Lisa Live: Blade Runners

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and in the television business it also happens to be the sincerest form of trying to capitalize on a competing network's success by ripping off their idea and praying to God your ratings crush everyone else's. It's one of the many heartwarming reasons why I love covering entertainment.

From the FOX network comes the new reality series "Skating with Celebrities," which pairs stars with professional skaters for a point-driven couples competition on ice.

It begins Jan. 18, and hopes to do camel spins around the success of ABC's similarly formatted hit series, "Dancing With the Stars."

Despite the hard-core reality of my paycheck coming from FOX parent company News Corp., I was fully prepared to bash in this column what looked to be a cheesy knock-off of "DWTS," served up at a chillier room temperature. But having screened the first episode, I'll be darned if this thing didn't grip me tighter than skater Kurt Browning's stretch pants.

Taking people (and by people, I mean C-level stars) out of their element and placing them somewhere unexpected usually spells rating success. It's the fish-out-of-water thing. It worked for "DWTS," but the genius behind "SWC" is that it glides one step farther: you can't wait to see someone fall on their oft-kissed celebrity behind. Even if we never do get to see that, the idea of it is thrilling.

A distant second in the plus column is that this show stays away from the scary costumes worn by ballroom dancers and skaters alike, and comes up with more creative creations. And by scary, I'm speaking in particular about the kind worn by men. You know, that very low scooped-neck unitard, the kind I can't believe John O'Hurley had the cojones to wear on "DWTS." Then again, I guess he did have the cojones to wear one, if you know what I mean.

As for the celebrities, "SWC" pairs singer Deborah Gibson with skating star Browning, actor Todd Bridges ("Diff'rent Strokes") with couples champ Jenni Meno, FOX football babe Jillian Barberie with hunky pro John Zimmerman, comedian Dave Coulier ("Full House") with Olympic medallist Nancy Kerrigan, actress Kristy Swanson ("Big Daddy") with pro Lloyd Eisler and decathlete Bruce Jenner with former skating star Tai Babilonia.

The judges are crusty coach Sir John Nicks (an acerbic Brit, he's clearly the show's Simon Cowell), beloved former medallist Dorothy Hamill (the nice one -- a smarter Paula Abdul) and skating analyst Mark Lund (middle of the road and well-groomed, he's a dandier Randy Jackson.)

The hosts are Scott Hamilton, arguably skating's top ambassador, and Olympic swimmer Summer Sanders.

First show highlights include Coulier, a recreational hockey player, sawing down the pesky toe picks on his figure skates with a metal grinding wheel; Jenner gliding with all of the grace of Herman Munster ("Your artistry is nonexistent," barks Sir John) and the "drama" surrounding skater Eisler's realization that his partner Swanson is left-handed (evidently this is a major road-block to his right-handed ways.)

If the above isn't enough of a tease, don't forget the all-important aforementioned wipe-out factor and the creative costuming, as well as the musical themes (the first episode's was "movie music") and the custom-built ice rink.