Men's figure skating short program

10:30 -- Men's short program

Watched "American Idol" most of tonight, but back with the Olympics for the duration. Poor Brian Joubert of France, failed on his quad event, spiraled into a horrible program, just in 10th place now.

Daisuke Takahashi next; rocking out in patterned red top and black pants, just powering through his jumps. Somehow not quite connecting with the crowd, his facial expressions are a bit self-indulgent, as Simon would say. But well-choreographed, and well-executed.

Next, Italian who dresses up as a country boy in overalls and all, he looks ridiculous, this isn't what an Olympic champion looks like. Sure enough, wipes out early. Music's not great, a weird performance.

And now, the main event -- 19-year-old Canadian Patrick Chan, who had a great interview a bit ago with Mary Carillo (who's one of my favorite journalists), totally down-to-earth and normal, yet charming.

Huuuuuge hand from the crowd, huge smile; he looks totally self-assured on home ice, with some mischief. All black, with sparklies up top. Classical music, covers big ice; hangs on to his opening jump. Nails the next two, fierce concentration on his face. Is just opening it up, great footwork sequences says Scott, "magnificent" quality to his skating. Totally in time to the music, very lithe, whoah, screws up an easier element a bit.

"Not perfect, not his best," says Scott. And finished after the music, which Sandra says could cost him a full point.... And his scores -- decent score, into 5th place.

Johnny Weir, who really is weird, next; black with pink accents. His coach speaks to him in Russian, very intense. Is nailing his judges, Sandra says he calls this program, 'I love you, I hate you,' makes the good point that as zany as he is he's a purist on the ice, his technique is refined. Crowd is into it, he connects in a way a lot of the other skaters don't.

He might be a bit nuts, but as Scott said, "he delivered the goods on the ice." Hmm, into fifth place. Plushenko and Takahashi on top at the moment.

Kevin Van Der Perren next, representing Belgium. Uh, okay; in this crazy skeleton outfit. Again, gimmicks don't win Olympic medals. He gets all set up to jump, doesn't flow. Has good body control though, and the costume is kindof striking. "Lacks finesse," says Scott, "lack of quality" in his sequences. Unlike Patrick. Big smile at the end, as Sandra says, "he's totally pleased with it, just not in the same league as the other men we've seen tonight."

Still, he did the best he could on this night, as Dick Button likes to say.

Thomas Verner of the Czech Republic next, looks like a cocky sailor. Sandra says he has lots of character, to Zorba the Greek, doubles his quad try; falls on his triple axel after that, it's turning into an adventure.

Evan Lysacek of the U.S., reigning world champion, looks like death in black and with a grim face; nursing a left foot injury. His coach looks glum too. Very dramatic, jerky, Johnny Deppish start; Scott says just get past the first jump; nails it. Whoah, almost skates into the wall, really close. His jumps are interesting, really quick, so they don't look like much. He's quite smooth, actually; like an assassin, efficient.

Very long, thin limbs, looks a bit like a spider out there. Timing is good; music is good too. Look of triumph at the end, crowd gives him a nice hand, Sandra is gushing about how hard he's worked to get to this point, he's really happy, letting it out now. Hmmm, last time a reigning world champ won the Olympics -- Scott Hamilton. Nice program; should be a heck of a battle in the long program.

Almost Sampras-like in his quiet intensity. Just sitting there waiting for the scores, a smile sneaks across his face. Seems like a really nice guy, Scott tells all the kids to work the way he does. 90.30, into second behind Pleshenko, his best
short program ever. "That's the way it's done," Scott says. Yeah!

Jeremy Abbott, who beat Evan the last two years at U.S. Nationals, in purple; used to suffer from nerves, new coach has him calmed down. To the Beatles, "A Day in the Life," wow, totally nails his opening combination. Looks nice and relaxed and fluid, totally biffs his big combination, singles it. Doubles his lutz, he's totally fallen apart, Scott and Sandra say, "he's done."

Finishes in 14th, Scott says, "he's so much better than that, so much." Final skater is Michal Brezina of the Czech Republic, in black and white, doing the tired old "Putting on the Ritz" thing, not sure why. Big opening triple axel though.... His jumps are pretty big, but there's not much artistry; such big jumps though.... Hmmm.

He has an interesting quality, it's almost like he's skating for his own perfection, not playing to the crowd; not cold eithe,r just concerned with something different. Big smile and exultation at the end; "another of these 19-year-olds who doesn't know how tough skating is yet." I liked him. Finishes 9th.

Weir in 6th, has a shot at fourth; Plushenko, Lysacek and Takahashi are way out in front.