'Rolling Ball of Sparkle': The Legendary AOI Shanghai Press Conference

With the announcement of the Artistry on Ice 2015 show dates, we are all pleasantly reminded of the glorious on- and off-ice shenanigans that inevitably accompany this tour. But nothing has ever topped this classic moment: the June 2013 AOI press conference in Shanghai, brought to you predictably by Johnny and Stéphane, with surprising cameos by Kurt Browning and ... Patrick Chan.

Please join me in reliving the happy insanity of the best press conference ever.

The Weibocalypse Has Been Scheduled

Johnny as the King’s Consort in “Farewell My Concubine / When Love Is Gone,” from the Artistry on Ice 2014 tour. He played the role as part of a groundbreaking and extremely well-received male/male pairs routine with partner Zhang Hao. Please click to see the gorgeous full-size image.

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So Johnny's summer touring season kicks off just two weeks from today with Fantasy on Ice in Japan. The other big news this week: Artistry on Ice 2015 tour dates have been announced! And that means the Weibocalypse — the avalanche of AOI photos and videos that engulfs fandom every summer via the Chinese microblog site Weibo, thanks to the amazing generosity of Johnny's Chinese fans — is nigh.

Sun-Drenched Johnny in Sun Valley

Johnny at rehearsal, Sun Valley, Idaho, August 2014.
Exclusive photo © David Keyser.

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#FBF Picspam ... and Flowers

Beautiful Johnny with beautiful flowers
at the Evening With Champions VIP meet-n-greet
after the Friday show.
Exclusive photo © David Keyser

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Beautiful Human

Art is one thing that can go on mattering
once it has stopped hurting. — Elizabeth Bowen

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Here Are a Bunch of Pics of Johnny Sitting at a Table. You're Welcome.

Even just preparing to take his seat at a press conference, he’s lovely.

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So among the enormous backlog of photos languishing in my computer gathering virtual dust was this beautiful series from Elena Vasileva of Johnny at the Snow King press conference, held after the show’s debut in Moscow back in early December. I ran a few of these then, but here at last are the rest of them.

Because It's Monday...

Johnny at Evening with Champions rehearsal.
Exclusive photo © David Keyser.

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. . . so obviously we need some picspam.

Happy 5th Blogoversary!

Johnny and Binky, from 2010 to now.

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Fabulous #FBF: Johnny in Vogue Nippon

Johnny enjoying dinner in Japan with a surprise guest.

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Once upon a time in September Johnny went to Japan to do a thing with Vogue Nippon which I randomly remembered and so I went digging around for pics and was thrilled to find that I had them in pleasingly large sizes and so here we are.

Johnny Weir and Dick Button: A Very Special #FBF Video

Johnny and Dick at the ITNY “Dare to Be Different”
gala honoring Johnny, October 2011.
Exclusive photo © David Keyser.

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As we look forward to Johnny’s NBC commentary, the following brief clip is both touching and amazingly prophetic.

A Little Bit of Summer for Your Winter

Johnny at the end of his practice on the Sun Valley ice, as fans eagerly wait to greet him. Exclusive photo © David Keyser.

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If you’re as heartily sick of snow and windchills and ice and more snow as I am, do join me in this lovely oasis and let’s not return until it’s at least spring which according to today’s Chicago forecast will be about six months from now . . .

The Artist in Black-and-White

The artist belongs to his work, not the work to the artist.
— Novalis