'Dancing with the Stars' has a new Idol

April 16, 07:17 PM

And so Sanjaya Malakar's dominance of popular culture extends even beyond the FOX network. No one mentions him by name during Monday's Dancing with the Stars, but his presence is everywhere from the band to one of the dancers' hair.

Seriously, I could not take my eyes off Julianne Hough's hair, which for some reason she decided to do up in quasi-ponyhawk style (it my have been a banana clip, actually, but the effect was similar) as she and Apolo Ohno danced a samba. Throw in her strange tiger-striped -- what was that, a dress? unitard? -- outfit, and it was as if we were watching Dance Fever and not Dancing with the Stars.

Which is a shame, because it distracted me from the first perfect score of the competition. She and Ohno knocked the dance out of the park, making the only question one of whether they can keep their game up for the remainder of the season. I couldn't say for sure, but this feels like the earliest the judges have ever awarded a 30.

Joey Fatone's rumba also contained a bit of that Malakar magic, choreographed as it was to "Besame Mucho." I have to say, too, that the Dancing band's version of it wasn't any worse than the one he did on J. Lo night last week. Oh, and Fatone stayed right near the top of the competition as well -- he wasn't quite as sharp as last week, but he scored a solid third place with 25 points. That's one point ahead of Ian Ziering, who scored a 24 but faint praise from the judges, who couldn't muster anything more than "competent" in speaking of his show-opening samba.

I'd also like to welcome Laila Ali back to the competition after her tremendously sexy rumba -- performed despite the comic objections of her fiance, former NFL receiver Curtis Conway. After a couple of flat weeks for her, it looks like she's once again a real contender.

In fact, this week figures to be the first in which a woman is not eliminated, thanks to Ali and another pretty decent performance by Heather Mills and her freshly chest-waxed (it was funnier in The 40-Year-Old Virgin) partner Jonathan Roberts. She got a 21, which would have been a bit higher had she not taken a tumble right at the end.

Normally this might be burying the lead, but it wasn't really clear if her artificial leg betrayed her or she just lost her balance (the camera wasn't quite prepared for it, so it was hard to tell). Whether that inspires a little more sympathy or hoots of derision from you, the voters, remains to be seen, I guess.

But Mills still has a pretty big lead over the likes of Clyde Drexler and Billy Ray Cyrus, the week's low scorers with 13 and 17, respectively. Both guys more or less stood around during their rumbas, letting their partners do pretty much all the work. I know, the Glide was in China and Cyrus was working on Hannah Montana during part of the week, but still.

John Ratzenberger wasn't a lot better at 18, but at least the guy looked like he was enjoying himself. I say Cliffy deserves at least one more week.

What are your thoughts on this week's show? Time for a guy to go, yes?

in ABC , Reality TV

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Comments (30)

Comments

Yes

k. kent | Apr 17, 2007 2:17:58 AM | #

Maybe Billy Ray felt funny bringing his sexy back in front of his kids. One more chance.

juggernut | Apr 17, 2007 4:38:58 AM | #

As a dancer, Clyde was a great basketball player. Sorry Clyde, time to go.

Chris G | Apr 17, 2007 5:18:42 AM | #

It really is time for Clyde to go, he should have been the first one out.

Beth | Apr 17, 2007 6:03:34 AM | #

clyde...you fouled out on the dance floor..time to hangup your dancing shoes

mikey | Apr 17, 2007 6:45:40 AM | #

I felt SO sorry for Clyde last week BUT this week it IS time for him to go. Sorry but I didn't get how "wonderful" Ms. Ali was. I just didn't think she was all that great. I too thought of Sanjaya several times!!! Oh no!! He's bleeding over to other programs now!

Kate | Apr 17, 2007 8:05:34 AM | #

I thought of the infamous names of this American Idol season too! (Sanjaya- Julianne's hair and "Besame Mucho" and Antonella-she sang "Put Your Records On")

Apolo & Julianne were AWESOME. Joey & Kym- very good. Laila & Maks- good but not a 10. Ian just needs to loosen up and the scores will rise.
Clyde and Billy Ray should be the bottom 2 with Clyde going home (Clyde has been consistently bad and not entertaining, where Billy Ray had done some ok/just funny and entertaining performances)

But I feel like it will be John & Clyde actually in the bottom 2....and the previous weeks would suggest John will leave. I hope not though!

EMP | Apr 17, 2007 8:28:50 AM | #

I can't believe Ron Bergeron did not have make any comments about Julie's hair. That was the first thing I picked up when she walked on stage. I'm like did they give her Sanjaya's faux-hawk?

Gary | Apr 17, 2007 8:31:16 AM | #

I think Clyde is on his way out. He is so sweet, but he looks like a stick figure out there on the dance floor. At least Billy Ray has turned in a couple good performances and so has John.

Sandy Johnson | Apr 17, 2007 9:34:33 AM | #

Clyde says he is trying, but I just don't see it. John was very good compared to his other weeks and even Billy Ray seemed to not be as stiff. Bottom 2 should be Clyde and John with Clyde leaving, but to go along with the American Idol theme, the wrong person will go and it will be John.

Andrea | Apr 17, 2007 9:49:33 AM | #

Clyde the "stick" should have gone at the very beginning. What a joke !!!
The gorgeous Julianne and Kim keep me watching - I guess Ali comes closest to a replacement to the beautiful and talented Stacy Keibler as far as "stars" are concerned

Gerald C Brooke | Apr 17, 2007 10:02:38 AM | #

Gerald C Brooke | Apr 17, 2007 10:04:33 AM | #

Gerald C Brooke | Apr 17, 2007 10:05:40 AM | #

It's funny - having taken competed in ballroom competition, I have seen the Clyde phenomenon before - I think he IS genuinely trying, he just is REALLY that BAD! Some people's bodies just don't move.

And, Kate, gotta disagree - Laila is talented and her Rhumba was her best dance yet - she is really good when she practices.

Apolo and Julianne were awesome despite her hair and outfit - but that's what makes a Samba a Samba!

I am crossing my fingers for Cliffy for one more week - at least he is entertaining!

Michelle | Apr 17, 2007 10:38:24 AM | #

i really think billy ray would be a lot better dancer if he wasnt so intimidated by his partner! he seems kind of shy and she is a vixen!
you can tell she is a b---h.

amy | Apr 17, 2007 11:32:49 AM | #

Clyde SHOULD be the one to go this week, but his NBA fans will probably keep him around again. I fear that John will be the one eliminated tonight, depsite the fact that he genuinely is trying his best.

Both Clyde and Billy Ray looked like they had superglued their shoes to the dance floor, while their agile partners literally danced circles around them. It was embarassing for both of these men.

I think that Juliane's hairdo was up in a banana clip, but it did remind me of Sanjaya's fauxhawk as well. Juliane and Apolo truly derserved the perfect 30 score, since their routine included great choreography, fast footwork and the carefree attitude of a 'Carnivale'.

The rest of the contestants were mostly forgettable, and I don't think that Laila Ali's rumba deserved a 10. Oh, and Jonathan Roberts did look much better after the chest waxing-- OUCH!

Paige | Apr 17, 2007 11:52:39 AM | #

Juliane's costume was fabulous. She did not have a fauxhawk like Sanjaya. Her hair was meant to be the mane of her costume - She was the tiger and Apolo was the hunter.

Katie | Apr 17, 2007 12:22:05 PM | #

Has anybody noticed how really BAD the camera work has been this year? Shots of the ceiling, missed shots of the dancers - really a mess.

The singers are bad this year too - I thought the guy singing Besame Mucho was going to strangle himself on the high notes.

I honestly thought Heather looked really awkward BEFORE she fell. I felt badly that she did, because she's giving it the old college try, but she is too gimmicky for me.

I think Billy Ray is intimidated by the evil eye Karina is giving him. She is NOT pleased to be dancing with somebody she knows is going to be eliminated, and it shows more every week.

I'm totally turned off by Clyde and his "we're invited guests" comments. Every week he looks more like Master P, and I hope he goes THIS week.

Apolo was AMAZING; Laila was much better, and I HOPE that Ian gets better. He seems to be dropping off a little every week.

Jan | Apr 17, 2007 12:30:20 PM | #

Oh - and the gimmicks before everybody dances are getting REALLY, REALLY old.

I did NOT need to see the hair removal segment or John's scottish drums, either.

Jan | Apr 17, 2007 12:31:36 PM | #

Clyde seriously needs to leave. He doesn't put ANY effort in at all. And he doesn't even dance. Last night, he just stood there for the majority of the dance while his partner did all the work. At least Master P did about three steps her "dance". Clyde doesn't even do that. And then he has the nerve to get all uppity and act as if he's practising when he's not practising at all. He just thinks that sports fans will vote for him while he stands there. Once that lazy moron with his idiotic zombie smile leaves, it'll be down to Billy Ray and John because those two suck (but not nearly as much as Clyde).

Seamus | Apr 17, 2007 1:04:04 PM | #

VOTE
S
A
N
J
A
Y
A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clay | Apr 17, 2007 2:36:43 PM | #

Am I the only one that has noticed there is much less camera time on Heathers legs than any of the others? She is horrible.

| Apr 17, 2007 3:26:42 PM | #

time for Clyde to go, no rythm
in that guy,Apolo and Julianne
were great!!!!!!!!!!

Theresa:April 17,2007 7:28p.m. | Apr 17, 2007 4:28:36 PM | #

Did anyone notice that when Clyde went to get his scores; he shook his head no; not to vote for him.

ryker | Apr 17, 2007 4:44:08 PM | #

Clyde should say Bye Bye.
Then Billy Ray Should quit the play.
And then John best be gone!

Marjorie | Apr 17, 2007 6:42:48 PM | #

I was appalled that Heather Mills had Jonathan Roberts wax his chest. The woman is totally clueless to think that Latin men are all hairless. This is just as bad as men who think that all women should be skinny and have big breasts. I guess she likes her men feminine-looking.

Rob | Apr 18, 2007 8:52:09 AM | #

Rob | Apr 18, 2007 8:53:18 AM | #

Ok Listen up. SANJAYA MAlAKAR HAS GOT TO GO!!!!!!! he is only on AMerican Idol bc all the little girls think he is Cute. UGH! not me!

lilly | Apr 18, 2007 5:21:33 PM | #

Apolo and Juliane blew me away, it was perfertion. Juliane's hair and unitard were right on for her tiger theme. It was the best dance not just for this season but for past seasons as well.
I think joey and Ian are really equal in their dancing abilities but Joey has more showmanship, come on Ian Im rooting for you.
It was truely time for Clyde to go.
John's performance was so cute.
I think Ali is very good but the scores from the judges seem to high for her performances.
My bottom 2 at this point is Heather and Billy(Billy would have been better off with a less intense partner-sorry Katrina. By the way Leeza should have been the very first to go.

Sheila | Apr 20, 2007 7:24:38 AM | #

Laila Ali is the most graceful of the celebrities! She is also technically brilliant and stylish. She studies the costumes of the originators of the Latin dances and imparts her vision of what she wants to wear to the designer who makes it happen! And Maks is such a great dancer! What a HUNK. Gooooo Laila and Maks! I hope you win it ALL!
Verily

verily | May 4, 2007 6:59:34 PM | #