My review - Be Good Johnny Weir Episode #3

The show started from the scene, 5 days before US Nationals competition in 2009.

Johnny’s struggle in the practice, especially his 3A, even spin, fight with his illness which he caught in NY and got worse in Korea.

Seeing the practice scene, his condition at that time looked worse than I thought. It must have been really frustrating for him because triple axel is one of his favorite jumps, usually it’s easy for him to do it especially in practice.

It’s obvious he was not ready, looked really sick. He could have withdrawn from the competition. But he knows USFSA would not give him the free pass to worlds if he withdraw from it, unlike Tanith& Ben who withdrew from it because of Ben’s injury.

But somehow I thought his performances in it were beautiful even with some mistakes, he landed three combination jumps in his Free skate.

Maybe I can enjoy his skating even he thinks it’s his worst performance ever. Johnny’s movements and lines are always spectacular.

I loved the scene when he was cooking at the kitchen, and telling Paris how not to cut the cheese into strange shape, and avoiding the paper parts, after he came back to his apartment from the training. lol.

His apartment where he used to live with Paris looked nice. Looked like there is a stairs to go to loft ? I love that kind of apartment. He keeps the place tidy.

I also noticed that there are many scenes which were filmed in past years, and Johnny looked so natural in the camera, as if no one is filming.

I can’t act like that if I know there is a camera. I think he must be a great actor.

And also I love his interior decorating taste, Victorian style, which really fit him. I also love Spanish style though.

They showed Johnny’s depressing time from Nationals to world in 2009.
He was treating himself by drinking two bottles of Champagne, which is unusual for him during world championship trip for the NBC guest at ladies event.

He said he usually drinks only one glass of champagne.

There were many opinions and criticisms about it during the time before worlds 2009, about the decision of USFSA for the worlds team USA from figure skating fans.

Johnny’s mother Patti was crushed, Galina and Victor Petrenko and Nina Petrenko also were very upset for the decision of USFSA.

Johnny’s ranking was highest in the US skaters at that time, winning silver at Skate America, and NHK trophy, bronze at GPF. besides he mainly and also Stephane Carrier made the three US men’s spot for worlds 2009 in 2008 worlds.

Some said if he could place top 3 at Nationals 2009, he could make it but he didn’t. I don’t know why USFSA made that decision while Tanith & Ben got the free pass without attending the event.

I think whether he withdrew from the event or not, they would not send him, unless he placed top 3 in the event.

And since the location of the World championship was in LA,USA, it’s possible that they might have already planned for the scores which can easy to arrange from GOE & PCS.

Anyway, I think Evan Lysacek is a lucky person. And from considering law of nature, he made it happen by himself.

As Johnny mentioned a few times at interviews, his depression was more than I expected seeing this episode. Some people might take it lightly for it, and might have move on fast.

But I think in figure skating, reputation is very important to earn high points, and one performance at Nationals event influences skater’s future.

But I’m glad he came back stronger again this season. In 2004, when he won his first Nationals title, he had no reputation behind him, and came back from the disaster of 2003.

For Galina team, I think what he really needed after he left his previous coach Priscilla Hills was someone who can push him, mostly for mentally.

I think Galina is a great mentor and helping him a lot for it, but for his programs, I wish she didn’t control much especially for artistry.

I guess everyone noticed that Johnny’s programs became less artistic now, compared with while he was with Priscilla Hills.

Less choreography, plus this season not so memorable choreography.
His movements and lines are always beautifully perfect though.

I usually remembered all his movements for his The Swan, Otonal, Rondo, Maxim Mrvica , Child of Nazareth, Dr. Zhivago, Valse.

Under Galina, Love is war, Yunona I Avos were great, but less choreography, but there was some impressive movements. Even last season’s Free program.

This season, I don’t remember much. Loved his expression , pointing to audience before the Straight line step sequence, and his powerful sharp movements with perfect line though.

For his Free program this season, “Fallen angel“, after watching his Nationals performance, I noticed that it was not so impressive. Except for touching the ice scene and expression in the middle of the program , not memorable and there weren’t impressive choreography.

My guess is Galina arranged the program which were created by David Wilson and Johnny.

Johnny was saying that his Free program is drop dead gorgeous just after they made it, and sounded like he really love it.

But since Galina changed it, in the beginning, there is no impressive choreography, except for jumps, transition was easy for him while he was with Priscilla Hills.

But it’s already Olympics, I guess, Galina won’t let him to do the original choreography.

My impression of David Wilson’s choreography is that it always busy or constantly doing something.

Sometimes it looked too busy , so I didn’t like some of his choreographies, but I liked Jeffrey Buttle’s Olympics Free program for the choreography and also Nobunari Oda is programs during 2006-2007 season. Also Yu Na Kim’s
both programs at 2008-2009 season.

I don’t believe David Wilson made the choreography the way that it‘s been done in competitions this year. It is too simple unlike Wilson’s other choreography.

Also in the preview of Episode #4, they showed Johnny doing major bum shaking which he never did in the competitions.

Must watch Episode #4 next Monday !

Who was The Mysterious Masked Messenger who visited Mozart ?

Perhaps the most mysterious legend about Mozart is that of the " Masked Messenger ". This mysterious masked messenger is also known historically as the "Man in Gray" , "The Mysterious Messenger" , "The Gray Messenger". The story of the masked messenger was featured prominently in the movie “ Amadeus ". Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart How much of this story is true ? When Mozart died in the early morning hours of December 5, 1791, he left his final masterpiece, the Requiem , unfinished. A few months later, a completed score of the Requiem was delivered to its anonymous commissioner. How was the Requiem completed and how would Mozart have completed it had he lived? These mysteries have tantalized musicians for over two centuries. Mozart received the commission to compose the Requiem from the “ Mysterious Messenger" in the summer of 1791. The Messenger paid half the commission in advance, ...

Health tips from an extra-terrestrial named Bashar - from a planet called Essassani

photo credit: skyseeker Mt. Fuji via photopin (license) Today, I would like to write about health tips from an extra-terrestrial being named Bashar who is from the Essassani Planet . He is channeled by Darryl Anka. Planet earth used to have beautiful clear air, but since a long time ago the air has been polluted everywhere. and the cause of most illnesses comes from the poison in the environment we are in, with the polluted air. Nowadays, it's hard to find places where there is beautiful clean air. and in this unfavorable environment, he is suggesting how to live healthy. Health tips 1. Clear Oxygen According to Bashar, the air after storms and typhoons have gone away, is the most clean ( purified ) and is good for our bodies. However when there is an overdose of artificial oxygen by using tools such as oxygen tanks , this can cause a lack of water, and will weaken cells. ...

Sweet Food which does not get fat - Warabi mochi

I recently love eating this sweet food that Japanese call " Warabi mochi " which is made of 0 calories food psyllium in my coffee break time. It's sweet food but I use Lakanto Monk Fruit Sweetener instead of sugar when I make it. Lakanto Monk Fruit sweetener is 0 calorie s and 0 glycemic and very similar taste as normal sugar. It is said it's derived from monk fruit, which looks like a small green gourd native to regions of China and Thailand. It's not artificial so it is not bad for health so I feel comfortable eating it. Warabi mochi is a food which is normally made of Kinako ( soybean flour) & sugar & warabi powder and it's one of my favorite foods. However it's high calorie foods so if I eat a lot, it's easy to gain weight. Because Warabi mochi flour is Starch and has sugar in it and is high calorie. So I was not eating it. and then recently I found the recipe of diet Warabi Mochi which is made of Psyllium...

Beauty skin care, Ninon de L'Enclos ‘s Secret of her young skin

Besides extra virgin olive oil, I’ve been doing a mixture of another great natural formula since two weeks ago. This information came from Ray who happened to find about Ninon de L’Enclos ’s amazing story concerning her youthful skin. According to the article, Ninon de L’ Enclos is known as a famous French beauty from the late 1600s. She kept her youthful skin until 85 years old when she passed away. Even in to her 80’s she was attracting many young men who fell hopelessly in love with her. She never published her secret of her youthful skin until the end , only telling her special friends about her secret formula. There is no photo of her, but seeing her painting in other websites, she looks in her 30’s when she was 85. According to the article, her face was as smooth and free of winkles in her 80’S as it had been at 20. She hated wrinkles and successfully kept her skin youthful , using her special secret formula. This information blew me away, and immediately ...

Franz Liszt’s dangerous love

Franz Liszt was quite tall in his generation, standing 6 feet 2 inches tall , long blonde hair , piercing sharp eyes, pianist' long narrow and delicate hands and fingers. His body build was very slender. People who knew him described his personality as full of charm, charisma, and very knowledgeable. And he loved brainy women. He was the consummate artist. It seems that Liszt loved dangerous love , which thrilled him and gave him excitement rather than a stable, peaceful , safe love. Franz Liszt While reading about his biography, I was wondering why he fell in love with two princesses who were already married. Marie D’Agoult He seems to have had a lot of love affairs in his life, someone found out that he had at least 26 serious relationships in his life ( besides countless other affairs ) but the only ladies he thought about marriage was with these two princesses , Marie D’Agoult and Carolyne Sayn Wittgenstein ? Charlotte Von Hagn ...

Franz Liszt and Frederic Chopin’s friendship Part 1

Frederyk Chopin I’m a long time fan of Chopin’s music since when I was a teenager. Started loving his music from hearing his Polonaise , then Noctunes , Etudes … Frederyk Chopin I was using one of Chopin’s Nocturnes as my background music for my answering machine when I was in my 20s. In Japan, many of his music is famous and used in many TV dramas, commercials, movies, and mostly wealthy bourgeois family scenes. My image of many of Chopin ’s music that I’ve listened to is of a cozy, bourgeois world. From almost all his music I’ve ever heard, I often pictured an elegant, wealthy family’s world or a story about a family who are living in a luxury antique style house. Many of Mozart ’s music reminds me of a social life in an older generation, a story about bourgeois world in a gorgeous luxury palace. For Liszt ’s music, his music is very variety, ranging from an image of a sweet passionate love story for couples, all the way to nightmare horror story type o...

My favorite ways of Law of Attraction Part 3 - Successful Wishing - Pierre Franckh

Pierre Franckh’s books “ Successful Wishing “ are another of my favorite books. There are series, 1 to 6 , and are not published in English , but I did find them in a Japanese book store, translated by a Japanese translator. Pierre Franckh is a German actor ( Movies & TV) from 1959 – 2003, and is also a movie director and a writer. Since 1996, he published many books and became a best selling author. Franckh wrote based on his personal experiences from when he was a child . I love the way how he writes , it’s very easy to read and direct to the point, very clear how to do it with step by step instruction. Also importance of finding what you truly want. Many people are actually not realizing what they really want and then when they get what they wanted, still not feeling satisfied. Pierre said that before making your wishes and order to universe, it’s important to clear ...

Organic foods and healthy living “ You are what you eat ? “

We‘ve been enjoying organic foods since a month ago. Because we care for our health and also organic foods taste more delicious than normal vegetables. Recently, I really feel the famous quote “ You are what you eat . “ is true. Although healthy life comes from balance between mind, body, skin care, good night sleep and activities besides food life . Health is a treasure. Also I realized that “ good blood circulation ” is one of the most important key to keep healthy and look young skin. After being amazed to see Styx’s ageless Tommy Shaw on TV, I started searching about “ secret of youth “. He looks so much younger than his age. Also, there was an interview with Styx on CNN in the morning about a week ago and they talked about what they think are the keys to longevity and a healthy life. http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2012/04/23/ex...

”The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.”　- Albert Einstein　

Originally we were all creative because all children are creative. While growing up, many children lose their creativity by seeing, reading, hearing what many grown ups do and teach. According to a book called " Goal " by Brian Tracy, "Fully 95% of children tested between the ages of three and five are rated as highly creative. Of the same children tested again as teenagers, only about 5% rated as highly creative. What happened to them in the interim ? As they went through school, they were taught that if you want to get along, you follow the crowd. They learned not to question or challenge the teacher or to suggest unusual ideas. In their attempts to be liked and accepted by their peers, they allowed their creativity to die down, like a fire without fuel. " "All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once they grows up." 　－　Pablo Picasso But if we don't use creativity, we lose it. It means that the more we use cre...

Charm of Kenichi Hagiwara - Shoken

From Japanese Movie " Ame no Amsterdam (Rain in Amsterdam)" I've been into the late 1960s to 1970s generation since several years ago. I don't know why but I'm very interested in older generation's people, trends, lifestyle, scenery, habit, TV drama, music, films, etc.. and not so interested in new things much. There are many new discoveries through checking out old stuff while reading and watching it, which I didn't know before. and about several months ago, I happened to find a youtube video of a famous Japanese actor called Kenichi Hagiwara who was my favorite actor in 1970s when I was a kid. His nickname is Shoken and he is also a singer of Rock/blues music. Shoken( 18 years old) singing ”Legend of Emerald” Shoken was one of the super stars in Japan mainly from the late 60s generation to early 80s. When he was 15 years old, he joined an amateu...

Miho's favorites

Search This Blog