Sun, Mar 30, 2008
After the dramatic, first-ever double elimination sent Penn Jillette and Monica Seles packing, the remaining 10 stars got to choose between the Jive and the Tango. From the intros, it was clear the costume selection was pretty extreme, but there's little time to get into details, so let's get right to the action.
Marlee & Fabian: Actress Marlee Matlin and her partner Fabian Sanchez opted to dance a traditional Jive, as Fabian said, "to please the judges." They weren't happy with his Mambo-fied Quickstep last week. Marlee and Fabian danced the Jive to Billy Joel's "You May Be Right." Judge Len Goodman said Marlee never ceases to amaze him and said she "did a great job." Bruno Tonioli said she seems like she really connects with everyone, but noted that she missed the timing a couple of times. Carrie Ann Inaba said, by her own account, got "nit-picky" and told Marlee to watch her hands and said they can get a little "pancakey" sometimes. Scores: 7, 7 and 7.
Anna & Steve: Actor Steve Guttenberg is trying to get past the notion that he's purely a goofball and decided to take on the Tango, a much more serious dance. His partner Anna Trebunskaya was sick, but sent a substitute trainer: her husband Jonathan Roberts, who had a little time on his hands after being booted last week with his partner Monica Seles. They took part in a little "man-on-man Tango." With little time to train with Anna, Steve peered into the camera as the serious dance began. Steve, dressed in black pants, a black shirt, a black vest and a red tie, took the seriousness to a whole new level, keeping his eyebrow furrowed. Steve asked for a moment to prepare for the judges' comments, going back to the stage to get a steel bowl, which used as a helmet, and googles. Carrie Ann said "that was your best dance so far. She said he set the pace and tone. Len said the footwork was fantastic and called it "a much improved performance." Bruno called it "mean, mad and manly," which apparently was good. Scores: 7, 7 and 7.
Cristian & Cheryl: Actor Cristian de la Fuente said being left to hang in the balance during the results show last week was torture. It didn't necessarily mean he and partner Cheryl Burke were in the bottom two, but he was stressed, regardless. Cherryl took Cristian to Sea World to dance with a sea lion and let loose a bit. Cristian and Cheryl danced the Jive. Cristian donned a sleeveless blue button-up shirt to match Cheryl's shimmering dress. Bruno asked, "Are you on rocket fuel tonight?" He said Cristian clearly had a good time and delivered his best dance yet. Len pointed out his legs and his free arm could have been stronger, but agreed it was Cristian's best yet. Scores: 8, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Mario & Karina: The highest-scoring male star in the competition, R&B singer Mario, had little free time to practice while he was crossing the country to promote his new album. He practiced in the airport baggage claim and virtually every open space available. Mario and Karina danced the Tango to a Tango-ized version of The Police's "Roxanne." The crowd loved it, but Len didn't. He said he could understand the reaction because the dance had flair, but said "it was a mess." He knocked the posture, footwork, Mario's hold. He said Mario "bitterly disappointed me tonight." Carrie Ann said Len was right. She praised Mario for his style, but agreed it was a disappointment. Bruno said it wasn't "that bad," and pointed out a mistake. But he said it was "a proper, dramatic, very strong tango." Scores: 7, 6 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Shannon & Derek: Actress Shannon Elizabeth got into the game last week, according to the judges, and took on the challenge of the Jive, which requires precise footwork. That's something Shannon had trouble with before because she's tall and has long legs (can't imagine too many women feeling sorry for her on that one, huh?). Derek used Shannon's interest in kickboxing to get her kicks down. Wearing a short, short skirt with gold tassels all over and a gold, sparkling headband, Shannon wore herself out and literally fell to the floor (not quite Marie Osmond style) for the judges' comments. Bruno said she took very challenging choreography and did well with it, but reminded her to focus on her finish and precision. Len said he saw "a really good Jive." Carrie Ann said Shannon surprises the judges every time and called her "a gem." Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
Adam & Julianne: Radio personality Adam Carolla and his partner Julianne Hough decided to do the Tango and Adam said five days is not enough to learn the dance. "It's difficult, and I make it look even more difficult." He got serious about not wanting to let Julianne down and said "she deserves better than me." Julianne wore a chestnut wig while Adam wore a black suit with an orange ruffled shirt underneath. The crowd exploded and host Tom Bergeron shouted, "The man is becoming a dancer." Carrie Ann said, "Actually, I cannot believe I'm going to say this, but Adam Carolla was pretty sexy out there." Bruno said Adam is "not a master technician" but he's getting better. Len praised Julianne's choreography, which he said is like makeup, "It can cover a multitude of sins." He said she "made Adam look like a dancer." Backstage, when co-host Samantha Harris asked Adam about learning the passion and intensity of the Tango from Julianne, he said, "My grandfather always told me, son, if you want to learn about a Argentenian dance that's about prostitutes, speak to a Mormon. And I didn't know what he meant, (sitting) on his knee back in 1971, but I now know." Julianne laughed nervously and later asked voters to keep them around "if you like his smart remarks." Scores: 7, 7 and 7.
Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur decided to do the Jive because, as her partner Tony Davolani said, "it's flicky, it's kicky." Marissa and Tony danced the Jive to Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend," with Marissa wearing a pleated short skirt and a blue sequined shirt with a plaid collar. Len said it was a little careful. Carrie Ann said she was going to be hard on Marissa and called it "boring." She said Marissa is much better than that and she wasn't putting in the fight. Tony consoled Marissa and told her he was very proud of her. Bruno piled on a bit as Marissa appeared to fight back tears and he called it something that looked like a rehearsal, "it was like a Jive in cruise control." He said he was picking on her because he knew she had the talent to do better. Marissa put on a brave face backstage and said she doesn't know what she has to do to win over the judges. Tony said Marissa works very hard to make it look easy. Scores: 6, 7 and 6, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Priscilla & Louis: Actress and very famous wife Priscilla Presley said she had to step up her game after watching her scores go down from the first week to the second. To dance the dramatic Tango, Priscilla said she's call upon her acting background. Priscilla and her partner Louis Van Amstel danced the Tango with Priscilla wearing a classic red dress, a red rose in her hair and a red garter that peeked out on her right leg. Bruno said it was well executed, beautifully acted with great choreography. Len praised the drama and said, "Great!" Carrie Ann said the Tango is an actor's dance and she believed every minute of it. Scores: 8, 9 and 9 from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Jason & Edyta: NFL star Jason Taylor saw his scores run up last week when he pulled in three 9's, but said that "as the scores go up, so does the pressure." He struggled to learn the Jive and it made him feel like a fat, uncoordinated slob. Jason and his partner Edyta Sliwinska danced the Jive while Jason appeared to be singing along with the song, Ray Charles' "I Got a Woman." The upbeat performance got the crowd's approval and Carrie Ann said she was amazed that Jason, as big as he is, can move as well as he does. She reminded him to open his upper body. Bruno called it a "cool Jive," restrained and powerful and said Jason's lines were very natural. Len praised Jason's lines, but said he didn't like the rest of it. He called the kicks sloppy. Scores: 8, 7 and 8 from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Kristi & Mark: Olympic gold medialist Kristi Yamaguchi has owned the first couple of weeks, but she said she's starting at Square One with the Tango. Her partner Marks Ballas Jr. wanted to help Kristi capture the emotion of the Tango, even though she isn't very good at showing her own emotions. A performance coach tried to help. Kristi and Mark danced the Tango to a lounge lizard version of Duran Duran's "Rio." Kristi had curls plastered to her forehead and cheeks and Mark stuck with the drama of the Tango, looking almost mad the whole time, which is a good thing. Len said he liked it very much. Carrie Ann said there's no faulting against Kristi's technique, but her emotion was one-dimensional. She said, "I don't feel much when you dance." Bruno said it was "sharp, clean, clear, always delivered to the extreme precision." He said he wants Kristi "to be a dirty girl." She responded him by showing some leg! Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
The scoreboard:
Kristi & Mark: 27
Priscilla & Louis: 26
Cristian & Cheryl: 25
Shannon & Derek: 24
Jason & Edyta: 23
Adam & Julianne: 21
Anna & Steve: 21
Mario & Karina: 21
Marlee & Fabian: 21
Marissa & Tony: 19
Marlee & Fabian: Actress Marlee Matlin and her partner Fabian Sanchez opted to dance a traditional Jive, as Fabian said, "to please the judges." They weren't happy with his Mambo-fied Quickstep last week. Marlee and Fabian danced the Jive to Billy Joel's "You May Be Right." Judge Len Goodman said Marlee never ceases to amaze him and said she "did a great job." Bruno Tonioli said she seems like she really connects with everyone, but noted that she missed the timing a couple of times. Carrie Ann Inaba said, by her own account, got "nit-picky" and told Marlee to watch her hands and said they can get a little "pancakey" sometimes. Scores: 7, 7 and 7.
Anna & Steve: Actor Steve Guttenberg is trying to get past the notion that he's purely a goofball and decided to take on the Tango, a much more serious dance. His partner Anna Trebunskaya was sick, but sent a substitute trainer: her husband Jonathan Roberts, who had a little time on his hands after being booted last week with his partner Monica Seles. They took part in a little "man-on-man Tango." With little time to train with Anna, Steve peered into the camera as the serious dance began. Steve, dressed in black pants, a black shirt, a black vest and a red tie, took the seriousness to a whole new level, keeping his eyebrow furrowed. Steve asked for a moment to prepare for the judges' comments, going back to the stage to get a steel bowl, which used as a helmet, and googles. Carrie Ann said "that was your best dance so far. She said he set the pace and tone. Len said the footwork was fantastic and called it "a much improved performance." Bruno called it "mean, mad and manly," which apparently was good. Scores: 7, 7 and 7.
Cristian & Cheryl: Actor Cristian de la Fuente said being left to hang in the balance during the results show last week was torture. It didn't necessarily mean he and partner Cheryl Burke were in the bottom two, but he was stressed, regardless. Cherryl took Cristian to Sea World to dance with a sea lion and let loose a bit. Cristian and Cheryl danced the Jive. Cristian donned a sleeveless blue button-up shirt to match Cheryl's shimmering dress. Bruno asked, "Are you on rocket fuel tonight?" He said Cristian clearly had a good time and delivered his best dance yet. Len pointed out his legs and his free arm could have been stronger, but agreed it was Cristian's best yet. Scores: 8, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Mario & Karina: The highest-scoring male star in the competition, R&B singer Mario, had little free time to practice while he was crossing the country to promote his new album. He practiced in the airport baggage claim and virtually every open space available. Mario and Karina danced the Tango to a Tango-ized version of The Police's "Roxanne." The crowd loved it, but Len didn't. He said he could understand the reaction because the dance had flair, but said "it was a mess." He knocked the posture, footwork, Mario's hold. He said Mario "bitterly disappointed me tonight." Carrie Ann said Len was right. She praised Mario for his style, but agreed it was a disappointment. Bruno said it wasn't "that bad," and pointed out a mistake. But he said it was "a proper, dramatic, very strong tango." Scores: 7, 6 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Shannon & Derek: Actress Shannon Elizabeth got into the game last week, according to the judges, and took on the challenge of the Jive, which requires precise footwork. That's something Shannon had trouble with before because she's tall and has long legs (can't imagine too many women feeling sorry for her on that one, huh?). Derek used Shannon's interest in kickboxing to get her kicks down. Wearing a short, short skirt with gold tassels all over and a gold, sparkling headband, Shannon wore herself out and literally fell to the floor (not quite Marie Osmond style) for the judges' comments. Bruno said she took very challenging choreography and did well with it, but reminded her to focus on her finish and precision. Len said he saw "a really good Jive." Carrie Ann said Shannon surprises the judges every time and called her "a gem." Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
Adam & Julianne: Radio personality Adam Carolla and his partner Julianne Hough decided to do the Tango and Adam said five days is not enough to learn the dance. "It's difficult, and I make it look even more difficult." He got serious about not wanting to let Julianne down and said "she deserves better than me." Julianne wore a chestnut wig while Adam wore a black suit with an orange ruffled shirt underneath. The crowd exploded and host Tom Bergeron shouted, "The man is becoming a dancer." Carrie Ann said, "Actually, I cannot believe I'm going to say this, but Adam Carolla was pretty sexy out there." Bruno said Adam is "not a master technician" but he's getting better. Len praised Julianne's choreography, which he said is like makeup, "It can cover a multitude of sins." He said she "made Adam look like a dancer." Backstage, when co-host Samantha Harris asked Adam about learning the passion and intensity of the Tango from Julianne, he said, "My grandfather always told me, son, if you want to learn about a Argentenian dance that's about prostitutes, speak to a Mormon. And I didn't know what he meant, (sitting) on his knee back in 1971, but I now know." Julianne laughed nervously and later asked voters to keep them around "if you like his smart remarks." Scores: 7, 7 and 7.
Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur decided to do the Jive because, as her partner Tony Davolani said, "it's flicky, it's kicky." Marissa and Tony danced the Jive to Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend," with Marissa wearing a pleated short skirt and a blue sequined shirt with a plaid collar. Len said it was a little careful. Carrie Ann said she was going to be hard on Marissa and called it "boring." She said Marissa is much better than that and she wasn't putting in the fight. Tony consoled Marissa and told her he was very proud of her. Bruno piled on a bit as Marissa appeared to fight back tears and he called it something that looked like a rehearsal, "it was like a Jive in cruise control." He said he was picking on her because he knew she had the talent to do better. Marissa put on a brave face backstage and said she doesn't know what she has to do to win over the judges. Tony said Marissa works very hard to make it look easy. Scores: 6, 7 and 6, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Priscilla & Louis: Actress and very famous wife Priscilla Presley said she had to step up her game after watching her scores go down from the first week to the second. To dance the dramatic Tango, Priscilla said she's call upon her acting background. Priscilla and her partner Louis Van Amstel danced the Tango with Priscilla wearing a classic red dress, a red rose in her hair and a red garter that peeked out on her right leg. Bruno said it was well executed, beautifully acted with great choreography. Len praised the drama and said, "Great!" Carrie Ann said the Tango is an actor's dance and she believed every minute of it. Scores: 8, 9 and 9 from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Jason & Edyta: NFL star Jason Taylor saw his scores run up last week when he pulled in three 9's, but said that "as the scores go up, so does the pressure." He struggled to learn the Jive and it made him feel like a fat, uncoordinated slob. Jason and his partner Edyta Sliwinska danced the Jive while Jason appeared to be singing along with the song, Ray Charles' "I Got a Woman." The upbeat performance got the crowd's approval and Carrie Ann said she was amazed that Jason, as big as he is, can move as well as he does. She reminded him to open his upper body. Bruno called it a "cool Jive," restrained and powerful and said Jason's lines were very natural. Len praised Jason's lines, but said he didn't like the rest of it. He called the kicks sloppy. Scores: 8, 7 and 8 from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Kristi & Mark: Olympic gold medialist Kristi Yamaguchi has owned the first couple of weeks, but she said she's starting at Square One with the Tango. Her partner Marks Ballas Jr. wanted to help Kristi capture the emotion of the Tango, even though she isn't very good at showing her own emotions. A performance coach tried to help. Kristi and Mark danced the Tango to a lounge lizard version of Duran Duran's "Rio." Kristi had curls plastered to her forehead and cheeks and Mark stuck with the drama of the Tango, looking almost mad the whole time, which is a good thing. Len said he liked it very much. Carrie Ann said there's no faulting against Kristi's technique, but her emotion was one-dimensional. She said, "I don't feel much when you dance." Bruno said it was "sharp, clean, clear, always delivered to the extreme precision." He said he wants Kristi "to be a dirty girl." She responded him by showing some leg! Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
The scoreboard:
Kristi & Mark: 27
Priscilla & Louis: 26
Cristian & Cheryl: 25
Shannon & Derek: 24
Jason & Edyta: 23
Adam & Julianne: 21
Anna & Steve: 21
Mario & Karina: 21
Marlee & Fabian: 21
Marissa & Tony: 19
Mon, Mar 31, 2008
After what host Tom Bergeron called an "unpredictable evening of ballroom mayhem" that ended up with a four-way tie of dancers in second-to-last place with 21 points from the judges, one star would have to go home. Who would it be?
Breaking 'em down: Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi warned that if naughty is what judge Bruno Tonioli wants, she's going to "bring it on." NFL star Jason Taylor wondered if his dancing days were dead after judge Len Goodman told him "one day you're a rooster, the next day you're a feather duster. That's life." Tony winner Marissa Jaret Winokur said she was shocked by judge Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno's comments and scores, saying she was expecting 8's. Actress Marlee Matlin wondered about how to make her hands less "pancakey," while R&B singer Mario said he'll keep trying to give it his all after a rough night and actor Steve Guttenberg said he was thankful he didn't need his protective gear to face the judges. Radio personality Adam Carolla said that despite Carrie Ann saying he was sexy on the dance floor, "if we were both single, she wouldn't date me." Actress Shannon Elizabeth confessed that she threw up in her mouth a little. Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente said he had fun and told his partner Cheryl Burke "it was our best dance yet." Actress Priscilla Presley was flattered by Len's positive comments, especially because of the tough competition they're facing.
Encore! After getting a taste of Steve's "Man-go" Tango with Jonathan Roberts in rehearsal footage, Len asked them to perform it live, which they did. Wonder if the Parents' Television Council is going to have anything to say about that? Jonathan accidentally bowled Steve over at the end, but they had a good time.
First two safe: In no particular order, Tom and co-host Samantha Harris announced that Kristi & Mark and Adam & Julianne are the first two couples definitely moving on to next week.
Give it up for Kylie Minogue: Pop sensation Kylie Minogue, who seems to make a comeback every few years, took to the stage and the dance floor to perform her new single, "All I See."
Asking the fans: Some fans were worried about Marissa and "The Gute" as the third elimination neared.
Two more safe: In no particular order, Priscilla & Louis and Marissa & Tony got their reprieves. Marissa & Tony were the judges' lowest point scorers from Monday, so the next ticket home was very much in the air. Backstage, Kristi and Priscilla said it's hard to feel confident even when they have huge leads, which Adam called "a bunch of crap." He grabbed the microphone from Samantha and said, "You know you're in the driver's seat. Please, stop talking down to us. Leave some scraps for the losers!" Marissa said she didn't sleep Monday night and felt bad for her family and friends. Adam admitted he just wants to be there to promote his new movie, "The Hammer."
Congressional Dance Party! Fresh from being named cultural ambassadors to the world by the United States Congress, members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Group performed on the "Dancing" floor.
Aussie Dance Party! Kylie Minogue returned to the stage to sing her mega--hit "Can't Get You Out of My Head," while "Dancing" pros Julianne Hough and Mark Ballas Jr. did some Streetfighter-lookin' routine in neon green-highlighted outfits.
Two more safe: After some time-wasting shenanigans with a match maker talking about which couples are the most compatible, Tom and Samantha revealed that Jason & Edyta and Marlee & Fabian were safe.
In no particular order...: In the first elimination, the bottom two were not actually revealed, and they decided to keep viewers and the dancers in suspense again this week. So, in no particular order, Cristian & Cheryl were safe, followed by Shannon & Derek. That left Steve & Anna and Mario & Karina, one of which would go home but the other of which wasn't necessarily the second-lowest voter-getter. Len said both couples bring great qualities to the show. And the loser was ... Steve & Anna. Steve, still all smiles, said he's just going to miss everyone. He wanted to say more, but the show ran long and Tom pushed him out to the dance floor for his last dance.
Breaking 'em down: Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi warned that if naughty is what judge Bruno Tonioli wants, she's going to "bring it on." NFL star Jason Taylor wondered if his dancing days were dead after judge Len Goodman told him "one day you're a rooster, the next day you're a feather duster. That's life." Tony winner Marissa Jaret Winokur said she was shocked by judge Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno's comments and scores, saying she was expecting 8's. Actress Marlee Matlin wondered about how to make her hands less "pancakey," while R&B singer Mario said he'll keep trying to give it his all after a rough night and actor Steve Guttenberg said he was thankful he didn't need his protective gear to face the judges. Radio personality Adam Carolla said that despite Carrie Ann saying he was sexy on the dance floor, "if we were both single, she wouldn't date me." Actress Shannon Elizabeth confessed that she threw up in her mouth a little. Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente said he had fun and told his partner Cheryl Burke "it was our best dance yet." Actress Priscilla Presley was flattered by Len's positive comments, especially because of the tough competition they're facing.
Encore! After getting a taste of Steve's "Man-go" Tango with Jonathan Roberts in rehearsal footage, Len asked them to perform it live, which they did. Wonder if the Parents' Television Council is going to have anything to say about that? Jonathan accidentally bowled Steve over at the end, but they had a good time.
First two safe: In no particular order, Tom and co-host Samantha Harris announced that Kristi & Mark and Adam & Julianne are the first two couples definitely moving on to next week.
Give it up for Kylie Minogue: Pop sensation Kylie Minogue, who seems to make a comeback every few years, took to the stage and the dance floor to perform her new single, "All I See."
Asking the fans: Some fans were worried about Marissa and "The Gute" as the third elimination neared.
Two more safe: In no particular order, Priscilla & Louis and Marissa & Tony got their reprieves. Marissa & Tony were the judges' lowest point scorers from Monday, so the next ticket home was very much in the air. Backstage, Kristi and Priscilla said it's hard to feel confident even when they have huge leads, which Adam called "a bunch of crap." He grabbed the microphone from Samantha and said, "You know you're in the driver's seat. Please, stop talking down to us. Leave some scraps for the losers!" Marissa said she didn't sleep Monday night and felt bad for her family and friends. Adam admitted he just wants to be there to promote his new movie, "The Hammer."
Congressional Dance Party! Fresh from being named cultural ambassadors to the world by the United States Congress, members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Group performed on the "Dancing" floor.
Aussie Dance Party! Kylie Minogue returned to the stage to sing her mega--hit "Can't Get You Out of My Head," while "Dancing" pros Julianne Hough and Mark Ballas Jr. did some Streetfighter-lookin' routine in neon green-highlighted outfits.
Two more safe: After some time-wasting shenanigans with a match maker talking about which couples are the most compatible, Tom and Samantha revealed that Jason & Edyta and Marlee & Fabian were safe.
In no particular order...: In the first elimination, the bottom two were not actually revealed, and they decided to keep viewers and the dancers in suspense again this week. So, in no particular order, Cristian & Cheryl were safe, followed by Shannon & Derek. That left Steve & Anna and Mario & Karina, one of which would go home but the other of which wasn't necessarily the second-lowest voter-getter. Len said both couples bring great qualities to the show. And the loser was ... Steve & Anna. Steve, still all smiles, said he's just going to miss everyone. He wanted to say more, but the show ran long and Tom pushed him out to the dance floor for his last dance.
Sun, Apr 6, 2008
There were some interesting costume choices revealed as the stars were introduced on "Dancing With the Stars" on Monday, including a bullfighter-looking outfit worn by dancing pro Mark Ballas Jr. and a penciled in mustache above Adam Carolla's upper lip.
Kristi & Mark: Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi said that after last week she learned that the emotional component of dancing is as important as, if not more important than, the technical side, which she's already mastered. She practiced giving some expression. Kristi and Mark danced the Paso Doble to New Order's "Blue Monday." It was filled with another round of impressive spins from Kristi. Judge Len Goodman said Kristi "can't dance bad," but he said every dance has a sameness to it. Judge Bruno Tonioli said she unleashed the power, and judge Carrie Ann Inaba said that Kristi and Mark set the standard in this competition. After getting nothing but 9's all season, so far, and holding the highest score at the point in the competition in the show's history, Kristi and Mark pulled in the first two 10's of the year. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Priscilla & Louis: Actress and former first lady of rock Priscilla Presley was trying to keep pace with Kristi. Priscilla and Louis danced the Viennese Waltz and it was another solid outing with some graceful movements from Priscilla. Bruno said it was a great interpretation, but advised her to watch her shoulder and neck line. Carrie Ann said Priscilla's facial expressions were mesmerizing, but maybe Carrie Ann hasn't heard about the whole silicone situation. Carrie Ann and Len both told Priscilla they had to penalize her one point for doing a lift. Bruno Scores: 7, 7 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Adam & Julianne: We were reminded of radio personality Adam Carolla's faux-offensive comments the week before. Adam said he's been bitten by the dancing bug. He said he's dropped 10 pounds and is now "in it not to lose it." He said his partner Julianne Hough is stepping up the difficulty level by giving him some tougher moves. Adam and Julianne danced the Paso Doble, with Julianne starting the performance on her own before Adam rolled onto the dance floor in a Zorro mask and cape and riding a unicycle. it was a very entertaining display. Carrie Ann said, "it was smooth, it was dramatic, your turns were fantastic, and then you got off the unicycle." Len said that Adam is such a lovable character and people will want him to do well, but he's not much of a dancer. Bruno said Adam is a classic example that genius and insanity go hand in hand. Scores: 6, 7 and 6, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Marlee & Fabian: Deaf actress Marlee Matlin vowed to make a run this week at Kristi Yamaguchi, and she'd do it with the Viennese Waltz. In rehearsal, she had trouble with the dance's movements, which call for lots of rotation and that was difficult because her deafness causes Marlee problems with balance. Marlee and Fabian danced the Viennese Waltz to Billy Joel's "She Always a Woman to Me." Len said it was "very, very good" and was impressed that she did a particularly difficult step that he hadn't seen. Bruno said she interprets the music well, and reiterated a comment by Len that she needs to work on her posture. Carrie Ann was crying and said something about Marlee's performance really touched her, "and for that, I am grateful." Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
Mario & Karina: R&B singer Mario was looking to bounce back from his lowest score this season. He called it a wake-up call and his partner Karina Smirnoff emphasized that he needs to show some intensity to secure his place in the competition. Mario and Karina danced the Paso Doble to Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground." Mario wore a white puffy shirt under a gold bullfighter jacket. Bruno called it "strong, powerful" and said he liked it very, very much. Carrie Ann said she could tell he rehearsed the moves. Len said he liked it, but worried that Mario only has one style of dancing. Scores: 8, 7 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Jason & Edyta: NFL star Jason Taylor wanted to become a rooster again after Len called him a "feather duster." As he prepared to dance the Viennese Waltz, Edyta took him to Medieval Times to learn chivalry from a knight. After being dubbed "Sir Dance-a-Lot," he took to the dance floor to dance the Viennese Waltz with Edyta to James Brown's "This Is a Man's World." Jason stumbled just a bit during a series of turns. Carrie Ann was moved again, not quite to tears, and even forgave him on the stumble because she enjoyed the rest of the dance. Len said it was "a wow of a Waltz." Bruno said they managed to make the Viennese Waltz "sexy, sensual, erotic." Scores: 10, 9 and 10, respectively from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno.
Cristian & Cheryl: Actor Cristian de la Fuente got back in the game last week with his energetic Jive. His partner Cheryl Burke got impatient with Cristian in rehearsal, eventually telling him, "when you listen to me, it's good. When you don't listen to me, it's bad." Cheryl took Cristian to meet Drew Lachey, who she partnered with to the title a few seasons back to motivate him to listen to her. Would it work? Cristian and Cheryl danced the Paso Doble, with Cristian dressed in a long-tailed black coat over a waxed chest. Cristian grunted a few times to emphasize the drama. Len said it was a powerful tune he danced to and said, "I think the music conquered you." But he still liked the performance. Bruno said it was very convincing. Carrie Ann disagreed with Len, saying that Cristian did keep up with the music. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Shannon & Derek: The show followed up the big news from last week's behind-the-scenes drama as actress Shannon Elizabeth's partner Derek Hough, who had something snap in his neck during rehearsal on Tuesday. He came to practice with a neck brace and handed Shannon off to pro Jonathan Roberts. Derek tried to stay on the sidelines to avoid reinjuring himself, but got more involved that he should have. Shannon and Derek danced the Viennese Waltz as everyone waited to see if Derek's neck would hold up. Bruno said is was elegant, had a beautiful sense of movement, good musicality. Carrie Ann said "something's definitely happening" as she's watching Shannon's growth as a dancer. Len said it was the best dance he saw all night. Scores: 9, 10 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Marissa & Tony: Marissa was hoping to bounce back from the lowest-scored performance of the week, which Carrie Ann called "boring." Her partner, Tony Dovolani, promised to give Marissa a Paso Doble that the judges would not forget. He said he was going to give her steps he would normally only give to pros. Marissa said that the audience fought for her to stay last week, so she had to fight for herself this week. Marissa and Tony danced the Paso Doble. Carrie Ann said it was "fantastic." Len said "the true Marissa is coming out." Bruno said that's the way to go. He praised her for taking risks, and Marissa jumped and laughed hysterically. Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
The Scoreboard:
Kristi & Mark: 29
Jason & Edyta: 29
Shannon & Derek: 28
Cristian & Cheryl: 26
Mario & Karina: 24
Marissa & Tony: 24
Marlee & Fabian: 24
Priscilla & Louis: 22
Adam & Julianne: 19
Kristi & Mark: Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi said that after last week she learned that the emotional component of dancing is as important as, if not more important than, the technical side, which she's already mastered. She practiced giving some expression. Kristi and Mark danced the Paso Doble to New Order's "Blue Monday." It was filled with another round of impressive spins from Kristi. Judge Len Goodman said Kristi "can't dance bad," but he said every dance has a sameness to it. Judge Bruno Tonioli said she unleashed the power, and judge Carrie Ann Inaba said that Kristi and Mark set the standard in this competition. After getting nothing but 9's all season, so far, and holding the highest score at the point in the competition in the show's history, Kristi and Mark pulled in the first two 10's of the year. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Priscilla & Louis: Actress and former first lady of rock Priscilla Presley was trying to keep pace with Kristi. Priscilla and Louis danced the Viennese Waltz and it was another solid outing with some graceful movements from Priscilla. Bruno said it was a great interpretation, but advised her to watch her shoulder and neck line. Carrie Ann said Priscilla's facial expressions were mesmerizing, but maybe Carrie Ann hasn't heard about the whole silicone situation. Carrie Ann and Len both told Priscilla they had to penalize her one point for doing a lift. Bruno Scores: 7, 7 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Adam & Julianne: We were reminded of radio personality Adam Carolla's faux-offensive comments the week before. Adam said he's been bitten by the dancing bug. He said he's dropped 10 pounds and is now "in it not to lose it." He said his partner Julianne Hough is stepping up the difficulty level by giving him some tougher moves. Adam and Julianne danced the Paso Doble, with Julianne starting the performance on her own before Adam rolled onto the dance floor in a Zorro mask and cape and riding a unicycle. it was a very entertaining display. Carrie Ann said, "it was smooth, it was dramatic, your turns were fantastic, and then you got off the unicycle." Len said that Adam is such a lovable character and people will want him to do well, but he's not much of a dancer. Bruno said Adam is a classic example that genius and insanity go hand in hand. Scores: 6, 7 and 6, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Marlee & Fabian: Deaf actress Marlee Matlin vowed to make a run this week at Kristi Yamaguchi, and she'd do it with the Viennese Waltz. In rehearsal, she had trouble with the dance's movements, which call for lots of rotation and that was difficult because her deafness causes Marlee problems with balance. Marlee and Fabian danced the Viennese Waltz to Billy Joel's "She Always a Woman to Me." Len said it was "very, very good" and was impressed that she did a particularly difficult step that he hadn't seen. Bruno said she interprets the music well, and reiterated a comment by Len that she needs to work on her posture. Carrie Ann was crying and said something about Marlee's performance really touched her, "and for that, I am grateful." Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
Mario & Karina: R&B singer Mario was looking to bounce back from his lowest score this season. He called it a wake-up call and his partner Karina Smirnoff emphasized that he needs to show some intensity to secure his place in the competition. Mario and Karina danced the Paso Doble to Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground." Mario wore a white puffy shirt under a gold bullfighter jacket. Bruno called it "strong, powerful" and said he liked it very, very much. Carrie Ann said she could tell he rehearsed the moves. Len said he liked it, but worried that Mario only has one style of dancing. Scores: 8, 7 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Jason & Edyta: NFL star Jason Taylor wanted to become a rooster again after Len called him a "feather duster." As he prepared to dance the Viennese Waltz, Edyta took him to Medieval Times to learn chivalry from a knight. After being dubbed "Sir Dance-a-Lot," he took to the dance floor to dance the Viennese Waltz with Edyta to James Brown's "This Is a Man's World." Jason stumbled just a bit during a series of turns. Carrie Ann was moved again, not quite to tears, and even forgave him on the stumble because she enjoyed the rest of the dance. Len said it was "a wow of a Waltz." Bruno said they managed to make the Viennese Waltz "sexy, sensual, erotic." Scores: 10, 9 and 10, respectively from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno.
Cristian & Cheryl: Actor Cristian de la Fuente got back in the game last week with his energetic Jive. His partner Cheryl Burke got impatient with Cristian in rehearsal, eventually telling him, "when you listen to me, it's good. When you don't listen to me, it's bad." Cheryl took Cristian to meet Drew Lachey, who she partnered with to the title a few seasons back to motivate him to listen to her. Would it work? Cristian and Cheryl danced the Paso Doble, with Cristian dressed in a long-tailed black coat over a waxed chest. Cristian grunted a few times to emphasize the drama. Len said it was a powerful tune he danced to and said, "I think the music conquered you." But he still liked the performance. Bruno said it was very convincing. Carrie Ann disagreed with Len, saying that Cristian did keep up with the music. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Shannon & Derek: The show followed up the big news from last week's behind-the-scenes drama as actress Shannon Elizabeth's partner Derek Hough, who had something snap in his neck during rehearsal on Tuesday. He came to practice with a neck brace and handed Shannon off to pro Jonathan Roberts. Derek tried to stay on the sidelines to avoid reinjuring himself, but got more involved that he should have. Shannon and Derek danced the Viennese Waltz as everyone waited to see if Derek's neck would hold up. Bruno said is was elegant, had a beautiful sense of movement, good musicality. Carrie Ann said "something's definitely happening" as she's watching Shannon's growth as a dancer. Len said it was the best dance he saw all night. Scores: 9, 10 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Marissa & Tony: Marissa was hoping to bounce back from the lowest-scored performance of the week, which Carrie Ann called "boring." Her partner, Tony Dovolani, promised to give Marissa a Paso Doble that the judges would not forget. He said he was going to give her steps he would normally only give to pros. Marissa said that the audience fought for her to stay last week, so she had to fight for herself this week. Marissa and Tony danced the Paso Doble. Carrie Ann said it was "fantastic." Len said "the true Marissa is coming out." Bruno said that's the way to go. He praised her for taking risks, and Marissa jumped and laughed hysterically. Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
The Scoreboard:
Kristi & Mark: 29
Jason & Edyta: 29
Shannon & Derek: 28
Cristian & Cheryl: 26
Mario & Karina: 24
Marissa & Tony: 24
Marlee & Fabian: 24
Priscilla & Louis: 22
Adam & Julianne: 19
Mon, Apr 7, 2008
After a night of passionate performances, the first string of perfect 10s and the nationwide vote, it was time on Wednesday to find out which star would get a one-way ticket home. But first, the night kicked off with Sheryl Crow performing her best known hit, "All I Wanna Do."
The Crow Flies: Big props to Crow for fighting through a performance of the song she's probably played more than any other. Dancing pros Tony Dovolani and Edyta Sliwinska, and Fabian Sanchez and Kym Johnson offered up a sultry, spinning accompaniment.
Roll the tape: Highlighting the previous night, Kristi Yamaguchi and partner Mark Ballas Jr. couldn't believe their luck at getting two 10's. Marlee Matlin vowed to work on her "bum" all week after Bruno's comments, and Fabian was glad to oblige. Priscilla Presley cheekily said she likes the feeling of both of her legs up off the floor, but that's a no-no in the Viennese Waltz. Jason Taylor thrilled the judges and was pretty excited with his 10's. Mario's performance split the judges, as Len was on his own with a 7. His partner Karina Smirnoff hoped the fans would side with Carrie Ann and Bruno. Marissa rejoiced in her big comeback and said, "at least if we go out, we go our way." Cristian de la Fuente's grunting got him high scores and his partner Cheryl Burke said he "killed the bull." PETA's not gonna like that. Shannon Elizabeth notched the first 10 Len's given all season, and she sang an awkward song with partner Derek Hough. Adam Carolla and Julianne Hough took some lumps from the panel and Julianne later said, "Screw the judges!" Adam smiled and deadpanned, "If you want to get some higher scores, that's an idea."
Play it again, Adam! Judge Len Goodman said that for the first time all the judges had a different choice for the encore performance, but they all agreed that for sheer entertainment value, Adam and Julianne couldn't be matched. The couple performed its Paso Doble again, with Adam nailing the unicycle routine for the second consecutive night. They couldn't go home on a night when they were asked to perform the encore, could they?
Kiss the girl? Co-host Samantha Harris asked about the chemistry between Shannon and Elizabeth as the rest of the couples chanted, "Kiss, Kiss, Kiss!" Derek said it wasn't difficult to get into the romantic mood of the dance while looking at a beautiful face such as Shannon's. They said they would have done the kiss if they had gotten the encore, which might make that the first documented case of not kissing and telling.
First to safety: Jason and Edyta were let off the hook first, in no particular order. Kristi & Mark were also safe. Coincidence that the top two scorers from Monday night were safe first?
Cute kids alert! "Dancing" trotted out the cute kids, Aaron and Daniela, 9 and 8, to perform for millions watching on TV. Len said he was "bitterly disappointed" because it was too short. He wanted to see more. The couple's competition was Aaron and Rashell, both 8, who performed a Paso Doble. Bruno said they had great firepower, and Carrie Ann absolutely loved it. It was fun, for sure, but as the camera panned to Sheryl Crow before the commercial, you could almost hear her thinking, "What exactly am I doing here?"
Repeat performances: After the break, the judges shattered one young dancing couple's hopes and dreams, and it was Aaron and Daniela. Aaron and Rashell were asked to return for another performance later in the season. Sheryl Crow returned to perform her latest single, "Out of Our Heads," with 2006 World Cup Professional Ballroom Dancing champions Delyan Terziev and Boriana Deltcheva.
Next ones safe: Marlee and Sanchez were removed from the proverbial hot seat. They were quickly joined by Cristian and Cheryl, followed by Mario and Karina.
The bottom two, revealed! Priscilla and Louis were hit with the red light, indicating they were in the bottom two. Shannon and Elizabeth were safe. But the red light fell on Adam and Julianne, leaving Marissa and Tony safe.
What do we lose? Len said it would be "a tragedy" if Adam left the show. Bruno said that if Priscilla goes, the show would lose a star with humble glamour. Carrie Ann said she was curious to see if Julianne could turn Adam into a dancer, because something was really happening, but Priscilla is such a great dancer, she'd like to see her continue. The couple with the lowest total was ... Adam and Julianne. That marks the first time Julianne has ever been booted from the show.
Adam said he had the time of his life, lost 20 pounds of fat and "gained 105 pounds of angel," wrapping his arms around Julianne, and saying, "I love this girl." And he got to plug his new movie "'The Hammer,' in theaters now." He said he'd recommend the experience to everyone who's scared of anything. He got philosophical, saying, "we all don't get the opportunity to do 'Dancing with the Stars,' but, you at home, there's something that scares you, there's something that is your 'Dancing with the Stars.' Embrace it. Don't run from it. Do it." Julianne, teary-eyed, said that Adam is more than a funnyman, "he's amazing. He's a great guy."
The Crow Flies: Big props to Crow for fighting through a performance of the song she's probably played more than any other. Dancing pros Tony Dovolani and Edyta Sliwinska, and Fabian Sanchez and Kym Johnson offered up a sultry, spinning accompaniment.
Roll the tape: Highlighting the previous night, Kristi Yamaguchi and partner Mark Ballas Jr. couldn't believe their luck at getting two 10's. Marlee Matlin vowed to work on her "bum" all week after Bruno's comments, and Fabian was glad to oblige. Priscilla Presley cheekily said she likes the feeling of both of her legs up off the floor, but that's a no-no in the Viennese Waltz. Jason Taylor thrilled the judges and was pretty excited with his 10's. Mario's performance split the judges, as Len was on his own with a 7. His partner Karina Smirnoff hoped the fans would side with Carrie Ann and Bruno. Marissa rejoiced in her big comeback and said, "at least if we go out, we go our way." Cristian de la Fuente's grunting got him high scores and his partner Cheryl Burke said he "killed the bull." PETA's not gonna like that. Shannon Elizabeth notched the first 10 Len's given all season, and she sang an awkward song with partner Derek Hough. Adam Carolla and Julianne Hough took some lumps from the panel and Julianne later said, "Screw the judges!" Adam smiled and deadpanned, "If you want to get some higher scores, that's an idea."
Play it again, Adam! Judge Len Goodman said that for the first time all the judges had a different choice for the encore performance, but they all agreed that for sheer entertainment value, Adam and Julianne couldn't be matched. The couple performed its Paso Doble again, with Adam nailing the unicycle routine for the second consecutive night. They couldn't go home on a night when they were asked to perform the encore, could they?
Kiss the girl? Co-host Samantha Harris asked about the chemistry between Shannon and Elizabeth as the rest of the couples chanted, "Kiss, Kiss, Kiss!" Derek said it wasn't difficult to get into the romantic mood of the dance while looking at a beautiful face such as Shannon's. They said they would have done the kiss if they had gotten the encore, which might make that the first documented case of not kissing and telling.
First to safety: Jason and Edyta were let off the hook first, in no particular order. Kristi & Mark were also safe. Coincidence that the top two scorers from Monday night were safe first?
Cute kids alert! "Dancing" trotted out the cute kids, Aaron and Daniela, 9 and 8, to perform for millions watching on TV. Len said he was "bitterly disappointed" because it was too short. He wanted to see more. The couple's competition was Aaron and Rashell, both 8, who performed a Paso Doble. Bruno said they had great firepower, and Carrie Ann absolutely loved it. It was fun, for sure, but as the camera panned to Sheryl Crow before the commercial, you could almost hear her thinking, "What exactly am I doing here?"
Repeat performances: After the break, the judges shattered one young dancing couple's hopes and dreams, and it was Aaron and Daniela. Aaron and Rashell were asked to return for another performance later in the season. Sheryl Crow returned to perform her latest single, "Out of Our Heads," with 2006 World Cup Professional Ballroom Dancing champions Delyan Terziev and Boriana Deltcheva.
Next ones safe: Marlee and Sanchez were removed from the proverbial hot seat. They were quickly joined by Cristian and Cheryl, followed by Mario and Karina.
The bottom two, revealed! Priscilla and Louis were hit with the red light, indicating they were in the bottom two. Shannon and Elizabeth were safe. But the red light fell on Adam and Julianne, leaving Marissa and Tony safe.
What do we lose? Len said it would be "a tragedy" if Adam left the show. Bruno said that if Priscilla goes, the show would lose a star with humble glamour. Carrie Ann said she was curious to see if Julianne could turn Adam into a dancer, because something was really happening, but Priscilla is such a great dancer, she'd like to see her continue. The couple with the lowest total was ... Adam and Julianne. That marks the first time Julianne has ever been booted from the show.
Adam said he had the time of his life, lost 20 pounds of fat and "gained 105 pounds of angel," wrapping his arms around Julianne, and saying, "I love this girl." And he got to plug his new movie "'The Hammer,' in theaters now." He said he'd recommend the experience to everyone who's scared of anything. He got philosophical, saying, "we all don't get the opportunity to do 'Dancing with the Stars,' but, you at home, there's something that scares you, there's something that is your 'Dancing with the Stars.' Embrace it. Don't run from it. Do it." Julianne, teary-eyed, said that Adam is more than a funnyman, "he's amazing. He's a great guy."
Sun, Apr 13, 2008
We can assume there will be no more unicycle shenanigans or religious commentary now that Adam Carolla and partner Julianne Hough are no longer on the show. Host Tom Bergeron promised "the sexiest show of the season" as the dancers take on "Latin Night," when Bergeron said, "We've double up on the sequins and cut back on the fabric." This is still a family show, right?! It's the halfway point in the competition as the dancers performed the Samba and the Rumba.
Mario & Karina: R&B singer Mario was still reeling from the judge Len Goodman's harsh criticism last week, and he went to Stevie Wonder for inspiration. Stevie told him to let his spirit dance, and let his soul dance. Marion and his partner Karina Smirnoff danced the Samba with Karina appropriately wearing a skimpy yellow number (as was spray-tanned beyond belief!) as they performed to Ella Fitzgerald's "A-Tisket A-Tasket." Some fancy footwork from both dancers earned smiles from the judges' table. Len said the dance suited Mario and he called it his "best dance so far." Judge Bruno Tonioli said that if Mario's hips could talk "we'd be censored tonight." Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said she enjoyed that it was nice and to the point. Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Priscilla & Louis: Actress Priscilla Presley said that going from second place to second-to-last was "a wake-up call." We got a peek at the tension between teacher and student, but Priscilla was talking comeback as they took to to the dance floor. Priscilla and partner Louis Van Amstel to "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" while Priscilla draped a sparkly crab net over herself. The routine got a little "Cirque du Soleil" toward the end. Bruno said that the slow dance exposed a lot of flaws. Carrie Ann said Priscilla appeared to be concentrating too much on her technique and it was clear she was thinking too much. Len said he was disappointed because the dance lacked spontenaeity. Scores: 7, 7 and 7.
Marissa & Tony: After a big bounce-back performance last week, Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur said the higher scores just make her want to harder. Her partner Tony Dovolani suggested she do something to get herself into the Brazilian "Carnivale" spirit, so she got herself a headdress and did it up right. Marissa and Tony danced the Samba with Marissa sporting a sparkly purple tassel skirt and shaking everything her momma gave her. She kept shaking even after the song ended. Carrie Ann said it was Marissa's best routine by far. Len enjoyed the mix of steps in the dance and said it was "more bounce to the ounce" than he's ever seen. Bruno said everybody loved it and said that despite a hiccup at the start, once she got into it, "there was no stopping you!" Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
Cristian & Cheryl: Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente was coming off his best performance ever and said his Latin blood is finally starting to dance through his veins. He found it. Their rehearsal video included a funny little dream-sequence skit in which he played the Spanish-speaking leading man trying to seduce his partner Cheryl Burke, and it worked even though she had no idea what he was saying to her and simply answered, "Si" to everything. Cristian and Cheryl danced the Rumba to some hyper-cheesy love song. Len said it was a "competent" performance but it didn't blow him away. Bruno said the chemistry between Cristian and Cheryl is good, but the slow walks in the dance exposed flaws again. Carrie Ann disagreed with Bruno and said the chemistry wasn't there and that the dance wasn't "super-erotic." Scores: 7, 8 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Marlee & Fabian: Last week, Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin brought Carrie Ann to tears with her Viennese Waltz. Marlee and partner Fabian Sanchez's video showed them taking a trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, where they helped fit deaf children with hearing aids that helped some of them hear for the first time. It was quite moving. Back to business, Marlee had some trouble picking up the steps to the Samba, which has a lot of challenging off-beat movements. Marlee and Fabian danced the Samba and there appeared to be a few missteps and Marlee looked a little disappointed at the end. Bruno said it was very, very hot and sexy, but noticed that a lot of times she lost the timing and stumbled. Carrie Ann noticed a few slips and stumbles, but that she saw a couple of moments when she could have given up or kept going, and Marlee kept going. Len said it is the most difficult Latin dance and she pulled it off considering that she can't hear anything. Scores: 7, 7 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Kristi & Mark: Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi is still dominating, but is feeling the pressure coming up behind her. Her partner Mark Ballas Jr. said the Rumba is "a vertical expression of a horizontal design." Kristi suggested, essentially, role playing with Mark in order to pull off the seduction of the dance without being uncomfortable. Just as she settled into her sexy new role, her kids burst into the rehearsal room shouting, "Surprise!" Kristi and Mark danced the Rumba. Carrie Ann said Kristi really did take a risk, but that she gave up some movements to get some of the emotion. Len gave her "three words: Fab-U-Lous." Bruno said the chemistry was great and called the dance "stupendous." Scores: 9, 10 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Shannon & Derek: Actress Shannon Elizabeth's partner Derek Hough continues his health struggles. Two weeks after being rushed to the hospital with a neck strain, Derek went to the hospital on show day with a bout of food poisoning. He was back and Bergeron kept a bucket handy. Shannon and Derek danced the Samba. Len said that halfway through we should be down to the best, but "as good as that was, it wasn't, for me, really good enough." Bruno said she has to go out there and "shake those maracas." He said she messed up the timing a few times and that maybe it was too hard for her. Carrie Ann admired her attitude and effort to try a difficult routine, but agreed that it wasn't the best. Scores: 8, 8 and 7, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Jason & Edyta: Coming off a 29-point performance, NFL star Jason Taylor had to prove it wasn't a fluke. Jason struggled with some of the more sensual, graceful movements in rehearsal. Could he handle it on the dance floor? Jason and Edyta danced the Rumba. Bruno said he had the look of a love god and asked Jason how he can be so light and so big at the same time, and said it was "another incredible job." Carrie Ann said the couple has the "most insane chemistry" on the dance floor. Len said Jason has a naturalness about him and called him a "bloke," which is a good thing. Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Scoreboard:
Kristi & Mark: 29
Mario & Karina: 27
Jason & Edyta: 27
Marissa & Tony: 24
Shannon & Derek: 23
Cristian & Cheryl: 23
Marlee & Fabian: 22
Priscilla & Louis: 21
Mario & Karina: R&B singer Mario was still reeling from the judge Len Goodman's harsh criticism last week, and he went to Stevie Wonder for inspiration. Stevie told him to let his spirit dance, and let his soul dance. Marion and his partner Karina Smirnoff danced the Samba with Karina appropriately wearing a skimpy yellow number (as was spray-tanned beyond belief!) as they performed to Ella Fitzgerald's "A-Tisket A-Tasket." Some fancy footwork from both dancers earned smiles from the judges' table. Len said the dance suited Mario and he called it his "best dance so far." Judge Bruno Tonioli said that if Mario's hips could talk "we'd be censored tonight." Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said she enjoyed that it was nice and to the point. Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Priscilla & Louis: Actress Priscilla Presley said that going from second place to second-to-last was "a wake-up call." We got a peek at the tension between teacher and student, but Priscilla was talking comeback as they took to to the dance floor. Priscilla and partner Louis Van Amstel to "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" while Priscilla draped a sparkly crab net over herself. The routine got a little "Cirque du Soleil" toward the end. Bruno said that the slow dance exposed a lot of flaws. Carrie Ann said Priscilla appeared to be concentrating too much on her technique and it was clear she was thinking too much. Len said he was disappointed because the dance lacked spontenaeity. Scores: 7, 7 and 7.
Marissa & Tony: After a big bounce-back performance last week, Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur said the higher scores just make her want to harder. Her partner Tony Dovolani suggested she do something to get herself into the Brazilian "Carnivale" spirit, so she got herself a headdress and did it up right. Marissa and Tony danced the Samba with Marissa sporting a sparkly purple tassel skirt and shaking everything her momma gave her. She kept shaking even after the song ended. Carrie Ann said it was Marissa's best routine by far. Len enjoyed the mix of steps in the dance and said it was "more bounce to the ounce" than he's ever seen. Bruno said everybody loved it and said that despite a hiccup at the start, once she got into it, "there was no stopping you!" Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
Cristian & Cheryl: Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente was coming off his best performance ever and said his Latin blood is finally starting to dance through his veins. He found it. Their rehearsal video included a funny little dream-sequence skit in which he played the Spanish-speaking leading man trying to seduce his partner Cheryl Burke, and it worked even though she had no idea what he was saying to her and simply answered, "Si" to everything. Cristian and Cheryl danced the Rumba to some hyper-cheesy love song. Len said it was a "competent" performance but it didn't blow him away. Bruno said the chemistry between Cristian and Cheryl is good, but the slow walks in the dance exposed flaws again. Carrie Ann disagreed with Bruno and said the chemistry wasn't there and that the dance wasn't "super-erotic." Scores: 7, 8 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Marlee & Fabian: Last week, Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin brought Carrie Ann to tears with her Viennese Waltz. Marlee and partner Fabian Sanchez's video showed them taking a trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, where they helped fit deaf children with hearing aids that helped some of them hear for the first time. It was quite moving. Back to business, Marlee had some trouble picking up the steps to the Samba, which has a lot of challenging off-beat movements. Marlee and Fabian danced the Samba and there appeared to be a few missteps and Marlee looked a little disappointed at the end. Bruno said it was very, very hot and sexy, but noticed that a lot of times she lost the timing and stumbled. Carrie Ann noticed a few slips and stumbles, but that she saw a couple of moments when she could have given up or kept going, and Marlee kept going. Len said it is the most difficult Latin dance and she pulled it off considering that she can't hear anything. Scores: 7, 7 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Kristi & Mark: Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi is still dominating, but is feeling the pressure coming up behind her. Her partner Mark Ballas Jr. said the Rumba is "a vertical expression of a horizontal design." Kristi suggested, essentially, role playing with Mark in order to pull off the seduction of the dance without being uncomfortable. Just as she settled into her sexy new role, her kids burst into the rehearsal room shouting, "Surprise!" Kristi and Mark danced the Rumba. Carrie Ann said Kristi really did take a risk, but that she gave up some movements to get some of the emotion. Len gave her "three words: Fab-U-Lous." Bruno said the chemistry was great and called the dance "stupendous." Scores: 9, 10 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Shannon & Derek: Actress Shannon Elizabeth's partner Derek Hough continues his health struggles. Two weeks after being rushed to the hospital with a neck strain, Derek went to the hospital on show day with a bout of food poisoning. He was back and Bergeron kept a bucket handy. Shannon and Derek danced the Samba. Len said that halfway through we should be down to the best, but "as good as that was, it wasn't, for me, really good enough." Bruno said she has to go out there and "shake those maracas." He said she messed up the timing a few times and that maybe it was too hard for her. Carrie Ann admired her attitude and effort to try a difficult routine, but agreed that it wasn't the best. Scores: 8, 8 and 7, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Jason & Edyta: Coming off a 29-point performance, NFL star Jason Taylor had to prove it wasn't a fluke. Jason struggled with some of the more sensual, graceful movements in rehearsal. Could he handle it on the dance floor? Jason and Edyta danced the Rumba. Bruno said he had the look of a love god and asked Jason how he can be so light and so big at the same time, and said it was "another incredible job." Carrie Ann said the couple has the "most insane chemistry" on the dance floor. Len said Jason has a naturalness about him and called him a "bloke," which is a good thing. Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Scoreboard:
Kristi & Mark: 29
Mario & Karina: 27
Jason & Edyta: 27
Marissa & Tony: 24
Shannon & Derek: 23
Cristian & Cheryl: 23
Marlee & Fabian: 22
Priscilla & Louis: 21
Mon, Apr 14, 2008
Latin night turned up the heat on the dance floor and among the competitors. Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi continued her domination, but the rest of the pack closed in with some highly praised performances. Actress Priscilla Presley went into Tuesday's results show with the lowest score from the judges, but could the voters save her?
To the tape: Kristi said she looked judge Len Goodman right in the eye while doing her dance and wondered if that was why they scored a "10" from him. NFL star Jason Taylor earned a new nickname, "Love God," after judge Bruno Tonioli's comments. Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur shook and shimmied to some big comments from the judges, and she rejoiced afterward and said she "felt sexy" and "it was amazing." R&B singer Mario basked in the glory Len's praise and said if he scores a "30," he'll weep. Actor Cristian de la Fuente was confused by judge Carrie Ann Inaba's comments about expecting more chemistry, saying "more chemistry would be illegal." Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin was still reeling from her bad performance and was inconsolable as her partner Fabian Sanchez tried to make her feel better. Also disconsolate was actress Shannon Elizabeth, who took some heat for not using her hips more. In tears backstage, she said, "I did what I thought I was taught to do, so I don't know what else to do." Finally, Presley was frustrated with herself at missing a turn that proved to be a critical mistake.
Encore! Len asked to see Kristi and her partner Mark Ballas Jr. perform their steamy Rumba again. So they did it.
An Ozomatli Crew: The pros danced a group Samba to the live music of Ozomatli in a rousing bit of turns, shakes and gyrations.
Good news, bad news: Host Tom Bergeron revealed that the first couple definitely continuing -- in no particular order -- was Kristi & Mark. Co-host Samantha Harris had the privilege of giving the bad news to one couple that landed in the bottom two: Cristian & Cheryl.
Child's Play: Dmitriy & Michelle, both 10, offered up a Jive as part of the Dancing Juniors competition. They danced to "You Can't Stop the Beat" from the "Hairspray" soundtrack. The judges loved it. Jaryd & Cara, 10 and 8, have been ballroom partners for about a year. They danced the Cha Cha Cha to Bruce Channel's "Hey! Baby" The judges loved it. The judges decided to ask Jaryd & Cara.
Show Day Stress: A background video about how the stars deal with the stress of show day gave a little insight on what seems to be a budding romance between Shannon and her partner Derek Hough. There have been signs before, but Shannon revealed that Derek serenades her with some guitar playing and singing about an hour before the show to help calm her nerves.
Another couple safe: It's Jason and his partner Edyta Sliwinska.
Pass the Blunt: Singer songwriter James Blunt performed his new single "Carry You Home," accompanied by dancing champions Eric Luna and Georgia Ambarian.
'It feels bad': Backstage, Cristian said "it feels bad" to be in the bottom two and feel the weight of possibly going home. He said challenges are very important in life, and that's why he wants to stay on the show.
Two more safe: The next couple continuing was Mario & Karina and Marissa & Tony. That left Priscilla & Louis, Marlee & Fabian, and Shannon & Derek waiting to see who would be the second couple in the bottom two.
The verdict is...: Shannon had a look of sheer disappointment on her face as the three couples were reminded of the judges' comments about them. Shannon & Derek were the first of the remaining three sent to safety. Also back to dance again were Marlee & Fabian. That left Priscilla & Louis and Cristian & Cheryl in the bottom two, and Len said it proves that at that this stage in the competition, "one false move, one bad performance, one ill-advised routine, and you are in jeopardy." Len said his heart wants Priscilla to come back, but his brain wants Cristian to come back. The loser is: Priscilla. Priscilla called it a life-changing experience and said, "I did things that I thought I couldn't do."
To the tape: Kristi said she looked judge Len Goodman right in the eye while doing her dance and wondered if that was why they scored a "10" from him. NFL star Jason Taylor earned a new nickname, "Love God," after judge Bruno Tonioli's comments. Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur shook and shimmied to some big comments from the judges, and she rejoiced afterward and said she "felt sexy" and "it was amazing." R&B singer Mario basked in the glory Len's praise and said if he scores a "30," he'll weep. Actor Cristian de la Fuente was confused by judge Carrie Ann Inaba's comments about expecting more chemistry, saying "more chemistry would be illegal." Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin was still reeling from her bad performance and was inconsolable as her partner Fabian Sanchez tried to make her feel better. Also disconsolate was actress Shannon Elizabeth, who took some heat for not using her hips more. In tears backstage, she said, "I did what I thought I was taught to do, so I don't know what else to do." Finally, Presley was frustrated with herself at missing a turn that proved to be a critical mistake.
Encore! Len asked to see Kristi and her partner Mark Ballas Jr. perform their steamy Rumba again. So they did it.
An Ozomatli Crew: The pros danced a group Samba to the live music of Ozomatli in a rousing bit of turns, shakes and gyrations.
Good news, bad news: Host Tom Bergeron revealed that the first couple definitely continuing -- in no particular order -- was Kristi & Mark. Co-host Samantha Harris had the privilege of giving the bad news to one couple that landed in the bottom two: Cristian & Cheryl.
Child's Play: Dmitriy & Michelle, both 10, offered up a Jive as part of the Dancing Juniors competition. They danced to "You Can't Stop the Beat" from the "Hairspray" soundtrack. The judges loved it. Jaryd & Cara, 10 and 8, have been ballroom partners for about a year. They danced the Cha Cha Cha to Bruce Channel's "Hey! Baby" The judges loved it. The judges decided to ask Jaryd & Cara.
Show Day Stress: A background video about how the stars deal with the stress of show day gave a little insight on what seems to be a budding romance between Shannon and her partner Derek Hough. There have been signs before, but Shannon revealed that Derek serenades her with some guitar playing and singing about an hour before the show to help calm her nerves.
Another couple safe: It's Jason and his partner Edyta Sliwinska.
Pass the Blunt: Singer songwriter James Blunt performed his new single "Carry You Home," accompanied by dancing champions Eric Luna and Georgia Ambarian.
'It feels bad': Backstage, Cristian said "it feels bad" to be in the bottom two and feel the weight of possibly going home. He said challenges are very important in life, and that's why he wants to stay on the show.
Two more safe: The next couple continuing was Mario & Karina and Marissa & Tony. That left Priscilla & Louis, Marlee & Fabian, and Shannon & Derek waiting to see who would be the second couple in the bottom two.
The verdict is...: Shannon had a look of sheer disappointment on her face as the three couples were reminded of the judges' comments about them. Shannon & Derek were the first of the remaining three sent to safety. Also back to dance again were Marlee & Fabian. That left Priscilla & Louis and Cristian & Cheryl in the bottom two, and Len said it proves that at that this stage in the competition, "one false move, one bad performance, one ill-advised routine, and you are in jeopardy." Len said his heart wants Priscilla to come back, but his brain wants Cristian to come back. The loser is: Priscilla. Priscilla called it a life-changing experience and said, "I did things that I thought I couldn't do."
Sun, Apr 20, 2008
Last week, it was Priscilla Presley who said goodbye on "Dancing with the Stars," and the remaining celebrities would perform two dances for the first time. The dancers will perf--whoa, check out Marlee Matlin's outfit! On to the dance floor:
Jason & Edyta: NFL star Jason Taylor was planning on dancing a bit more to impress the judges. His partner Edyta Sliwinska took him to a freestyle dancing class to learn some moves. Jason and Edyta danced the cha cha cha to The Emotions' "Best of My Love." Judge Len Goodman said Jason had "lots of content" and said he could see Jason counting a little bit, but that he did a nice job. Bruno Tonioli said it was good that we saw Jason get a little cheeky, but he did mess up the timing a bit. Carrie Ann Inaba said nobody can touch Jason when he hits his lines, but that there was still awkwardness with his arms when he was out of the holds. Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
Shannon & Derek: Actress Shannon Elizabeth had a rough go the previous week, taking some harsh criticism from the judges. Her partner Derek Hough brought her some flowers and then they went and made out on the beach. Shannon and Derek danced the rumba to Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors." It ended with the couple walking off the stage together. Bruno said the romantic interplay definitely worked, but that the rumba aspect didn't work because of the placement of the foot. Carrie Ann said now the judges are looking beyond potential. Len said they were "all over each other like a rash," but that was a good thing. He said overall it was good. Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
Marlee & Fabian: Actress Marlee Matlin was still reeling from her slip the previous week, so she called on The Fonz to give her a pep talk. Henry Winkler became her own personal guru, telling her he knows her spirit is intense and "on fire." Her partner, mambo world champion Fabian Sanchez, promised her she was in good hands. Marlee and Fabian danced the mambo to Gloria Estefan's "La Tierra," which Marlee sporting a little tiger-print/bikini top. The dance was a little less than fluid. Carrie Ann opened with, "you look amazing," which is Paula Abdul speak for "it didn't go so well." She said the mambo was a dance that relied on connection to the music and that it would be the most challenging to Marlee, who is deaf. The judges agreed that it looked awkward and uncomfortable but praised her for being an inspiration. Scores: 7, 7 and 7.
Cristian & Cheryl: Actor Cristian de la Fuente sought to bounce back from a bottom-two finish. He focused in rehearsal on maintaining his straight arms to keep Len happy. They practiced in a swimming pool, which gave him the perfect chance to pull his partner Cheryl Burke into the water -- he did. Cristian and Cheryl maintained a nice rat pack vibe dancing the foxtrot to "Come Fly with Me." Len said that "if you're in the bottom two tomorrow, I'll show my bum in the supermarket." Cristian shook his hand on that guarantee. Bruno said it was "Cristian at his dashing best" and said his footwork was excellent. Carrie Ann, at a loss for words, said Cristian "passed right into refined." Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur had a big night the previous week with a sassy samba. In rehearsal, she got dizzy with the spins in the Viennese walts, so her partner Tony Davolani took her to an aerial acrobatics class to help. Marissa and Tony dance the Viennese waltz to Tom Jones' "Delillah." Bruno complimented her on attempting some very technical moves. Carrie Ann said she is "definitely on the Winokur wave" because she loved it. Len said what pleased him the most was seeing Marissa's confidence grow and said she looked "like a true princess." Marissa screamed when she saw her scores. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Kristi & Mark: Apparently Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi's domination has become so apparent that the only thing host Tom Bergeron had left to point out before her performance was that she has yet to score a perfect 30. She revealed that she was born with a clubbed foot and needed casts as a toddler to overcome it. It hasn't appeared to hold her back much. Kristi and her partner Mark Ballas Jr. danced the jive to "Rip It Up" with a sock-hop kind of vibe. It was high energy and basically flawless. Carrie Ann said it was the best dance performed this season. Len said it was like being at a buffet and called it "a smorgaboard of dance, and I loved it." Bruno said she performed the best she ever has. Scores: 10, 10 and 10. Perfection, for the first time all season.
Mario & Karina: R&B singer Mario found his mojo the previous and scored 9's across the board and he had his sights set on Kristi. He said he wanted to bring sexy back with the rumba. He dedicated his dance to his little brother, who we saw Mario talk to back in Baltimore thanks to his AT&T cell phone (that wasn't intentional product placement, was it?). Mario and Karina danced the rumba to Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" with a super hot and steamy twist. Len said they did a good job, but that the rumba "is the story of a developing romance, it's not the story of a strumpet and a gigolo." Bruno said he thought it was fabulous. Carrie Ann said it was "better than good sex." But she pointed out a lift and said she was going dock him for it. Scores: 9, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Hoedown! Umm... this one you kinda had to see. The first group dance of the season, strictly for the viewers' enjoyment, was full of flips, spins, twirls and general excitement abounded as the stars looked to impress the fans with their solo moments. It was a fun display, highlighted by some pretty tremendous lifts by Jason and Mario.
Scoreboard:
Kristi & Mark: 30
Mario & Karina: 28
Cristian & Cheryl: 27
Marissa & Tony: 26
Jason & Edyta: 24
Shannon & Derek: 24
Marlee & Fabian: 21
Jason & Edyta: NFL star Jason Taylor was planning on dancing a bit more to impress the judges. His partner Edyta Sliwinska took him to a freestyle dancing class to learn some moves. Jason and Edyta danced the cha cha cha to The Emotions' "Best of My Love." Judge Len Goodman said Jason had "lots of content" and said he could see Jason counting a little bit, but that he did a nice job. Bruno Tonioli said it was good that we saw Jason get a little cheeky, but he did mess up the timing a bit. Carrie Ann Inaba said nobody can touch Jason when he hits his lines, but that there was still awkwardness with his arms when he was out of the holds. Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
Shannon & Derek: Actress Shannon Elizabeth had a rough go the previous week, taking some harsh criticism from the judges. Her partner Derek Hough brought her some flowers and then they went and made out on the beach. Shannon and Derek danced the rumba to Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors." It ended with the couple walking off the stage together. Bruno said the romantic interplay definitely worked, but that the rumba aspect didn't work because of the placement of the foot. Carrie Ann said now the judges are looking beyond potential. Len said they were "all over each other like a rash," but that was a good thing. He said overall it was good. Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
Marlee & Fabian: Actress Marlee Matlin was still reeling from her slip the previous week, so she called on The Fonz to give her a pep talk. Henry Winkler became her own personal guru, telling her he knows her spirit is intense and "on fire." Her partner, mambo world champion Fabian Sanchez, promised her she was in good hands. Marlee and Fabian danced the mambo to Gloria Estefan's "La Tierra," which Marlee sporting a little tiger-print/bikini top. The dance was a little less than fluid. Carrie Ann opened with, "you look amazing," which is Paula Abdul speak for "it didn't go so well." She said the mambo was a dance that relied on connection to the music and that it would be the most challenging to Marlee, who is deaf. The judges agreed that it looked awkward and uncomfortable but praised her for being an inspiration. Scores: 7, 7 and 7.
Cristian & Cheryl: Actor Cristian de la Fuente sought to bounce back from a bottom-two finish. He focused in rehearsal on maintaining his straight arms to keep Len happy. They practiced in a swimming pool, which gave him the perfect chance to pull his partner Cheryl Burke into the water -- he did. Cristian and Cheryl maintained a nice rat pack vibe dancing the foxtrot to "Come Fly with Me." Len said that "if you're in the bottom two tomorrow, I'll show my bum in the supermarket." Cristian shook his hand on that guarantee. Bruno said it was "Cristian at his dashing best" and said his footwork was excellent. Carrie Ann, at a loss for words, said Cristian "passed right into refined." Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur had a big night the previous week with a sassy samba. In rehearsal, she got dizzy with the spins in the Viennese walts, so her partner Tony Davolani took her to an aerial acrobatics class to help. Marissa and Tony dance the Viennese waltz to Tom Jones' "Delillah." Bruno complimented her on attempting some very technical moves. Carrie Ann said she is "definitely on the Winokur wave" because she loved it. Len said what pleased him the most was seeing Marissa's confidence grow and said she looked "like a true princess." Marissa screamed when she saw her scores. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Kristi & Mark: Apparently Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi's domination has become so apparent that the only thing host Tom Bergeron had left to point out before her performance was that she has yet to score a perfect 30. She revealed that she was born with a clubbed foot and needed casts as a toddler to overcome it. It hasn't appeared to hold her back much. Kristi and her partner Mark Ballas Jr. danced the jive to "Rip It Up" with a sock-hop kind of vibe. It was high energy and basically flawless. Carrie Ann said it was the best dance performed this season. Len said it was like being at a buffet and called it "a smorgaboard of dance, and I loved it." Bruno said she performed the best she ever has. Scores: 10, 10 and 10. Perfection, for the first time all season.
Mario & Karina: R&B singer Mario found his mojo the previous and scored 9's across the board and he had his sights set on Kristi. He said he wanted to bring sexy back with the rumba. He dedicated his dance to his little brother, who we saw Mario talk to back in Baltimore thanks to his AT&T cell phone (that wasn't intentional product placement, was it?). Mario and Karina danced the rumba to Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" with a super hot and steamy twist. Len said they did a good job, but that the rumba "is the story of a developing romance, it's not the story of a strumpet and a gigolo." Bruno said he thought it was fabulous. Carrie Ann said it was "better than good sex." But she pointed out a lift and said she was going dock him for it. Scores: 9, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Hoedown! Umm... this one you kinda had to see. The first group dance of the season, strictly for the viewers' enjoyment, was full of flips, spins, twirls and general excitement abounded as the stars looked to impress the fans with their solo moments. It was a fun display, highlighted by some pretty tremendous lifts by Jason and Mario.
Scoreboard:
Kristi & Mark: 30
Mario & Karina: 28
Cristian & Cheryl: 27
Marissa & Tony: 26
Jason & Edyta: 24
Shannon & Derek: 24
Marlee & Fabian: 21
Mon, Apr 21, 2008
Tuesday was a wild night that included a perfect 30, a group hoedown and some harsh criticism from the judges. How would the scores figure in to which of the seven remaining stars would go home? One of the dancers bit back at the judges and took some swings at the rest of the competition.
Roll the tape: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur was still raving about the 9's she got from judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. Actor Cristian de la Fuente realized that after getting a good score, "this is how Kristi (Yamaguchi) feels every week!" R&B singer Mario put his feelings into song, harmonizing, "We got two 9's and a 10... we got to do it again!" Actress Marlee Matlin, disappointed with her performance, said she did it better in rehearsals and it just didn't come through in the performance. Actress Shannon Elizabeth was in tears after the judges criticized her lack of hip action in the rumba, and her partner Derek Hough had some choice words for the judges and, in a way, the other contestants. "You're commenting on her hip action?" he said to the camera, incredulously. "What about the heel leads happening out there? The feet coming off the floor? The horrific, demented lines people are making out there? And you're giving them 9's and 10's. Are you kidding me?" NFL star Jason Taylor's cha cha cha got him lower-than-usual scores. Jason said you never know what's going to happen and vowed to keep having fun. Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi said the jive was the most fun she's had on the dance floor.
Encore! Judge Len Goodman said it might not have been the best dance of the night, but they wanted to see the group hoedown again. Really?
Oh, 'Boys'...: Ashlee Simpson passed through to promote her new CD, singing her song "Boys."
Joy and pain: Going back through the scoreboard, we got another chance to see Shannon cry and snap at Derek about why she was so upset, saying, "It's not the score, it's the the freakin' critique! Carrie Ann sits there and tells me that I can't dance, but I'm trying so hard. Are you kidding me?" When it was time to reveal the first safe couple, it was, as host Tom Bergeron said, "Time for happy tears" as Shannon and Derek got a pass. Marlee and Fabian got the red light indicating they were in the bottom two.
Backstage...: Marlee said she's up for the challenge and won't give up if she's still in the game next week. Shannon and Derek got playful with rumors of their behind-the-scenes kissing as Derek had lipstick kisses all over his face, but on a more serious note Shannon tried to apologize for the remarks the couple made in their confessional (noted above). "We got really heated last night and we want to apologize because we're really passionate about what we're doing and we work really hard and, you know, we just got a little carried away, so, we apologize," Shannon said. Derek said, "That's not really like me. I'm not that type of guy, right?"
Take me to the River(dance): When did Michael Flatley hand over the reins? Regardless, it called to mind a favorite quote from "Friends," when Chandler Bing said Flatley's performance freaks him out: "His legs flail about as if independent from his body!"
Bring on the kids: Brandon and Brittany, both 13, danced the cha cha cha as part of the kids' competition. Brittany revealed that she's deaf in her right ear. They gave an action-packed dance. Their competition was Austin and Liza, both 12. They danced the samba and fell over each other at the end. Len said America has a great future in dancing based on what he saw from the two young couples. The judges asked Brandon and Brittany to return later in the competition.
Checking in with the judges: Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno talked about what they do as judges, how they have to take quick notes while still watching everything, and they showed how they have to turn in their scores immediately. Carrie Ann admitted she sometimes misses things because her eyes are down on her notepad. "It's not a perfect science," she admitted. Bruno said sometimes he can't remember what he's said after he's said it. Len said he feels terrible when he criticizes someone. Len said he does a lot of soul searching and thinks that he sometimes gave dancers scores that were too low. Carrie Ann said a couple of times each season, she'll think she gave scores that were too high.
Not it! The second couple sent to safety was Marissa & Tony, and they were joined by Cristian & Cheryl. That left frontrunners Kristi & Mark, Jason & Edyta and Mario & Karina in contention for the second spot in the bottom two.
Game Over: Kristi & Mark rode their perfect 30 to safety; Jason & Edyta, who scored second-to-last with the judges, were also safe. That left Mario & Karina, the second-highest scoring couple on Monday, in the bottom two with Marlee & Fabian. And the ticket home goes to ... Marlee & Fabian. She thanked the judges and her partner Fabian, her family, and Henry Winkler. Bergeron stepped out of his host role and told Marlee, "as a friend, I am so proud of you."
Roll the tape: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur was still raving about the 9's she got from judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. Actor Cristian de la Fuente realized that after getting a good score, "this is how Kristi (Yamaguchi) feels every week!" R&B singer Mario put his feelings into song, harmonizing, "We got two 9's and a 10... we got to do it again!" Actress Marlee Matlin, disappointed with her performance, said she did it better in rehearsals and it just didn't come through in the performance. Actress Shannon Elizabeth was in tears after the judges criticized her lack of hip action in the rumba, and her partner Derek Hough had some choice words for the judges and, in a way, the other contestants. "You're commenting on her hip action?" he said to the camera, incredulously. "What about the heel leads happening out there? The feet coming off the floor? The horrific, demented lines people are making out there? And you're giving them 9's and 10's. Are you kidding me?" NFL star Jason Taylor's cha cha cha got him lower-than-usual scores. Jason said you never know what's going to happen and vowed to keep having fun. Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi said the jive was the most fun she's had on the dance floor.
Encore! Judge Len Goodman said it might not have been the best dance of the night, but they wanted to see the group hoedown again. Really?
Oh, 'Boys'...: Ashlee Simpson passed through to promote her new CD, singing her song "Boys."
Joy and pain: Going back through the scoreboard, we got another chance to see Shannon cry and snap at Derek about why she was so upset, saying, "It's not the score, it's the the freakin' critique! Carrie Ann sits there and tells me that I can't dance, but I'm trying so hard. Are you kidding me?" When it was time to reveal the first safe couple, it was, as host Tom Bergeron said, "Time for happy tears" as Shannon and Derek got a pass. Marlee and Fabian got the red light indicating they were in the bottom two.
Backstage...: Marlee said she's up for the challenge and won't give up if she's still in the game next week. Shannon and Derek got playful with rumors of their behind-the-scenes kissing as Derek had lipstick kisses all over his face, but on a more serious note Shannon tried to apologize for the remarks the couple made in their confessional (noted above). "We got really heated last night and we want to apologize because we're really passionate about what we're doing and we work really hard and, you know, we just got a little carried away, so, we apologize," Shannon said. Derek said, "That's not really like me. I'm not that type of guy, right?"
Take me to the River(dance): When did Michael Flatley hand over the reins? Regardless, it called to mind a favorite quote from "Friends," when Chandler Bing said Flatley's performance freaks him out: "His legs flail about as if independent from his body!"
Bring on the kids: Brandon and Brittany, both 13, danced the cha cha cha as part of the kids' competition. Brittany revealed that she's deaf in her right ear. They gave an action-packed dance. Their competition was Austin and Liza, both 12. They danced the samba and fell over each other at the end. Len said America has a great future in dancing based on what he saw from the two young couples. The judges asked Brandon and Brittany to return later in the competition.
Checking in with the judges: Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno talked about what they do as judges, how they have to take quick notes while still watching everything, and they showed how they have to turn in their scores immediately. Carrie Ann admitted she sometimes misses things because her eyes are down on her notepad. "It's not a perfect science," she admitted. Bruno said sometimes he can't remember what he's said after he's said it. Len said he feels terrible when he criticizes someone. Len said he does a lot of soul searching and thinks that he sometimes gave dancers scores that were too low. Carrie Ann said a couple of times each season, she'll think she gave scores that were too high.
Not it! The second couple sent to safety was Marissa & Tony, and they were joined by Cristian & Cheryl. That left frontrunners Kristi & Mark, Jason & Edyta and Mario & Karina in contention for the second spot in the bottom two.
Game Over: Kristi & Mark rode their perfect 30 to safety; Jason & Edyta, who scored second-to-last with the judges, were also safe. That left Mario & Karina, the second-highest scoring couple on Monday, in the bottom two with Marlee & Fabian. And the ticket home goes to ... Marlee & Fabian. She thanked the judges and her partner Fabian, her family, and Henry Winkler. Bergeron stepped out of his host role and told Marlee, "as a friend, I am so proud of you."
Sun, Apr 27, 2008
"Dancing with the Stars" host Tom Bergeron promised at the start of the episode that "double the dancing means double the pressure," and that's a big statement in what has already been a tension-packed season. The stress reached a climax last week with dancing pro Derek Hough knocked the rest of the dancers for their "heel leads" and "the horrific, demented lines" after taking some criticism from the judges. Hough and his partner Shannon Elizabeth apologized to the rest of the dancers, but did the tirade signal their end?
It was getting heated as the dancers took on two individual routines for the first time this season, a traditional ballroom dance and a Latin dance.
Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur was coming off her best score of the season and said she couldn't believe she was still in the competition. Marissa and her partner Tony Davolani first took on the tango. It was a passionate, dramatic rendition. Judge Len Goodman said the first couple of weeks he thought the first couple of weeks, Marissa was not so good, then flattened out the past few weeks. But he wrapped up to say, "three words: your best dance." Bruno Tonioli said "great job." Carrie Ann Inaba said she's pushing herself and called the performance "fantastic." Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Cristian & Cheryl: Actor Cristian de la Fuente saved folks from seeing Len's bare bottom in a supermarket. Cristian and his partner Cheryl Burke first danced the Viennese waltz to Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You," which was a little awkward because his background video said he was going to dance as if he was dancing with his daughter. Bruno said the interplay between the dancers was brilliant and called it "a pleasure to watch." Carrie Ann criticized, "just a hair," a slight lack of energy, but enjoyed it. Len said it had a bit of romance about it, but there wasn't enough Viennese waltz and would have preferred a more traditional version of the dance. Scores: 8, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Kristi & Mark: Olympian Kristi Yamaguchiand her partner Mark Ballas Jr. were coming off the first perfect score of the season, but seemed to have some trouble in rehearsal with two dances (so, what, they'll only score 29?). Kristi said she felt the rest of the pack breathing down her neck, "but I kinda like it." She used a sparkly umbrella as a prop as they danced the Viennese waltz to Avril Lavigne's "I'm With You." An open umbrella indoors after a perfect 30? Sounds like bad luck to me. It didn't seem quite as fluid and graceful as their past performances, but let's see what the judges thought. Carrie Ann said they took a risk with the prop, but it worked. She said that technically the turns were a little off. Len said some moves were impressive, but the start was a little long and said "you don't need props." Bruno said it worked and it was good to see Kristi acting the part. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Mario & Karina: Mario needs to do something to impress the viewers more as his highest score of the season still landed him in the bottom two. In addition to the two dances for the show this week, Mario had to learn the choreography for his new music video. Would it hurt him? Mario and his partner Karina Smirnoff danced the foxtrot. Len said Mario is a real role model for other 21-year-olds, but said Mario is not the most elegant of dancers, but said "well done and a good job." Bruno said the foxtrot requires a lot of control and sometimes Mario is "not quite there." Carrie Ann complimented him on taking on very ambitious and difficult routines and said he needs to be a little stiffer on the more traditional ballroom dances. Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
Shannon & Derek: After an emotional outburst last week, actress Shannon Elizabeth and her partner Derek Hough had to wonder if their comments about the judges were going to hurt them. Derek told Shannon in rehearsal that they had no time to worry about the judges. Derek was bring a strict teacher in rehearsal and an annoyed Shannon threatened that he could be "going home alone tonight." Guess that clears things up, huh? Shannon and Derek sought to channel their aggression into the passionate tango. They both looked a little distracted as they seemed to miss a fair amount of moves, and it looked like she missed taking Derek's hat off toward the end of the routine. Bruno said the tango is "a bitch of a dance to master" but that the performance was "fascinating." Carrie Ann said it was their "best dance yet." Len thought they did "a terrific job." Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Jason & Edyta: After finishing second to last, NFL star Jason Taylor realized that he and partner Edyta Sliwinska had their backs to the wall for the first time. Jason and Edyta danced the quickstep and Jason ran to the judges' table and tossed a stack of paper in the air. Carrie Ann said it was all fantastic. Len said that "with performances like that, you're in the final." Bruno said "that wasn't the quickstep, it was quick lightning!" He finished by calling it "the performance of the night." Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Scoreboard check: After the first round of dances, a check of the scoreboard showed Jason & Edyta in the lead with 29; Marissa & Tony and Shannon & Derek tied for second with 27; Kristi & Mark in fourth with 26; Cristian & Cheryl in fifth with 25; and Mario & Karina in last with 24 points.
Marissa & Tony: Marissa and Tony followed up their 27-point tango with a sultry rumba. It was graceful and romantic. Bruno said they could have pushed a little more on the sex, "but it was nice." Carrie Ann disagreed and said she thought it was beautiful. She said everything was fluid and said it was great. Len praised Marissa for acting the part, but said there wasn't enough hip action and it was "all a tad careful." Scores: 9, 8 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Combined score: 52.
Cristian & Cheryl: Cristian and Cheryl went from the Viennese waltz to the saucy samba, but it turned somewhat disastrous when Cristian apparently pulled a muscle in his arm. He stopped dancing at one point and, at the end, fell over Cheryl as she dropped herself into his arms and fell to the floor. He wanted to continue to the judges' scores, but Bergeron took the show to a break so he could get checked. Carrie Ann said it was difficult to comment but said the dance is judged up to the point when the injury occurred. She said she was sorry she didn't get to see the whole dance and appreciated that he tried to pull through and was there for Cheryl. Len also praised Cristian for his bravery in carrying on and continuing. Bruno said the judges would have to judge on what they saw, but that he hoped Cristian would come back. Medics said Cristian suffered severe cramping in his arm. Scores: 7, 7 and 7. Combined score: 46. Update: Bergeron later told viewers that Cristian had gone to the hospital to get his arm checked and that he wouldn't be around for the end of the show.
Kristi & Mark: Kristi and Mark danced the cha cha cha to Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music." The high energy, upbeat performance was a welcome relief after Cristian's awkward finish. Len went on a tirade about "boogaloo hip hop dancing." He didn't like the choreography. Bruno told him to "get rid of the cobwebs." Bruno said it was a fantastic cha cha cha, "kids are gonna love it and I'm gonna love it!" Carrie Ann, the former "In Living Color" Fly Girl, gave her "two snaps up." Scores: 10, 8 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Combined score: 54.
Mario & Karina: Entering the second half of the night with the lowest first-round score, Mario and Karina danced the mambo. Bruno called it "fast, furious and dangerous" and called the Latin dances Mario's comfort zone. Carrie Ann said the couple "set this place on fire." Len called it "wild, wacky, wonderful." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Combined score: 51.
Shannon & Derek: After landing in a tie for second place after the first round, Shannon and Derek danced the mambo, with Shannon starting and ending with moves aimed directly at Len. Carrie Ann told Shannon she wasn't trying to be cruel but some of her lines still look a bit awkward. She told Shannon that because she has long limbs, it takes a lot more work for her than someone like Kristi to get those lines to look right. Len said he thought he'd died and gone to heaven. Len agreed that her movements are sometimes a bit gawky. Bruno said that sometimes she has to watch the gangliness in her moves. Scores: 8, 8 and 8. Combined score: 51
Jason & Edyta:After a near-perfect first dance, Jason and Edyta returned with a dramatic paso doble to the "Monday Night Football" theme song, with Jason wearing eye black on his face and his Miami Dolphins colored sweatpants and Edyta in a Dolphins' color schemed outfit. Len praised Jason's attack, but said there was a bit too much posing going on, "but when you've got a body like yours and mine, we like to pose." Bruno seemed to like it. Carrie Ann called it an unconventional paso doble that she enjoyed, but called out Edyta on lifting her foot at one point. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Combined score: 55.
Scoreboard:
Jason & Edyta: 55
Kristi & Mark: 54
Marissa & Tony: 52
Shannon & Derek: 51
Mario & Karina: 51
Cristian & Cheryl: 46
It was getting heated as the dancers took on two individual routines for the first time this season, a traditional ballroom dance and a Latin dance.
Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur was coming off her best score of the season and said she couldn't believe she was still in the competition. Marissa and her partner Tony Davolani first took on the tango. It was a passionate, dramatic rendition. Judge Len Goodman said the first couple of weeks he thought the first couple of weeks, Marissa was not so good, then flattened out the past few weeks. But he wrapped up to say, "three words: your best dance." Bruno Tonioli said "great job." Carrie Ann Inaba said she's pushing herself and called the performance "fantastic." Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Cristian & Cheryl: Actor Cristian de la Fuente saved folks from seeing Len's bare bottom in a supermarket. Cristian and his partner Cheryl Burke first danced the Viennese waltz to Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You," which was a little awkward because his background video said he was going to dance as if he was dancing with his daughter. Bruno said the interplay between the dancers was brilliant and called it "a pleasure to watch." Carrie Ann criticized, "just a hair," a slight lack of energy, but enjoyed it. Len said it had a bit of romance about it, but there wasn't enough Viennese waltz and would have preferred a more traditional version of the dance. Scores: 8, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Kristi & Mark: Olympian Kristi Yamaguchiand her partner Mark Ballas Jr. were coming off the first perfect score of the season, but seemed to have some trouble in rehearsal with two dances (so, what, they'll only score 29?). Kristi said she felt the rest of the pack breathing down her neck, "but I kinda like it." She used a sparkly umbrella as a prop as they danced the Viennese waltz to Avril Lavigne's "I'm With You." An open umbrella indoors after a perfect 30? Sounds like bad luck to me. It didn't seem quite as fluid and graceful as their past performances, but let's see what the judges thought. Carrie Ann said they took a risk with the prop, but it worked. She said that technically the turns were a little off. Len said some moves were impressive, but the start was a little long and said "you don't need props." Bruno said it worked and it was good to see Kristi acting the part. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Mario & Karina: Mario needs to do something to impress the viewers more as his highest score of the season still landed him in the bottom two. In addition to the two dances for the show this week, Mario had to learn the choreography for his new music video. Would it hurt him? Mario and his partner Karina Smirnoff danced the foxtrot. Len said Mario is a real role model for other 21-year-olds, but said Mario is not the most elegant of dancers, but said "well done and a good job." Bruno said the foxtrot requires a lot of control and sometimes Mario is "not quite there." Carrie Ann complimented him on taking on very ambitious and difficult routines and said he needs to be a little stiffer on the more traditional ballroom dances. Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
Shannon & Derek: After an emotional outburst last week, actress Shannon Elizabeth and her partner Derek Hough had to wonder if their comments about the judges were going to hurt them. Derek told Shannon in rehearsal that they had no time to worry about the judges. Derek was bring a strict teacher in rehearsal and an annoyed Shannon threatened that he could be "going home alone tonight." Guess that clears things up, huh? Shannon and Derek sought to channel their aggression into the passionate tango. They both looked a little distracted as they seemed to miss a fair amount of moves, and it looked like she missed taking Derek's hat off toward the end of the routine. Bruno said the tango is "a bitch of a dance to master" but that the performance was "fascinating." Carrie Ann said it was their "best dance yet." Len thought they did "a terrific job." Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Jason & Edyta: After finishing second to last, NFL star Jason Taylor realized that he and partner Edyta Sliwinska had their backs to the wall for the first time. Jason and Edyta danced the quickstep and Jason ran to the judges' table and tossed a stack of paper in the air. Carrie Ann said it was all fantastic. Len said that "with performances like that, you're in the final." Bruno said "that wasn't the quickstep, it was quick lightning!" He finished by calling it "the performance of the night." Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Scoreboard check: After the first round of dances, a check of the scoreboard showed Jason & Edyta in the lead with 29; Marissa & Tony and Shannon & Derek tied for second with 27; Kristi & Mark in fourth with 26; Cristian & Cheryl in fifth with 25; and Mario & Karina in last with 24 points.
Marissa & Tony: Marissa and Tony followed up their 27-point tango with a sultry rumba. It was graceful and romantic. Bruno said they could have pushed a little more on the sex, "but it was nice." Carrie Ann disagreed and said she thought it was beautiful. She said everything was fluid and said it was great. Len praised Marissa for acting the part, but said there wasn't enough hip action and it was "all a tad careful." Scores: 9, 8 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Combined score: 52.
Cristian & Cheryl: Cristian and Cheryl went from the Viennese waltz to the saucy samba, but it turned somewhat disastrous when Cristian apparently pulled a muscle in his arm. He stopped dancing at one point and, at the end, fell over Cheryl as she dropped herself into his arms and fell to the floor. He wanted to continue to the judges' scores, but Bergeron took the show to a break so he could get checked. Carrie Ann said it was difficult to comment but said the dance is judged up to the point when the injury occurred. She said she was sorry she didn't get to see the whole dance and appreciated that he tried to pull through and was there for Cheryl. Len also praised Cristian for his bravery in carrying on and continuing. Bruno said the judges would have to judge on what they saw, but that he hoped Cristian would come back. Medics said Cristian suffered severe cramping in his arm. Scores: 7, 7 and 7. Combined score: 46. Update: Bergeron later told viewers that Cristian had gone to the hospital to get his arm checked and that he wouldn't be around for the end of the show.
Kristi & Mark: Kristi and Mark danced the cha cha cha to Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music." The high energy, upbeat performance was a welcome relief after Cristian's awkward finish. Len went on a tirade about "boogaloo hip hop dancing." He didn't like the choreography. Bruno told him to "get rid of the cobwebs." Bruno said it was a fantastic cha cha cha, "kids are gonna love it and I'm gonna love it!" Carrie Ann, the former "In Living Color" Fly Girl, gave her "two snaps up." Scores: 10, 8 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Combined score: 54.
Mario & Karina: Entering the second half of the night with the lowest first-round score, Mario and Karina danced the mambo. Bruno called it "fast, furious and dangerous" and called the Latin dances Mario's comfort zone. Carrie Ann said the couple "set this place on fire." Len called it "wild, wacky, wonderful." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Combined score: 51.
Shannon & Derek: After landing in a tie for second place after the first round, Shannon and Derek danced the mambo, with Shannon starting and ending with moves aimed directly at Len. Carrie Ann told Shannon she wasn't trying to be cruel but some of her lines still look a bit awkward. She told Shannon that because she has long limbs, it takes a lot more work for her than someone like Kristi to get those lines to look right. Len said he thought he'd died and gone to heaven. Len agreed that her movements are sometimes a bit gawky. Bruno said that sometimes she has to watch the gangliness in her moves. Scores: 8, 8 and 8. Combined score: 51
Jason & Edyta:After a near-perfect first dance, Jason and Edyta returned with a dramatic paso doble to the "Monday Night Football" theme song, with Jason wearing eye black on his face and his Miami Dolphins colored sweatpants and Edyta in a Dolphins' color schemed outfit. Len praised Jason's attack, but said there was a bit too much posing going on, "but when you've got a body like yours and mine, we like to pose." Bruno seemed to like it. Carrie Ann called it an unconventional paso doble that she enjoyed, but called out Edyta on lifting her foot at one point. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Combined score: 55.
Scoreboard:
Jason & Edyta: 55
Kristi & Mark: 54
Marissa & Tony: 52
Shannon & Derek: 51
Mario & Karina: 51
Cristian & Cheryl: 46
Mon, Apr 28, 2008
Monday's "Dancing with the Stars" episode was a night of unexpected drama, but Tuesday's results show had viewers on the edge of their collective seat to see how the rest of the cliffhangers would shake out. Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi was bumped from first place for the first time, actress Shannon Elizabeth and partner Derek Hough waited to see whether fans would penalize them for their tirade a week earlier, and actor Cristian de la Fuente's future in the competition was up in the air after his shocking arm injury.
Hosts Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris laid out the drama as the camera flashed on each couple at the start ... except for Cristian and his partner Cheryl Burke. It might have thrown doubt into the minds of some viewers, but it was just for a few seconds as Bergeron reminded fans of "the biggest headline," Cristian's injury, and the camera showed the couple together. Roll the tape.
The recap: There were the standard comments about the judges' critiques from all the dancers, nothing shocking. What everyone really wanted to get was the inside scoop on Cristian. Cheryl said backstage that she heard "a crack" and she thought it was her dress, but Cristian later told her it was his arm. The rest of the dancers showed concern and Tony Dovolani was hopeful that it was just a cramp and that Cristian would be OK. After his dance, NFL star Jason Taylor dedicated his paso doble to Cristian and said he hoped Cristian would be alright. Bergeron milked the drama of Cristian's condition, teasing about whether Cristian's injury would effect the competition before heading into a commercial break.
Going into overtime: Judge Len Goodman asked Jason and his partner Edyta Sliwinska to serve up their quickstep as the encore performance of the night. It was just as energetic, but Jason flubbed the handstand and Bergeron joked that it was "not as good the second time."
Uplifting news: Sorry, this has nothing to do with Cristian. Len made a special announcement about the often controversial lifts that we've seen dancers be penalized for in the past. He announced that next week the couples will be allowed to do one lift as long as it is in the character and style of the dance they are performing. Whew! Sure glad we got that resolved.
Moving on...: Bergeron announced that the first couple definitely continuing to the next round would be Kristi and her partner Mark Ballas Jr.
DanceCenter: Len, and "Dancing" alums, Super Bowl MVP Jerry Rice and ESPN anchor Kenny Mayne served up their midseason analysis of the dancers. It was funny and insightful. They came back later in the show to run through the rest of the competitors.
Do you take sugar? In one of the oddest pairings in the show's history, Def Leppard took the stage to perform their biggest hit, "Pour Some Sugar On Me." Now, I've seen Def Leppard live within the past couple of years, and I can tell you with 99.9 percent certainty that what viewers saw Tuesday was not sung live. They came back later to "sing" their new single, "Nine Lives."
The next safe couple: Cristian-Watch 2008 continued as Bergeron announced the next safe couple was R&B star Mario and his partner Karina Smirnoff. The camera turned to a nervous looking Cristian on the way to the commercial break.
Behind the scenes: A featurette about the dancers' process of the week leading up to each performance night was pretty interesting. Some highlights: Jason telling Edyta "Would you stop saying things are easy? This is not easy." Karina smacking Mario on the head for not knowing his choreography. On Day 4, Cristian said he starts to doubt that the routine will be right by Monday. Sunday, the dance has to be performed for the director and photographers so the director knows where the cameras need to be be. Kristi said it's stressful because it's the first time other dancers get to see the routines.
What a day: Bergeron said that "in the past eight or nine hours, the trajectory of the show has changed about three or four times. The most recent time minutes before we went on the air." With that, they went back to the results. Loading up on the drama, the hosts recapped the four remaining couples but offered no results as Bergeron announced "one of you is leaving the competition tonight" before another commercial break. Before getting back to the elimination, Bergeron and Harris wanted to talk to Cristian and Cheryl. Cristian explained that he suffered a ruptured tendon in his bicep that will require surgery. Cristian said he talked with the doctor "five minutes ago" and the doctor said the surgery could be delayed. "If people voted for us and they want us to be on the show, I would like to be there and not give up."
To the results: Bergeron announced that the first couple safe was Cristian and Cheryl. A relieved and excited Cristian jumped and raised his good arm in triumph. Marissa and Tony landed in the bottom two, and Jason and Edyta were declared safe, which left Shannon and Derek in the bottom two. The couple eliminated was Shannon and Derek.
The recap: There were the standard comments about the judges' critiques from all the dancers, nothing shocking. What everyone really wanted to get was the inside scoop on Cristian. Cheryl said backstage that she heard "a crack" and she thought it was her dress, but Cristian later told her it was his arm. The rest of the dancers showed concern and Tony Dovolani was hopeful that it was just a cramp and that Cristian would be OK. After his dance, NFL star Jason Taylor dedicated his paso doble to Cristian and said he hoped Cristian would be alright. Bergeron milked the drama of Cristian's condition, teasing about whether Cristian's injury would effect the competition before heading into a commercial break.
Going into overtime: Judge Len Goodman asked Jason and his partner Edyta Sliwinska to serve up their quickstep as the encore performance of the night. It was just as energetic, but Jason flubbed the handstand and Bergeron joked that it was "not as good the second time."
Uplifting news: Sorry, this has nothing to do with Cristian. Len made a special announcement about the often controversial lifts that we've seen dancers be penalized for in the past. He announced that next week the couples will be allowed to do one lift as long as it is in the character and style of the dance they are performing. Whew! Sure glad we got that resolved.
Moving on...: Bergeron announced that the first couple definitely continuing to the next round would be Kristi and her partner Mark Ballas Jr.
DanceCenter: Len, and "Dancing" alums, Super Bowl MVP Jerry Rice and ESPN anchor Kenny Mayne served up their midseason analysis of the dancers. It was funny and insightful. They came back later in the show to run through the rest of the competitors.
Do you take sugar? In one of the oddest pairings in the show's history, Def Leppard took the stage to perform their biggest hit, "Pour Some Sugar On Me." Now, I've seen Def Leppard live within the past couple of years, and I can tell you with 99.9 percent certainty that what viewers saw Tuesday was not sung live. They came back later to "sing" their new single, "Nine Lives."
The next safe couple: Cristian-Watch 2008 continued as Bergeron announced the next safe couple was R&B star Mario and his partner Karina Smirnoff. The camera turned to a nervous looking Cristian on the way to the commercial break.
Behind the scenes: A featurette about the dancers' process of the week leading up to each performance night was pretty interesting. Some highlights: Jason telling Edyta "Would you stop saying things are easy? This is not easy." Karina smacking Mario on the head for not knowing his choreography. On Day 4, Cristian said he starts to doubt that the routine will be right by Monday. Sunday, the dance has to be performed for the director and photographers so the director knows where the cameras need to be be. Kristi said it's stressful because it's the first time other dancers get to see the routines.
What a day: Bergeron said that "in the past eight or nine hours, the trajectory of the show has changed about three or four times. The most recent time minutes before we went on the air." With that, they went back to the results. Loading up on the drama, the hosts recapped the four remaining couples but offered no results as Bergeron announced "one of you is leaving the competition tonight" before another commercial break. Before getting back to the elimination, Bergeron and Harris wanted to talk to Cristian and Cheryl. Cristian explained that he suffered a ruptured tendon in his bicep that will require surgery. Cristian said he talked with the doctor "five minutes ago" and the doctor said the surgery could be delayed. "If people voted for us and they want us to be on the show, I would like to be there and not give up."
To the results: Bergeron announced that the first couple safe was Cristian and Cheryl. A relieved and excited Cristian jumped and raised his good arm in triumph. Marissa and Tony landed in the bottom two, and Jason and Edyta were declared safe, which left Shannon and Derek in the bottom two. The couple eliminated was Shannon and Derek.
Sun, May 4, 2008
The dancers' spirits were lifted as, with just five couples remaining, the judges decided to allow them to do a lift in their routines, which is usually a no-no that results in being penalized one point.
NFL star Jason Taylor crept into the top spot a week earlier by finally bumped Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi down a notch, but all eyes this week would be on Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente, who is continuing through the competition despite the ruptured tendons in his left arm.
Kristi & Mark: Kristi was coping with not being the leader for the first time. Kristi's partner Mark Ballas Jr. opted not to do a lift in the samba because it didn't fit with the character of the dance. First up, though, was their quickstep, which they finished was the lift. Judge Len Goodman said he's been fed up all day, but Kristi's dance made him feel better. Bruno Tonioli said it was beautifully moved around the floor. Carrie Ann said Kristi and Mark just got a little out of sync, but "I still think you're fantastic." Scores: 9, 10 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Mario & Karina: R&B star Mario was still reeling from being called "not the most elegant dancer," and sought to prove that he's more than just a Latin dancer. Mario and Karina first danced the Viennese waltz. They incorporated a sweeping lift in the middle of the routine. Bruno called Mario "Prince Mario," and said "everything we've asked you to do, you've done it." Carrie Ann said Mario's posture was the best she's seen from him and she thought the lift was great. Len said it was the most elegant he'd seen Mario dance. Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur got her best scores of the season last week, but still landed in the bottom two. Marissa's partner Tony Dovolani said he decided to put a lift into their dance to show her that he really believes in her. Marissa and Tony danced the foxtrot to "New York, New York." The couple worked a lift into the final move. Carrie Ann said she loved it and said that Marissa brought the most joy out there. Len said Marissa looks great when she's in holds. Bruno said some of the couples' movements weren't quite appropriate for a dance in the quarterfinals. Scores: 9, 8 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Jason & Edyta: Now in the top spot, Jason said he'd have to pull out all of the stops to continue to impress the judges. Jason and Edyta seemed a little overzealous about their lifts in rehearsal. Would that come cross the in the performance? They did a total of about three lifts. Len said it was more like an Argentine tango than a ballroom tango. Bruno said it was stunning. Carrie Ann thought they brought a whole new dynamic. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Cristian & Cheryl: Cristian was working on a dance that would disguise or avoid his injury. Playing up the one-armed situation with a Michael Jackson-inspired single glove on his good hand as he and partner Cheryl Burke danced the tango to "Beat It." Bruno said there was absolutely no way that one could see any problems with this. Carrie Ann agreed, saying she was looking for what could go wrong and found nothing. Len appreciated the performance and complimented Cheryl on the choreography. Scores: 10, 9 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Scoreboard (after the ballroom round):
Jason & Edyta: 29
Kristi & Mark: 29
Cristian & Cheryl: 28
Mario & Karina: 27
Marissa & Tony: 25
Kristi & Mark: Kristi and Mark followed up their quickstep with a samba that didn't include a lift. Carrie Ann look perplexed and said she couldn't believe she was going to say it, but, she "didn't care for it" and said it felt a little bit out of control. Len said that the dance lost something. Bruno defended Kristi and Mark, saying that of course the routines are difficult. Scores: 8, 9 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Mario & Karina: For their second dance of the night, Mario and Karina danced the jive, starting with Mario doing a cartwheel over a seated Karina Smirnoff. They ended their dance with a complicated run of lifts and throws that nearly saw Mario drop Karina. But they pulled through. Len said the whole thing had a roughness about it. Bruno said it was the spirit of what the jive should Carrie Ann said they brought a whole new flavor to the jive and she loved it. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Marissa & Tony: Marissa and Tony danced the mambo for the Latin round and Marissa appeared to forget a step early on. The whole thing had a choppiness to it that made it tough to get excited about. Bruno said he wanted more of that. Carrie Ann said, "I love the way you go for it." Len said it was "just a little bit careful." Scores 8, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Jason & Edyta: Jason tried to tap into his flamboyant side for a turn at the samba. It included a huge lift at the end, where Edyta swung her legs straight up, doing almost a handstand in Jason's arms. Carrie Ann said Jason's attempt at flamboyance didn't work out and said it proved that the samba is a difficult dance. Len said it was "alright," but said that nearing the semi-finals, "I don't alright is good enough." Bruno said that after a series of blockbusters, Jason "got a turkey tonight." Scores: 8, 7 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Cristian & Cheryl: Coming off a 28 in the first round, Cristian and Cheryl went for the mambo. Cristian was working the heck out of his one good arm, finishing the dance with a one-armed lift where he held Cheryl in the air over his hip. Len said it was full of energy and that he was surprised at how many under-arm turns they could do with just one arm. Bruno said it had more energy than a volcano in the Andes. Carrie Ann said they were definitely on fire. When the scores were read, Cristian pumped his good fist in the air and received congratulations from the rest of the dancer. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Scoreboard:
Cristian & Cheryl: 57
Kristi & Mark: 55
Mario & Karina: 53
Jason & Edyta: 52
Marissa & Tony: 50
NFL star Jason Taylor crept into the top spot a week earlier by finally bumped Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi down a notch, but all eyes this week would be on Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente, who is continuing through the competition despite the ruptured tendons in his left arm.
Kristi & Mark: Kristi was coping with not being the leader for the first time. Kristi's partner Mark Ballas Jr. opted not to do a lift in the samba because it didn't fit with the character of the dance. First up, though, was their quickstep, which they finished was the lift. Judge Len Goodman said he's been fed up all day, but Kristi's dance made him feel better. Bruno Tonioli said it was beautifully moved around the floor. Carrie Ann said Kristi and Mark just got a little out of sync, but "I still think you're fantastic." Scores: 9, 10 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Mario & Karina: R&B star Mario was still reeling from being called "not the most elegant dancer," and sought to prove that he's more than just a Latin dancer. Mario and Karina first danced the Viennese waltz. They incorporated a sweeping lift in the middle of the routine. Bruno called Mario "Prince Mario," and said "everything we've asked you to do, you've done it." Carrie Ann said Mario's posture was the best she's seen from him and she thought the lift was great. Len said it was the most elegant he'd seen Mario dance. Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur got her best scores of the season last week, but still landed in the bottom two. Marissa's partner Tony Dovolani said he decided to put a lift into their dance to show her that he really believes in her. Marissa and Tony danced the foxtrot to "New York, New York." The couple worked a lift into the final move. Carrie Ann said she loved it and said that Marissa brought the most joy out there. Len said Marissa looks great when she's in holds. Bruno said some of the couples' movements weren't quite appropriate for a dance in the quarterfinals. Scores: 9, 8 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Jason & Edyta: Now in the top spot, Jason said he'd have to pull out all of the stops to continue to impress the judges. Jason and Edyta seemed a little overzealous about their lifts in rehearsal. Would that come cross the in the performance? They did a total of about three lifts. Len said it was more like an Argentine tango than a ballroom tango. Bruno said it was stunning. Carrie Ann thought they brought a whole new dynamic. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Cristian & Cheryl: Cristian was working on a dance that would disguise or avoid his injury. Playing up the one-armed situation with a Michael Jackson-inspired single glove on his good hand as he and partner Cheryl Burke danced the tango to "Beat It." Bruno said there was absolutely no way that one could see any problems with this. Carrie Ann agreed, saying she was looking for what could go wrong and found nothing. Len appreciated the performance and complimented Cheryl on the choreography. Scores: 10, 9 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Scoreboard (after the ballroom round):
Jason & Edyta: 29
Kristi & Mark: 29
Cristian & Cheryl: 28
Mario & Karina: 27
Marissa & Tony: 25
Kristi & Mark: Kristi and Mark followed up their quickstep with a samba that didn't include a lift. Carrie Ann look perplexed and said she couldn't believe she was going to say it, but, she "didn't care for it" and said it felt a little bit out of control. Len said that the dance lost something. Bruno defended Kristi and Mark, saying that of course the routines are difficult. Scores: 8, 9 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Mario & Karina: For their second dance of the night, Mario and Karina danced the jive, starting with Mario doing a cartwheel over a seated Karina Smirnoff. They ended their dance with a complicated run of lifts and throws that nearly saw Mario drop Karina. But they pulled through. Len said the whole thing had a roughness about it. Bruno said it was the spirit of what the jive should Carrie Ann said they brought a whole new flavor to the jive and she loved it. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Marissa & Tony: Marissa and Tony danced the mambo for the Latin round and Marissa appeared to forget a step early on. The whole thing had a choppiness to it that made it tough to get excited about. Bruno said he wanted more of that. Carrie Ann said, "I love the way you go for it." Len said it was "just a little bit careful." Scores 8, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Jason & Edyta: Jason tried to tap into his flamboyant side for a turn at the samba. It included a huge lift at the end, where Edyta swung her legs straight up, doing almost a handstand in Jason's arms. Carrie Ann said Jason's attempt at flamboyance didn't work out and said it proved that the samba is a difficult dance. Len said it was "alright," but said that nearing the semi-finals, "I don't alright is good enough." Bruno said that after a series of blockbusters, Jason "got a turkey tonight." Scores: 8, 7 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Cristian & Cheryl: Coming off a 28 in the first round, Cristian and Cheryl went for the mambo. Cristian was working the heck out of his one good arm, finishing the dance with a one-armed lift where he held Cheryl in the air over his hip. Len said it was full of energy and that he was surprised at how many under-arm turns they could do with just one arm. Bruno said it had more energy than a volcano in the Andes. Carrie Ann said they were definitely on fire. When the scores were read, Cristian pumped his good fist in the air and received congratulations from the rest of the dancer. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Scoreboard:
Cristian & Cheryl: 57
Kristi & Mark: 55
Mario & Karina: 53
Jason & Edyta: 52
Marissa & Tony: 50
Mon, May 5, 2008
It was getting down to crunch time as "Dancing with the Stars" celebrated its 100th episode and one of the final five remaining couples would have to pack their bags. It was a night of looking back, but four couples would leave looking ahead to the remaining couple of weeks that will determine who wins the ugliest trophy in television history.
The night kicked off with a rousing performance from 12 dancing pros, past and present, who shook and shimmied to "Hard to Handle."
To the recap: R&B singer Mario was loving ballroom dancing after the judges' first round of comments, but got some words on his second dance that weren't so pleasant. Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur said her Monday performance "really felt like Broadway," but that might not be what the judges are looking for. Olympian Kristi Yamagucho was again looking unstoppable after her first dance Monday, but felt some rare criticism after her second dance. NFL star Jason Taylor failed to seize a chance to top the pack. Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente was still beaming after his best night ever.
Oh my, Ohno! Rascal Flatts came out to perform their newest single, "Everyday," and Apolo Anton Ohno and pro Julianne Hough seemed to rekindle some old flames with a smokin' hot performance. "Dancing" alum Mario Lopez followed it up 'by leading a number from "A Chorus Line," which he's joined on Broadway. Rascal Flatts performed "Life Is a Highway" with Mel B. and Maksim Chmerkovskiy taking the dance floor.
To the results: The first couple moving on to the semifinals was Marissa and Tony. Marissa squealed with joy and sheer shock. The next guaranteed spot in the semifinals went to Kristi and Mark. The third couple safe was Cristian and Cheryl, leaving Mario and Karina, and Jason and Edyta to await the final word. The couple home was ... Mario and Karina.
The night kicked off with a rousing performance from 12 dancing pros, past and present, who shook and shimmied to "Hard to Handle."
To the recap: R&B singer Mario was loving ballroom dancing after the judges' first round of comments, but got some words on his second dance that weren't so pleasant. Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur said her Monday performance "really felt like Broadway," but that might not be what the judges are looking for. Olympian Kristi Yamagucho was again looking unstoppable after her first dance Monday, but felt some rare criticism after her second dance. NFL star Jason Taylor failed to seize a chance to top the pack. Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente was still beaming after his best night ever.
Oh my, Ohno! Rascal Flatts came out to perform their newest single, "Everyday," and Apolo Anton Ohno and pro Julianne Hough seemed to rekindle some old flames with a smokin' hot performance. "Dancing" alum Mario Lopez followed it up 'by leading a number from "A Chorus Line," which he's joined on Broadway. Rascal Flatts performed "Life Is a Highway" with Mel B. and Maksim Chmerkovskiy taking the dance floor.
To the results: The first couple moving on to the semifinals was Marissa and Tony. Marissa squealed with joy and sheer shock. The next guaranteed spot in the semifinals went to Kristi and Mark. The third couple safe was Cristian and Cheryl, leaving Mario and Karina, and Jason and Edyta to await the final word. The couple home was ... Mario and Karina.
Sun, May 11, 2008
Three months can fly by when you're having fun. Host Tom Bergeron reminded viewers of the journey that led them to the 90-minute semifinal round where four couples would compete for three spots in the final. Random draws decided which dances each couple would perform. The one-week pass on lifts was rescinded, so the dancers would be penalized for lifts. Judge Len Goodman told all the dancers that because they were performing dances they'd done before, so they were really expected to step up their games.
Jason & Edyta: NFL star Jason Taylor was up first, looking to bounce back from his samba he previous week. Jason pulled the foxtrot and the paso doble from the random drawing. Those are both dances he's performed well, but this round would require new music and choreography. To get Jason back in competitive mode, his partner Edyta Sliwinska gave him a classic chalkboard coach's pep talk. She also got Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino to give Jason a boost, via video. Jason and Edyta performed a foxtrot to "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off." Len said Jason glided around the ballroom and said it was "fantastic." Judge Bruno Tonioli praised Jason and Edyta's choreography. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said Jason had a lot of content and a lot of charisma and said, "good job." Scores: 9, 10 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur and her partner Tony Davolani landed at the bottom of the judges' scoreboard the previous week. She drew the rumba and quickstep for her semifinal dances. Marissa got a visit from Stacy Kiebler, who was paired with Tony in the past. Marissa and Tony danced the quickstep "for everyone who believed in us," Marissa said. Bruno pointed out that Marissa missed a move and Marissa said, "you noticed." Carrie Ann thought Marissa did "a great classic quickstep." Len said that for a dance so technical and so fast, "I thought you did a great job." Scores: 9, 9 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Cristian & Cheryl: Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente and his partner Cheryl Burke drew the samba and the Viennese waltz. The samba was the dance they were performing when Cristian injured his arm two weeks earlier. He had to overcome some mental anxiety. But that would wait until after they performed a Viennese waltz to Dave Matthews Band's "Satellite." Carrie Ann said it was enjoyable to watch. Len said everything was better than the last time. Bruno said it was a Viennese waltz "with a wow factor." Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Kristi & Mark: Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi was looking to regain her place at the top of the leaderboard after two weeks out of first place. Her partner Mark Ballas Jr. took her to a professional ballroom class to get some feedback on their routine. She was once again reminded to show some more passion during her dance, especially on the tango, which was what the couple would have to be performing, in addition to the jive. Len said everything technically fine and said "sometimes, for me, it was a little bit hectic." Bruno said a bunch of stuff very loudly that made it sound like he enjoyed the performance very much. Carrie Ann nearly had a wardrobe malfunction while rising to give Kristi a standing ovation. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
At the half: Kristi and Mark led the scoreboard with 29 points; followed by Jason and Edyta with 28; Cristian and Cheryl with 27; and Marissa and Tony with 26.
Len's pointers: Len visited each of the dancers and gave them each a specific step that he wanted to see in their Latin dances.
Jason & Edyta: Jason and Edyta performed the paso doble. Jason got through the dance with far fewer poses than he did last time and brought a great amount of intensity. Bruno said Jason had "the strength and momentum of 'Ironman.'" Carrie Ann said the judges have knocked him before for not having enough content in his routines but this one had way more choreography, way more difficult steps and said he did a great job, "nice execution." Len said Jason was a bit like the price of gas, "you're going up." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Total: 55 out of 60.
Marissa & Tony: Marissa and Tony performed a sultry rumba to "Just the Two of Us." Carrie Ann said she "wasn't excited by that." She didn't feel like it was a semifinal dance. Len said the rumba doesn't have the wow factor of the other Latin dances, it is a precise dance, "it has got to be right on the money with the technique and the choreography. I thought you did a very, very good job." Bruno said the last time he told her it wasn't sexy enough, but this time she pulled it off. Carrie Ann jumped back in and blasted the judges, suggesting they weren't holding Marissa to as high of a standard as they were holding the other dancers. Scores: 8, 9 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Total: 52 out of 60.
Cristian and Cheryl: Cristian and Cheryl took on the samba for the first since the injury. It was an intense and fun display. Len said it was "hotter than a chili pepper." He said he thought Cristian's arm injury made him focus and come out stronger than he'd ever been before. He did criticize Cristian for being a bit flat footed at times. Bruno said it was the rematch of the century. Carrie Ann said Cristian reminded her of Emmitt Smith, who won this whole thing not long ago. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Total: 56 out of 60.
Kristi & Mark: Kristi and Mark danced a new jive, a dance that scored them a perfect 30 a few weeks back. This one seemed to lack a little bit of the style and performance of the first. Bruno said it was the cherry on the icing on the cake of a sweet, delicious jive. Carrie Ann said it was an extremely difficult routine and said Mark throws more difficulty at Kristi than any other dancer in the competition. Len said there was great rhythm, but said it was just a little bit stiff at times. Scores: 9, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Total: 57 out of 60.
Scoreboard:
Kristi & Mark: 57
Cristian & Cheryl: 56
Jason & Edyta: 55
Marissa & Tony: 52
Jason & Edyta: NFL star Jason Taylor was up first, looking to bounce back from his samba he previous week. Jason pulled the foxtrot and the paso doble from the random drawing. Those are both dances he's performed well, but this round would require new music and choreography. To get Jason back in competitive mode, his partner Edyta Sliwinska gave him a classic chalkboard coach's pep talk. She also got Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino to give Jason a boost, via video. Jason and Edyta performed a foxtrot to "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off." Len said Jason glided around the ballroom and said it was "fantastic." Judge Bruno Tonioli praised Jason and Edyta's choreography. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said Jason had a lot of content and a lot of charisma and said, "good job." Scores: 9, 10 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur and her partner Tony Davolani landed at the bottom of the judges' scoreboard the previous week. She drew the rumba and quickstep for her semifinal dances. Marissa got a visit from Stacy Kiebler, who was paired with Tony in the past. Marissa and Tony danced the quickstep "for everyone who believed in us," Marissa said. Bruno pointed out that Marissa missed a move and Marissa said, "you noticed." Carrie Ann thought Marissa did "a great classic quickstep." Len said that for a dance so technical and so fast, "I thought you did a great job." Scores: 9, 9 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Cristian & Cheryl: Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente and his partner Cheryl Burke drew the samba and the Viennese waltz. The samba was the dance they were performing when Cristian injured his arm two weeks earlier. He had to overcome some mental anxiety. But that would wait until after they performed a Viennese waltz to Dave Matthews Band's "Satellite." Carrie Ann said it was enjoyable to watch. Len said everything was better than the last time. Bruno said it was a Viennese waltz "with a wow factor." Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Kristi & Mark: Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi was looking to regain her place at the top of the leaderboard after two weeks out of first place. Her partner Mark Ballas Jr. took her to a professional ballroom class to get some feedback on their routine. She was once again reminded to show some more passion during her dance, especially on the tango, which was what the couple would have to be performing, in addition to the jive. Len said everything technically fine and said "sometimes, for me, it was a little bit hectic." Bruno said a bunch of stuff very loudly that made it sound like he enjoyed the performance very much. Carrie Ann nearly had a wardrobe malfunction while rising to give Kristi a standing ovation. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
At the half: Kristi and Mark led the scoreboard with 29 points; followed by Jason and Edyta with 28; Cristian and Cheryl with 27; and Marissa and Tony with 26.
Len's pointers: Len visited each of the dancers and gave them each a specific step that he wanted to see in their Latin dances.
Jason & Edyta: Jason and Edyta performed the paso doble. Jason got through the dance with far fewer poses than he did last time and brought a great amount of intensity. Bruno said Jason had "the strength and momentum of 'Ironman.'" Carrie Ann said the judges have knocked him before for not having enough content in his routines but this one had way more choreography, way more difficult steps and said he did a great job, "nice execution." Len said Jason was a bit like the price of gas, "you're going up." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Total: 55 out of 60.
Marissa & Tony: Marissa and Tony performed a sultry rumba to "Just the Two of Us." Carrie Ann said she "wasn't excited by that." She didn't feel like it was a semifinal dance. Len said the rumba doesn't have the wow factor of the other Latin dances, it is a precise dance, "it has got to be right on the money with the technique and the choreography. I thought you did a very, very good job." Bruno said the last time he told her it wasn't sexy enough, but this time she pulled it off. Carrie Ann jumped back in and blasted the judges, suggesting they weren't holding Marissa to as high of a standard as they were holding the other dancers. Scores: 8, 9 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Total: 52 out of 60.
Cristian and Cheryl: Cristian and Cheryl took on the samba for the first since the injury. It was an intense and fun display. Len said it was "hotter than a chili pepper." He said he thought Cristian's arm injury made him focus and come out stronger than he'd ever been before. He did criticize Cristian for being a bit flat footed at times. Bruno said it was the rematch of the century. Carrie Ann said Cristian reminded her of Emmitt Smith, who won this whole thing not long ago. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Total: 56 out of 60.
Kristi & Mark: Kristi and Mark danced a new jive, a dance that scored them a perfect 30 a few weeks back. This one seemed to lack a little bit of the style and performance of the first. Bruno said it was the cherry on the icing on the cake of a sweet, delicious jive. Carrie Ann said it was an extremely difficult routine and said Mark throws more difficulty at Kristi than any other dancer in the competition. Len said there was great rhythm, but said it was just a little bit stiff at times. Scores: 9, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Total: 57 out of 60.
Scoreboard:
Kristi & Mark: 57
Cristian & Cheryl: 56
Jason & Edyta: 55
Marissa & Tony: 52
Mon, May 12, 2008
Tuesday's elimination show would decide which three couples would vie for the ugliest trophy in television. Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi's dominance was waning a bit, while actor Cristian de la Fuente had come on strong since his arm injury. NFL star Jason Taylor was still a favorite, but had slipped down the leader board, while Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur found herself at the bottom of the judges' scoreboard for the second consecutive week.
To the tape: Going back over Monday's performances, the highlight reel showed Len calling Jason's foxtrot "brilliant" after giving him a 10. "Thank you, Len! I love you ... like a play cousin." Jason exclaimed backstage. Cristian rejoiced in his "wow" from judge Bruno Tonioli, but expressed nervousness about the samba. "I didn't finish in the ER," Cristian said backstage. Kristi thanks Bruno and Carrie Ann for their 10's on her first dance. Marissa said she couldn't believe she missed the leap on their quickstep. Marissa decided she'd be around next week, regardless of whether it was in a seat in the audience.
Once more, with feeling: Len asked Kristi and her partner Mark Ballas Jr. to perform their tango for the encore performance. So they did.
Kidding around:Viewers were going to be allowed to vote for the kids in the Ballroom Kids' competition, and first up were Rashell and Aaron. They danced the cha cha cha. Len said he thought it was fantastic and that their "little bums were flying around all over the place." Bruno loved their arm movements. Carrie Ann Inaba said they looked like little munchkins. Later, Jaryd and Cara danced the samba. Carrie Ann wanted to put the kids in her pocket and said it was the perfect blend of entertainment and technique. Len said he'd rather watch the two of them than "those big ones" backstage. Brandon and Brittany, the oldest dancers in the kids' competition, were darn near amazing with their paso doble. Bruno said it was incredible and said it was worthy of the final. Carrie Ann said she was "seriously impressed" with the couple and thanked them for their performance. Len said to see two kids come out live and dance to that standard. He said, "I know the other two were cute and everything else, but these two are the real deal. This was fantastic."
Backstage check-in: Marissa said she was shocked that she was still there and that she was so thankful to the fans for keeping her in it. Cristian said he, too, was happy and surprised to be there. He said he'd love to get into the finals, even if it meant suspending his budding romance with Jason.
Wanna Be Startin' Something? R&B singer Omarion and a 19-member dance troupe performed a tribute to Michael Jackson's "Thriller," in honor of the album's 25th anniversary. On that note, I ran to double check my and calendar and realized that, yes, it has been that long. i kind of blacked out for the next several minutes.
To the results: The first couple, in no particular order, to land a spot in the final was ... Kristi and Mark. After a commercial break, the next couple advancing to the finals was revealed to be ... Jason and Edyta. With the two athletes in the final, that left Cristian and Cheryl, and Marissa and Tony vying for the third and final spot in the final. The couple going home was ... Marissa and Tony. "So close!" Marissa exclaimed after the result was announced. On her way out, Marissa took the microphone and said, "I want everyone to just go out and do something fun, and do something that makes you feel sexy, and shake what your momma gave you!"
To the tape: Going back over Monday's performances, the highlight reel showed Len calling Jason's foxtrot "brilliant" after giving him a 10. "Thank you, Len! I love you ... like a play cousin." Jason exclaimed backstage. Cristian rejoiced in his "wow" from judge Bruno Tonioli, but expressed nervousness about the samba. "I didn't finish in the ER," Cristian said backstage. Kristi thanks Bruno and Carrie Ann for their 10's on her first dance. Marissa said she couldn't believe she missed the leap on their quickstep. Marissa decided she'd be around next week, regardless of whether it was in a seat in the audience.
Once more, with feeling: Len asked Kristi and her partner Mark Ballas Jr. to perform their tango for the encore performance. So they did.
Kidding around:Viewers were going to be allowed to vote for the kids in the Ballroom Kids' competition, and first up were Rashell and Aaron. They danced the cha cha cha. Len said he thought it was fantastic and that their "little bums were flying around all over the place." Bruno loved their arm movements. Carrie Ann Inaba said they looked like little munchkins. Later, Jaryd and Cara danced the samba. Carrie Ann wanted to put the kids in her pocket and said it was the perfect blend of entertainment and technique. Len said he'd rather watch the two of them than "those big ones" backstage. Brandon and Brittany, the oldest dancers in the kids' competition, were darn near amazing with their paso doble. Bruno said it was incredible and said it was worthy of the final. Carrie Ann said she was "seriously impressed" with the couple and thanked them for their performance. Len said to see two kids come out live and dance to that standard. He said, "I know the other two were cute and everything else, but these two are the real deal. This was fantastic."
Backstage check-in: Marissa said she was shocked that she was still there and that she was so thankful to the fans for keeping her in it. Cristian said he, too, was happy and surprised to be there. He said he'd love to get into the finals, even if it meant suspending his budding romance with Jason.
Wanna Be Startin' Something? R&B singer Omarion and a 19-member dance troupe performed a tribute to Michael Jackson's "Thriller," in honor of the album's 25th anniversary. On that note, I ran to double check my and calendar and realized that, yes, it has been that long. i kind of blacked out for the next several minutes.
To the results: The first couple, in no particular order, to land a spot in the final was ... Kristi and Mark. After a commercial break, the next couple advancing to the finals was revealed to be ... Jason and Edyta. With the two athletes in the final, that left Cristian and Cheryl, and Marissa and Tony vying for the third and final spot in the final. The couple going home was ... Marissa and Tony. "So close!" Marissa exclaimed after the result was announced. On her way out, Marissa took the microphone and said, "I want everyone to just go out and do something fun, and do something that makes you feel sexy, and shake what your momma gave you!"
Sun, May 18, 2008
The battle for the hideous mirror ball trophy came down to the two-day finale that kicked off with an hour on Monday night that would see the final three couples dancing a cha cha cha in a dance off for the first time and a freestyle performance "where the rules are: there are no rules."
Host Tom Bergeron read off the totals for the season: He tallied 2,857 combined hours of training, 89 competitive routines, 2,125 judges' points, several gallons of spray tan and three trips to the emergency room.
Face off! Each couple would dance for one minute to the same song and they randomly drew numbers to determine the order. It came down to Cristian de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke; Jason Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska; and Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas Jr., in that order. They practiced their routines individually, then had to rehearse them together, where the couples all got to see each others' moves.
Cristian and Cheryl started the routine with Cristian bravely wearing a hot pick vest over hot pick spandex pants. They were upbeat and energetic, but didn't do much in the way of spectacular moves until then when they slid in tandem. Jason and Edyta worked things out in a style of dance that wasn't Jason's forte. They pulled off some acrobatic moves, though, with Jason launching himself over Edyta, then sliding on his stomach back through her legs. Kristi and Mark burst onto the floor, though, with Kristi running to the judges' table and planting a big kiss on judge Bruno Tonioli before stealing the show with high energy and fancy footwork. The routine ended with a pretty awesome finishing pose in which Jason and Cristian lifted Kristi into the air with her back parallel to the floor, with Jason holding her outstretched arms, Cristian holding one leg and Kristi kicking her other leg straight up.
Judge Len Goodman said the routine "really got me going." He told Cristian he had great hips, great rhythm and "all the gear in the rear." He told Jason he had great elegance, but that he would have done better with a foxtrot and that Latin dancing wasn't really his thing. He told Kristi she had the technique and the style that Jason had, plus the hips and the rhythm that Cristian had, and called her "the complete package." Bruno, who still had Kristi's lipstick on his upper lip, said it was so exciting and they all did well. He told Cristian he really showed improvement, called Jason's routine very athletic, and said Kristi was in a class of her own. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said it was a nice format to be able to see the differences between the couples. She told Cristian his injury might have affected his posture a bit. She told Jason he pulled it off but that his "awkward arms" were still presence. She told Kristi, "I'm sorry, it's ladies' night, you won that, hands down."
Scores: Cristian and Cheryl scored 8, 9 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Jason and Edyta scored 8, 8 and 8. Kristi and Mark scored 10, 10 and 10.
To the freestyle: Kristi and Mark weren't looking to hold anything back as they rehearsed for the freestyle. Mark wanted Kristi to boost him at one point so that he could do a backflip, but she wasn't feeling too confident. Mark called in "Dancing" pro Julianne Hough, who was formerly his competitive dancing partner. Julianne showed Kristi some moves and Kristi heeded her advice since Julianne has won the show the past two seasons. The backflip provided for brilliant drama as viewers waited to see if they could pull it off. Of course, they did, and filled the room with electricity with an inspired fusion of mambo and hip hop. The sparkly costumes didn't hurt, either. Bruno said it was very demanding and told Kristi she "did not miss a beat." He said it was worthy of the championship. Carrie Ann said the men have an easier tendency to be crowd pleasers, "but not tonight." She called Kristi the big crowd pleaser. Len said he's not a lover of hip hop but said their dance held his attention from start to finish. "I absolutely loved it," he said. Scores: 10, 10 and 10. That's a perfect 60 out of 60.
Jason and Edyta knew they had to make the freestyle "out of control" and do something special. Edyta wanted to take advantage of Jason's height and strength, but as they practiced lifts, Edyta was continually crashing and tumbling to the ground. Could they get it together for the performance? As Jason said, "This is finals, so it's either go big or go home." The performance lacked a bit in terms of flashiness, but there was a lot of ripping off of clothes, and that never hurts. First, Jason ripped Edyta's skirt off to reveal her more traditional skimpy shorts. At the end, Edyta tore off Jason's tank top to show off his ripped physique. Carrie Ann said she was glad to see Edyta in the finale, and said the lifts were the most ambitious she'd ever seen. Len said he liked the humor they brought to the performance and said he could see it on South beach. Bruno said "it was like watching centerfolds, and the dance wasn't bad, either." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. That's 51 out of 60.
Cristian and Cheryl prayed before the commercial break heading into their freestyle. He said, "The freestyle can either make you or break you, and I'm already broken. So, bring it on!" In rehearsal, he fell during a slide and landed on his bad arm, letting out a big yell. He said he didn't want any sympathy, though, and persevered through practice with one of Cheryl's past trophies sitting nearby for inspiration. Len said he liked the Latin flavor they brought to the dance. He had to compared the couple to the others and said some of the lifts weren't quite up to the standard of the other two. Bruno said, "for one arm, you did bloody well." Carrie Ann said they were looking for who is going to win it, and she didn't see that in anyone but Kristi, but she said Cristian is a winner in so many other ways. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. That's 52 out of 60.
Host Tom Bergeron read off the totals for the season: He tallied 2,857 combined hours of training, 89 competitive routines, 2,125 judges' points, several gallons of spray tan and three trips to the emergency room.
Face off! Each couple would dance for one minute to the same song and they randomly drew numbers to determine the order. It came down to Cristian de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke; Jason Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska; and Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas Jr., in that order. They practiced their routines individually, then had to rehearse them together, where the couples all got to see each others' moves.
Cristian and Cheryl started the routine with Cristian bravely wearing a hot pick vest over hot pick spandex pants. They were upbeat and energetic, but didn't do much in the way of spectacular moves until then when they slid in tandem. Jason and Edyta worked things out in a style of dance that wasn't Jason's forte. They pulled off some acrobatic moves, though, with Jason launching himself over Edyta, then sliding on his stomach back through her legs. Kristi and Mark burst onto the floor, though, with Kristi running to the judges' table and planting a big kiss on judge Bruno Tonioli before stealing the show with high energy and fancy footwork. The routine ended with a pretty awesome finishing pose in which Jason and Cristian lifted Kristi into the air with her back parallel to the floor, with Jason holding her outstretched arms, Cristian holding one leg and Kristi kicking her other leg straight up.
Judge Len Goodman said the routine "really got me going." He told Cristian he had great hips, great rhythm and "all the gear in the rear." He told Jason he had great elegance, but that he would have done better with a foxtrot and that Latin dancing wasn't really his thing. He told Kristi she had the technique and the style that Jason had, plus the hips and the rhythm that Cristian had, and called her "the complete package." Bruno, who still had Kristi's lipstick on his upper lip, said it was so exciting and they all did well. He told Cristian he really showed improvement, called Jason's routine very athletic, and said Kristi was in a class of her own. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said it was a nice format to be able to see the differences between the couples. She told Cristian his injury might have affected his posture a bit. She told Jason he pulled it off but that his "awkward arms" were still presence. She told Kristi, "I'm sorry, it's ladies' night, you won that, hands down."
Scores: Cristian and Cheryl scored 8, 9 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Jason and Edyta scored 8, 8 and 8. Kristi and Mark scored 10, 10 and 10.
To the freestyle: Kristi and Mark weren't looking to hold anything back as they rehearsed for the freestyle. Mark wanted Kristi to boost him at one point so that he could do a backflip, but she wasn't feeling too confident. Mark called in "Dancing" pro Julianne Hough, who was formerly his competitive dancing partner. Julianne showed Kristi some moves and Kristi heeded her advice since Julianne has won the show the past two seasons. The backflip provided for brilliant drama as viewers waited to see if they could pull it off. Of course, they did, and filled the room with electricity with an inspired fusion of mambo and hip hop. The sparkly costumes didn't hurt, either. Bruno said it was very demanding and told Kristi she "did not miss a beat." He said it was worthy of the championship. Carrie Ann said the men have an easier tendency to be crowd pleasers, "but not tonight." She called Kristi the big crowd pleaser. Len said he's not a lover of hip hop but said their dance held his attention from start to finish. "I absolutely loved it," he said. Scores: 10, 10 and 10. That's a perfect 60 out of 60.
Jason and Edyta knew they had to make the freestyle "out of control" and do something special. Edyta wanted to take advantage of Jason's height and strength, but as they practiced lifts, Edyta was continually crashing and tumbling to the ground. Could they get it together for the performance? As Jason said, "This is finals, so it's either go big or go home." The performance lacked a bit in terms of flashiness, but there was a lot of ripping off of clothes, and that never hurts. First, Jason ripped Edyta's skirt off to reveal her more traditional skimpy shorts. At the end, Edyta tore off Jason's tank top to show off his ripped physique. Carrie Ann said she was glad to see Edyta in the finale, and said the lifts were the most ambitious she'd ever seen. Len said he liked the humor they brought to the performance and said he could see it on South beach. Bruno said "it was like watching centerfolds, and the dance wasn't bad, either." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. That's 51 out of 60.
Cristian and Cheryl prayed before the commercial break heading into their freestyle. He said, "The freestyle can either make you or break you, and I'm already broken. So, bring it on!" In rehearsal, he fell during a slide and landed on his bad arm, letting out a big yell. He said he didn't want any sympathy, though, and persevered through practice with one of Cheryl's past trophies sitting nearby for inspiration. Len said he liked the Latin flavor they brought to the dance. He had to compared the couple to the others and said some of the lifts weren't quite up to the standard of the other two. Bruno said, "for one arm, you did bloody well." Carrie Ann said they were looking for who is going to win it, and she didn't see that in anyone but Kristi, but she said Cristian is a winner in so many other ways. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. That's 52 out of 60.
Mon, May 19, 2008
Three stars, one really ugly trophy. That's what it came down to as the remaining trio of celebrities went into a dragged out, two-hour finale that would determine which of them walked away with the sixth season title on "Dancing with the Stars."
To the recap: NFL star Jason Taylor said that going head to head with Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi was "like going the wrong way on the highway. It's an accident waiting to happen."
Host Tom Bergeron reminded viewers that only once in five season has the judges' runaway high scorer actually walked away with the trophy. A noteworthy bit of history, or just a little something to keep folks tuned in for the two-hour drama?
Usher in the show: Usher came on to (apparently, allegedly) lip-synch his new single, "Love in This Club." He'd return later to do his best known hit, "Yeah."
Historical perspective: Several stars from seasons past, including Drew Lachey, Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna, and that guy who used to play Kojak -- oh wait, that was Joey Lawrence -- put in their two cents.
First out: Just 15 minutes into the finale, the first result was announced and it meant that it was time for Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente and his partner Cheryl Burke to claim third place. Cristian waved to the crowd with his good arm. He said he was glad he made the decision to stay in the competition after his injury. Bergeron told Cristian that when he decided to stay in the competition, he thought Cristian was nuts. A crying Cheryl told Cristian, "I love you, and I'll miss you and your family so much." Cristian offered up one last paso doble for the road.
Down memory lane: Magician Penn Jillette and his partner Kym Johnson, who were one of the first two eliminated couples, came back to dance again. And Penn again jokingly tripped as he walked backstage. Next up were tennis champ Monica Seles and her partner Jonathan Roberts, and Seles looked just as awkward as ever (but in a good way). The Gute, Steve Guttenberg, danced next with his partner Anna Trebunskaya, and Gute continued to play the eternal optimist as he was unable to think of his "least favorite" moment on the show. Comedian Adam Carolla and his partner Julianne Hough brought back the unicycle for their dramatic paso doble.
To the kids: The winners of the first Ballroom Juniors competition were Brandon and Brittany. Unfortunately, they didn't reprise their last performance, which was truly remarkable, regardless of age.
Back to memory lane: Actress and legendary wife Priscilla Presley returned with her partner Louis van Amstel to perform the tango. Oscar winning actress Marlee Matlin and her partner Fabian Sanchez returned to the dance floor, followed by actress Shannon Elizabeth and her partner Derek Hough. Shannon took a moment to thank the judges, which she said she hadn't done before. R&B singer Mario returned with his partner Karina Smirnoff to dance the mambo. Tony Award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur and her partner Tony Dovolani returned to performance the paso doble and Marissa reiterated that she's never felt sexier than she has on the show.
The main event: Kristi and her partner Mark Ballas Jr. busted out their jive for their final performance in front of the judges. Kristi got her skirt caught on her heel for a moment, but handled it like a pro. Judge Len Goodman said she was the most consistent dancer of any season. Judge Bruno Tonioli praised her for not missing a beat, even despite the hiccup with the skirt. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said she was "so proud" of Kristi and thanked her for representing the ladies so well. Bergeron reminded viewers than the judges' scores would count for half of their total, combined with the viewers' votes from Monday night's performance. Scores:10, 10 and 10. That makes a perfect 90 out of 90, when totaled with Monday's two dances.
Jason and his partner Edyta Sliwinska brought back their quickstep for the final performance. Bruno said the term heavenly bodies was invented for them and he told the couple it was their best performance of the season. Carrie Ann said Jason and Edyta's elegance shine through when they dance "and you are untouchable as far as grace goes." Len said that every season someone "unexpected" comes along. He said Kristi may be the judges' champion, but you're the people's champion. Jason's BFF, Cristian, gave a loud, "Woo!" in the audience. Scores: 10, 10 and 10. That's a total of 81 out of 90, combined with Monday night's scores.
And the winner is...: Kristi was the highest scorer in the history of the show, but Jason was a big fan favorite. The winners of "Dancing with the Stars" were ... Kristi and Mark!
Kristi became the first woman to win the competition since "General Hospital" star Kelly Monaco won it in Season 1. The rest of the dancers swarmed the new champs as Jason and Cristian lifted Kristi up onto their shoulders, and Derek Hough propped Mark onto his shoulders and paraded them around as confetti fell onto the floor.
To the recap: NFL star Jason Taylor said that going head to head with Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi was "like going the wrong way on the highway. It's an accident waiting to happen."
Host Tom Bergeron reminded viewers that only once in five season has the judges' runaway high scorer actually walked away with the trophy. A noteworthy bit of history, or just a little something to keep folks tuned in for the two-hour drama?
Usher in the show: Usher came on to (apparently, allegedly) lip-synch his new single, "Love in This Club." He'd return later to do his best known hit, "Yeah."
Historical perspective: Several stars from seasons past, including Drew Lachey, Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna, and that guy who used to play Kojak -- oh wait, that was Joey Lawrence -- put in their two cents.
First out: Just 15 minutes into the finale, the first result was announced and it meant that it was time for Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente and his partner Cheryl Burke to claim third place. Cristian waved to the crowd with his good arm. He said he was glad he made the decision to stay in the competition after his injury. Bergeron told Cristian that when he decided to stay in the competition, he thought Cristian was nuts. A crying Cheryl told Cristian, "I love you, and I'll miss you and your family so much." Cristian offered up one last paso doble for the road.
Down memory lane: Magician Penn Jillette and his partner Kym Johnson, who were one of the first two eliminated couples, came back to dance again. And Penn again jokingly tripped as he walked backstage. Next up were tennis champ Monica Seles and her partner Jonathan Roberts, and Seles looked just as awkward as ever (but in a good way). The Gute, Steve Guttenberg, danced next with his partner Anna Trebunskaya, and Gute continued to play the eternal optimist as he was unable to think of his "least favorite" moment on the show. Comedian Adam Carolla and his partner Julianne Hough brought back the unicycle for their dramatic paso doble.
To the kids: The winners of the first Ballroom Juniors competition were Brandon and Brittany. Unfortunately, they didn't reprise their last performance, which was truly remarkable, regardless of age.
Back to memory lane: Actress and legendary wife Priscilla Presley returned with her partner Louis van Amstel to perform the tango. Oscar winning actress Marlee Matlin and her partner Fabian Sanchez returned to the dance floor, followed by actress Shannon Elizabeth and her partner Derek Hough. Shannon took a moment to thank the judges, which she said she hadn't done before. R&B singer Mario returned with his partner Karina Smirnoff to dance the mambo. Tony Award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur and her partner Tony Dovolani returned to performance the paso doble and Marissa reiterated that she's never felt sexier than she has on the show.
The main event: Kristi and her partner Mark Ballas Jr. busted out their jive for their final performance in front of the judges. Kristi got her skirt caught on her heel for a moment, but handled it like a pro. Judge Len Goodman said she was the most consistent dancer of any season. Judge Bruno Tonioli praised her for not missing a beat, even despite the hiccup with the skirt. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said she was "so proud" of Kristi and thanked her for representing the ladies so well. Bergeron reminded viewers than the judges' scores would count for half of their total, combined with the viewers' votes from Monday night's performance. Scores:10, 10 and 10. That makes a perfect 90 out of 90, when totaled with Monday's two dances.
Jason and his partner Edyta Sliwinska brought back their quickstep for the final performance. Bruno said the term heavenly bodies was invented for them and he told the couple it was their best performance of the season. Carrie Ann said Jason and Edyta's elegance shine through when they dance "and you are untouchable as far as grace goes." Len said that every season someone "unexpected" comes along. He said Kristi may be the judges' champion, but you're the people's champion. Jason's BFF, Cristian, gave a loud, "Woo!" in the audience. Scores: 10, 10 and 10. That's a total of 81 out of 90, combined with Monday night's scores.
And the winner is...: Kristi was the highest scorer in the history of the show, but Jason was a big fan favorite. The winners of "Dancing with the Stars" were ... Kristi and Mark!
Kristi became the first woman to win the competition since "General Hospital" star Kelly Monaco won it in Season 1. The rest of the dancers swarmed the new champs as Jason and Cristian lifted Kristi up onto their shoulders, and Derek Hough propped Mark onto his shoulders and paraded them around as confetti fell onto the floor.