Skating with the Stars

[dreamflower]

I had really been looking forward to this show. My reactions to it are a little mixed, though. A non-spoilery critique behind the cut...

I don't care much for the host. He seems like he's trying too hard, and he lacks the warmth of humor that Tom Bergeron has on DWTS. And he seems, I don't know, kind of smarmy. I've never heard of him before. On the other hand, I do like Tanith Belbin. She's not just decoration, like Samantha Harris was or Brooke Burke is on DWTS; she can actually explain some things about the routines.

Most of the celebrities? I'm either unfamiliar with or had forgotten most of them. So I don't really feel the urge to vote for any of them yet. We'll see how they strike me a week or two into the season.

The pros? Well, sadly, I have not heard of most of *them* either. But they all seem quite accomplished on the ice. And I'm impressed with their teaching/coaching. And a couple of them seemed to stand out, personality-wise.

The judges? Well, I am thrilled to see Dick Button and Johnny Weir. Dick Button is a legend, and Johnny Weir is a great skater-- I was so pleased to see him do a routine, and I hope it's not the last he does on the show.

I hope they'll get a bit more variety in the music as time goes by. All of it seemed a bit of a much-the-sameness; techno-pop hits that can easily turn into annoying earworms.

But, still-- it was skating, and watching people glide over the ice is always enjoyable.

Comments

[baranduin.livejournal.com]

I am attempting to watch this now ... and the TV is totally pixelating and messing up the picture. Only that channel. Most irritating.

And what on earth are they doing having a non-skating person as a judge? To raise the technical marks since she doesn't know anything? Very odd.

But yay Johnny.

[dreamflower]

I don't care much for her. She talks too much, and I get the feeling that she's trying to impress with her "technical" knowledge of choreography. But she *doesn't* really know anything at all. She gets on my nerves.

[baranduin.livejournal.com]

I don't understand why they didn't get a figure skating choreographer to fill that spot. Maybe they couldn't have gotten someone like Sandra Bezic but surely they could have gotten someone who knows the discipline.

Not that I've actually seen the show much, the picture is cutting out so badly darn it. Ah well. Next week.

[dreamflower]

Maybe they tried and couldn't, so they settled for her?

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

I didn't try this one out but I wondered about it. It seemed to me the the personal risk for injury to the actor or musician would be too great to make anyone still working give this a try. LOL
I couldn't imagine a big name star agreeing to try this at the risk of winding up in a cast for six months or so because if you don't ice skate or even if you do, it's very easy to get injured. I worry that they won't exactly have people lining up to give this a try. Look how many celebs have gotten hurt on DWTS.

I like the idea of the co-host knowing something about skating though. You're right about Brooke and Samantha. They are nice but they remind me of the models that point to the show cases on The Price Is Right. They don't need to know anything, they just have to look pretty and point.

I may have to watch it next week.

[dreamflower]

It does seem the possibility for injury is greater-- I hadn't thought about that part much, but it could account for the lack of really famous people.

Two or three of the "stars" had a little skating experience in their childhood. And one of them apparently did a lot of roller skating. But the others were complete rookies.

One thing though, I always like looking at their dresses. I loved the one Brooke wore last Monday night, with the sculptured bodice. And while I liked Samantha's personality better, she always seemed to show a lot more cleavage...

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

I wonder if this is something like let's Dance that we have here, only on skates? it sounds sort of familiar. Let's Danice (I think that's the English title) is celebreties learning to dance and competing with each other. I like it. :)

[dreamflower]

Exactly! That is exactly it.

We also have the dancing show here-- called "Dancing with the Stars", or DWTS for short.

[shirebound]

I'll have to check out that show sometime. But... Most of the celebrities? I'm either unfamiliar with or had forgotten most of them... I get TV Guides, and see magazine covers, and hardly ever recognize the 'celebrities' on the covers!

*is unhip and behind the times*

[dreamflower]

Not only don't I recognize most of them, but I'm sad to say, all the younger ones tend to look just alike to me.

The only ones I know of are the ones who make the news.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh, I didn't know Dick Button was a judge! Whyever didn't they use that in the adverts? I would have watched. I admire Johnny Weir as well, for his skating, but Dick is just legendary in my book. But I didn't watch because I'd never heard of any of the "celebs".

I love Tom Bergeron. Next to Mike Rowe, he's the best host ever. :)

[dreamflower]

Dick Button and Johnny Weir are the ones that are going to give this any legitimacy that it has. The third judge is a choreographer and not a skater, and I don't care for her personality at all. She tries to be all bubbly like Carrie Ann on DWTS, and just comes across as fakey.

Tom Bergeron is a marvelous host, both on DWTS and on AFV. His humor always has a warmth behind it, and even when he's being silly, you can see his intelligence underneath.