Russian TV Show "Ice Age Kids"

Edwin said:

I assume the whole series of shows was recorded on consecutive days over a week or so, but everyone is under a NDA?

I rewatched some of the performances and really liked the camera gliding along with the skaters, would like to see that in a big competition too.
But ISU demands a boarding at any official competition, so ....

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Judging by the clothes (same in 3 shows) and how tired Tarasova looked and sounded at the end, I guess they did all of it in one day. She told to the “reserve” girls - “you see, you just waited in the back for a while...”

Regarding the camerawork, I wouldn’t be surprised if in Russia even the cameramen are ex champs Seems that everyone on this show has some titles

flanker said:

I see that Barbora was sent to Trankov
I wanted her to be with Averbukh, or anybody else but Trankov, I don't like this guy at all.

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You too expect bearded guys to be better?

Rina RUS said:

You too expect bearded guys to be better?

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Maybe it is a daring statement, because I know most about them through their statements and skating, but, as I've said, there is only a few people in figure skating that I value less than Trankov. Of course much of it is due to his awful claims about Alina.

Also, from what I saw of the Ice Age I like Averbukh's programs more than those that were created by Trankov.

Edwin said:

Here we have the n-th season of "The Voice, Kids" only, with rapper artists that don't even know their clefs from their semi-breves as team captains, argh :-( This formula has grown stale by now.

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Rapper artists only? I enjoy the Russian "Voice. Kids"! We have both now: the "Voice. Kids" every Friday - and the "Ice Age" every Sunday.
I love, that kids in Russian version of the "Voice" sing many different songs in different languages.

"He Taught Me How To Yodel"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asSOZhsxEwI&t=1m5s

"Quizás, quizás, quizás"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViqoFjKLU98

"Maybe I Maybe You"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxPn0QApo_0

“Giamaica”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=596m0S8fhjo

"Tell Him"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azuYTnyLm9c

"Derniere danse"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML-Edou4JyU

"Buleria"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjmKCfCl16A

"Juliet's waltz"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOf3_px3qEU

"Runnin`"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PrYlImnSCU

"They Don’t Care About Us"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7H4L0z2eJk

"Yalla"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDLqfGlH67E

Some kids even sing in Russian. (I think this video is outstanding)
"My house is built, but I'm alone..."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUdjoao71h0

And "Круче Всех" is still running? That is a general talent show, which also has a fairly high level of participants because of the circus, drama and ballet schools, besides all the gymnastics schools.

"Ice Age, Kids", will keep us occupied this spring marvelling at the depth and creativity of Russian figure skating.

PS: Rapper artists as team captains I mean. Rap is popular amongst teenage youth. Many pro artists cannot commit themselves to a show as they have professional obligations elsewhere.

Finally I saw Dzhastina. This girl has absolutely charming personality and she showed maturity beyond her age when she was able to analyze why she did a mistake. I'm glad she's got a chance. TAT for once showed herself in a good light when she gave her the chance to repeat the lutz.

Edwin said:

And "Круче Всех" is still running? That is a general talent show, which also has a fairly high level of participants because of the circus, drama and ballet schools, besides all the gymnastics schools.

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To say the truth, I even can't answer without "googling" it. I've heard about it, but I never watched it. Maybe we have too many projects?.. As far as I understand, it reminds "The Minute Of Glory" show. I liked "The Minute Of Glory", but somehow I never tried to watch "Круче Всех".

Edwin said:

PS: Rapper artists as team captains I mean.

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I always love to see what songs Pelageya chooses for her team. She is a folk singer, but it doesn't mean she knows only folk songs. She came to the blind auditions in the adult "Voice" once (there are such surprises for team captains in Russia). She learned a song which wouldn't remind her usual songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSfLelKUKH8

flanker said:

TAT for once showed herself in a good light when she gave her the chance to repeat the lutz.

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TAT is the kindest now. The coaches show red lights, after that TAT says: "I say "yes" to you... the coaches decide on their own, I can't interfere, I only can advise them."

Exploring the first season of "Ice Age, Kids" now, and one of the highlights of last season for me is "Secrets" performed by Sof'ya Akat'yeva: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7-i7-HN10Q

Sof'ya portrayed a bird that was happily living in the big city, exploring every corner until it got hit by a car. It lay on the ground trembling, before getting back on its wings to find back its nest to feed its chicks, where it died.

Any kid her age can relate to finding a fledgling or wounded bird near the playground and carrying it back to its nest where the little bird will die in her hands. Perhaps their first conscious experience with loss and death?

Sof'ya captured those small dramatic moments very well in her posture and facial expressions and was convincing in her bird costume throughout, plus her skating was flawless the whole routine, with top difficulty. Her other performances are amongst the best the first series had to offer in my eyes and heart.
The kids that made the final were all outstanding, and Sof'ya did make some errors in her Gladiator routine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0sTJeIUKjc. So third place was her reward, and being a seasoned competitor she knew and accepted. She went all out in her exhibition routine, having the best music to skate to, and a chance to scream and go wild.

No wonder so many people are in awe over Sof'ya's skating and presentation. And her choice of words, articulation, in the interviews and intermezzos, she is very bright indeed. Nice to hear she thanked her school teacher for allowing her to skip lessons for the show Though a classmate commented on the YT page that Sof'ya hadn't been seen in class for 3 months ....

Those judges tho .... they were sometimes unnecessarily harsh in their critique I thought. Children always need constructive criticism and a positive message, explanation was not always clear to me. TAT not understanding the ending of Sof'ya's tale and marking her down for it, come on ... But the kids took their verdicts unphased, since this is indeed a competition and a show in one.

Plus I've found that Kostomarov is great with the children, despite his somewhat grim outer appearance, but is he hiding a bald patch under all of his head wear?

Coming weekend, the second series' competition rounds are about to begin? I will not miss any broadcast if it isn't geo-blocked. This show has caught my heart and is a great advertisement for figure skating.

New episode announcement : https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwb9BPOoax9/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1pksvlym8p21r
Cannot wait!

Looks spectacular, the lighting, the costumes, the short clips.

How are the ratings and reception of this show?
FFKKR who endorses it must be very pleased and proud.

siela said:

New episode announcement : https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwb9BPOoax9/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1pksvlym8p21r
Cannot wait!

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Hm, Interesting! It seems the next episode will be about single ladies only - so definitely my favorite part
Sotnikova as the judge complains about how it's hard to judge children, btw I can sympathize for her with it too - I think I just couldn't judge them at all

Edwin said:

Looks spectacular, the lighting, the costumes, the short clips.

How are the ratings and reception of this show?
FFKKR who endorses it must be very pleased and proud.

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The show will be aired only in Sunday. As for previous episodes - I think it's good enough. Last year's one received "Teffy" (special award in Russia for remarkable shows) after all - so success was great, I suppose

Of course it is hard to judge such enthusiastic children, you don’t want to disappoint any of them.
But when judged fairly, in a positive and constructive fashion, a pro skater or trainer should be able to differentiate.
The older, more experienced kids are very competitive already and their parents and mentors should have explained to them this is also a show and different criteria apply.
I cannot remember there was an audience vote in last year, because that can mess up the pro judging and confuse the kids even more. Better no audience voting I say because this invites the children to start ‘acting cocky’ etc. Best keep the competitive character as close to a real FS competition where skating and presentation are the main objectives.

Having just watched a Russian "Voice Kids", this "Ice Age, Kids" is on a whole different level and experience and much more complete and enjoyable IMO.

But like last season I do expect the youngest ones, those with the smallest jumps etc to get eliminated quickly. The top skaters from the best rinks stand out so clearly in the amplitude of their jumps, the command over their skating skills and the seemingly effortless and natural quality of their flow under the demanding show conditions.

Edwin said:

But like last season I do expect the youngest ones, those with the smallest jumps etc to get eliminated quickly. The top skaters from the best rinks stand out so clearly in the amplitude of their jumps, the command over their skating skills and the seemingly effortless and natural quality of their flow under the demanding show conditions.

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I think your first claim is condradicting the second. Because Dzepka is one of the youngest - as far as I know

Edwin said:

like last season I do expect the youngest ones, those with the smallest jumps etc to get eliminated quickly

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Elucidus said:

I think your first claim is condradicting the second. Because Dzepka is one of the youngest - as far as I know

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Well, I don't know what will happen this year, but last year Arseni Fedotov - who was 8 years old - became the winner.

Rina RUS said:

Well, I don't know what will happen this year, but last year Arseni Fedotov - who was 8 years old - became the winner.

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We'll see what happens in the boys category. There were a lot of very young boys, as opposed to the girls which were about 2 years older on average IIRC.

The boys that competed last year lacked nothing in character, artistry and presence.
FFKKR uses this show to promote FS amongst children, but perhaps the drop off in competing boys is already starting between ages 8 en 10-11? Or parents shy away from signing up their boy due to the prejudices? Kids can be very cruel amongst themselves in the school yards and on their social media etc.

No shortage of boys in ice dance pairs though.

some funny episodes (April 14 2019)


Yagudin: Alexandra and Vladislav, first of all, I'd like to congratulate you on the wonderful dance you've performed for us, yet clear up one matter: it seems to me I've seen you somewhere. (Vladislav nods) Where could it be - if not in our project, right? Did you participate last year?
Vladislav: Yes.
Yagudin (to Alexandra): Yet I don't remember your face.
Alexandra: Really? You carried me on your back.
Yagudin: I carried you? In what show I carry you on my back?
Alexandra: In Voronezh. There was a show by Ilya Averbukh, and you skated in it.
Mikheeva: So you are a pair! Do you get it?
Yagudin: I get it, (to Alexandra) I don't get what were you doing with him?
Mikheeva: Yaroslav helped to reunite your pair!
/.../
Yagudin: Now we'd like to hear some comments. Maxim?
Mikheeva (at the same time): Ilya Izyaslavich?
Yagudin (laughs): We work in unison.
Mikheeva: Rock-paper-scissors, OK? Rock-paper-scissors! One...
She doesn't manage to say "two, three", because Yagudin shows "scissors"
Yagudin: That's all, I won. So, Maxim!
Mikheeva still hasn't unclenched her fist
Mikheeva: You lost! I have a "rock"!
somebody: Yes.
Yagudin: Yes...
Mikheeva: Your scissors became blunt. Ilya Izyaslavich!
Yagudin: OK. Ilya.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxNj7BN72so&t=3m38s

Viktoria Sinyavina skated to Ukrainian song, she says the song is about stars
Averbukh: /.../ You were natural, besides your mistake on the flip - after that you switched off suddenly. This is an unallowable thing, actually. You should not let us see you made a mistake. You should remember that. It is very important. I'm sure your coach has told you so a hundred times. Today such a trifle can leave you out of the project, but I hope...
Yagudin: that it won't happen!
Averbukh: No. That it can be a good lesson which will help you later, when you'll have your most important competitions.
Yagudin: Maybe Tatiana Anatolievna can say something nice?
Tarasova: /.../ Your skating is very good, Vikusya. Yet you took this song, you say it is about stars, but you didn't look up to the sky even once, your soul wasn't working. One's soul should work in every number, not only legs and arms, not only the planned choreography - you should also add an impression of flying - it will be an entirely different dance. We will understand better what your program is about, we won't ask you, we will understand it by your glance. A dance doesn't need words to explain it.
Yagudin: Viktoria, I can translate from adult language to childish one. If you'll be skating again to this wonderful music, just raise your head and wave with your hands - and they'll get it at once.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbj_rRs_Q6Q&t=4m3s

Gleb Solovich tells he likes scaring movies, his partner Maria Pavlova doesn't. Yet she has seen the "Vampires' Ball", she liked this music, so they took it
Trankov: I'd like to say I really liked the boy. I'd like to praise Gleb: he was whirling his partner, presentating her - almost the only one among the pairs I've seen here (I mean the pairs of this age, of this level). So Gleb was really good, and Maria needs to work on femininity, on presentating herself, she should beautify the pair. Her skating was a bit cold.
Yagudin (to the kids): So after the "Vampires' Ball" you need to see "Cinderella", the "Swan Lake"...
Mikheeva: Indeed. Maxim, she is a vampire - why do you need femininity?
Trankov: As far as I remember from movies... (and not long ago I've finished my career with the "Dracula" program, so I've studied this topic) So I'd say those vampire ladies do lure those whom they'd like to bite.
Mikheeva: OK, Maxim. If you show the green light, maybe you'll teach Maria that femininity (if she chooses you, of course). Can you promise to?
Trankov: Let's see, let's see.
/.../
Tarasova: The girl was performing that image which - I guess - had been explained to her. Vampires can be different.
/.../
Mikheeva: Tatiana Anatolievna, what about Lyosha? Was he a vampire, when you coached him?
Yagudin: What kind of a vampire was I, when I drank your blood?
Tarasova doesn't answer
Yagudin: We'll learn that later, in other episodes of the show.
Tarasova: You were a beloved one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h5jTBU0rKo&t=4m41s

Let the Game begin!
The new show is starting:

https://www.1tv.ru/shows/lednikovyy...period-deti-vtoroy-sezon-vypusk-ot-21-04-2019

This is a tough show to watch as a FS fan, really talented children give it their best effort, but one has to leave each installment. Sometimes in tears.

In the early competition phase, the teams learn to know each other, the mentors learn to know the children and the first competition routines have to be devised.
The kids were already working with their mentors when the arena was still a complete mess and under construction, does this fit the timeline?
But in the first round of competition already a distinction can be made: those that know how to act and pantomime to present the given theme, and those that have difficulty with the acting part.

The skating is very much OK in most of them, some have already impressive speed, height and ice coverage, in training the skating camera even couldn't follow close.
One of them skated in sunglasses, full speed pirouettes and all. Some skated with props in their hands, which is equally difficult but impressive.

And accidents do happen, 9 yr old Sofiya Dzepka twitched her ankle in training and had to be substituted by an 8 year old reserve Alyona Kryvonosova that had only little training time but still managed an excellent Mary Poppins routine with the little red umbrella.

Eliminated this round (complete short program content in about 3 minutes) were:
Alisa Dvoyeglazova from Iliya Averbukh's team
Dzhastina Uylan (Justina Williams, her father is Irish?) from Roman Kostomarov's team
Alyona Kryvonosova from Tat'yana Navka's team
Barbora Brankova from Maksim Trankov's team

My standout performances were Lyubov Rubtsova (stage play), Kseniya Melkumova (signature elements at speed !!) and Elizaveta Kulikova (music and dance).

Production, direction, lighting, camerawork, hair, makeup, costumes, props (exploding laptops!), a very high standard.

I feel sorry for Justin