It could be because TV doesnt get more dramatic than Calgarys Battle of the Brians.
(Relive it with Boitanos commentary here.)
Or that at 44, hes still throwing triples in TV specials like his annualBrian Boitano Skating Spectacular.
Credit: Dan Rosenstrauch/Contra Costa Times/ZUMA Press
Then catch him in NBCs Music of Seal on Ice on New Years Day.)
Or because youre still singing the song What Would Brian Boitano Do?
fromSouth Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut.
Even the one about his fine butt.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Why Barry Manilow?BRIAN BOITANO:Every year I have a different musical guest.
I had met him before, and I thoughtWell, Ill just ask him.
So the hard part was picking four of the acoustic classic hits theyre all my favorites.
I chose Even Now.
Dorothy Hamill wanted really badly to skate to Weekend in New England.
Then as a tribute to my father, I skated to I Write the Songs.
How has the market for skating specials changed over the years?
I feel like there was a time when youd see one a week.
Now, not so much.Its true.
The boom started in 1988, went through the Tonya-Nancy thing in 1994, until about 1998.
LikeBattle of the Sexes, judged by thePlayboybunnies.
So the market got oversaturated.
And everything was prime-time.
In 1996, we had 13 prime-time shows, and half of them were on online grid.
People stopped buying the stupid shows.
Whats your dream skating special?On the lip of the Grand Canyon.
Ive always wanted to do that.
My very first TV special out of the Olympics was on a glacier in Alaska.
Right after that one, I went and pitched this idea to skate in three National Parks.
[The networks] were like, Way too expensive.
Do you ever watch your old performances on YouTube?
I found yourMissing You chair numberand was giddy.I have.
I was like,Maybe I should bring back Legends of the Fall this year.I dont have that videotape.
[Simulates typing] Brian Boitano.
Legends of the Fall.
So I studied the choreography, but it didnt fit into anything I was doing this year.
[Boitanos publicist:You played the beast?
]I played the foxy Beast.
Thats a nice segue into my first reader question: CEEGEE says, I love Brian.
My sister-in-law insists that he wore a pad to make his posterior look so fine.
Is it true?No, and it still looks even finer than ever.
I didnt even wear a pad in the front; I would never wear a pad in the back.
Thats all muscle, honey.
What is your workout regime?
I read something about how youve worked with an Ultimate Fighter trainer?I did.
My workout regime: I skate two hours a day, because nothing can replicate skating.
And then three days a week I bike, do core, and stretch.
And then on weekends, I dont skate, but I go to the gym.
I have one day of rest a week.
Because you didnt want anyone there to witness the[Shouts] Goddamn it!
[Laughs] I just wanted to go alone.
Im in this crowded movie theater, and Im like,Oh my God, dont trash me.
Dont trash me.Like I remember that moment when Stan just stops and goes, What Would Brian Boitano Do?
Hes talking about me, and everyones laughing.
It was just surreal.
Have you ever metSouth Parkcreators Trey Parker and Matt Stone?Never.
I still want to meet those guys.
Hes like, I have a confession to make.
Im the one that commissionedThe Spirit of Christmas [the video Christmas card that ultimately led toSouth Park].
Im like, Youuuuu.
But my manager couldnt decide what to get me for Christmas two years ago.
So then she asked, Hey, can you have the guys send a picture to Brian for Christmas?
And then Matt wrote, I love you!
and Trey wrote, We love you!Thank you so much!
Cause I did [an interview] forVH1 Goes Inside: South Park.
[Laughs] I think Im probably the only well-known person who wanted to do it.
If theyd ragged on me, I wouldnt have.
NEXT PAGE: A video sneak peek of this yearsBrian Boitano Skating Spectacular!
[Laughs] I know hes not skating anymore.
Some different TV shows have asked us if wed do a number together next year for our 20th anniversary.
I was willing to do it, but he says hes hanging up the boots.
No, its sad that hes retiring, cause we were always very friendly competitors.
We werent friends, but we were friendly.
The way I discovered the name Battle of the Brians was reading the cover ofTimemagazine.
Im like, Ooooh, s. Battle of the Brians.
I know who thats about.
I didnt even pick it up off the newsstand.
Can you believe that?
Another reader, ILLANA, would like to know if youll be following Orser into coaching.No.
Ive been mentoring this year [U.S. skaters Ryan Bradley and Alissa Czisny].
I like that, but coaching is a full-time job.
I dont have the energy to do my own skating stuff and do that.
The reason I won that night [in Calgary] is because I did more jumps than anybody else.
I understand what theyre saying.
We dont have the Dorothy Hamills that are beautiful to watch, even in the simplest things.
Kids dont know the language of figure skating.
Thoughts?I watchSo You Think you’re able to Dance.
Yeah, that would be okay.
What other TV do you watch?I loveThe Amazing Race, 24, Prison Break, Ugly Betty.
Things I dont like:Dancing With the Stars.
I just dont like watching bad dancing.
What did you think ofSkating With Celebrities?Nightmare!
They gave them like three weeks they were marching around like beginners.
But if they had more time, they still wouldnt be able to anything.
What a great idea for them to do ice skating.
We can see them doing scratch spins and double axels.
Im like, Double axels?
You guys are crazy.
