Figure Skating TV Commentators thread

[Scrufflet]

One of my faves:
Vlacheslav Zagoradniuk

 

[aftershocks]

On the other hand, pronouncing Japanese names wrong is impressive.

True, but Japanese can still be problematic regarding proper stress on the right syllable as I noted above re Keiji Tanaka's last name.

@gkelly, in another thread recently had some strong feelings about fans not getting on announcers for their odd mispronunciations, even of names that are pretty straightforward at U.S. Nationals. Granted that Mishketuniok, e.g., is not one of the easier names to pronounce.

The male announcer at 4CCs has a very skillful, pleasant sounding voice. He's an excellent announcer. P.J. Kwong is excellent as well.

 

[gkelly]

@gkelly, in another thread recently had some strong feelings about fans not getting on announcers for their odd mispronunciations, even of names that are pretty straightforward at U.S. Nationals. Granted that Mishketuniok, e.g., is not one of the easier names to pronounce.

Or to spell , even allowing for different transliteration conventions.

 

[Seerek]

One of my faves:
Vlacheslav Zagoradniuk

You're in luck, you'll be seeing him shortly as he's a coach of a 2018 Olympian.

 

[StasiyaGalustyanLove]

My wife and I have been watching some of the International events on TV with commentary by Johnny and Tara. They are ok but they make too many jokes that aren't really "funny." I don't like it when the commentators try to be funny and now everyone calls Keegan "Honey Basket" which sounds rude to me.

I would like them to use more of Sarah Hughes at the Olympics next month. She is very pleasant to listen to and has a real way with words! And I won't be distracted with all the pretty outfits that look too cold to wear in an arena.

 

[cheremary]

Does anyone know who did the commentary on the NBC Sports live stream for the team event? It was a British woman and a man who sounded a bit like Ted Barton, but I never saw or heard a mention of who they were during the broadcast.

 

[Sylvia]

Does anyone know who did the commentary on the NBC Sports live stream for the team event? It was a British woman and a man who sounded a bit like Ted Barton, but I never saw or heard a mention of who they were during the broadcast.

@Aussie Willy posted in the Kiss & Cry section that the Australian woman may be Belinda Noonan who "is commentating with Jim Van Horne." I believe they are not part of NBC but the world feed, run by OBS?

ETA:

Paul Wylie is covering figure skating for Westwood One (radio): http://www.insideradio.com/free/wes...cle_0b0513ee-0c9d-11e8-b40f-d72b123194b2.html
Coverage starts on Feb. 9th: http://westwoodonesports.com/?post_type=broadcast&p=60489

 

[clairecloutier]

Where did the love go for Tara/Johnny?
http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/article199295354.html



It’s like I respect Johnny’s knowledge yet I somehow disagree with his take on a majority of things. I didn’t find T/M’s SP the least bit “soulful,” nor was D/R’s SP “calculating.” I also find it interesting that someone who himself didn’t skate his best at the Olympics is so harshly critical of other skaters. He’s definitely veering into Sandra Bezic judgment territory (“inexcusable”, “abysmal”, etc.).

Tara is useless and I think is only half paying attention. She couldn’t even remember which element Alexa tripped coming out of (lift or throw). and I have to say it’s a bit weird to hear her continually reference her own skating experiences. (“That’s what gets you out of bed every morning.”) I mean, it’s been almost 20 years now since she was on the ice regularly.

 

[mattiecat13]

Thank you for this. I am so tired of Terry asking Tara about her Olympic experience when it was 20years ago and she didn’t compete that long in seniors. Johnny has a much longer competitive history and competed in two Olympics and certainly more recently than Tara. I’d like to hear more from him about his experiences.

 

[coppertop1]

I like Rod Black and Tracy Wilson, they’re knowledgeable, fair and enthusiastic. I also like Ted Barton and Debbie Wilkes, Barb and Paul, Kurt and Carol.

I really like the British Eurosport’s commentators. They’re the best.

I always find the Americans extremely bias. I never liked Dick Button and Peggy Fleming. I hated how they compared everything to their own, especially Michelle Kwan (who I love). Scott and Sandra weren’t much better, especially in SLC.

I liked Peter Carruthers and Dorothy Hamil back when they covered the GP series.

 

[Mad for Skating]

Where did the love go for Tara/Johnny?
http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/article199295354.html



It’s like I respect Johnny’s knowledge yet I somehow disagree with his take on a majority of things. I didn’t find T/M’s SP the least bit “soulful,” nor was D/R’s SP “calculating.” I also find it interesting that someone who himself didn’t skate his best at the Olympics is so harshly critical of other skaters. He’s definitely veering into Sandra Bezic judgment territory (“inexcusable”, “abysmal”, etc.).

Tara is useless and I think is only half paying attention. She couldn’t even remember which element Alexa tripped coming out of (lift or throw). and I have to say it’s a bit weird to hear her continually reference her own skating experiences. (“That’s what gets you out of bed every morning.”) I mean, it’s been almost 20 years now since she was on the ice regularly.

Agree so much, Claire!!! Nailed it on the head! I think all Tara's sparkle is in her outfits, not in her commentary. She just doesn't say anything exciting! Johnny...I actually find him interesting to listen to, he has some good points, but he's almost too brutal. And I TOTALLY agree about the pairs event - while I enjoyed T/M's SP more than I usually do, I didn't feel emotion gushing out of it, and D/R's SP is the most emotional piece they've done in their careers IMO. I do think they nailed the comments on James/Cipres though. As far as "inexcusable and abysmal", I get this funny feeling Johnny just likes to throw around big words to make himself feel important But that said, I would rather listen to an hour of Johnny than ten minutes of Tara.

IMO if NBC wanted good levelheaded commentators, they should've gone with Kristi Yamaguchi and Evan Lysacek.

I can't say I liked Scott and Sandra much better though. Anyone here for a good Eurosport stream?

 

[skatingguy]

I like Rod Black

Really

 

[VGThuy]

I thought some of the comments Tara and Johnny are being criticized for were sort of mild. I mean the worst SP Nathan has ever done wasn’t really an insult just that we’re used to Nathan bringing it in the SP.

I do agree that they talk too much, I feel like Terry is contractually obligated to mention Tara’s gold medal, and sorry but the simple sounds of their voice is incredibly unpleasant to me for commentary. There’s a lack of that professional sound when they open their mouths and it sounds like voices from an amateur YouTube commentary video by people hoping to become new media stars.

 

[LeafOnTheWind]

Tara is useless and I think is only half paying attention. She couldn’t even remember which element Alexa tripped coming out of (lift or throw).

I got the impression that she got tripped up because she wasn't sure which element was going to be shown on the replay. Not that she didn't know what had happened in the program.

 

[leigh466]

I don't think there is anything "almost" about Johnny's brutality. He is mean, catty, biting, and brutal, all the while enjoying it! He is gleeful in his descriptions of his fellow skaters failures: not an iota of sympathy. He has made me completely regret my fandom of him back in his day.

 

[giselle23]

Does anyone know who did the commentary on the NBC Sports live stream for the team event? It was a British woman and a man who sounded a bit like Ted Barton, but I never saw or heard a mention of who they were during the broadcast.

It's Belinda Noonan. She's Australian. I thought her commentary for the pairs was excellent. She knows what she's talking about, unlike Johnny and Tara.

 

[mollymgr]

How did Tara ever get a job at NBC? What kind of influence does she have? She definitely did not get the job based on two main qualities of being a good commentator; her voice or her critique. Her voice isn't cut out for broadcasting at all. It is so painful to listen to. Johnny's voice isn't bad and there are a few times he hasn't bothered me as much as Tara does. I can't tell if Terry is annoyed by them and just going along with it. He always looks out of place like he's been asked to babysit them. He told Tara the other day how she was a "one and done" kind of Olympian.

 

[Aceon6]

I wouldn't be surprised that Terry gets feedback from regular sports fans who don't get what Tara/Johnny are selling. That may come across from time to time when he attempts to get them back on task. FWIW, I've basically given up on the "main" broadcast and use it only as my 3rd backup.

By contrast, the producers that are handling NBCSN and the stream do seem to listen to people like us. A number of us were shooting occasional tweets at them during Euros and I was pleasantly surprised that they seemed to be taking the feedback to heart.

 

[Dobre]

Let's face it. Tara & Johnny cannot be blamed for the men's SP. It really was the worst short program performance of the season for three of the four contenders.

(I am royally annoyed with whoever decided to chack Bychenko. Live television really isn't all it's cracked up to be sometimes. All those messy performances, and they miss the clean skate).

And I do wish John Coughlin or even Ryan Bradley had done the pairs.

At least Johnny, Terry, & Tara agreed to say "Team Russia." I can think of a few commentators who wouldn't have.

 

[Sylvia]

One of my faves:
Vlacheslav Zagoradniuk

Zaggy! Zagorodniuk is in Korea coaching Michael Christian Martinez (PHI).

Re-posting from the Kiss & Cry section to this relevant thread:

Johnny and Tara are praised by "mainstream" sports portal:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...om&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Where did the love go for Tara/Johnny?
http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/article199295354.html



It’s like I respect Johnny’s knowledge yet I somehow disagree with his take on a majority of things. I didn’t find T/M’s SP the least bit “soulful,” nor was D/R’s SP “calculating.” I also find it interesting that someone who himself didn’t skate his best at the Olympics is so harshly critical of other skaters. He’s definitely veering into Sandra Bezic judgment territory (“inexcusable”, “abysmal”, etc.).

Tara is useless and I think is only half paying attention. She couldn’t even remember which element Alexa tripped coming out of (lift or throw). and I have to say it’s a bit weird to hear her continually reference her own skating experiences. (“That’s what gets you out of bed every morning.”) I mean, it’s been almost 20 years now since she was on the ice regularly.

They need to spend less time dancing and bedazzling and more time taking things serious.

My peeve is I dont need the score tacker man-splained to me 1,000,500 times every skating broadcast.

Even if I never watched skating in my life I think my ole brain can figure things out.... wait, what could red ever possibly mean? lol

I'd rather they cover White House briefings.

 

[Seerek]

It's Belinda Noonan. She's Australian. I thought her commentary for the pairs was excellent. She knows what she's talking about, unlike Johnny and Tara.

It's funny you bring up Belinda, since I think she called Tara's winning skate in Nagano for TV for Australian TV 20 years ago.

 

[aftershocks]

I'd rather they cover White House briefings.

 

[screech]

Watching on CBC - how many times does Kurt have to mention his own skating career, reliable jumps leaving him in key moments, and most of all, how he himself has skated in team events and blah blah blah.

Only time I've really enjoyed him so far was when he was paying attention to the slow-mo of Carolina's combination, and he cut of Carol's blathering to point out what went wrong.

Also, Kurt, Carol, and Brenda have all made a LOT of mistakes in their comments, such as referring to the ShibSibs as world champions.

Not a comment on the commentary, but anyone else annoyed with the super-high overhead shots? I don't mind overhead shots in general, but these ones are too far away (IMO) to really be effective.

 

[misskarne]

@Aussie Willy posted in the Kiss & Cry section that the Australian woman may be Belinda Noonan who "is commentating with Jim Van Horne." I believe they are not part of NBC but the world feed, run by OBS?

Yes, it's Belinda Noonan. (British, indeed! *annoyed puff*) We're getting her and Jim here, too.

She's made a couple of errors which had me frowning (I think it was during the ladies' when she said something that was outright wrong about one of Evgenia's results, but I can't remember exactly). I was a bit busy trying not to sew my fingers into a costume, so I may be mistaken. Jim seems affable enough. Not entirely sure he knows what he's doing, but he's covering it well, and he seems nice. He's also got some eagle eyes - he picked up a free foot touchdown that Belinda missed during the pairs.

All in all, delighted I can listen to these two and not the catty NBC bitches.

 

[screech]

Deleted

 

[Willin]

Watching on CBC - how many times does Kurt have to mention his own skating career, reliable jumps leaving him in key moments, and most of all, how he himself has skated in team events and blah blah blah.

Truly the most obnoxious thing any skating commentators do. I don't want to hear about them - I want to hear about whoever's on the ice at that moment. Certainly all US commentators are guilty of this as well - although it's usually prompted by a question from Terry Gannon.

 

[care bear]

I am watching TLC (TV) with Schamberger and Petra B.in Germany. They do not talk during programs, that is very nice. And the Eurosportplayer feed is without comments.

My son is now in Sydney doing Work and Travel. He watched the Shibs today, he knows, I love them, and texted to me that they skated well. That was touching

 

[allezfred]

True, but Japanese can still be problematic regarding proper stress on the right syllable as I noted above re Keiji Tanaka's last name.

Japanese names are pronounced flat so putting any more stress on one syllable over the other is incorrect.

 

[Seerek]

It's interesting that CBC's Carol and Kurt feel like they have to dumb down their commentary (even more so) for the general audience. The other CBC commentators in the other sports aren't afraid to discuss in detail the technical aspects.