2014 Sochi Olympics: Youthful Tara Lipinski, Johnny Weir breathe new life into figure skating commentary

Published Saturday, Feb 22, 2014 at 3:24 pm EST
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Here come Tara and Johnny.

Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir, close friends and both former Olympians, have spent their time in Sochi commentating the figure skating events live for NBC Sports, but tonight they'll get their primetime debut for the exhibition figure skating gala at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Their trusty third wheel, Terry Gannon, will be there as well to close the last night of full coverage before the closing ceremonies.

While Charlie White and Meryl Davis, Gracie Gold and Ashley Wagner have attracted doting American eyes, American ears have been tuned in closely to the stylings of Lipinski and Weir. Their eyes are occasionally tuned in, too, for glimpses of their daily matching fashions. The duo has been a shining star for NBC during the Sochi Games with deep ice skating analysis that lends itself to even the most clueless viewer.

Weir, a two-time Olympian, and Lipinski, who won gold at the 1998 Nagano games, are long-time friends (just take a look at their shared TaraandJohnny Instagram page) and have on-air chemistry that screams must-listen streaming for those at work all day while their fashion chemistry has produced a daily “What’s Johnny wearing update” on many blogs.

In case you were curious, the theme for Thursday’s ladies singles finale was Athenian and gold in part to celebrate the 16 year anniversary of Lipinski winning her gold medal. At 15, she executed an upset of Michelle Kwan and became the youngest Olympic figure skating champion.

With so many young competitors, Lipinski brought valid insight into specifically how difficult that is and what runs through a young girl’s head upon taking the ice. Alongside Weir, she brings modernity to the sport. Their talk is fresh and fun with a deep knowledge that doesn’t feel anything close to cocky. They can explain in the simplest of terms why a skater will receive deductions for a skate that lifted snow off the ice and they can spot a fallen feather within seconds (also a loss of points).

Meanwhile, their relevance is still very real. Children who grew up rooting for them on the ice are now in their late teens and early 20s. Weir competed so recently, during the Vancouver Olympics, that his knowledge, friendship and experiences with the current skaters is broad and fascinating.

They easily work together to tell stories of the skaters’ and give insight into practices, previous competitions and what should be coming up in the performance. They also have given viewers quotes for the ages.

Weir’s best line from the Game’s is a widely circulated one.

"They sold that program like the rent is due tomorrow and they’re broke,” Weir said of American ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates. “That was fabulous… This was a performance. This was a show, and with the ice dancers being the peacocks of our sport, we needed some plumage.”

When Gracie Gold fell in the freeskate Thursday, Weir simply said, “ouch.” There was no follow up, nor a need to keep talking. That was all that needed to be said.

Lipinski discussed next season’s new rule of allowing lyrical songs, saying if Beyonce were an accepted track, “sign her up.”

While it would be fun to see Lipinski and Weir take to the ice in a “Drunk on Love” ice dance or even “Single Ladies,” NBC would be wise to keep them behind the mic and continue to grow their role. An on-ice dance would be a great draw for coverage (maybe a Today show teaser), but their place now is feet from the ice. The first step to that broader role happens Saturday with the gala, where figure skaters dance for the final time in a friendly exhibition that will pay tribute to Russia's long dancing history.

"Ultimately this is a long-term thing hopefully for us," Weir said in the Wall Street Journal, "and we're going to try to make the biggest splash we can in our first Olympics so that people know to look for us and know to support us and know that in the future we will be the people teaching them about these skaters."

Coming out of the Olympics when interest is at a high, it would be wise for NBC to keep the Tara and Johnny show in some fashion. Figure skating competitions are of course options, with a great opportunity to grow the sports and ratings, as are appearances on NBC Sports Network’s shows.

Just put them somewhere. There is immense power in having a good product, both on the ice and off. Waiting four years to hear from the intelligently fascinating duo would simply be too much.