Scott Hamilton Retiring from "Stars on Ice" and Performs

Copyright 2000 National Broadcasting Co. Inc.

KATIE COURIC, co-host:

For 15 years, Olympic champion Scott Hamilton has been touring the country, thrilling audiences in "Stars on Ice," the skating show he created. Now, after nearly 1,000 performances for some 12 million fans, Scott has decided it's time to call it quits, so he's retiring from the show in April.

Mr. SCOTT HAMILTON ("Stars on Ice"): I'm not retiring! I'm just leaving " Stars on Ice."

COURIC: I know, well, you're retiring from the show. I didn't say you were retiring from skating.

Mr. HAMILTON: Yeah, I know. I just don't want it to be a retirement thing. I want it to be kind of moving on to the next thing kind of thing.

COURIC: All right. So you tell us what you're going to be doing next.

Mr. HAMILTON: Well, it's just--I've got a few ideas. I'd like to do something in the theater. And wouldn't it be great if it appeared here in New York?

COURIC: Really, without skates?

Mr. HAMILTON: With skates.

COURIC: With skates?

Mr. HAMILTON: Yeah.

COURIC: Yeah.

Mr. HAMILTON: Yeah, and maybe that will...

COURIC: Do a little rink onstage?

Mr. HAMILTON: Yeah. We've done it before.

COURIC: Yeah?

Mr. HAMILTON: It's fun. It's smaller but it's fun. It's much more concentrated. But that might be next, that's the next goal. I--I wouldn't want to create the next thing that would compete with "Stars" because that's been my passion, my love, for a long time.

COURIC: I mean, that was a great experience for you. Tell us what that--that show has meant to you, Scott.

Mr. HAMILTON: Well, it's--what it's meant to me is what it's meant to so many. And--and, you know, I think of the skaters that have come through--the costume designers that, you know, have been working there. It's like the ultimate place to go to really celebrate your craft, you know. I got to share the ice with Torvill and Dean, and Kristi Yamaguchi, and Katarina Witt, and Rosalynn Sumners and Brian Orser. And, I mean, the list goes on and on. The people I got to share the ice with over the last 14 years has been phenomenal. And now it's my 15th season. You know, it's time to--to give the cas--the cast, the young generation, the next generation of skaters the opportunity to take the show to new heights. So, and it's just time for me to pursue other things.

COURIC: Yeah, and what other things do you think you'd like to do? I mean, it's--part of it is a pretty grueling schedule to be a part of "Stars on Ice." Are you looking forward to slowing down? Maybe just a little bit?

Mr. HAMILTON: A little, yeah.

COURIC: I'm not putting you in a rocking chair on the front porch, so don't get...

Mr. HAMILTON: No, no, I understand. I've never been this age before. I'm not going to say old. I've never been this age before, so...

COURIC: How old are you now?

Mr. HAMILTON: Forty-two, so...

COURIC: Oh, you're younger than I am, so don't give me that.

Mr. HAMILTON: I'll do a backflip.

COURIC: So, what--but you feel good?

Mr. HAMILTON: Yeah, everything's great. It's just a good time. You know, I--I still have legs, I still have my health and--and I'd love to do the next thing, and that's going to take a lot of energy and a lot of--a lot of time.

COURIC: And we're all so happy you're still enjoying great health, because that was scary for a while...

Mr. HAMILTON: Yeah.

COURIC: ...when you were diagnosed with cancer.

Mr. HAMILTON: And that's the next thing, too, is I'm becoming a cancer activist, and--as you are, and the people you've touched with what you've done. I'd like to be doing more of that. And that means...

COURIC: That's great.

Mr. HAMILTON: ...I need to free up some time to do that. So the Cares Initiative at the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center is something that's huge on my mind right now, and we're--we're picking up some steam. And then what I do at target House and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital is very significant in my life, too. And what I do with the Target Education Program. So, it's--yeah...

COURIC: You've got a lot to get to yet.

Mr. HAMILTON: A lot--a lot to go to, and I need time to do that. And I hated to give up, you know--six-and-a-half-month commitment with "Stars on Ice" is something that I'm going to miss. But it's just time.

COURIC: Well, you're going to treat us to a little skate this morning?

Mr. HAMILTON: A little skate.

COURIC: You're going to be skating to "I Feel Good."

Mr. HAMILTON: "I Feel Good!"

COURIC: James Brown. All right, ladies and gentlemen, Scott Hamilton.