Drama article : 'Skating with the Stars' 2010 Week 4: Brandon Mychal Smith Bows Out, Johnny Weir Gets Harsh & Dick Button Says More Weird Stuff

Title: Drama article : 'Skating with the Stars' 2010 Week 4: Brandon Mychal Smith Bows Out, Johnny Weir Gets Harsh & Dick Button Says More Weird Stuff Category: ROOT Clicks: 0 Listing added: Dec 14, 2010 PageRank: 0/10

"Skating with the Stars" 2010 continued on with week 4 of premiere season competition Monday night. The four remaining celebrity/professional couples offered up their most challenging -- and dangerous --
routines yet, as each duo was required to perform two of three difficult Thrill Week stunts: The death spiral, the throw or the overhead lift. Recipe for disaster? Youbetcha. By show's end, one star fell victim to illness, leaving a housewife, an Olympian and a TV star to duke it out for icy glory during next week's finale. Here's a recap.

The show opened with a cute little ditty from the pro skaters set to the seasonally appropriate tune of Baby, It's Cold Outside. I appreciated the little nod to Christmas time. I didn't appreciate Keauna McLaughlin's bizarre little breathless wink post-program. After hosts Vernon Kay and Tanith Belbin explained the night's required elements, the remaining skaters took to the ice. The first obvious item of note? Actor Brandon Mychal Smith, who missed last week's "Skating with the Stars" 2010 competition, was once again absent from the line-up.

In what I'm sure was a coincidence, Brandon and Keauna were the first couple assigned to take to the ice during "SWTS" week 4. Brandon struggled again with illness during rehearsals, and after the pre-recorded segment aired, he revealed live that he would be unable to continue with the competition. Aw, bummer: The kid has some talent and shoulda been a contender.

In one of the most anti-climactic moments in reality TV history, Vernon revealed that no one else would be going home during "Skating with the Stars 2010" week 4. Not really getting why Brandon's status wasn't revealed the end the show rather than begin it in order to keep suspense alive, but oh well: Different strokes, right?

But the show had to go on, and "Real Housewives of New York" star Bethenny Frankel and partner Ethan Burgess were up to the challenge. The red and back clad pair cooled
things down in no-fall fashion with their Superstition themed routine. Dick Button began the judges' commentary by telling Bethenny to bend her knees and "learn the basic technique of this sport" if she wants to win. Owie. LaurieAnn Gibson praised her for being "fearless". Johnny Weir enjoyed that she had more fun on the ice, but criticized her with bared claws and harsh words that deserve their own quote: "it's very clear you don't care what we think and I don't care to watch you perform anymore". Yep, she's pretty much screwed. Bethenny and Ethan's "Skating with the Stars" 2010 week 4 scores: Technical: 6, 6, 6; Artistic: 7, 6, 7 = 38/60.

Week 3 leaderboard topper Olympian Jonny Moseley and partner Brooke Castille kept things movin' and groovin' with their Thrill Week Take On Me routine. It was slick, and Jonny managed to not drop Brooke despite having major difficulties during rehearsals. LaurieAnn called the offering "fantastic" and deeming herself a "damsel in distress," told him he could lift her "any time". She dug a little at Bethenny Frankel as she praised him for taking the judges' commentary seriously. Johnny said it was "amazing" but that he needs to get into a ballet class. Dick loved the lifts. Jonny and Brooke's "Skating with the Stars" 2010 week 4 scores: Technical: 9, 9, 9; Artistic: 9, 9, 9 = 54/60.

The night's action came to a close as the final couple of the evening, soap star Rebecca Budig and partner Fred Palascak, took to the" Skating with the Stars" rink. Their What a Night routine was perky and full of character, and they get a big ol' yowza for their lifts. Johnny called it "such a feat" to complete three overhead lifts, but criticized Rebecca for not skating on her own more. Er, okay. Dick praised her for having "the nicest bottom in the" competition. LaurieAnn told her to "arch that back a little bit" during her lifts and "risk it all" next week. Hmm, a little harsh. How is she not supposed to rely on her partner when she's being lifted, for pete's sake? Rebecca and Fred's "Skating with the Stars" 2010 week 4 scores: Technical: 9, 8, 9; Artistic: 9, 9, 9 = 53/60.

In lieu of the usual elimination, Keauna and dismissed pro Denis Petukhov ended the show by performing Brandon and Keauna's routine for the week. Aw, nice that she got to go out on a good note instead of skatelessly.

So that's it for "Skating with the Stars" 2010 week 4. Tune in to ABC next Monday night as the three remaining contenders -- judges' fave Jonny Moseley, good but not-quite-good-enough Rebecca Budig
and much-maligned Bethenny Frankel -- take to the ice for a shot at frozen glory. Then check out the finale when it airs Tuesday evening. Who will take it all? We'll find out soon enough.