NBC to air Skating & Gymnastics Show Jan. 10

The Progressive Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular was filmed and presented live at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center back in October and the show will be broadcast on NBC, Sunday, Jan. 10 from 4-6 p.m. (check local listings).

Olympic champion Nastia Liukin celebrated her 20th birthday during the show’s taping and producer Steve Disson hired a DJ and threw a party for Nastia at the hotel after the show. “I was so happy to be able to spend [my birthday] with some of my really great friends!” Nastia wrote on her website.

Shawn Johnson is also part of the all-star cast, which includes Ivan Ivankov, Raj Bhavsar, Courtney Kupets, Samantha Peszek, Paul and Morgan Hamm, and acro Mixed Pair extraordinaire Arthur Davisand Shenea Booth.

The skating cast features Michael Weiss — whose father, Greg Weiss, was a member of the 1964 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team — Todd Eldredge, Elvis Stojko and Emily Hughes among others.

Actress-singer Ashley Tisdale performs “Crank It Up” live for the show’s opening.

Announcing the show are Bart Conner, Nadia Comaneci, Peggy Fleming and Nastia.

Although the sports barely resemble each other, figure skating and gymnastics share a common bond. They both combine art and athleticism, are subjective and have provided some of the most iconic moments of the Olympics.  And, women generally command the majority of attention.

They’re also glamour events, sports people watch and often find themselves talking about the next day. The fact that there’s usually a big-name rivalry to spice things up — real or imagined, friendly or icy — only adds to the fun.

So this could be a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon – especially if it’s as cold and snowy as it’s been in most parts of the country. Happy weekend!

Fans can design Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic helmet

As the Winter Olympics draw close, we can’t wait to bring you all the exciting promotions and activities being planned to support the Games and all the athletes.

One of our fave winter athletes is skier Lindsey Vonn. Now NBCOlympics.com invites fans to join in the Countdown to Vancouver and participate in the “Design Lindsey’s Helmet” contest, beginning November 23. Vonn, one of the most successful alpine skiers in U.S. history, is challenging fans to convince her that their artwork is what she wants to feature on her helmet while soaring down the slopes during the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.

“This is your chance to be with me in Vancouver,” said Vonn.  “Whether you’re an aspiring graphic designer or just someone who likes to doodle all day, it doesn’t matter if you snow plow down the bunny slopes, tree-ski in waist deep powder, or just hang in the lodge, I want to see your designs.”

To enter the contest, fans as young as 13 years old can log on to NBCOlympics.com/lindseys-helmet/ and enter original artwork by December 21. A team of judges will narrow the submissions down to a final three designs, which will be showcased on NBCOlympics.com the first week of January. Fans will then have the opportunity to log on and vote to help Lindsey decide on the winning design.

The voting closes on January 11 with the winner to be announced in late January. The grand prize winner for the “Design Lindsey’s Helmet” contest will be awarded a trip for two to Vail, one of the world’s top ski resorts. Prizes also include a pair of Head skis and bindings and a Uvex helmet and goggles.

“Now that the World Cup season has started, I’m getting very excited for the Olympics,” said Vonn.  “I really wanted to do something that allowed my fans to share in my Vancouver experience, and this is what I came up with.  I’m looking forward to seeing what people create for my helmet.”

Vonn is coming off a second place finish in the opening Audi FIS World Cup slalom last weekend in Levi, Finland. She is continuing to train at Vail’s Golden Peak in anticipation of the Aspen Winternational World Cup coming up Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 28-29. Friday (Nov. 20) she will takes questions from kids in a live Webcast from 5:00-6:00 p.m. MT at LindseyIsEpic.com.

Fans can follow the Vancouver Bound Vonn all season long at usskiteam.com, or get insider news through the Team’s new Fan Club.

NBC’s Olympics coverage triumphs at Sports Emmys

The 30th Sports Emmy Awards were held last night at Lincoln Center in New York.

NBC’s Dick Ebersol received the Lifetime Achievement Award.  Ebersol, who has led NBC Sports for 20 years, is renowned for his ability to amass large television audiences. Most recently, Ebersol architected two record-breaking television events: The Beijing Olympic Games, the most watched event in U.S. history, and Super Bowl XLIII, which delivered the largest single audience. Remarkably, he has now produced seven of the top ten most-watched events of all time.

NBC won the “President’s Trophy” by taking home nine awards.  Four of NBC’s statues were for the network’s coverage of last year’s Olympics, with Bob Costas winning best sports host and Cris Collinsworth being named best sports analyst.

HBO came in second place with eight Emmys, while Fox and CBS received five awards each. The Sports Emmys are presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Here are some of the the top winners….

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – STUDIO HOST
* Bob Costas NBC/HBO

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – PLAY-BY-PLAY
* Jim Nantz CBS

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – STUDIO ANALYST
* Terry Bradshaw FOX
* Tom Jackson ESPN

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – SPORTS EVENT ANALYST
* Cris Collinsworth NFL Network / NBC

Notice anything missing? How about some women on the list? Let’s try to change that next year!

TV Alert: March 1, 2009

Looking for something to watch on Sunday before heading back to work for a new week?

Starting at 5pm Eastern, the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships will be shown on ESPN2. Watch for Lolo Jones to prove she didn’t let her disappointment in Beijing (after she hit a hurdle in the Final and dropped from 1st to 7th in the final meters) get her down as she takes on the best hurdlers in the U.S.

Jenn Stuczynski has already set the American Record for the pole vault indoors this season and is the heavy favorite at the national championships this weekend in Boston. Look for her to win and possible set another record. Her toughest competition will be from Stacy Dragila, pole vault pioneer who held the record until Stuczynski took it.

Then on Sunday night, the season premiere of The Apprentice will air on NBC at 9pm Eastern. Annie Duke, poker champ, will represent Refugees International. Duke now serves as a consultant for UltimateBet.com and coaches celebrities such as Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Charles Barkley on their poker game.

Natalie Gulbis, pro golfer, will represent the Boys & Girls Clubs of American. Gulbis won her first LPGA Tour in 2007 at the Evian Masters. She has starred in her own reality series on the Golf Channel, created her own line of calendars and graced the red carpet for the Grammy’s.

Have something else to watch related to women’s sports? Let us know! We’ll add it to our Calendar.

Laila Ali steps out of the ring and into the “American Gladiator” arena

The ultimate battle returns Monday nights on NBC. And stepping out of the ring to co-host the “bigger and better” American Gladiators is the greatest female boxer in the world (and our favorite contestant on DWTS), Laila Ali.

The show is an update on the 1989-97 syndicated series that featured amateur athletes facing off in a series of competitions against a regular cast of “gladiators.” Laila, who shares hosting duteis with Hulk Hogan, believes the show is more sports programming than reality TV. A nationwide search for gladiators and contenders culled a cast of men and women who proved they are fit enough – mentally and physically – to compete. 

As host, Ali probably won’t be part of the competition herself but she has tried the joust and found it a lot more challenging than she thought it would be. Other women will compete however so keep an eye out for Gladiators Crush, Siren, Stealth and Venom and contestants Monica, Bonnie, Christie, Jessie and Kim.

NBC Expands Coverage of 2008 U.S. Championships Skating Spectacular

(11/7/07) – U.S. Figure Skating and NBC announced the expansion of coverage for the 2008 U.S. Championships Skating Spectacular. The exhibition, previously slated to be a one-hour show, will now be shown from 4-6 p.m. EST on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. Read more