DWTS 14 - Week 7

Classical Night

Just walking out in their costumes is interesting. Quite a variety.

Rumba for Katherine and Mark.  She's a classical singer and knows the music, which makes her feel good but not sure how helpful with the dancing she said.  Last year she sang during this competition.  I don't care what Sam says, I hope she wins.  He thinks it's DWTS 101 if she does.  The audience votes, which always messes things up.  At least this season, they have that dance-off for the bottom two, and the judges choose from there.  I'm glad.  Mark had on some kind of cape which was removed and now he's shirtless.  Fit, hairless torso and arms.  Maybe I'm weird, but I'd rather see men dancing with shirts on.  It just seems half-dressed to me.  Shirts could be unbuttoned down to a point or maybe a vest - that's good.  At the beach or in bed as little clothing as possible, but not in public dancing or whatever.  This was an elegant, classic rumba.  I was distracted by the semi-nakedness of Mark (not in a good way) and need to rewind and watch her dance.  She looked like a Greek goddess.  Score:  27

I don't know what to think about the Argentine tango Maks and Melissa performed.  It seemed erratic and sort of antagonistic.  I think it was supposed to be, though.  Melissa didn't have the control she needed for the lifts and some of the footwork.  Maks has a foot injury and brought his brother Val in to rehearse with Melissa.  Maks told her Val is nicer.  The judges said the tempo of Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro" was difficult to dance to but that she didn't do that well.  This was mostly a criticism of Maks's choreography but her dance quality wasn't there.  Even  I noticed it.  They had some difficult lifts, which were amazing for someone who has recovered from a broken back!  Score:  21  Yikes!

Double elimination next week.  Have they done this before?  Probably.  I don't have the most reliable memory about some things.

All these injuries!  His ankle hurts, but William and Cheryl danced a graceful Viennese waltz while Jackie Evancho sang "Ave Maria."  How does that voice come from that little girl?!!  Can't tell his ankle is a problem, but Cheryl choreographed the dance in order not to aggravate it.  The audience went wild.  Does William have a wife and two children?  The camera panned to whom that might have been twice.  Guess I could google it, but I don't really care.  It was a very pretty dance with passion and elegance.  Score:  27

Roshon was discouraged by being in the bottom two last week.  Val came in and helped him with his posture and manliness technique required for their Argentine tango.  Roshon and Chelsie looked more like kids doing a grown-up dance, but they did the moves and managed to pull this off.  The judges said he improved and did well.  Score:  25

Peta is challenging Donald to compete at a higher level.  He's so competitive and wants to give more like the judges challenged him to do.  Donald and Peta danced a Viennese waltz while Vittoria Grigolo sang.  Elegant, graceful dancing!  High praise from the judges.  Score:  27

Derek got a little frustrated during rehearsal, and Maria felt it.  Derek and Maria performed a paso doble, and her personality isn't naturally suited to it.  Maybe Derek treated her differently during rehearsal to get her in the mood.  She did really well.  It was intense and passionate.  The music matched it.  This was a vampire theme with Maria's biting Derek on the neck at the end - fangs and all.  The judges loved it!  So did I!  Score:  30  Wow!!!  First perfect score!!  Maria is a contender!

Jaleel and Kym are trying to keep up the momentum from last week when they got two 10's and a 9.  Their Viennese waltz was beautiful - smooth and romantic.  Len said he liked it enough not to be cruel but not enough to be kind.  Hmmm   Bruno said it wasn't as good as it could be but was very nice.  Carrie Ann said not to lose his confidence and to be aware of technique.  Score:  24

OMG!  Karina and Tristan danced while Jackie Evancho sang.  Karina was barely wearing anything but was covered with see-through black  I love watching the pros dance together but also really enjoy seeing the progress people make who haven't danced professionally. 

Team dances now ...

Team Tango:  Maria & Derek, Elizabeth & Mark, Jaleel & Kym, and Roshon & Chelsie.  Intense and precise and quick!  Score:  27  Mixed reviews from judges (10, 8, 9)

Team Paso Doble:  Donald & Peta, Melissa & Maks, and William & Cheryl.  Maks said the women were blonde, brunette, and redhead - woo!  William didn't want to dance shirtless because he wanted to show they could dance, so they compromised and wore open bolero jackets the first half and then took them off the second half.  The audience went wild!  The judges praised their performance so much I thought they'd get all 10's but no.  Their score was 26, one less than the other team's.  The audience went wild again for a different reason. 

Melissa didn't do as well tonight and had the lowest score.  I'm sure this does not please Maks.  Depending on how people vote, I'd say Melissa or Roshon might go home.  We'll see.  

Science Schmience?

DWTS Results

Just as we thought, Gladys went home this week.  I'm glad she got to be there for Motown Week, though.  That was special.  They've added a new twist this year and have a dance-off between the bottom two teams.  Gladys and Tristan competed against Roshon and Chelsie.  I'm glad they're doing that since it takes all the control away from the voters, and we know how suckful (Brendan's word) American voting can be! 

DWTS 14 - Week 6

Motown Week!  Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, the Temptations sing, and Gladys Knight is dancing!  This should be good!

Watched The Voice and now onto DWTS on DVR.  So many letters and technology! Quick retrospective on Motown and Berry Gordy. 

First up are Gladys and Tristan dancing a rumba to "My Girl" sung by the actual Temps.  Gladys toured with them from when they were the Primes to when they morphed into the Temptations and said her team beat them in softball.  Gladys's brother, an original Pip, came by rehearsal to show Tristan some moves.  Tristan said he was learning about history.  Yes, he was!  Bless their hearts, the Temptations' voices are showing their age, but it was still great to hear and see them perform.  The dance lacked passion and romance which rumbas are supposed to have.  It was smooth and careful and pretty to watch for sure.  She's the epitome of grace and elegance. The judges might disagree.  Len said she is not the best dancer but is the most charismatic dancer and easy like Sunday morning.  Nostalgic and meaningful.  Carrie Ann said it's her night.  Score is 21.

Berry Gordy is in the audience and recognized and honored!  

Next Maria and Derek do the foxtrot to "Jimmy Mack" sung by Martha Reeves.  I think that's the title; it sounds like it should be.  Lively, fun foxtrot.  Good lines and footwork.  Maria is so pretty to be such a tomboy and goofy.  She grew up with brothers and fit right in, she said.  Bruno said it was a gleaming blend of sophistication, wit, and elegance.  Praise from the judges!  Score - 26

Roshon and Chelsie danced a rumba to Smokey Robinson's singing "Cruisin' Together."  Roshon had trouble learning how to be romantic and sexy during rehearsal but managed to do it during their performance much better than in rehearsal.  He's young and uncomfortable with such an emotional dance.  The judges said the dance lacked style and was "paint by number" in that he seemed to memorize what to do instead of feeling it.  This was difficult for Roshon to learn.  Score - 23

 Katherine and Mark danced the samba to "I Can't Get Next to You" sung by the Temptations.  I really like Katherine and would like for her to win.  Their samba was lively and fun!  Good job.  The judges said so, too.  Score - 29!

Donald and Peta performed a foxtrot to "The Way You Do the Things You Do" sung by the Temptations.  Donald was excited about Motown Week and said it brought back memories from his childhood.  He practiced especially hard to get a 10 from Len this week since everyone else gave him one last week but Len.  This was a pretty foxtrot.  Donald had a good frame and footwork.  I liked it, but we'll see what the judges think.  Len loved it!  Bruno and Carrie Ann did, too.  Len told Peta to work David harder because his talent is greater than this danced showed.  He got all 9's for a 27.  Donald said Len wants him to do better so he'll get better just to get a 10 from Len.

Melissa and Maksim had a difficult rehearsal.  Well, Melissa did because Maks acted like a diva - or are men divos?  He really pushes and huffs around.  Melissa does OK with that and tells him he's not inspiring confidence.  I would do better with Derek or Mark than with criticism and drama the way Maks does it.  Derek and Mark are demanding but kind.  Melissa and Maks danced a Viennese Waltz to "  by Smokey Robinson.  This was an elegant, romantic, beautiful waltz.  Who thought Melissa Gilbert would have a tattoo?  It's on her upper arm toward the back and looks like a bird or butterfly.  Can't tell.*  Score - 24.  Melissa said editing showed the worst parts of their rehearsal and that 88% of it was not like that.

*Googled the tattoo and understand the placement of it.  It was a bird, but the bird on the right of what was a banner with "Bruce and Melissa" and another bird on the left.  Those are gone, so that other bird is off there by itself in an odd place.  

Jaleel and Kym did a cha-cha to the Temptations singing "Please Don't Leave Me."  Good job!!  That was great!  Judges praised them and loved it!  So did I.  It was lively and controlled.  Score - 29! 

William and Cheryl performed a rumba to "Being With You" by Smokey Robinson.  Cheryl told William their rumba needed to be hot and sexy, and he brought it.  Cheryl can choreograph some sexy dances.  This was, but as I've said before not as sexy as with Giles Marini!  He is so incredibly sexy just standing still, so when he danced a rumba and tango, it was totally hot.  Len thought this dance was on the raunchy side, and that's the difference between William and Giles.  I expected more and so did the judges.  William doesn't do it for me, anyway.  Score - 27  (Bruno the gay Italian gave him a 10).  Maks and Mel B danced the sexiest and hottest paso doble, samba, and rumba!!!

Now for a cha-cha Motown marathon for more points and entertainment.  Couples are eliminated until the last dancers are standing.  First out gets 3 points and last gets 10.
Here we go:
Gladys and Tristan first out (3 for total of 23)
Maria and Derek (4 for 30)
Roshon and Chelsie (5 for 28)
Melissa and Maks (6 for 30)
Donald and Peta (7 for 35)
Jaleel and Kym (8 for 37)
William and Cheryl (9 for 36)
Katherine and Mark (10 for 39)

Posting Deficit

Don't know why but don't have as much interest in blogging as I used to.  Guess I'm taking a bit of a break with some posting thrown in occasionally.  Don't forget me!  I'll be here now and then. 

DWTS 14 - Week 5 & Results

Latin week where the shirts come off and the hips shimmy and shake!  This won't be an actual recap.  Maybe next week.  Maria keeps hurting herself but carries on.  Bottom line is that this was Gavin's week to go. Karina won last season with J.R. Martinez.