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Kurt Browning: By Request
Review by Kirsten
The special opens with a bunch of Kurt's skating friends all making very nice, gushy comments about him. Here's what they said:
Sandra Bezic: "Kurt is very talented. There's nothing he can't do."
Brian Orser: "I always kind of watch him with a sense of pride because he took figure skating to a whole new level."
Isabelle Brasseur: "Somehow he always managed to go get a little bit of himself inside and put it out there no matter what style it is."
Kristi Yamaguchi: "Kurt definitely has a charisma about him. He's someone who really puts his heart into everything."
Jayne Torvill: "He works so hard. If he wants to acheive something, he keeps doing it until he gets it right."
Chris Dean: "I think Kurt has some of the best footwork in skating--if you took him to a gym and worked his upper body, he might be a dancer."
Josee Chouinard: "He always comes every year, and I'm impressed, with new steps, new tricks."
Katia Gordeeva: "He always has something very special I haven't seen from anyone else."
Shae-Lynn Bourne: "He's like a kid in so many ways and he's not afraid to behave that way, you know, he's just wild, he'll just try anything."
Lloyd Eisler: "As a package, I think he's probably the best entertainer out there right now."
Scott Hamilton: "He's brilliant; he'll do so many things. It'll make people's heads spin."
Sandra Bezic: "Combine that with incredible talent and you've got a star!"
Clips of several different Kurt performances are shown while the other skaters are gushing over him. :-) Kurt himself finally makes an appearance in front of the Kurt Browning Arena in Caroline and talks about how so much has happened to him in the last decade...for instance, that arena wasn't named after Kurt 10 years ago! He said that a lot of great things have happened to him, along with a few disappointments but overall he thinks it's "been a pretty smooth ride."
Kurt then talks about how the idea for this show came about--during a conversation in the kitchen with his parents. BTW, the clip they showed of Kurt eating breakfast with his family during this segment took place almost 10 years ago...it was originally part of Kurt's "Jump" video. :-) Kurt said that several of the moments included in this special affected not only his skating career, but the rest of his life as well.
We then see Kurt inside "his" arena in Caroline...he said that even though the arena has changed a lot in the past 20 years, many of the memories still remain. Kurt said that this was where he played hockey as a kid and where he first fell in love with skating and jumping through the air. He said the main reason why he stayed in skating was to jump. :-) Then they showed a clip of Kurt landing the first quad at 1988 Worlds--unfortunately, hardly any of the performances featured in this special were actually shown in their entirety. :-(
The next clip shown was Kurt performing "Bring Him Home" with Michael Burgess singing live at 1992 Canadian SOI. Kurt said that he thought this number was his best exhibition program at that time and that skating live to Michael's singing (along with the SOI lighting and other special effects) made that particular performance extra-special. He truly felt and believed he was Jean Valjean that night. BTW, someone should seriously consider sending a tape of this particular performance to NBC in order to show them how a skating performance to live music *should* be shot--every time they showed a closeup of Michael's singing, they split the screen in half so we wouldn't miss out on seeing any of Kurt's wonderful skating! :-)
The next performance was Kurt's 1991 Worlds LP; the reason why Kurt included it in this special was simply for the "sheer volume of triples" he landed during this program. Kurt said that both he and Viktor Petrenko were very confident going into that competition and when Kurt and his coach thought the momentum was swinging Viktor's way, they "came up with a simple plan"; to do "a program which can't be beat" which included 3 triple-triple combinations, a 3-axel 2-loop combination and a quad (which unfortunately turned into a triple.) Kurt considers himself lucky that he won that year since Viktor had also skated very well, nailed all of his jumps and the margin of victory was very close.
Next was another statement from Isabelle Brasseur saying that the most special thing about Kurt is that you can give him any type of music (hustle, cowboy, dance music) and he'll be able to come up with movements that will go with that particular kind of music. This was followed by another "Kurt Browning highlight reel." :-)
Kurt is then seen sitting by a campfire (in the exact same spot where he sat during "Tall In The Saddle") and talking about how even though he's had many great times on the ice both as an amateur and as a pro, some of the skating he's most proud of occured during his TV specials. He brought out some of his old clothes from "Tall In The Saddle" including his "rodeo clown" outfit and his dad's old hat. He said his first special "was all about home" and that most of it was filmed "within just a couple of yards" from where he was sitting. We then got to see several clips from "Tall In The Saddle." (some of which were actually shown on the roof of Kurt's house, drive-in style, when he is introducing this segment!)
The next performance shown was "All Alone" from 1994 Canadian SOI; Kurt was actually watching it on a "drive-in type" screen while sitting in a car eating popcorn. He said that the inspiration and mood of this program came from the "sexy" music. ;-) We then got to hear more gushing comments from Kurt's skating friends (intersperced with more highlights from Kurt's skating career):
Josee: "He has so many best performances!"
Kristi: "I've seen so many performances and shows and television specials that have just been really incredible!"
Shae: "He's a 4-time world champion--he's had many great moments."
Michael Siebert: "He's a really good actor. He can go from being a really beautiful classist to being, you know, one of the suavest skaters and also to being a great comic."
Isabelle: "The one that striked me and is still in my head is Tequila." (BTW, this was also the program where I really started to notice Kurt's skating...good choice, Isabelle!)
Lloyd (referring to "Tequila": "Bad clothes, good performance!"
Scott: "Worlds is a big, big deal and Kurt owned Worlds. The triple axel at the end of the program in Halifax--that was unbelievable!"
Josee: "The first time he landed the quad at Worlds, I had shivers!"
Kristi: "At the Munich World Championships, he landed 3 triple-triple combinations which is just unbelievable."
Rosalynn Sumners: "Of course, I loved his Brickhouse number. I think sort of just watching him move in those slick blue pants...it was great!" (BTW, Roz, thanks for *finally* confirming what color "those" pants *really* were--LOL!)
Josee: "Brickhouse--I enjoyed that one a lot, like, it was just so much fun, probably because I was dancing on the side of the boards while he was doing it and doing all the moves at the same time!"
Kristi: "The last performance he did as Bogey at the Lillehammer Olympics was probably the most emotional one for me."
Shae: "You could see he went out there and just did it. He had nothing to lose; he just wanted to skate his heart out!"
Katia: "His program from Casablanca is a wonderful program. You know, he performed it so naturally."
Scott: "He was taking something that existed, that is very indeliably etched in peoples' minds and he played off of it and made it his."
Josee: "With his Casablanca, it just made it so obvious that's where figure skating is going towards."
Kristi: "The character of Bogey just really suited Kurt. I think because he's kind of mysterious but intriguing at the same time and Kurt was able to bring that out on the ice."
Sandra: "He understood the character so well and zeroed in on a performance that was so strong it just blew everyone away."
Scott: "That's why of all his competitive long programs, that's the one that's the most memorable."
After Kurt's friends finish gushing over "Casablanca", we see him sitting in front of a piano and talking about how his coach suggested he skate to the movie soundtrack. Kurt said he loved the movie and the music but had no idea about what they were getting into. He didn't realize how much people would identify with his portrayal of Rick and about "how just a few notes on a piano" (at this point, Kurt played the first few notes of "As Time Goes By" on the piano--not too badly, I might add!) and "the image of a white tuxedo and a black bowtie all tied together" by Sandra's "magical" choreography "could transport us all to Rick's Cafe."
They then showed Kurt's 1994 Olympic LP (personally, I would have preferred to see his 1993 Worlds performance but still, it *was* a performance of Casablanca, it was actually shown in its entirety and it came complete with Kurt's own commentary, so I'm not complaining *too* much!) and Kurt mentioned that because that program was "created around a character" it was easier for him to forget about his devastating SP and concentrate on everything Sandra had taught him about the character of Rick. Although the pressure was off of Kurt to win a medal, he faced a new kind of personal pressure--he felt that he "would never, ever forgive himself" if he didn't skate well that day. Kurt said that he'd dreamed about landing a 3-axel 3-sal combination at the Olympics for so long that when it came time for him to do the jump, he couldn't believe that the moment had finally arrived (Kurt nailed it, BTW!) When Kurt landed his 3-flip, Debbi Wilkes remarked "Where was that last night?" and Kurt stated that if he would have laughed had he been able to hear that comment...because he had asked himself that very same question! :-)
Next, Kurt was back outside in Caroline on a "perfect Alberta day" talking about his "Lake of Dreams" program (the one where he's skating outside on a frozen lake in Tall in The Saddle--yay, I finally know the name of it!!) which was filmed on "a typical Alberta day" in freezing cold weather. The lake was covered in 3 feet of snow and there were cracks and bumps which made it "unskateable." So John Brunton (the special's producer) hired some prison inmates to work on the ice with shovels and blowtorches at 2:00 AM and when Kurt arrived to skate at 8:00 AM, he had "a perfect sheet of ice." Kurt said "There's something special about skating outside--it just feels great!" but on that particular day, it was even more special because of the combination of the Rockies in the background, the sound of the wind and his dad sitting close by the fire. In fact, the wind was so strong that day that when Kurt landed a 3-salchow on one side of the lake, the jump was only 4 feet long but when he landed the same jump on the other end of the lake, it was 13 feet long! Kurt felt like the ice was constantly moving because of the snow blowing throughout and it made him "feel like a kid again." He even tried to do a 2-axel over a snowbank (and landed it!)
I was very, very happy when I saw the next program Kurt included in his special--his 1988 Olympic SP to Tequila! Woo-hoo; at long last I *finally* have a copy of this on tape! Okay, so once again they didn't show the whole program, but at least it was better than nothing! :-) Kurt said that performance was so long ago and he never believed it would become one of his strongest Olympic performances (it was his best SP at the Olympics, that's for sure!) He never dreamed his very first skate at the Olympics would become one of his all-time favorite performances (although *not* one of his favorite costumes--LOL!)...he was 21 years old, skating in his own backyard at the Olympics and it "was a good day."
Then it was back to the drive-in for "Brickhouse." Kurt said this program was "all about catching the eye of a beautiful woman" with shiny pants, a loud shirt etc. "and if you strut your stuff just right, you might just catch her." While Kurt is talking, a woman climbs into the car with him and Kurt puts his arm around her. Was this Sonia--she looked different! BTW, as many times as I've seen this program before, I was never able to figure out exactly what it was about--so thanks to Kurt for *finally* explaining it to all of us! I'm pretty sure this program *was* shown in its entirety, too! :-)
Kurt goes back to "his" arena to tell the story about his "close call" during his 1990 Worlds SP--he doubled his 2nd 3-axel but had to decide whether to try another 3-axel later in the program or do an easier triple which would only put him in 4th or 5th place. Kurt spent the entire rest of the program worrying about that jump, but finally decided to try the 3-axel (which he nailed, of course!)
The next program shown was "Serenade to Sonia" at 1997 Canadian SOI--they replayed Kurt talking backstage at the show before the number telling the story behind the program, how he proposed to Sonia 2 years ago and how he hoped he would skate well that night because she was in the audience! :-) At the end of the program, they showed a short clip of Sonia and Kurt with their arms around each other (somewhere in Spain?) Interesting that Sonia has long hair in this segment, but she had shorter hair when she was sitting in the "drive-in car" with Kurt. ;-)
Kurt then talks about winning 1993 Worlds in Prague--he said the most important thing about that event for him was to "compete healthy" and gain some redemption for his disappointing season in 1992. 1993 was a better year, though! Kurt said his Bonzo's Montreaux SP was "all about attack...and aggression" and that "it was the most 'go-for-it, all or nothing' program" he had ever skated. Paul Martini made an interesting comment during this program about Petrenko popping his 3-axel combination--gee, I had no idea Viktor competed at 1993 Worlds! ;-) How'd *that* comment get in there, I wonder...
Then Kurt is back in front of the campfire introducing his "You Must Remember This" special (again, they showed several clips from that special.) John Brunton and Sandra Bezic then talked about the filming of the "Singing In The Rain" segment; they said that everything about that day was perfect even though it was the most ambitious thing they had ever attempted before. It took 10 hours to shoot the entire segment while getting drenched by the rain and everybody had to wring the water out in between takes. But every single take was "perfect" because "Kurt was on such a high" and "so excited." Even though it was originally meant to be a Gene Kelly tribute, the program took on a life of its own and the skating added a special quality to the number that made it "magic." And yes, they *did* show the entire "Singing In The Rain" program! :-)
The show ended with Kurt in a room with several tapes, computers and TV monitors; he said he had so much putting this special together...during the process, he's remember things he'd haven't even thought about in years! He also remembered all the good times and friendships he'd experienced and how much the sport of figure skating has changed over the years (you no longer need compulsory figures to win Worlds, etc.) He also talked about skating and competing as a pro--sometimes competing against eligible skaters and Olympic champion Ilia Kulik. Kurt said they tried to squeeze in as much skating as they could into this special and apologized to his dad for not including "What A Wonderful World"...he did promise to include it in his next special, though! Kurt thanked Sonia, his parents, Sandra Bezic, "Mr. J" (Michael Jiranek), the cast of SOI and finally, all of us fans for supporting him and tuning in to watch! :-)
Last but not least, while the final credits were rolling, they showed a clip of Kurt in his Raggy costume waving to the crowd at 1999 Canadian SOI while holding a long string of what looked like a bunch of Christmas lights. ;-)
Of course, my biggest complaint about this special was that it was wayyy too short--a 2-hour or even a 90-minute timeslot would have been sooo much better! I also wish they could have shown more of Kurt's old programs in their entirety instead of just brief clips and "highlight reels." (which, of course, they could have done if they had a longer timeslot!) As enjoyable as it was to listen to all of Kurt's skating friends gush over him, I would have liked to hear even more comments from them (like when did they first meet Kurt, the first time they saw him skate, his personality off the ice, etc.) I was disappointed that Sonia and Kurt's parents didn't get to talk during this special, too--I would have loved to hear more from them. But again, this probably would have been possible if they had a longer timeslot! :-(
But I still thought this was a wonderful special which was *almost* worth the very long wait! I guess trying to cram all of Kurt's memorable skating moments into only 40 minutes *would* be a very time-consuming job, though--LOL! Overall, I thought the people behind this special did the very best they could with such a short timeslot to work with...umm, did I mention I thought it was wayy too short?? ;-)
Kirsten
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