A plethora of styles on 'Dancing with the Stars'
Tonight's Dancing with the Stars gave us a random assortment of dances, a fake romance, a big breakthrough by one of the stars, their first ensemble number, and two celebrities flirt with a perfect score, but only one seals the deal.
Spoilers!
Before we get to the dances, I'd like to extend a hearty thank you to the House Band and the producers for giving us a show that had barely any questionable music. Seriously. Thank you. I didn't have to use my mute button once. P.S. If you could get Samantha Harris to talk less and perhaps stop trying to create drama, I'd really appreciate it.
1. Jason Taylor & Edyta
Dance/Song: Cha Cha - "Best of My Love" by The Emotions
Len said he wanted to see more dancing from Jason, so Edyta is choreographing to showcase him. To help Jason feel more comfortable with it, she takes him to a freestyle class taught by hip-hop choreographer Sho-Tyme. I think having to learn two dances kind of messed him up this week because there were a lot of times where it looked like he was waiting for a cue from Edyta or for her to come to him. Jason did look like he was having fun but there were some footwork and counting mistakes.
Judges: Len, Bruno and Carrie Ann all thought he did a good job but there was definitely room to improve. Carrie Ann advised him to be bigger with his movements and to break free from "big man's syndrome."
Score: 24 (all 8's)
2. Shannon Elizabeth & Derek
Dance/Song: Rumba - "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper
To help Shannon get her hip motions better, Derek took her to the beach and had her hula-hoop. They also danced to get her in the romantic mood. She had the right vibe, certainly, but she could've used more time with the hula-hoop. It was better than last week (thanks to the slow tempo) but she lacked a certain fluidity that made it more of a ballet/modern type dance than a Rumba.
Judges: All three judges enjoyed it enough but were still critical about her lack of hip action and Carrie Ann told her to make sure she sustained her shapes.
Score: 24 (all 8's)
3. Marlee Matlin & Fabian
Dance/Song: Mambo - "La Tierja" by Gloria Estefan
So Fabian is the former Mambo World Champion. No pressure. Still having some emotional hangover from last week, Henry Winkler came for a visit during rehearsal and gave her a big old pick-up. I heart The Fonz. First of all, Marlee looks great in that animal print outfit. There were issues (mainly when they weren't in a hold), but she didn't seem quite as out of sorts as she did last week. These syncopated dances are probably the hardest for her since they're more difficult to count out than the waltz or other dances that are on the beat.
Judges: The judges agreed that she didn't do so hot but recognized her effort.
Score: 21 (all 7's)
4. Cristian de la Fuente & Cheryl
Dance/Song: Foxtrot - the standard "Come Fly With Me"
Cristian is struggling with his arm motions and lines so Cheryl has him practice in a pool. And it really did help. He still could use some ballet but his posture looked far less forced/stiff and he finally looked like he knew what to do with his arms the majority of the time. It wasn't perfect but Cristian definitely had a breakthrough.
Judges: It was positive marks across the board with Len saying, "If you're in the Bottom Two tomorrow, I'll show my bum in the supermarket."
Score: 27 (all 9's)
5. Marissa Jaret Winokur & Tony
Dance/Song: Viennese Waltz - "Delilah" by Tom Jones - I share the same question posed in the song: Why?
Marissa's having some dizziness issues with the spins so Tony takes her to an aerial arts class to get her used to spinning. After a few minutes on the giant hoop suspended from the ceiling, she really gained perspective. It was a solid routine that ended with Marissa doing this cool, Tony-assisted, one-legged spin to the ground. She was pretty and floaty and didn't look like she got dizzy once. Give it up to Tony for another week of good choreography.
Judges: The judges unanimously liked it with Bruno calling her "light and frothy" and Len adding that she looked like "a true princess."
Score: 26 (9-8-9)
6. Kristi Yamaguchi & Mark
Dance/Song: Jive - "Rip It Up" by Little Richard
Little known fact (to me anyway): Kristi was born with club feet and had a bunch of corrective procedures done. Crazy. There's nothing bad I can say about the dance. They looked great (I covet her shoes), the energy was high, and the steps were clean.
Judges: Len called it a "smörgåsbord of dance" and Bruno and Carrie Ann both said it was their favorite dance this season.
Score: 30 - first perfect score of the season
7. Mario & Karina
Dance/Song: Rumba - "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye
Mario calls his little brother on the phone in a bit of sweetly tinged product placement. He dedicates the dance to little bro but tells him to close his eyes because it's too steamy. Karina looks a little bit like Princess Leia wearing her fancy slave-girl togs. It was a good dance, though I found the music a smidge distracting for some reason. Like...
Judges: Len liked it but it was too raunchy for his taste ("a story between a strumpet and a gigolo"), which of course means Bruno loved it. Carrie Ann capped it off by saying it was "better than good sex." There was a lift in there so both C to the A and Len will be docking points.
Score: 28 (9-9-10) - it would've been perfect had there not been a lift...
Group Dance
Dance/Song: Country - "Cotton-Eyed Joe" by Rednex
The theme is "Outlaws vs. Sheriffs" with choreographer Christian Perry picking Kristi as the head sheriff leading the women and Jason as the head outlaw leading the men. Man, this was anarchy...but in a fun way. The lifts were pretty cool and everybody did cartwheels at the end but there was nothing incredible. Jason & Edyta, Shannon & Derek and Kristi & Mark were my favorite lifts.
The Bottom Two: I'm going to say it'll be Shannon and Marle, possibly exchanging one for Cristian or Jason since they're all bunched up in terms of points.
Who's Out?: I'm going to say Shannon because I think Marle's voting base is too strong. Plus, the mock romantic segment tends to be the kiss of death (i.e. Maks & Willa Ford).
I'm starting to find Mario very annoying and he and Karina are coming off as sleazy. Karina is definitely slutty ****e. I think she's done every one of her partners (except maybe Billy Ray because he's too much of a family man).
I thought Jason was more average tonight. You could tell he was thinking and that he looks at his feet instead of up. I think his problem with some of the fast Latin dances is his lack of crisp movements-he is so fluid and smooth but he needs more snap and flair, I hope he finds it. I loved the choreography of Shannon's dance, Derek is so strong in that. I thought they did well and she had some hip movement but its not her strength. I would have scored them one or 2 above Jason, not equal. Marlee just didnt get it done. I admire her but she proved that last week wasn't just a fluke and she does have major problems with the more cmplicated Latin dances. Cristian was better all-around but shoulders still need some work. His personality wasn't as grating to me though as usual and its good to see the improvement in hid facial expression as well. Marissa surprised me with a nice waltz. I can't imagine how loud she will scream if she ever gets a 10 haha. Mario has really been steppng up his technique and performance, definitely the sharpest besides Kristi. His problem will be his sometimes ****y personality, I'm not sure if he is winning the viewers over. I do like his dancing though. And go Baltimore (from a MD girl:))! Kristi- why can I say. She combines technique, fluidity, difficulty, choreography, and performance like no one else on the show. I look forward to her every week.
.........
Oh and the group number was ok- sloppy and chaotic but fun. ButI preferred when it used to be more formal and less campy. When considering both scores and votes, I think the bottom 2 will be Marlee and Shannon (unfortunately)- with Marlee leaving. I think it might be her time as 2 dances will be even more difficult for her. Actually I think it will prove very difficult for many of this season's celebs.
With all the options they seem to have with creating their costumes, why would Shannon pick an outfit so short and tight around the hips... while loose and flowing up top? A little 'flounce' aound the hips would have helped give the illusion of more hip movement. Instead the 'skirt' emphasized slim hips and how inflexible she is from the waist down. If she can't figure out something this basic I don't see much hope for her.
Great re-cap Tamara.
BTW the song by Gloria Estefan is "Mi Tierra".
Peace.
I LIKED this show. I don't like the fact that the judges have clearly decided they like Kristi and Mark - they couldn't be more obvious in their desire for her to win.
It clouds my voting because I tend to vote more FOR whoever they slammed in any given week than for who danced the best.
I've never really been able to figure out if it's all about who is the best dancer PERIOD or who is the most improved. Guess that's why it's always such a head scratcher.
I thought Mario was great and the fact that he dances with Karina is just taking the bitter with the sweet. Len jumped Julianne and Apolo for being too raunchy, too.
And "light and frothy" is not exactly how I'd describe Marissa. Ugh.
Kristi is the best dancer out there and deserves to win...... I believe that Marissa was great last night, and I was excited with and for her. This is the first time that I enjoyed Cristian's dance. Did not enjoy Mario's though, It was raunchy. Please Karina this is a family show.
I liked Kristi and Mark last night. Their jive was definately a highlight. The group dance was great. It looked like everyone was having so much fun. I know that it is unlikely, but I wish Mario would be the one going home instead of Shannon or Marlee.
Loved the show last night. The group dance was a lot of fun to watch. Go Kristi, you are awesome.
Samantha Harris please leave the show!
I think Jan that the judges are rooting for the best dancers and the best dancers right now are Kristi and Mark. I always thought that the show was about who are the best dancers. Even if you improve, you still need to be the best out on the dance floor to win. Otherwise, you could have someone win who is inferior to the best dancer by a mile however winning because they were the most improved by a wide margin. That doesn't make sense to me. I don't see the judges favoring Kristi and Mark-- I see them favoring and giving the high marks to the accomplishments on the dance floor. Kristi is consistent from week to week and if they were favoring her she would have gotten all 10's weeks ago. It's the quality they are looking for. The judges seem very critical to me of all and may have their favorites however the dancers need to earn their marks. Kristi and Mark earn them--week after week after week.
Am I wrong - I'm sure I heard weeks ago that Marissa was pregnant - in which case it won't be too long before she goes
Does anyone know for sure