Dancing with the Stars – Recap & Review – Week 8

photo: abc

Dancing with the Stars
Week 8

Original Air Date: May 10, 2010

Annette: Sr. Reviewer
annette@thetwocentscorp.com

We said goodbye last week to Pamela Anderson and that left us with five celebrities duking it out for the mirror ball trophy. This week the stars are dancing two full routines, a ballroom dance and a Latin dance.

There is a twist for the Latin round – dancing through the decades is back. Each star is assigned a decade: 50s, 60s, 80s, 90s, or the future. No love for the 70s, but we’ll see how wells the stars can do their Latin dance with a particular era flair.

Ballroom Round
Chad (Football Player) & Cheryl – Tango
Carrie Ann: 7
Len: 7
Bruno: 7
Len said it had attack and good movement but it needed more polish. Bruno appreciated that he went for the emotional involvement but thought it needed to be slicker. Carrie Ann loved the attack and intensity but said his posture was still funky.
My 2Cents: Chad is definitely getting more serious about the competition and it shows in rehearsals – he’s not joking around and goofing off like he did in the beginning. The judges thought it had good attack, but I actually thought it needed more. I didn’t see the passion that is necessary in the tango. And his posture was definitely funky.

Niecy (Actress, TV Host) & Louis – Viennese Waltz
Carrie Ann: 7
Len: 8
Bruno: 8
Bruno said it was very pretty in the beginning but it looked like her arms were waving off wasps. Carrie Ann said there was too much push and pull between the two of them and the transitions weren’t quite there. Len was pleasantly surprised! Good posture and nice movement around the floor.
My 2Cents: She looked lovely, but I agreed with Bruno – her arms were all over the place – completely spazzy.

Erin (ESPN Reporter) & Maks – Tango
Carrie Ann: 9
Len: 10
Bruno: 9
Carrie Ann said Erin’s legs were phenomenal, she was committed to the character – fantastic. Len called her a “dirty, dirty girl” and said he absolutely loved it. Bruno said she was “on fire.”
My 2Cents: Her attitude was intense and her jump into a lift was the most amazing I’ve seen on this show – ever. She jumped off the stage and wrapped her legs around Maks’s neck. She was freaking out in rehearsal, and I can definitely see why. It was definitely worth it.

Evan (Olympic Figure Skater) & Anna – Viennese Waltz
Carrie Ann: 9
Len: 9
Bruno: 9
Len wasn’t sure if he liked it or not. He complimented his great posture and lovely movement around the floor but there were parts of the choreography he didn’t like Bruno said his lyrical lines are something to behold. Carrie Ann said his lines are impeccable but he needs to lose himself in the moment.
My 2Cents: The dance was good, not as flowy as I would like. He also was not connecting to Anna which is something they’ve been trying to work on.

Nicole (Pop Star) & Derek – Fox Trot
Carrie Ann: 10
Len: 9
Bruno: 10
Bruno called it one and a half minutes of pure dancing joy. Carrie Ann said it was nice to see Nicole smiling again and she appreciates that they challenge themselves every step of the way and they are in it to win it. Len called it irresistible, but said the lack of body contact in hold spoiled it a little bit.
My 2Cents: She broke down in rehearsal because she was so overwhelmed, but you would never have known it watching her dance. It was very fun and she and Derek were in perfect sync on every step.

Latin Round
Chad (Football Player) & Cheryl – 60s Jive
Carrie Ann: 8
Len: 8
Bruno: 8
L: high energy, fun and entertaining, well done; B: definitely pimped that jive CA: great, very groovy, energy was a little wild – one of his better dances.
My 2Cents: There wasn’t enough bounce and I thought their costumes were horrible. I didn’t like it at all.

Niecy (Actress, TV Host) & Louis – 90s Paso Doble
Carrie Ann: 7
Len: 6
Bruno: 7
Bruno said she threw herself into the dance but it was like an avalanche – no control. Carrie Ann said it was her most ambitious routine, but the balance of power between the two was out of whack. Len said this was the dance that just didn’t suit her.
My 2Cents: The music choice really put her at a disadvantage. It was much too fast and didn’t allow for her to show the power and control necessary for the Paso.

Erin (ESPN Reporter) & Maks – 80s Rumba
Carrie Ann: 8
Len: 8
Bruno: 9
Carrie Ann said her solo on the stage was beautiful and she needs to love every minute of what she’s doing. Len said the whole thing was jerky, but he liked it. Bruno said they make great music together – that her dancing is getting better and better and she should be in the final.
My 2Cents: Besides 80s music and clothes, there was nothing else 80s about the dance. I think they should have thrown in some 80s moves, although I’m not sure how you work break dancing into the Rumba. I also thought the music was too fast for this dance.

Evan (Olympic Figure Skater) & Anna – Futuristic Cha Cha
Carrie Ann: 9
Len: 8
Bruno: 9
Len wasn’t sure about this dance either – he liked the futuristic part but not the Cha Cha. Bruno thought it was very inventive and creative and he liked it. Carrie Ann said he was much more committed to the character and thought the stiff movements of the futuristic dance worked well in the Cha Cha.
My 2Cents: Very, very strange dance. I’m not sure the futuristic android moves worked too well with the Cha Cha.

Nicole (Pop Star) & Derek – 50s Paso Doble
Carrie Ann: 10
Len: 10
Bruno: 10
Bruno said it was full of color and the flavor of Spain has never tasted so good. Carrie Ann was pretty much speechless, but then said “brilliant.” Len was disappointed because he couldn’t find anything to criticize.
My 2Cents: Once again Nicole was absolutely perfect and many kudos to Derek for being able to throw in some 50s moves with the traditional style of the Paso Doble. It worked beautifully

A great night of dancing and once again Nicole is cream of the crop. She appears to be unstoppable and she finally got the 10 love from Len tonight.

Overall it was a great show, but I was annoyed with all the music for the Latin round. I thought all the choices were horrible and the tempos of the songs were just too fast, in particular the Rumba and both Paso Dobles. I think this is the part of the show that annoys me the most.

As for elimination tomorrow night, I don’t want to say it, but I think it’s the end of the road for Niecy, but of course it always comes down to popularity and I hear she’s still getting lots of love form the Inside Edition folks. What did you all think and who do you want to see go home?