From the producers who brought us Dancing with the Stars comes the next “coolest” thing on television- Skating with the Stars on Mondays 8/7 Central! And last night America got its first taste of the show as the six famous faces — Bethenny Frankel, Brandon Mychal Smith, Jonny Moseley, Rebecca Budig, Sean Young and Vince Neil — took the ice with their professional partners…
If you liked watching your favorite TV personalities try and dance, you will love watching them try and skate- over slippery rock hard ice that is. The competition is pretty similar to that of DWTS… The couple with the lowest ranking, following the judges’ scores and votes from the public for their performance, will be sent home the following week.
Now, let’s meet the celeb skaters and recap on their first performance!
Bethenny Frankel, one of my favorite TV personalities to date, has made a name for herself on The Real Housewives of New York City as a celebrated natural food chef. She’s also the creator of the sought-after “Skinnygirl Margarita,” the best-selling author of Naturally Thin and The Skinnygirl Dish and a spokesperson for Pepperidge Farm.
Last night: As for her skating, she received great remarks from the judges, but low scores. “You look spectacular. You have the perfect figure for skating. You are one skinny babe,” Judge Button said.
Brandon Mychal Smith plays super-suave Nico Harris on the Disney Channel sitcom Sonny With A Chance. He also recently starred as Stubby in the Disney Channel Original Movie StarStruck.
Last night: Smith has great experience with rollerskating, which truly helped him on the ice last night. But it was his firey personality that may get him a boost of attention and extra votes.
Jonny Moseley has an impressive list of titles and medals as a skier but it’s his ability to bring the crowd to its feet that defines his career. He’s been a free-skiing force in the Olympics and at the X-Games.
Last night: Olympic athletes always seem to do well on DWTS, and it looks like Moseley will bring that stat to the ice as well. Him and his partner had a lot of chemistry and aside from the hard falls in the practice videos, Judge Weir said: “You just terrorized the ice like a bull in a china ship, and I loved it. So dynamic, so wonderful, and I love the rhinestones. I’m very, very happy for you.”
Rebecca Budig, Daytime Emmy Award nominee and fan favorite originally joined the cast of All My Children in 1999, playing the role of Greenlee Smythe. After nearly a year hiatus, she made her many fans very happy by returning in December of 2009.
Last night: Skating is Budig’s childhood dream, so she was no amateur on the ice. Her and her partner included beautiful lifts that earned Judge Weir’s remark: ”Rebecca, that was so hot, I almost sweated out my weave.”
Sean Young: From Blade Runner with Harrison Ford to No Way Out with Kevin Costner to Ace Ventura: Pet Detective with Jim Carrey, Sean has starred in some of the most iconic movies in Hollywood history.
Last night: Young has proclaimed that she is tough and nothing about this competition scares her. And it showed on the ice last night as the actress calmly glided through her routine. “That was so elegant. I totally got you channeling bunnies frolicking across a beautiful meadow,” Weir said.
Details on the SWTS Judges!
Johnny Wier — three-time U.S. Olympic champion who, at age 26, is the skating world’s most unpredictable star
Laurieann Gibson — renowned choreographer who is the creative visionary behind Lady GaGa’s dances
Dick Button — two-time Olympic champion and Emmy Award-winning broadcaster known as the “Voice” of figure skating
