Bill Nye the Science Guy danced against doctor's recommendations on "Dancing with the Stars,"on ABC Television Network on Sept. 30, 2013. Nye danced valiantly, if unwisely, but got eliminated anyway. Cast-members were asked if they would have danced under the same circumstances in an EW report on Oct. 1, 2013.
“I would,” said Christina Milian as her pro partner Mark Ballas, ever the sad clown, looked on disapprovingly. “I’d be like, ‘Okay, let’s do this in a wheelchair!”
Karina Smirnoff complimented Tyne Stecklein on superb choreography to work around Nye's peg leg.
Nye had torn his quadricep muscle and the doctor told him that dancing in any form would risk further serious injury, according to statements he made during the live dance competition. Thinking that perhaps he knew better than the doctor, Nye figured that he could dance if his leg was immobilized. The alternative would have been to dance in a wheelchair.
Nye insisted that quitting was not an option and that he was there to win. Nye stated, "People don't regret what they do, they regret what they don't do."
The Science Guy had platelets injected directly into the injured area to speed healing and he wore a leg immobilizer during the dance, which was choreographed by pro dance partner Tyne Stecklein. High kicking Tyne seemed to work three times as hard to make up for her robotic dance partner, but she appeared to enjoy the chance to show off her dancing talent.
The resulting robot routine was entertaining and even a bit humorous, but was not a competition worthy routine. Nye was probably gambling that his fan base would keep him voted in the competition. If he would have bowed out he would have been disqualified from the rest of the season.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I will reveal that this is a subject that I know about because I once faced the possibility that my leg might be amputated, but instead had a large part of the quadricep muscle removed by surgery. As a result, I had two long periods of time when I could not walk and had to have physical therapy to relearn how to walk. The quad is the largest muscle in the body and muscles do not regenerate or grow back if removed. Therefore, my personal experience is that this not a trifling matter. Strains or tears are not as serious as my condition, but any leg injury can cause serious downtime if not handled carefully.
Nye's injury of course, was a different matter, but he could have complicated his condition for a meaningless trophy and a night of glory. As it was, he had already been eliminated, but the elimination had not been announced. Nye was eliminated at the end of the episode, based on the judges scores and fan votes from the previous week of the dance competition, so the decision had been made prior to the robot dance.
Nye put on a brave face after his elimination, graciously saying, "Maybe it is a blessing in disguise. People here are working so hard and are so good. You see how they're improving every week, and I'm not going to be able to keep up with that...But it breaks my heart that Tyne is not going to be able to stay," he continued. "She's fantastic. Thanks to all my fans and everyone for keeping me in this long -- it's really been cool."
Nye is not the first celebrity contestant to dance with an injury. Every year there seems to be a contestant or pro dancer who dances in spite of the doctor's recommendation. Jennifer Grey danced with a neck injury, another injury that is nothing to messed around with, and went on to win the Mirror Ball Trophy. Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough win season 11 of Dancing with the Stars
It may cause the viewer to ponder..."What price fame?"
Bill Nye is scheduled to guest star as himself on "The Big Bang Theory." Bob Newhart and Bill Nye to guest star on The Big Bang Theory
"Dancing with the Stars" returns for its fourth show of the season on Mon., Oct. 7. This season, the show has a shortened format and airs the competition and results in one show instead of airing two nights a week.
Julianne Hough, formerly a pro-dancer on the show, will return as a judge on Oct. 7. Hough will judge alongside Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli."Dancing with the Stars" is hosted by Tom Bergeron ("America's Funniest Home Videos") and Brooke Burke-Charvet.
Returning celebrities and their partners are: Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi (MTV's "Jersey Shore") with Sasha Farber; Valerie Harper ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Rhoda") Tristan MacManus;Braunt Daughtery ("Pretty Little Liars") with Peta Murgatroyd; Christina Miliani with Mark Ballas; Elizabeth Berkley Lauren ("Saved by the Bell," "Showgirls") with Val Chmerkovskiy; Corbin Bleu ("High School Musical") with Karina Smirnoff; Amber Riley ("Glee") with Derek Hough; Bill Engvall with Emma Slater; Jack Osbourne ("The Osbournes") with Cheryl Burke and Leah Remini ("The Talk," "King of Queens") with Tony Dovolani.
Keyshawn Johnson (NFL football) and Sharna Burgess were the first couple eliminated.
Country singer Kellie Pickler, who danced with Derek Hough, won the 16th season of the hit competition.
