Round of Five - January 30

Last time, our six skating pairs were reduced by one as Todd and Jenni failed to perform and were ejected from the competition, leaving Kurt and Deborah safe. Who'll be out in the cold this week?

After two shows, here's how the board looks...

Jillian & John: 102.2
Kristy & Lloyd: 98.2
Bruce & Tai: 97.8
Dave & Nancy: 96.7
Deborah & Kurt: 96.3

That... means absolutely nothing now. The slate is wiped clean. We're all starting fresh... almost. As the contest progresses, each pair must master a new and more difficult technique. Tonight, not only must each pair do a synchronized foot step, they must also incorporate a one-legged lunge. Tonight's musical theme: Motown.

We start with the team to beat, Jillian and John. Last week, Jillian had a bit of an injury, and a judge's warning, refine and improve. Will they do that this week, or will refining come back to bite them? They skate to the Temptations' "Get Ready". They think they're working hard to raise their game... Mark likes the footwork and the spin, but didn't see the chemistry. Sir John: "Foolishly ambitious." Parts of the program were out of control as demonstrated by one of John's trip-ups. Dorothy thought they were balanced and the strongest... The judges' score, please...

TECHNICAL
Nicks: 8.3
Hamill: 8.4
Lund: 8.4
TOTAL: 25.1

ARTISTIC
Nicks: 8.2
Hamill: 8.2
Lund: 8.3
TOTAL: 24.7

Their total: 49.8 out of 60. Not bad, but could be better. Now it's a competition, as Bruce Jenner and Tai Babilonia prepare to take the ice with her one and only partner, Randy Gartner, as choreographer. Will this be a formula for success? "No guts, no glory, right?" Bruce wants to incorporate one move that only Randy and Tai have done... the death spiral. They'll do it to "Endless Love" by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross... and hope it isn't a death knell.

Hey, is that Sugar Ray? Dorothy: "You are really entertaining!" Next time, she wants to see a smile or two. Mark: "Two skating as one, and you both did that." Sir John: "I don't know what my two friends are seeing, but..." The judges' score...

TECHNICAL
Nicks: 8.2
Hamill: 8.2
Lund: 8.5
TOTAL: 24.9

ARTISTIC
Nicks: 8.5
Hamill: 8.3
Lund: 8.4
TOTAL: 25.2

Their total: 50.1! They barely edge Jillian & John for the lead! Dave Coulier and Nancy Kerrigan suffered a bit after a knockout performance, so they're taking a new approach: work hard, but laugh more. The choreographer is concerned that they may laugh their way out of the competition. Founded or not? They skate, in opposite gender clothing, to Rare Earth's "I Just Want to Celebrate". John... sees a figure skater for once, turning on the Darth Vader charm. Dorothy thought it was fantastic. Mark also liked it... I think. And now, will the judges please reveal the scores...

TECHNICAL
Nicks: 8.0
Hamill: 8.2
Lund: 8.2
TOTAL: 24.4

ARTISTIC
Nicks: 8.4
Hamill: 8.4
Lund: 8.5
TOTAL: 25.3

Grand total: 49.7. Good score, but not good to avoid last place.

It's all on the last two teams now. First up, Kristy Swanson and Lloyd Eisler delivered a knockout performance in round 2, but Lloyd is ready to take the game to a higher level. Kristy... not yet. She hit the ice with her chin, but they think it'll take more than that to stop'em. In fact, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Heh. Had to slip that in. Sir John thought it was ambitious on Kristy's party, but Lloyd needs to stop it with the lifts. Mark noticed the trip-up of the toepick, but notes that they recover nicely. Dorothy concurs. And Kristy fell in the exact same spot.

TECHNICAL
Nicks: 7.9
Hamill: 8.2
Lund: 8.3
TOTAL: 24.4

ARTISTIC
Nicks: 8.2
Hamill: 8.1
Lund: 8.4
TOTAL: 24.7

Their score: 49.1.  Now Kristy & Lloyd are in the hot seat.

Kurt Browning & Deborah Gibson narrowly escaped elimination last week after a lackluster performance. They feel the pressure to perform more difficult tricks. Adding to the pressure, the lunge, which Deborah did on show 1, but not too well. Will the second time be the charm? They skate to Stevie's "For Once in My Life". How did it go over? Sir John: much improved, but Kurt doesn't really stand out as a pairs skater. Mark wasn't excited as much. Dorothy: this was Deborah & Kurt's best. And they nailed the lunge. NOW... the score to beat: 49.1... Anything less, and they're eliminated. And now, will the judges please reveal the scores...

TECHNICAL
Nicks: 7.9
Hamill: 8.1
Lund: 7.9
TOTAL: 23.9

ARTISTIC
Nicks: 7.9
Hamill: 8.1
Lund: 8.0
TOTAL: 24.0

Their total: 47.9. And just like that, Kristy & Lloyd live to skate another day. Deborah & Kurt begin their long skate home.

And Kristy & Lloyd are just figuring this out. So yeah, another week of them. Meanwhile, Deborah was trying something new and has a new friend for life. Kurt thinks that Deborah is more than dedicated.

So now we have four routines and four teams left. Who'll be frozen next? Find out next time.