Skating with Celebrities, Episode 2: …The Harder They Fall!

Last Wednesday, as you may recall, our six celebrities let us know they were very serious about winning this competition. They did their level best and after the first night, the results were as follows:

Jillian Barberie and John Zimmerman – 51.8
Dave Coulier and Nancy Kerrigan – 49.3
Bruce Jenner and Tai Babilonia – 48.8
Deborah Gibson and Kurt Browning – 48.0
Todd Bridges and Jenny Meno – 47.7
Kristy Swanson and Lloyd Eisler – 47.5

Scott Hamilton and Summer Sanders (yep, she was a swimmer, I checked) welcome us. S and S remind us about 20 times that someone will be eliminated. Summer finds this to be a “bummer.”

Also, the couples will be required to do another spin this week, as well as synchronized footwork! And the music theme will be ‘70s music.

Our first pair is Kristy Swanson and Lloyd Eisler. Lloyd says he has to infuse Kristy with confidence, and Kristy notes she can’t act her way out of this one.

Time for the first performance. Lloyd and Kristy are skating to the Sylvers’ “Boogie Fever.” They are skating much faster than last week. No problems with their synchronized footwork or their spin, and Lloyd definitely steps up to the judges’ challenge with the difficulty of their lifts and pair elements! They were in last place at the end of the first set of performances, but I doubt they will stay there.

Dorothy gushes that she loved the ‘70s and thanks them. Mark is also impressed. John reminds them that he found them “deplorable” last week, but they definitely improved!

Technical scores. John 8.5, Dorothy 8.4, Mark 8.3 = 25.2
Artistic impression scores, John 8.6, Dorothy 8.5, Mark 8.4 = 25.5
Their total is 50.7! Grand Total 98.2

Now for Dave Coulier and Nancy Kerrigan. They are facing a much more complex program this time without all of the stops and starts. Dave is left frustrated, but Nancy thinks he’ll deliver at crunch time.

They skate to James Brown’s “Get Up Off Of That Thing” and uh-oh, Dave is spending a lot of time on a stool! Their spin is quite nice, their step sequence is good (and very simple), but Nancy is doing all of the work! What will the judges think of that?

Mark is “thoroughly not entertained.” Dorothy thinks they had trouble getting in synch, but says they looked cute. John says Nancy was, but for Dave, “where are your pointed toes?… where is your feminine side?” In his other pants, Dave says.

Technical scores. John 7.9 , Dorothy 8.0, Mark 7.8 = 23.7
Artistic impression scores, John 7.9 , Dorothy 8.0, Mark 7.8 = 23.7
Their total is 47.4! Grand Total 96.7

Dave and Nancy were in second before tonight, and now they are behind the team that was in last! Uh-oh.

Bruce Jenner and Tai Babilonia feel encouraged that the ‘70s were when they were in their prime as athletes. But Bruce’s relentless need to practice has worn out even Tai! Will all that work pay off?

Bruce and Tai are skating to “Shake You Groove Thing,” but there is not much shaking, just a lot of gliding. Tai has given him very easy pair holds to do. The spin is decent, step sequence very simple. He’s capable of better.

John says they have a nice relationship, but neither of them are in the shape they were in the ‘70s. Mark says he appreciates that they always do more than the minimum. Dorothy says they make her want to skate.

Technical scores. John 7.9, Dorothy 8.3, Mark 8.1 = 24.3
Artistic impression scores, John 8.1 , Dorothy 8.4 , Mark 8.2 = 24.7
Their total is 49.0! Grand Total 97.8

John and Jillian were skating like pros last week, and practicing like they knew each other for years. But then… a groin injury for Jillian. Will they be able to perform up to the standard of last week?

They draw the Bee Gees (or Tavares’) “More Than A Woman” and they start strong. They are clearly the fastest of the pairs. Jillian even does a layback spin! John chooses lifts that don’t require Jillian to use her groin at all. The step sequence is so solid, I almost miss it! Who is going to beat this pair??

Mark says he loved the footwork, but did not sense the connection of last week. Dorothy says they are great, and look fine together. John said it was good, but disappointing. It was controlled and elegant, but lacking excitement and improvement. Are they just making stuff up?

Technical scores. John 8.4, Dorothy 8.6, Mark 8.2 = 25.2
Artistic impression scores, John 8.5, Dorothy 8.4, Mark 8.3 = 25.2
Their total is 50.4! Grand Total 102.2

So far, here’s how the pairs rank:

Jillian Barberie and John Zimmerman – 102.2
Kristy Swanson and Lloyd Eisler – 98.2
Bruce Jenner and Tai Babilonia – 97.8
Dave Coulier and Nancy Kerrigan – 96.7