If you are Canadian, you have likely heard of CBC’s Battle of the Blades, now in its second season. The Dancing with the Stars-esque show that pairs figure skaters and hockey players instead of dancers. As both a hockey fan and a figure skating fan, I can’t believe I haven’t been watching this show since episode one of season one. When a special invitation came for me and a guest to attend a live taping of Hollywood week (my favorite!) and a special backstage tour, I jumped at the chance.
I gotta say, I was expecting way less seamless performances from the hockey players. I mean, as Valeri Bure said backstage, skating in figure skates – complete with the infamous toe-pick – is a completely different beast than skating in hockey skates. The players have a couple-day-long skating boot camp prior to filming, but the men have their athleticism on their sides, it seems, because I was super impressed with their performances.
Jamie Sale & Theo Fleury came out with a somewhat cheesy Saturday Night Fever rendition. It was flashy and sparkly, but, I mean, it was Jamie Sale. I adore her, and she can do no wrong on the ice for me. (Their score was 17.1, but I have since been told that they were week sixth’s boot off the icy island. boo. I liked them.)
Kyoko Ina & Kelly Chase were slightly adorable with their Shrek and Fiona routine, but they were kind of just meh for me. I would have picked them to go home with their 17.2 score.
Shae-Lynn Bourne & Patrice Brisebois were fabulous. I have heard that they were voted off and have come back. How is this possible? This duo will be final 2, no question. They could even win this thing. Also, they are lovely lovely people.
Katia Gordeeva & Valeri Bure blew me away with their performance. While they were skating you almost forget that Valerie is a HOCKEY PLAYER. They skated to “From Russia with Love,” which was hotter than hot, but also, slightly weird, since it was Valeri and his wife Candace Cameron Bure’s wedding song. This is the other top 2 couple, I think. They are fabulous skaters and their chemistry is through the roof.
but, then again, so is his chemistry with his beautiful wife, who was ridiculously gracious when I told her how big of a fan our writer Christine is. PS, she says hi, Christine!
Isabelle Brasseur & Todd Warriner To Wong Foo’d it up and Todd got in touch with his feminine side, only, well, he makes a seriously ugly woman. Comedy (and extra points for bravery) aside, the performance was pretty weak, but it was a crowd pleaser, for certain. And even though it was clumsy and all bumbly, I hope they stick around for a bit. I like them. A lot.
And I like Battle of the Blades. A lot too.
You can watch on Sunday and Monday nights at 8pm EST.
(skating images courtesy of CBC. All other
images courtesy of my iphone)
images courtesy of my iphone)
Is Patrice as hot in person as I think???
Okay…I was embarrassed to tell you that I follow them on twitter. And tweet them.
AND you got to MEET them?
I could cry…
Is Shae’s body as killer IRL as it looks on tv?
Was Katya there???? I have loved her since her Olympic debut and cried when Sergei died. Saw her skate solo for the first time in TO with Stars on Ice and I have a pic of her daughter when she was about 4….
*sigh*
I agree that Shae and Patrice will be in the top 2 with the Russians and I predict ValKat will win it.