“Splash” ABC TV Show: Contestant Louie Anderson’s Flip Results in Automatic Elimination During Week 4 of Diving Competition, Katherine Webb Survives

The seven remaining celebrity contestants on "Splash" (Louie Anderson, Katherine Webb, Nicole Eggert, Drake Bell, Brandi Chastain, Rory Bushfield, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) flipped their way into Week 4 on the April 9^th episode of ABC's diving competition TV show.

Last night's "Splash" featured an automatic elimination of the contestant with the lowest scoring dive, which had to incorporate a flip. This was the first week where there wasn't a "dive-off" for the two lowest scoring competitors (former Miss Alabama Katherine Webb & comedian Louie Anderson) to attempt to redeem themselves with a second dive.

The new elimination procedure resulted in Louie Anderson flipping/rolling his way off of the show.

Before the comedian sealed his fate as the lowest scoring contestant this week, basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took the first flip of the night. With his height holding back his rotation, the b-baller attempted to execute a one-and-a-half front flip off of the spring board, but fell a bit short. He still earned a 6 and a 6.5 from the judges.

Webb was up next and was challenged to do a reverse somersault dive from a 23-foot-high platform (a dive that judge & Olympic diver Greg Louganis was doing when he hit his head on the diving board back in 1988 Seoul Olympics). The former Miss Alabama started off solid, but her over-rotation messed up her landing in the water. She earned a 6 from each of the judges, which became the bottom score to beat for the rest of the competitors.

Actress Nicole Eggert accepted the challenge and beat Webb's score with a well-executed back somersault off the 16-foot platform. She earned a notable 8 and 8.5 from the judges; the highest score of the night.

Following Eggert was stunt skier Rory Bushfield, who climbed the 33-foot platform and executed a decent flip despite his ruptured eardrum from last week's competition. The judges give him a 7 and a 7.5.

Actor Drake Bell also flipped off the 33-footer after Rory and earned a 6 and 6.5 from the judges, tying with Kareem.

Next up was soccer star Brandi Chastain, who also received a 6 and 6.5 from the judges after executing a somersault from the 23-foot board.

The last flip of the night and the last chance at survival for Webb came from Anderson, who prefaced his dive with, "I can hardly flip in bed." He took to the 16-foot platform and sat down with his back to the water and rolled backwards in attempt to complete a three-quarter flip.

"You're probably the first 400-pound man ever to do what you just did, in the world," stated an impressed Foley. However, the judge's praise still only earned him a 6 and a 5.5.

This score saved Louie's friend Webb from going home and sent the comedian packing instead. Before his elimination this week, Anderson told TV Guide, "I think I dive for America," he says. "I dive for all the people who are never going to dive, but I want them to do something. I'm trying to inspire myself and other people, and it seems to be working."

Unfortunately, Anderson will no longer be diving for America in next week's competition where all six remaining competitors will be required to jump from the 10-meter platform, the highest used in the show.

Many fans were sad to see the "inspirational" overweight diver leave the show, but Louie remained triumphant upon his departure, declaring that this wasn't a loss, but "my first step into a brand-new life."

Another star has fallen on ABC's 'Splash'...who will be next?