Stars on Ice. 2013 version.
Another year, another Stars on Ice. I'm growing to love this tradition. Keep it up, eh guys?!
Unlike last year, I wasn't overly familiar with most of the show. Video hasn't exactly been forthcoming, so aside from Tessa and Scott's numbers and the world champions one, I wasn't sure what to expect.
The show opened with a group number to Gotye's Somebody That I Used to Know. I know, it's overplayed but I still really enjoy the song, so I was right into this one. Tessa's the first skater that we see, which is fitting because she is The Queen. The costumes were interesting but I loved the choreography. The guys in particular adopt some really crazy body positions. I focus my attention on Scott and Tessa in group numbers but they were so separate in this one that I had to choose and I chose Scott. He was in the same positions as the other guys but there was something really...almost sexy about how he was doing it.
Patrick Chan was got a big introduction as a three-time world champion. I'd seen this I Need a Dollar number at the Nationals gala and wasn't particularly taken with it there nor was I tonight. Patrick's charming but I'm not a big fan of hat tricks, I guess.
Ashley Wagner was next, skating to Vienna. I like Ashley, I really do. She sadly had the only fall of the night in this number! She seemed a lot more at ease this year than last.
The Kerrs were a pleasant surprise for me. They ended their competitive career just as I was getting interested in things. I've seen them in a few videos and most of the time they seemed to give off a really creepy sibling vibe but I didn't see that tonight. Their first number, Mad World, was stunning and almost haunting. I loved the version of the song and they were just so into it.
One thing that I really enjoyed was when the skaters leaving the ice would help segue into the next skater's routine. John and Sinead assisted caterpillar Shawn Sawyer with the first stage of his transformation into a butterfly. I swear, only Shawn could do a routine like that! He's definitely found his home here. The audience just adores him.
The next number confused me a bit. Jeff and Joannie came out and skated to selections of piano music. I like Jeff and Joannie, don't get me wrong but why couldn't we have seen Meagan and Eric do another number instead of this? Meh. Whatever.
Kurt was next and this song. THIS SONG. I gather that it was composed for him by the Tragically Hip and is called Kurt's Song and it is GORGEOUS. Kurt skating to it is GORGEOUS. Chills, man, chills. I wanted to go and prostrate myself on the ice when it was over. But I couldn't because SOMEONE decided that Scott and Tessa had to skate next.
Scott and Tessa are...Scott and Tessa. It doesn't matter what they do, they are quite simply, the best. I already knew their routine to Stay by Rihanna quite well. It's another thing to see it live. The beginning is so sensual and the way that Scott kept his focus on Tessa throughout the whole thing was breathtaking. They move in and out of the lifts so smoothly. The split lift is my new favourite. Tessa's dress was so beautiful and both of their outfits really contributed to the mood.
Jeffrey Buttle skated next and I'm suddenly drawing a blank. The hazards of skating after Scott and Tessa. Oh right. It was fun. When the song started, someone in the audience yelled, "YEAH, BUDDY!" and it was pretty funny.
Then Joannie and her hair came out. Very sexy and slinky number for Joannie and her hair.
One of the highlights for me was the number featuring the five world champs skating. Kurt, Patrick, Jeff, Scott and Tessa. Tessa was the star. Queen Tessa. She and Scott seemed to really enjoy skating it. So fascinating to watch the mechanics of how the guys worked together in the lifts. Scott, obviously, did most of the work, particularly in the final lift where he hoists her up onto his shoulder before the others step in and grab various limbs. Also, Scott's butt. It's fabulous. The end.
I skipped the World Vision appeal again and made a dash to the washroom. Sorry, Jeff.
At the end of the intermission, Scott and Tessa did their promo for Lindt and it was thankfully far less cringe-inducing than last year. They skated out to a montage of their career and mimed their ending pose from Mahler at the Olympics. Scott greeted everyone and then accidentally referred to us as Vancouver. Scott being Scott hammed it up and skated back to the entrance to start again. Tessa was doubled over laughing but gave another wave hello when Scott rejoined her. It was a thrill, I must admit, to hear Tessa say that they're looking forward to representing Canada at Sochi. Tessa's lines were much better than last year and it came across as much more genuine. Chocolate was passed out to the audience members at the end of their promo.
The group number, Come Together, wasn't my favourite but it did have Scott in tight leather pants, sooooo... Some members of the cast *cough*Meagan*cough* clearly aren't all that comfortable with sexy hip swivels. Tessa, on the other hand, is. Tessa rocks. She also helped herself to some guy's popcorn. I'm sure he didn't mind.
Shawn was back again with another kickass and intense number to Seven Nation Army. He just doesn't do anything halfway. Even his makeup, that he smeared with a handful of slush, didn't seem over the top with him. It's just Shawn. It's what he does.
Finally Meagan and Eric got to show their stuff. I am, admittedly, more of a fan of Kirsten and Dylan when it comes to Canadian pairs and I think they'd be a great addition to this cast, but Meagan and Eric more than held their own. Eric is a lovely, lovely skater and it really showed here. They used a scarf and passed it back and forth and incorporated it into the lifts. They have all the tricks that get the huge applause. Really wish we had seen more of them.
JButt was up again with his other number, In This Shirt. I just sat back and watched him skate. Just pure enjoyment, that's it.
The Kerrs brought the house down with bagpipes. Victoria loves their bagpipes! And also, John's Canadian flag boxers. Hee.
Joannie was accompanied onto the ice for her next number by a few of the guys, including Scott. They uncovered her and then held the feathers to their behinds and strutted off the ice. This was really fun. Joannie can really work the crowd. She ended it on the lap of a very surprised guy who was sitting almost right in front of me. Poor guy was shocked! Another guy, to his wife, "We're getting those seats next year."
I liked Patrick's Mannish Boy much better than his first number. His introduction with Joannie was so cute. Patrick is such a dork. I don't really buy him as a sex symbol but he does have the moves. Work it, PChan.
Ah, Carmen. I have mixed feelings about show Carmen. I saw full Carmen live at Nationals and it was out of this world. Unless you're familiar with their free dance, I'm not sure that you'd really get this number. It seems almost random. Tessa and Scott skated the crap out of it and I fully appreciate Tessa in a bodysuit but they couldn't tell the whole story in the shortened version. Regardless, I hope they're getting some kind of closure by taking Carmen on the road. Forever in a million depressions over the way the past season played out.
Another highlight was the next number. Kurt Browning skating to the Singin' in the Rain. I grew up watching his special that aired on CBC, what seemed like all the time. Whenever it was on, I was watching it. I remember watching it with my grandma. So, this was special. Really special. The rain at the end was a fantastic touch and it lasted through to the first group of skaters coming on for the closing number.
The show closed with Marchin' On. Everyone but Tessa, Scott and Kurt are on the ice for the first bit and then Tessa and Scott join in and do their signature goose lift while holding umbrellas. Very cool! Then Kurt skates out and does some mad crazy footwork. And Scott's butt. Actually, let's just call this the Scott Moir's Butt Appreciation Post. Amen.
Unlike last year, I wasn't overly familiar with most of the show. Video hasn't exactly been forthcoming, so aside from Tessa and Scott's numbers and the world champions one, I wasn't sure what to expect.
The show opened with a group number to Gotye's Somebody That I Used to Know. I know, it's overplayed but I still really enjoy the song, so I was right into this one. Tessa's the first skater that we see, which is fitting because she is The Queen. The costumes were interesting but I loved the choreography. The guys in particular adopt some really crazy body positions. I focus my attention on Scott and Tessa in group numbers but they were so separate in this one that I had to choose and I chose Scott. He was in the same positions as the other guys but there was something really...almost sexy about how he was doing it.
Patrick Chan was got a big introduction as a three-time world champion. I'd seen this I Need a Dollar number at the Nationals gala and wasn't particularly taken with it there nor was I tonight. Patrick's charming but I'm not a big fan of hat tricks, I guess.
Ashley Wagner was next, skating to Vienna. I like Ashley, I really do. She sadly had the only fall of the night in this number! She seemed a lot more at ease this year than last.
The Kerrs were a pleasant surprise for me. They ended their competitive career just as I was getting interested in things. I've seen them in a few videos and most of the time they seemed to give off a really creepy sibling vibe but I didn't see that tonight. Their first number, Mad World, was stunning and almost haunting. I loved the version of the song and they were just so into it.
One thing that I really enjoyed was when the skaters leaving the ice would help segue into the next skater's routine. John and Sinead assisted caterpillar Shawn Sawyer with the first stage of his transformation into a butterfly. I swear, only Shawn could do a routine like that! He's definitely found his home here. The audience just adores him.
The next number confused me a bit. Jeff and Joannie came out and skated to selections of piano music. I like Jeff and Joannie, don't get me wrong but why couldn't we have seen Meagan and Eric do another number instead of this? Meh. Whatever.
Kurt was next and this song. THIS SONG. I gather that it was composed for him by the Tragically Hip and is called Kurt's Song and it is GORGEOUS. Kurt skating to it is GORGEOUS. Chills, man, chills. I wanted to go and prostrate myself on the ice when it was over. But I couldn't because SOMEONE decided that Scott and Tessa had to skate next.
Scott and Tessa are...Scott and Tessa. It doesn't matter what they do, they are quite simply, the best. I already knew their routine to Stay by Rihanna quite well. It's another thing to see it live. The beginning is so sensual and the way that Scott kept his focus on Tessa throughout the whole thing was breathtaking. They move in and out of the lifts so smoothly. The split lift is my new favourite. Tessa's dress was so beautiful and both of their outfits really contributed to the mood.
Jeffrey Buttle skated next and I'm suddenly drawing a blank. The hazards of skating after Scott and Tessa. Oh right. It was fun. When the song started, someone in the audience yelled, "YEAH, BUDDY!" and it was pretty funny.
Then Joannie and her hair came out. Very sexy and slinky number for Joannie and her hair.
One of the highlights for me was the number featuring the five world champs skating. Kurt, Patrick, Jeff, Scott and Tessa. Tessa was the star. Queen Tessa. She and Scott seemed to really enjoy skating it. So fascinating to watch the mechanics of how the guys worked together in the lifts. Scott, obviously, did most of the work, particularly in the final lift where he hoists her up onto his shoulder before the others step in and grab various limbs. Also, Scott's butt. It's fabulous. The end.
I skipped the World Vision appeal again and made a dash to the washroom. Sorry, Jeff.
At the end of the intermission, Scott and Tessa did their promo for Lindt and it was thankfully far less cringe-inducing than last year. They skated out to a montage of their career and mimed their ending pose from Mahler at the Olympics. Scott greeted everyone and then accidentally referred to us as Vancouver. Scott being Scott hammed it up and skated back to the entrance to start again. Tessa was doubled over laughing but gave another wave hello when Scott rejoined her. It was a thrill, I must admit, to hear Tessa say that they're looking forward to representing Canada at Sochi. Tessa's lines were much better than last year and it came across as much more genuine. Chocolate was passed out to the audience members at the end of their promo.
The group number, Come Together, wasn't my favourite but it did have Scott in tight leather pants, sooooo... Some members of the cast *cough*Meagan*cough* clearly aren't all that comfortable with sexy hip swivels. Tessa, on the other hand, is. Tessa rocks. She also helped herself to some guy's popcorn. I'm sure he didn't mind.
Shawn was back again with another kickass and intense number to Seven Nation Army. He just doesn't do anything halfway. Even his makeup, that he smeared with a handful of slush, didn't seem over the top with him. It's just Shawn. It's what he does.
Finally Meagan and Eric got to show their stuff. I am, admittedly, more of a fan of Kirsten and Dylan when it comes to Canadian pairs and I think they'd be a great addition to this cast, but Meagan and Eric more than held their own. Eric is a lovely, lovely skater and it really showed here. They used a scarf and passed it back and forth and incorporated it into the lifts. They have all the tricks that get the huge applause. Really wish we had seen more of them.
JButt was up again with his other number, In This Shirt. I just sat back and watched him skate. Just pure enjoyment, that's it.
The Kerrs brought the house down with bagpipes. Victoria loves their bagpipes! And also, John's Canadian flag boxers. Hee.
Joannie was accompanied onto the ice for her next number by a few of the guys, including Scott. They uncovered her and then held the feathers to their behinds and strutted off the ice. This was really fun. Joannie can really work the crowd. She ended it on the lap of a very surprised guy who was sitting almost right in front of me. Poor guy was shocked! Another guy, to his wife, "We're getting those seats next year."
I liked Patrick's Mannish Boy much better than his first number. His introduction with Joannie was so cute. Patrick is such a dork. I don't really buy him as a sex symbol but he does have the moves. Work it, PChan.
Ah, Carmen. I have mixed feelings about show Carmen. I saw full Carmen live at Nationals and it was out of this world. Unless you're familiar with their free dance, I'm not sure that you'd really get this number. It seems almost random. Tessa and Scott skated the crap out of it and I fully appreciate Tessa in a bodysuit but they couldn't tell the whole story in the shortened version. Regardless, I hope they're getting some kind of closure by taking Carmen on the road. Forever in a million depressions over the way the past season played out.
Another highlight was the next number. Kurt Browning skating to the Singin' in the Rain. I grew up watching his special that aired on CBC, what seemed like all the time. Whenever it was on, I was watching it. I remember watching it with my grandma. So, this was special. Really special. The rain at the end was a fantastic touch and it lasted through to the first group of skaters coming on for the closing number.
The show closed with Marchin' On. Everyone but Tessa, Scott and Kurt are on the ice for the first bit and then Tessa and Scott join in and do their signature goose lift while holding umbrellas. Very cool! Then Kurt skates out and does some mad crazy footwork. And Scott's butt. Actually, let's just call this the Scott Moir's Butt Appreciation Post. Amen.