The Dark Horse stands triumphant on 'Dancing with the Stars'
I don't think there's been another season on Dancing with the Stars when the Final Five have been so close in overall skill level. Now it's a question of consistency and, while some favorites struggle, Cristian de la Fuente pulls off a quasi-miracle.
Spoilers!
1. Kristi Yamaguchi & Mark
Dance/Song: Quickstep - "Billy-A-Dick" by Bette Midler
As they slipped in scores, Kristi really wanted to do a lift in the Samba but Mark doesn't feel like it's in the character of the dance. But they'll be doing one in this dance. I liked the number, it had a classic, 40's musical vibe to it. Her technique was great as always and the lift was the finishing move - Mark lifting her up on his shoulder.
Judges: Len was grumpy earlier but he says the dance cheered him up, Bruno really liked the pacing of the dance and Carrie Ann liked it too, though she noticed hiccup in their synchronization at one point.
Score: 29 (9-10-10)
2. Mario & Karina
Dance/Song: Viennese Waltz - "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys
Mario really wants to excel this week, especially in the lifts. I'd have to say that this was his best dance, definitely in terms of Ballroom. His posture was great, his frame was solid, and the lift was smooth and well-done.
Judges: Wow...Len made a really inappropriate Britney Spears reference (saying that Mario's Ballroom numbers are usually like when she gets out of a car, it's not very elegant and you see things you shouldn't see). The audience booed him and he was surprised. But really good comments from all the judges.
Score: 27 (all 9's)
3. Marissa Jaret Winokur & Tony
Dance/Song: Foxtrot - "New York, New York"
Tony wants to put a lift in the dance because he knows she can do anything. It was a cute little number. I really like Marissa's look tonight but there was entirely too much side by side dancing. It seemed like they were only dancing in holds a third of the time. Though I understand why it was choreographed that way. This is a very Broadway kind of song and it's hard to resist that kind of pull.
Judges: They all gave positive comments on her stage presence as always but were not entirely positive about the content. Carrie Ann loved it the most and Bruno did a quick Ethel Merman impression which was totally worth watching the show for.
Score: 25 (9-8-8)
4. Jason Taylor & Edyta
Dance/Song: Tango - An instrumental piece that was wonderfully appropriate
Jason has a bit of a problem with getting into the "flamboyant" nature of the Samba. To help him get over worrying about how he looks during the dance, she has him practice in a ridiculous outfit and then get a spray tan (despite the fact that, as he says, "God gave him a tan"). But they're doing the Tango first, and it was good. The lift was great, which is no surprise considering how strong he is and how tiny she is. Jason really got into the character of the dance and was focused from the very beginning. One thing I would like from them in the future is more varied stances in the Ballroom numbers.
Judges: It was entirely too Argentinian for Len (a statement that made Bruno flip his lid), Bruno hates them because they're so beautiful together (also stating this is the best she's danced in all the seasons), and Carrie Ann called it "intriguingly great."
Score: 29 (10-9-10)
5. Cristian de la Fuente & Cheryl
Dance/Song: Tango - "Beat It" by Michael Jackson
Despite having a ruptured tendon and needing surgery, Cristian is pushing on (with clearance from his doctor) and even trying to do a lift. He's determined that if he gets eliminated, it'll be based on dancing and not injury. Cheryl outfit has this plumage type stuff around her neck that's impossibly ridiculous and awesome at the same time. This is the most focused and intense Cristian's seemed for any dance and it really paid off. The one-armed lift they did was fantastic and his posture was great.
Judges: All three were nothing but complimentary with Carrie Ann stating she couldn't find a single fault. Len also gave Cheryl props for her great choreography.
Score: 28 (10-9-9) - Cristian was jumping up and down in excitement with the 10 and all anyone could think was "Watch the arm!"
6. Kristi & Mark
Dance/Song: Samba - "Volare" by The Gypsy Kings
Wow. There was a whole lot of difficulty in that routine. She even did one of those one-legged sit spins. I did appreciate that Kristi really looked like she was having fun. And when Samantha Harris asked them about the rough comments at the end, it was 12 minutes of her stumbling over a needlessly lengthy intro before asking a perfectly rudimentary question. Yargh.
Judges: Carrie Ann, much to her own surprise and others, felt there was something off and didn't enjoy it as much as she should've. Len thinks that it was a lot of energy and content, but perhaps it lost a bit of rhythm. Bruno really complimented them on the difficulty (8 spins into a drop is no joke) and called her "a bejeweled hummingbird."
Score: 26 (8-9-9) - They'll probably redo this dance for the finals, which they'll hopefully make
7. Mario & Karina
Dance/Song: Jive - "Little Bitty Pretty One" by Frankie Lymon
The lift they did was crazy - not entirely smooth but very impressive. It was an enjoyable number but something seemed a smidge off. I think maybe there was a choreography hiccup or two in there.
Judges: Len didn't dig it but Bruno did as usual. Len usually makes a handful of overly harsh comments every season but it seems like they're directed at Mario 85% of the time. Carrie Ann thought he captured the spirit of the dance very well in spite of some technique issues that Len mentioned in a rude fashion earlier.
Score: 26 (9-8-9)
8. Marissa & Tony
Dance/Song: Mambo - A perfectly lovely mostly instrumental song
It was a really cute number. She did a sit spin like Kristi but her foot dragged on the ground when she first went into it which kind of messed up the momentum of the move, but it was still impressive. I think I wanted it to be...more grand, more dialed up to fit her personality.
Judges: She performed great as always but it was a bit too dainty for Len, which I agree with it.
Score: 25 (8-8-9)
9. Jason & Edyta
Dance/Song: Samba - "It Had Better Be Tonight Be" by Michael Buble
Edyta's outfit is...wow. I ain't mad at her. The lift was really good again but there was something missing, like the energy was flat or something. Jason might've been over-thinking it which took away from the character of the dance. It came out in moments, but overall, not as much.
Judges: The judges and I are on the same page about it being lackluster.
Score: 23 (8-7-8)
10. Cristian & Cheryl
Dance/Song: Mambo - I don't know the song but *gasp* I liked it
Cristian is wearing a glittery brace on his bad arm. He's dancing way better with one good arm than he did with two good ones. And they ended with a one-arm lift. The footwork was great, the posture was great, the energy is great and I am shocked. Call him the Comeback Kid.
Judges: Nothing but upside with Bruno saying it was "more energy than a volcano in the Andes."
Score: 29 (10-9-10) - He's officially the score leader for this week
The Bottom Two: I'm thinking it's going to be Mario and Marissa as they're both in a similar holding pattern. I would've said Cristian because people might be too concerned about him making his arm worse, but he did entirely too well and doesn't deserve to be in the bottom.
Who's Out: It's a coin toss this time. I'm thinking it might be Mario going home.
P.S. With the exception of "Beat It," I give props to the House Band tonight. I actually enjoyed a majority of the music.
I'm glad the judges have finally seen that Jason isn't all that great. I haven't liked him in quite a while (talk about being stuck in a holding pattern). I agree that Marissa is also stuck, but I hope she continues on.
hmm, where are the comments? Could it be we are tired of saying the same things? While Jason received the right score for his 2nd dance, his first was too high. And Carrie Ann was way too picky on Kristy on the 1st dance.
That said, I loved both Kristy and Cristian's 2nd dances. I actually clapped after them, lol.
Cristian's dances were not nearly as good as the scores. He always has either a blank ezpression or a scared expression on his face. The lift in the first dance was awkward and not at all complimentary to the dance.
Mario's posture, though better in the first dance, is still poor compared to the other competitors.
Marissa is being judged down compared to the others. She has improved dramatically in the last couple of weeks.
Kristi is being judged down to make it more of a competitiion. That's too bad because she is the winner this season no matter what the audience votes. She has been amazing.
Tonight either Mario or Cristian needs to leave with the other leaving next week. It should be Kristi, Marissa and Jason in the finals.
Kristi- the Quickstep was terrific. I really think Carrie Ann was nitpicking because she expected to give the Latin dance a 10 and wanted to make sure to be critical of Kristi somewhere in the night. That first dance was a 30. The samba wasn't nearly as poor as the comments-I thought they did so many difficult technical moves well and they had the right spirit and costumes for a samba. I would have exchanged some of the turning moves for some hip action. It was worth a 9 to me not an 8.
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Mario- Karina choreographed that waltz so well. I really enjoyed it. He was more smooth but he could have made the movements in hold cover more floor, it seemed a little small to me. The jive had just the right energy (he feels the Latin dances so well) but not sharp or big enough kicks and could have had more jive moves. I agreed with his scores for both dances.
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Marissa took a slight step back this week from last. The foxtrot was fun with good technique but definitely not enough hold or difficulty. The mambo was fun too but still a bit lacking in spark and sharpness. I think it might have been I didnt like the choreography. Her scores were pretty much right on for the night too.
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Jason- the tango was great, I really enjoyed the choreography and delivery. He is talented in ballroom dances. His smoothness and posture and performance style really work in ballroom. He really lacks in the Latin dances though. If he would win, he would be the only winner to ever struggle so much with the Latin dances. The samba was just awful. I hate I say it really its not like I am eager to criticize him. He was tentative, uncomfortable and looking down a lot and off- beat. And on top of it, Edyta did him no favors with the terrible choreography that was barely samba, and their rumba-like outfits with no color! I think the scores were totally justified. They won't be going home anyway. He's really going to have to get it together- the only strong Latin dance he has had in my opinion is the mambo. I really think he is going to win and I dont want to see it happen to someone who can't do the Latin dances. And I do like him but he has been overscored often.
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Cristian- well I knew he would be last for the drama. What can I say. Cheryl did a great job with choregraphing around his injury. I think his tango was very overscored. It wasn't as powerful as the song needed it to be and he looked like we was staring into space. His mambo was very good though. The lackluster reception the judges had for all the other Latin dances allowed them to really be really excited for this dance and ready to throw out the 10s. I am impressed with the way they danced in spite of everything but I just dont feel anything when he dances. I am not excited by him and I havent liked a lot of cheryl's choreography this season. I understand why people like him, its just preference for me, I am just not getting into it.
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Bottom 2 is likely to be Marissa and Mario with Mario leaving. But ive been wrong plenty of times!
I thought it was a great show overall, but in my opinion, the correct two in the bottom this week should be Jason (who, I agree, has been almost constantly overscored), and Marissa. She has improved dramatically, and I have enjoyed her performances more than I thought I would, but she just isn't at the level of the others.
It's still way too obvious that the judges are only interested in the male contestants (other than Kristi). If Marisa goes, tonight, there'll only be one woman left and so likely another male winner. Sigh.
And if Marisa does go, the rest of the competition will be so boring because she's the only one left with some charism. The rest are dull as dishwater. They quickly got rid of the most interesting or bubbly contestants (Steve, Priscilla, Shannon) and so it's boring with the exception of Marisa and so I don't find myself as excited about watching it anymore.
The music each couple dances to is listed by episode on the "official" DWTS website. Cheryl and Cristian danced their mambo to Saca Tu Mujer by Tito Puente Jr. The music sometimes isn't listed quickly enough to be included in the recap. But for those of us who hear a piece of music and have to know what it is the listing is great!
Christian was more focused than ever;Kristi underscored (most other competitors who did that technical level of samba would have gotten a 30, c'mon)Bottom will be Marissa/Mario with Mario going. Bottom two should be Jason and Marissa. Mario had two strong dances; Marissa was fun, but not as much content as the others.
i thought Jason and Edyta's tango was hands-down the dance of the night. but i am not rooting for Jason, i've been giving my votes to Marissa because i want to see her continue on the show. and i liked her mambo very much (but her foxtrot was a little weak).
the judges seemed somewhat off last night (even more than their usual "offness"). i thought they WAY overscored Cristian (perhaps they were influenced by his injury even though they claim not to be). and they were way harsh on Kristi's second dance (samba), give me a break.
and they are always harsh on Mario. personally, i would like to see him continue on the show. anyway, i hope it's Cristian's time to go (despite his overinflated scores from the judges), and then he can get his needed surgery as well.
I agree with Jason, he doesn't need a tan. What in the heck was Len thinking comparing one of Mario's dances to Britney Spears coming out of a car?
Kristi and Mark did better than Carrie Ann gave them credit for. They don't need to score her down to compare to everyone else.
Cristian did very well last night. Cheryl hid his injury and they also showed that it wasn't going to stop him.
Marissa danced well too.