'Dancing With the Stars' week 8
Tonight on Dancing With the Stars, the dancers will be taking on two performances yet again.
First up are Jennie Garth and Derek Hough. They have to do the jive and the foxtrot. To build her confidence, Derek brings in Richard Simmons (YES, RICHARD SIMMONS) to cheer her on and talk her up. That was bizarrely touching and weird at the same time. I am flummoxed. Anyway, they jive first. They have energy and sequins to spare. (Does anyone else find Derek to be overly touchy-feely with Jennie a lot of the time? It kind of weirds me out.) Len Goodman says he isn't sure that jive is enough to get her into the semifinal. Bruno Tonioli says the jive is very, very precise, but that she was "a bit limp." Carrie Ann Inaba says she applauds her emotional journey, but she really has to watch her posture and footwork. Scores: 8-8-8, for a 24/30.
Cameron Mathison and Edyta Sliwinska prepare for the Viennese waltz and cha-cha, with the former first. Their dance is flowy and the music is kind of magical and dissonant. Bruno says it was majestic and he was like a "gray albatross." Carrie Ann says she really loved it and thought it was very beautiful. Len says the lack of bow tie and the chest hanging out is getting on his nerves. He says once he got into his hold, he grew to love it more and more. Scores: 9-9-9, for a 27/30.
Marie Osmond and Jonathan Roberts practice the rumba and the jive. Marie says she is doing this for her father, who passed away last week. Their rumba is ... OK. Carrie Ann says what she does, she does so well, but that at this stage they need a little more aggression and that Jonathan should step up the choreography. Len says her hip action went on strike with the writers and that "you are supposed to be a young couple," which draws boos. He closes with the fact that he liked it. Bruno says they need more and that she can do it. Scores: 8-8-8, for a 24/30.
Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough practice with the help of a "pit crew" Julianne put together for him. Their first dance is the paso doble, which is passionate and intense. So intense that something flew off one of their costumes. Len says the cape work was amazing and that it was a "good job." Bruno says, "The polish has been applied, and the mission has been accomplished." Carrie Ann says she liked his authentic intensity and his attention to detail. Scores: 9-9-9, for a 27/30.
Mel B and Maks are assigned the mambo and tango for this week. Their first dance is the tango, to "Personal Jesus." They seem to have captured the passion they were going for in practice, but I don't know about finesse, let's go to the judges. Bruno says no one would dare mess with her after this. Carrie Ann says it was strong and powerful, but this one "didn't feel completely convincing to me." Len says her footwork were amazing this time, but her shoulders were coming up. Scores: 9-9-9, for a 27/30.
Jennie and Derek are next with the foxtrot. Their dance is charming and sweet, and Jennie's daughter looks thrilled. Carrie Ann says she already improved her posture, but that she still needs to stop leading with her chin, but it was "very nice." Len says she came back stronger after her criticism in round one and he was very impressed. Bruno says she looks like Veronica Lake, but she still doesn't quite unleash her star power. Scores: 9-9-8, for a 26/30, and a total 50/60.
Cameron and Edyta perform the cha-cha, to the Rolling Stones, of course. Their dance seems technically good, but the music was such a weird fit that I didn't really get it. Len says he didn't find it terrible, but it was a little like "painting by numbers." He says it was wooden and lacked a naturalness. Bruno agrees, saying it was too stiff for a cha cha. Carrie Ann says she enjoys watching him dance, but that he needs to work on how he moves from form to form. Scores: 8-8-8, for a 24/30, which is a total 51/60.
Marie and Jonathan's second dance is the jive. They are dressed like cowboys, which makes their dance feel like a line dance (and it features one awkward split from Marie). Bruno says it was cute and fun and a good performance, but there wasn't enough jive steps in it. Carrie Ann says she liked the tribute to country, but she agrees there wasn't enough jive. Len says the jive is fun and she came out and gave them fun. Scores: 8-9-8, for a 25/30, for a total 49/60.
Helio and Julianne perform the quick step, and it lives up to its name -- they are all over the stage, having a great time and dancing well. Although I don't think that Julianne was supposed to get dropped all the way to the ground at the end, based on her expression. Carrie Ann: "YAYYYYYY!" Len says he was like a giant dancing banana (he is wearing a crazy yellow suit). Bruno says he has the "finishing line in sight." The crowd, by the way, is going, uh, bananas. Scores: 10-10-10, for a 30/30, and a total 57/60.
Mel and Maks are last, performing the mambo. Their dance is cheeky and fast a precise and fun. Len says it was so hot, he's surprised the smoke alarm didn't go off. Bruno says it was "full on, unashamed flirtatious fun." Carrie Ann says Maks looks like he is having fun dancing with Mel, so it seems like they are bringing more to the floor. Scores: 9-10-10, for a 29/30, giving them a total 56/60.
I think Marie should be out, but I wonder whether she will get sympathy votes. Who knows? I've given up figuring out the voting public.
