The Best of Binky's Johnny Weir Blog: October 2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

MAC: Which Apparently Stands for, "My Addiction Continues..."

We interrupt the ongoing Johnny lovefest that was ITNY (but don't worry, we'll get right back to it ASAP via an estimated eighty thousand gagillion pics--"gagillion" being a technical term I just learned from my dear friend Wendy Stevenz, henceforth reserved for describing amounts of Johnny-related things that we want) in order to bring you this exciting extended infomercial for MAC Glitter and Ice because OMG you have GOT to go see the GARGANTUAN POSTER OF JOHNNY at the MAC store near you:

From the MAC store at Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, Illinois.

They have TWO of these nearly floor-to-ceiling posters

at the store entrance. Yes, people stopped and stared--

and then came in to see exactly what Glitter and Ice is all about....

Marketing: You're doing it right.

So we went to Woodfield Mall yesterday to ~~spend insane amounts of money but OMG it was fun~~ check out the collection and it was fabulous! We came in through Nordstrom's, and lo and behold, they had a small display right there:

Do want posters of Johnny everywhere.

Do want them much, much larger than this.

But OK. It was kinda like an hors d'oeuvre to tide us over...

(We're Midwesterners. We live for food similes. And food.)

We were people on a mission, so we only stopped briefly to grab this photo (though we had to wait for people to get out of the way--which was fine, because they were all ooohing and aaahing over the collection, so I was like, "Yes, take your time. Really. I can wait all day if you're going to buy stuff...") and then continued our brisk march through Woodfield to the MAC store--a store that, like so many other things, I had never even heard of until Johnny....

And then yes! There it was! With towering Johnnys the size of the Sphinx waiting at the entrance! And they had the collection right at the front of the store:

So we took some photos, and then one of the makeup artists came over to totally gush over the collection with us, which was fab--he was wonderfully nice and knew everything about every product. And then the manager came over to say that staff from her store had done Johnny's makeup at a local ice show earlier this year (I'm guessing they meant Ice Dreams) and that they all loooooove him. And then they let us play with everything, and then, as Alice was dithering over whether to also get one of the eyeshadows, another artist noted that the collection is selling like mad and once it's gone, it's gone, so if you see stuff you want, BUY. IT. NOW. Which helped to immediately clarify the fact that yes, I seriously NEEDED two lipsticks plus a Dazzleglass. Also eyeliner. And hey while we're here, let's try the mascara cuz Tara says it's the best....

So we had a ball. And as I was chatting with the first makeup artist who had greeted us and who did our checkout, I mentioned that wow I would LOVE to own one of those ginormous posters. And he said that they'll actually have to destroy them when the campaign is over, because that's the policy with any of the promotional materials. He said it had absolutely KILLED him to shred some Lady Gaga posters previously, and he knew he would be just as devastated when the time came to do that to Johnny's posters.

Then we looked at each other and had a moment of silence in heartfelt mutual anticipatory mourning...

..................

And then I commented that they could probably make a fortune selling those posters cuz I know like 100,000 people on Twitter who'd love to have one. But he said that's exactly why they destroy them--because the posters are not allowed to be sold.

(This seems short-sighted but I'm not going to question the wisdom of people who put nine-foot-high posters of Johnny in public spaces.)

He felt bad, though, that there was no way to arrange for me to have nine-foot-high posters of Johnny on every wall of my home, so he let me photograph the cover of the Glitter and Ice in-store manual, and then he included in my bag of goodies two of the postcards that they had sent out to notify customers about the collection launch:

As it turns out, they had just had their big skating event the day before, on Saturday, with a look-alike playing the role of Johnny and the whole snowglobe-and-ice-rink setup. He said they drew a good crowd and everyone loved it.

Which brings me to these awesome photos that appeared magically when I got home in a PM to me from a lovely fan, Katie from Florida, who was actually at the launch event in Orlando and is sharing her exclusive pics here on the blog for all of us to sigh over. Please, please click these to see the full-size versions because they're also ginormous. As they should be when we're viewing Johnny in a mohawk and a whole lotta body glitter:

With Denis Petukhov, Melissa Gregory, and Brooke Castile.

Johnny and Katie,
our kind and generous photographer!

Yes! We have official video,

posted by The Mall at Millenia!!

Yet more MAC!! Here's a look at some Glitter and Ice articles from Japan. The first photo is from ELLE Japon, and the other two are from More. The photos were posted over the weekend on Johnny's Facebook fan page. Love these!

One of the lovely Japanese fans was kind enough to help translate the article that accompanies these photos:

Let's start a magical holiday with MAC "Glitter and Ice" by Johnny Weir.

Johnny Weir is one of the most popular figure skaters in the world because of his fascinating performances on the ice and because he is like a mischievous child off the ice.

The Vancouver Olympic games made him popular in Japan, and he is also considered a fashion-freak by both himself and others. In Be Good Johnny Weir, he wears high fashion, introduces his favorite fur items, and so on.

Johnny's activity extends beyond the ice.

Johnny says: I'm really glad to be the main photo of "MAC Glitter and Ice." Because my heroes like Lady GaGa, Elton John... have been chosen as spokespeople of "MAC Viva Glam," and I always use MAC products in Olympic games and ice shows. Beauty is really, really important to me. I always think I should be perfect on the ice.

Johnny designs his costumes and makes audience excited by "Poker Face," to name a few.

He likes Gaga so much. Johnny was so nervous to be appointed as a main representative of this holiday collection, because it means to be in the same position as Gaga's Viva Glam campaign.

Johnny: Nicola [Formichetti], who is a stylist of Lady Gaga, was in charge of the photo shoot. He played Gaga's unreleased song, and I was very relaxed. The costumes were what Gaga had worn, and it was a wonderful experience to be in the snowglobe.

Johnny talked about his favorites from the collection with shining, glittery eyes:

Nail Lacquer: Unconditionally Fabulous / Lipstick: Eloquent Air / Technakohl Eyeliner: Going for Gold

Johnny: I really work and practice hard for all my dreams to come true. I am a human. But I have an awesome marching band* in myself. Of course, you have it in yourself too.

At this moment, he is charging through, but we have heard the story that he might return to competition next year.

We hope to see his activity more and more.

Our translator notes: P.S *I think "an awesome marching band" is a reference to the words of "Dirty Love." The interviewer probably doesn't know about that.

And finally, one more shot to give you an idea of the scale of those posters, and also how happy I was with everything I bought and with my whole MAC experience:

Yes, he looms large.

I love it.

Bonus pic!! Absolutely adorable art from @ayukovon,

who posted it with this message for Johnny:

"@JohnnyGWeir Happy Halloween!

I wish your warm and friendly family

is full of pleasant! http://twitpic.com/789n8e."

And more video!! In case you missed Johnny's performance

on the Today Show last Friday, here it is:

Poker Face, in that dazzling, all-glitter costume.

I love that this got picked up by Jezebel.com,

where it was posted with the headline,

"Two Minutes Of Joy: Johnny Weir Skates To Lady Gaga."

Very special thanks to Katie for the exclusive photos!!

Yes! Holiday Dreams On Ice returns,

this time to Philly!

VIP tickets are already on sale!

Get yours today via the Holiday Dreams On Ice website! NEW! "Like" HDOI on Facebook, and use promo code "philadelphia" for 50% off your general admission ticket!!

Q and A!! Go read it now!

Yes! Johnny's dresses are now available for purchase only on eDressMe.com!

At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD!

Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website!

Johnny tweeted recently:

"Buy my single,'Dirty Love' via iTunes.

Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold

takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!"

THE WORLD NEEDS THIS VIDEO IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR.

You know what to do.

Please buy the song from Johnny's website,

or just click the "Buy" button on the player

at the top of the blog!

Hey, Welcome to My World also is available

as an eBook! More info on Johnny's website!

The season finale of Husbands is here!

Thank you @GoCheeksGo @SeanHemeon

@JaneEspenson @TeamHusbands!!

If you haven't seen this yet, go check it out now!

Then please "like" them on Facebook

and sign up for their insider newsletter!

Please help us nominate Johnny

for "Must-Follow Athlete on Social Media"

in the Fifth Annual Mashable Awards!

From the Mashable site: You can submit one nomination

per category every day. Mashable's editors will select seven finalists for each category,

and finalists will be announced Nov. 21.

Then readers will vote for the winners.

Award winners will be announced on Mashable on Dec. 19.

Click here to nominate him!

Friday, October 28, 2011

ITNY: Fabulous Pics, Favorite Moments

Johnny during his warmup

before the ITNY performance and gala on Monday.

Photo © David Ingogly.

OK! We made it home in the way that only we--or possibly the family from Little Miss Sunshine--would do it: We left NYC at 2 a.m. on Wednesday because (1) that's the time of day at which I am most wide awake, and (2) hardly anybody else was awake--even in NYC--so no traffic! And thanks to Deb Walsh's awesome directions (kind soul that she is, she DM'd them to me after driving them herself just to make sure they were right), we actually did, in fact, find our way out of the city via the Lincoln Tunnel--just us and a whole lot of unmarked trucks all bearing NJ license plates...

Then about 100 miles later, my Starbucks wore off, so we stopped and got a room in Blakeslee, PA (IDK. I'd have to look on a map. All I know is there was a really nice, nearly empty motel there and a whole lot of trees), literally fell into the beds and passed out, then got back in the car a few hours later in the same clothes we started out in and left the East Coast yet again on Wednesday to drive the remaining 720 miles back to Chicagoland in about 12 hours.

Even though we have spent our time since then (BTW what day is it? Anybody know? Is it still October?) either in sleep comas or fugue states, I have to say, in my more lucid moments, that we had an AMAZING trip. Absolutely amazing.

There's such a jumble of fabulosity and wonder to share, but let's start with what I know you really want: A few photos of the man for whom we drove all those miles to honor, along with so many other wonderful fans...

Monday, 5:40 p.m.-ish
Johnny's warmup.

The kids and I spent the afternoon at ITNY on Monday, meeting with executive director Jirina Ribbens, founder Moira North (both entirely awesome people), a lovely staff member named Aretha, and other volunteers to familiarize ourselves with the two venues--Sky Rink and the Lighthouse--to make sure we understood how best to meet the photography requirements. My dear friend Jenn Kittler, a volunteer at ITNY along with Karen Weeks, was kind enough to come to our hotel and share a cab to Chelsea Piers with us since we were the utter definition of clueless as to how to get anywhere. But super excited! About everything! OMG in NYC you can buy anything you need at any time of day or night! Including food! It's actualfax 24/7 living! Which is MY kind of living! (Jenn was gently tolerant of our OMG!-ness. I don't know how she didn't totally lose her mind...)

We first saw Johnny, Patti, and Diane (Yes! We met Aunt Diane! Love her!) in the hallway outside Sky Rink around 5:15 p.m.--he had just arrived and was waiting for Jirina to show him where his dressing area was, and we were heading there to photograph his warmup. I recognized Patti first--squeee!!--and then realized the dark-haired guy behind her in the giant sunglasses seemed familiar... Hugs all around, and admiration for the vintage fur coat Alice was wearing, much to her delight.

He spent most of the time rehearsing "Meditation"
while ITNY people adjusted the sound and lighting for him.
They did quite a bit of switching the spotlights
from color to color and place to place,
working to create the most appropriate effects
in time to the music.

Near the end of his warmup, one of the ITNY crew yelled down

from the lighting area at the top of the bleachers: "Johnny,

does that bother you, what we're doing, the changing spots?"

To which he yelled back--right before this photo was taken:

"No! I'm a professional!"

But even professionals get exhausted--
he had just returned from the MAC event at Millenia Mall
in Orlando over the weekend. Here he pauses at the end of warmup,
with his Original Media film crew--who introduced themselves to me
and were a blast to talk to as we all tried to figure out exactly
when and where everything was going to be happening--
right behind him, quietly capturing his every move.

7:48 p.m.
"Meditation"

This program was stunning--a powerful and passionate performance. Later Deb Walsh (so thrilled to finally meet her in real life after countless hours cracking each other up on Twitter!) told me that this beautiful music, from the opera Thaïs, is used as a bridge between two scenes in Act II. Thaïs is a story of physical and spiritual love, longing, redemption, and despair; in the "Meditation" portion, the main character is agonizing over leaving behind a somewhat hedonistic past for a chance at eternal love...

You can see his performance here on YouTube. One of his best.

His final pose, accompanied by a foreboding thunderclap
at the end of the music....

And the crowd loved him. Of course.

8:10 p.m.
"Bad Romance."

Looooooove this costume!!

Super-sexy performance--crowd was feeling it and loving it!

Watch him here on YouTube!

10 p.m.-ish and later....
My Favorite Random Moments at the Gala Dinner.

Johnny with two lovely young ladies,

Michelle (left) and Pippa.

The mother, I believe, of one of these girls--a warm and friendly ITNY volunteer who was never too busy to answer questions from tons of random people even as she worked quickly and steadily all afternoon setting up the Lighthouse--told me their story as Davey and I finished gathering equipment after the red carpet was over.

We had conversed off and on throughout the afternoon as we buzzed past each other, and then I saw her again around 10 p.m. while everyone was waiting for Johnny to make his entrance to the dinner. She explained that they couldn't afford to attend the dinner and they needed to be heading home, but the girls--huge Johnny fans--were hoping to have just ten seconds of his time as he walked past so he could autograph a program for them. And they shyly asked if Davey could wait to move his equipment to the dining area so he could maybe catch a picture of Johnny as he autographed it. If he autographed it.

Johnny had just ducked into the hallway behind a closed door at the conclusion of the red carpet session to do an interview with People magazine. So the mom and girls were waiting, quietly and patiently, hoping he might come back that way.

And they waited. And waited. And waited. Because that's how these things go, of course.

At one point Eric Alt opened the door and came out, got a quick rundown on why they were standing there, and smiled and said, "Yes, he'll be coming out this way. Just wait. I think it'll be OK."

So they waited some more. Nervous, and a little sad, the longer they waited, anticipating that he really was not going to have time to do this, and trying to prepare themselves, and feeling bad about even wanting to intercept him--but they waited.

And we waited with them.

The mom also was starting to feel bad--she knew we had to get over to the other area for more photographs--but there were other photographers doing a great job covering everything, so we were happy to wait and maybe help them have a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Although none of us were counting on it, because hello. The evening was for him, and he was super busy, and, well, you know.

Then finally we heard this faint, odd tapping noise. Quiet, but very insistent. Then louder and louder.

We opened the door to the hallway and peeked in to find that Johnny, Tara, Josh, and others had gone out onto the terrace at the far end of the hallway after his interview to have a moment in the cool, fresh air--and they had gotten locked out. It was Tara tapping on the glass, trying to get someone's attention to help get the guest of honor back inside...

So the mom hurried to let them in, and as they all went whooshing past, she looked at me pleadingly and I babbled in a rush, "Johnny, these two lovely young ladies have worked the event all afternoon, but they have to go home now and they were just wondering if you could just sign this really fast on your way...?"

And as almost everyone else went on ahead of him, he stopped in his tracks and smiled directly at the girls and said, "Of course. And thank you so much for all your hard work."

And he took his time autographing their program and chatting with them, and then he said, "Now let's do a picture."

And there it is.

And the lighting conditions were horrendous and so naturally the flash didn't go off, but still: This photo is a treasure.

Then he took yet another five seconds he really didn't have to receive some stuff from me that had been sent by other fans who couldn't be there, so they had forwarded it to me in hopes that I might be able to get it to him. And he asked me to thank everyone, and also, "Please thank the Show Johnny the Love group for the beautiful flowers. I love them."

And I said, "I will! They'll all be so thrilled! Thank you!"

Then I turned to finally get the hell out of the man's way, and he said, "Wait! Shouldn't we do a fresh picture?"

So we did. And again with the no flash, but whatever. He's fabulous in any light.

Johnny at the head table with friends and family, including
his wonderful parents, Patti and John Weir.

At the end of the evening, as we were gathering ourselves together and Johnny was doing an impromptu meet-n-greet with fans, I was walking briskly past this now mostly-empty table when I noticed John Weir standing nearby, trying to get Patti's attention--she was across the table from him, deep in conversation--by silently making faces at her. Which totally cracked me up.

I gently touched his elbow and said, "Mr. Weir. I'm Lynn Ingogly. I write the blog that's on Johnny's website...? It's so wonderful to meet you!"

He smiled and said in his very quiet voice, "Oh yes! I know you! My pleasure. Of course you would catch me making faces at her..."

We chatted for a few minutes, and I told him how much I admired him and Patti, for doing what they've done for their children, for just being who they are. "You and your family are all so amazing."

And the kindest man in the world put his hand on my shoulder and said softly, "You're pretty amazing yourself."

Worth every mile we drove. And then some.

Please help a fellow Johnny fan out!

John Barajas is asking everyone to
"like" this photo on Facebook--this is is his
cheerleading team, and if they get the most "likes,"

they'll be featured in a magazine! Click here or on the photo

to go to the USASF Facebook page, and then please "like"

the photo there. We have until 12:01 a.m. Monday, Oct. 31,

to get them into first place!

Yes! Holiday Dreams On Ice returns,

this time to Philly!

VIP tickets are already on sale!

Get yours today via the Holiday Dreams On Ice website!

NEW! "Like" HDOI on Facebook,
and use promo code "philadelphia"
for 50% off your general admission ticket!!

Q and A!! Go read it now!

Yes! Johnny's dresses are now available
for purchase only on eDressMe.com!

At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD!

Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website!

Johnny tweeted recently:

"Buy my single,'Dirty Love' via iTunes.

Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold

takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!"

THE WORLD NEEDS THIS VIDEO
IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR.

You know what to do.

Please buy the song from Johnny's website,

or just click the "Buy" button on the player

at the top of the blog!

Hey, Welcome to My World also is available

as an eBook! More info on Johnny's website!

The season finale of Husbands is here!

Thank you @GoCheeksGo @SeanHemeon

@JaneEspenson @TeamHusbands!!

If you haven't seen this yet, go check it out now!

Then please "like" them on Facebook

and sign up for their insider newsletter!

Please help us nominate Johnny

for "Must-Follow Athlete on Social Media"

in the Fifth Annual Mashable Awards!

From the Mashable site: You can submit one nomination

per category every day for the next 29 days.

Mashable's editors will select seven finalists for each category,

and finalists will be announced on Nov. 21.

Then readers will vote for the winners.

Award winners will be announced on Mashable on Dec. 19.

Click here to nominate him!