Battle of the Blades
Encyclopedia
Battle of the Blades is a Canadian figure skating
reality show and competition that airs on CBC Television
. It was first broadcast before a live audience at the historic Maple Leaf Gardens
. With Maple Leaf Gardens under renovation however, the show was filmed at Pinewood Toronto Studios in season two. The venue moved again in season three to MasterCard Centre
located in Etobicoke, Ontario
.
The series resembles the international reality show Dancing with the Stars
and is similar in concept to Dancing On Ice
from the UK. The biggest difference, and the show's main "hook", is that Battle of the Blades brings two very different styles of skaters together: hockey players are paired with prominent figure skaters to perform figure skating routines. During the first two seasons, contestants were strictly male hockey players from the NHL, paired with female figure skaters. In Season Three, Tessa Bonhomme
was cast as the first female hockey player contestant, making her partner, David Pelletier
the show's first male professional figure skating competitor.
The show is hosted by Hockey Night in Canada
' s Ron MacLean
and four-time World Figure Skating Champion Kurt Browning
. Season Three saw the addition of Virgin Radio 999
DJ Maura Grierson as the Battle Correspondent, providing viewers with a look backstage. The head judge is Emmy Award
winning choerographer and figure skater Sandra Bezic
, with Olympic champion Dick Button
being the other regular judge in season one. There is also a rotating guest judge each week from the world of hockey or figure skating. Season Two saw the departure of Button and the addition of retired NHL player Jeremy Roenick
as the second regular judge.
In 2010, the French-language CBC's counterpart, Télévision de Radio-Canada
, was planning to air a Quebec
version, but did not decide if it would be an adaptation or a French-dubbed version. The show's executive producer thinks that it may also interest other countries like Russia
.
The rules of elimination were slightly altered in the second season. The scores from the couples' Sunday night performance are now added to the viewers' voting to determine the bottom two couples. Also, instead of scoring the bottom two couples on their Skate-Off performance, the judges are now just asked to vote on the couple of their choice. The couple with the lesser amount of judges' votes is then eliminated.
Midway during the second season, it was announced that Week Five would be a "Second Chance" competition for the couples eliminated thus far in the season. The couple with the highest combined total of viewer's vote and judges score would be reinstated as of Week Six, re-joining the top four couples in the competition.
and Craig Simpson
, had CAD
100,000 donated to Spinal Cord Research. In season two, all competitors were guaranteed $25,000 donated to the charity of their choice and $100,000 for the winners Ekaterina Gordeeva
and Valeri Bure
. In season three, the winners' charity will receive $100,000, second place will receive $35,000, third place will receive $30,000, and the other five charities will receive $25,000.
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
reality show and competition that airs on CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
. It was first broadcast before a live audience at the historic Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
. With Maple Leaf Gardens under renovation however, the show was filmed at Pinewood Toronto Studios in season two. The venue moved again in season three to MasterCard Centre
MasterCard Centre
The MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence or commonly the MasterCard Centre is a hockey facility located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It has four ice sheets and is the official practice facility for the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL hockey team, and their AHL affiliate the Toronto Marlies...
located in Etobicoke, Ontario
Etobicoke, Ontario
Etobicoke is a dissolved municipality located within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Comprising the western section of the current city, it had an official population of 338,117 as measured by the 2001 Census and 334,491 people as of the 2006 Census. While it only contains 13% of...
.
The series resembles the international reality show Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
and is similar in concept to Dancing On Ice
Dancing on Ice
Dancing on Ice is a British television show co-hosted by Christine Bleakley and Philip Schofield, in which celebrities and their professional partners figure skate in front of a panel of judges. The format, devised by LWT and Granada Television, has been a prime-time hit in eight different...
from the UK. The biggest difference, and the show's main "hook", is that Battle of the Blades brings two very different styles of skaters together: hockey players are paired with prominent figure skaters to perform figure skating routines. During the first two seasons, contestants were strictly male hockey players from the NHL, paired with female figure skaters. In Season Three, Tessa Bonhomme
Tessa Bonhomme
Tessa Bonhomme is an Olympic Gold Medalist and member of the Canadian national women's hockey team. She was also a member and co-captain of the Ohio State Buckeyes women's ice hockey team in the NCAA....
was cast as the first female hockey player contestant, making her partner, David Pelletier
David Pelletier
David Jacques Pelletier is a Canadian pairs figure skater. With his partner Jamie Salé, he was the co-gold medal winner at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games...
the show's first male professional figure skating competitor.
The show is hosted by Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
Ron MacLean
Ronald Harold "Ron" MacLean is a Canadian sportscaster for the CBC who is best known as the host of Hockey Night in Canada.-Early life and career:...
and four-time World Figure Skating Champion Kurt Browning
Kurt Browning
Kurt Browning, CM is a Canadian figure skater, choreographer and commentator. He is a four-time World Champion and four-time Canadian national champion.-Life and career:...
. Season Three saw the addition of Virgin Radio 999
CKFM-FM
CKFM-FM, branded as 99-9 Virgin Radio , is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 99.9 on the FM dial in Toronto, Ontario. The station is owned by Astral Media...
DJ Maura Grierson as the Battle Correspondent, providing viewers with a look backstage. The head judge is Emmy Award
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
winning choerographer and figure skater Sandra Bezic
Sandra Bezic
Sandra Marie Bezic is a Canadian pair skater, figure skating choreographer, and television commentator. With partner and brother Val Bezic, she won the Canadian Figure Skating Championships from 1970–1974 and placed ninth at the 1972 Winter Olympics...
, with Olympic champion Dick Button
Dick Button
Richard Totten "Dick" Button is an American former figure skater and a well-known long-time skating television analyst. He is a two-time Olympic Champion and five-time World Champion...
being the other regular judge in season one. There is also a rotating guest judge each week from the world of hockey or figure skating. Season Two saw the departure of Button and the addition of retired NHL player Jeremy Roenick
Jeremy Roenick
Jeremy Shaffer "J.R." Roenick is a former American professional ice hockey player who played the majority of his career in the National Hockey League . He played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks over the course of his 18 NHL...
as the second regular judge.
In 2010, the French-language CBC's counterpart, Télévision de Radio-Canada
Télévision de Radio-Canada
Télévision de Radio-Canada is a Canadian French language television network. It is owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, known in French as Société Radio-Canada. Headquarters are at Maison Radio-Canada in Montreal, which is also home to the network's flagship station, CBFT-DT...
, was planning to air a Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
version, but did not decide if it would be an adaptation or a French-dubbed version. The show's executive producer thinks that it may also interest other countries like Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Scoring
Each judge can award a score of up to 6.0, as in official figure skating competitions. The top score a couple can achieve in a performance is 18.0.Elimination
In the first season, the couples were scored on their Sunday night performance, but only as a reference guide for the viewers to vote on. The bottom two couples were ranked based solely on the lowest amount of viewer votes. Viewers can either text, call or log onto the show's official website to cast their votes. On Monday, the bottom two couples are revealed and they skate their Sunday night program once more in the Skate-Off and are then scored by the judges. The couple with the lower judges score from their Monday night performance is then eliminated.The rules of elimination were slightly altered in the second season. The scores from the couples' Sunday night performance are now added to the viewers' voting to determine the bottom two couples. Also, instead of scoring the bottom two couples on their Skate-Off performance, the judges are now just asked to vote on the couple of their choice. The couple with the lesser amount of judges' votes is then eliminated.
Midway during the second season, it was announced that Week Five would be a "Second Chance" competition for the couples eliminated thus far in the season. The couple with the highest combined total of viewer's vote and judges score would be reinstated as of Week Six, re-joining the top four couples in the competition.
Charity
Each couple represent one or two charities of their choice. Depending on their placement in the competition, an increasing amount of money is then donated to their charity. The winners of season one, Jamie SaléJamie Salé
Jamie Rae Salé is a Canadian pair skater. With partner David Pelletier, she is a 2002 Olympic Champion and the 2001 World Champion. Salé & Pelletier's Olympic gold medal was shared with the Russian pair Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze after the 2002 Olympic Winter Games figure skating...
and Craig Simpson
Craig Simpson
Craig Andrew Simpson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres...
, had CAD
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
100,000 donated to Spinal Cord Research. In season two, all competitors were guaranteed $25,000 donated to the charity of their choice and $100,000 for the winners Ekaterina Gordeeva
Ekaterina Gordeeva
Ekaterina "Katia" Alexandrovna Gordeeva is a Russian figure skater. Together with her late partner and husband Sergei Grinkov, she was the 1988 and 1994 Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion in pair skating...
and Valeri Bure
Valeri Bure
Valeri Vladimirovich Bure is a retired professional ice hockey right winger from Russia. He played ten seasons in the National Hockey League...
. In season three, the winners' charity will receive $100,000, second place will receive $35,000, third place will receive $30,000, and the other five charities will receive $25,000.
Season summaries
| Season | No. of Stars |
No. of weeks |
Season Premiere Date | Season Finale Date | Winner | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – Fall 2009 Battle of the Blades (season 1) The first season of Battle of the Blades debuted on CBC on October 4, 2009. Eight former NHL ice hockey players were paired with eight professional female figure skaters.Ron MacLean and Kurt Browning were the hosts for this season... |
8 | 7 | October 4, 2009 | November 16, 2009 | Craig Simpson Craig Simpson Craig Andrew Simpson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres... & Jamie Salé Jamie Salé Jamie Rae Salé is a Canadian pair skater. With partner David Pelletier, she is a 2002 Olympic Champion and the 2001 World Champion. Salé & Pelletier's Olympic gold medal was shared with the Russian pair Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze after the 2002 Olympic Winter Games figure skating... |
Claude Lemieux Claude Lemieux Claude Percy Lemieux is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He last played for the San Jose Sharks before announcing his retirement on July 8, 2009. He is one of only ten players in Stanley Cup history to win the Cup with three different teams. His 80 career playoff goals are the... & Shae-Lynn Bourne Shae-Lynn Bourne Shae-Lynn Bourne, MSC is a Canadian ice dancer. She and partner Victor Kraatz became the first North American ice dancing world champions in 2003. They competed at three Winter Olympic Games, placing 10th at the 1994 Winter Olympics, 4th at the 1998 Winter Olympics, and 4th at the 2002 Winter... |
| 2 – Fall 2010 Battle of the Blades (season 2) The second season of Battle of the Blades premiered on September 26, 2010 as a part of CBC's fall line-up. Like season 1, this season showcases a lineup of 8 couples.Ron MacLean and Kurt Browning return as the show's hosts... |
8 | 8 | September 26, 2010 | November 22, 2010 | Valeri Bure Valeri Bure Valeri Vladimirovich Bure is a retired professional ice hockey right winger from Russia. He played ten seasons in the National Hockey League... & Ekaterina Gordeeva Ekaterina Gordeeva Ekaterina "Katia" Alexandrovna Gordeeva is a Russian figure skater. Together with her late partner and husband Sergei Grinkov, she was the 1988 and 1994 Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion in pair skating... |
Patrice Brisebois Patrice Brisebois Patrice Brisebois is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and currently a racing driver.-NHL playing career:Brisebois was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round, 30th overall, of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft... & Shae-Lynn Bourne Shae-Lynn Bourne Shae-Lynn Bourne, MSC is a Canadian ice dancer. She and partner Victor Kraatz became the first North American ice dancing world champions in 2003. They competed at three Winter Olympic Games, placing 10th at the 1994 Winter Olympics, 4th at the 1998 Winter Olympics, and 4th at the 2002 Winter... |
| 3 – Fall 2011 Battle of the Blades (season 3) The third season of Battle of the Blades premiered on September 18, 2011 as a part of CBC's fall line-up. Like previous seasons, this season showcases a lineup of 8 couples.... |
8 | 8 | September 18, 2011 | November 14, 2011 | Tessa Bonhomme Tessa Bonhomme Tessa Bonhomme is an Olympic Gold Medalist and member of the Canadian national women's hockey team. She was also a member and co-captain of the Ohio State Buckeyes women's ice hockey team in the NCAA.... & David Pelletier David Pelletier David Jacques Pelletier is a Canadian pairs figure skater. With his partner Jamie Salé, he was the co-gold medal winner at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games... |
Bryan Berard Bryan Berard Bryan Wallace Berard is a former American professional ice hockey player. He was the first overall pick in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. He is most noted for a debilitating eye injury he received early in his career... & Marie-France Dubreuil Marie-France Dubreuil Marie-France Dubreuil is a Canadian ice dancer. With partner and husband Patrice Lauzon, she is the 2006 & 2007 World silver medalist.-Biography:... |
Professionals
- In season one, Marie-France DubreuilMarie-France DubreuilMarie-France Dubreuil is a Canadian ice dancer. With partner and husband Patrice Lauzon, she is the 2006 & 2007 World silver medalist.-Biography:...
suffered two injuries. Before the season opener, she was accidentally dropped by her partner Stéphane RicherStephane RicherStéphane Jean-Jacques Richer is a retired professional ice hockey left winger.-Playing career:Richer was drafted 29th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He played in 1,054 career NHL games, scoring 421 goals and 398 assists for 819 points. Richer won the Calder Cup in...
while performing a lift during rehearsals and landed headfirst onto the ice. On the morning of the Week Six result show, she suffered from severe back pain and was unable to perform in the Skate-Off that night. She fully recovered from both injuries and was fit to perform the rest of the season.
- In season two, Anabelle LangloisAnabelle LangloisAnabelle Langlois is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Cody Hay, she is the 2008 Canadian national champion.- Career :...
tripped and fell with her partner, Georges LaraqueGeorges LaraqueGeorges Laraque is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward, who last played with the Montreal Canadiens before his contract was bought out in 2010. He is also a host for CFRN and deputy leader of the Green Party of Canada. During his NHL career he played for the Edmonton Oilers,...
while practising an on-ice twist during rehearsals on October 27, 2010. Langlois, who was more than six feet in the air when she fell, complained of severe pain in her knees. She was rushed to the hospital for X-rays and required three stitches. She still performed on October 31 for her Week Five performance.
Hockey players
- In season two, Georges LaraqueGeorges LaraqueGeorges Laraque is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward, who last played with the Montreal Canadiens before his contract was bought out in 2010. He is also a host for CFRN and deputy leader of the Green Party of Canada. During his NHL career he played for the Edmonton Oilers,...
was hit near the left eyebrow by his partner Anabelle LangloisAnabelle LangloisAnabelle Langlois is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Cody Hay, she is the 2008 Canadian national champion.- Career :...
' skate when they both fell while performing a lift during rehearsals one day before the season premiere. Laraque required twelve stitches but was fit to perform the next night.
Television ratings
| Season | Premiered | Ended | TV Season | Rank (Performance shows) |
Viewers (in millions) |
Rank (Results shows) |
Viewers (in millions) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Premiere Viewers (in millions) |
Date | Final Performance Viewers (in millions) |
Finale Viewers (in millions) |
||||||
| 1st Battle of the Blades (season 1) The first season of Battle of the Blades debuted on CBC on October 4, 2009. Eight former NHL ice hockey players were paired with eight professional female figure skaters.Ron MacLean and Kurt Browning were the hosts for this season... |
October 4, 2009 | 1.959 | November 15-16, 2009 | 1.878 | 1.736 | 2009-10 | #18 | 1.737 | #28 | 1.270 |
| 2nd Battle of the Blades (season 2) The second season of Battle of the Blades premiered on September 26, 2010 as a part of CBC's fall line-up. Like season 1, this season showcases a lineup of 8 couples.Ron MacLean and Kurt Browning return as the show's hosts... |
September 26, 2010 | 1.511 | November 21-22, 2010 | 1.505 | 1.333 | 2010-11 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| 3rd Battle of the Blades (season 3) The third season of Battle of the Blades premiered on September 18, 2011 as a part of CBC's fall line-up. Like previous seasons, this season showcases a lineup of 8 couples.... |
September 18, 2011 | 1.195 | November 13-14, 2011 | 1.341 | 0.897 | 2011-12 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Rose d'Or Rose d'Or The Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40... |
Best Variety & Live Event Show | Season 1 Battle of the Blades (season 1) The first season of Battle of the Blades debuted on CBC on October 4, 2009. Eight former NHL ice hockey players were paired with eight professional female figure skaters.Ron MacLean and Kurt Browning were the hosts for this season... |
||
| Gemini Awards 2010 Gemini Awards The 25th Gemini Awards were held on November 13th, 2010 to honour achievements in Canadian television. The ceremony will broadcast on Showcase and Global from the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto. Nominations were announced on August 31. The host will be Cory Monteith... |
Best Music, Variety Program or Series | ||||
| Best Direction in a Variety Program or Series | Joan Tosoni | ||||
| Best Photography in a Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series | Alex Nadon | ||||
| Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series (Individual or Ensemble) | Kurt Browning Kurt Browning Kurt Browning, CM is a Canadian figure skater, choreographer and commentator. He is a four-time World Champion and four-time Canadian national champion.-Life and career:... |
||||
| 2011 | Gemini Awards 2011 Gemini Awards The 26th Gemini Awards will be held on September 7, 2011 to honour achievements in Canadian television. The ceremony was broadcast live from the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto, and aired on CBC Television.... |
Best Music, Variety Program or Series | Season 2 Battle of the Blades (season 2) The second season of Battle of the Blades premiered on September 26, 2010 as a part of CBC's fall line-up. Like season 1, this season showcases a lineup of 8 couples.Ron MacLean and Kurt Browning return as the show's hosts... |
||
| Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series (Individual or Ensemble) | Ron MacLean Ron MacLean Ronald Harold "Ron" MacLean is a Canadian sportscaster for the CBC who is best known as the host of Hockey Night in Canada.-Early life and career:... , Kurt Browning Kurt Browning Kurt Browning, CM is a Canadian figure skater, choreographer and commentator. He is a four-time World Champion and four-time Canadian national champion.-Life and career:... |
For Episode 2-15 | |||
| Shae-Lynn Bourne Shae-Lynn Bourne Shae-Lynn Bourne, MSC is a Canadian ice dancer. She and partner Victor Kraatz became the first North American ice dancing world champions in 2003. They competed at three Winter Olympic Games, placing 10th at the 1994 Winter Olympics, 4th at the 1998 Winter Olympics, and 4th at the 2002 Winter... , Patrice Brisebois Patrice Brisebois Patrice Brisebois is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and currently a racing driver.-NHL playing career:Brisebois was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round, 30th overall, of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft... |
For Episode 2-09 |
See also
- Dancing On IceDancing on IceDancing on Ice is a British television show co-hosted by Christine Bleakley and Philip Schofield, in which celebrities and their professional partners figure skate in front of a panel of judges. The format, devised by LWT and Granada Television, has been a prime-time hit in eight different...
- Skating with CelebritiesSkating with CelebritiesSkating with Celebrities is a celebrity reality television show that began airing on the Fox network on January 18, 2006. The show also aired in Australia on Network Ten in early 2006 and in New Zealand in October 2008. The show was the U.S. version of Dancing on Ice, which also aired in the U.K....
- Strictly Come DancingStrictly Come DancingStrictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
- Dancing with the Stars
- Skating With The StarsSkating with the StarsSkating with the Stars is an American reality TV show. The show features celebrities paired with professionals from the world of figure skating. The show is based on the British show, Dancing on Ice. The show has a schedule similar to the first season of Dancing with the Stars with performance...
External links
- Official website
- Battle of the Blades Oct 09 interviews with the cast from Season One.