82.10. Does not compute.

That was Johnny Weir’s score for his amazing performance in last night’s men’s figure skating short program — eight points shy of leader Evgeny Plushenko, whose spastic arm movements can hardly be called graceful.

While reporters talked incessantly about his “outrageousness” and “flamboyance” (words always seething with subtext), Weir turned in one of his finest skates to date, complete with a pink shoulder tassel whipping around with each jump and spin. Not sure why the judges didn’t appreciate the all-around package. But eight points out of the lead doesn’t necessarily mean Weir is exiled from the podium come tomorrow night’s long program.

Nearly all of the skaters were dressed like divas, but few brought the arias along with them (Evan Lysacek being a notable exception). So thanks, Johnny, for making skating worth watching.