Bill Nye 'DWTS' Injury Revealed, In 'Good Spirits'
Bill Nye remains in the running for season 17's mirrorball trophy on "Dancing with the Stars," despite suffering a torn ligament on Monday.
The professor-turned-dancing-contestant is best known for hosting "Bill Nye the Science Guy," a long-running PBS Kids and now syndicated television series that still popular today.
A self-proclaimed nerd, Nye's dance routines have left much to be desired. Making matters worse, the 57-year-old "stepped on the cuff of these fancy slacks and fell down" during this week's performance, according to People.com.
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"We'll do R.I.C.E. – we'll do rest, ice, compression, elevation [and] see where we get," the professor added.
On Instagram, Nye updated fans, writing: "Here's the scoop: partially torn ligament. Awaiting doc's orders with Tyne. We plan to dance! Stand by."
Furthermore, while Nye's injury sent him to the hospital, the "Science Guy" is "in good spirits and is really hoping he can continue to compete," a source told People.com.
Meanwhile, Nye is paired with "DWTS" professional dancer Tyne Stecklein, but their two performances so far have not wowed the judges. They remain this season's lowest-scoring couple in the competition, earning a mere 14 points out of 30 for their debut performance and 17 points for week two's dance.
Nevertheless, Nye is a fan favorite and has expressed not only excitement over joining "DWTS," but the professor wants to use the competition to "broaden awareness" of science.
Earlier this month, the professor posted to his blog for the science organization the Planetary Society promising readers that his addition to the popular dancing competition will "engage people everywhere."
"As unusual as this may seem, I believe we can broaden awareness of the Society and thereby humankind's exploration of the Cosmos one ballroom dance at a time," he wrote.
Nye was announced as a member of season 17's "DWTS" cast on "Good Morning America" along with stars such as "Jersey Shore's" Snooki, Valerie Harper, Elizabeth Berkley and Christina Milian, among others.
The television series has already seen its first elimination- NFL star Keyshawn Johnson was sent home during week two.
Tune into "DWTS" Mondays on ABC at 8 p.m. EST to see how Nye and the other contestants do this season.
