DWTS 8 - Week 6

This week the rumba and jive. Len gave the lowest scores tonight and was the most critical.

Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower

Dance: Jive

Score: 6/6/6 = 18 (last week 21)

Critique: Ty is so cute! He's still stiff when he dances but loosened up more tonight, especially during parts of it. That part was more like line dancing. I'm glad I got to know something about him because I've liked Jewel for a while and like them together. The judges said he isn't a good dancer but is enthusiastic and gives it his all.

Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas

Dance: Rumba

Score: 8/9/9 = 26 (last week 26)

Critique: An innocent, wholesome rumba! It was age-appropriate and sweet. Shawn felt self-conscious dancing the rumba since she's only 17, so Mark tried to help by re-creating a prom setting since she might have to miss her high school prom. It helped. The judges thought so, too. Len said the rumba can be like a fire and can be warm or hot. He liked it.

Lawrence Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska

Dance: Jive

Score: 7/7/8 = 22 (last week 20)

Critique: I just can't get into Lawrence. Warren Sapp went to their rehearsal to help him have fun. I remember what a great personality Warren has. Not so much with LT. His jive wan't that much fun to watch. Some parts of it were jive-ish for sure, but he just seems reserved. The judges said he did much better than he did last week.

Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani

Dance: Rumba

Score: 9/9/9 = 27 (last week 25)

Critique: Melissa wanted to make a come-back from last week. She rehearsed getting into character for the dance, and Tony said she did it really well. It was sensuous and fairly passionate. The judges said her moves were more like ballet and that she needs to break away from them and not be afraid to commit to the full movements.

Lil' Kim & Derek Hough

Dance: Jive

Score: 10/9/10 = 29 (last week 26)

Critique: Now this was a jive!!! It was quick, fun, and energetic! They danced to "Jailhouse Rock" which was appropriate. Queen Latifah was in the audience in a flannel shirt. Yeah, me too. I loved this jive and so did the audience and judges! Carrie Ann and Bruno went wild standing and cheering! Len thought it was too theatrical but still gave them a 9.

Steve-O & Lacey Schwimmer

Dance: Rumba

Score: 7/4/5 = 16 (last week 18)

Critique: Lacey had on lingeree, and Steve-O tried to be passionate and actually succeeded part of the time. The trouble is that he doesn't dance well. Carrie Ann said there was something oddly mesmerizing to watch him dance and said it was his commitment. Bruno and Len said his dancing was bad.

Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke

Dance: Jive

Score: 9/8/9 = 26 (last week 29)

Critique: Gilles had trouble with this dance and really had to work at it. It's always wonderful to me to watch him dance or even just stand there. He tried and tried and said the jive wasn't his dance, so Cheryl took him to the soccer field. That way he could use that footwork for the jive. It worked! He was energetic and fun. Len thought too much so and said he was frantic and all over the place. That's more about Cheryl's choreography than him, isn't it? He rushed over and kissed his wife when the dance ended. Love that! I REALLY want Gilles to win this!! Really, really!

Tom introduced Cristián de la Fuente in the audience and said he was going to have steamy scenes with Rachel Griffiths in Brothers & Sisters Sunday night. I'm looking forward to that!!

Chuck Wicks & Julianne Hough

Dance: Rumba

Score: 8/7/8 = 23 (Last week 23)

Critique: Chuck told Julianne she didn't have to be mean to him to teach him to dance. He said when she was mean, it pissed him off. Since the rumba is about passion, she took him to the amusement park where they had their first date, so they could get the romance back. Len thought they did that too much and the dance was too raunchy. Bruno and Carrie Ann loved it. I thought it was intense and emotional and didn't see what Len objected to. Chuck said it was his favorite dance they've done.