Figure Skating TV Commentators thread

[Justathoughtabl]

@ToFarAwayTimes Considering how shady Tara and Johnny are during the GP about judging, I'm surprised how tame they've been here - especially with the wildly inflated PCS for Kolyada and Zagitova. (I can't remember if they were the ones being shady about their PCS scores during the grand prix? Maybe it was Ryan Bradley). I seriously hate espousing judging conspiracy theories, but their PCS scores have me wondering what the heck is going on for so many judges to be so off the mark on them

Last night Tara and Johnny made a point of saying that Adam's component score should have been much higher than Kolyada's. They felt Adam was underscored. Johnny said Adam's program "had me quaking with emotion," while Kolyada's "was meh...like oatmeal." I wouldn't say he was favoring Russians in that instance, but definitely questioning the judges.

 

[icie]

I can't believe that Tanith is 2 years younger than Tara. Tanith seems so much more mature and professional than Tara.

 

[snippy]

I can't believe that Tanith is 2 years younger than Tara. Tanith seems so much more mature and professional than Tara.

I totally agree. Tara reminds me of the 30 year old hanging out with 19 year olds

 

[Justathoughtabl]

I can't believe that Tanith is 2 years younger than Tara. Tanith seems so much more mature and professional than Tara.

I really like Tanith, but sometimes she's a little too formal. I wish she'd loosen up and show her personality a bit. There are moments where she laughs a little with Terry.

 

[sap5]

I really like Tanith, but sometimes she's a little too formal. I wish she'd loosen up and show her personality a bit. There are moments where she laughs a little with Terry.

She’s probably just exhausted. She’s a new mom, so I cut her loads and loads of slack!!

 

[aftershocks]

Last night Tara and Johnny made a point of saying that Adam's component score should have been much higher than Kolyada's. They felt Adam was underscored. Johnny said Adam's program "had me quaking with emotion," while Kolyada's "was meh...like oatmeal." I wouldn't say he was favoring Russians in that instance, but definitely questioning the judges.

Yep, that's true. But let's be honest that Johnny lurves his Russian lady divas, and he says so incessantly and excessively. We get it Johnny!

 

[OwenEvans]

....Australian commentators from the past were pretty dreadful, with the hosts behaving like lecherous perverts or raving homophobes, who drew the short straw and would rather be anywhere else.

So true!

Belinda Noonan has been the Australian commentator since at least Nagano, and while she's improved over the years, I really don't like her voice. However, to be fair, she has been saddled with some appalling network "talking heads". Her cohort's (who was this, I can't remember) obvious disapproval when Weir/Camille appeared on the ice for the Torino LP can't quite be conveyed by ++++(I think) ).

But the worst was Calgary. TORVILLE & DEAN were co-commentators for all events and they (Dean, especially) were brilliant, if a little softly spoken. Have they ever commented again? Anyway, fantastic commentary by them and all the network "name" commentator could bang on about was cold war on-ice rivalries, sexiii KWitt and other rubbish. Poor T&D, being very polite, well mannered English people, were so embarrassed at times.

 

[ToFarAwayTimes]

Terry Gannon got pretty excited when Mirai landed her 3A yesterday. I know he's said in the past that he wasn't big on figure skating when he first started (undoubtedly the prevailing sentiment among heterosexual male broadcasters who don't come from a FS background) but he learned to appreciate it over time. I always figured he respected the skaters but questioned if he really enjoyed it or not but he seems more amped up than usual this year.

 

[manhn]

I think Terry has been a big fan of skating for a long while. But this is only his second Olympics.

 

[Willin]

I think Terry also likes being the straight man (or possibly embarrassing his kids) by sitting next to Tara and Johnny. It's always funny to hear his reaction to some of the things they say.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

I totally agree. Tara reminds me of the 30 year old hanging out with 19 year olds

Given that Tara is 35 now, makes her even more cringe-worthy.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

So true!

Poor T&D, being very polite, well mannered English people, were so embarrassed at times.

I thought T & D were okay. I got the impression they had very little experience prior to getting that gig, and seemed a bit overwhelmed.

However, Dean made some excellent observations about Midori Ito's artistic worth. Given his standing as one of the best skating artists of all time, from memory, I thought the positive things he said about her skating were very well considered.

 

[VGThuy]

One of my favorite Chris Dean commentaries was at the 1992 Olympics when he was almost raving about Grishuk/Platov and pointed out why they were so good. I love it considering what happened two years later.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

One of my favorite Chris Dean commentaries was at the 1992 Olympics when he was almost raving about Grishuk/Platov and pointed out why they were so good. I love it considering what happened two years later.

I thought G & P's free skate in 1992 was a much better vehicle for them than the Rock & Roll program they presented in 1994.

 

[aftershocks]

F'ing awful coverage by NBC, chacking skaters. Going overboard for the North Korean team.

And I am just going to call out TT&J for all the negative shade they were giving James/Cipres. All three of them had something negative to say. And I prayed that Vanessa and Morgan would shut them the F up. And boy did they!!! Nerve of Terry to say that J/C haven't been as good since the last Olympics. What the hell??? It just doesn't add up. J/C have been livening up the pairs discipline since their move to John Z's camp and their breakthrough last season. They won bronze at Euros last year and were in first place after the sp this year in Russia. And then kept off the podium!!!

All the holding them down all season long by the judges. And please I don't want to hear anybody coming in here to tell me that I'm just an irate fan. J/C deserved to be at GPF. They deserved silver at Skate Canada and they deserved to win in France, their home country. They did NOT deserve to be off the podium at Euros either. Such shilling by TT&J, as if they were prepaing the audience for J/C not going to be very good. It's because of who Vanessa is, and a global audience and the need to talk down on them. Tara: "They don't have finesse. They aren't always good on the elements." Such blatant lies! What is meant by finesse? Do D/R need 'finesse' too?

Vanessa's tears were for a reason after that performance: the pressure of constantly being put down and having so much to overcome in this sport.

I cannot stand this coverage. We can't see J/C in the kiss 'n cry. And now all the overdone cheering for Marchei/Hotarek, who basically have been inspired by all J/C have been achieving and influencing in pairs over the last two seasons, and not being credited for. Yeah, now we get to see M/H coming off the ice and in the kiss n' cry, but not J/C in the kiss 'n cry. Why? Good grief, all this breaking away and showing the same coverage that was already on NBCSN. Stop already.

Unfortunate for Savchenko/Massot, not being in the top three. At least J/C are in the final group, so I hope they rock it out in the final and go clean to make it as hard as possible for the judges.

 

[aftershocks]

Can I get a witness?! Canadian pair, Kirsten and Michael, were most definitely NOT an "instant match" clueless Tara. Tara and Johnny don't seem to know enough about figure skating these days. Stop talking Tara because you keep making mistakes talking to a worldwide audience giving inaccurate information.

It took Kirsten and Michael at least two seasons to work out some of their kinks. And they weren't working well together at all until they left the Wirtzes and went to Gauthier/ Marcotte with the go-ahead from Meagan Duhamel. I'm tired of Tara's voice and her mistakes. She's the weak link. But Johnny is so tied to the hip with Tara, they come as a package deal. Since T&J feel like they are such cultural icons, and fs is just their occasional part-time job, they need to look to expand their 'cultural icon' projects and forget about figure skating, unless they can make a concerted effort to improve. Despite the chemistry between TT&J, the shtick isn't working well anymore, but they don't seem to recognize that fact themselves. It's not working because they make way too many mistakes in their coverage and Tara talks too much and her voice is grating. It's annoying and so uninspiring the way they continue to approach covering the sport.

Tara talking about S-K/K's mistakes but doesn't recognize her own egregious errors. The Knierims skated their fp like they simply ran out of steam. I wonder how things would have worked out had the singles events taken place first? In that sense, maybe it's a good thing the team event takes place first for some skaters and teams.

Unfortunately, the woman doing the NBC Olympics livestream online also makes a lot of mistakes in her commentary.

 

[Amantide]

One of my favorite Chris Dean commentaries was at the 1992 Olympics when he was almost raving about Grishuk/Platov and pointed out why they were so good. I love it considering what happened two years later.

I remember that one. Lol
I loved that program though. I still love it today.

 

[screech]

Carol Lane REALLY complaining about skating order seemingly affecting placements. While I agree it is a factor, I don't agree that S/B would have a much different overall placement if they'd skated later. She comes across extremely bitter (surprise, surprise).

 

[mirage]

only on CBC- he is Carol Lane's sidekick

I don't think he would like hearing himself described as her sidekick since he was there long before Lane, unfortunately, arrived.

 

[barbarafan]

I don't think he would like hearing himself described as her sidekick since he was there long before Lane, unfortunately, arrived.

yes but the biggest mouth often wins....especially when they are nasty.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

I'm dying. SNL's Leslie Jones commentary is hysterical.

 

[Amantide]

I'm dying. SNL's Leslie Jones commentary is hysterical.

I love her since I watched her GOT reactions with Seth.

Baby Kolyada "skate villan"

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

I love her since I watched her GOT reactions with Seth.

NBC should ditch Johnny and Tara for Leslie. She would be awesome.

 

[Amantide]

NBC should ditch Johnny and Tara for Leslie. She would be awesome.

HBO should do the same and make those episodes with commentary with her, instead of the actors etc.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Ten minutes of Leslie Jones doing her thang!

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

I don't think he would like hearing himself described as her sidekick since he was there long before Lane, unfortunately, arrived.

Ouch. Poor Kurt is a second bananadana.

 

[Amantide]

Ten minutes of Leslie Jones doing her thang!

OMG! You made my day!

 

[VGThuy]

Not to kick someone when they're down, but Leslie Jones feeling so uninspired to do her usual energetic costume commentary and then waking up for Tarasova/Morosov's costumes really said a lot. Saying Morosov's tie was a gag tie is exactly what it looked like. Can't believe they let such a beautiful and skilled pair come out like that.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Not to kick someone when they're down, but Leslie Jones feeling so uninspired to do her usual energetic costume commentary and then waking up for Tarasova/Morosov's costumes really said a lot. Saying Morosov's tie was a gag tie is exactly what it looked like. Can't believe they let such a beautiful and skilled pair come out like that.

Apparently, these outfits were what Tarasova & Morosov had originally planned to wear.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Not to kick someone when they're down, but Leslie Jones feeling so uninspired to do her usual energetic costume commentary and then waking up for Tarasova/Morosov's costumes really said a lot. Saying Morosov's tie was a gag tie is exactly what it looked like. Can't believe they let such a beautiful and skilled pair come out like that.

Leslie's R Rated comments were hysterical.