Be Good Johnny Weir Recap of Episode 8: Johnny ditches NYC for Las Vegas for his skating spectacular
Be Good Johnny Weir airs Mondays 10/9 central on Logo. The show follows two time Olympian and three time US national figure skating champion Johnny Weir as he tries to find a career outside of skating, while training for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
We begin Episode 8 in Tara Modlin's NYC office. Tara is Johnny's agent/manager/confidante and she has done an incredible job stretching his 15 minutes of fame. Tara advises Johnny that she has signed him up to teach a children's skating seminar in Westchester. She explains that he needs to give coaching a try in the event that none of his forays into the other careers work out -- singer, model, designer, actor, sherpa, writer and muse. Johnny has said many times that his version of hell is to be a skating coach and freeze his butt off from 6 am to 6 pm at an ice rink. But he's also grounded in reality and reluctantly agrees to try out coaching.
To cheer him up, Tara also tells him that she has lined up a creative director for his skating spectacular -- none other than Doriana Sanchez! She's a real big shot in the television and dance world who's worked with Cher, Elton John, Shakira, Jane's Addiction, the cast of Dancing with the Stars, etc. Johnny and Tara Skype with Doriana and she is excited to be part of the project. They talk first about where the spectacular should be and Johnny says naturally NYC. Doriana has another idea. Why not Las Vegas which is sparkly, glittery, and screams Johnny? Johnny hates Vegas and calls it loud and tacky. But Doriana is persistent and tells him to think about this -- water and ice in the middle of the desert. Johnny is intrigued.
We're now in Vegas to scout possible locations for the spectacular. Johnny can't stop complaining to Tara that Vegas is "Disneyland in the desert for older people. Vegas agitates me." Tara can't stop admiring her engagement ring. (Before they left for Vegas, boyfriend Josh popped the question!) They meet Doriana who brings them to a huge theatre so that Johnny can feel the intimacy, glamour and emotion that the right theatre environment can provide for his spectacular. Johnny mentions that there are also theatres in NYC. Doriana scowls.
The next morning, Doriana asks Johnny and Tara to meet her in front of the famous fountains at Caesar's Palace. All night she's been thinking about how to differentiate Vegas from NYC and she's got it -- let's freeze the fountains and hold your spectacular here! The fountains are 198 feet long so the size is perfect, there will be ice sculptures, colored lights, free popsicles for the attendees,can you just imagine how spectacular an ice show in the middle of the desert will be!?! Tara loves this genius idea and Johnny too embraces the concept. Someone yells out "execution" and everyone stops being excited for the moment.
Enter ice expert Vassili to talk about the logistics of freezing the fountains. Vassili tells them that real ice is impossible as it gets to be 200 degrees in the shade in Vegas. However, have they considered synthetic ice? Now THAT"S do-able. If they insist on real ice, start raising presidential level funds right now. Johnny says that he hates fake Gucci and he hates fake ice. Alone in the hotel roofdeck, Tara and Johnny have the come to Jesus moment. Johnny must commit to Vegas, his dream of a show in Madison Square Garden is not gonna happen. While admiring her ring, Tara reminds him that his notoriety and name recognition will only last for so long. Johnny says yes to Vegas.
Back in New York at the Westchester Skating Academy, Johnny prepares to teach a group of children. Producing and starring in his Vegas spectacular is not a sure thing. What if it flops? He still needs a Plan B which very well may be coaching. The seminar goes well. Johnny is patient, encouraging, funny but serious with the children. Afterwards, he tells Tara that for the next clinic, she needs to group the children with similar levels together. Perhaps he'll spend a half hour for good skaters, a half hour for the dancers, etc. Tara beams. There may be a next time! Add Skating Coach to the checklist of possible long term careers.
Tune in on Monday 10/9 central on Logo for Episodes 9 and 10 of Be Good Johnny Weir Season 2.
The show follows two time Olympian and three time US national figure skating champion Johnny Weir as he tries to find a career outside of skating, while training for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
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