Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Dance Moms: Season 2, Episode 4 LIVE BLOG

  • Hollywood Vibe is a great competition, I used to compete there, Chris Smith the owner is awesome
  • Will Kendall ever get off of probation?
  • Abby just announced Chloe as the top of the pyramid through very clenched teeth
  • Group number about bullying, funny when Abby is a bully
  • Why is Nia the bully? Oh boy, this is going to stir up the stink!
  • I love that Nia calls her "Miss Abby"
  • Abby is losing her voice, that's like music to my ears!
  • Wow, Abby really struck a chord with Chloe this time, I missed what happened!
  • I really don't know why Abby has it out for Chloe, it's like she wants her to lose to Maddy and then she'll be slightly civil again
  • Congrats to Brooke on making the cheer team...if she wants to do that it's awesome for her
  • Nia is such a little ham, I love it
  • I loved the look on Brooke's face when all the little kids were hanging all over her
  • Jill, go to Candy Apples, you remind me of Cathy
  • On the other hand, Leslie looks like she fits right in
  • Oh no, Paige just got axed from the trio, the trio is sacred!
  • Thank goodness Leslie is asking the question we all want to know "Why do they stay in the studio when they all complain all the time?"
  • They are all acting crazy and they're only drinking coffee this time
  • This costume debacle is like every week with these people, this looks very Britney Spears circa "Baby One More Time"
  • Maddy needs to get that free leg up to parallel on those a la seconde turns and straighten out those legs on the aerial
  • I'm always saying this but, Chloe has a more mature look than Maddy
  • Peyton is totally the voice of reason amongst all of this crazy
  • I love that the moms are put on probation with the kids, it's so fitting
  • Ok so we've got some blocking issues on this trio
  • What do these 10-year-olds know about "problems with men"
  • Obviously Chloe wasn't going to sit on the tap mic
  • Abby is putting Chloe in a very crazy place
  • It's getting so hard to tell what is real and what is put on
  • Here we go, the group number is always on the verge of being a hot, tranny mess, but then it's great
  • Good for you Peyton, you are standing up for yourself when your buttons are pushed
  • This was a weird episode, I feel like everything and nothing happened all at the same time

2012 Four Continents Championships: Viewing Schedule


Thursday, Feb. 9
8:45 p.m. - Men's short program
Friday, Feb. 10
3:00 p.m. - Ladies short program
9:00 p.m. - Men's free skate
Saturday, Feb. 11
3:00 p.m. - Pairs short program
5:30 p.m. - Short dance
9:00 p.m. - Ladies free skate
Sunday, Feb. 12
2:00 p.m. - Pairs free skate
4:45 p.m. - Free dance

Sunday, January 29, 2012

2012 US Figure Skating Championships: Senior Men's Free Skate LIVE Coverage

1) Alexander Aiken
  Music:
  (TES) + (PCS)=
  49.05 (SP) + (FS) =

2) Daniel Raad
  Music:
  56.48 (TES) + 43.78 (PCS) = 100.26
  47.11 (SP) + 100.26 (FS) = 147.37

3) Richard Dornbush
  Music: Western Medley
  • Is it just me or does he look super tall today?
  • There we go, nice triple lutz
  • Really smooth triple axel
  • He's finally starting to hit a stride here
  • I really like the acting in this program, very few people can sell a program like Ricky
  • If only he could've done this program in the short, we'd be right in business
  • Great finish, courageous skate
  71.42 (TES) + 78.58 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 149.00
  51.59 (SP) + 149.00 (FS) = 200.59

4) Wesley Campbell
  Music: The Mission
  • This is our tall guy right here
  • I kind of like that tunic, and brown is a nice change from black
  • Nice 3-3 combo, a little wild on the second landing
  • Hard fall on the 3a
  • He is remarkable elegant for such a tall guy
  • He really stretches through his legs and extends through the fingertips
  • He really could up the level of expression and speed in this footwork sequence to match the drama in the music
  • I really like the arrangement of this music
  61.73 (TES) + 60.28 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 121.01
  45.93 (SP) + 121.01 (FS) = 166.94

5) William Brewster
  Music:
  • I wish this costume had some more pizzazz to it
  • That triple axel just kind of stayed in one place
  • 3lz-2t
  • 3s-3t combination
  • Spins are slow, he seems to be lacking energy here
  • This whole costume looks like it was meant for a person larger than he is
  • He could use some more conditioning, but he is on the right track and Jason and Yuka will help him greatly
  51.94 (TES) + 49.84 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 100.78
  55.70 (SP) + 100.78 (FS) = 166.48

6) Alexander Johnson
  Music: Gayane
  • Regardless of how he jumps, this will be beautiful
  • He pays so much attention to the subtleties, every finger, every head movement
  • Singled the axel, not enough speed I think
  • 3f-3t, that was a fight, but that's a great side to see from him
  • He would be an amazing ballet dancer, he has the body and the hair, he'd be a fantastic Cavalier in Nutcracker
  • His jumps are beautiful, and that gorgeous spiral
  • Though the jumps are very nice, he doesn't even need them, everything else he does, he does so well
  • Fantastic skate from Alex, way to recover and finish strong from that short
 69.92 (TES) + 71.58 (PCS)= 141.50
  57.73 (SP) + 141.50 (FS) =199.23

7) Scott Dyer
  Music:
  • I like that he takes a totally different approach in his too programs, jazzy short and romantic free
  • I like this costume, it's very soft and I like the detail
  • He has a nice body carriage, very strong back, good fluidity in the upper body without being sloppy
  • He is a very complete skater, nothing in this program is a weakness
  • Gorgeous form in those jumps, nice and upright
  • That was a fine skate from him, very good quality in that skate
  67.04 (TES) + 74.44 (PCS)= 141.48
  66.49 (SP) + 141.48 (FS) = 207.97

8) Joshua Farris
  Music: Rachmaninov
  • I love him in romantic programs, so happy he changed it from the JGP
  • He needs to focus, I hope he's not recalling last year's nationals
  • Johnson and Farris back to back is like beauty upon beauty
  • I had hoped this would be a break out Nationals for him, but alas he looks a little cautious
  • No, just sat down that 3lz!
  • He just doesn't seem to be fighting like I've seen him do in the past
  69.17 (TES) + 65.38 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 132.55
  65.43 (SP) + 132.55 (FS) = 197.98

9) Brandon Mroz
  Music: Carmen
  • Come on Brandon, let's light it up her, I want to see some firepower
  • Quad toe, fall
  • Nice 3a-only a 2t on the end
  • Double axel, I don't know if it was supposed to be a triple or not
  • He looks very strong in this footwork, his posture has improved, but I still want him to attack it more
  • Just let go and have fun and see what comes of it!
  • Oh no, hands down, he's losing focus it seems
  • Hands down again, he is just muscling these jumps too much and pitching forward
  • He has no speed going into these jumps, it's all muscle power, nothing is flowing easily
  67.11 (TES) + 66.56 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 132.67
  67.47 (SP) + 132.67 (FS) = 200.14

10) Grant Hochstein
  Music:
  (TES) + (PCS)=
  67.89 (SP) + (FS) =

11) Jonathan Cassar
  Music:
  (TES) + (PCS)=
  67.86 (SP) + (FS) =

12) Jason Brown
  Music:

  • I love this free skate and the costume, I love that everything is slightly gaudy
  • He makes everything look easy, he is such a natural
  • He exudes passion with every step
  • I am loving this music right now
  • He is a beautiful skater to watch, I loved him on the Jr. Grand Prix
  • One little correction-watch the free arm in spins, sometimes it looks a little lifeless
  • The flexibility is great, I bet he could almost do a Biellmann
  • Really nice 3-3 combo, good job staying away from the boards
  • I love his dance ability and his connection to the music
  • So much of that step sequence is on one foot, the kid has such energy
  • His study of music and piano aids him so much in the performance
  • Trip on an easy step
  • He's starting to lose it a little bit here, but that can't take away from what he had going
  • I hate that he had that stupid little trip, totally sucked the wind out
  (TES) + (PCS) -3.00 (DED) = 133.48
  75.68 (SP) + 133.48 (FS) = 209.16

13) Douglas Razzano
  Music:
  • He gets better and better at every competition
  • He's such a quiet, calm skater
  • He makes it all look so easy out there, he's in a zone, doing a phenomenal job
  • Nothing flashy, just good, solid, clean skating
  (TES) + (PCS) = 150.80
  72.50 (SP) + (FS) = 223.38

14) Stephen Carriere
  Music: Swan Lake
  • lots and lots of speed
  • He really stepped up into that 3a, very good height
  • He kind of looks like swan
  • That fall on the 3a was so loud, with all that speed, it was a hard fall
  • This program is so dramatic and intense
  • Very ambitious program, not perfect execution, but so much passion and intensity
  (TES) + (PCS)= 141.59
  71.82 (SP) + 141.59 (FS) = 213.41

15) Max Aaron
  Music:
  • I'm loving Max' jumpsuit, very fancy
  • He still looks like a baby out there, but just wait until he skates
  • This is a way more elegant program than you expect from him
  • So much speed into that quad salchow, huge jump and huge crash
  • Almost wipes out the triple axel, misses the combination
  • He looks so dejected out there, it had to be heartbreaking not hitting that quad that's been so solid for him this season
  • Wild, pitched landing, on that 3a
  • Oy he's falling apart, he looks exhausted out there,why do Tom's skaters always look undertrained in big moments
  • Good building blocks, he just needs to tie it all together
  (TES) + (PCS)= 135.14
  76.01 (SP) + 135.14 (FS) = 223.38

16) Ross Miner
  Music: The Untouchables
  • Is this costume new, or have I never seen it in HD?
  • Fantastic triple axel, such speed in and out
  • Hard fall on that 3a, slipped on the landing 
  • Looks like his pantstrap came undone, I hope that isn't a distraction
  • He is skating so well so far, looks like that fall didn't affect him
  • Good 3-2-2 combination
  • He's sailing through this program, he's in a zone
  • Time to sell this program
  • He's looking like Rachael Flatt did at the end of her free skate, just a spectacular job
  75.62 (TES) + (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 151.42
   (SP) + 151.42 (FS) = 230.32

17) Keegan Messing
  Music: Pirates of the Caribbean 
  • That 3a was gigantic
  • Good decision to make that a 3t instead of a quad
  • That squat spin was actually kind of cool
  • 3-2-1 combination that looked like
  • He just stopped to vogue at the judges, love it
  • Stumble on the loop, I think he's muscling a lot here
  • Jump, jump, jump, jump...that's awesome, but this is a crucial off-season to start adding some artistry and substance if he wants to make it to the Olympics
  (TES) + (PCS)= 135.81
   (SP) + (FS) = 212.47

18) Armin Mahbanoozadeh
  Music: Kill Bill

  • UR Quad toe and a fall, but I appreciate that he's trying it
  • I still don't like the costume, but it's an improvement
  • Eeked out that 3a, don't know how he saved it!
  • This costume is lacking in excitement for me, the music has nice ups and downs, but this is a little flat for me, performance-wise
  • Strong finish after a little bit of a rough start

  (TES) + (PCS)=
   (SP) + (FS) =

19) Adam Rippon
  Music:
  (TES) + (PCS)=
   (SP) + (FS) =

20) Jeremy Abbott
  Music:
  (TES) + (PCS)=
   (SP) + (FS) =

Saturday, January 28, 2012

2012 US Figure Skating Championships: Senior Pairs Free Skate LIVE Coverage

1) Rita Fehr & Peter Biver
  Music:
   (TES) + (PCS) = 53.68
   31.37 (SP) + (FS) = 85.05

2) Kloe Chanel Bautista & Tyler Harris
  Music:
  • A lot of speed traveling across the ice
  • Nice lift positions, she reminds me of Melissa Bulanhagui
  • Great side by side jump sequence
  • We had some wipeouts on both throws unfortunately
  • Some serious unison issues on those spins
  • Strong finish, but a lot of issues on some important elements
  42.96 (TES) + 39.60 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 80.56
   42.16 (SP) + 80.56 (FS) = 122.72

3) Cassie Andrews & Timothy LeDuc
  Music: Carmen
  • Oy vey Carmen, here we go
  • So much speed right now, awesome energy out of the gate
  • She falls on the triple sal
  • No height at all on the throw, she flipped forward, didn't stop the landing
  • I get nervous for the lifts when the teams start by making mistakes 
  • Some pretty major unison issues on the spins, though I know that's one of the most difficult things in pairs skating
  • Oh he just slipped on that rotational lift, that was scary
  • They are losing control of this performance
  • I think they need to slow it down and solidify their basics
  41.65 (TES) + 42.52 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 83.17
   45.35 (SP) + 83.17 (FS) = 128.52

4) Tiffany Vise & Don Baldwin
  Music: Legends of the Fall, Time to Say Goodbye
  • Gorgeous music for a very mature couple
  • Very hard crash on that split twist, should've stuck with a double
  • Stumble out of the throw
  • She doubles the the side by side jump
  • Everything is muscled here, nothing looks easy, which it should as well trained as they are
  • This whole program looks unstable to me
  • Now there was a gorgeous throw
  • Lovely side by side spins
  • Not a good performance from them overall, unfortunate really because I've seen this done well before
   51.24 (TES) + 45.08 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 95.32
   45.65 (SP) + 95.32 (FS) = 140.97

5) Felicia Zhang & Nathan Bartholomay
  Music: Concierto de Aranjuez
  • I love these costumes right now
  • Fantastic speed
  • Nice split twist, a little hiccup on landing, but good otherwise
  • Slight unison hiccup, but great side by side 3ts
  • They seem well matched, good pacing
  • 2a sequence, very sharp
  • Coach is going crazy off to the side
  • She has grown a lit and her long limbs make some nice positions in the lifts
  • Good spin unison there, lacking in some speed, but that will come with experience
  • They are doing more of an understated interpretation of this music, but I like it nonetheless
  • Really smooth, clean throw 3s
  • Hand down on that 2nd throw, but that's the only flaw of this piece thus far
  • I really like them together, they are well-matched in their performance qualities
  • Nice job on that carry lift on the crescendo
  • I'd like a lower death spiral position
  • She is really giving it to the audience on this program, great way to say "we don't belong in this group"
   59.07 (TES) + 47.93 (PCS) = 107.00
   49.57 (SP) + 107.00 (FS) = 156.57

6) Alexa Scimeca & Ivan Dmitrov
  Music: Unstoppable
  • A lot of flashy footwork into that split twist, crash landing
  • Oh no, she puts hand down, he falls
  • Big throw 3f, two-footed, very stifled landing
  • They seem to have a little bit too much speed to contain
  • A lot of snow flying on that lasso lift, seemed short a few rotations
  • They just seem a bit awkward on their timing today, that stop during the music change was a little weird
  • Oh she just totally bailed on that jump, she looked very uneasy on that jump
  • Impressive to go up into that carry lift after such a rough jumping pass
  • They're going to want this one back
  • Oh goodness, she practically landed on her knees in that 2nd throw
  • Those lifts look wild, they are really scaring me, I'm glad nobody got hurt in that program
  41.65 (TES) + 41.04 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 80.69
   51.93 (SP) + 80.69 (FS) = 132.62

7) Ashley Cain & Joshua Reagan
  Music: Dr. Zhivago
  • This is a beauty of a piece of music for a lovely pair
  • Lovely air position in that lift, very strong carry
  • They are so well matched, they look like siblings
  • Very nice jumping passes
  • What happened to them doing their jumps at the end of the program?
  • A little slow in the spins, but fantastic unison
  • I appreciate how well they complement one another
  • Very slow across the ice on that spiral, let's pick up some speed here to fire up the second half
  • Beautiful throw triple salchow
  • They are fantastic if they will just STAY TOGETHER!
  • They have fantastic basics that they can build upon
   59.50 (TES) + 54.11 (PCS) = 113.61
   53.04 (SP) + 113.61 (FS) = 166.65

8) Gretchen Donlan & Andrew Speroff
  Music: Sleeping Beauty
  • They are such romantic skaters, very elegant and balletic, so this piece fits them perfectly
  • Those lifts do not even look hard for them at all, she's such a tiny little pixie
  • She's practically the same height as him when he's on his knee
  • Slight unison issues on the jumping passes, she singles the axel
  • Beautiful subtle arm movements in the lifts
  • Fantastic arch in the back on the death spiral
  • Gorgeous throws, gorgeous elements, fantastic potential, add some difficulty and they're there!
  • What a nice button on the end, like a beautiful pas de deux
  56.98 (TES) + 56.86 (PCS) = 113.84
   57.77 (SP) + (FS) = 171.61

9) Andrea Poapst & Chris Knierim
  Music: Swan Lake
  • Here's another beautiful ballet couple, 3 in a row
  • The height on that throw is gigantic, Sappenfield knows how to teach those
  • Hand down on the throw 3s, still a lovely position
  • Great smooth position shifts in that lift, a little stiff on her part
  • I like that spin sequence and where it falls on the music
  • Another hand down on the other throw, but amazing job saving from a fall
  • I love the placement of that lift on the big music shift
  • I normally hate alternate death spiral positions, but hers was actually nice
  57.76 (TES) + 55.19 (PCS) = 112.96
   53.43 (SP) + 112.96 (FS) = 166.38

10) Marissa Castelli & Simon Shnapnir
  Music:
  • A little messy on the landing on the split twist
  • Wiped out on the landing for Simon on that jump, couldn't control it
  • She has so much trust in those lifts, she says she can see into the 2nd tier of the arena
  • Nearly landed that throw 3a, just a turn out of it
  • I want her to stretch out that open position, really cool positions up there
  • He struggles on his jumps and today is no exception
  • Slightly off center in that pair spin today
  • Huge height on that throw 3sal, nice landing on the crescendo
  • Interesting death spiral position, I'm not sure if I liked it or not
  • Wonderful stretch in that carry lift
  54.83 (TES) + 55.42 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 108.26
   60.56 (SP) + (FS) = 168.81

11) Caydee Denney & John Coughlin
  Music: Nessun Dorma
  • That eyeshadow is just bad
  • That split twist lacked the usual punch, it was like in slow motion
  • That throw 3lo was a little stifled, abrupt, no glide out
  • SBS 3ts, just a tad out of sync
  • Good spins, I could hear John calling them to switch positions
  • I'm a little bit bored by this for a team that's supposed to be really "explosive"
  • The lifts have impressive positions, but none of them really achieve the full extension
  • Nice posture on that throw 3f, good strong back
  • That final carry lift is pretty spectacular, such great ice coverage, such excitement
  65.33 (TES) + 63.49 (PCS) = 128.82
   60.88 (SP) + 128.82 (FS) = 189.70

12) Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig
  Music: Daphnis et Chloe
  • The costumes are gorgeous, I love this program
  • Nice clean landing on the split twist
  • Two-foot on the jump landing, probably the best she is going to do
  • Turn out of the triple lutz, they're giving it away here
  • She just went down on the 2a, this is not going to happen
  • The lifts are obviously fantastic
  • Gorgeous throw
  • She needs to maybe go to a sports psychologist, just to find the grit and strength within to compete hard
  • This is just really anti-climactic for me, as much as I loved these programs on the Grand Prix
   59.10 (TES) + 59.61 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 117.71
   61.27 (SP) + 117.71 (FS) = 178.98

13) Mary Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker
  Music:
  • I love his costume, the little pink underneath is great
  • Very quick off the top
  • Rockne, come on, get those jumps going
  • Very crashy on that split 3twist, but good height
  • Turn out of the 2a, but landed nonetheless
  • A little unison issue on the spins, but good positions
  • They are losing me here a little in the middle 
  • Fantastic throw 3lz, she looked fantastic on that
  • She looks lovely in those lifts, her posture is lovely
  • They both have pretty nice spiral positions
  • She looks great out there, very comfortable, so much more than last year
  • I'm just so impressed by Mary Beth Marley right now
  • She eeked out that last throw
  60.27 (TES) + 61.00 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 120.27
   65.80 (SP) + 120.27 (FS) = 186.07


Start No.NameShort ProgramFree SkateTotal Score
PlaceScorePlaceScore
111Caydee Denney, Broadmoor SC
John Coughlin, KS City FSC
360.881128.82189.70
213Mary Beth Marley, DuPage FSC
Rockne Brubaker, All Year FSC
165.802120.27186.07
312Amanda Evora, Southwest FL FSC
Mark Ladwig, Red River Valley FSC
261.273117.71178.98
48Gretchen Donlan, SC Of Boston
Andrew Speroff, SC Of Boston
557.774113.84171.61
510Marissa Castelli, SC Of Boston
Simon Shnapir, SC Of Boston
460.567108.25168.81
67Ashley Cain, Stars FSC of TX
Joshua Reagan, Stars FSC of TX
753.045113.61166.65
79Andrea Poapst, Broadmoor SC
Christopher Knierim, Broadmoor SC
653.436112.95166.38
85Felicia Zhang, SC of NY
Nathan Bartholomay, University of DE FSC
949.578107.00156.57
94Tiffany Vise, Broadmoor SC
Don Baldwin, Los Angeles FSC
1045.65995.32140.97
106Alexa Scimeca, DuPage FSC
Ivan Dimitrov, Individual Member
851.931180.69132.62
113Cassie Andrews, IN World Sk Acad FSC
Timothy LeDuc, Eastern IA FSC
1145.351083.17128.52
122Kloe Chanel Bautista, All Year FSC
Tyler Harris, SC Of Boston
1242.161280.56122.72
131Rita Fehr, Eau Claire FSC
Peter Biver, St. Paul FSC
1331.371353.6885.05