Improv on Ice

[Oreo]

I was lucky enough to go tonight. Location was Anaheim. Hosts were Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi (who looked terrific, incidentally). The band was the Goo Goo Dolls. I was surprised that there was a fairly decent turnout, especially for a Tuesday night. A lot of the crowd looked like skating fans, and then there were a lot of obvious Goo Goo Dolls devotees. An hour before they had to skate, the skaters drew a piece of music from a regular pop list and also a Goo Goo Dolls piece. The first half of the show they did the pop numbers. First out of the chute was:

Joannie Rochette skated to Fergie’s “Clumsy.” Dressed in a purple sequin halter-style dress. Fast and strong, but stumbled a bit out of her jumps. I should say too that either Brian or Kristi interviewed every skater after their number.

Jeffrey Buttle skated to a Matt Nathanson number. I’ve never heard of Matt Nathanson, so can’t tell you the exact piece. Nice triple lutz, one stumble on another jump, but it didn’t really matter because Buttle is such a great artist. It was hard to imagine he had just thought up the choreography since it went with the music so well. I hope they televise this. He was probably my favorite.

Sasha Cohen and some Taylor Swift song. She had on a pale silver, two-piece outfit with a sparkly top. Double axel, triple toe (I think) with a step out. She did all her signature bendy positions. Her skating was very loose and free. I enjoyed it. Her after-skate interview with Brian Boitano was the perkiest I’ve ever heard her.

Evan Lysacek drew Keith Urban. Red shirt with an orange collar and black pants. Bring on the season’s competitions; he is ready. Couple of triples. This was a happy, happy, happy skate with gobs of personality. Told Kristi in the interview that he wasn’t used to Keith Urban’s style of music, but he decided to get into it and felt very happy out there (which was really obvious).

Nancy Kerrigan skated to Beyonce. Wore a black (or maybe it was a dark navy) two-piece with a net midriff. She looked great, especially since didn’t she just have her third baby not too long ago? Did a delayed single axel, stepped out from another. Great cheer from the crowd. Brian asked her during the interview if she thought the improv thing was a challenge, and she replied that she no longer really skates on tours or shows and it was a challenge just getting into a costume.

Michael Weiss skated to James Morrison. Good triples, back flip. He did a great job. The crowd really, really liked him.

Shae Lynn Bourne skated to Carrie Underwood (I think the song was Casanova Cowboy). Black outfit, yellow belt. Very vampy. Good fun! The music stopped kind of suddenly, so during the interview Brian told her she could go back out there and do the ending she had planned. She was my favorite of the ladies.

Kurt Browning skated to something from Say Hey. Lots of the KB footwork, double axel, very dancy, ended up dancing onto the stage where he grabbed the mike in a rock star pose.

Intermission
Now everything was to the Goo Goo Dolls. First up:
Evan I think the piece was “Stay With You” He’s back in all black. Small step out on a jump. Another triple. Great end spin.

Shae Lynn: “Slide” Red sparkly bra top with black pants. She did hydro slides all over the place. Then she would sort of clap along to get the audience going, probably while she thought up her next hydro glide move. Clap some more; repeat. She does put energy into her numbers. Great body.

Michael Weiss skated to a Goo Goo Dolls piece unknown to me. Double lutz, toe, triple something, back flip. Did his blade thing. Crowd went nuts again.

Nancy “Here is Gone” purpley-pink outfit looked nice on her. She took awhile to come out on the ice. She set up for a lutz and with a look on her face that said “Damn, I’m going to get this!” she pulled off a double. Good for her! Popped the next jump. Did her signature spiral, spins, etc.

Jeff “Feel the Silence” Some double jumps. Terrific spin combo.

Joannie “Broadway” Blindingly sparkly blue or green (couldn’t tell which) outfit. Step out and pop on her jumps. Double axel.

Kurt “Let Love In” He skated in hockey skates. The skate god of footwork and dance. I've missed seeing him.

Sasha “Iris” Very pretty white dress. Set up for the triple lutz and down she went. The big fall of the night. Picked back up for a triple loop (I think that’s what it was since someone stood up in front of me) and she held on. Gorgeous spiral. Footwork sequence. It occurred to me that she was probably doing her short program. I hope she pulls it together because she’s competing in Paris against the Asian big guns in another week.

Then everybody came out. The Goo Goo Dolls performed another piece after that for their screaming fans. They re-performed part of one of their numbers, but there were no retakes for the skaters—surprising since I thought they’d redo some of the popss and/or Sasha’s fall. My guess is that on the TV broadcast they’ll just cut to the band.

In all it was a really enjoyable show, although short in length. The broadcast date will be on Christmas day.

[kittyjake5]

From your report it sounds like this was a great show with lots of good skating. Thank you.

[MKandNYYfan]

Thanks for the review, enjoyed it! Did Sasha look competition ready? She attempted 4 jumps with 1 pop and 1 step out? TEB is quite soon.

Then everybody came out. The Goo Goo Dolls performed another piece after that for their screaming fans. They re-performed part of one of their numbers, but there were no retakes for the skaters—surprising since I thought they’d redo some of the popss and/or Sasha’s fall. My guess is that on the TV broadcast they’ll just cut to the band.

Probably because it was all about improvising. Not fair the band got to re-do though!

[lemonade16]

Great report. Thanks a lot! It sounds like it was a really great show with a lot of fabulous skaters.

I thought Nancy's comment about getting into her costume was hysterical

[kittyjake5]

I thought Nancy's comment about getting into her costume was hysterical

I cracked up at the comment too. Made me think of my yearly reaction when summer rolls around and I have to put on my swimsuit. lol.

[belladella]

Thanks for the wonderful report.

Here's a summary from Icenetwork with a gorgeous photo of Sasha Cohen. Some nice interviews with the skaters are included.

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/artic...&vkey=ice_news

[berthesghost]

Michael Weiss skated to James Morrison. Good triples, back flip. He did a great job. The crowd really, really liked him.

Oh
James Morrison

I thought you meant James Morrison which I was hoping would lead to photos of Weiss in tight leather pants.

What did Mike wear?