SBNation: "The Johnny and Tara Show is the Main Event"

[AnnM]

I really don't like the sounds of their voices when they commentate. It just doesn't seem broadcast level.

Also, about not uttering Kwan's name, I thought the writer only meant she and Terry didn't say her name in the context of them talking about how Tara "crashed the party" and how it was supposed to be someone else's turn. If that's the case, then I think it's actually respectful they didn't mention Kwan's name since they were sort of painting her as some sort of preconceived anointed one.

I agree with this in terms of this article, but it's been fairly obvious that NBC has scrubbed any mention of Michelle Kwan from its skating coverage ever since Tara was hired.

 

[arakwafan2006]

Their commentary to me is shitty compared to the Brits or even Tracey Wilson, Kurt and Carole Lane. Johnny hasn't figured out that skating vernacular makes no sense to casual viewers and Tara's commentary doesn't make her sound like she knows a thing about being a champion. I am disappointed usually, more so in Johnny. The depth of his comments are about one step away from the petty shit Dave Lease sees as important.

 

[overedge]

The other piece of it is that the social media stuff helped attract interest, got people to tune in. It gave BuzzFeed and the NY Times and the other media outlets a hook on which to write a story, ostensibly about J&T, but also about skating.

What is the evidence that their social media activity has increased interest in skating, or increased the ratings of their broadcasts? The ratings might be higher - I have no idea if they are, I think the most recent figures I saw indicated they were the same or lower - but if they are higher, what is the proof that social media are the reason?

And, as you say, many TV personalities are using social media, so it doesn't make sense that Lipinski and Weir doing so would be a hook that would attract media coverage for them.

 

[kwanette]

Considering that Johnny mentioned Michelle's name right in the article, I think the writer was either applying the statement to Tara and Terry only or exaggerating for effect, ie "he (she) who shall not be named [because they're formal rivals and I want to make a point about how deep rivalries in skating can be]."

As far as branding themselves, well sure. A lot of people on TV are trying to further their careers. Heck, I do my job well,but I also try to make a good impression to further my career. (I'm not on TV, but marketing yourself is certainly legit and acceptable in many fields.) They're TV personalities, and they were marketing themselves, and obviously they didn't invent the idea of public figures using social media. The other piece of it is that the social media stuff helped attract interest, got people to tune in. It gave BuzzFeed and the NY Times and the other media outlets a hook on which to write a story, ostensibly about J&T, but also about skating. As long as Johnny and Tara did their jobs--commentate--I don't see the problem with the social media stuff. Did they do their jobs well? Lots of people say yes, lots of people say no. You've got to have a backbone to come on this board and say you like them, particularly Johnny. It's not the way the sentiment generally goes around here, but the sentiment here on this board doesn't necessarily reflect that of the public.

 

[Justathoughtabl]

What is the evidence that their social media activity has increased interest in skating, or increased the ratings of their broadcasts? The ratings might be higher - I have no idea if they are, I think the most recent figures I saw indicated they were the same or lower - but if they are higher, what is the proof that social media are the reason?

And, as you say, many TV personalities are using social media, so it doesn't make sense that Lipinski and Weir doing so would be a hook that would attract media coverage for them.

I only have anecdotal evidence, meaning that I follow Johnny's twitter feed and look at his instagram comments, and a lot of people talk about how they tune into the skating events because of Johnny and Tara. That, plus all the media coverage of Johnny and Tara, have led me to believe that there's interest. I have no idea if ratings are higher, and in fact, Johnny and Tara have said that they alone won't be able to increase rating significantly. An significant uptick in skating viewership will come, they say, from interest in the skaters themselves, and from stellar performances.

Skating commentators in the U.S. haven't exactly been all over social media. You didn't see Scott and Sandra posing on instagram all the time, making videos, etc. Johnny and Tara's use of social media was interpreted as a sign of their youth and freshness, as opposed to the old staleness that skating seems to have taken on, in the U.S. at least. When I referred to a "hook," I mean that Buzzfeed and others took great delight in posting J&T's instagram photos and videos, as well as interview material and TV stills of their outfits, and commenting on them. Maybe "hook" is the wrong word, but anyway...Evidence here:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/why-...ipinski-are-the-greatest-thing-to#.vd439y3KJd

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/tara-and-johnny-reaction-gifs#.vtD3ER3gVK

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/tara-lipinski-and-johnny-weir-bff-game#.hjGe7PenLK

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjkiebus/ra...-most-fabulous-outfits-from-the-s#.iuNx8zxX6M

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/01/tara-lipinski-johnny-weir-super-bowl_n_6591166.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/19/sports/olympics/in-figure-skating-the-second-team-shines.html

http://www.ew.com/article/2014/12/17/johnny-weir-tara-lipinski-sochi

 

[Nomad]

Okay, they're media whores. And?

 

[Justathoughtabl]

Okay, they're media whores. And?

Sure, they're as bad as the Kardashians. God, I hate that term.
I know it's fun to hate on Johnny and Tara. I've said my piece and tried my best to make my point, so I'll bow out. To each his/her own!

 

[overedge]

I know it's fun to hate on Johnny and Tara.

It's not 'hating' to ask you to produce evidence for your claims.

 

[Sylvia]

Tara Lipinski (corrected from Lapinski) Critiques 9 of Her Most Epic Figure Skating Outfits: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/videos/a57233/tara-lipinski-costume-critique/

 

[judiz]

You need to scroll down to Saturday but in a nutshell ratings for the USA Figure Skating Championships increased this year.



https://www.nbcumv.com/news/nbc-results-primetime-ratings-week-jan-18-24

 

[Xela M]

I don't like NBC's commentary. First of all, why are they a threesome? It sounds so bizarre to me. Three is a crowd. It should be two commentators. Secondly, their voices somehow don't match and it all sounds a bit 'gimmicky' and unprofessional. Their comments are OK, but nothing to write home about (I have only ever watched the singles commentary).

British Eurosport is still the best by far.

 

[BmcC102]

I like them. I have learned many great things from both of them. I think they're good for the sport.

FYI, since I started reading skating boards back in 1998, I cannot EVER remember fans on here or other boards liking the commentary by anyone. There's no way to make everyone happy. Some have said they like Tracey Wilson and the Eurosport crowd, but I have read criticism of them as well.

IMO, it's more of a band wagon thing where many jump on board to be overly negative. Just my opinion.

 

[VGThuy]

So you're saying the critiques are never valid?

 

[Cachoo]

I agree with this in terms of this article, but it's been fairly obvious that NBC has scrubbed any mention of Michelle Kwan from its skating coverage ever since Tara was hired.

So you believe eliminating Kwan from conversation is intentional? I hope not as she is so important in the history of US ladies figure skating. I want to see more broadcasts to see if this is correct.

 

[Willin]

I think eliminating Kwan was intentional, but not because of any drama with Tara. I think NBC realized skating coverage focused too much on past champions and past expectations. While you used to hear of Kwan, Yamaguchi, Kerrigan, Hammill, Flemming, etc. almost every ladies' broadcast, now you almost never hear about them. You only hear about Tara because she's commentating on the event. Personally, I like that they're moving past the US ladies' old accomplishments and talking about what the current US ladies are doing. You can't promote a sport based solely on retired athletes' accomplishments; you need to promote the sport using the hype surrounding athletes the audience watching will actually be seeing.

For instance, we see basketball stars like Shaq and Charles Barkley commentating on basketball games, but the talk about accomplishments is all about the current players: LeBron James, Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, etc. You see the same thing in American Football, soccer (women's in particular), hockey, tennis, gymnastics, etc. Old names are still honored or involved in the broadcast, but they are only accessories to whatever game/match is being discussed. Instead of talking of former athletes and old teams a lot, they are rarely mentioned outside of comparisons and context - a record set to be broken or historical information to be given that is relevant to the game.

 

[Karpenko]

Tara is the Olympic champion (the youngest ever, at age 14! ) and covering for NBC, Terry Gannon never even mentions her. He would compare anybody to Michelle Kwan if given the opportunity. Even Johnny won't dare speak her name or forever hold his peace (and French hat collection).

Tara is the star and must be given her due but I'd love her so much more if she learned that the Kween has a LOT of fans that would love her (a ton!) more if she publically gave Michelle due props.

She'll always have what Kwan won't have, so naturally I believe some shameless public ass kissing is in order. it'll gain her big brownie points even if she doesn't mean a word of it.

 

[Frau Muller]

Didn't NBC flash photos of past podiums during its recent telecasts? They paid tribute to past winners just before and after advertisements.

 

[MK's Winter]

I wouldn't mind Dick Button and Johnny Weir commentary. I mean Dick gave us the foshizzlemynizzle and bamboozled, it doesn't get better than that.

 

[attyfan]

IMO, Willin got it right -- Kwan or other past champions get mentioned only when relevant to the current event. For example, IIRC, when Ashley won one of her titles (I forgot if it was the third over all, or if it was the second of the back-to-back pair), one of the commentators mentioned that it was the first time since Kwan that the feat had been accomplished.

 

[Wiery]

Remember how much we all hated Scott and Sandra? Tara and Johnny aren't perfect, but personally, I will take them over Scott's yelling any day.

 

[Karpenko]

Oh me too, absolutely. I do love all 3 of them (when Terry is there instead of Tom, who I like but not love).

If they would just put a graphic of Michelle on the screen next time Nagano is mentioned by all of them I'll be fine.

 

[misskarne]

Remember how much we all hated Scott and Sandra? Tara and Johnny aren't perfect, but personally, I will take them over Scott's yelling any day.

I disagree. I was rewatching Jason's Riverdance the other day and I was enjoying how much Scott was enjoying it. He knew there was something to get excited over, so he did. Weir probably would have just snarked about him being a choreographed artist.

 

[MsZem]

I disagree. I was rewatching Jason's Riverdance the other day and I was enjoying how much Scott was enjoying it. He knew there was something to get excited over, so he did. Weir probably would have just snarked about him being a choreographed artist.

You can read my attempt at transcribing the Sochi broadcast here. Johnny Weir's summary at the end of the program was:

It's very few performances that have gotten people up and gotten people excited during this event. Nobody has shown up to win the medals here. It's been a rough event. Yuzuru Hanyu had a great short program, but between the short and the long... it's as if nobody showed up. Jason Brown really fought through that performance, he was tight on some jumps, there are going to be calls and then replays, and things on the judging on the technical panel but it was just a rough event and it's great that he made that moment for people to still get up at the end and cheer.

The rest of it is also not snark about Jason Brown being a choreographed artist, and was certainly more informative than "oooohhh", "awwwww" and "it's his Riverdance!". For me, the Scott and Sandra commentary is a distraction and diminishes my enjoyment of Brown's wonderful Nationals performance. YMMV.

The SB Nation article seems to have been written by someone whose knowledge of skating is pretty much limited to Olympic season fluffs.

 

[Tavi]

You can read my attempt at transcribing the Sochi broadcast here. Johnny Weir's summary at the end of the program was:


The rest of it is also not snark about Jason Brown being a choreographed artist, and was certainly more informative than "oooohhh", "awwwww" and "it's his Riverdance!". For me, the Scott and Sandra commentary is a distraction and diminishes my enjoyment of Brown's wonderful Nationals performance. YMMV.

The SB Nation article seems to have been written by someone whose knowledge of skating is pretty much limited to Olympic season fluffs.

I personally love Scott's commentary on Jason's Boston 2014 Riverdance. I think it's because he conveys through his own growing excitement what most of the audience seems to be feeling during the performance. And I think it's one of many reasons that video clip went viral.

Johnny has definitely complimented Jason before. His commentary is often insightful. But sometimes it seems perplexingly mean spirited towards many US men, including Jason. His comment about Jason's choreographed artistry - made during Nats last year and in comparison to Josh Farris - was definitely a diss, particularly in light of the fact that several years before he had raved about Jason's musicality.

 

[VGThuy]

I thought Jason was too busy trying to go viral.

 

[Tavi]

I thought Jason was too busy trying to go viral.

Hi sorry to be dumb, but hunh? Did Johnny also say that about Jason?

 

[rhapsody]

Hi sorry to be dumb, but hunh? Did Johnny also say that about Jason?

I think Johnny said that about the American skaters as a whole.

 

[misskarne]

But sometimes it seems perplexingly mean spirited towards many US men, including Jason. His comment about Jason's choreographed artistry - made during Nats last year and in comparison to Josh Farris - was definitely a diss, particularly in light of the fact that several years before he had raved about Jason's musicality.

Probably the most irritating thing about that brainless "choreographed artistry" comment (other than how dumb it was) was that he was snarking during Joshua's Schindler's List step sequence - when even chatty commentators from other countries knew enough to speak in hushed tones so as not to break the magic.

Weir also spent a portion of Joshua's Give Me Love SP breaking the mood by snarking about Max's supposed "lack of artistry" also. Aww, sorry, Weir, how many quads did you land in competition again?

Hi sorry to be dumb, but hunh? Did Johnny also say that about Jason?

I think Johnny said that about the American skaters as a whole.

IIRC it was a pointed remark made during NHK, with the implication that that was why Jason had withdrawn. I didn't hear it myself, though, so I don't know exactly what was said, but that was the conclusion several posters listening had drawn.

 

[CoolGuy]

With regards to comparing various commentators, I think Johnny's problem (or at least for me) is that he doesn't come across as very passionate or enthusiastic. This isn't to say that he isn't, but just that from my perspective, he doesn't convey much emotion. On the other hand, Dick, Scott, Tracy, and even Chris and Simon do convey varying degrees of excitement when they're commentating. Some are obviously more easily excitable than others (Scott), which some will find off-putting, but at least for me, they're more fun to listen to.

 

[MsZem]

I personally love Scott's commentary on Jason's Boston 2014 Riverdance. I think it's because he conveys through his own growing excitement what most of the audience seems to be feeling during the performance. And I think it's one of many reasons that video clip went viral.

That's why I wrote YMMV. To me it's obnoxious and detracts from my enjoyment of the performance, obviously for you it heightens it. I don't think you can attribute the video going viral to the commentary, and even if that were the case, when you look at some of the things that go viral I'm not sure that's much of a recommendation I'd like to think that people just really enjoyed Jason Brown's skating and performance. When you look at the most popular skating performance on Youtube, there doesn't seem to be a single style of skating or type of commentary. As far as I can see, the most popular skating video involving a current competitor is an amateur one of Gracie Gold skating to Let It Go, and of course a lot of Yuna Kim's programs and various Sochi performances have many views.

Johnny has definitely complimented Jason before. His commentary is often insightful. But sometimes it seems perplexingly mean spirited towards many US men, including Jason. His comment about Jason's choreographed artistry - made during Nats last year and in comparison to Josh Farris - was definitely a diss, particularly in light of the fact that several years before he had raved about Jason's musicality.

I don't know the context for the comment, but I don't think it's unreasonable to find a skater musical and compelling in one program and more forced in another. One could argue that a perception of forced artistry may reflect a skater trying to do something outside their comfort zone, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. As for the timing of the comment: unlike misskarne, I don't think that a Schindler's List program requires announcers to be respectful of the magic or anything of the kind. Though I'm definitely in the "less is more" camp when it comes to commentary in general (thus my fondness for the ISU Channel and the Spanish broadcasts).

* I don't like most Schindler's List programs, and even if they are relatively good ones, I don't find them magical.