by Andrea "Hoo" Chempinski
Ok I've finally found a few spare moments to tackle a review of COI. I saw the Washington, East Rutherford and Philadelphia tour stops, so this review is of all the stops. I attempted to review this in run-order, but faulty memory (I took no notes) and the fact that it changed slightly each night means it's probably not 100% accurate :) I also was lucky enough to make it backstage which was a real treat so there's a few comments about that as well.
Opening: Techno Medley
A much longer opening than previously and honestly I could do away with the five minute light and music show before we even see a skater. The costumes are very youthful in black and silver. Though I have to wonder what the costume designer was thinking - most of the girls were in halter or backless type tops and hip hugger pants - not a flattering look for skaters who tend to have no chests. The men had on various silver tops. Todd was in a black t-shirt with shiny silver overshirt. Brian had on a black open neck shirt with small silver squares on the front. He does a fantastic spread eagle in his bit. What I noticed that struck me as odd is that Michelle and Brian get introduced in the middle of the opening bit. I do like the jackets everyone wears with a black body panel and silver sleeves and Champions on Ice on the back. Too bad those weren't for sale - I'd have snapped one up. High feature was double death spirals by B&S/K&D and B&E/S&P though there was one scary moment in PA where jamie lost her edge going down but was able to save it.
Sasha Cohen 'Ribbon'
Cute but pretty much a knock-off of Katia's program. Actually I found the ribbon distracting because it was banded white/blue/purple and I kept thinking it was on loan from Dr. Seuss. I did like the camel spin with the ribbon making a undulating wave form around her.
Tim Goebel 'Cup of Life'
Ugh. And Ugh again just for good measure. Why on earth Tim would pick a song that does nothing but highlight his weakest areas I have no idea. Watching him skate you got the feeling that he was skating to different music than was actually playing. Happily though after DC he got a new shirt. The DC one looked like a referee's black & white shirt with pink splotches on it. The new one is red/orange with yellow fern-like patterns on it.
Sarah Hughes 'Fosse'
A nice program from her, though I don't think she truly has the staccato movement of Fosse down at all. It wouldn't be so obvious if Rudy weren't also doing Fosse, and doing it better. In her performances she looked a little tired and doubled a lot of jumps.
Ina & Zimmerman "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (NJ only)
This is a fantastic program for them and I think this is music John can really relate to. He's in a sheer black shirt and she's in a silver and white outfit. Lots of great Moskvina-esque moves - I think John was made to do spread eagles. And the one where she starts off vertically upside on his shoulder and then bends over really is fantastic! Since I wasn't expecting them at this show they were a wonderful suprise!
Lang & Tcherneshev "Parisienne Walkways" (NJ only) Same program as their Nationals exhibition with him in black leather, only she's got a new slinky red dress. They don't really do much for me so I don't have any real impressions of the program.
Dan Hollander 'Elmer Fudd & Bugs Bunny'
For a man with few credentials, Dan has really worked to find his niche in the show. Not everyone can do comedy, but Dan pulls this off well. Granted it's not as funny on repeat viewing, but the first time I saw it I had tears from laughing so hard. It's a very clever program and he carries the theme well. I'm also a fan of the web journals he's been keeping and I found myself rooting and cheering more when he landed his jumps since I know from reading how happy he is when he nails them. Backstage I got to meet Dan for the first time and he was absolutely charming - seems like a real nice guy.
Punsalan & Swallow 'Scarf #'
This is a lovely creative program and bonus points to them for integrating the scarf and not just making it another 'prop program.' The only problem I had with this number is that the music is very dark and on it's own is great, but coming right after Dan's big comedy number it's a bit of a mood killer and it takes a minute to adjust. It's nice to see them touring with a more serious number than the previous two year - they perform it so well!
Irina Slutskaya "Timeless"
Don't know what this music was but it was really interesting. Never would have thought a bodysuit would work on Irina, but the shiny blue fabric with the front and back cut-outs looked great. And a Bielman actually looks attractive when done in a bodysuit :) She was a total cutie backstage in signing everyone's programs and was patient to wait while I shuffled photos to get hers out on top to sign.
Sale & Pelletier "Cha Cha Cha D'Amour" This program was one of the absolute highlights of the show! It's got all the tricks but is a comedy that allows their personalities to shine right through. The opening sequence is hysterical for David's facial expressions. Beautiful press lift and that cool death spiral move that starts with him in a spread eagle (does this have a name?). Had to wonder what the heck they were doing in the first half though since they are the current World Champs. Also got to meet them both post-show and Jamie was just incredibly nice. I had them sign a photo from the Canadian Open and I was flattered that Jamie liked it enough to ask for a copy. She was just adorable and very friendly!
Michael Weiss "Backstreet Boys"
John Lennon on acid was the costume with mirror silver pants and a tunic/jacket 60s style white top with silver rectangles on it. My joke of the tour was that next year Michael will have a bronze pants costume so he can have a complete set of medal colored costumes. I thought the Backstreet Boys were an interesting choice and something I would have bet I'd never see him skating to. I could live without the break-dancing bit (did that last year so move on) but overall not to bad a program. I have to admit that post-show he suprised me somewhat. From all the interviews and media bits he comes across as incredibly arrogant, but he was very friendly and sociable. I mentioned I was from his area and asked about practices and was encouraged to stop by for the Friday sessions when he gets back. (now that was even more of a shock since he knows I'm one of those 'Todd Eldredge people')
Elvis Stojko 'Girl You Really Got Me Now'
*sigh* now I love Elvis and this is a really fun program, but man I was really hoping we might see something different from him - maybe that he'd even tour with the Sarah Brightman program he has. It's just you can only see Elvis shimmy and dance and play with a crowd so many times before you just want to scream at him to skate! I was happy to see him landing some beautiful jumps tough. I do believe he did every triple but the axel. It was also my first encounter with Elvis and I was impressed - he was very nice when he signed my photos and he was a skater who seemed to actually be listening when you said something about his program or skate.
Brasseur & Eisler 'She Bangs'
B&E started the program with an interesting concept. She come s out and is holding what amount to fake torches on maybe 2 feet of rope. To a rock beat she then swings them around in the dark and then Lloyd sneaks in behind her to pick her up in an overhead lift. With the whirling fire it looked pretty cool. She puts them down, the lights go up and then launch into the Ricky Martin tune. A typical program but still great with the Headbanger, Fly High and Say Goodbye and others. First two shows they had on gold metallic (Lloyd looked especially fine in shiny black pants and tight gold shirt) but for the last two she was in black and he in silver. I preferred the gold. Again these two were just charming post-show - very nice people!
Nicole Bobek 'Cabaret'
Poor Nicole has been relegated into the 'still coming back from the bathroom' slot and honestly if she doesn't get some of her jumps back she's not going to get anyone to come back in. Her routine is cute and really fits the music, but her wobbly landings and doubled jumps really distract from the program.
Usova & Platov 'Desert Rose'
I'd originally heard they were planning to use Carmen on tour this summer so I was rather disappointed to see Desert Rose again. It's a nice program but not really a favorite of mine. Sadly this program seems to emphasize how slow they've gotten - makes me miss the old Evgeny that just cruised around the rink.
Rudy Galindo 'Fosse'
Now this is a Rudy program that's fantastic! Another one of the big highlights. It's funny but without reverting to the campy quality of the Village People of Brady Bunch numbers. And he must have studied to get this program right as many of his moves are right on point for the Fosse theme. One of the few men to really have jump content. 2axel/2toe, 3toe/3toe, 3toe? steps to 3loop?
Besidin & Polishuk 'Fastest Men'
An impressive program, and while the lifts still amaze me, once you've seen it a time or two it gets a little old. I wonder why Tom didn't let them do the Carmen routine or even the Swam Lake version of the Fast Man setup. Interesting that they're no longer the first act post intermission
Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze "The Kid"
Interesting concept, but it never really worked for me. I did like the music, but somehow the program left me cold. They're both in gray & black and it's the same lighthearted concept as their LP. Includes a few cute lifts but just not a favorite for me.
Viktor Petrenko 'Love Me Tender / Jailhouse Rock'
Hmmmm cute program with Viktor as a convict with ball & chain on his foot. But again I'd like to see another one of his serious programs on tour. He's done comedy for the spring tour too many times in a row now.
Philippe Candeloro 'Matador'
God help me I hate this program. Used it as a bathroom break for two of the stops. While I'm not totally against the strip-show routine on ice, it helps if you don't do that every single time. Can't he just go out and skate?
Surya Bonaly '??'
Red cut-away costume she used at World Pros. Might even be the same program - to me all her programs end up seeming the same so I cannot tell them apart.
Todd Eldredge 'Thank You For Loving Me'
Ahhh the reason I went to all the shows in the first place and Todd certainly didn't disappoint. He was very off in the first NJ show but very very on in the second so that made up for it. The program stands out in the show I think because he's one of the few skaters who actually does nothing but skate! And a nice jump fest too: 3axel, 3loop, 3salchow, 3lutz, 2axel! What impressed me is that Olga has him doing some impressive circular footwork (something that is imho one of Todd's weakest areas) with turns in both directions. My only complaint is that the more romantic draped fabric cut of the costume really doesn't go with the Bon Jovi tune. Post-show I inquired as to why he wasn't using the leather pants for this number and his response was that he didn't have a shirt to go with them. Seems he wore the brown turtleneck a bit too much for practice and it's no longer show-worthy. I suggested a plain white t-shirt and his tongue-in-cheek response was 'This is Champions on Ice, we don't wear plain white t-shirts as costumes' :)
Extra Todd Bit: I spoke with Todd about the Goodwill Games and he said he doesn't know yet as the format has not been announced and 'it may be something loopy.' He'd really rather not go because the timing is right before the season and that's a long travel to get there and back. He will be doing '1492' in Binghampton today.
Richard was at the Philly stop (he and Todd were driving to Binghampton that night) and he said the Grand Prix decisions will be made in June, but that if he could choose he'd want Todd at Skate Canada and Trophee Lalique. He didn't seem to think that Nations Cup was an option they'd consider.
Evgeny Plushenko "Sex Bomb"
Ok I have not yet watched the Worlds exhibitions tape, so I can't comment on how it might have been toned down, but I did find this program incredibly funny (as opposed to Philippe who I hated). I think it was because Evgeny wasn't trying to really seduce any of the audience members but instead was having fun with them. His facial expressions were hysterical! And I have no idea how he managed to pull off his jumps with that bulky top suit. I never realized how tall he was until I was standing next to him - even in shoes he's tall!
Kazakova & Dmitriev 'Somewhere Out There'
First off someone call the fashion police. If she's going to insist on being a blond she can't wear that flesh-tone costume - she just totally fades away. The program was tough to enjoy because to me that music will always be the Carruthers song. They did have the gorgeous move where she's in a vertical split (one leg on his shoulder) and he carries her around in several circles - they really extended the number of turns and it's very effective! Thankfully Dmitriev is a bit more in shape than at World Pros so I didn't fear he was going to have a heart attack on the ice.
Michelle Kwan "??"
A slightly more powerful song than her standard GFB, but sorry Michelle still does nothing for me so the program was entirely forgettable. I did wonder if maybe she was sending a message though about how she'll react at next year's Olympics.
Brian Boitano 'Blue'
One of the highlights of the show for me. Ordinarily I'm not a big Boitano fan, but I'd really wanted to see this program live (I'd hoped for it at his Vegas show but no luck there). For some reason while Brian never really seemed to work well with 'Wild Elephants' I think 'Blue' is fantastic for him. I love the two sets of dance spins he does that are creative and the straight line squat spread eagle was very cool. In NJ when he went for his lutz he waited a little to long and nearly came down on the corner spotlights. Brian was also incredibly nice backstage and I got to thank him for having someone speak to us at his Vegas show about how it's put together. Another 'seems like a nice guy' interaction.
Finale 'William Tell Overture'
Now I thought the Bolero finale last year was absolutely mezmerizing so I was wondering how it could be topped. I think it was smart to not try another dramatic piece but instead to go completely opposite and do campy. If you think of the 60s Batman show you've got the idea for the finale only done in cowboy theme. It starts with the girls all in saloon girl costumes in very bright colors. Dan comes out in a yellow cowboy suite with black & white cowprint chaps and vest and huge yellow hat. He's the 'inept cowboy' who tries to get the attention of all the girls and then keep tripping him or pulling out the chair he wants to sit on. Very cute. Then we cut to the Lone Ranger theme and all the guys come out in colored cowboy shirts and black pants. (To find Todd: he's in orange with the black fringe that goes in a horizontal band across the front and back of the shirt). Of course at this point I admit to missing a lot of the finale because I was focussing on Todd. At one point he and Viktor are to lift Irina and carry her toward center ice, but if Todd doesn't learn to come in *on* the beat and not just after poor Irina is going to end up with a dislocated shoulder. The cool move award goes to the crossing double axels with Todd and Rudy going one way and Viktor and Michael(?) the other. Small mishap in PA where Viktor and Todd were too close *every time* and so Todd missed nearly all of those jumps. I think this is one of those finales that will get better as the tour goes on and the cast can fit into the fun and laughs atmosphere it creates.
-Hoo
