The Skating Lesson

[VGThuy]

I find Jonathan to be just as bad as Dave when it comes to snark and putting skaters he doesn't like down, but maybe he gets away with it because he has a more attractive, to some, exterior and hides it behind a nicer delivery.

 

[Peepsquick]

No, I disagree. I think the snark comes from the interaction with Dave. It is what is expected. I don't buy that his persona he shows on TSL is really who he is. I have been reading on him and kept in touch on social media: he is a sweet talented man going through a rough patch from what I gathered.
He has been critical of the Shibutanis, that's true but he is not disrespectful, not the way Dave can be.

 

[VGThuy]

No, I disagree. I think the snark comes from the interaction with Dave. It is what is expected. I don't buy that his persona he shows on TSL is really who he is. I have been reading on him and kept in touch on social media: he is a sweet talented man going through a rough patch from what I gathered.
He has been critical of the Shibutanis, that's true but he is not disrespectful, not the way Dave can be.

I disagree. He can be as nasty as the other on twitter. I'm not surprised though. Birds of a feather and all of that.

 

[mackiecat]

I find that I like the insight Jonathan brings from his vast knowledge of music.

 

[barbarafan]

No, I disagree. I think the snark comes from the interaction with Dave. It is what is expected. I don't buy that his persona he shows on TSL is really who he is. I have been reading on him and kept in touch on social media: he is a sweet talented man going through a rough patch from what I gathered.
He has been critical of the Shibutanis, that's true but he is not disrespectful, not the way Dave can be.

I agree....He looks at beauty of lines and he does sometimes contradict Dave and try to pull him back ...just not enough. When Dave did his infamous trashing of Lubov and Dylan at Cdns not this jan but Jan 2017 and he started criticizing Sandra Bezic he jumped in. He totally attacked Julie Marcotte which was FS suicide as she is Bruno's sister and Meaghans sister-in-law , That ended up being another reload with most of that section removed.. I sort of feel bad for Johnathon.

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

I sort of feel bad for Johnathon.

I feel so bad for him,I'm sobbing in my bathroom right now,barely able to type this out through the tears (yet my makeup remains flawless,of course). Give me a break.

This sort of trashy "vlog" that appeals to the lowest common denominator does nothing to enhance the reputation or audience of our virtuous sport.

-BB

 

[StasiyaGalustyanLove]

Johnathon and "Dave" have no respect for the fact that people who like to watch and talk about skating have other thing's to do with their time, six hour long videos of comments are only some-thing I would want to watch if they were to a company the stories in Mens Fitness. "Dave" and the eye brow look "Dave" sports, no.

 

[berthesghost]

I'm not president of the Dave Lease Fan Club by any means but I always try my best to be objective (yes, it's a struggle). I think we have a number of cases here where we dismiss anything Dave says just because we don't 'like' him. This is a natural phenomenon.

”the skating lesson” on YouTube is a long running series where Dave and various guests comment on the latest skating news.

“The skating lesson” on FSU is a long running series where various posters comment over and over and over again on how much they dislike Dave, his various guests and his YouTube series.

Both series are alternately amusing, tiresome and full of OTT insults and snark.

 

[el henry]

Well, I admit, I do check into TSL from time to time 1) for trainwrecks and 2) because Dave does get info on skater movements and coaching moves, and more often than not it's right. And I have no doubt that Jonathan, and even Dave, are nice and funny and sweet to talk to in person. But that's not what they are on their channel and on social media.

I don't understand Dave and his sycophants on social media going on and on about how he's "right". Right about what???? The only things I have seen from Dave (and granted, I don't watch much and I stay away as often as possible) are Captain Obvious comments such as 1) USFS pairs need to stick together and get jumps. Well, duh, thanks for that one, hadn't thought of that or 2)Jason Brown needs a quad to medal; well, golly gee, hadn't thought of that one either, what's wrong with me If Dave has said something that isn't in the "No crap Sherlock" category let me know.

And when "Bitchy Divas Dishing" actually gets funny, let me know that too. Although the twitter and YouTube comments from the supporters are hysterical, I don't think they mean to be.

Yeah, otherwise, poor pitiful me, just crying in my bathroom in Bethlehem cause I don't get it. Okey dokey then....

 

[sp555]

I watch The Skating Lesson occasionally but the people on these videos are such boring idiots that it is hard to sit through an entire episode.

Are there any other skating shows or podcasts out there that are actually worth watching?

 

[aftershocks]

^^ I've enjoyed @glorybox64's Iced Coffee podcasts on Stitcher.com. And you can always check out manleywoman's archived interview podcasts. As well, @clairecloutier's Divine Sport blog, P.J. Kwong's interview podcasts. And on YouTube: The Blade Boys; Ted Flett's interviews for GS forum; Justin's Patrick Commentates Skating podcasts; The Finer Sports blog offers excellent coverage of pairs and ice dance; and the always prolific @N_Halifax's Skateguard blog provides fascinating and insightful immersion into fs history.

Sure we definitely need more above-average informative and entertaining coverage, especially during the off-season. I'm not certain that NBC.com will provide the interesting, varied and fs-centric print coverage we got from IN writers/reporters (not only focused on star skaters).

 

[sp555]

^^ I've enjoyed @glorybox64's Iced Coffee podcasts on Stitcher.com. And you can always check out manleywoman's archived interview podcasts. As well, @clairecloutier's Divine Sport blog, P.J. Kwong's interview podcasts. And on YouTube: The Blade Boys; Ted Flett's interviews for GS forum; Justin's Patrick Commentates Skating podcasts; The Finer Sports blog offers excellent coverage of pairs and ice dance; and the always prolific @N_Halifax's Skateguard blog provides fascinating and insightful immersion into fs history.

Sure we definitely need more above-average informative and entertaining coverage, especially during the off-season. I'm not certain that NBC.com will provide the interesting, varied and fs-centric print coverage we got from IN writers/reporters (not only focused on star skaters).

Oh thank you!

Definitely some new finds for me in here. I will check them out.

 

[alchemy void]

"Dave" and the eye brow look "Dave" sports, no.

Couldn’t have said it any better myself. #wut

 

[chachacha]

Johnathon and "Dave" have no respect for the fact that people who like to watch and talk about skating have other thing's to do with their time, six hour long videos of comments are only some-thing I would want to watch if they were to a company the stories in Mens Fitness. "Dave" and the eye brow look "Dave" sports, no.

Dave has the same eye mannerisms that Ramona Singer of the Real Houswives of New York.

 

[giselle23]

Dave constantly interrupts his fellow commentators and throws out opinions that are unsupported by facts and logic. For example, he has it in his brain that Mirai doesn't care about her PCS when she is competing. Jonathan tried to point out that she has to concentrate a lot more when competing (and when she is under strict scrutiny by the judges). Sorry, Dave (interrupting) didn't buy it. Mirai doesn't give a spit about presentation when competing, according to him--she only cares when doing exhibitions and being on DWTS.

ETA: And can I add that La adds nothing of any value to the discussion.

 

[giselle23]

I find Jonathan to be just as bad as Dave when it comes to snark and putting skaters he doesn't like down, but maybe he gets away with it because he has a more attractive, to some, exterior and hides it behind a nicer delivery.

I agree he is snarky, too, but he is a better commentator than Dave. At least he tries to back up his opinions with something specific and can even be complimentary of skaters at times. Dave on the other hand, is 99% about the nasty negative.

 

[MAXSwagg]

Wow. People sure are obsessed with Dave.

 

[Marco]

I was quite interested when Jenny was on the show because she was able to add some structure/flow as well as insights on technique/competitions to the discussions. Once she left, they would get so sidetracked all the time and the show becomes way too long that's hard to follow, and everything becomes gossip instead of genuine discussions.

 

[Eeyora1]

I liked their latest videos on Dancing With The Stars and Zhenya. I actually much prefer them doing more fluff stuff and rehashing 90’s gossip etc Tonya, Kerrigan, Yamaguchi, Kwan than their cattiness of the current crop.

 

[Peepsquick]

Nobody has to watch anything they don't appreciate. I appreciate TSL narrating in their own way the different events. It doesn't mean I like everything that is being said. Far from it! But to each his own : between the sometimes catty TSL and the simpering Justin, my choice is made.

 

[Seerek]

Interesting you bring up Justin since his co-hosts can be just as judgemental or dismissive as anybody on TSL, but they're far more matter-of-fact in their 'non-fan' opnions, which helps in maintaining at least some semblance of flow in the videos.

 

[DimaToe]

TSL was at its best when it was Jenny and Dave doing the interviews and recaps. They complemented eachother well. Dave still asked very good questions without being too OTT and Jenny connected well with the skaters so they would open up and answer said questions more honestly than they would have with someone else. Without Jenny took a TMZ like turn. Which also explains why it’s popular but i believe TSL post Jenny could have continued on the same high with a proper Co-host for Dave was found. I don’t mind his snark but what annoys me to no end is of the random mention of reality TV shows and his own life, etc. Like I don’t care keep it skating related.

 

[Deleted member 53443]

Nobody has to watch anything they don't appreciate. I appreciate TSL narrating in their own way the different events. It doesn't mean I like everything that is being said. Far from it! But to each his own : between the sometimes catty TSL and the simpering Justin, my choice is made.

That's how I feel too. This is the thing: them being a bit catty and sometimes downright mean, does mean that some stuff is being said (and that I completely agree on) that can't, or rather would never, be said in other forms of media.

In a super packaged information age, where athletes are guided and coached by their PR people, these guys are unfiltered. Maybe not everybody's cup of tea, but it's mine.

 

[GullyGirl84]

I like things that Jonathan has to say sometimes (I really like when he tries to relate the opera world to skating), but it's hard to take his criticism as seriously after the "Rohene and Kori were just so mean to me, and now I've locked myself in the bathroom and I will seriously quit unless I'm talked out of it" incident. Not that Jenny didn't have her moments of extreme shade, but I think that she and Dave were a lot better at balancing each other out, and Dave seemed to interrupt her less, unless I'm imagining things.

It's a shame, because I think Dave asks excellent questions during interviews and at the press conferences he is invited to, but it seems like they're making a bit less of an attempt at making it a professional outlet this time out (do they even have sponsorships anymore?). I enjoyed when they traveled to the different rinks and did the packages on the skaters/coaches, but now that I'm remembering, I think that wasn't without disasters. I remember that they crowdsourced the funds, but I think that they lost one of the cameras that they bought on their road trip/lost their rental car keys on one of their trips to Colorado. Maybe he just is less invested in it now that Jenny left. I remember being excited after the Cup of China about the quality of skating of the women, and then feeling a bit deflated after Dave and Jonathan's attitude was really negative and "why did we have to sit through all of those people". And the stuff with Ashley (and Jackie Wong?) seemed to get really personal for Dave and I wonder if there was more to it than what met the eye. Anywho, I'll still watch occasionally, but it's definitely on a different quality than it used to be for me anyways. I wonder if Dave and Jenny are even friends anymore, does anyone know?

 

[berthesghost]

That's how I feel too. This is the thing: them being a bit catty and sometimes downright mean, does mean that some stuff is being said (and that I completely agree on) that can't, or rather would never, be said in other forms of media.

In a super packaged information age, where athletes are guided and coached by their PR people, these guys are unfiltered. Maybe not everybody's cup of tea, but it's mine.

I don’t have issues with the content. However, the poor production values and lack of professionalism is wearing. The equipment is so cheap they are barely audible and this is made worse by the constant interruptions and speaking over each other. What’s the point of doing video if there are no interesting visuals? 90 minutes of 3 unchanging headshots is not video worthy. At that point, why not just make a podcast we can actually hear, or write a blog we can read at work. And please, you are not oprah, nobody wants to hear what fad diets you’ve tried on a skating Vlog.

 

[el henry]

whole post

So right!

This: when Dave actually *interviews* someone and asks questions, the questions can be intelligent and perceptive. He knows about coaching changes. So I would like to like Dave.

But tossing off same old same old comments with a bitchy sneer and a tilt of the head? And *congratulating* himself that he is saying what no-one else will say? Where? How? When? I have heard nothing from his lips that I have not heard a million times before, without the bitchy sneer. "Completely obvious comment, oh snap child". Maybe they mean the "Oh snap child" part is new and no one else will say it?

And I spend time talking about it because I would love for Dave to go back to interviews, and news, and what I liked about TSL. "oh snap, child" was not it.

And the jealousy for Jackie Wong and others .... some of his followers should say, Please Dave, that's not a good look. Oh snap

 

[jl22aries]

I love when they have Megan on, and Sandra Bezic's interview(s) was amazing too. Jonathan seemed to be a really natural interviewer in those segments. More Megan!!!

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Jackie Wong and TSL appeared on the scene at the same time.

It is interesting to see how both teams have established their brand and developed since.

With Wong, there appears genuine interest in how the skaters are doing. With TSL, athletes seem to be grist for their own entertainment.

 

[VGThuy]

Wong is more of a journalist who wants to provide substantive information and the work he does to give that to the readers is nothing short of extraordinary. Dave and co. are more commentators who rely on whisperings and gossip and thinking reality is always the worst traits of human nature because that's their normal. I do think behind the snark, Dave and the rest can provide some good insight but they live for the negativity so much that most of the time it overtakes everything else, which is what their fans like. They also give themselves way too much credit for making really "duh" observations and comments but their fans think they have like a third eye or are some sort of geniuses when anybody with half a brain could have made similar comments (and they probably plagiarize a lot of those). Wong has opinions like everybody else but he's not in the business of needlessly putting people down while TSL clearly has their pets (either due to their skating or not being snubbed by them...or actually being embraced by certain skaters) and those who get in their pets' ways are targets for their nastiness where even if they do regular every day human things like waving at an audience member during warm-ups is a cause for Dave to attack them.

 

[Mrs. P]

Jackie Wong's brand is SO strong. When you have skaters wearing gear with your logo, that means you have relevance. He's been profiled in the WSJ. Heck, the fact you have Phil Hersh singing your praises is pretty incredible -- he is considered a bonafide journalist and he's been able to turn that into paying gigs with Ice Network and make revenue on his site.

And honestly the amount of work he puts in given that he has a day job -- is quite impressive.

As for TSL, I do think they have a strong brand as well, but eventually even TMZ and Buzzfeed had to move beyond what they were initially famous for for the sake of long-term success.