Be Good Johnny Weir Recap of Episode 9: Johnny's skating spectacular NOT in Vegas
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.
This is the next to last episode of Be Good Johnny Weir Season 2 -- waaaahh! My only solace is that Johnny is 
back in competition this season and will be skating at two Grand Prix of Figure Skating events -- Cup of Russia (November 9-12) and Trophee Eric Bompard (November 16-18). A few weeks ago, he competed at the Finlandia Trophy and came in fourth.
The big big news from Episode 9 is that Johnny's skating spectacular will NOT be in Las Vegas after all. According to Johnny, he got all caught up with the Vegas concept and let his agent/manager Tara Modlin talk him into it. But now that he's back in NYC, he realizes what a mistake it would be to have the show in Vegas, which he has called "Disneyland for old people." To confirm his gut feeling, Johnny meets up with friend and designer Chris Benz to get his take. Chris definitely sees the advantage of a huge Vegas show; however, the infrastructure of Johnny's fans and family is in NYC and home court advantage can't be flown in. Chris doesn't see Johnny's show in Vegas.
So Johnny breaks the news to Tara who is busily booking Vegas while also preparing for her wedding. He tells her to take out her magic wand and just make the show in NYC instead! Tara calls him "honey" which is code for "clueless wonder" and explains that logistically it is too late to change the venue so the spectacular must wait if he insists on having it in NYC.
But as one door closes, another opens and in walks Jirina Ribbens, event producer and executive director of Ice Theatre of New York (ITNY). ITNY combines skating with artistry in very unique ways and Jirina was asked to help produce Johnny's spectacular given her experience putting on ITNY shows. Tara tells Jirina that the spectacular is on hold and her services will not be needed at this time. Jirina understands and says "New York is the ultimate market to succeed in" so she will be on standby.
Jirina has also brought some great news. Every year ITNY holds their fundraising gala in October and chooses an honoree (past honorees have included Dorothy Hamill, Nancy Kerrigan and Dick Button). For 2011, ITNY has chosen Johnny and will call their gala "Dare to be Different." This is a nice consolation prize for Johnny -- Even though his spectacular is on hold, he will take part in the ITNY show. Johnny meets up with choreographer Nina Petrenko to create a new program for the gala and decides to skate to Meditation, a number Mother Patti always wanted him to skate to. Johnny tells Nina that he wants to take advantage of the fact that his "ass just keeps growing like a Kardashian sister." Nina and Johnny choreograph a very lovely number.
The other big big news is that Tara is planning her Disney princess wedding! Johnny wants to be the maid of honor but Tara says that for once in his life, he is NOT the center of attention and NO, he cannot be the maid of honor. In the last scene of Episode 9, Tara goes wedding dress shopping with her mother and Johnny at the Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier. Johnny watches Tara squeal with delight as she tries on dress after dress. Finally he can't stand it anymore and tries on a dress of his own. 
He realizes that watching Tara and him feeling pretty in a wedding dress has inspired him to fall in love. Dammit -- he too deserves happiness and he needs to try harder to find his soulmate. Johnny Weir is back on the hunt for love!
Next on Episode 10 (the last episode -- waaaahh!) of Be Good Johnny Weir Season 2 on Logo...Johnny finds his true love and is honored by Ice Theatre of New York.
