Johnny Weir, 2010 US Nationals bronze medalist, promotes Pop Star On Ice and prepares for 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics (video)

UPDATE: Johnny will be in attendance at the 7:10 and 9:15 p.m. screening of Pop Star On Ice on Friday, January 22 at the IFC Center.

So what does Johnny Weir, the 2010 U.S. bronze medalist, do after his win? Hop on a plane of course the next day to open the theatrical release of his movie Pop Star On Ice and attend a Lady Gaga concert! After the men's free skate on Sunday, Johnny left Spokane, Washington on Monday and was at the IFC Center in downtown Manhattan yesterday evening to promote the film. The IFC Center is having a limited run of PSOI and there are showings three times a day every day until Tuesday, January 26. In the interview above, Johnny talks about his fourth Nationals experience and preparations for his second Winter Olympics. At the 2006 Games, he placed fifth overall but was second after the short program so what a disappointment that must have been for him. He also answers the various critics out there who love to debate his role in the sport of figure skating. (Photo at right, Johnny attends IFC Center's showing of Pop Star On Ice)

Directors David Barba and James Pellerito also attended, and with Johnny introduced the film and took questions from the audience. They were interesting questions, like, is it different skating last because four or five other skaters have gone before you so the ice has huge ruts, is not as smooth, and does that affect your performance? Answer: No he skates the same. Another good one - How does he get focused before a competition? Answer: Basically he needs alone time in the hotel room. Sometimes he turns on Real Housewives of Atlanta while doing his hair to get his mind off of the competition. He explained that since that show is the furthest removed from his life, he can escape for a few minutes. After the intro, Johnny then rushed off to see Lady Gaga in concert at Radio City Music Hall. He's then flying back to Spokane on Saturday for the exhibition which is on Sunday. Whew! Did anyone tell him it's 27 days until the men's short program at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics?

Interestingly, during my chat with David and James, who were also in Spokane filming for the reality series Be Good Johnny Weir, I found out that they got to hang around with the other U.S. men a fair amount and were particularly impressed with Jeremy Abbott and Adam Rippon. Hm...Another reality series in the works? (Click here and here to read reviews of Be Good Johnny Weir, which premiered on Sundance Channel on Monday, January 18. New episodes start every Monday night at 10:30 p.m. ET.)

Be Good Johnny Weir: Figure skating reality show premieres tonight on the Sundance Channel

Just a day after Johnny Weir captured the bronze at U.S. Nationals and a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, we have another opportunity to see The Bejeweled One. The Sundance Channel premieres its eight-part reality show Be Good Johnny Weir tonight at 10:30 PM EST/PST. For more schedule information, consult Sundance's web site. The first episode is Pop Star on Ice, the documentary filmed by David Barba and James Pellerito that led to the reality series. We attended PSOI's New York premiere last summer and posted extensive interviews with the cast and crew, including a conversation with Johnny's friend Paris Childers (above left), who is prominently featured in the film. Very revealing, but then again, we've never known Johnny to hide much. The soundtrack to the documentary, composed by the talented Giovanni Spinelli, is available on Amazon.

UPDATE ON TUESDAY: James told us today that there will be a limited one-week theatrical run at IFC Center in downtown NYC (323 Sixth Avenue at West 3rd Street in the West Village) beginning on Wednesday, January 20. Johnny, For the Wednesday show, David and James will all be there to introduce the film at 6:50 p.m. Call the theater (212) 924-7771 for more information.

But wait, if that's still not enough, we see in our in-box a note from the Sundance Channel marketing department telling us that fans can buy the official BGJW jacket (see Johnny posing at right). The price is $95, and more info can be found here. We particularly like the mod photo of Johnny posing with his ever-glamorous agent Tara Modlin (who we saw in fits of ecstasy last night when two of her clients -- Johnny and Jeremy Abbott -- medaled in Spokane. Imagine the paroxysms in Vancouver if they repeat). Johnny also wore the jacket while at Nationals, which paired nicely with the BGJW ads that Sundance bought on NBC.

If you plan to be on Twitter during this or future episodes, please consider using the hash tag #bgjw in your Tweets so we can follow everyone.

Finally, while we're on the subject of Mr. Weir, take a read of Steve Kelley's column in The Seattle Times over the weekend. An excerpt:

In many ways, Johnny Weir is everything that figure skating is trying to escape from. He is a gender-bending showman, who has vamped for cameras in high heels and short skirts. He dressed like a swan at one competition, wearing one red glove to symbolize the beak.

Weir is a remarkable athlete, with mad hops, but he also is the guy who recently starred in the documentary "Pop Star on Ice" that featured a scene with him soaking in a tub with a male friend.

Let's put it this way: There won't be much of a crossover audience with NFL fans today when Weir competes in the championship finals at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Read the rest (which is more measured) and let us know what you think.

Johnny Weir rings in 2010 -- Russian style

Johnny Weir and a posse of friends and admirers celebrated the departure of 2009 and the arrival of an Olympic year Thursday night -- although champagne, borscht, and thumpy Russian club music, not skating, were the dominant themes at restaurant Mari Vanna in New York City.

Johnny, as usual, exuded sartorial splendor, but he wasn't alone. Joining him at a central communal table were agent Tara Modlin, best friend Paris Childers, younger brother Boz Weir and about ten others from the world of skating, fashion and Johnny (Mom and Dad were back home in Pennsylvania minding the dogs, Johnny told us). David Barba and James Pellerito, producers for Johnny's reality series Be Good Johnny Weir, were also on hand with a coterie of assistants to continue filming for the series, which premieres in two weeks on the Sundance Channel. The confluence of lights, camera and other diners, who paid $400 apiece, caused a little friction between the film crew and the restaurant (and a few non-Johnny celebrants shot us the evil eye as we toured the packed restaurant with our video and still cameras). But, vodka can be quite the social lubricant and as the night wore on, good cheer won out and all ended well. There is no doubt that Russians definitely know how to put on a good party, probably part of the reason why Johnny is so fond of the country and its people (and vice versa, as evidenced by the massive surge in Russian traffic Lifeskate gets whenever we post Johnny news).

In our interview -- Johnny's first in 2010, a year that may be the most exciting in his career -- Johnny talks about the successes and disappointments in the season thus far, the challenges coming up at Nationals in a few weeks, his reality show, and love and relationships. And he's attacked by an aggressive party balloon (at 2:05).

 

For many more interviews with Johnny and videos of his performances (including the first time he skated Poker Face, from last year's New York Fashion week), visit our Johnny and reality series topics.

Johnny Weir hosts New Year's Eve bash in New York City: Questions, please

 We're attending Johnny's New Year's Eve party tonight in New York at the Russian restaurant Mari Vanna. Johnny has told us that he feels like Russia is his adopted country and he has plenty of Russian fans, so this is a natural choice for the party. To add to the festivities, the production crew from the upcoming Sundance Channel reality series Be Good Johnny Weir also will be filming.

If you have any questions that you would like to ask Johnny, please post a comment on this thread and we'll pass them along. Video story and photos (of course!) to come soon of all the decade-ending festivities.

For those of you who will be in town tonight, tickets may still be available, so please contact the restaurant at 212.777.1955 or marivannanyc@gmail.com for more information.

Be Good Johnny Weir reality show to premiere on January 18 on Sundance Channel

SUNDANCE CHANNEL BREAKS THE ICE WITH NEW ORIGINAL SERIES: BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR PREMIERING JANUARY 18, 2010

Eight-Part Docu-Series Explores Real Life Ice-Capades of Iconoclastic Figure Skater and Pop Culture Sensation Johnny Weir and His Quest for Olympic Gold

New York, November 12, 2009 – Lights, camera, axel!  In the eight-part original documentary series, “Be Good Johnny Weir,” Sundance Channel explores the life of one of America’s most outspoken and colorful sports figures, three-time U.S. National Figure Skating Champion and World Medalist Johnny Weir. The series airs Mondays at 10:30 p.m. e/p beginning January 18th.

“Be Good Johnny Weir” delivers an absorbing portrait of an athlete whose personality is as big as his talent.  Bright, quick-witted and extroverted, Weir is as comfortable walking in a downtown New York fashion show as he is on the ice, and he is known for giving candid, irreverent, responses at press events.  At the same time, Weir has the athletic prowess to back up his pop culture stardom, demonstrating both breathtaking grace and supreme technical skill.  He also injects his larger-than-life persona into his routines -- wearing sparkly self-designed “onesie” costumes portraying both male and female characters in his controversial routine “The Swan.”  Weir was heavily favored going into the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics, but finished a disappointing fifth.  Now 24, the skater has learned that talent alone does not make a champion – and he knows he must dig deep if he is to secure what may be his last chance at a place on a U.S. Olympic team.  “Be Good Johnny Weir” follows Weir as he competes all over the globe, culminating in his appearance at the U.S. Men’s Nationals in January, the results of which determine whether or not he will vie for the gold in Vancouver.  It is here that Weir will learn whether or not he will be able to fulfill his dream of Olympic glory on the world stage.

“This series tells the hugely entertaining tale of an independent quest for greatness” said Sarah Barnett, Sundance Channel EVP and GM.  “Weir is a very compelling individual, someone who takes the art of skating to a higher level, and we’re excited to give our viewers the chance to follow his adventure across the ice.”

“Be Good Johnny Weir” kicks off on January 18th with a special 90-minute episode, “Pop Star on Ice.”  This feature-length episode screened at several film festivals in the summer of 2009, and received glowing reviews.  Writing about “Pop Star on Ice” at the Seattle International Film Festival, Alissa Simon of Variety called it “a fascinating portrait” in which “Weir proves as natural a screen presence as he is a skater.”

“Be Good Johnny Weir” is directed and produced by James Pellerito and David Barba, who will also serve as Executive Producers.  The series is directed, produced and co-financed by Original Media (“LA Ink”, “Stormchasers”, “The Rachel Zoe Project”). Executive Producers for Sundance Channel are Sarah Barnett, Lynne Kirby and Ann Rose.

The schedule for “Be Good Johnny Weir" is as follows:

Monday, January 18th at 10:30pm
“Be Good Johnny Weir”/Episode 1: “Pop Star on Ice”

Monday, January 25th at 10:30pm
“Be Good Johnny Weir”/Episode 2

Monday, February 1st at 10:30pm
“Be Good Johnny Weir”/Episode 3

Monday, February 8th at 10:30pm
“Be Good Johnny Weir”/Episode 4

Monday, March 1st at 10:30pm
“Be Good Johnny Weir”/Episode 5

Monday, March 8th at 10:30pm
“Be Good Johnny Weir”/Episode 6

Monday, March 15th at 10:30pm
“Be Good Johnny Weir”/Episode 7

Monday, March 22ndat 10:30pm
“Be Good Johnny Weir”/Episode 8

About Johnny Weir

Johnny Weir was born and raised in Coatesville, Pennsylvania and started skating very late for a figure skater, at the age of twelve. Four years later, he was the World Junior Champion. Johnny placed fifth at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino and is a three time National Champion as well as the 2008 World Bronze Medalist. Unlike most figure skaters, Johnny is a clockwise spinner and jumper. He is known for his quick wit, his fashion sense, his sparkly onesie' costumes which he designs himself, and his tremendous natural talent and grace on the ice. Jon Heder's character in Blades of Glory was based on Johnny Weir.

About Sundance Channel

Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel is the television destination for independent-minded viewers seeking something different.  Bold, imaginative and uncompromising, Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries and original programs.  Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.  Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of encouraging artistic freedom of expression.  Sundance Channel's website address is .

About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC

Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC).  Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted, multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world's most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, Sundance Channel and VOOM HD Networks.  Through IFC Entertainment, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a leading distribution company for independent film; IFC Productions, a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects; and IFC Center, a three screen, state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York's Greenwich Village.  Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company; Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company; and 11 Penn TV, a company that manages Rainbow Media's NYC studios and post-production facilities.