I must say that I have only seen SOI once before but I really think that there does need to be a huge overhaul. Of course, the addition of Todd is a great place to start.I would say that is no longer "The Tara Show". Her patriotic number has apparently been scraped either due to Todd's arrival or her injury or both. She did look like she was hurting all night and only completed two triples in her "Color of Roses" number. Actually it seems more like the "Ilia Show" because he has three individual numbers.
I won't go over every number in detail because most of it is the same from show to show but I will mention a few of the highlights and lowlights IMHO.
I loved Lucinda's spinning numbers but felt she was under utilized. I wish they would have let the poor girl have a costurme change! My hubby thought that she was the absolute best of all the women. He said "Great twirler(I think he means spinner) and great body".
The "Black Betty" and "Lady Marmalade" opener was just OK but I do wish that Todd could have been in this number because the guys wore red leather pants. They looked better than the red fishnets to be seen later on.
After the enjoyable "Tango" number, Kurt announced Todd and he received a standing O. He skated "Rings" in his OLy costume with tons of speed and power. YOU could hear a pin drop during his performance. He completed a 3 loop, a beautiful 3 axel, nice 3 lutz, 2 axel and a 3 sal at the end. HIs jumps were all straight in the air and perfect. After seeing Todd skate at three events in the last three months, I can honestly say that the thing that what has changed most in his skating this year is his perfect jump technique. No more "cat" landings and a beautiful straight triple sal!!! The closing spin was tremendous and quicker than any I have seen in along time.. He left the ice to many "Ilove you Todd" screams and he heartily waved back at those screaming.
The other highlights of the first half were Steven's Bond number which I thought was very entertaining. Steven only has one solo number so it is somewhat lengthy. Ilia was jumping like crazy in his first number and he hit two beautiful triple axels. I love his first number because it is pure skating. Kristi had trouble with her jumps on the "Gold" number but at least she was going for all of the jumps. She is the only female out there with any jumps left. Jenny and Todd's chair number was OK but very short and a little to gimicky for my taste. Ilia's "Pick up the Pieces" was also very classy and showed off his great footwork.
The lowlights IMHO were K&O Native American thing. I just don't think it fits their style. BTW, Angela is now not wearing the headress and she has a new costume. It is no longer two pasties in front or what I called the Las Vegas Indian. It is somewhat more tasteful. The lowest of the lowlights was the "I wonderful I got Gold" rap. I left for my potty break but returned just in time unfortunetly to see the guys in the fishnets. Todd Sand look extra dorky and I thought it was very embarrasing. That kind of stuff needs to be scraped next year.
In the second half we got to see Lucinda spin again. Hubby liked that part. She really is quite amazing.
Lowlights of the second half were the dumb dialogue to the Carpenters song by Tara and Kurt. I'm not sure why they paired them together doing this. The whole idea just didn't make much sense to me. Also, the spotlight thing kind of gave me the beginnings of a migrane headache. It was unique if you like those kind of things. Also a personal lowlight for me was Katerina. I guess I have never been a fan of hers but this music selection is the pits. She did enough shaking to put Buffalo on the richter scale on Sunday. I think she only completed one double axel. She seems to have that jump down.
Other second half highlights for me were Ilia's "Rubber Band Man" which I think is very innovative and Kristi's Janet Jackson number which is very well choreographed. She skated much better in this number and hit all of her jumps. Jenni and Todd skated to "First Time" ever I saw your face and it was lovely. I must say tht having watched alot of the eligibles over the past few months live that Jenni and Todd seem very slow and somewhat methodical. They were not quite as loose as I have seen them in the past.
Todd came out and skated to "Your Song" in the black sparkly outfit. I must say that I was totally overwhelmed by this number. I didn't think I would like it as well as some of the others he has skated in the past but it was tremendous to see this live. Todd looked so free and happy skating and he was totally smiling. I loved it!!! He landed a 3 loop, another beautiful 3 axel and a 3 toe. He was so fast skating this number. I have seen him skate both competitvely and in exhibitions many time but I must say that this is the happiest I have seen him during his skate. He received another standing ovation after " Your Song".
Dennis and Kristi's pair number was exceptional and I really enjoyed seeing her skate pairs once again. Kurt's "Elevation" was more exciting than the guitar number but both of them showed off his great footwork. He looked really tired at the end of the evening.
Todd come out for the finale and I saw him shaking his arm and wrist. At first I was afraid that he had hurt himself. Then I noticed that it was a cufflink or button problem on the sleeve of his gray blousy finale shirt. Does this sound familiar or what???? The whole finale he was holding his sleeve down with his fingers while trying to turn counterclockwise which has to be difficult for Todd who spins clockwise. I kind of chuckled thing of his past problems with the cuff link but he handled it now like a true professional and he didn't miss a beat. Even during his own little spin around the ice it was probably unnoticable to anyone not watching as close as myself.
Well, all in all I am certainly glad I went to see Todd skate so freely and perfectly but I do agree that SOI needs alot of changes and finetuning for next season. My hubby wasn't quite as happy as I when we drove into a lake effect snowstorm after the event and arrived back in Ohio four and one half hours later. Oh well, anything for Todd.
-KarenL
