tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post2377527878126303313..comments2024-03-27T00:19:55.641-07:00Comments on Aunt Joyce's Ice Cream Stand: SWTS: Another Failed Skating SeriesOlympicEffecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11708554152461551887noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-14529374410268101882010-12-24T03:33:37.993-08:002010-12-24T03:33:37.993-08:00Has anyone here actually seen Dancing on Ice? ITV...Has anyone here actually seen Dancing on Ice? ITV.com blocks the video when I go their site. Are the shows archived anywhere?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-21805458691014939692010-12-23T19:05:39.513-08:002010-12-23T19:05:39.513-08:00Again, skating is not dancing. DWTS has worked bec...Again, skating is not dancing. DWTS has worked because dancing is easy enough to be "faked". Even the uncoordinated contestants of Season 1 could pull off some moves. On SWTS, very few of the contestants had enough skating ability after 5 weeks to make their performances look comfortable... And those "comfortable" performances often still included plenty of stumbling, awkward moments (the awkwardness of Vernon + Laurieann didn't help). <br /><br />Finding enough contestants for dancing is easy... Everyone's danced at a wedding or taken a dance class... And if they haven't, they can at least WALK. But finding people who even know how to skate forwards and backwards without stumbling is very hard. It is an incredible gift to be able to skate, and most people don't do it well it enough to belong on TV. Skating also needs a MUCH BIGGER surface than dancing.. I thought it was a mistake to make the ice as small as a dance surface. One of things that makes skating so cool is the ice coverage/speed, but I realize Sean Young didn't have enough ability to cover much ice.<br /><br />The British version of SWTS is probably also helped by the fact that Britain is not even close to a skating powerhouse like the US is. They aren't used to seeing a big National championships on TV every year, and they don't have many skaters at the top of international competitions. Their expectations are much lower, and a basic skating competition is probably more watchable for their audience that rarely gets to see any skating.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-51282287558424298862010-12-23T15:10:21.074-08:002010-12-23T15:10:21.074-08:00Spat venom? Wow! We didn't see the same show!Spat venom? Wow! We didn't see the same show!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-57068739286871982042010-12-23T14:16:01.061-08:002010-12-23T14:16:01.061-08:00ABC did try to tweak the show in the little time t...ABC did try to tweak the show in the little time they had. Tanith was in a 'nest' for the first episode, but was moved downstairs and dressed up immediately.<br /><br />The Johnny Weir/Laurie Anne/Bethenny feud was bizarre (especially when twitter is included). The first few weeks when Johnny and Laurie Anne were nice to people who fell and then spat venom at Bethenny didn't make sense. I wondered if it was a production gimmick.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-53587074782551617972010-12-23T14:10:54.508-08:002010-12-23T14:10:54.508-08:00And SWTS has a better trophy.And SWTS has a better trophy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-80368670182838270402010-12-23T14:09:48.633-08:002010-12-23T14:09:48.633-08:00One more question:
How does Dancing on Ice do it?...One more question: <br />How does Dancing on Ice do it?<br />Having Torvill and Dean and hosts is a good hook, but I don't recognize most of the skaters (although Vanilla Ice is going to be on the next season).<br />Are these stars as unknown and untalented as many of the SWTS cast?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-88770119939254615552010-12-23T14:07:11.566-08:002010-12-23T14:07:11.566-08:00A lot of the problems with this show were also pre...A lot of the problems with this show were also present in the first season of DWTS. They only had 6 'dancers' that season, no one knew the pros, and the 'stars' were unknowns who were poor dancers. <br /><br />I have never liked the cheesy 'humor' pieces on DWTS, but SWTS never needed the filler, being 1 hour most weeks.<br /><br />SWTS even modeled their stars after the first season of DWTS:<br /><br />Trista Sutter and Bethenny -- reality TV<br />Sean Young and Rachel Hunter - acresses<br />Evander Holyfield and Jonny Mosely - athletes<br />Joey McIntyre and Brandon - actors, I guess<br />Kelly Monaco and Rebecca Budig -- soap opera actresses<br /><br />I actually don't see the parallel between Vince Neil and John O'Hurley<br /><br />Somehow DWTS was a sensation in 2005, and BBC set things up similarly in 2010 for SWTS, and people took exception to the things they didn't in 2005.<br /><br />ABC is unlikely to try again, but I think higher profile celebrities could change things. Over time, the pros grew on me (especially Keauna, Brooke, Jennifer, and Fred), and they could be attractions just as some of DWTS's pros are.<br />The quirkiness of D-list celebs works on DWTS, but didn't on SWTS.<br /><br />(Thank God they didn't try "elderly actress" as one of the stars for SWTS.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-87527817389570813072010-12-23T08:16:07.017-08:002010-12-23T08:16:07.017-08:00To Squasha 6:37 AM
"The ratings won't b...To Squasha 6:37 AM <br />"The ratings won't be worse"<br />No, but they won't bring back the show if it can't get better ratings. TV networks aren't interested in low ratings. Bring on "real" celebs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-2724494255861924302010-12-23T06:37:31.379-08:002010-12-23T06:37:31.379-08:00I agree with anon 12:53. The ratings won't be...I agree with anon 12:53. The ratings won't be worse, and the skating will be so much better. Bring on the hockey players!Squashanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-29578948920804129972010-12-23T01:50:24.239-08:002010-12-23T01:50:24.239-08:00Hockey is NOT a popular sport in the US unlike Can...Hockey is NOT a popular sport in the US unlike Canada. Hockey players won't bring more viewers to the show. The target audience is the same as Dancing with the Stars.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-43206865482628656302010-12-23T00:53:16.286-08:002010-12-23T00:53:16.286-08:00Loved Dick Button! TSA scanners will never seem t...Loved Dick Button! TSA scanners will never seem the same again.<br /><br />Some good critiques already listed. I don't want to repeat, so I'll only add.<br /><br />- Battle of the Blades format might be more successful.<br /><br />- Using hockey players brings in the hockey audience, which is much bigger than just the figure skating fan base.<br /><br />- Hockey players can already skate, really well. It's entertaining to see them struggle with toe picks and partners...much easier to watch that than someone struggling to go forward without falling.<br /><br />- There are lady hockey players. Pair them with male figure skaters. It doesn't have to be strictly male hockey players paired with female figure skaters. <br /><br />- Third judge should be hockey related or figure skating related. Having someone who doesn't skate and doesn't know skating doesn't make sense. <br /><br />- If hockey players aren't used, then make sure whoever participates is athletic, willing to work hard, and give them much more time to learn before starting the competition. <br /><br />- If hockey players aren't used, then start out with more people learning than contestant spots available and use only those people who master a certain level of skill proficiency as contestants. <br /><br />- Johnny Mosley should have been in the finale. Bethany beating Jonny turned the concept of the show into a travesty. The judging system has to be fixed so that can't happen again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-90728457712309047112010-12-22T23:12:56.724-08:002010-12-22T23:12:56.724-08:00Yeah, good luck finding all these great skating ce...Yeah, good luck finding all these great skating celebs. If they had good skating basics, they would probably still be skating, you know? It's just too hard to find. Bethenny did I think two backward crossovers in one episode... I think.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-58411858420009009092010-12-22T20:24:45.919-08:002010-12-22T20:24:45.919-08:00I liked the show, mainly because I like Johnny and...I liked the show, mainly because I like Johnny and I love Dick. I think there should have been more emphasis on the basic skills. Seriously, could Bethenny even skate backwards? I never recall her doing a backwards crossover, a basic and essential skill. Having your anorexic body lifted by a strong male skater is not a skating skill! Jonny did so well for a beginner. I was really impressed. I wish they had shown more of his progress--eg, learning crossovers and turns.<br />I would like to see another season of this show, with the kinks worked out. Laurie Ann adds nothing. David Wilson would be a perfect replacement, but I doubt if he would do it. How about Oksana Bauil? The stars need to show mastery of skills through at least Beta before they start training. And they have to be more famous than the skaters, at least!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-77982610518455657972010-12-22T18:57:42.482-08:002010-12-22T18:57:42.482-08:00I'm amazed nobody tripped and fell coming arou...I'm amazed nobody tripped and fell coming around that ramp, which looked like it was on an incline. Who figure skates on A HILL. I know people want the show to pick better celebrities, but think of how hard it is to find people with good enough skating skills for this. Skating is an amazing sport, and chances are most celebs do not having the requirements necessary to participate. And unfortunately, so many of the celebs on this show weren't so likeable, either for their bad skating (Vince, Sean), or because of their personalities (Bethenny was nuts, Brandon kind of wimped out). Laurieann needed to go, but I don't see much wrong with the other judges. A judge like Weir could have given a better assessment of the actual skating being put out there if it wasn't so shaky.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-12174763270707892552010-12-22T16:38:10.995-08:002010-12-22T16:38:10.995-08:00I tried to like this show, but stopped watching ha...I tried to like this show, but stopped watching halfway through. Before this show, I had never heard of Bethenny. She is a nasty piece of work. I had never heard of Rebecca either, but at least she was pleasant to watch. Things that didn't make sense were the roller derby ramp, the voting system, the British cohost, and having a dance judge on a skating panel.DWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01289047319336610654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-43869554979343700362010-12-22T14:34:16.303-08:002010-12-22T14:34:16.303-08:00I didn't especially like SWTS, but I watched, ...I didn't especially like SWTS, but I watched, mainly, at first, to see Johnny Weir, but later, to see what crazy thing Dick Button would say and do. He was a hoot!<br /><br />I think the problems with the first season of SWTS are fixable--but the producers need to be willing to put out some money:<br /><br />1. Get bigger name "stars." Except for Sean Young, I had no idea who any of the "stars" were until I started watching, so I wasn't curious to tune in just to see how a particular star skated, and I never got truly invested in rooting for any of them. (Although, towards the end, I was invested in rooting *against* Bethenny who did not deserve to be in the final two.)<br /><br />2. Provide a bigger rink. And I agree, get rid of the idiotic ramp.<br /><br />3. Revise the voting system. Having a star skate, but then be voted off at the end of the same show based in part on the audience votes from the previous week, based on the previous week's performances, was bizarre.<br /><br />4. Perhaps have pros demonstrate what good basic skating and the "required elements" are supposed to look like. Maybe do instant replays comparing what the stars did with how the element is supposed to be done. Because I don't know how much of the SWTS audience actually did recognize what was good skating and what wasn't. <br /><br />One final gripe: Quit requiring such difficult elements of beginning skaters. Skaters who can barely stand, let alone move, on the skates shouldn't be required to do spins or jumps after just five weeks on the ice. The results were, for the most part, ugly and ridiculous.<br /><br />And then, if you did that, you wouldn't have Tanith saying things like "it takes years for competitive skaters to learn these moves, but our stars had to learn them in just a week." That undercuts the whole message that "ice skating is difficult and requires skill, athleticism, dedication, and years of hard work."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-21790417154758834732010-12-22T14:03:17.188-08:002010-12-22T14:03:17.188-08:00Perhaps the celebs should be required to be able t...Perhaps the celebs should be required to be able to do front and back crossovers before they are hired. Maybe they should have to audition. Make the ice bigger. Get rid of Vernon. Hire Tom Bergeron he would have made things run smoother. Open every show with a professional routine. Keep the judges. I loved Johnny and Dick together! Give the judges more power to get rid of contestants with bad attitudes and contestants who can't skate (BF). Keep Tanith. O.K. perfect, I will watch again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-47723565600149435512010-12-22T13:26:36.826-08:002010-12-22T13:26:36.826-08:00The difference in the fluidity, speed, and comfort...The difference in the fluidity, speed, and comfort level of the skaters vs the celebs would have been so dramatically glaring had they used a real sized ice surface, that I guess it made sense to use the baby sized ice. That way, even someone like Johnny Weir had to skate very slow and cautious to make sure not to go over the edge of the ice. But it really did cause issues with Jonny Moseley going over the edge... Oh well<br /><br /> I didn't love the group number mostly because of the camera angles. When there are multiple skaters on the ice at once, and the camera zooms into one person, it's hard to take it in... Then again, someone like Denis skating without a partner isn't exactly utilizing him very well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-28915243650606287182010-12-22T12:25:23.276-08:002010-12-22T12:25:23.276-08:00Anonmyous at 10:49 is obviously clueless because s...Anonmyous at 10:49 is obviously clueless because she spelled Kwan as Quan. lol. <br /><br />The skating was so constrained by the puddle sized ice surface. Vernon and Tanith needed more time getting adjusted to microphone usage. Dick needed more practice in holding up his paddle. Laurieann didn't have a clue. Everything was just so rushed. It also didn't help when one of the better celebs withdrew, leaving the race to get into the Final week completely anti-climatic. The skaters were the best part of the show. They gave it there all with those celebs who were very limited in what they could do. But all the TV/producer flubs got in the way of making this a success.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-83585164607390923792010-12-22T12:04:06.531-08:002010-12-22T12:04:06.531-08:00I'm not sure if Brandon didn't care... At ...I'm not sure if Brandon didn't care... At the end of the show, I saw him go over to the trophy to touch it, as if to say "I wish I coulda had it". As an actor who appears to think outrageously high of himself (he's on a kids cable show, but wants to be a Will Smith movie star), I'm sure he's very caught up in what type of image he puts out there... I think he only would have appeared in the Finale if he felt perfectly healthy, prepared, and comfortable. In other words, he doesn't have an athlete mentality to push through things when they get a little tough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-33681816451900890252010-12-22T11:45:30.877-08:002010-12-22T11:45:30.877-08:00Yamaguchi is not good at speaking without a script...Yamaguchi is not good at speaking without a script, as was evident during her judging of "Thin Ice" and during her commentary during the Universal Sports Vancouver Olympic show. She gave very little critique. She is best when she is hosting shows and has a script... And of course when she skates. I don't think her addition to the SWTS judging panel would have made it any better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-78331876607795988462010-12-22T11:37:28.160-08:002010-12-22T11:37:28.160-08:00Bethenny deleted her tweet from last night about h...Bethenny deleted her tweet from last night about how she "got bombed after the show and danced her pussy off". Full of class that one is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-23205431937677500762010-12-22T11:01:25.973-08:002010-12-22T11:01:25.973-08:00@anon 10:49 Rolling eyes here
"It certainly ...@anon 10:49 Rolling eyes here<br /><br />"It certainly would have, but Johnny Weir doesn't want to close any doors on his amateur status"<br /><br />This had definitely to do with upholding his eligibility to be allowed to go to competitions.<br />It helps to read the posts precisely.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-83285099491799318532010-12-22T10:55:16.120-08:002010-12-22T10:55:16.120-08:00I was talking about amateur in regards to it being...I was talking about amateur in regards to it being the terms for him being eligible to participate in ISU competitions.OlympicEffecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11708554152461551887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387050766907671577.post-14026732590978659462010-12-22T10:49:09.393-08:002010-12-22T10:49:09.393-08:00I pretty much like your article exept for the part...I pretty much like your article exept for the part where you called Johnny Weir an amateur. The guy is a 3 times national champion, 2 times olympian, and junior world champion, just to name a few, he is recognized world wide, in part with Yamaguchi and Quan, maybe not as decorated, but as he deserved to, but equally talented.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com