Johnny Weir debuted his new Poker Face costume. Remember when he was going to retire that program a year ago? I do worry about Johnny. While he was recently in Japan for a show, The Ice, one of the major summer skating shows (with lots of sponsors) is being held this weekend. Where's Johnny? He is doing an ice shoe held every week during the summer. There is already a rift between Team Weir and Yu-Na's management. That was some bridge to burn. Being absent from the major shows does pose a major red flag for his professional career. He could be a top show skater with innovative programs, but he is quickly treading in Lady Gaga sideshow act territory. When her overexposure backfires, where will he be?
Felicia Zhang made daddy proud with her short program at Liberty. Look at that Lutz! Tay better start working on his so they can rack up the points. He is certainly capable of doing one.
Chris Burdette spoke to gymnastike about qualifying eight gymnasts to Nationals.
The Thompsons have already visited Parkettes. During his tenure at PSU, Steve Sheperd did not actively recruit at Parkettes. PSU is in a situation where they need Parkettes more than Parkettes needs Penn State. It would even help building a crowd, as we know what a cult atmosphere the Allentown gym can be. Everyone under the sun is applying for the job to become the coach at Auburn. One can only hope that it goes to Bryan Raschilla. He has done the grunt work at Alabama for years and will be screwed over when the program inevitably goes to Dana Duckworth.
In case anyone was feeling delusional, Va Zam will not be performing 'the Cheng' at Classics. She will likely compete a layout pod. Zam discussed her routines in a recent profile. There is some concern about Zam performing a double layout on floor, as she crunched both ankles doing the skill. If Zam gets injured during her foray in elite gymnastics, it could spell disaster for UCLA. She certainly would no longer be the favorite of Miss Val.
Sandra Bezic is helping Brandon Mroz with his long program this season. Brandon did a genius thing by getting her involved. Tom Dickson will take care of the footwork and levels aspect of 'On The Waterfront,' while Bezic will inject her trademark emotion and stylistic details. We can only suspect that Sandra will be a major fan of all of her work when she commentates at US Nationals, just as she was smitten with her skaters at the World Pro.
Mary Beth Marley won both the short and long programs in the Junior B division at Skate Detroit. She remains a junior to watch. Just missing Nationals last season did not halt her progress.
Gymnastike is on hand at the Cover Girl Classic (US Classic.) Alicia Sacramone remains as delightful as ever. She will be competing a Layout Rudi and DTY. Aly Raisman will compete a piked double arabian.
Grace McLaughlin is injured and will not be competing at Classics or Nationals. She vows to be back for the 2011 season. This was her year to make the National Team and to start making an impact. Getting (and staying) healthy and upgrading next season are of the utmost importance if she is ever going to make an impact.
Reminder: The US Classic/ Cover Girl Classic will be broadcast LIVE on Universal Sports tomorrow at 8 PM Eastern Time. For those who don't get the channel, there is typically an online feed.
"When her overexposure backfires, where will he be?"
ReplyDeleteHe can always go back to Xtina:) What's with the rift between him and Yuna? What ended their friendship?
It is between Team Johnny and her management, not her herself.
ReplyDeleteOh I've never heard about it. By "Team Johnny", you mean his agentress?
ReplyDeleteNotice how he hasn't done any shows with Yu-Na in quite some time.
ReplyDeleteJohnny will be back in Japan in September, and also in China. Don't worry :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, if it is Tara's fault, why Jeremy is there?
yes, Johnny has resorted to resurecting Poker Face. That program made him so famous. Even he knows Bad Romance was a Hot Mess and nobody wants to hear that song anymore. His classical piece was pretty but boring. The fact that he was not invited to his "friend'" All That Skate " speaks volumes about where his pro career is going. 15 minuites is up baby.
ReplyDeleteOh come on, he "resurrected" it because he was asked to by organizers of the show, it doesn't mean he will skate it at every opportunity forever.
ReplyDeleteLittle Felica hit some positively Sasha-esque moments in that program. She is wasting her time in pairs.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about any rift between him and Yuna, but he was skating at shows in Korea as recently as last summer. Plus, Jeremy is in Korea, so that kills the Tara theory. Evan isn't in Korea either. People are so snarky about Johnny. Maybe he booked Sun Valley instead of Korea because he needs the time before he goes to China and Japan. Frankly, I think Johnny needs to space out the shows in order to do his other projects, and I don't think he plans to be a pro skater forever.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the Poker Face thing is a resurrection so much as a never-retired thing. He tried to replace it with Bad Romance, but people prefer PF and have been requesting it. I think he'd rather do Heartbroken, but people want to see the Gaga thing.
Anonymous @ 11:46am...I find his "classical piece" anything BUT boring. It shows off the skating style and skills that are the hallmarks of his talent...elegance, emotion, and grace, which by the way is what figure skating is supposed to be about. If anything, it's Johnny's fans that have to grow, and give him room to experiment, and not demand that he perform the same routine over and over. He is a brilliant talent, let him do what he wants to do! The results can never be disappointing.
ReplyDeleteJust one minor correction Evan was in Korea in June.
ReplyDelete@ Anon 4:43 PM
ReplyDelete"Just one minor correction Evan was in Korea in June."
True, for "Medalists on Ice" which is an IMG show and NOT a Yuna show.
FYI to Anon at 3:55: Johnny himslef said he is not competing this year. Seems he has not enrolled at FIT either. So yeah, he has plenty of time to skate in Korea if he was so invited.
ReplyDelete@Anon 5:17PM Yes, however there have been numerous ice shows in Korea this year including Festa On Ice which Johnny had previously been part of, all I think is there must be some grain of truth in there somewhere. Perhaps his image and her image no longer mesh or perhaps it was a money issue. Doesn't matter anyway he will go his way doing what he wants and will in the end land however he lands.
ReplyDeleteMy source for him not being invited is very legit. Plus, no one in their right mind would choose Sun Valley over All That Skate. The money is incomparable.
ReplyDeleteWith Bezic being involved with Mroz I doubt he'll be doing quads anymore
ReplyDeleteWow, a Johnny post that has somewhat normal comments.
ReplyDeleteAfter Weir skated bad at 09 Nationals, he blamed virus infection he suffered in Korea while performing at a Yuna show that was held a week before the competition.
ReplyDeleteSome Weir fans were all over Yuna accusing her for exploiting their friendship before his crucial competition.
This might have something to do with him not getting invited to her show these days.
Do any of you posting comments about these rumors know Johnny personally? I find it to be very churlish, and obnoxious to insinuate any type of problem with Johnny's personal life, no matter who your alleged source is. If it doesn't come straight from Johnny then it's not true.
ReplyDelete@Ash probably not but Johnny and controversy seem to go hand in hand.
ReplyDelete"He could be a top show skater with innovative programs, but he is quickly treading in Lady Gaga sideshow act territory. When her overexposure backfires, where will he be?"
ReplyDeleteTime will tell.
I´m sorry for you that he isn´t as competitive as you expect him to be. Maybe you should help him develop some Catholic guilt so he can be as competitive as you are.
@ O. 8:29 PM
ReplyDeleteSo Joannie Rochette shouldn't have been in her right mind when she chose to skate in Sun Valley this weekend. Sun Valley was her fist choice of venue before she cancelled it a few weeks ago to replace Mirai Nagasu in The Ice in Japan.
@Anonymous10:31PM
ReplyDelete"controversy seem to go hand in hand"
It's because people have nothing else to do with their lives than create controversy about him.
Joannie canceling proves the point that The Ice is where the money is. Mirai was invited first because she is Japanese and they love their own. Once she was offered a spot in that show, she took it.
ReplyDelete@OlympicEffect 8:29PM
ReplyDelete"for him not being invited"
Not being invited doesn't mean there's a "rift".
Most of the skaters in Yuna shows were not re-invited to a second show. Few were invited two or even three times. They renew their cast frequently. Just look at their cast 08/09/10 for Festa on Ice, Ice All Star and All That Skate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festa_On_Ice
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_All_Stars
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_That_Skate_Summer
re: Johnny's classical piece (Brokenhearted). Yes it is lovely, yes it shows his elegance and grace but every fan needs to be honest. All the moves he uses in that program are moves we've seen in other programs. Yes, skaters have trademark moves, but even the transitions are similar. Good choreography takes the strengths of each skater and presents it in a unique, new exciting way. Much like any art. It's all been done before. what makes it great is that it's being presented in a new, fresh way. I wish Johnny would get some real, new, pro-choreographed programs. His Poker Face was pretty different, but still many little same hand movements. We take whatever we can get though!
ReplyDeleteLooks like the same things that ruined Johnny's competitive career are also at play in his pro skating: no discipline, misplaced trust, poor training, and a failure to seek and respect professional advice.
ReplyDeleteSO much talent, so much waste.
The photos from Sun Valley are ghastly.
@anonymous 8:41AM I have to say you're right on all three counts. I have been a supporter of his for years now and this is the first time I just can't justify whatever the hell is happening with him. Maybe nothing is happening with him, maybe this whole re-invention of PF is just a mistake and he'll lisetn to ppl's opinions. Who knows? I do think that it's a bit early to determine wether or not his pro- career is indeed in actual danger. This is a huge time in his life and we all know Johnny needs his time to come to terms with things. Maybe he has to struggle a bit first to realize things. Thats his way. Not the best way... but his way. Sun Valley was a... horrid sight to be sure, which is a shame because I think he's keeping himself in good shape (he just can't move in that darn ugly costume). But, lets hope he rallies and figures things out. By figure things out, I of course mean get rid of Tara.
ReplyDeleteStupid physics question: can he jump with those odd-looking shoulder loops?
ReplyDeleteI get bitched at a lot for criticizing Johnny Weir. I do it because I think that he is headed for a spectacular fall, and it doesn't need to be that way. It's very, very sad to watch.
Criticism can be painful to listen to, but the overdone-to-the-point-of-hysteria praise that Johnny gets from some of his fans is worse. I hope you are wrong about a fall, Laura, and that Johnny continues to succeed. I just wish he'd slow down and be more selective in his choice of projects, on and off the ice. He has been on the go nonstop since the Olympics. Better, I think, to pick one or two non-skating projects and focus on those; it seems like every time I check his Facebook page, there's another new book/TV appearance/judging/whatever. Too, too much and much of it seems rushed and poorly planned.
ReplyDeleteHis skating is so elegant and refined, and his press conference at the Olympics after those cruel remarks from broadcasters showed his personal class and refinement. But since then, in a number of his interviews (particular the ones with the less-than-professional hosts), he has not shown those qualities. His management should see that less is sometimes more. As a fan, I want to see the best of him, not just more of him.
Another question, then: who handles Tara's other clients, since she seems to be Johnny's constant traveling companion?
ReplyDeleteAnd another: has "Fireworks" always been an "entertainment" marketing firm, as well as one devoted to sports, or is that a new thing?
@Laura. I have heard that Richie handles the other clients. Jeremy Abbott hasn't done so bad thus far and may have a good showing at his assigned grand prix events this season.
ReplyDeleteOT: Are you dressed like a cat for a reason? Please don't tell me you are trying to be one of those kittens.
@anon 9:34
ReplyDeleteNah, Laura isn´t a kitten. But she loves Johnny.
She even tweets to him. She appears to be a bit bitter. Still,one or two of her points are worth thinking about.
Otherwise, it´s interesting...Johnny´s kitten have become a "foe image" for many readers here.
Being a "kitten" myself, I agree more with "anonycat". Johnny seems to run on empty and I hope he soon gets time to slow down a bit and reassess. That´s my wish for him.
*laughing* Oh, no! I never even thought of that! No, that was just a Halloween costume from last year. MAC makeup and a headband from Party City can be a dangerous combination in MY hands ;-)
ReplyDeleteYes, I've tweeted to Johnny before (for the record, I hate Twitter) because I do think he is intelligent and interesting. Most recently I commiserated with him about his struggles with OCD. I don't think that makes me a bad person.
No, Laura, it doesn`t not make you a bad person.
ReplyDeleteYou can love someone and still disagree with the choices that someone does. I know you like the Johnny who comes out when the lights are turned down. I can understand that.
"No, Laura, it doesn`t not make you a bad person."
ReplyDeleteOf course I wanted to write "it doesn´t make you...". Sorry.
I got your meaning :)
ReplyDelete