IT WAS AWESOME! Just the right mix of old footage, hilarious stories and explanation of the realities in the sport. I didn't feel like we got the details on every one of the lost team members/coaches, but they said that the DVD coming out this Fall will include stories and video footage that didn't make it to the big screen. DH has already said "You are buying the DVD." He wants to see himself in the Nationals footage, lol.
Hamilton was a little choked up throughout the recorded interview footage - he revealed that he had just found out that his brain tumor had returned when they recorded. He says he's okay now. Fleming, Hamill and Kwan looked fantastic and were well-spoken, as always. Boitano played the boy wonder with charm, explaining what a different type of parental relationship he had compared to the other skaters. Very interesting.
Felt wierd to know the show was live, but we were remote. They couldn't hear us if we laughed or clapped, so few people bothered.
Theater was packed and a lot of people came in just as the slide show was ending, so I'm glad only a few people missed the live pre-show.
Peter Carruthers was a little high-strung, like he was told to show more energy. There was a woman commentator that I've never heard of - she was okay, nothing spectacular. Not impressive at all, but Matt Lauer was excellent as always.
Frank Carroll's remarks about the Owen trio were really poignant and funny, as I expected. I didn't know that Ron Ludington was one of Maribel Vinson Owen's students. I've heard him speak in the past about other topics, like IJS, and he's really a pull-no-punches kind of guy with a great sense of humor. The stories he and Carroll told about Ludington's training with Owen were HILARIOUS! They both made him out to be a regular Chris Bowman, snicker. My kids thought that Carroll and Ludington were brothers, but they didn't get the fact that the Jenkins men were brothers, lol. I didn't even bother to try and explain Carol Heiss-Jenkins' role in that triangle.
They interviewed Vera Wang live in NYC, asking about how it felt to contribute (via costume design) to these champions and she was exceedingly modest, deferring to the champions' hard work and determination. Classy reply. I know she's a fashion designer, but I never realized that she was so thin! Pretty dress she was wearing, too. Kwan and Hamill looked styling. Fleming's dress had a long zipper down the front, but it didn't really fit her very well. She looked uncomfortable when sitting on the couches.
Spoiler from the post-show interview between Matt Lauer and Dorothy Hamill:
[spoiler]They revealed that they attended the same Connecticut high school. He said that he the biggest crush on her in school. However,hat, if she had looked at him he probably would have passed out. How sweet.[/spoiler]