Perfect 10! Your favorite 90s pro programs

[aliceanne]

Toller marked T/D wayyyy down on Cecilia at World Pros in 1995, I think giving them a 9.6 when the rest were either 10s or maybe one 9.9. But then I think he tried to be a super drama queen and in his book said he gave them a 9.4. I wonder if he initially did try to give them the 9.4 and Button & co told him hell no, even if the score was clearly going to be dropped. He also was on the bandwagon at the very beginning saying Dean’s choreo for D/D was directly lifted from another (dance) performance. He just really saw no creativity in Chris

BTW- for those not familiar, it was not likely to get below a 9.6 or maybe a 9.5 in any of these pro competitions unless it was some unique format like the US Open. A 9.6 tended to signify that the program or the performance were pretty bad, but there was no point in going lower as scores were cumulative. Cranston was obviously making a huge statement with that in mind.

Weren’t Klimova/Ponnemarenko the reigning OGMs at the time? I think Toller resented that Chris Dean wasn’t taking his place in the pecking order. Cecilia wasn’t one of their most remarkable programs.

The best part of World Pros was often what happened off the ice. There was no “I’m just here to have fun and skate my best” at that event, the diva tude was on full display.

 

[tony]

Weren’t Klimova/Ponnemarenko the reigning OGMs at the time? I think Toller resented that Chris Dean wasn’t taking his place in the pecking order. Cecilia wasn’t one of their most remarkable programs.

The best part of World Pros was often what happened off the ice. There was no “I’m just here to have fun and skate my best” at that event, the diva tude was on full display.

Did you forget the ‘94 Olympics? ? T/D were more recent than K/P at that point from an eligible competition viewpoint.

I thought Cecilia was fantastic and pretty intricate actually. Cranston was just going overboard with his bitterness IMO, and the fact that he lowered the score (in his mind) for the book adds fuel to that fire.

 

[aliceanne]

Did you forget the ‘94 Olympics? ? T/D were more recent than K/P at that point from an eligible competition viewpoint.

I thought Cecilia was fantastic and pretty intricate actually. Cranston was just going overboard with his bitterness IMO, and the fact that he lowered the score (in his mind) for the book adds fuel to that fire.

So Grishuk/Platov were the OGMs. Were they there or were they not able because they wanted to remain Olympic eligible?

Was ‘94 the year Nancy said ‘so what if she didn’t win, she was still getting paid the same’ on camera? Then Scott said if she didn’t like it she should just quit.

I do think Chris should have acknowledged that the Missing number was originally done by someone else, he even used the same costume. It was still brilliant that he thought to adapt it to ice.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Toller marked T/D wayyyy down on Cecilia at World Pros in 1995, I think giving them a 9.6 when the rest were either 10s or maybe one 9.9. But then I think he tried to be a super drama queen and in his book said he gave them a 9.4. I wonder if he initially did try to give them the 9.4 and Button & co told him hell no, even if the score was clearly going to be dropped. He also was on the bandwagon at the very beginning saying Dean’s choreo for D/D was directly lifted from another (dance) performance. He just really saw no creativity in Chris

BTW- for those not familiar, it was not likely to get below a 9.6 or maybe a 9.5 in any of these pro competitions unless it was some unique format like the US Open. A 9.6 tended to signify that the program or the performance were pretty bad, but there was no point in going lower as scores were cumulative. Cranston was obviously making a huge statement with that in mind.

Further to Cranston's book, Ice Cream, he also became persona non grata after that judging statement, and was no longer welcome in Torvill & Dean's inner circle.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

So Grishuk/Platov were the OGMs. Were they there or were they not able because they wanted to remain Olympic eligible?

Was ‘94 the year Nancy said ‘so what if she didn’t win, she was still getting paid the same’ on camera? Then Scott said if she didn’t like it she should just quit.

I'm wondering if Nancy turned Scott down with an offer to tour with Stars On Ice. When he commentated, he was always pretty obvious about favoring his own stable of skaters whenever they performed or competed.

 

[Taso]

I do think Chris should have acknowledged that the Missing number was originally done by someone else, he even used the same costume. It was still brilliant that he thought to adapt it to ice.

Where did Chris get the original idea for Missing from?

BTW here is T&D's version of Missing from 1988, pre-D&D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1xF38jIqKw

 

[aliceanne]

Where did Chris get the original idea for Missing from?

BTW here is T&D's version of Missing from 1988, pre-D&D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1xF38jIqKw

Christopher Bruce “Ghost Dances” choreographed 1981.

Ghost dances beginning section

m.youtube.com

Dolencias - Ghost Dances - Evelin Ortiz - Escuela Moderna de Musica y Danza 2013

Examen de Titulo de la Interprete Evelin Ortiz Low y Edgard Olivares - Extracto de Ghost Dances por Christopher Bruce

m.youtube.com

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Christopher Bruce “Ghost Dances” choreographed 1981.

Ghost dances beginning section

m.youtube.com

Dolencias - Ghost Dances - Evelin Ortiz - Escuela Moderna de Musica y Danza 2013

Examen de Titulo de la Interprete Evelin Ortiz Low y Edgard Olivares - Extracto de Ghost Dances por Christopher Bruce

m.youtube.com

Ouch. Even copied down to the torn red dress.

 

[paskatefan]

(Now if anyone wants to start a thread of Least Favorite pro performances I would immediately put all things Phillipe Candeloro at the top of my list. IMO he is, at the very least, partially responsible for the demise of the World Pro Championships.)

Now, I'm not planning on starting a "Least Favorite Pro Performance Thread," but I have to agree with you on this one. I liked Philippe as an Olympic eligible performer, but his "George of the Jungle" program & the one he did @ 2000 "Improv-Ice" (We attended that one in Phila., PA) were totally embarrassing for the sport!

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Now, I'm not planning on starting a "Least Favorite Pro Performance Thread," but I have to agree with you on this one. I liked Philippe as an Olympic eligible performer, but his "George of the Jungle" program & the one he did @ 2000 "Improv-Ice" (We attended that one in Phila., PA) were totally embarrassing for the sport!

To paraphrase the musical, Legally Blonde, "Is he cray, or European?"

 

[alchemy void]

I've shared this program before, but don't we all deserve a little more Marilyn in our lives?

Tonia Kwiatkowski - Marilyn Monroe, 1999 ESPN Pros

Epic commentary, too. This competition was, famously, Tonya Harding's return to competition. Which makes this little bit of commentary from Chris Bowman rather ironic:

"But she's also got to deliver the goods, because push comes to shove, these girls can hit and hit hard"

And Judy Blumberg:
"I don't know whether it's the wig that's inhibiting her, but she's just not doing the elements!"

Actually, this entire competition deserves a re-watch. Tonya (not Tonia) brings the drama to her interviews, and the Surya/Tonya interview at the end (complete with asthma attack) is iconic and avatar-worthy.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

And Judy Blumberg:
"I don't know whether it's the wig that's inhibiting her, but she's just not doing the elements!"

I'd forgotten what a hilariously awful commentator Judy Blumberg was. She somehow always took the obvious and beat it into the ground with a stick.

 

[Bellanca]

Was ‘94 the year Nancy said ‘so what if she didn’t win, she was still getting paid the same’ on camera? Then Scott said if she didn’t like it she should just quit.

Nancy had a chip on her shoulder and she was quite ornery after everything that happened. I guess you can’t blame her.

I do recall comments (at the time) about how bitter and abrasive she appeared to be — despite being considered a little edgy to begin with. Of course, Nancy was dealing with a critical media (Kerrigan is no Bambi) and corny parades. ? So... ??‍

 

[tony]

Nancy went to that very first Ice Wars and IIRC, just a day or two prior to the event (which was a HUGE ratings success), the story was leaked that she was dating her now husband Jerry Solomon. I can't remember the details of the awkward interview they did with her, but I know she got frustrated at one point-- maybe it was the comment referenced above. CBS was really running with making her the villain when they had Oksana as the sweetheart.

Nancy always had this sarcastically dramatic kind of personality that showed up long before the Olympic makeup incident. Scott & co knew it was going to keep coming out.

At the '95 World Pros, Sandra Bezic really laid into the lack of shape Nancy was in, but we saw Oksana go there year after year for a while in even worse shape and they'd generally try to find the positive in all of it.

 

[aliceanne]

I think Nancy just didn’t have any filter. I’ve never heard other skaters say that she was a nasty person to deal with at the rink, on tour etc. Jerry Solomon was a promoter by profession, and his instinct was to capitalize on all the free press that Tonya inadvertently threw their way. I think people like Scott felt that she should have stood up to him more and not done things she didn’t want to do.

 

[Bellanca]

the story was leaked that she was dating her now husband Jerry Solomon.

Yes, and it was Inside Edition or one of those nefarious rags that suggested (quite strongly) that Nancy was supposedly the other woman. Yikes! What a mess...

 

[alchemy void]

I always thought it was odd Scott didn't push a Nancy wuzrobbed narrative in 1994, even just a little bit. He/CBS always seemed to prefer Oksana, which I didn't understand--Nancy was "America's sweetheart", worked her ass off to come back from a terrible attack, skated more than well enough to win gold, probably robbed of that medal, yet he and CBS seemed to prefer Oksana. CBS also didn't have to show Nancy bitching to Chen Lu about Oksana's makeup, but made a conscious choice to do so.

Particularly considering Scott's outraged reaction after S/P initially beat B/S eight years later in SLC.

Nancy did shoot herself in the foot with the sour attitude, and while she had an occasional standout program, she unfortunately gave the impression of not really caring and just collecting a paycheck. Case in point. Half-assed recycling cringe choreography to Together Again in mom jeans. However bonus points for ignoring Tara in the K&C.

Ironically, I think Nancy's give-no-fecks attitude would go over much better today, at least with the gays.

 

[Bellanca]

Because the Mods could crackdown at any given moment about staying the - - - - on topic, one of my favorite 90s pro programs is Oksana Baiul’s "The Feeling Begins" by Peter Gabriel. ?

 

[Bellanca]

Half-assed recycling cringe choreography to Together Again in mom jeans.

I’m sorry, but I just have to do this... You’re killin’ me! ?

 

[aliceanne]

I always thought it was odd Scott didn't push a Nancy wuzrobbed narrative in 1994, even just a little bit. He/CBS always seemed to prefer Oksana, which I didn't understand--Nancy was "America's sweetheart", worked her ass off to come back from a terrible attack, skated more than well enough to win gold, probably robbed of that medal, yet he and CBS seemed to prefer Oksana. CBS also didn't have to show Nancy bitching to Chen Lu about Oksana's makeup, but made a conscious choice to do so.

Particularly considering Scott's outraged reaction after S/P initially beat B/S eight years later in SLC.

I think the skating establishment felt she wasn’t taking skating (and by extension them) seriously enough. Her coach felt her melt-down at ‘93 Worlds cost her the Olympic title and was the result of her getting involved with Jerry.

Kristi retiring was probably the worst thing that happened to Nancy. It put her in a spotlight she didn’t want. Gracie Gold being expected to fill the void left by Kwan reminds me of the same thing.

 

[VGThuy]

I'd forgotten what a hilariously awful commentator Judy Blumberg was. She somehow always took the obvious and beat it into the ground with a stick.

I'll always love her commentary just for Bourne/Kraatz's 1998 Worlds OD. She said what needed to be said because lord knows Tracy Wilson and CBS ignored it.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

I'll always love her commentary just for Bourne/Kraatz's 1998 Worlds OD. She said what needed to be said because lord knows Tracy Wilson and CBS ignored it.

Bourne & Kraatz (CAN) - 1998 World Figure Skating Championships, Original Dance

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA - 1998 World Figure Skating Championships, Ice Dancing, Original Dance ("The Jive") - Shae Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz of Canad...

www.youtube.com

JUDY! JUDY! JUDY!

 

[Andora]

I've shared this program before, but don't we all deserve a little more Marilyn in our lives?

Tonia Kwiatkowski - Marilyn Monroe, 1999 ESPN Pros

Epic commentary, too. This competition was, famously, Tonya Harding's return to competition. Which makes this little bit of commentary from Chris Bowman rather ironic:

"But she's also got to deliver the goods, because push comes to shove, these girls can hit and hit hard"

And Judy Blumberg:
"I don't know whether it's the wig that's inhibiting her, but she's just not doing the elements!"

Actually, this entire competition deserves a re-watch. Tonya (not Tonia) brings the drama to her interviews, and the Surya/Tonya interview at the end (complete with asthma attack) is iconic and avatar-worthy.

Oh, my gosh - I keep forgetting what a disaster pro skating was well before 2002. I truly block this competition out every time I see it. Punsalan & Swallow taking over ice dance competitions as pros was a bit tragic, even if it was fair.

Judy's commentary! Oh, my gosh! Did they all stiff her on a bar bill or something?

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Half-assed recycling cringe choreography to Together Again in mom jeans.

I’m sorry, but I just have to do this... You’re killin’ me! ?

Mom Jeans - SNL

A group of mothers (Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler) show off their Mom Jeans, a brand of jeans exclusively designed to fit a mom's body, ...

www.youtube.com

 

[LilJen]

Ilia Kulik, Baseball Cap, 1999-2000 SOI. Bit of a sloppy performance but still creative and fun.
Gary Beacom, I'm Your Man. May have debuted before 1990?
Gary Beacom, Malevolent Landscape, 1992