Dancing With the Stars All Stars Week 8

November 13, 2012 By 5 Comments

Veteran’s Day loans itself the perfect seque to all the dances honoring our vets in one way or another.  There are only 7 Stars left and the finale is not far off – 2 weeks away – which means this is the double elimination week.  Dancers have to be on their toes so to speak.

I had the opportunity tonight to attend the ATT DWTS After Party.  nHave any of you heard of this?  I haven’t, and I have watched every episode this season.  It is a web cast on ABC.com with interviews with the stars on the press line after the show, former stars (tonight was Ricki Lake and JR) and entertaainment writers that I have never heard of.  Is it something I will watch every week?  Probably not because I don’t like “live” events that ask for viewer input because that excludes the West Coast (just as I don’t like the “live tweets” shown on DWTS each week).  But if they could find a way to have at least a “live” host for the West Coast to interact with, instead of holding the #AskDWTS tweets over until the following week, then perhaps……

For now, let’s get on with the show.

Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough – Vienesse Waltz (In the Arms of the Angels): Good to see Derek back on the dance floor.  This waltz doesn’t lend itself to Shawn’s “gymnastic” background, but she does hold her own as a dancer.  DId it seem really short to anyone else?  Score: 29.5

Apolo Anton Ono and Karina Smirnoff – Tango (I Need a Hero): Stupidest beginning of a dance ever.  Also, worst costume for Karina.  The actual Tango however was pretty good, too bad everything else was so distracting.  Score: 29.5  

Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerskovskiy – Vienesse Waltz (Hallelujah): This tops as one of my favorite dances of hers and you all know how much I love her.  And tonight the judges agreed.  Score: 27

Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerskovskiy –  Vienesse Waltz (I’ll Be): very untraditional Vienesse Waltz, not much hold, could put Len, he loves him some tradition.  Score: 28

Gilles Marini and Peta Murgatroyd – Quick Step (Danger Zone): I don’t think there is a dance this man can’t master.  He is far and away the best dancer on the show. Score: 29.5

Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke – Vienesse Waltz (Love Letters): Emmitt is not known for his “gracefulness”, even if Len thinks he is smooooooth.  But he is known for his tenacity and determination.  I don’t see much improvement in his dancing over the weeks, I see him on the same level, not great not bad, just kind of riding the middle line. Score: 28

Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani – Quick Step (Bugle Boy): No one predicted Melissa would ever be on the top of the leaderboard at any point in this season.  Tonights dance could keep her there for another week. Bruno compared them to Ann Miller and Gene Kelly in On The Town.  Score: 30

Trio Dances:

In this “twist” each star now will dance with 2 pros.  I think last season was the first time this was done and I remember enjoying it.

Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough and Mark Ballas: Samba (tribal drums): Woah.  I didn’t see much Samba, but I did like what I saw.  Unfortunately for Shawn, Len and Bruno agree with the first part of my sentence and not so much with the latter.  Score: 26 (total for two weeks: 93.5)

Apolo Anton Ono and Karina Smirnoff and Sasha Farber – Jive (Greased Lightening): Apolo has held his own up til now, but when you put a male pro in the mix with him you see that he is not as good as he looks on his own.  The judges think he did well, me not so much.  Good thing for him my scores don’t count.  Score: 29 (total for two weeks: 91.5)

Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerskovskiy and Tristan MacManus – Paso Doble (Bring Me To Life): Oh man this may be it for my dear Kirstie.  This is quite possibly the worst Paso that has ever been on the show.  Score: 24 (total for two weeks: 79)

Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerskovskiy and Louis Van Amstel – Jive (What Are We Waiting For): Very cute dance, very good jive, this could knock her up a couple of notches on the leaderboard. Score: 28.5 (total for two weeks: 92.5)

Gilles Marini and Peta Murgatroyd and Chelsea Hightower – Salsa (Something in Spanish): Who needs the girls?  He could have done the whole dance alone as far as I am concerned.  Score: 29 (total for two weeks: 92)

Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke and Kym Johnson – Salsa (??): Poor guy has to do a Salsa right after Gilles.  Somehow that just seems unfair.  But he not only pulled it off  he knocked it out of the park, wait wrong sport.   Score: 30 (total for two weeks: 92.5)

Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani and HenryByalikov – Paso Doble (Rumor Has It): Melissa lets go of her “girly girl” image for a fierce Paso.  There are some incidents, but there is no doubt this will carry her over to the end of the season.  Score: 30 (total for two weeks:99)

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Dancing With the Stars – All Stars Week 7

November 5, 2012 By 3 Comments

I refuse to take responsibility for Sabrina going home last week.  Yes I voted for Kirstie even though she is not the best dancer on the show.  She is however the best “entertainer”  But if you read the comments, you will see that I fully expected Sabrina to win the whole thing.

On that note I have a serious bone to pick with ABC and DWTS.  Supposedly they have decided to make THIS week a non-elimination week since so many on the East Coast could not vote last week due to Hurrican Sandy.  WTF?!  Why this week?  Why didn’t you make LAST week a non-elimination week?  That was the week people couldn’t vote!  I blame Hurricane Sandy for Sabrina’s demise.

This is another jam packed week, fusion dances and a swing dance marathon. With no one going home and no results show Tuesday, don’t get complacent, your votes will still count!

Apolo Anton Ono and Karina Smirnoff – Cha Cha Cha/Paso Doble (Scream): This is an interesting combinartion “The Cha Cha is cheeky and fun and the Paso is dark and aggressive” according to Karina.  I was able to pull out pieces of each dance noticably (and could have even if Apolo hadn’t taken his shirt off in between).  Score: 27

Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke – Rumba/Samba (Fine by Me): Cheryl plans on going back and forth and back and forth between dances.  That seems to be confusing Emmit in rehearsal, hopefully it won’t confuse the judges as well. Of course the judges may just be blinded by their outfits.  I couldn’t tell the difference between the two dances, it was overall very entertaining.  Score: 27.5

Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerskovskiy – Quick Step/Samba (Sir Duke): Kisrtie spoke in the rehearsal piece about how she feels her place on the show is one of someone who inspires others to believe they can do this as well.  She is over 60 years old and not a “small” person and yet she is out there each week giving her all.  With this dance I loved the quick step but the samba got lost.  Score: 24

Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerskovskiy – Fox Trot/Cha Cha Cha (Don’t Stop): Ok, these two say they have a “special relationship”, hmmmmm.  I think it is more than special.  The chemistry they emit is more than just dance partners, as long as they are both unattached off stage then more power to them.  The fusion was well done, why do most couples feel they need a costume change to represent the next dance?  Score: 27

Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani – Cha Cha Cha/Tango (Die Young): I think these may be two of the most different dances in the way they are actually “danced”.  The Cha Cha Cha is a toe lead dance and the Tango is a heel lead, so to mix that up would be very easy.  I think they did a good job fusing the dances together, but I just didn’t enjoy it.  There was no “entertainment” value.  Maybe it is her, maybe it is me.  Score: 29

Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough/Mark Ballas – Tango/Paso Doble (Livin’ on a Prayer): I think these are the two most similar dances.  But with the confusion as to whether Derek will dance or Mark Ballas will step in makes it difficult for Shawn to actually learn.  Derek ended up not dancing, Mark did an amazing job as fill in.  Side Note, Shawn has the best legs in the competition by far.  Score: 30 (well deserved)

Gilles Marini and Peta Murgatroyd – Argentine Tango/Samba (): I Gilles takes this contest the most serious.  This was by far my favorite dance of the night.  Both dances went together seamlessly.  With Sabrina gone he is my pick to win it all, yes I will still vote for Kirstie as long as she is there but I think Gilles will take the mirror ball.  Score: 28.5

Swing Dance Marathon:

All the dancers are on the floor at the same time and will be asked to elave the floor one couple at a time.  The last couple dancing at the end of 4 minutes wins an extra 10 points.

First Out: Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerskovskiy – 4 points

Second Out: Gilles Marini and Peta Murgatroyd – 5 points

Third Out: Apolo Anton Ono and Karina Smirnoff – 6 points

Fourth Out: Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke – 7 points

Fifth Out: Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough – 8 points

Sixth Out: Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerskovskiy – 9 points

Winner: Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani – 10 points

Remember, every vote counts on Dancing With the Stars, your favorite could easily go home even tho the judges gave them a perfect score.

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Dancing With the Stars- All Stars – Week 4

October 15, 2012 By 4 Comments
English: Logo for Dancing with the Stars TV show

English: Logo for Dancing with the Stars TV show (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Not that anyone noticed, but I missed last week due to a glitch in the dvr.  Grrrrr  But I am back now and ready to get this going.

I love the idea of the dancers picking dances for each other,I think the fact that most of the professionals have never performed some of the dances before puts them on the same level as the Stars.

I am not so in love with Paula Abdul being a guest judge. DWTS meet the Shark, now Jump!

That is neither here nor there, let’s just take a look at the dancers.

Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerskovskiy – Charleston (42nd Street): I love this choice for them, they both have the right personalities for this.  Maks has always tried to play off being a macho meany but when he dances with Kirstie ir is so much fun and you can see how much he loves dancing. I have no idea about the technical aspect since I have never seen this dance performed before but I loved the performance.  Score: 30 (No it isn’t a perfect score remember there are FOUR judges this week)

Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas – Rock and Roll (At the Hop): I am proud of Bristol for standing up to Mark regarding the stupid costumes I wish she had done that during her season with the gorilla stunt.  I wasn’t expecting Rock n Roll to be more like a quick step or a lindy, I was thinking it would be more of what happened last season when KISS was a guest and everyone danced Rock n Roll.  Score: 32

Sabrina Bryant and Louis Van Amstel – Disco (You Should be Dancing): Is it because I am a child of the 70′s that disco holds a place in my heart?  Of course, most of my discoing back in the day happened on roller skates, but I digress.  Loved the set design, loved the costumes, loved the dance!  Score: 35.5

Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke – Bolero (Better in Time): I have to admit, I had to Google Bolero, and I am still confused.  Tom describes it as the “Cuban dance of Love”, I can understand that.  I have no idea if what they did was correct or not, but it sure was pretty.  Score: 36

Gilles Marini and Peta Murgatroyd – Bollywood (Jai Ho): I love Bollywood, if is probably my favorite style of dancing being performed tonight, and with Gilles being a perfectionist this could either be really good or really bad.  Luckily for them it was really really good.  The only problem I spotted was that Gilles needed to extend his arms more and lock them.  I was disappointed in the song choice, there are so many amazing Indian songs why go with the standard Jai Ho?  Score: 39.5 (They received the first 10′s of the season!)

Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani – Jitterbug (This Cat’s on a Hot Tin Roof): I love all the tricks and flips in a Jitterbug but it has to be hard to do things like that when you are competing with girls half  your age and Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast at that.  But they held their own, it wasn’t the best dance of the night, but it certainly wasn’t the worst either.  Score: 37

Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough – Mambo (???): How many gymnastic moves can Shawn fit in to a Mambo?  Really?  Getting tired of the acrobatics and want to see more dancing.  Although I did like the little turn around where he caught her leg and might I say, she has some amazing legs.  Score:  39.5

Apolo Anton Ono and Karina Smirnoff – Hip Hop (Poison): Although Apolo did some break dancing in his season’s freestyle he is not a hip hop dancer, and neither is Karina.  Karina could be called a hip hop hater if you believe the editing of the rehearsal tape piece.  Unfortunately they had some technical difficulties with Apolo’s mic pack falling off and Karina making some missteps.  This is exactly what I was talking about with the Pro’s being on the same level as the Stars.  Score: 34.5

Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerskovskiy -Contemporary (Fix You): Throughout tonight’s episode shots of Kelly and Val have shown them “in character” for this dance.  Dark, brooding, smoldering lovers.  Oh yeah and a broken toe.  That could help with the look of pain that is necessary for contemporary.  I thought they killed it!  Score: 37.5

I voted for Kirstie and Maks again this week, hoping their fans can keep them going even with their judges score being so low.

Who did you vote for?

 

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Dancing With the Stars Season 14 Week 7

April 30, 2012 By 12 Comments

It is Classical week this week, lots of orchestra (which hopefully means none of the horrible singers from the band).  .

This is also the first Team Dance of the season.

Katherine and Mark – Rumba (Cannon in D): Katherine is a classical singer in Wales and is knowledgeable of not only the feel of classical music but with the actual song they are dancing to as well.  I am a little off put, the music is beautiful and relaxing and yet the rumba is a very sensual and sexual dance, of course Mark dancing sans shirt doesn’t help my concentration level either.  It was a beautiful dance, perfectly executed I am pleased with the 27 the judges gave her.

Melissa and Maks – Argentine Tango (Marriage of Figaro): Maks is injured this week so her rehearsals were a mess.  Mak’s brother Val (former partner of Sherri Shephard) was a stand in throughout the week “just in case”.  I think this may have had an effect on her dancing.  It seemed stilted and stiff.  Poor thing this could be trouble for her at this point in the game.  The judges agreed and gave her a score of only 21 putting her totally in danger mode.  She better start practicing the Rumba for the dance duel tomorrow.

William and Cheryl – Viennese Waltz (Ave Maria sung by Jackie Evancho): I just watched Chris Mann perform this song on The Voice and am still recovering from the goosebumps he gave me.  To hear this little girl sing it is beyond amazing.  Someone put a fat lady’s voice into a tiny little girl’s body.  I had to rewind it and actually watch the dance because I was distracted by the voice.  A beautiful waltz deserving of the 27.

Roshon and Chelsea – Argentine Tango (Bad Romance): Let me just say I call Bullshit!  This is “Classical Week” not pick a pop song and have an instrumental version of it.  Bullshit.  On the dancing note, this is a manly dance and Roshon is still a boy.  He had Val come in to rehearsals and show him some “manly” moves and stances.  But it doesn’t help when you have a baby face and no stature.  His technical dance was very good, but he can’t help his carriage.  Scoring a 25 is right on point.

Donald and Peta – Viennese Waltz (La Donna e Mobile sung by Vittorio Grigolo): Remember seeing movies and cartoons where they would dance the Waltaz?  This is what they were dancing!  The costumes were on point the dancing was perfect.  Ah-Mazing!  I was disappointed in the score of 27!

Maria and Derek – Paso Doble (Montagues and Capulets): This is the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet but for Maria and Derek there are Vamipires involved.  Ugh.  Fortunately for them it totally worked.  I love the Paso and they just reinforced my feelings for it.  Another perfect dance with perfect choreography.  Obviously the judges agreed giving them the first perfect score of the season 30!

Jaleel and Kym – Viennese Waltz ( ): Not his best dance but not his worst.  Kinda stiff with moments of greatness.  meh.  I think he also should brush up his rumba for tomorrow night.  WIth a score of 24 it puts him in the “bottom 2″ for judges scores.  But there is still the team dance to go.

Team Dances:

3 or 4 couples compete together to perform a group number.  The group is given a group score which is then added to each couples individual dance for the night.

Team Tango – Maria and Derek, Katherine and Mark, Jaleel and Kym and Roshon and Chelsea: Great dance overall (loved the push ups at the end!), high points for me were Maria and Derek and the low were Jaleel and Kym.  Either way everyone receives the same score of 27.

Team Paso – Melissa and Maks, Donald and Peta and William and Cheryl: I think it is an advantage to have only 3 couples on your team, your have less potential to screw up.  There are a ton of synchronicity issues with a Paso Doble in team form and they had problems with a couple of them, unfortunately each one I noticed was due to William. They will share a score of 26.  Making Team Tango the “winner” of the Team Dance.

For the record I think Carrie Ann Inaba was smoking something tonight.  Her scoring tonight (especially on the team dances) were odd.

My bottom two for the week are Melissa and Jaleel.  I would like Jaleel to go home but I don’t know how the dance duels will go.

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