XPost: alt.fan.tonya-harding

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The Portlandian, the Internet's premier source of Tonya News

September 14, 2019 Edition
(C) 2019 Portland Ice Skating Society
http://www.pdxiss.org *****************************************************************

Welcome to another edition of "The Portlandian". In this latest
thrilling issue, we look at Tonya's new advertising campaign,
something old (some interviews), something new (some podcasts),
investigate Tonya's singing career that could have happened, and
some more Tonya artwork & impersonators. We also check out what
was bugging Tonya recently, and explore what Tonya's life story
would look like if it had been filmed by a different director...
one with a penchant for revisionist history.


NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FEATURING TONYA UNVEILED

You may remember in our last issue we mentioned that Tonya had
been spotted in a clip that showed her in a red suit and ice
skates walking around an office.

Now all has been revealed - it was actually for a new ad campaign
for Direct Auto Insurance that features Tonya along with a couple
of other celebrities who have also had problems in their past.

So far two ads have emerged with Tonya:

Get Direct and get going:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUmX9lLFaW4

Welcome back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFt86Te1r0g

The campaign is the work of Pereria O’Dell, which won Direct
Auto's business in March. Steve Miller at Radical.Media directed
the spots, which are running on TV and social media. Each
celebrity has their own 30, 15, and six-second TV and digital
video, along with an additional compilation spot.

"We know that life doesn't always go according to plan, and if
there's one thing that we all deserve, it's a second chance. Our
new campaign is at the heart of that belief," said Kevin
Fairchild, Direct Auto's VP of customer experience and brand
innovation.

"In choosing celebrities, we wanted to hone in on people who
share the same everyday issues our audience faces. Sure, they’ve
risen to great heights in their careers and lives, but, at the
end of the day, they’re just like everyone else," said Nick
Sonderup, executive creative director at Pereira O’Dell. "Direct
Auto Insurance believes in giving them, and you, a second chance.
We wanted to develop creative that celebrates that idea in a fun
yet poignant way."

In addition to Tonya, the campaign also features Johnny Manziel,
who was booted out of the Canadian Football League, and rapper
Fat Joe who has spent time in jail for tax evasion.

As for our opinion, they're great ads, though you can't get round
the fact that Tonya in a suit in an office does look out of place
- she's definitely an outdoors girl. It probably would have been
better to have her under the hood of her truck.

More info about the campaign can be found below:

https://www.adsoftheworld.com/media/film/direct_auto_insurance_get_direct_get_going

https://www.campaignlive.com/article/direct-auto-giving-celebs-tonya-harding-second-chance/1593574

https://adage.com/creativity/work/direct-auto-insurance-get-direct-and-get-going/2191186


A TORRENT OF TONYAPHILES IN THE MEDIA

The past few months have seen continuation of the pro-Tonya
articles and podcasts that ramped up in number with the release
of "I, Tonya" almost two years ago.

First up, Portland's biggest Tonyaphile - and arguably the
world's leading Tonyaologist - talking on one of her favorite
subjects. The long-awaited podcast on Tonya by Sarah Marshall,
whose article "Remote Control" helped to kickstart the re-
evaluation of Tonya, is now up... and best of all there's two
parts, for a double shot of our ice queen.

We've very much been waiting for this one for a lonnngggg time -
and it does not disappoint. It's even been named by Vulture as
one of its best new true crime podcasts:

https://www.vulture.com/2019/07/best-new-true-crime-podcasts-tonya-harding.html

So, pour yourself a glass of your favorite alcoholic beverage
(with ice, of course), turn the lights down low, pull up your
most comfortable easy chair, and sit back and relax and listen to
almost two and a half hours of glorious pro-Tonya goodness:

https://rottenindenmark.wordpress.com/2019/07/18/tonya-harding-part-1/

https://rottenindenmark.wordpress.com/2019/07/26/tonya-harding-part-2/


Most sports radio broadcasters have treated Tonya with contempt
over the years, making her the butt of jokes, because, you know,
figure skating can't be a real "sport" because the competitors
wear sequins, the guys are all "fags", etc. They usually tend to
be fat, balding, middle-aged men who think that sport begins and
ends with football, baseball, basketball and hockey and have
probably never got closer to any of these than a 100-inch Sony.

One exception is sports commentator Marky Billson, who reveals in
this podcast and accompanying article why it's time for the life
ban to end and why Tonya "should be viewed with understanding and
reverence."

Marky Billson reveals his Tonya Harding fandom after watching
I, TONYA. Here’s why it’s time for her to be reinstated by the
US Figure Skating Committee and should be viewed with
understanding and reverence.

https://www.facebook.com/1420WEMBSports/videos/803647763349396/
(starts 3:40)

https://medium.com/@markybillson/i-tonya-the-outsider-finally-gets-her-rewards-c26561ba5ab2


Finally, we have Cody Corrall (would that be a great name for a
character in a pulp Western novel?) in a very lengthy article on
"Why We Still Root for Tonya Harding":

http://fourteeneastmag.com/index.php/2019/02/01/why-we-still-root-for-tonya-harding/


OLD TONYA INTERVIEWS RESURFACE

That's the new Tonya stuff... now here's some blasts from the
past. As more material makes its way onto the Internet over time,
a number of older Tonya interviews from many years ago have
surfaced.

First up is one that Tonya did back in late 2004 for an English
outfit called Trans World Sport (which in spite of its name has
nothing to do with RuPaul):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezr7LGM1KXw (22:27)

Mainly about the media circus, and her boxing and skating, but
Tonya does reveal she was interested in race car driving. So
maybe Danica should have been worried after all.

On May 3rd, 1994, Tonya appeared on the Rolonda Watts show in
her first full-length post-Whack interview. Unfortunately both
these uploads have problems - in the first one, the video
freezes about 23 minutes in, and in the second the sound is
annoyingly out of sync. But Tonya clearly gets on well with
Rolonda, and the comments on both videos are largely positive:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95rjRhjESUg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOnuaxcLIDc

Rolonda also revisits the episode on this podcast (audio only)
and has good things to say about Tonya - "I really liked Tonya
and she deserved so much more. I hope the movie and this
interview helps clear her name a bit more ..."

https://player.fm/series/rolonda-on-demand-2281351/tonya-harding-dancing-with-the-stars


Finally, Elaine Stamm, Tonya's Fan Club President, reveals how
Tonya's skate lace got broken in this interview with Michael
Enright on the CBC's "As It Happens" show back in late February
1994. Ignore the inaccurate sensationalist title - there's no
"firestorm", Elaine is smart and classy enough not to take the
bait. Which is more than can be said for the interviewer for
trying to provoke one:

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1311964227972


A BEAUTIFUL TONYA SKATING PHOTO

Recently we came across this beautiful high-resolution Tonya
skating photo that we had not seen before. Tonya wore this outfit
for her Short Program for the 1990/91 season - this is most
likely from the 1991 Worlds:

https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/640256825_tonya-harding-zoom-da843247-cb43-4c2c-bdbd-bd9a213ca7dd.jpg


MOVE OVER, JOHNNY ROTTEN: TONYA HARDING - PUNK ROCK PRINCESS?

Tonya has had many careers over the years - skater, boxer,
landscape gardener, TV commentator, land speed record holder,
dancer and most-improved bad cook to name a few. But did you know
that it could have also included being a rock star?

On September 3, 1995 Tonya made her singing debut with her band
The Golden Blades in Portland. The media recalled that she was
booed and pelted with plastic bottles, though whether this was
because of her singing or just general dislike of Tonya isn't
clear.

Of course, most of the media conveniently "forgot" to mention it
was part of a charity event to raise money for the Muscular
Dystrophy Association. And contrary to popular belief, the gig
was just a one-off performance for charity and was not intended
to start a singing career. It also wasn't the first time that
Tonya had used her vocal skills in the name of raising money for
deserving causes: back in April of that year she released a
charity CD in aid of victims of the Oklahoma City bomb blast.

But several months earlier, she could have gone in an entirely
different musical direction, as this article explains:

https://www.punkglobe.com/itonya0218.php

Punk band The White Trash Debutantes invited Tonya to join them -
and initially she was interested. However her fan club president
at the time Elaine Stamm felt that they were just using Tonya for
publicity.

Band member Ginger Coyote recalls:

"She started a demonstration against us calling us Devil
Worshippers when we played The Satyricon in Portland.. Ben
Munat who booked the club and the owner George had a 'Welcome
Home Tonya Harding' on the Marquee and Elaine and a few
members were telling the news crew how Punk Rock Pat who (was
78 years old) was using Tonya to get fame".

Ginger explains that when they went to play over the border in
Canada, even the border officials asked where Tonya was.

Tonya finally got to see the band when they played Lewis & Clark
College. Ginger says that Tonya decided not to join the band
because:

"she felt we were way to wild.... Oddly enough the reason for
the invite was one of her alternative offers of being a sumo
wrestler in Japan.... WE FELT SHE DESERVED BETTER.... At the
show there were gigantic Sumo Wrestlers showing off their
skills and Tonya was standing near them watching us thinking
we were too wild... Well she got 'I Tonya' and the fabulous
Margot Robbie to play her... So remember we started it all
with DON'T F**K WITH TONYA HARDING..... WHITE TRASH
DEBUTANTES Love Tonya"


MORE TONYA-THEMED ARTWORK

One regular feature that we try to fit into "The Portlandian" is
to display some of the numerous Tonya-themed artworks that have
appeared online in the wake of Tonya's resurgence in the public
eye.

First up, Miguel Amshelo has redone the courtroom scene from the
movie as a Disney style cartoon:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BmueC3RBI7a/


Another "bloody Tonya" drawing, this time from James Tom Gray. He
says "Crazy Tonya Harding. First art on my new laptop":

- https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn4Ogo-jH7Q/


anddoots - "Some Tonya Harding sketches in an attempt to warm up
for a bigger project":

- https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnk5boUjjkq/


Mermer - like many, has drawn inspiration from Tonya's Triple
axel: "So fight on as you are. My American princess, may God
bless you with incense. You’re my shining American star...":

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BnalQzqHSjC/


eli_.arts (confused roll of bread) - another triple axel sketch
(unfortunately Tonya's left eye looks a bit out of alignment):

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BtitaMJAqUh/

A few weeks ago I watched "I, Tonya" for the second time now
and wow. That movie will always blow me away. I kinda felt
obligated to draw something from it, so there ya go! Hope you
like it!


ohyesverynice (Ryan Alexander-Tanner) - line drawing of Tonya's
face after the Triple axel:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/Br5yIioBK49/


Rin Stannard, justanother_artaccount - this one was liked by
Tonya herself!

- https://www.instagram.com/p/Brqo92aBsV6/

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BqTDtkqB17E/

I'm so drawn to how amazing Tonya's skating was I keep painting
her. This is my second attempt at medibang because Paint Tool
SAI is temporarily unavailable for me. My first attempt will be
posted on christmas eve because it's also a gift for someone.


_reinus (Japan) - another "I Tonya" tribute:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BsQREjNHmq9/


Brandon W Vernon shows Margot as middle-aged Tonya: "I was
loved..for a minute...then I was hated. And then I was just a
punchline."

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BnZd5xVAuPs/

and also LaVona & Bird: "Well my storyline is disappearing right
now. What. The. F*ck." - Allison Janney as LaVona Harding in I,
Tonya...

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BnE99G5Haez/


julianfreybergphotography in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, has done
this exacting recreation of Tonya's '91 Nationals costume.
"Attached nearly 100 #swarovski crystals today and i'm still not
done":

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BtQ4tX0nGN8/


nayahh_art (Nayoung Emma Jeong) - Tonya in the pink dress that
the judges so despised:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BtLhw-sHPmu/


nannabbech.illustrations - Odense, Denmark:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BtT9sg5FQxk/


Sofia (sp_g.) - Tonya with runny makeup:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/Br0EAK6gxqk/


adam villacin, Portland. Crying Tonya sketch:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/Brgz4kXFNPQ/

The original works (archival ink on 11" x 14" 96 lb bristol)
are available for only $100 to the first person to DM me.
Buying one gets you a thank you in the book, as well.


Victoria (dieimmernurmalt):

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BrsjJ4egK5C/


zarahvaughan (rebekah.rarely):

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BrYeLMNBulB/


As we all know, figure skating is huge in Russia, so it's not
surprising that there's a few from that country:

LiSKoRGa, Yekaterinburg Russia - "I, Tonya" pencil sketch:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BrcywxYBd46/

Damien_Vagner (Ulyanovsk, Russia) - charcoal sketch of Tonya:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BsQBADshOhM/

Masha (mar7a6) - Russia:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BsG5fO9HaZc/

chromova-Anna - Russia:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsk9IdUHSil/


Lookalikes from last year are still surfacing:

phoebzzzz - Tonya triple axel costume:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BpcD-DCgRbo/

Sarah (theswirlandache) - "That time me and Lisa dominated Binh’s
90s themed holiday party":

- https://www.instagram.com/p/Br0982tD3Jw/

Another LaVona lookalike - marcelo_c_baez:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BpqLRr1F65X/


roisindubhcosplay & carolacapsbestgirl put together these Tonya &
Jeff/Winter Soldier lookalikes:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BsG462JjoDH/

Spent the first evening of the year watching @itonyamovie again
(thanks Amazon Prime) and remembered the funniest photoshoot of
the year. @carolacapsbestgirl as Tonya Harding/Harley Quinn and
me as Jeff Gillooly/Winter Soldier taking over the ice rink in
Bad Harzburg. It was absolutely hilarious and I hope we get to
do more silly stuff Iike this in 2019!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtlBhsuDVR6/

Nothing new to post so here’s a picture of last years Harley-
Tonya and Winter-Jeff crossover cosplay photoshooting!


Parktowne Haircolorxperts (hcx_parktowne) in Charlotte, NC. show
how to recreate Tonya's iconic hairstyle:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BsTeUR8hN_T/

When you are going to a 90s theme party as Tonya Harding, you
come to #hcxparktowne for the style and the gold! Color by Eve,
Style by Amanda.


cleareyes_fullheart_knifeshoes (Jessi W) won a prize at work for
her Tonya outfit:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BrmSk2rBBWM/

that time i won a prize at work for my handmade #itonya
#tonyaharding halloween costume. (no, i didn't get to skate in
it! but it was pretty fragile, so probs for the best.)


Finally, some people have done some Tonya-themed stuff with
Playmobil Dolls:

rafamm1977 - (Rafael Martin Martin) "I, Tonya" poster with doll.
Make sure to click in the arrow at the right of the picture to
see Tonya at Lillehammer:

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BtmJIg5Hp6F/

"Por lo general, las personas amaban a Tonya, o la detestaban.
Así como las personas aman a EE.UU, o lo detestan. Tonya, era
totalmente estadounidense. Maravillosa". (Generally, people
loved Tonya, or hated her. Just as people love the US, or hate
it. Tonya, was totally American. Wonderful).

And last but not least:

playmobiljim - "Leaked video footage from the upcoming sequel
Tonya Harding Story 2: Nancy’s Revenge (this time it’s
personal)":

- https://www.instagram.com/p/BrWCbgRFiaS/


TONYA GETS DEBUGGED

Recently Tonya had a close encounter with an unwelcome guest that
tried to get into her swimming pool.

But this was not a stalker, rather a butt-ugly bug. In an attempt
to identify it, Tonya turned to her army of Instagram followers:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ZYiN6Hapg/

One commentator described as the bug equivalent of a triple axel.
But although it looks like something from a horror movie, Tonya's
many fans were able to quickly identify it as a Giant Water Bug,
or Lethocerus Americanus:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethocerus_americanus

According to Wikipedia,

"they typically grow to around 5 to 6 cm (2.0 - 2.4 in).
Commonly known as 'toe biter", L. americanus may deliver a
painful bite if handled or disturbed. However, it prefers to
avoid humans rather than engage them whenever possible."

Being a person who has respect for creatures great and small,
Tonya let it go.


ONCE UPON A TIME... IN PORTLAND

Several "I, Tonya" alumni have been in the news in recent weeks:
Mckenna Grace is scheduled to appear in the new Ghostbusters
film, while Paul Walter Hauser, best remembered by us for his
sidesplitting turn as Shawn Eckardt, has landed the starring role
in a new Clint Eastwood film, that oddly enough also centers
around somebody wrongly implicated in a crime connected to an
Olympic Games. In this case, he's playing Richard Jewell, the
security guard who was falsely accused of planting a bomb at the
1996 Atlanta Olympics. He'll also be teaming up with "I, Tonya"
helmer Craig Gillespie again for the new Disney Cruella de Vil
movie.

July also saw the release of Quentin Tarantino's latest film,
"Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood". The film, which takes place
against the background of the Manson murders of 1969, is of
interest to us as it features everybody's favorite Tonya
impersonator Margot Robbie in a prominent role as one of Manson's
victims, Sharon Tate.

Which raises a question - much as we love "I, Tonya", it would
have been interesting to see Tarantino's take on Tonya (and try
saying that when you're drunk). So here we go...

If Tonya's life story had been filmed by Quentin Tarantino:

- It still stars Margot as Tonya;
- there's even more f-bombs than in "I, Tonya";
- there's even more shots of women's feet than you'd expect in a
film about figure skating;
- Tonya smokes Red Apple cigarettes and now inexplicably wears an
eyepatch;
- her skates have "bad motherf...er" etched on the blades;
- her pickup truck is now the "Pussy Wagon";
- wearing a blood-stained wedding dress, she decapitates and
disembowels Jeff with a samurai sword;
- at the end, Tonya incinerates a bunch of snobby skating judges
with a flamethrower to the music of "I Think I Love You" by The
Partridge Family.

and most important of all...

- history is changed so that Tonya now WINS the gold medal at
Lillehammer!

And by the way, what else does Tonya have in common with Charles
Manson (apart from a cult following, of course)? Answer: they
both share the same birthday of November 12th.

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VISIT THESE GREAT TONYA WEB SITES:

PortIce - http://www.pdxiss.org
David House - http://www.tonyaharding.org
Charlie Main - http://www.charliesweb.com/tonya/tonya.html
Puppetboy - http://www.usapaul.net/tonya/
Valerie Smith - http://www.olywa.net/radu/valerie/LilHam.html
Swan Lake - http://members.tripod.com/~TonyaHarding/index.html
Blades of Gold - http://members.tripod.com/tmhfan/index.html *****************************************************************

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