Canada’s own renowned choreographer Laurieann Gibson (SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, MAKING THE BAND), the creative visionary behind Lady Gaga’s choreography, joins three-time U.S. skating champion Johnny Weir and two-time Olympic Champion and Emmy award-winning broadcaster Dick Button, as judges on CTV’s highly-anticipated new competition series SKATING WITH THE STARS. The six-episode series kicks-off with a live, two-hour premiere Monday, Nov. 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, following the DANCING WITH THE STARS final performance show at 8 p.m. ET (check local listings).
As previously announced, Canadian-American ice dancer Tanith Belbin has been named colour commentator; while Vernon Kay (MILLION DOLLAR MIND GAME) has been announced as host of the series.
The three judges will critique the techniques and performances of six famous faces – reality TV star Bethenny Frankel (THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK), Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil, Olympic ski-champ Jonny Moseley, actors Sean Young (Blade Runner, No Way Out), Rebecca Budig (ALL MY CHILDREN, THE GUIDING LIGHT) and Brandon Mychal Smith (Disney Channel’s SONNY WITH A CHANCE).
The stars will take to the ice with their world class skating partners: Bethenny Frankel & Ethan Burgess, Brandon Mychal Smith & Keauna McLaughlin, Jonny Moseley & Brooke Castile, Rebecca Budig & Fred Palascak, Sean Young & Denis Petukhov and Vince Neil & Jennifer Wester. The couple with the lowest ranking following the judges’ scores and votes from the public will be sent home the following week.
THE JUDGES:
Dick Button – A two-time Olympic champion and Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, Dick Button is widely considered one of the premier male figure skaters and figure skating television commentators of all time. As a skater he dominated the sport like no other, in one seven-year period (1946-52) winning two Olympic gold medals (1948, 1952), five consecutive World Championships (1948-52), seven U.S. National titles and six North American titles. Since making his debut on television in 1960, Button served more than 40 years as a figure skating analyst. Button’s work as a correspondent for NBC at the 2006 and 2010 Olympics continued an unbroken streak of 17 Olympic Winter Games during his long and illustrious career. Button is a member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame and Olympic Hall of Fame.
Laurieann Gibson – Hailing from Toronto, ON, Laurieann Gibson trained at the prestigious Alvin Ailey dance company and then segued from theater dance to hip hop as director of choreography for Motown and Bad Boy Records. In addition to working with such stars as Michael Jackson, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, The Jonas Brothers, she choreographed the feature film Alfie, as well as the film Honey, in which she also appeared. She has worked alongside acclaimed directors Spike Lee and Matthew Rolston. In 2005, she began as on-air choreographer of MTV’s hit show, MAKING THE BAND and recently wrapped MTV’s STARMAKER. She has choreographed tours for both Miley Cyrus and Jesse McCartney and this past summer has appeared as a choreographer on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE.
Johnny Weir – At the age of 26, Johnny Weir—a three-time U.S. champion, two-time Olympian, and World medalist—is one of the superstars of figure skating and an emerging pop-culture icon. Fans all over the world love his elegant yet edgy style both on and off the ice, and the delicious unpredictability of what he’ll say—or wear, or do—next. In 2010, Weir made the U.S. Olympic team for the second time and represented his country at the Olympic Games in Vancouver, once again capturing the hearts of millions. Weir evolved as a media darling during the games, and was described by many journalists as “the best quote at the Olympics.”
SKATING WITH THE STARS is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions and distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. Izzie Pick (DANCING WITH THE STARS, and the UK’s STRICTLY COME DANCING) and Phil Edgar Jones (BIG BROTHER, and CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER) serve as executive producers. Paul Osborne (I’M A CELEBRITY…GET ME OUT OF HERE!, and SECRET MILLIONAIRE) will serve as co-executive producer. Alex Rudzinski (DANCING WITH THE STARS) will direct.
