In 2009 or 2010, About.com's Guide to Figure Skating, Jo Ann Schneider Farris, submitted the following to About.com Reality TV when Diane Anderson-Minshall, About.com's Guide to Reality TV asked readers to submit reasons why their lives could be on reality television.
Jo Ann's submission is just one example that would be informative to the public and would, at the same time, give television viewers a positive look into the figure skating world. Those who don't know much about skating could learn that figure skating teaches great life lessons. The hard work and dedication that is required can be taken from childhood into one's adult life.
A Family of Competitive Figure Skaters - My Life Could Be A Television Reality Show About Skating! by Jo Ann Schneider Farris
The perfect network for my show would be... TLC...of course! (The Learning Channel's name means it wishes to educate, and the object of a show like this one would be to teach viewers.)
I am convinced that the life of a figure skating family has to be of interest to reality televisions viewers.
Not only was I a competitive skater and a coach, but now my three children are competitive figure skaters. They train at a major figure skating training center.
Instead of getting dressed for school each morning, my kids get dressed to go to a cold ice rink. There, they train for several hours a day. They are home schooled, but not because they skate, but because I am a strong believer in homeschooling. Everything in our life seems to revolve around figure skating.
My reality show co-stars would be... Me, my husband, and my children would be the stars of the show, of course! Our co-stars would be other skaters and families at the rink. Most figure skaters are not really friends with other skaters, but there still is a mutual fondness and admiration that could be featured. The children have several coaches, who would all be featured in the show.
Lessons Learned
My motto is "Happy Skating!" I believe that a show like the one I have in mind would be a way for figure skating to make those who don't know much about it happy!
