|
|
|
Kurt Browning faces off with Jamie Sale in TV's Battle of the Blades
The men's figure skating champ joked viewers can expect a catfight when the two athletes start voicing their opinions on the weekly reality series
| Source: |
Vancouver Sun |
| Date: |
September 23, 2013 |
| Author: |
Cassandra Szklarski |
TORONTO - Kurt Browning says he expects to butt heads with skater
Jamie Sale when the two join the judging panel of CBC-TV's "Battle of
the Blades."
The men's figure skating champ joked viewers can expect a catfight
when the two athletes start voicing their opinions on the weekly
reality series.
Browning and Sale join CBC commentator and former "Blades" competitor
P.J. Stock on a revamped judging panel, while former judge Sandra
Bezic will help create weekly themes and choreography.
Hosted by Ron MacLean, the campy skating competition pairs former
hockey players with figure skaters for weekly on-ice dance
routines. The winning team gets a $100,000 donation to the charity of
their choice.
This year's contenders include Anson Carter, Mathieu Dandenault, Mike
Krushelnyski, Vladimir Malakhov, Grant Marshall, Brian Savage, Jason
Strudwick and Scott Thornton.
The first battle takes place Sunday on CBC-TV.
"I'm very nervous about it," Browning admitted of his shift to the
judging panel after serving as co-host the last three seasons.
"I woke up twice in the middle of the night thinking about my new role
as judge so I'm full of respect for all the hard work that they do and
I really want to do a good job."
He said he's practising his judging skills with Sale and Stock to be
sure they are all working from the same page.
"We do need, as the judges, to be a team," he said. "But you know,
we're individuals and Jamie and I are going to fight, I know
it."
This year's format condenses the performance and elimination rounds
into one night instead of two.
MacLean explained that viewers will have until Tuesday night at
midnight to vote on Sunday's performances, thereby establishing the
bottom two for the following week. Those teams would then face a
"skate off" at the end of Sunday's show, with the judges deciding who
will be iced.
Judges have the chance to save one team during the season.
Bezic described this season's hockey contenders as an especially
"physical group." Expect to see some lifts in the first
battle.
"They're very athletic, our men are big - they're all over six feet
and very fit, very physical," said Bezic. "Each season has a different
spirit and I think this one, again, will be very unique. Very
competitive, very fit."
The female competitors include Shae-Lynn Bourne, Marie-France
Dubreuil, Oksana Kazakova, Violetta Afanasieva, Jessica Dube, Amanda
Evora, Marcy Hinzmann and Sinead Kerr.
The hulking Dandenault towered over his partner Dubreuil during a
round of interviews Monday, admitting he is trying to work on his
"romantic side for the dancing."
"That's the one issue I think we're all having - we're supposed to be
hard and tough but now you have to come out so smooth and to enjoy and
be in the moment with your partner," said Dandenault, a three-time
Stanley Cup champ with the Detroit Red Wings who retired with the
Montreal Canadiens in 2010.
Dubreuil said Sunday's inaugural performance will be rock'n'roll
themed, with lifts and spins from her and Dandenault. They are skating
for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Montreal Canadiens
Children's Foundation.
"He's a strong man and I'm a small woman so I think we make it work,"
quipped Dubreuil, who famously suffered a bad fall onto her head while
rehearsing for Season 1.
Dandenault said he was determined to make sure their routines are
safe.
"It's concrete, pretty much, and you want to be careful in all the
lifts and everything," he said.
As for their chances at the title, Dubreuil expected to have a tough
road ahead with the new judges: "They're all pretty good skaters so I
think the judging will be pretty severe.
"I think they're going to be picky."
|
|
|
|
|
