiller is an excellent expert on Eurosport, and I'd watch every show just to hear him..

 

[SkateFan4Life]

I'm sure we will hear all about Irina Slutskaya's health problems and her mother's health problems -- while she's skating her Olympic long program!!

Please. There is a time and place for many things, but yakking about health problems during an Olympic performance is not one of them!

PLEASE SHUT UP!