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Home video of Alexei and Valeria from today's taping:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...UYCQ&feature=channel_page

Looks like a cool number!

Laurie

If someone will help out on country codes, I think we can vote by SMS or phone.

From the Channel One site:

http://www.1tv.ru/ice2/pr=11041&pi=11354

(Alexei and Valeria are couple number 06)

>>
But begins the main voting for the champion of the project. Send the number of the dear pair for whom you want to vote to the short number for the SMS-communications in the territory RF; 7777 (for the countries of the CIS - 7069) or you ring on the telephone 0718 (number of pair)

We accept votes in favor of the pairs and their coaches 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
>>

Laurie

Okay, I have to go to bed now since I'm getting up verrry early to give myself plenty of time to inch to work on icy, treacherous roads, LOL, but here are a few more tidbits I've been able to glean:

Apparently, the lone 5.9 Alexei and Valeria got on their Zemfira program came because one judge (not Tatiana or Anton) dinged them in artistic impression because Valeria's blouse came apart. Great. So you punish the skaters because of a costume malfunction. Alexei was okay with it, though, and saying that the judges were entitled to their opinions.

When they asked the pairs which other pairs they were rooting for or who they thought would win, Alexei's response was that the winner would be "figure skating." Exactly right! I still think it's just so cool that Russia has not only one, but two ice skating shows being broadcasted on prime time TV. That's got to inspire kids to take up the sport and maybe turn into future champions.

And Alexei and Valeria did perform "Parisienne Walkways" for the gala - the pairs got to choose their favorite program and that's the one they chose. Nice holiday theme, too!

Laurie

The Channel One site videos are up for today's broadcast.

http://www.1tv.ru/ice2/

(This is the broadcast of the final competitive programs - next Saturday will be the gala, and then for New Year's they will broadcast the partner switch show.)

...and White Crow has started uploading hers to youtube:

Babenko/Kostomarov, Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/wa...&feature=channel_page

Babenko/Kostomarov, Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/wa...&feature=channel_page

Slutskaya/Taranda, Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/wa...&feature=channel_page


Laurie

Thanks, Kasey!

I loved Alexei and Valeria's number - loved the music, thought the costumes were cool (with or without a costume malfunction), and most of all I loved the skating and the whole look of the program. That was a 12.00 performance all the way - stupid judge! You can see how important it was to Alexei to do well in the finals (no competitive fire in this guy - no, not at all ), and he looked a bit depressed at the 5.9, but snapped out of it quickly enough, and was very gracious in the after skate interview. I thought Valeria looked lovely and was totally composed about the problem with the costume - didn't let it rattle her at all. Good job!

I guess I'm starting to understand Russian more and more while watching this show, LOL - I'm picking up all the superlatives in the evaluations. Of course, when the words have Latin roots that makes it easier, LOL.

Hey, I didn't think Friske & Novikov's program was bad at all. I liked it! I thought it was fun and cheeky, and pretty much a typical example of this couple's strengths.

Laurie

Ice Age broadcast, December 20th - The Finale

This was the last competitive program - next week we will see the gala, and then following that the partner switch show. They should announce the winners of the competition at the gala, unless we get lucky and they tape the podium presentations at the partner switch taping, LOL.

Best as I understand it, the winners will be determined by a combination of the judges' marks and audience votes (about 50-50), so the audience better get to voting if they want to have a stake in the podium.

As a finale, it was pretty good! There was no theme - or rather, the pairs got to choose their own theme. And that worked out fine, LOL. There were some excellent choices, and I even recognized some of the music, LOL.

Marat and Anastasia are once again dressed very decorously - Marat in a white suit and Anastasia in an elegant silver dress. Very pretty, but I still prefer her in jewel tones - she's a winter, don't ya know.

For once I recognize more of the judges than just Tatiana and Anton, LOL. This time there is Larissa Verbitskaya (from last year's show - she partnered with Povilas), and Ivan Urgant, comedian extraordinaire, who pretty much had Tatiana and the audience and the competitors in stitches, LOL. The final judge was an actor - I'm presuming, I don't know - but I'll always remember him as "that guy" who gave Alexei and Valeria the 5.9 in the finale - boo! I'll say one thing for Anton - he never wavered in his support and admiration - always 6.0/6.0 for Alexei and Valeria, no matter what. I think he had the right idea - even if they made a mistake, they were starting from a higher level. Tatiana is, well, stricter, LOL. But that's probably why she's an excellent coach - gives folks a difficult standard to try and reach.

Babenko/Kostomarov - skating to what sounded like ethnic Russian folk music and dressed as common folk. Sitting at a table, arguing over drink, then they skate together. Lively, dancey music, lively, dancey program - some nice and interesting lifts, as is usual with this pair. I didn't really think it was worthy of the finale (I think this couple has come up with better, more striking performances), but, on the other hand, this is an alien culture to me and it might have meant a lot more to the people seeing/hearing it, LOL. Marks: 12.00.

At the commercial break, the NY Channel One affiliate is showing an ad for the "Ice Age" show in Atlantic City - I'm happy, LOL!

Slutskaya/Taranda - skating to solemn and serious, but very pretty music, Irina wearing a gorgeous, filmy aqua dress and Gedimidas in formal white shirt/black pants. They skate it serious and straight, just the way I like it. Irina does a beautiful double axel at the beginning, smooth as silk. Very nice, elegant number that I enjoyed much more than their "Swan Lake" parody. Okay, maybe there were some slight hesitations by Taranda, and the judges dinged them. Or maybe they just weren't that impressed, LOL. Bah! Marks:

60 59 59 59 59
60 60 59 59 60 - total: 11.88

Friske/Novikov - skating to Duffy's "Mercy" - very cool music! - and wearing beach attire, LOL - Zhanna in a black and pink bathing suit, complete with swim cap, Novikov looking delectable in crisp blue and white tank top and shorts. He's the lifeguard. He "saves" Zhanna from drowning, and off they go. I liked this! I loved the music and thought the concept was fun and campy. Judges not quite as impressed, LOL. Marks:

60 59 59 59 59
60 60 60 60 60 - total: 11.92

Lobacheva/Shevelkov - skating to Christina Aguilera's "The Right Man" with Irina in a beautiful satin rose dress and Shevelkov in a shiny gray suit. Another pretty program from these two, Irina showing off her usual beautiful positions and extension. Judges are kinder than usual, LOL, and I'm pleased. Marks:

60 59 59 59 60
60 60 59 60 60 - total: 11.92

Drobiazko/Miller - skating to music I don't know, but it seems dramatic, somber, and Russian, and both of them are in all black, which looked very cool and striking. Starts off with the usual dark melodrama, LOL, Miller sprawled on a chair with a gun in his hand, Drobiazko across the table, with her head resting on the table. I'm not sure if we are seeing the end of the storyline or the beginning, since it looked like the ending was with them both dead. In any case, Miller goes over to her, picks her up, and they dance together. Cool lifts - lovely, emotional - the usual excellent Drobiazko/Miller program. I'm happy. And so is Zhulin, who seems exceptionally cheerful and animated throughout this broadcast. I'm guessing with all of his full time coaching work and his choreographing for this show, he's feeling pretty relieved to have the end in sight. Marks: 12.00.

Alexei and Valeria - skating to the wonderful Zemfira's "Tsvetaeva" tango, with Valeria wearing a white, asymetrical, kind of tattered looking blouse, red and black plaid skirt, white patterned tights, very pretty make-up, and Alexei in a white shirt/black pants, black tie, and suspenders for his gun holster (not sure what that was about - off duty cop?). They are sitting at a table, Alexei dozing off with a book in his hands (which is probably by Marina Tsvetaeva). Valeria sees that he is sleeping and kicks him, grabs the book, like he's not worthy to be reading it if puts him to sleep. They skate together, lots of SBS moves, dancey steps, a kick lift, then a split on the ice move, more dance moves, mirror moves, very close in dance steps - very tricky! - Valeria hooks her leg around Alexei's, then more SBS moves, mirror circles, swing around lift, then back to the table. Wow - really nice number! Add this one to my continually getting longer list of favorites, and put it at the top. One of their very best numbers, just full of exceptional skating and with a great connection between the two of them. It's been fun watching the programs from both Averbukh and Zhulin, with their different approaches and sensibilities, but I honestly think Zhulin has the best "feel" for this couple and what they can do. And, really, Valeria's blouse coming apart halfway through the program didn't disrupt the performance at all - it's not like you got to see anything or anything untoward was revealed - the blouse just looked slightly more tattered than when they began. And they continue to be cute and charming together in the profile and after skate interview, and Alexei's interaction with Tatiana is always fun to watch. Marks:

60 60 60 60 60
60 60 60 60 59 - total: 11.98

Petrova/Tszyu - skating to Bruno Pelletier's "Dracula" in French and dressed for the parts, LOL. There is a large cross on the stage. Petrova, dressed in a pretty and interesting sapphire blue/plum/red dress is praying, holding a cross. "Dracula" is dressed as, well, Dracula, LOL - black suit, red cravat, red around the eyes, bloodless lips, LOL. He approaches her, she points the cross at him - he flinches away. She puts the cross down and they dance together. Cool number, maybe some slight hesitations by Tszyu. At the end, she stabs him with the cross. Ah, these light-hearted show numbers. Well, I liked it. Judges not so much. (sniff) Marks:

59 59 58 59 60
60 60 59 60 60 - total: 11.88

Arntgolts/Staviski - skating to Handel's gorgeous "Sarabande" with Tanya in a beautiful apricot dress, Maxim in a gray suit. They are praying. They get up and dance together. Passionate, beautiful, emotional number, with their always cool lifts and moves - Arntgolts is fearless, LOL. Excellent! And the judges agree. Marks: 12.00.

Now we have the "Time" news program. I didn't watch it this time - fixed a quick dinner instead, LOL.

Back to the show...

Gordeeva/Beroev - skating to Tchaikovsky music, have no idea what, but it was nice whatever it was. They start off as part of the audience at a Tchaikovsky concert. Egor is sitting behind Katia, playing common folk in a plaid shirt/dark pants. Katia is the prim and proper experienced classical music concert attendee, wearing a pretty and elegant white blouse, cute and fashionable black and white checked skirt. He taps the lady on the shoulder to ask about the program - their eyes meet and lock together. The music starts and he's drawn out onto the "stage" - he invites the lady to join him. They dance together - Katia with her usual light touch, perfect expression for the number, Egor doing an able job of playing the country bumpkin falling in love. At the end, they get embarrassed at being caught out on the "stage" and scurry back into the audience. Charming, sweet number, full of difficult tricks and moves, even a throw jump along with those overhead lifts. I liked it a lot, and this couple has truly gelled and come into their own. Marks: 12.00.

Strizhenova/Tikhonov - skating to ABBA's "Winner Takes It All," with Strizhenova wearing a sapphire blue sweater, satin skirt, and Tikhonov in a purple sweater, dark blue pants. They are hanging a poster together - college students? Young workers? Storyline kind of reminiscent of a similar one he did with Grebenshikova last year. Very sweet and romantic number, with Tikhonov's able partnering, but Strizhenova takes a fall and it's reflected in the judges' marks. Marks:

60 59 58 59 59
60 60 59 59 60 - total: 11.86

Alferova/Vanagas - skating to something engaging by Zemfira (and I thank Alexei and Valeria for introducing me to this most excellent singer, LOL) and both in casual white shirts/blue jeans. They are lying on a bench, then get up to skate together. Romantic, pretty number, full of their usual cool moves. I like Xenia's ease on the ice and her expression, Povilas is just plain excellent. Judges don't seem quite as impressed as I am. Well, okay, probably it was not their best work, maybe not quite worthy for a finale. But I think all of the couples played it a little safer this time, wanting or needing the marks. Marks:

60 60 59 59 59
60 60 60 60 60 - total: 11.94

Navka/Kolganov - skating to something Russian, ethnic, folk dancish - Navka in a pretty brown/rose and white folk dress, Kolganov dressed in a brown vest, cream shirt, brown striped pants. It's a very lively, dancey, musical program, starting off in a little house with a window, Kolganov gets pushed out the window and Navka eventually follows him - looks like a kiss-and-make-up skate where they start off squabbling but happily get together. I don't know. It was good. It was. But I think these kinds of numbers are mostly just lost on me. I don't have the tradition with the music or the theme, and so I just end up shaking my head slightly at the enthusiasm they are greeted with by both the judges and the audience. Ah, well. Marks: 12.00.

Well, that was the finale! All the judging is over with, and the results will be a combination of the marks and audience votes, and we will have to wait in suspense a little longer before we find out. Argh!

As a competition, I think it was a superb year. Most of the couples improved and continued to show surprising mastery of more and more difficult elements. I never would have believed that they could do it. Obviously, a tremendous amount of hours and work have gone into reaching this height. Bravo to all of them!

As a show, it has been unbeatable entertainment. I simply thank my lucky stars that I have been able to enjoy this spectacle, week after week after week. I am going to be truly sad when the show is finally over.

Laurie

Jeez - I thought their energy was perfectly fine, LOL. According to the observers at the taping, he also mentioned the costume malfunction, but they might have cut that out of the broadcast. I'm not surprised when the observers are furious/elated over something that happens or is said at the taping that never makes it to the TV screen, LOL.

Laurie