Elimination 6: Tears get Shannon Nowhere
The night’s recap of yesterdays tumultuous and somewhat chaotic episode showed the injuries, the arguments, and, oh yeah, the dances. We learned today that Cristian is okay (he ruptured a tendon) and Def Leopard has a secret love of ballroom. The judges chose to see Jason and Edyta’s quickstep one more time before elimination time. The first safe couple is Kristi & Mark.
Kenny Mayne and Jerry Rice bring last year’s hit “Dance Center” back to the show and break down each contestant while wearing glitter, eye makeup, and flashy shirts. Always funny and one of the better time wasters used in this show J Now its time for some Arena Rock; Pour Some Sugar on Me. Gotta love the randomness of the combination of Def Leopard and ballroom. The next safe couple is Mario & Karina. More Def Leopard with the pros dancing and then time for more eliminations. The last four couples stand nervously to see if there fate lies under a red light. After talking to Cristian about his injured and pending surgery, the first of the four couples given the relief of safety is Cristian & Cheryl; gotta love that pity vote. The first couple in the bottom two is Marissa & Tony. Jason & Edyta are safe putting Shannon & Derek in the bottom two. With little buildup Shannon and Derek are sent packing. I guess yelling about toe leads, hip action, and unfair judging gets you nowhere. Haha
“Two Hip Judges and One Cranky Pants” Dance Week 7
Now that we are down to six couples each are required to perform two individual dances; a Latin and a ballroom. The pressure is mounting and I’m sure someone is going to crumble. Some of the celebs have struggled with one dance, how are they going to handle in the same short amount of time? I guess we will just have to watch and see.
Marissa Jaret Winokur and Tony Dovolani
Dance 1– The tango was smooth and upbeat. Marissa had very good posture and was clean in all of her movements. The judges said that it was her best dance ever and showed a completely new side of her. Score 27/30
Dance 2– The rumba is one of the sexier Latin dances and Marissa seemed to struggle with the idea. She had little to know hip movement in the dance and they didn’t move much across the floor. The footwork was stronger than usual and she did move gracefully. The judges thought that the dance was romantic but not sexy enough. Score 25/30
Cristian de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke
Dance 1– The Viennese waltz was not one of Cristian’s best. It seemed choppy and he looked like he was counting. He seemed to slip back into leading with his heels. The judges said that he used the floor brilliantly but lacked energy and content. Score 25/30
Dance 2– A little bootie shaking in the samba has never hurt anyone. Cristian seemed a lot more comfortable in this dance than he did in the first but he pulled a muscle near the end of the dance and almost fell on top of Cheryl. He looked like he was in some serious pain as the show hesitated before going to commercial. The judges said that he was brave to try to carry on with the injury and that he is a great performer. Score 21/30
Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Balias
Dance 1– The Viennese waltz started off beautifully with Kristi holding an umbrella and Mark in uniform. The dance has some nice holds and good movement around the floor. The judges thought that the dance was emotional and creative but the start was too long Score 26/30
Dance 2– The only couple performing the cha cha (cha) tonight, Kristi and Mark have an opportunity to impress. The dance was full of quick turns and fast footwork. Kristi was back to last week’s form with her second dance. Len didn’t like the “boogaloo hip hop dancing” but Bruno and Carrie Ann loved the change from the ordinary. Score 28/30
Mario and Karina Smirnoff
Dance 1– The foxtrot was a good comeback dance for Mario. The couple seemed to have fun with the dance and out in a lot of work. The judges said that he did a good job but was not graceful or controlled. Score 24/30
Dance 2– The Mambo was a much better try for Mario than the foxtrot. He had good hip action and no trouble with the quick footwork. The couple had chemistry and lit up the floor. The judges thought it was fiery, wild, and full of passion. Score 27/30
Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough
Dance 1– The tango brought some friction between the cozy couple when Derek decided to be a disciplinarian after last week’s harsh reviews. The couple did a quick and entertaining tango. There were some positioning issues but nothing too big. The judges thought that the dance was fascinating and it was her best dance yet. Score 27/30
Dance 2– The mambo involves a lot of hip movement; something that Shannon has yet to pull off. She tried to shake it but I think that she physically has no hips, making it impossible. The dance was akward and she looked uncomfortable the whole time. The choreography had the potential to be interesting but it never quite happened. The judges thought that her lines were off and it was a bit gangly. Score 24/30
Jason Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska
Dance 1– The quickstep was one of the more entertaining dances of the night. Jason listened to Carrie Ann and he certainly danced “big” this week. He had much more emotion this week and finished the dance with a handstand. The judges thought that it was great, energetic, and predicted that he will be in the final. Score 29/30
Dance 2– The paso doble becomes quirky with tonight’s song choice and costuming. The Monday night football song was an odd choice and the Miami Dolphin clothing was just funny. The dance was fun too watch and Jason was quite an intimidating figure. The judges thought that it was a bit too posey but was an unconventional winner. Score 26/30
Tonight was a very exciting night in the competition. Everyone reallt stepped up and danced well, it will be hard to let one of the couples go tomorrow. Tomorrow’s results are hard to predict on dance alone. I think that, with a doubt, Kristi and Jason are safe. The other four are all at risk even though they all did well. I think that Marissa and Mario don’t have strong fan bases, Cristian didn’t get to really show what he’s made of, and Shannon may get some backlash from last week’s comments. All are free game for tomorrow’s the bottom two even without the injury but who knows what the fans will decide. Tune in tomorrow for the results.
Score Totals
Jason & Edyta – 55/60
Kristi & Mark –54/60
Marissa & Tony – 52/60
Mario & Karina – 51/60
Shannon & Derek – 51/60
Cristian & Cheryl – 46/60
Elimination 5: No more Marlee
The judges chose to start the show off by seeing a second performance of last nights confusing and chaotic group dance; it was no better the second time around. Ashlee Simpson, sporting a tackily large engagement ring, is today’s special guest and sings (at least she didn’t fake it this time) as pros perform in very Timberlake-like outfits; kinda boring really. Time first results; the first safe couple of the night is Shannon & Derek and the first couple in the bottom two is Marlee & Fabian. Well at least Shannon can stop crying, the pity vote always wins big, right Marie?
Oh how the world needs more river dance, it is always cool to watch. I don’t understand how their upper bodies never move while their feet are going at 100+ miles per hour; that is truly one of life’s great mysteries… sort of. The kids that are competing this week are thirteen and have therefore outgrown their cuteness, so I am not really that interested but they were both really good and the judges had a hard choice to make but I think they made the right one when the chose Brandon and Brittany.
Time to get down to business; the next safe couples are Marissa & Tony and Cristian & Cheryl. The final three couple learn their fates one at a time. Kristi & Mark are safe and so are Jason & Edyta. The bottom two couple are Mario & Karina Marlee & Fabian. After a build up it is announced that Marlee and Fabian are going home. She did a phenomenal job and really worked through all of her challenges with grace and class. She will be missed.
“If you are in the bottom two, I will show my bum in the super market” Dance Week 6
It’s that time in the season when each couple will be performing two dances per show. The pressure is on now more than ever because they will not only have to take on a dance style that they have yet to try, they will also take the floor for the first group number of the season. Though the judges will not be judging the group numbers, it still takes valuable time and brain power away from the judged individual dances.
Jason Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska are going to take on the spirited cha cha (cha). Jason is not going to be able to rely on Edyta as much in this dance as he done in the past. Oh no, and Edyta forgot her pants! The dance was energetic and full of spins and body rolls. Jason did not look as light on his feet as in weeks past the performance was good. The judges said that he did a good job but got a little off on his timing. Score 24/30
Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough will take the rumba. The dance was mostly smooth, flowing, and romantic. Perhaps they really are a couple now. Shannon definitely rebounded from last week. The judges said that she had no hip action but had great chemistry. Score 24/30
Marlee Matlin and Fabian Sanchez have to reach for a big comeback after the footwork issues of last week. The mambo should be a good one for the couple because Fabian is a former mambo champ. After a Henry Winkler pep talk the couple took the floor and delivered a spirited dance but a few of the same problems of last week. There were a few timing issues and some foot missteps. But they did do a better job than last week. The judges thought that she had many of the timing issues of last week and that they dance was disjointed. Score 21/30
Cristian de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke are going to perform the fox trot. After last weeks bottom two performance they really need to impress the judges. The performance was leaps and bounds above last weeks. They had chemistry and flowed, at times, effortlessly across the floor. The judges thought that it was his best dance so far and had excellent footwork. Score 27/30
Marissa Jaret Winokur and Tony Dovolani perform the very refined Viennese waltz to a very of song choice in Tom Jones’ Delilah. The dance was one of her best. It flowed well, she didn’t show any signs of being nervous, and moved easily across the floor. The judges loved said that she did her turns well and fixed all the issues she had in weeks past. Score 26/30 (their best score yet)
Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Balias take on the jive sigh such enthusiasm that the judges should never again fault her for having no emotion. The dance was fun, quirky, and extremely fast paced. If that wasn’t a 30 I’m not sure what is. Carrie Ann said that it was her favorite dance yet this season, Len said that the dance was a tasty morsel, they all agreed it was best hey have ever done. Score 30/30 (woo hoo it is about time!!!)
Mario and Karina Smirnoff are going to end the individual numbers with a rumba to the tune of Let’s Get it On. The dance was hot and excited the audience who gave them a standing ovation. The judges were split in their reviews. Len thought that the dance was too raunchy but Bruno thought that it was fabulous (and some of what he said was blanked out). They also performed an illegal lift. Score 28/30 (their best score of the competition)
The group dance was built up all night long. A country themed dances involving cowboy sheriffs and outlaws is sure to be entertaining… I hope. Even in rehearsals Mario seems to find a reason to keep his shirt unbuttoned and Edyta still refuses to wear pants; I just don’t get it, lol. But that dance itself was fun and full of lifts and flips. Marissa was off beat for a lot of the dance and so was Marlee but oh well. The cast looked like they had a lot of fun but there were many mistakes. The judges seemed entertained but pointed out craziness and missteps.
So tonight we got to see the first 30 of the season and Kristi more than deserved it this week. She really is soooo far ahead of the other celebs in skill level. It is basically a race to see who can make it into the other two final three spots along side her. Cristian is really making a move toward the front along with Mario and Jason is really going to have to fight to stay in the top. Today’s weakest dancers were Marlee and Shannon. One of them is going home tomorrow. I am also concerned about Marissa. She is really improving but I just hope that she has a big enough fan base to keep her around as long as she deserves.
Elimination 4: Priscilla on Her Way to the Heartbreak Hotel
After the usual recap the judges ask to see Kristi and Marks nearly flawless rumba from last night and it was even better the second time around. After the dance Marlee and Shannon are interviewed backstage about the mistakes that they made last night. Both give honest answers about the issues they had and said that if left to continue they will work hard to do better. The first safe couple is Kristi & Mark. The first couple in the bottom two is Cristian & Cheryl. The kids have their time to shine in the jive and cha cha cha. The couples are from the 8-10 year old division. Both couples were amazing; they should give the celebs some tips. The next safe couple is Jason & Edyta.
Superstar James Blunt performed his new single Carry You Home while the pros perform a beautifully choreographed dance. Back to the results, the next two couple given at least one more week to dance are Mario & Karina and Marissa & Tony. Three couple still do not know their fate and the first relieved couple of the group is Shannon & Derek. The last safe couple is Marlee & Fabian, putting Priscilla& Louis in the bottom two with Cristian & Cheryl. Wow was I dead on with the predictions last night. Going home this week is Priscilla& Louis.
AG Reality TV: Daily Recaps and Opinions 