Ellen, You Would Love UCLA Gymnastics!

Chinese Spies Want Them! You know you do too!

2010-10-03T21:38:00.000-07:00

Ellen,

Ah, so much has happened while you were on vacation this summer. And by vacation I mean, living it up on SYTYCD. Back injury my bootie. Pssssh.

Vanessa Zamarripa decided to go "elite" which is the highest level in gymnastics, the one that lets you qualify to the Olympics. And not only did she make it to the National Championship, but she made vault finals and made the National Team. She did this after working on elite routines for only a couple of months. And, she did a secret vault, the "Cheng" that has never been competed by any other American gymnast! Ever! I mean, she's basically a total badass Ellen. Witness below:

Are you ready for the scandalous part? I thought you would be. So, Miss Val got a call from China. The Chinese press wanted to know how long Zam had been working on her "Cheng" vault. You see Ellen, the current Olympic vault bronze medalist is the originator of the vault, China's Cheng Fei. Zam is so awesome she has practically caused an international incident! Fascinating interview material for a talk show if you ask me.

And then the afterglow...

2010-05-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

This totally reminds me of the kind of thing you would do on the show. If you were giving away a new car or some prize, you would totally do the glowey sparkle stars thing. Come on...you can admit it.

And of course, Miss Val with Anna and her boyfriend Sean (of tribute video fame).

And last but not least, the obligatory, photo with the pilot. I mean, we alllll have one of these right?

Champs!

2010-05-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ellen,
Need I say more?

Ok, this is getting ridiculous Ellen

2010-05-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Another 10! Anna got a 10 on bars again! And it was at Regionals. They are so MONEY Ellen. You can always count on your audience to dance crazy, just like you can always count on Anna Li to hit!

First Step Towards World Domination

2010-05-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

So Ellen,
The first "round" of nationals is the regional championships. You have to be one of the top two teams to qualify to Nationals. So um...yeah...how do you think our favorite team did? They killed it. Per the usual. Was there ever any doubt?

Just like the people on this flight knew that it would be the best flight of their lives! The UCLA team flew to victory!

Another 10? Yes, way.

2010-05-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ellen,

Un-be-lievable right? Two 10's in one season? Does UCLA have superstar champions who would be awesome tv show written all over them or what?

Pac 10 Champs!

2010-05-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Yo Yo Yo Ellen!
Do you see how this team totally dominates? Just like your show does? Yeahhhh, they are the PAC 10 Champs.

Perfect 10

2010-05-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

So Ellen,

Remember Nadia and her perfect 10? Well, UCLA makes them too. And not on something easy like Floor. Puhhhh-lease, oh no, Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs (AKA "Hoppy") got a 10 on beam. You know beam, as in the famous drinking game, "every time they say it's only 4 inches wide, everybody drink!"

She's is one baaaaaaaad.....little Canadian.

Dance Movie Montage of Our Favorite Gymnasts = luuuuv

2010-05-19T23:11:00.000-07:00

Ellen,
I know, I know. I am a terrible fan. I have neglected you and the the blog. But now I am BACK! SO much happened. I will catch you up. But first, let's take a moment to appreciate one of the best montages, from one of the best montage makers in the gymnastiverse, Spanny's Big Fake Smile (I know, what's not to love after hearing that nickname right?)

Even Oscar Nominated Actors Love The Bruins

2010-02-19T14:37:00.000-08:00

Ellen,

I know you are busy taking over the world right now, but you should really check out a meet. Even Michael Clarke Duncan came to the last meet.

Did you know that he was in Kung Fu Panda, my all time favorite movie? That makes me love him even more. Apparently, he is a big animal lover and has several kitty cats. You should have him on the show.

So, seriously, Ellen, the tickets are on me. Come to the meet on Sunday!

Don't take it from me,

2010-02-08T22:29:00.000-08:00

Take it from him...

Are you in love with this kid yet?

Winna winna chicken dinna!

2010-01-15T22:37:00.000-08:00

Hi Ellen,

UCLA won again tonight. They are ranked first in the nation. I think you should have them on now, in the beginning of the season. This way, when they win NCAA's (because they are gonna!), you can say that you predicted it all along. You can say,"Why yes, of course that's why they were guests on the show back in January. I recognized their brilliance right away. I am a judge on American Idol after all," you will tell a rapt audience who have just finished the longest standing ovation in Ellen history. It's super important to predict the future if you are going to be a world dominator. Just so you know.

Also, can you have Mark Wahlberg on more often because I thoroughly enjoy him. That is all.

Emote - totally normal sports word

2010-01-15T12:17:00.000-08:00

Ellen!
What's shakin'? Have you been wondering why the UCLA routines are so different and artistic compared to what you have seen on tv? This Fox Sports West story shows video of Miss Val narrating the story of Anna Li's routine as she does it. I love this kind of behind the scenes stuff! Don't you?

Ellen, Oprah and The Team

2010-01-12T22:44:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,
Do you know who loves to read Oprah as much as you? That's right, the UCLA gymnastics team. Check it out.

Alum Jordan Schwikert (currently a gymnast on the show Make It Or Break It) and her cute friend chillin' with you and Oprah at practice.

Warming up with an Ellen cover nearby always gets the nerves out.

Did you know it's even better upside down?

I happen to know that Miss Kaelie Baer (right side up) watches your show every single day!

Anna and Aisha have this conditioning thing down to a science. Everything goes faster with an Ellen-adorned copy of Oprah to read.

Eye of the Tiger Elf?

2010-01-12T22:03:00.000-08:00

Hey Ellen,
You know how you have Big Booty, the one who loves the holidays and gives your gifts? Well, the team has their own little Christmas elf from the Great White North. UCLA's very own, Christmas-obsessed, 2008 Olympian and first Canadian woman ever to earn a World Championship medal: Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs. She won the all-around at the meet on Saturday and she can fly.

Peter Pan eat your heart out.

Don't let her small stature fool you. Can you see the Eye of the Tiger here? Who makes eye contact like that in gymnastics? Nobody, Ellen. Nobody! Except for Miss Elyse. She's looking right at you for crying out loud!

And homegirl can DANCE! Can't you see her doing this routine on your show? She would soooooo bring the house down.

The Dragon Warrior

2010-01-12T21:28:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,
I can't even describe this floor routine to you. You have to see it in person. Come to the next home meet on Sunday, January 31st at 2:00. But I can post a picture of this dude who got the full experience.

This routine makes me cry every time.

And finally, the real thing. There aren't enough words or pictures to describe it. I hope you get to see it live someday.

Number One!

2010-01-12T21:08:00.000-08:00

Hi Ellen,
I hope you had a nice break. I like World Domination as a goal. Why aim low, you know? That's why I am sure that the UCLA gymnastics team would be perfect on your show. Don't you think? By the way, how much do you love what Virgin Airlines did with Operation Chihuahua?

The team had a good break and came back with a vengeance. They are ranked No. 1 and they beat the team who edged them out in a rarely used tie breaker at nationals last year. Aren't they stunning?

Doctors Need Stunt Doubles Too

2009-12-09T23:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,
I liked your chat with Zach Braff from Scrubs. You know, he probably has to do a lot of stunts for Scrubs. But he probably uses a stunt double since he had a back injury like you did. Speaking of stunt doubles, many UCLA gymnasts have gone on to be stunt people. My personal favorite is Heidi Moneymaker. She has been in eeeeeeeeeverything. No seriously, 50-ish movies and/or tv shows in the last ten years. That has to be a record.

So, she would probably make a great guest. Better yet, she'd make a good flying-flipping-super-hero guest who flies over heads of your audience. Here is some of her current work:

And some of her gymnastics work:

Even J.Lo. Falls

2009-12-08T12:02:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,
I'm glad Jennifer Lopez has a sense of humor about her fall.

I know this might shock you to find out, but even the UCLA gymnasts fall, sometimes. Maybe you should have them on to show their blooper reels and then perform the skills live. Audiences love pressure situations like that. This one is of Talia when she was just a wee thing.

Pushups for Puppies

2009-12-07T18:53:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,

The show was great today and everything, but I really can't focus on that because you showed the clip of Kellan Lutz.

Can we just talk about Kellan Lutz for a minute? I vote that you have him stop by on a regular basis to do exercises....or just stand there...or take his shirt off...pants...whatever. I think it would be an even better idea to have a pushup contest between him and the UCLA gymnastics team. They would beat him of course but that's ok because it would make him want to come back for a rematch. They could do it for charity - Pushups for Puppies, huh, huh? You love it! I know you love it Ellen. Come on!

Speaking of Back Injuries

2009-12-04T17:30:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,
I'm so glad that your back is all better. Speaking of back injuries, freshman Monique De La Torre, broke her back last year. She had to wear a brace for four months. Now she's back in action and she is one hell of a performer. Sounds familiar right? You two have a lot in common, maybe you should have her on to discuss...

Kooza lovin' the circus?

2009-12-03T17:32:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,

I love that you had Cirque du Soleil on today. It might surprise you to find out that I have seen several of the Vegas Cirque shows more than once.... like four and five times. I know. I know. It's shocking.
It may interest you to know, Ellen, that there are many UCLA gymnasts who have gone on to perform in Cirque. Including Yvonne Tousek, Kristin Maloney and Stella Umeh.

Malia Jones and Carmen Tausend went on to perform in La Reve (not technically a Cirque show but...we'll give them a nod anyway).

A sports team that produces this many acro-artists. Are you thinking,"Wow, how unusual, I think they'd make great guests." That's what I am thinking too!

Magical Blue Fairy Dust Makes Gymnasts Fly In Slow Motion

2009-12-02T18:28:00.001-08:00

Dear Ellen,
How much did you love yesterday's video? I know, right? This one might have made me a little teary the first time I saw it. How about you?

Anna's Leap of Death!

2009-12-01T20:56:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,
I present to you, the one, the only, Empress of the balance beam: Anna Li. Daughter of two Olympic gymnasts, she is 50% Chinese, 25% cat and 25% Spiderwoman--100% amazing.

Make sure to watch with the sound on.

SYTYCD UCLA Gymnastics Style

2009-11-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,
I know that I bring up SYTYCD a lot, but honestly, who doesn't? Personally, I think you should judge SYTYCD rather than American Idol. I mean, you did dance with them (not that I am jealous). Any who, this is Talia. She is another amazing gymnast at UCLA who also happens to be an incredible dancer. Talia always inspires me because her gymnastics improves so much each year. But the dancing, Ellen *psshh noise* we could totally do it right? So easy, sheesh.

So, I've decided that you should have your own version of SYTYCD on Ellen. The competitors should be a couple of the UCLA gymnasts. You could call it Gymnasts Who Think They Can Dance. Your could have the SYTYCD top 10 be the judges. They would kill it, don't you think? Damn, I'm good.

2009-11-28T16:01:00.001-08:00

Dear Ellen,
Let's talk about fashion. I mean, you are a cover girl, you get it. I'd just like to point out how stylish and understated the UCLA leotards are. Kind of like your fantastic makeup and stylin' suits. Gymnasts have made some bad choices in the past. However, those are few and far between, unlike ice skating competitors who insist on embarrassing themselves over and over with atrocious costumes. The UCLA gymnastics team, on the other hand, continues to grace us with tasteful and gorgeous leotards like these. Ellen, come on now, I mean, if you had to wear a leotard, you could totally choose one of these right?

2009-11-27T22:41:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,
I haven't seen you post a request for reasons why viewers' favorite sports teams should be on the Ellen show yet. What's up with that? I mean, I have been blogging for like two weeks now. Dang, still not on the forefront on your mind? Not to worry, I'm here for you. Here is another reason, one word, Aisha. Our neighbors to the north have loaned us one of their most beautiful and talented young ladies. If she wasn't a gymnast she'd be winning SYTYCD.

Grateful

2009-11-26T11:11:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,
Today I'm grateful for my wonderful family and friends, for having health insurance, that there are shows like Ellen and Oprah who use their powers for good and for this amazing team who work so hard and bring me so much joy.

Hope you are enjoying your vegan feast!

In The Spirit of the Holiday...where we eat a lot

2009-11-26T00:59:00.001-08:00

Dear Ellen,
Fun Fact: If a gymnast scores a 9.9 at a home meet, the entire audience gets free pizookies.

That's almost as good as the stuff you give away to your audience. Coffee maker, pizookie, a new car, desserts, practically the same thing.

It's Not Luck, It's Talent

2009-11-24T22:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,
I love me some Justus Rivera. Seriously, he's so cool. My favorite part of the interview last week was when he said that people called him lucky to be on Ellen and he said,"It's not luck, it's talent." Boooya! That kid knows what's up.

I think Mr. Rivera would like this introduction to the team. Like him you can see the talent and hard work, but it's also silly and real. They aren't about luck either...

Salsa + Hip Hop + Tumbles

2009-11-23T18:00:00.001-08:00

Dear Ellen,
This is Ariana Berlin. She's a superstar hip hop dancer much like yourself. She's danced for Culture Shock, she's on the Clippers dance crew and she is a stunt double for the teen gymnastics drama Make It Or Break It. We love her. You will love her too. I submit to you hip hop + gymnastics + salsa = only at UCLA!

Nobody Dumbs Down the Boogie

2009-11-23T18:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,

Soon we will have a superstar guest blogger. I know you are excited but you'll just have to wait.

Remember when you danced with the So You Think You Can Dance top 10?

What I love about SYTYCD is that they don't dumb down the dancing. People have started to use the word "accessibility" when talking about choreography, which really means dumb it down and make it corny. What I love about your dancing is that it's never cheesy. It never insults the intelligence of the audience, it's always fun and authentic. That's what I love about UCLA gymnastics too. The routines might make you laugh, cry or gasp but they are never cheesy or dumbed down. However, occasionally they do help the audience with literal interpretations of their routines.

Vanessa Zamarripa, Courtney Shannon and my favorite Anna Li ( at 3:00) dressed as the character who inhabits the choreography. These are just practice routines without tumbling but still hilarious! Do you love?

Floor Routines are Vegan

2009-11-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,
Fun Fact: UCLA floor routines are 100% cruelty free! I thought that a vegan like yourself would appreciate this. Check out one of the greatest UCLA floor routines of all time performed by Alison Stoner.

Who the...?

2009-11-18T12:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,
You may be wondering, who is this random person who is obsessed with a gymnastics team? To tell you the truth, I'm a very passionate, passionate woman Ellen. Passionate about UCLA gymnastics!

Here are some photos to show you that I'm just like you in many ways. A person who enjoys dressing up just like any other sports fan, especially if it will make other people laugh. The meets have dress up themes which I enjoy greatly. Here are some pictures of me and my fanatical friends at the meets.

Break Off

2009-11-17T15:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,
I just think you should know that you have so much in common with them. Not only are they good dancers but they like to get down and boogie, just like someone else I know. Here are two of my favorites having a break off after a meet.

Have you ever seen any other gymnasts do this? No. That's what I thought. Because they aren't like other gymnasts! They are more fun.

...The More You Know....*ding*
Jess

The Quest

2009-11-16T21:58:00.000-08:00

Dear Ellen,

I am on a quest. A quest to get my favorite gymnastics team on your show. You love to dance. They love to dance. You are both known for your dancing. They are in LA, you are in LA. It's perfect. You will love them. Let's make it happen.

-Jess

Here is Brittani McCullough in last years NCAA championships.