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The World's Greatest Pro Figure Skaters Compete Live On "THIN ICE," Airing Over Two Nights In March 2010 On ABC
Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Kurt Browning Co-Host; Kristi Yamaguchi and Dick Button Are Among the Judges
| Source: |
Reality TV Website |
| Date: |
November 30, 2009 |
Emmy Award-winning talk show host Elisabeth Hasselbeck ("The View")
and Kurt Browning, four-time world champion Canadian figure skater,
co-host "Thin Ice," a new competition for the world's greatest pro
figure skaters, live from the MGM Grand at Foxwoods (Connecticut),
airing Friday, March 19 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) and Sunday, March 21
(7:00-8:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
The lineup was announced by Joseph C. Jimenez, senior vice present,
Foxwoods Resort Casino and Terry O'Neil, CEO, O'Neil
Entertainment. Two of the judges will be Kristi Yamaguchi, 1992
Olympic gold medalist and Season Six champ of "Dancing with the
Stars," and Dick Button, two-time Olympic gold medalist and the voice
of figure skating on American television for 45 years. The judging
will be split between viewer votes on www.abc.com (50%) and a panel of
judges (50%). Confirmed competitors so far include:
Shizuka Arakawa, Japan, 2006 Olympic gold medalist
Shae-Lynn Bourne, Canada, 2003 World Champion
In total, 12 competitors will come from four skating disciplines --
ladies, men, pairs and dance -- and the competitors will be paired as
six couples. No pairs or dance skater will be coupled with his or her
current partner. Skating programs will be limited to two minutes. "In
the Olympic Games," said O'Neil, "there are more than 300 pages of
rules and regulations. In 'Thin Ice,' the entire judging criteria are
summarized in two words -- entertain us. And the viewer-vote is a
wonderful interactive feature. After years of controversial scoring,
we can finally say to the television viewer: this time you judge the
skaters."
Competition will be staged in the Premier Ballroom of the MGM Grand at
Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. At 50,000 square feet of unobstructed
space, it is the largest column-free ballroom in the northeast
U.S. "It will be a remarkable setting," said Mr. Jimenez. "We'll build
an ice rink 75'x140' and still have room for 3,000 spectators. The
room will have great ambience, and elegant chandeliers hang from a
26-foot ceiling. Spectator seating will be darkened to give the feel
of a cabaret or nightclub."
Prize money for the event totals $250,000:
1st Place - $60,000 per couple
2nd Place - $50,000 per couple
3rd Place - $45,000 per couple
4th Place - $35,000 per couple
5th Place - $30,000 per couple
6th Place - $30,000 per couple
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