CBC commentators

[Bella]

Okay, I watched the men's short program from Worlds on CBC tonight and thought the new CBC commentators were TERRIBLE! Barb Underhill and Paul Martini were great - I always love their commentary. But were is Rod Black? Doesn't he usually accompany the commentators? I don't know who was with Barb and Paul but I didn't think the commentary was great...I mean he commented twice in Jeff Buttle's program about the food poisoning incident. For one thing, mentioning at the beginning of his program before he starts is fine. But stating it AGAIN in the middle of the program is incredibly distracting and irrelevant.

But the interviewer was even worse...where was the usual interviewer? This guy didn't even ask any questions...just said things like "Well you missed the axel" or "It was a good skate". Couldn't he at least have said something like, "How did you feel out there?" Or "How would you rate this performance?"

Overall I was extremely disappointed in those 2! I thought it took alot away from the airing of the event. And it just didn't seem like there was the usual Worlds excitement there.

[lotusland]

When CBC broadcasts skating the commentators are usually Barb & Paul to represent the skating expertise and Chris Cuthbert to represent the network. Unfortunately for everyone, most especially Chris Cuthbert, CBC fired him earlier this month (or in late February). Apparently with the NHL out for the season there wasn't enough work, after 23 years on the job, to keep him on staff. The backstage interviews are being handled by the French Canadian SRC network, the interviewer is Guy D'Aoust.

Rod Black, Debbi Wilkes and Tracy Wilson are with another network altogether ... CTV.

[Bella]

Thanks for the clarification regarding Rod Black. I knew that Christ Cuthbert had been fired - I just didn't realize he was being replaced by someone who seems so much lower in calibre.

[expo86]

Mark Lee is the guy doing the "colour commentating," delivering those "invaluable" facts and trivia about Jeffrey Buttle and the other skaters. :o

[alex4SA]

That is one of the reasons I got myself a digital satellite dish, and now I enjoy EUROSPORT!!!! They are great, plus they have Gwendal on board this year and you get interviews with the skaters during the breaks..

[caser]

I totally agree with the remarks concerning the "two other guys." They did not appear to have any investment in figure skating at all. As for the man doing the ho-hum interviews with the skaters, it was like someone at CBC had just handed a mike at the last minute to the next person who walked by and that happened to be Guy D'Aoust. What a shame that CBC let Chris Cuthbert go after all his years of good work. But as others have said, Barb and Paul did their usual fine job and I hope that CBC will have the good sense to hold on to them.

[Nicki]

I agree with those who dislike Mark and Gus. Listening to Mark Lee butcher all of the skater's/coach's names has been really annoying to me.

However, we are getting so much coverage I can't really complain too much. I wish Espn would follow their lead.