Canadians love ice skating and hockey, they're in our blood. The Great White North is a nation that spends a quarter of its year shivering, enduring bone-rattling frigid temperatures, blustery snow, ice...the works. To keep our sanity, we need sports like skating & hockey that embrace that chill. With such a robust winter sports heritage it's actually surprising that not one Canadian TV genius thought of producing something as entertaining as 'Battle of the Blades' sooner. Better late than never! Step up to the winners' podium, CBC!
Two weeks ago, the CBC debuted this reality/competition extravaganza, matching Canadian & World Champion female pairs skaters with grizzled National Hockey League vets. Before this series took to the ice, I don't think anyone with any sports knowledge could picture tough guys, Tie Domi or Bob Probert on figure skates gracefully lifting *anything*, spare the Stanley Cup, high into the air. Now these hockey stars are orchestrating death spirals and overhead lifts with (almost) the greatest of ease. The resulting program is downright addictive! Is it any wonder that it's grabbing ratings gold on Sunday & Monday nights?! It's like that cute movie, 'The Cutting Edge' -- come to life...only BETTER.
I grew up watching these hockey greats play in the NHL. I collected (and still have) their hockey cards, autographs... heck, some of them I even got to meet (note to my sister: no, I won't air your Ron Duguay story or photo on the blog!) -- so to see them come to terms with toe picks & satiny skating costumes, and perform like ACTUAL *REAL* pairs figure skaters is a homegrown treat that is very long overdue.
Critics might grumble that it's all a bit 'So You Think You Can Dance' on ice, or that the Brits actually dreamed up the idea first with their 'Dancing on Ice' glitterfest -- but the beauty in the Canadian version is the marriage of ice skating and our beloved NHL stars. It's not just any ol' C-list celeb sliding around out there.... it's our hockey heroes. It's our heart and soul. And you can't get more Canadian than that.
Top marks, CBC! 10.0
6 comments:
ooohhh! now that looks interesting! I'll have to keep an eye out for it...
I was going to point out Dancing on Ice, but that stole from Strictly Come Dancing, which inspired DWTS and So You Think You Can Dance. Basically, none are original. The ice hockey twist is a good idea.
It's pure genius. I love it but then you all knew that already!
Just realized that Tie Domi's official Facebook page has a link to my "Blades" blog post. :)
Made my night!
Hi to all Tie fans who happen to stop by!
So I caught and episode on You Tube and I thought it was fabulous! to see all those tough guys doing something different was great. I like it better than all the other shows because they are doing it for a charity!
Congrats on Tie Domi's link to your blog...that's awesome!
Haven't watched the show yet...will have to check it out.
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