Tuesday, Nov 10, 2009

Dancing With the Stars November 9, 2009: We’re Down To 5!

 As I predicted, last week’s double elimination sent Michael & Mark home.  This week, the remaining 5 compete for a spot in the semi-finals.  face another double elimination. 

This week’s dance-off included two individual dances… one from the ballroom genre and the other from the Latin group.  The Latin round had a spin on it… it was also assigned a decade in which the routine should emulate.  Withthis interesting spin on things, the stars seemed to face this challenge with as much gusto and determination as we’ve seen in weeks past, and then some.

Here’s my nagging  and praising for this week’s couples:

 Their ballroom round dance was the Foxtrot.  We learned in the rehearsal tape that Karina had contracted the flu and was sick with fever during the week.  Despite feeling so poorly, she was completely committed to getting Aaron ready for the show.  Their Foxtrot was pretty, however it just felt tight… for a lack of a better word.  The fluidity between the moves appeared to be lacking.  Bruno commented, “It was a great attempt, but wasn’t as smooth as it could be.”  Carrie Ann agreed with Bruno about the loss of fluidity.  Len reassured the couple by telling them, “I am proud of you.” 

For the Latin round, they picked the decade of the 90′s.  Their 90′s Samba was very cute!  They had tons of energy as well as some fun 90′s Boy-Band-ishmoves.  Aaron really came alive for this number and didn’t disappoint fans.  Len told him, “You came out and performed it.  You sold it!”  Bruno felt the dance was a success and Carrie Ann told him that he was a great performer.  Aaron got so overly excited that he nearly threw up and shared this information with the viewers.  Tom Bergeron replied, “That would be our overly-sharing moment of the night.”  Yeah.  I’m glad he didn’t hurl right there on national television.  Maybe he caught Karina’s flu?

Scores: Foxtrot – 7-8-8 (23) & Samba 9-9-7 (27) / Total 50. 

Say “Goodbye” to Donny Darko and hello to Donny Ant?  

Their ballroom number was a beautiful Viennese Waltz.  Kim looked awesome in her outfit and I must learn what kind of bra she was wearing!   The routine was lovely and held great transitions, great speed and nice spotting on the turns.  Bruno said, “Donny, you can really play it.  It was like watching a Lifetime Movie.”  “I found it mesmerizing,” said Carrie Ann.  Although the dance had “lovely rotation,” Len said that the dance was a bit “arty-farty.”  How does Danny respond?  “From Air-Fairy to Arty-Farty.” 

Their show-ending decade dance was an 80′s number.   The luck of the draw gave them the Paso Doble.  What did the 1980′s + Paso Doble equal?  The emergence of Donny Ant.  For those of you who aren’t familiar:

Kym, Dmitry, Mya & Donny Ant

Adam Ant (1981)... HE actually shares my birthday!

Let’s just say that Donny Ant didn’t look as sexy in the metallic pants as Adam Ant once did.  In fact, for me they were a bit distracting during the entire Paso Doble.  My daughter, not knowing the entire 80′s/Adam Ant thing, asked me, “Mom, are they supposed to be clown freaks?”  I nearly fell off the couch.  I had just wished that they would have done their routine “Desperate But Not Serious” (famous song by Adam Ant… for those of you who do not know).  But, instead they did their number to “You Spin Me Round” by Dead or Alive.   In any event… I couldn’t really concentrate on the number because of the pants… plus the shots of LaToya in the audience, yet again.  How does she manage to always get tickets?  I need to befriend her!

 Scores: V. Waltz – 9-8-9 (26) & Paso 8-8-8 (24) / Total 50.

It’s more than obvious that JoAnna is in it to win it.  Her first dance, the Quickstep, was spot on.  She looked very pretty, as well.  What the routine seemed to lack was the ability to grab the attention of the viewers.  Although it was technically good, I felt nothing after watching it.  Len said, “There was a lot of running about.  This is NOT the standard for the finals.”  Well, OK… Len.  Bruno told them, “You looked like you were running away from the scene of the crime!”  They’re right, it was a tad rushed. 

Moving on to their Futuristic Paso Doble… it was really pretty cool.  Their spins were so fast and tight.  Although, I must say that Derek’s hair looked a tad ridiculous (… maybe not so much in comparison to Donny Ant’s mullet).  Their routine was quite creative and nearly technically perfect.  Bruno was so excited about the dance that he told the duo their dance was “… a masterful reinvention of a classic.”  Carrie Ann and Len both loved the routine, as well.  My daughters thought it was “AWESOME.”

Scores: 7-8-8 – (23) &  9-10-10 (29) = 52 Total

Even though she clearly isn’t the best dancer on the show, I’m not ready for her to go home.  Apparently, Kelly feels the same way.  Their ballroom dance was the better of the two for the night.  They had the Foxtrot and Kelly clearly excels at ballroom.  The routine was very smooth, it had nice transitions, and had some sweeeeeet tricks!  Len told her, “I’d forgotten how much grace and elegance you bring to the dance floor.”  Bruno said that they were weightless.  Carrie Ann reminded the couple that Kelly had a secret weapon.  That… she does.

For their decade-dance, they did a 1960′s Jive.  They both donned some funk-kay wigs.  Their dance had a lot of “umph,” but didn’t really have a ton of substance.  Even though this one wasn’t my favorite, the judges liked it.  Len told Kelly, “You’ve been an absolute revelation to me!”  Bruno exclaimed, “Groovy Bab!  Come back to Daddy!”  And, then she returned to his lap (where she started at the beginning of the dance).  Her and her dolly on Bruno’s lap was a bit too weird for me… Carrie Ann said to Kelly, “Definitely one of your best routines so far.”

So, despite green hair wigs… she’s got a chance.

Scores: 8-8-9 (25) & 8-9-9 (26): 51 Total

Won’t we all be more than a tad surprised if Mya doesn’t win this season?  She’s just a natural.  That’s as simple as it comes.  In their ballroom round, they did not disappoint with their Quickstep.  Although there were a couple of minor missteps, the routine was overall very good.  For me, it wasn’t overwhelmingly good… but, good.  The judges loved it and scored it graciously.  But, I loved Len’s comment, “Again, tonight there is a disappointment for me because I couldn’t find anything to criticize.”  (Yeah)

Their Latin round brought a 1970′s Samba.  This perfect dance had it all.. that is… if you could get over Dmitry’s awful 70′s porn-stache!  (See picture above).  Their moves were solid… it was smooth… simply awesome!  Len said, “your hops were hypnotic!”  Bruno added, “You do a mean Samba!”

All is well in Mya-Land.

Scores: 9-9-10 (29) & 10-10-10 (30) = 59 Total  

 Tuesday, November 10th:  The Results Show Will Be Aired on ABC

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