Dancing with the Stars Week 3

It's their vote and yours!  Remember, your vote counts for 50% of their overall score!  And don't think for one second that because they are a "favorite" that they are safe.  Because no one is.  Tonight they open the show with the pros dancing the three dances that will be danced tonight.  This is how they used to do it.  I like it, as it gives the viewer an idea of what the dance is supposed to look like.

Week three presented a whole new challenge for the stars and reality TV folks.  This week they were challenged to tell a story with their dance, but they were not to use gimmicks. 

The first thing I notice this week is Brooke's dress looks like it has been bedazzled but with paper clips instead of rhinestones.  Maybe I just need better glasses. 

Evan and Anna are up first with the Quick Step..Anna explains that this dance is like the jive but in the style of Ballroom.  Their song is from the musical:  Chicago.  Evan is from Chicago.  Wow.  Their storyline is set in the 20's and they are husband and wife.  She is late, and he is left waiting. 

My Take:  I had to watch their dance twice because I forgot to watch his feet, and the judges made comments about his feet again.  He actually did better this week.  He was on his toes more, but still flat footed at times.  The story was great, and they kept the dance within the guidelines.  They did good.  Keep up the pace, Evan!

Tom Bergeron:  That was a slapstick home run!  Of course I don't have the paddles.

Len:  It cheered me up to watch this dance.  It was bright and light. You're control was spot on.  You need to work on your feet though.  Score:  8

Bruno:  (gushes for a bit)  Len is absolutely right about your feet.  There is something going on down there.  You need to work on your balance and your posture. Score: 9

Carrie Ann:  This was nice, energetic, it had finesse.  You did fantastic.  Score: 9

Buzz and Ashly  The Waltz--notice it's a slower dance still.  They choose a story of a father returning home from the war. 

My Take:  As sweet as I think he is, Ashly is doing the dancing.  He did better this week, but still he's an old guy.  We love him.  He got a standing ovation.

Bruno:  The return of the soldier...it was more like the return of the king.  You were royal and dignified., but sometimes it was like a statue that looks better when it's not moving. But you looked regal!  Score: 4

Carrie Ann:  You told the story, I loved the way you told it.  It was done very very well.  I don't know if your dancing improved, but the story was told very well.  Score: 5

Len:  I liked the innocent charm of the story, but we have to judge this like a competition dance.  The technicality was poor, the routine was over simplified.  As a dance it wasn't fantastic.  Score: 4

Jake and Chelsie...dance:  The Quick Step.  Their song is "Walk Like An Egyptian."  Story is self explanatory.  He is dressed like Indiana Jones, but Indiana Jones he is not.  She is dressed like Cleopatra.  She is closer to resembling her character.  We have a couple of diva's this year.  Let me say Chelsie is young and tiny, but do not underestimate her.  She is a tough cookie.  She must have  lots of brothers or really mean sisters.  She would not let Jake quit.  She was on his case to focus!  She chewed him out.  He got huffy and stormed out.  They made nice. 

My Take:  The dance was really cute and fun.  Kept in the guidelines of the dance, which in the quickstep they are not supposed to break frame.  In the end Chelsie shoved Jake into the sarcophagus.  I thought it was funny.

Carrie Ann:  Nice story telling, keeping in line with the dance.  You set the bar high which kind of hurts you because your legs were soft.  Score: 7

Bruno:  I love it!  Indiana Jake and Cleopatra chasing each other around the tomb!  This was a difficult dance, and your performance was very good, but sometimes your feet got a little loose.  Score: 7

Len:  You need to straighten up.  You were constantly having flexed legs and that only makes you look heavier.  Great entertainment, but some of the dance was flat.  Score:  7

***First couples that are safe:  Aiden and Edyta and Erin and Maks****

Niecy and Louis  The dance:  The Waltz.  Their story is about an interracial couple in the 1960's who are faced with not being able to be together.  Niecy was very touched and emotional by this.  "I can not imagine not being able to be with the one I love because it was a law or because of society." 

My take:  She stumbled in the beginning and again during a spin.  She was trying desperately to keep her feet on the ground.  She did by gum!   She not only flowed nicely, she acted it well.  But I didn't quite get the end of the dance.  Were they together or what???

Len:  Very brave to not use any props.  It was a very romantic dance.  But now you have to work on your technique.  Next week we will be looking for that.  Score: 7

Bruno:  You acted this very well, but you stumbled a bit in the beginning.  We are going to be looking at these things from now on..  You have to work on your feet.  Score:  7

Carrie Ann:  She only stumbled because she was trying to keep her feet on the ground during that spin.  I was a bit confused with the end, but otherwise very emotional dance.  score: 7

***next couple safe:  Niecy and Louis!***

Chad and Cheryl the dance:  Paso Doble.  Instead of the usual "the matador kills the bull" Cheryl goes with seduction as the theme.  He is to seduce her, and she wants nothing to do with him.  "oh so just like normal" he said. 

My take:  Yes Chad, you have improved, but you need to move! 

Bruno:  Chad you have released the Cracken! and sometimes you dance like the cracken.  score:  7

Carrie Ann:  You are miles ahead of where you were last work.  You need to work on your shoulders.  (Really Carrie?  That's all you got for him?) score: 7

Len:  Much better!  You need to work on your posture.  Score: 7

***Next couple safe:  Derek and Nicole***

Pam and Damian.  The dance:  Paso Doble.  Every season the stars get treated to special instruction for a dance.  This week it was Pam who was treated to Charro.  Charro taught Pam parts from the Flamenco.  She warned to not look at her feet because her "maracas" would be in the way.

My Take:  I knew she could dance.  I also know a dancer is in there under those maracas.  You don't need to be over the top, Pam.  You can do it.

Carrie Ann:  The anger was great, you had a certain artistry, but those things threw you off a few times.  Score: 7

Len:  There was a lot of good intensity.  Now you just need to work on refinement. Score: 7

Bruno:  You are a gypsy queen.  You are stunning.  There is a dancer in there.  I want to see more.  Score: 7

*** next couples to stay:  Evan & Anna and Chad and Cheryl.***

Aiden and Edyta. Yeah, you know they are safe, but read on anyway...Aiden had a serious case of nerves last week.  Like really.  The man got sick.  Thank you abc for having the semi-class to pixelate this event.  The dance:  The Quick Step.  Somehow I missed their story...maybe it had something to do with the interruptions I kept having! 

My Take:  Maybe I don't remember the story because I was not overly impressed.  He didn't do terrible it just seemed like he was measuring each step.

Len:  Your dance was supposed to be carefree and it was more careFUL.  Score: 6

Bruno:  You looked more like a kid skipping around a meadow.  Score: 7

Carrie Ann:  You were too light on your feet. (is that possible?)  You had good posture.  Good improvement.  Score: 7  (did they loose their other paddles?)

***next couple safe:  Pamela and Damian***

Erin and Maks:  The dance:  The Waltz.  Erin was challenged to trust her partner.  Maks forced her hand this week by challenging her to wear a blind fold as part of the dance. 

My Take:  Erin is a fierce competitor.  She works hard at this.  She did good, and wow dancing blind folded, even for a few seconds as she did, takes guts and trust!

Bruno:  (LOL)  You kinky thing!  (this is all I remember of what he said.  I think I laughed too hard.  Score: 8

Carrie Ann: That was profound. You showed trust, but I did see some death grips in there.  This was very artistic.  Score:  8

Len:  This had a boring start!  Not enough of the dance.  I wanted to see more waltz.  Score: 7

Tom:  Apparently they weren't the only ones wearing a blind fold.

Next Couple safe:  Kate and Tony.  Are you kidding me???  Who is voting for her???  I am sorry if you like her, but the truth here is she can not dance.  In the bottom two:  Buzz and Ashly and Jake and Chelsie.  No, not Jake.  I am actually liking him.

Speaking of Kate... Kate & Tony's dance is the Paso Doble.  This dance is to be performed with great intensity.  And well, how I can put this nicely?  Kate has the same face for every emotion.  She admits it's because emotions are not allowed.  They brought in an acting coach.  They have her beat a punching bag to get comfortable with acting aggressive.  Their song is Paparazzi. 

My Take:  She worked the anger.  She did.  However, she was walking and posing.  there was no actual dancing by her.  And she is safe???

Carrie Ann:  That was odd.  It was very disjointed.  (okay, I lost it at this point and have no idea what she said after.)  Score: 5

Len:  You got through it, but you were walking around and there was no intensity.  (I actually thought she did the intensity thing all right)  Score:  5

Bruno:  For once you played the character!  You were the super b*tch from hell!  You have the character, now you need the dance.  Score:  5

Side note:  Bruno is sooo much funnier than my writing can ever give him credit for.  Maybe I will have to spotlight him in one of the final weeks when there is less to cover!

Derek and Nicole:  The dance:  the Quick Step.  They went for slapstick vaudeville.  Nicole is another fierce player.  She puts a lot of pressure on herself.  She is frustrated because she can't keep count.

My Take:  The dance was sooo much fun.  Very lively and well performed...BUT... there was a lift.  Derek jumped into Nicole's arms!  Yes.  You read that right.  They hardly ever kept frame.  Oooh they are sooo busted!

Len:  This was not a Quick Step.  You broke all the rules!  Score: 6  Yikes.

Bruno:  As a performance it was incredible.  But Len is right.  You broke holds too much.  Score: 9

Carrie Ann:  There was a lift.  You broke holds.  But if you ever take this act on the road, I want front row seats!  Score: 8 

It was a great night with surprises, scores all over the place, good dancing, bad dancing, some stars showing their inner diva, and an overall typical week three.

So who went home...

I was cringing almost as much as Jake, as I waited to hear the names of the couples going home.  I was going to be very angry if they sent him now and not Buzz.  I admit it.  I like Jake...well I like how he has improved each week.  And finally the suspense was over when they announced that "Buzz and Ashly" were going home.  Jake had a genuine mix of relief and sadness on his face.  I don't think he knew how to feel.

Next week's challenge:  Double scoring.  The couples will be scored on for technique and performance.  All is fair in dance and war!

Come back tomorrow for The Writer's Workshop!!  And a yummy cookie recipe!!