Debbie S
04-04-2003, 10:41 PM
I just returned from COI. As I suspected, COI is not returning next year - the arena was about 2/3 full. Depending on the date/time, I might go see it next year at MCI Center - especially since I'm practically an expert at getting there.
(disclaimer - it's late and I'm tired - I apologize in advance for any typos -I'm also going to post this in stages b/c my AOL has had a nasty habit lately of disconnecting me)
Opening Number
Started with the Oly song and a voiceover by Dick Button welcoming us to the show. In keeping with the 25th anniversary theme, the individual skaters' step out music was arranged roughly chronologically, going from the late 70s to today - Saturday Night Fever, Grease, the Go-Gos, Fame, Michael Jackson, the Bangles, Springsteen, Madonna, Ricky Martin -you get the idea. The women wore 2-piece bright-colored sequined outfits and the men wore bright-colred sequined tops and black pants.
Act I
Nicole Bobek: Abba medley - one song I didn't recognize, Dancing Queen, Take a Chance on Me, Waterloo. She did a 2 axel, 3 toe, 1 axel, her trademark spirals, a good sit spin. Lots of 2-foot skating and waving of her arms.
Punsalan & Swallow: a classical piece I did not recognize - they did a nice job
Rudy Galindo: Came out in a sparkly purple jacket and pants with a purple cape that had "Rudy" written in silver. He soon took off the cape, and eventually the jacket to reveal a purple sequined tank top. He sated to a Prince medley of a couple songs I did not recognize the names of, and "1999". Lots of hamming and strutting. In between he did a 2 axel, 2 sal, 3 toe, Charlotte spiral, and a 3 toe (2 foot). Usual happy and hilarious self.
Lang/Tchernyshev: did their FD from the past season (The Scorpions). Nice twizzles - and they adjusted well to the smaller ice surface.
Fumie Suguri: My group cheered very loudly for her. Unfortnuately, I think we may have been the only people in the arena who knew exactly who she was. But by the end of her number, I think she won the crowd over. She did the Vienna Boys' Choir number she did at the Worlds ex. 2 axel, popped lutz, 3 toe, FI spiral, 3 flip (2 foot and step out), Ina Bauer, combo spin at the end. Beautiful skating as ever.
Totmianina/Marinin: did their "Untouchables" LP. Overall good, but a few errors - she stepped out of a throw landing and stumbled on something else - not sure if throw or jump. She landed a good throw 3 sal. They did seem slow - maybe they're just tired?
Sokolova: She did her LP in the same dress. I guess Tom Collins didn't like her nonsensical Worlds ex - wait until the broadcast - it's something hard to describe. 3 lutz, 2 toe, slide spiral, 3 toe, 2 axel, possibly another 3 jump that I missed.
Dan Hollander: Comic relief of the night did not disappoint. At least he didn't do Mrs. Doubtfire again. He starts out dressed as an old man in a tux, with his face made up to show wrinkles. He skates to "Kiss to Build a Dream On" and plays the character to the hilt. Fall on forward shoot-the-duck, slow forward sit spin, fall on spiral. Then, he takes off the pants and shirt and skates in a white tank top and sparkly boxers (sorry, I didn't recognize the song). 3 toe (fall out), 2 axel, back flip, and ends in a sort of half split on the ice that he falls over on. Lots of screams and laughs.
Viktor Petrenko: Skated to a Generic Male Ballad - perhaps a show tune - sorry, I didn't recognize it. A friend remarked that he looked confused or perplexed throughout the number. 2 3 toes, 2 axel. he had a definite paunch - time to get to the gym.
Dorothy Hamill: She's not scheduled to do the whole tour, but is doing a couple of cities in the beginning - she lives here in Baltimore. Skated to James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend". Great stroking, great spins. I think the only jump she did was a 2 toe, but (sorry to quote commentators) who cares?
Philippe Candeloro: Started with a voiceover by a woman who is supposed to be a customs official checking his visa papers and then welcomes him to the U.S. Then the music starts - Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American". OK, maybe it was a cheap way to get a standing ovation, but he backed up this program with good skating - a 3 lutz, 3 toe, 2 loop (step out), 2 axel. At the end, he unfurls an Am. flag that had been tucked into one of his sleeves. Of course, there was the standard kissing of a woman in the audience.
Intermission began with Elvis and Sasha being driven around the arena on the back of a Corvette tossing out little stuffed Corvettes to the audience (the same ones being given out at Worlds - Chevy is the tour sponsor this year). Apparently, it is the 50th anniversary of the Corvette.
Act II
Irina Grigorian was first. Did her usual hula hoop act. One move consisted of her twirling hoops around her in a "Slinky" pattern (a wave that went from front to over her head to back)
Michael Weiss: "Centerfold". Began with him sitting at a school desk. He did a 3 lutz (arrrgghh! why couldn't he do that in his SP at Worlds?), glides on the ends of his blades, a slide under the desk, a handstand on the chair. No "tornado". At some point midway through the number, he unbuttoned his (blue sequined) shirt.
Bourne/Kraatz: I sure do hope they join SOI, so I can see then again in December. They did their Adagio FD. Number was just as amazing as it was a week ago.
Surya Bonaly: Lion King song. 3 toe, FO spiral into 3 sal, popped loop, 3 sal, back flip (of course!). I know she's got her fans, but in the past few seasons, she's been starting to grate on me.
Kazakova/Dmitriev: Unforgettable. i didn't see anything they did, b/c I was in the ladies room. Sorry - but anyone who knows anything about the ladies room situation at our arena would understand why it's impossible to go during intermission. My mother told me that each one fell on something.
Irina Slutskaya: wore a black body suit that was decorated with what looked like red glittery flowers, and wore a red scarf around her head. Her music can best be described as a Russian techno/disco song. The number featured assorted spins, such as her catch-foot layback and Biellmann, but no jumps. I think the audience didn't quite know what to make of it. I hope her mother is doing OK.
Ukranian acrobats were next. They did their usual standing on each other. OK, I realize that Tom collinswants to have something for everyone, and these guys didget quite a bit of applause (as did Grigorian), but couldn't he have used their spots to show real skaters that we never see? What about Scott/Dulebohn (they're not exactly chopped liver), or up-and-comers Johnny Weir and Kimberly Meissner (novice ladies champ), who train in the area? OK, rant over.
Tim Goebel: Creed's "Arms Wide Open". He did this at Worlds ex, although, as I suspected, he has a new costume for it. Black pants with studs down the sides, a short sleeved blue shirt, and black leather vest with a HUGE glittery cross on the back. Black wristband on one wrist. Suffices to say it's definitely a new look for Tim. 3 lutz (fall), another 3 jump, 3 toe (turn out), good spins. Tim has really improved as a skater over the past few years. I hope the judges start giving him credit for all of his improvements.
Sasha Cohen: Romeo & Juliet in same black and silver dress she wore for Worlds ex. 2 axel, 3 toe, 3 sal (hard fall), Ina Bauer, Charlotte spiral, COE (change edge) spiral that had very shallow edges. Graceful skating and beautiful presentation as always. If only she could land her jumps in comp.....
Elvis Stojko: Jimmy Eat World's "In the Middle". Silver top and black pants. 3 toe, 2 toe or flip, lots of slides on the ice, split jump, and obligatory kiss of a woman in the front row.
Plushenko: same number as World ex. The Platters "Only You" and some other song my mom thought was by Chubby Checker. This time, he gave his balloon to a woman in the front row rather than letting it float to the rafters. Not sure about the jumps he did, but he did a nice Kulik-esque cantilever move.
Now for the main event, at least for me (:)): Michelle Kwan. FYI: She was introduced as "5-time World Champion, America's Own...". Her new program to "Fallin' (Alicia Keys) is fantastic. She was quoted in our paper this morning as saying that she hadn't had much time to put this together and practice it - and I have no idea who choreographed it, although I suspect we'll learn during the broadcast of the upcoming USFSA spring comp. You could tell she was "feeling her way" through it, but I'm sure as she gets more time with it, it'll look more natural. Even so, her moves were wonderful, jumps superb, and she lit up the whole arena. She had the audience mesmerized.
She did a 2 axel, 3 toe, flying camel, 3 lutz, drop-leg layback, 3 toe, magnificent COE spiral, and a fast combo spin at the end to close. The number featured a lot of deep-knee glides and turns, including a series of double threes (or twizzles, as some call them). She also uses her arms a lot, and really draws the crowd in - trying to express the seductiveness of the music. i know this will improve as she performs it more. Her costume is a 2-piece, a (light) brown sequined top and a (light) brown chiffon skirt with brown sequins around the waist.
Finale
This was kind of bizarre. It was sort of a carnival/circus/Mardi Gras theme. All the skaters wore ridiculously glitzy costumes - VERY colorful (as in orange, hot pink, bright green, bright blue, red, yellow), with fringe on pant legs, frilly skirts, shiny capes, and just a very glittery look. At the beginning, some skaters carried colored flags, and there were colorful face maskes on poles that were placed at each of the ends of the ice. For the skaters' step outs, at first the music was instrumental - sounding sort of Spanish or calypso - I know I heard some guitar. The final song was used was a fast Spanish song - maybe Sarah Kawahara was going for an island theme.
(disclaimer - it's late and I'm tired - I apologize in advance for any typos -I'm also going to post this in stages b/c my AOL has had a nasty habit lately of disconnecting me)
Opening Number
Started with the Oly song and a voiceover by Dick Button welcoming us to the show. In keeping with the 25th anniversary theme, the individual skaters' step out music was arranged roughly chronologically, going from the late 70s to today - Saturday Night Fever, Grease, the Go-Gos, Fame, Michael Jackson, the Bangles, Springsteen, Madonna, Ricky Martin -you get the idea. The women wore 2-piece bright-colored sequined outfits and the men wore bright-colred sequined tops and black pants.
Act I
Nicole Bobek: Abba medley - one song I didn't recognize, Dancing Queen, Take a Chance on Me, Waterloo. She did a 2 axel, 3 toe, 1 axel, her trademark spirals, a good sit spin. Lots of 2-foot skating and waving of her arms.
Punsalan & Swallow: a classical piece I did not recognize - they did a nice job
Rudy Galindo: Came out in a sparkly purple jacket and pants with a purple cape that had "Rudy" written in silver. He soon took off the cape, and eventually the jacket to reveal a purple sequined tank top. He sated to a Prince medley of a couple songs I did not recognize the names of, and "1999". Lots of hamming and strutting. In between he did a 2 axel, 2 sal, 3 toe, Charlotte spiral, and a 3 toe (2 foot). Usual happy and hilarious self.
Lang/Tchernyshev: did their FD from the past season (The Scorpions). Nice twizzles - and they adjusted well to the smaller ice surface.
Fumie Suguri: My group cheered very loudly for her. Unfortnuately, I think we may have been the only people in the arena who knew exactly who she was. But by the end of her number, I think she won the crowd over. She did the Vienna Boys' Choir number she did at the Worlds ex. 2 axel, popped lutz, 3 toe, FI spiral, 3 flip (2 foot and step out), Ina Bauer, combo spin at the end. Beautiful skating as ever.
Totmianina/Marinin: did their "Untouchables" LP. Overall good, but a few errors - she stepped out of a throw landing and stumbled on something else - not sure if throw or jump. She landed a good throw 3 sal. They did seem slow - maybe they're just tired?
Sokolova: She did her LP in the same dress. I guess Tom Collins didn't like her nonsensical Worlds ex - wait until the broadcast - it's something hard to describe. 3 lutz, 2 toe, slide spiral, 3 toe, 2 axel, possibly another 3 jump that I missed.
Dan Hollander: Comic relief of the night did not disappoint. At least he didn't do Mrs. Doubtfire again. He starts out dressed as an old man in a tux, with his face made up to show wrinkles. He skates to "Kiss to Build a Dream On" and plays the character to the hilt. Fall on forward shoot-the-duck, slow forward sit spin, fall on spiral. Then, he takes off the pants and shirt and skates in a white tank top and sparkly boxers (sorry, I didn't recognize the song). 3 toe (fall out), 2 axel, back flip, and ends in a sort of half split on the ice that he falls over on. Lots of screams and laughs.
Viktor Petrenko: Skated to a Generic Male Ballad - perhaps a show tune - sorry, I didn't recognize it. A friend remarked that he looked confused or perplexed throughout the number. 2 3 toes, 2 axel. he had a definite paunch - time to get to the gym.
Dorothy Hamill: She's not scheduled to do the whole tour, but is doing a couple of cities in the beginning - she lives here in Baltimore. Skated to James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend". Great stroking, great spins. I think the only jump she did was a 2 toe, but (sorry to quote commentators) who cares?
Philippe Candeloro: Started with a voiceover by a woman who is supposed to be a customs official checking his visa papers and then welcomes him to the U.S. Then the music starts - Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American". OK, maybe it was a cheap way to get a standing ovation, but he backed up this program with good skating - a 3 lutz, 3 toe, 2 loop (step out), 2 axel. At the end, he unfurls an Am. flag that had been tucked into one of his sleeves. Of course, there was the standard kissing of a woman in the audience.
Intermission began with Elvis and Sasha being driven around the arena on the back of a Corvette tossing out little stuffed Corvettes to the audience (the same ones being given out at Worlds - Chevy is the tour sponsor this year). Apparently, it is the 50th anniversary of the Corvette.
Act II
Irina Grigorian was first. Did her usual hula hoop act. One move consisted of her twirling hoops around her in a "Slinky" pattern (a wave that went from front to over her head to back)
Michael Weiss: "Centerfold". Began with him sitting at a school desk. He did a 3 lutz (arrrgghh! why couldn't he do that in his SP at Worlds?), glides on the ends of his blades, a slide under the desk, a handstand on the chair. No "tornado". At some point midway through the number, he unbuttoned his (blue sequined) shirt.
Bourne/Kraatz: I sure do hope they join SOI, so I can see then again in December. They did their Adagio FD. Number was just as amazing as it was a week ago.
Surya Bonaly: Lion King song. 3 toe, FO spiral into 3 sal, popped loop, 3 sal, back flip (of course!). I know she's got her fans, but in the past few seasons, she's been starting to grate on me.
Kazakova/Dmitriev: Unforgettable. i didn't see anything they did, b/c I was in the ladies room. Sorry - but anyone who knows anything about the ladies room situation at our arena would understand why it's impossible to go during intermission. My mother told me that each one fell on something.
Irina Slutskaya: wore a black body suit that was decorated with what looked like red glittery flowers, and wore a red scarf around her head. Her music can best be described as a Russian techno/disco song. The number featured assorted spins, such as her catch-foot layback and Biellmann, but no jumps. I think the audience didn't quite know what to make of it. I hope her mother is doing OK.
Ukranian acrobats were next. They did their usual standing on each other. OK, I realize that Tom collinswants to have something for everyone, and these guys didget quite a bit of applause (as did Grigorian), but couldn't he have used their spots to show real skaters that we never see? What about Scott/Dulebohn (they're not exactly chopped liver), or up-and-comers Johnny Weir and Kimberly Meissner (novice ladies champ), who train in the area? OK, rant over.
Tim Goebel: Creed's "Arms Wide Open". He did this at Worlds ex, although, as I suspected, he has a new costume for it. Black pants with studs down the sides, a short sleeved blue shirt, and black leather vest with a HUGE glittery cross on the back. Black wristband on one wrist. Suffices to say it's definitely a new look for Tim. 3 lutz (fall), another 3 jump, 3 toe (turn out), good spins. Tim has really improved as a skater over the past few years. I hope the judges start giving him credit for all of his improvements.
Sasha Cohen: Romeo & Juliet in same black and silver dress she wore for Worlds ex. 2 axel, 3 toe, 3 sal (hard fall), Ina Bauer, Charlotte spiral, COE (change edge) spiral that had very shallow edges. Graceful skating and beautiful presentation as always. If only she could land her jumps in comp.....
Elvis Stojko: Jimmy Eat World's "In the Middle". Silver top and black pants. 3 toe, 2 toe or flip, lots of slides on the ice, split jump, and obligatory kiss of a woman in the front row.
Plushenko: same number as World ex. The Platters "Only You" and some other song my mom thought was by Chubby Checker. This time, he gave his balloon to a woman in the front row rather than letting it float to the rafters. Not sure about the jumps he did, but he did a nice Kulik-esque cantilever move.
Now for the main event, at least for me (:)): Michelle Kwan. FYI: She was introduced as "5-time World Champion, America's Own...". Her new program to "Fallin' (Alicia Keys) is fantastic. She was quoted in our paper this morning as saying that she hadn't had much time to put this together and practice it - and I have no idea who choreographed it, although I suspect we'll learn during the broadcast of the upcoming USFSA spring comp. You could tell she was "feeling her way" through it, but I'm sure as she gets more time with it, it'll look more natural. Even so, her moves were wonderful, jumps superb, and she lit up the whole arena. She had the audience mesmerized.
She did a 2 axel, 3 toe, flying camel, 3 lutz, drop-leg layback, 3 toe, magnificent COE spiral, and a fast combo spin at the end to close. The number featured a lot of deep-knee glides and turns, including a series of double threes (or twizzles, as some call them). She also uses her arms a lot, and really draws the crowd in - trying to express the seductiveness of the music. i know this will improve as she performs it more. Her costume is a 2-piece, a (light) brown sequined top and a (light) brown chiffon skirt with brown sequins around the waist.
Finale
This was kind of bizarre. It was sort of a carnival/circus/Mardi Gras theme. All the skaters wore ridiculously glitzy costumes - VERY colorful (as in orange, hot pink, bright green, bright blue, red, yellow), with fringe on pant legs, frilly skirts, shiny capes, and just a very glittery look. At the beginning, some skaters carried colored flags, and there were colorful face maskes on poles that were placed at each of the ends of the ice. For the skaters' step outs, at first the music was instrumental - sounding sort of Spanish or calypso - I know I heard some guitar. The final song was used was a fast Spanish song - maybe Sarah Kawahara was going for an island theme.