Stars on Ice (Canadian TV series)
| Stars on Ice | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Directed by | Michael Steele |
| Presented by |
|
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Michael Steele |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | CTV |
| Release | 21 September 1976 – 1981 |
Stars on Ice is a weekly television ice show, which was broadcast from 1976 to 1981 on the CTV Television Network in Canada. The series' ice-skating host was Alex Trebek (1976–1980) and later, Doug Crosley (1980–81).[1] Toller Cranston was a frequent performer.[1]
The show consisted of figure-skating stars performing routines in costume.[1] It was a successful in-house production of CTV,[2] filmed on an ice rink in a large studio at CFTO-TV in Toronto,[1] and sold to other Canadian outlets.[2]
The series was produced and directed by Michael Steele, had a regular cast of 14 world-class ice professionals, most of whom taught skating locally. The variety-show format on ice consisted of a glitzy "show opener" by the regular cast of skaters and a bigger budget production number (usually tributes to Hollywood musicals) with elaborate set pieces in the middle of the half-hour.
Rounding out the half-hour were famous and novelty-act figure skaters, vaudeville-type acts, and "affordable" (on the series' modest budget) non-skating celebrities at the B-list phase of their careers, such as Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz (formerly of The Monkees), Eddie Mekka of Laverne & Shirley, and 1960s recording artist Donovan.
Due to being only minimally dependent on language, and its unusual ice-variety show format, the series was widely syndicated internationally.
The name was later adopted by a live touring figure skating show in 1986, headlined by Scott Hamilton and Dorothy Hamill. This ice show had occasional televised specials, one of which was nominated for a 2015 Canadian Screen Award.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d Wedge, Pip (June 2002). "Stars on Ice". History of Canadian Broadcasting. Canadian Communications Foundation.
- ^ a b Fitzgerald, James (5 March 2001). "CFTO's 40th anniversary". Playback. Toronto, Ontario: Brunico Communications.
- ^ "Canadian Screen AWards '15: TV categories". Playback. Toronto, Ontario: Brunico Communications. 13 January 2015.
External links