The best skaters in the world are in Montreal this week to compete in the 2024 World Figure Skating Championships. The action will get underway on Wednesday, March 20 at 12 noon Et with the pairs’ short program. Two-time United States champion Ilia Malinin will highlight the men’s singles competition while U.S. champion Amber Glenn will lead the women’s singles field. The competition runs through Sunday, Peacock will provide coverage of every skater in every discipline while USA Network and NBC will pick up select events as well. You can watch USA Network and NBC with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. You can also watch with Sling TV, Hulu Live TV, Fubo, Peacock, or YouTube TV.
How to Watch 2024 World Figure Skating Championships When: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 12:00 Pm Edt TV: USA Network, NBC Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. 5-Day Free Trial$79.99+ / month directv.
How to Watch 2024 World Figure Skating Championships When: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 12:00 Pm Edt TV: USA Network, NBC Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. 5-Day Free Trial$79.99+ / month directv.
- 3/20/2024
- by Matt Tamanini
- The Streamable
Want the inside scoop on your favorite figure skaters from Winter Olympics past and present? We’ve got you covered.
People spoke to some of the biggest names in skating for its new special edition, The Best of Olympic Figure Skating.
“I am really bringing out my inner Kristi Yamaguchi here — or at least trying to,” Karen Chen, who will compete at the Olympics for the first time next month in South Korea, tells People.
Both Chen and her hero/mentor Yamaguchi, who brought home gold in 1992, are among the top skaters featured in a new special edition. Inside are interviews scores of skaters,...
People spoke to some of the biggest names in skating for its new special edition, The Best of Olympic Figure Skating.
“I am really bringing out my inner Kristi Yamaguchi here — or at least trying to,” Karen Chen, who will compete at the Olympics for the first time next month in South Korea, tells People.
Both Chen and her hero/mentor Yamaguchi, who brought home gold in 1992, are among the top skaters featured in a new special edition. Inside are interviews scores of skaters,...
- 1/26/2018
- by Christina Butan
- PEOPLE.com
Not many people get to watch a biopic and be surprised when they see something on screen that happened when they were in the room. For announcer Al Michaels, watching the Tonya Harding movie “I, Tonya” brought back a vivid memory from 27 years ago.
At the Television Critics Association press tour this week, promoting the upcoming Super Bowl Lii on NBC, Michaels took a quick moment to reflect about being present for Harding’s landmark triple axel jump that features prominently in the film.
“I was watching ‘I, Tonya’ the other night. I’d forgotten I’d announced the triple axel at the Target Center in 1991,” Michaels said. “I’m going, ‘Wait a second. I did that!’ Then I went on YouTube and YouTube has the actual call. It brought back the memory of doing it with Peggy Fleming and Dick Button.”
Sure enough, here’s the original moment, in its full VHS glory:
Michaels,...
At the Television Critics Association press tour this week, promoting the upcoming Super Bowl Lii on NBC, Michaels took a quick moment to reflect about being present for Harding’s landmark triple axel jump that features prominently in the film.
“I was watching ‘I, Tonya’ the other night. I’d forgotten I’d announced the triple axel at the Target Center in 1991,” Michaels said. “I’m going, ‘Wait a second. I did that!’ Then I went on YouTube and YouTube has the actual call. It brought back the memory of doing it with Peggy Fleming and Dick Button.”
Sure enough, here’s the original moment, in its full VHS glory:
Michaels,...
- 1/11/2018
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Portraying Tonya Harding required Margot Robbie to find empathy for a villianized woman, to balance comedy and pathos — and, to believably land a triple axel, the move that made Harding famous before she was infamous. However, Robbie was raised in Dalby, Australia, a coastal town where temperatures rarely go below freezing.
Now the Neon/30 West release is a specialty hit, and Robbie has become a Golden Globe and SAG Award nominee with a litany of gravity-defying onscreen spins. Credit for that transformation goes to choreographer and former Ice Capades skater Sarah Kawahara, who also served as onetime choreographer for Harding’s nemesis, Nancy Kerrigan.
Kawahara’s choreography subjects include Peggy Fleming, the 2002 Olympics opening ceremony, and Will Ferrell in “Blades of Glory.” She said the 1994 attack on Kerrigan had a huge impact on her career. “It changed the face of skating,” she told IndieWire in a recent phone interview. “All...
Now the Neon/30 West release is a specialty hit, and Robbie has become a Golden Globe and SAG Award nominee with a litany of gravity-defying onscreen spins. Credit for that transformation goes to choreographer and former Ice Capades skater Sarah Kawahara, who also served as onetime choreographer for Harding’s nemesis, Nancy Kerrigan.
Kawahara’s choreography subjects include Peggy Fleming, the 2002 Olympics opening ceremony, and Will Ferrell in “Blades of Glory.” She said the 1994 attack on Kerrigan had a huge impact on her career. “It changed the face of skating,” she told IndieWire in a recent phone interview. “All...
- 12/13/2017
- by Jenna Marotta
- Indiewire
Sometimes Mad Men would rather be murky and disturbing than fabulous, and last night's episode featured more chills and less "Chiiiiild," which is what I exclaim when fabulous Joan smirks at an underling. Peggy, Roger, Jane, and Don (no Joan or Betty in sight) spent the episode scaring us with forays into unknown worlds of seediness, trippiness, and violence. Not very glamorous, I'm afraid. But I still dredged up a handful of moments suitable for drag reenactments and exaltation.
1. Peggy knows your stupid beans better than you do.
First of all, when Peggy serves up her infuriated thug grimace, stand back. Shut up. And most importantly, don't pretend you know more than her about beans. After the Heinz exec rejected Peggy's campaign idea, the well-ascoted dame strode to the table, raised her thug jawbone in defiance, and spat, "You have to run with this! It's young! And it's beautiful! No...
1. Peggy knows your stupid beans better than you do.
First of all, when Peggy serves up her infuriated thug grimace, stand back. Shut up. And most importantly, don't pretend you know more than her about beans. After the Heinz exec rejected Peggy's campaign idea, the well-ascoted dame strode to the table, raised her thug jawbone in defiance, and spat, "You have to run with this! It's young! And it's beautiful! No...
- 4/23/2012
- by virtel
- The Backlot
Has Alec Baldwin's Jack Donaghy got network TV's weirdest and most storied sex life? His on-screen romances have been with characters played by the likes of Isabella Rossellini, Emily Mortimer and Elizabeth Banks, but his many implied off-screen entanglements include Martha and Alexis Stewart, Condoleezza Rice, Peggy Fleming and, quite possibly, Dick Cheney. And last night the "30 Rock" protag confessed to a fling with a certain Hollywood journalist and blogger with a signature phrase: In response to that "I hate to say toldja, because it reminds me of my one night stand with Nikki Finke," Finke wrote at Deadline Hollywood: "Sorry, Jack Donaghy, you’re just not my type. Because Don Draper ruined me for other men." Finke had an earlier brush with scripted TV infamy in 2010, when HBO began working on the pilot for "Tilda," in which Diane Keaton was slated to play a very Finke-like...
- 3/2/2012
- by Alison Willmore
- Indiewire
Fun on ice comes early when mom is Nancy Kerrigan — 3½-year-old daughter Nicole first donned skates when she was only 14 months old.
“She seems to like it,” the two-time Olympic medalist tells People of her daughter, who doesn’t mind wearing the black skates handed down from brothers Matthew, 16, and Brian, 6½.
Larry Zimmerman Photography
Right now Nicole is more into costume changes — Snow White and Cinderella — than doing leaps and twirls on the ice, but Kerrigan, 42, says she’s open to her daughter choosing the demanding sport.
“If that’s what she wants to do, I’m happy to help her,...
“She seems to like it,” the two-time Olympic medalist tells People of her daughter, who doesn’t mind wearing the black skates handed down from brothers Matthew, 16, and Brian, 6½.
Larry Zimmerman Photography
Right now Nicole is more into costume changes — Snow White and Cinderella — than doing leaps and twirls on the ice, but Kerrigan, 42, says she’s open to her daughter choosing the demanding sport.
“If that’s what she wants to do, I’m happy to help her,...
- 12/27/2011
- by Sarah
- People - CelebrityBabies
I get it -- the 62-year-old ice skater proved that she still has what it takes to look phenomenal in an ice skating costume -- but was the look really necessary? Due to the sheer top and granny panties, I think not! Peggy Fleming was on The View on Oct. 24 -- however, I couldn't tell you what she was talking about at all because I was too distracted by her nude and black sheer get-up! Peggy, this is daytime television not the ice skating rink! While the infamous skater is in tip top shape, I didn't think her look was appropriate. The nude bodice made it seem as if her chest was on full display, and the bottom half looked like she was exposing her granny panties! I think Peggy would've looked amazing in a streamlined sheath that was both sophisticated and chic. Not only would she have been able...
- 10/24/2011
- by Katrina
- HollywoodLife
See 5 clips from Rise as well as the poster and images from the documentary which celebrates American figure skating and commemorates the 50th anniversary and legacy of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating World Team, who lost their lives in the crash of Sabena Airlines Flight 548 on its way to the World Championships. Rise will take audiences on a powerful and uplifting journey through some of the biggest moments in the history of figure skating. Rise illustrates how the unfulfilled dreams of those who lost their lives on Flight 548 would be shared – and forever realized – by the generations of skaters that have followed. Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano and Michelle Kwan serve as storytellers...
- 2/7/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See 5 clips from Rise as well as the poster and images from the documentary which celebrates American figure skating and commemorates the 50th anniversary and legacy of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating World Team, who lost their lives in the crash of Sabena Airlines Flight 548 on its way to the World Championships. Rise will take audiences on a powerful and uplifting journey through some of the biggest moments in the history of figure skating. Rise illustrates how the unfulfilled dreams of those who lost their lives on Flight 548 would be shared – and forever realized – by the generations of skaters that have followed. Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano and Michelle Kwan serve as storytellers...
- 2/7/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Getting the right costume together for Halloween can make or break the holiday, and the same goes for Halloween-themed TV episodes. With several shows doing Halloween-themed episodes last week, we decided to take a look back at who wore what and hold our own costume contest. Here's a sample of some of our favorites. Who do you think had the best costume?
Community
... Britta (Gillian Jacobs) as an adorable T-Rex.
... Senor Chang (Ken Jeong) as Peggy Fleming (not Michelle Kwan or More >>...
Community
... Britta (Gillian Jacobs) as an adorable T-Rex.
... Senor Chang (Ken Jeong) as Peggy Fleming (not Michelle Kwan or More >>...
- 11/1/2010
- by Tim Surette
- TV.com
"Community" is getting in on the Halloween fun with a zombie episode. We've got a sneak peek here of the Halloween party, plus Gillian Jacobs talks to Zap2it's Jethro Nededog about how much of a pain in the neck her costume was.
This second preview clip shows the gang running from an army of zombies. We think another fun movie spoof episode might be in store. And who doesn't love Ken Jeong dressed as a female figure skater -- Peggy Fleming, no less.
Don't forget to watch all of NBC's Halloween fare Thursday (Oct. 28) -- "Scared Shrekless," "Community," "The Office" and "Outsourced."
Follow Zap2it and Zap2it Andrea on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.
Photo credit: NBC...
This second preview clip shows the gang running from an army of zombies. We think another fun movie spoof episode might be in store. And who doesn't love Ken Jeong dressed as a female figure skater -- Peggy Fleming, no less.
Don't forget to watch all of NBC's Halloween fare Thursday (Oct. 28) -- "Scared Shrekless," "Community," "The Office" and "Outsourced."
Follow Zap2it and Zap2it Andrea on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.
Photo credit: NBC...
- 10/28/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Something wicked this way comes—and by this way we mean at Greendale Community College, and by something we mean zombies. It’s all going down on Community’s annual Halloween episode—the plot of which series creator Dan Harmon is trying desperately to keep under wraps.
“Knowing too much about this particular plot would ruin it, but I promise it’s an awesome, one-off crazy conceptual episode with plot points and effects that are more familiar to horror film fans than our show’s fans,” Harmon revealed last Friday on the Community set. (As he was talking, a parade...
“Knowing too much about this particular plot would ruin it, but I promise it’s an awesome, one-off crazy conceptual episode with plot points and effects that are more familiar to horror film fans than our show’s fans,” Harmon revealed last Friday on the Community set. (As he was talking, a parade...
- 9/20/2010
- by EW staff
- EW - Inside TV
Peggy Fleming has opened up about the car accident she was involved in while riding in Vice President Joe Biden's motorcade on her way to the Vancouver Olympics.
In her first interview since she received minor injuries when a vehicle she was in - a vehicle that was part the motorcade - was involved in a collision over the weekend, Peggy told Access Hollywood's Billy Bush what happened.
"Well, it was an unfortunate accident," the former figure skating gold medalist told Billy in Vancouver. "We were in the motorcade and they had to come to a screeching halt ...
Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
In her first interview since she received minor injuries when a vehicle she was in - a vehicle that was part the motorcade - was involved in a collision over the weekend, Peggy told Access Hollywood's Billy Bush what happened.
"Well, it was an unfortunate accident," the former figure skating gold medalist told Billy in Vancouver. "We were in the motorcade and they had to come to a screeching halt ...
Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
- 2/17/2010
- by AccessHollywood.com Editorial Staff
- Access Hollywood - TV
Peggy Fleming has opened up about the car accident she was involved in while riding in Vice President Joe Biden's motorcade on her way to the Vancouver Olympics.
In her first interview since she received minor injuries when a vehicle she was in - a vehicle that was part the motorcade - was involved in a collision over the weekend, Peggy told Access Hollywood's Billy Bush what happened.
"Well, it was an unfortunate accident," the former figure skating gold medalist told Billy in Vancouver. "We were in the motorcade and they had to come to a screeching halt ...
Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
In her first interview since she received minor injuries when a vehicle she was in - a vehicle that was part the motorcade - was involved in a collision over the weekend, Peggy told Access Hollywood's Billy Bush what happened.
"Well, it was an unfortunate accident," the former figure skating gold medalist told Billy in Vancouver. "We were in the motorcade and they had to come to a screeching halt ...
Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
- 2/17/2010
- by AccessHollywood.com Editorial Staff
- Access Hollywood
Peggy Fleming and Vonetta Flowers were treated and released Sunday night (Feb. 14) in time to attend the night's figure skating competition in Vancouver after sustaining minor injuries in a fender bender while riding in Vice President Joe Biden's motorcade.
Fleming, who won figure skating gold in 1968, and Flowers, who won gold in the bobsled in 2002, were traveling between Olympic events in Biden's motorcade when their van war rear-ended, according to the New York Daily News. Biden was not in the van containing Fleming and Flowers.
The women were taken to the hospital as a precaution but were treated and released in time to make the figure skating competition they were on the way to, sitting in front of VP Biden when they arrived.
Glad everyone was okay!
Follow Zap2it's Dish Rag on Twitter, follow Zap2it Andrea on Twitter and follow Zap2it on Facebook and the latest...
Fleming, who won figure skating gold in 1968, and Flowers, who won gold in the bobsled in 2002, were traveling between Olympic events in Biden's motorcade when their van war rear-ended, according to the New York Daily News. Biden was not in the van containing Fleming and Flowers.
The women were taken to the hospital as a precaution but were treated and released in time to make the figure skating competition they were on the way to, sitting in front of VP Biden when they arrived.
Glad everyone was okay!
Follow Zap2it's Dish Rag on Twitter, follow Zap2it Andrea on Twitter and follow Zap2it on Facebook and the latest...
- 2/15/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Former Olympic figure skater Peggy Fleming and former bobsled champion Vonetta Flowers sustained minor injuries on Sunday during a crash involving Vice President Joe Biden's motorcade, reports Reuters.
The Vice President's limo was not involved in the crash and he continued without incident to watch the U.S. Women's Ice Hockey Team defeat China.
"Neither the Vice President nor anyone else in his party was involved in the incident," Biden's spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement.
The Vice President's limo was not involved in the crash and he continued without incident to watch the U.S. Women's Ice Hockey Team defeat China.
"Neither the Vice President nor anyone else in his party was involved in the incident," Biden's spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement.
- 2/15/2010
- Extra
The Winter Olympics will undoubtedly create a few new stars, just like they do every four years. Some previously unknown figure skater (we're looking at you, Rachael Flatt) or go-for-broke skier will turn in a breathtaking performance that, along with endless hours of TV coverage, will make him or her an instant household name.
That's all great, and it's part of the appeal of the Olympics. But the 2010 Winter Games also feature a fair number of athletes who've already made that crossover. Following in the footsteps of Dorothy Hamill, Peggy Fleming, the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" hockey team and others, these athletes have become recognizable outside the arena too -- and it turns out a couple of them are pretty fair dancers.
Here are 10 athletes whose names you probably already know.
Gretchen Bleiler: She won the silver medal in the women's halfpipe in 2006, and she's the best-known female snowboarder in the world at this point.
That's all great, and it's part of the appeal of the Olympics. But the 2010 Winter Games also feature a fair number of athletes who've already made that crossover. Following in the footsteps of Dorothy Hamill, Peggy Fleming, the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" hockey team and others, these athletes have become recognizable outside the arena too -- and it turns out a couple of them are pretty fair dancers.
Here are 10 athletes whose names you probably already know.
Gretchen Bleiler: She won the silver medal in the women's halfpipe in 2006, and she's the best-known female snowboarder in the world at this point.
- 2/9/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Amid her family tragedy, Nancy Kerrigan arrived to her family's home. In the video, Kerrigan is seen gathering her belongings and carrying what appears to be her toddler daughter into her family's Massachusetts home. Earlier Wednesday, the Massachusetts state police told "The Insider" that Kerrigan's brother Mark, who was charged with assault after his and Nancy's father Daniel died following their alleged altercation, will not be allowed to attend Daniel's funeral. The ceremony will reportedly take place on Thursday. Kerrigan's fellow figure skater Peggy Fleming tells "The Insider" about the tragedy: "It's so sad to hear what happened to Nancy's father. My heart goes out to them. She's a strong young lady, and this is a very tough time for her." Fleming goes on to say about the Kerrigans, "They all came to the events and supported Nancy throughout the years. I feel terrible for her. Time will make it a little easier.
- 1/27/2010
- by TheInsider
- TheInsider.com
By Ira Teinowitz
The lucrative world of celebrity product endorsements just got a bit trickier.
Taking aim in part at the appearance of Lauren Bacall and Peggy Fleming on NBC’s “Today” and ABC’s “Good Morning America” -- in which each endorsed a drug without revealing they were being paid by a drug company to do so -- the Federal Trade Commission Monday morning unveiled new endorsement guidelines that will take effect Dec. 1. Besides requiring celebrities to reveal any advertiser payments when they tout a product outside of traditional commercials, the new guid...
The lucrative world of celebrity product endorsements just got a bit trickier.
Taking aim in part at the appearance of Lauren Bacall and Peggy Fleming on NBC’s “Today” and ABC’s “Good Morning America” -- in which each endorsed a drug without revealing they were being paid by a drug company to do so -- the Federal Trade Commission Monday morning unveiled new endorsement guidelines that will take effect Dec. 1. Besides requiring celebrities to reveal any advertiser payments when they tout a product outside of traditional commercials, the new guid...
- 10/5/2009
- by Lew Harris
- The Wrap
This review was written for the theatrical release of "Blades of Glory". The blissfully silly "Blades of Glory" is one of those rare comedies that puts a goofy smile on your face with the premise alone -- Will Ferrell and Jon Heder playing the world's first competitive male pairs figure skaters -- and keeps it planted there right until its wacky finale.
Co-directors Will Speck and Josh Gordon, probably best known for those popular Geico caveman commercials, have made a highly agreeable feature debut capturing the energetic irreverence of early Farrelly brothers.
With Ferrell's legions of Ricky Bobby fans already primed to go along for the ride, the Paramount release should cut some glorious figures at the boxoffice for weeks to come.
Having already parodied NASCAR drivers and soccer dads, it was probably only a matter of time before Ferrell got around to skewering figure skaters, but he does it up right as Chazz Michael Michaels, a swaggering rocker on ice with grungy black hair who finds himself banned from the sport after getting into a brawl with his rival, the narcissistic but naive Jimmy MacElroy (Heder).
Stripped of their gold medals, Michaels and MacElroy are having a tough time surviving in the real world. The perpetually soused Chazz takes refuge under an evil wizard suit in a kids ice revue, while Jimmy gets a job in the shoe department of a sporting goods store.
But when a former stalker of Jimmy's (Nick Swardson) points out a loophole in the figure skating rule book, the two previous foes join forces, much to the chagrin of reigning sibling champs, the diabolical Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg (real-life husband and wife Will Arnett and Amy Poehler).
Working from an inspired script credited to brothers Jeff Cox and Craig Cox, as well as John Altschuler & Dave Krinsky ("King of the Hill"), Speck and Gordon maintain a comfortable pace while coaxing terrific performances from their game cast.
In addition to the pitch-perfect Ferrell (in a role originally meant for Ben Stiller) and no-slouch Heder (making good on that "Napoleon Dynamite" promise), the rest of the cast cuts a comic swath both on and off the ice.
Also proving to be good sports are Scott Hamilton, Sasha Cohen, Nancy Kerrigan, Brian Boitano, Dorothy Hamill and Peggy Fleming, all on hand to deflate some of the self-seriousness known to go along with the turf.
Tech aspects are uniformly smoothly executed. Montreal's Olympic Stadium and architecturally prominent Habitat '67 are captured to notable effect by cinematographer Stefan Czapsky ("Ed Wood"), while veteran costume designer Julie Weiss has truly outdone herself with all those over-the-top Lycra creations, getting a little help from the Bob Mackie, Bill Hargate and Ray Aghayan houses.
Also credit skating choreographer Sarah Kawahara for routines that are anything but routine and "American Idol" runner-up Bo Bice, who puts the right anthemic arena rock spin on the titular closing theme song.
BLADES OF GLORY
Paramount Pictures
DreamWorks Pictures presents a Red Hour/Smart Entertainment production
Credits:
Directors: Will Speck & Josh Gordon
Screenwriters: Jeff Cox & Craig Cox and John Altschuler & Dave Krinsky
Story: Craig Cox & Jeff Cox & Busy Philipps
Producers: Ben Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld, John Jacobs
Executive producer: Marty Ewing
Director of photography: Stefan Czapsky
Production designer: Stephen Lineweaver
Editor: Richard Pearson
Costume designer: Julie Weiss
Music: Theodore Shapiro
Cast:
Chazz Michael Michaels: Will Ferrell
Jimmy MacElroy: Jon Heder
Stranz Van Waldenberg: Will Arnett
Fairchild Van Waldenberg: Amy Poehler
Coach: Craig T. Nelson
Katie Van Waldenberg: Jenna Fischer
Darren MacElroy: William Fichtner
Hector: Nick Swardson
Running time -- 94 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
Co-directors Will Speck and Josh Gordon, probably best known for those popular Geico caveman commercials, have made a highly agreeable feature debut capturing the energetic irreverence of early Farrelly brothers.
With Ferrell's legions of Ricky Bobby fans already primed to go along for the ride, the Paramount release should cut some glorious figures at the boxoffice for weeks to come.
Having already parodied NASCAR drivers and soccer dads, it was probably only a matter of time before Ferrell got around to skewering figure skaters, but he does it up right as Chazz Michael Michaels, a swaggering rocker on ice with grungy black hair who finds himself banned from the sport after getting into a brawl with his rival, the narcissistic but naive Jimmy MacElroy (Heder).
Stripped of their gold medals, Michaels and MacElroy are having a tough time surviving in the real world. The perpetually soused Chazz takes refuge under an evil wizard suit in a kids ice revue, while Jimmy gets a job in the shoe department of a sporting goods store.
But when a former stalker of Jimmy's (Nick Swardson) points out a loophole in the figure skating rule book, the two previous foes join forces, much to the chagrin of reigning sibling champs, the diabolical Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg (real-life husband and wife Will Arnett and Amy Poehler).
Working from an inspired script credited to brothers Jeff Cox and Craig Cox, as well as John Altschuler & Dave Krinsky ("King of the Hill"), Speck and Gordon maintain a comfortable pace while coaxing terrific performances from their game cast.
In addition to the pitch-perfect Ferrell (in a role originally meant for Ben Stiller) and no-slouch Heder (making good on that "Napoleon Dynamite" promise), the rest of the cast cuts a comic swath both on and off the ice.
Also proving to be good sports are Scott Hamilton, Sasha Cohen, Nancy Kerrigan, Brian Boitano, Dorothy Hamill and Peggy Fleming, all on hand to deflate some of the self-seriousness known to go along with the turf.
Tech aspects are uniformly smoothly executed. Montreal's Olympic Stadium and architecturally prominent Habitat '67 are captured to notable effect by cinematographer Stefan Czapsky ("Ed Wood"), while veteran costume designer Julie Weiss has truly outdone herself with all those over-the-top Lycra creations, getting a little help from the Bob Mackie, Bill Hargate and Ray Aghayan houses.
Also credit skating choreographer Sarah Kawahara for routines that are anything but routine and "American Idol" runner-up Bo Bice, who puts the right anthemic arena rock spin on the titular closing theme song.
BLADES OF GLORY
Paramount Pictures
DreamWorks Pictures presents a Red Hour/Smart Entertainment production
Credits:
Directors: Will Speck & Josh Gordon
Screenwriters: Jeff Cox & Craig Cox and John Altschuler & Dave Krinsky
Story: Craig Cox & Jeff Cox & Busy Philipps
Producers: Ben Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld, John Jacobs
Executive producer: Marty Ewing
Director of photography: Stefan Czapsky
Production designer: Stephen Lineweaver
Editor: Richard Pearson
Costume designer: Julie Weiss
Music: Theodore Shapiro
Cast:
Chazz Michael Michaels: Will Ferrell
Jimmy MacElroy: Jon Heder
Stranz Van Waldenberg: Will Arnett
Fairchild Van Waldenberg: Amy Poehler
Coach: Craig T. Nelson
Katie Van Waldenberg: Jenna Fischer
Darren MacElroy: William Fichtner
Hector: Nick Swardson
Running time -- 94 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
- 3/30/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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