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'Dancing With the Stars' Recap: A Doll's House
Nicole Scherzinger dances a perfect paso doble
Posted by Kate Mulcrone
Monday, May 10, 2010 7:52 PM
For the first time this season our contenders had to perform two full routines each, a ballroom dance and a decade-themed Latin dance. Nicole dominated the ballroom round with a lightfooted foxtrot and also took top honors in the Latin round with an absolutely breathtaking paso doble. In fact, our lovely Nicole was just one point away from a perfect 60 tonight.
Erin and Maks turned in an amazing are-they-or-aren't-they tango and Evan and Anna debuted a sugary sweet waltz.
Unfortunately, not everyone did their best work tonight. Niecy struggled in both the ballroom and the Latin round and Chad's tango was a disappointment.
In case you missed part of the show, here are all the dirty details:
Chad Ochocinco
He showed the tango who was boss in Week 6, but tonight Chad's tango was a miss. His posture was off and he made a few missteps -- and of course the judges noticed. Chad's '60s-style jive, on the other hand, was a smashing success. It was light and fun and, as Bruno said, he "totally pimped that jive." His footwork was excellent and his hips were nice and loose. We're at the point in the competition where any little mistake can sink you. Since that tango was a no-go, Chad had better hope his fans will come through for him.
Tango: 21/30
Jive: 24/30
Total: 45/60
Niecy Nash
Although her carriage was elegant -- Len actually used the word "gorgeous" -- Niecy seemed a little overwhelmed during her waltz. It looked more like she was trying to keep up with Louis than dance with him. Her '90s-style paso doble started out bumpy but she pulled it together toward the end. That might have been OK at the beginning of the competition, but poor lines and bad rhythm just won't cut it in Week 8. I'm afraid the paso doble might have been Niecy's last turn out on the floor.
Waltz: 23/30
Paso doble: 20/30
Total: 43/60
Erin Andrews
Her tango absolutely sizzled. Erin's footwork was her best yet, her frame was excellent (as it always is) and she seemed completely caught up in the magic of the dance. The lifts in this routine were even more jaw-dropping than Evan and Anna's last week. And, hey, Erin and Maks may not actually be dating, but there's a real spark between them. (Brooke asked them about their "love story" and they didn't deny anything.) Their '80s-style rumba wasn't quite as successful. Although Erin pulled off an impressive split sequence she was a little bit stiff and choppy throughout. Still, Erin was on her game and seems poised to take it to the next level in the semifinals.
Tango: 28/30
Rumba: 25/30
Total: 53/60
Evan Lysacek
He and Anna danced beautifully together, as always, but their waltz was a little too Disneyfied for me ... especially the weird daydreamy lead-in. Len seemed to feel the same way, and said that he wanted to see it again before deciding whether or not he liked it. Still, cheesy doesn't mean bad and Evan got top marks for this one. He and Anna drew "the future" in the Latin round, and their cha-cha was sort of Tin Man meets "Thriller." Len pointed out that being robotic on purpose really helped Evan play to his strengths, since he tends to be a little too stiff in Latin dances. Let's hope he'll take the judges' words to heart as he prepares for the next round of competition.
Waltz: 27/30
Cha-cha: 26/30
Total: 53/60
Nicole Scherzinger
Her foxtrot may have looked whimsical and lighthearted, but there were some tough moves in that routine! Bruno called it "a jewel created by a master," probably because Nicole matched Derek step for step out on the floor. It was honestly just about perfect -- so much so that Len didn't object to the gratuitous use of props. I thought their '50s-style paso doble was the best dance of the season so far. There was an amazing his 'n hers quality to this tight and fast routine. As usual, Nicole's extension was amazing, her footwork was beyond flawless and her rhythm was spot on. The crowd was absolutely blown away, and so were the other contestants. I clearly saw Chad Ochocinco mouthing "Wow" to no one in particular. Even Carrie Ann was at a loss. She broke into excited giggles at the beginning of her critique! I can't wait to see what Nicole does next week.
Foxtrot: 29/30
Paso doble: 30/30
Total: 59/60
Who won over the judges: Nicole
Who won over the audience: Nicole
Who needs to step it up: Niecy
Nicole Scherzinger dances a perfect paso doble
Posted by Kate Mulcrone
Monday, May 10, 2010 7:52 PM
For the first time this season our contenders had to perform two full routines each, a ballroom dance and a decade-themed Latin dance. Nicole dominated the ballroom round with a lightfooted foxtrot and also took top honors in the Latin round with an absolutely breathtaking paso doble. In fact, our lovely Nicole was just one point away from a perfect 60 tonight.
Erin and Maks turned in an amazing are-they-or-aren't-they tango and Evan and Anna debuted a sugary sweet waltz.
Unfortunately, not everyone did their best work tonight. Niecy struggled in both the ballroom and the Latin round and Chad's tango was a disappointment.
In case you missed part of the show, here are all the dirty details:
Chad Ochocinco
He showed the tango who was boss in Week 6, but tonight Chad's tango was a miss. His posture was off and he made a few missteps -- and of course the judges noticed. Chad's '60s-style jive, on the other hand, was a smashing success. It was light and fun and, as Bruno said, he "totally pimped that jive." His footwork was excellent and his hips were nice and loose. We're at the point in the competition where any little mistake can sink you. Since that tango was a no-go, Chad had better hope his fans will come through for him.
Tango: 21/30
Jive: 24/30
Total: 45/60
Niecy Nash
Although her carriage was elegant -- Len actually used the word "gorgeous" -- Niecy seemed a little overwhelmed during her waltz. It looked more like she was trying to keep up with Louis than dance with him. Her '90s-style paso doble started out bumpy but she pulled it together toward the end. That might have been OK at the beginning of the competition, but poor lines and bad rhythm just won't cut it in Week 8. I'm afraid the paso doble might have been Niecy's last turn out on the floor.
Waltz: 23/30
Paso doble: 20/30
Total: 43/60
Erin Andrews
Her tango absolutely sizzled. Erin's footwork was her best yet, her frame was excellent (as it always is) and she seemed completely caught up in the magic of the dance. The lifts in this routine were even more jaw-dropping than Evan and Anna's last week. And, hey, Erin and Maks may not actually be dating, but there's a real spark between them. (Brooke asked them about their "love story" and they didn't deny anything.) Their '80s-style rumba wasn't quite as successful. Although Erin pulled off an impressive split sequence she was a little bit stiff and choppy throughout. Still, Erin was on her game and seems poised to take it to the next level in the semifinals.
Tango: 28/30
Rumba: 25/30
Total: 53/60
Evan Lysacek
He and Anna danced beautifully together, as always, but their waltz was a little too Disneyfied for me ... especially the weird daydreamy lead-in. Len seemed to feel the same way, and said that he wanted to see it again before deciding whether or not he liked it. Still, cheesy doesn't mean bad and Evan got top marks for this one. He and Anna drew "the future" in the Latin round, and their cha-cha was sort of Tin Man meets "Thriller." Len pointed out that being robotic on purpose really helped Evan play to his strengths, since he tends to be a little too stiff in Latin dances. Let's hope he'll take the judges' words to heart as he prepares for the next round of competition.
Waltz: 27/30
Cha-cha: 26/30
Total: 53/60
Nicole Scherzinger
Her foxtrot may have looked whimsical and lighthearted, but there were some tough moves in that routine! Bruno called it "a jewel created by a master," probably because Nicole matched Derek step for step out on the floor. It was honestly just about perfect -- so much so that Len didn't object to the gratuitous use of props. I thought their '50s-style paso doble was the best dance of the season so far. There was an amazing his 'n hers quality to this tight and fast routine. As usual, Nicole's extension was amazing, her footwork was beyond flawless and her rhythm was spot on. The crowd was absolutely blown away, and so were the other contestants. I clearly saw Chad Ochocinco mouthing "Wow" to no one in particular. Even Carrie Ann was at a loss. She broke into excited giggles at the beginning of her critique! I can't wait to see what Nicole does next week.
Foxtrot: 29/30
Paso doble: 30/30
Total: 59/60
Who won over the judges: Nicole
Who won over the audience: Nicole
Who needs to step it up: Niecy
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'Dancing with the Stars' Live Recap: Top 5 Dance Double on 'Era Night'
Monday, May 10, 2010
Meghan Carlson
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
I'm back, ballroom babies! Many thanks to my BuddyTV buddy John for covering for me last week while I rubbed illustrious actor elbows with Colin Hanks and Bradley Whitford on the Good Guys set.
But now my focus is back where it belongs: on Maksim Chmerkovskiy's beautiful bod! Wait, err, I mean, on dancing. Yes, that's what I meant. Dancing! (But really, shirtlessness.)
Tonight: The top five couples each take on TWO different dances, one Ballroom and one Latin, the latter of which will feature a song and style taken from an era in time. We found out who's dancing what thanks to their tweets, though some stars are staying mum on which eras they'll be repping tonight. But not Louis van Amstel, who just couldn't contain himself from tweeting that he and Niecy will dance a 90s Paso Doble to "Rhythm is a Dancer." Uhhhhhh ... ! Just so you know, if this recap stops after they perform, it's because my HEAD EXPLODED from awesome-overload, and I can no longer type. Because no head.
Needless to say, I'm stoked to be back and chatting about all-star dancing. Who's here with me? And what do you think of our top five couples? We're about to find out how they fared with double-dance-duty now, because it's time for Dancing with the Stars ... "Liiiiiiiive!"
We'll see the couples' ballroom dances first, and then their era routines.
First, we hear what the ballroom pros think of their star competition:
Erin: Long, graceful arms, but doesn't trust Maks enough
Evan: He's a born competitor, but needs to find chemistry with Anna
Chad: Great posture, but he needs to move faster and harder
Nicole: She's an almost-perfect dancer, but she needs to enjoy it more
Niecy: She's elegant, but needs to get lighter on her feet and improve technique.
The Ballroom Round:
Chad & Cheryl
Dancing: Tango
Song: "Sweet Dreams," Beyonce
Technical Difficulties: You've got to be KIDDING ME. The news interrupted my LIVE show for a tornado warning. Grrrr! When the show finally came back on, I heard Carrie Ann tell them that the dance was funky and lacked unity.
Update: I found the dance online! But honestly, if any tornado warning were going to interrupt my Dancing time, I'm glad it was during this routine. I was left ... underwhelmed. No, that's a bit harsh. Maybe just ... "whelmed" (if I were in Europe). What I'm trying to say is that my time being pissed off about a tornado warning was mostly unnecessary and in the end more memorable than Chad and Cheryl's tango, which was technically sufficient but not up to snuff for Week 8. Chad needs more polish or he's going to be waving good-bye tomorrow.
Scores: 7+7+7=21
Niecy & Louis
Dancing: Viennese Waltz
Song: "I Got You Babe"
Judges Say: "Great movement, you have to watch it though because at time you were swinging your arms and you looked like you were being chased by wasps. It was a tiny thing in an otherwise great performance." - Bruno
"There was a little too much push and pull happening. The transitions were not quite there." - Carrie Ann
"Niecy, I'm pleasantly surprised. It had a lovely, floaty quality to it. Your carriage was gorgeous." - Len
I Say: There's no question that Louis and Niecy have some of the best chemistry around, and they just look like they're having fun out there. But the dancing is still a bit clunky where it needs to be smoooooth. But what's nice is how energetic and joyful these two are. Their great personality easily distracts from the technical issues in their transitions. Love Niecy! She is FUN personified.
Scores: 7+8+8=23
Erin & Maks
Dancing: Argentine tango
Song: ? (A sexy Spanish number)
Judges Say: "That was just so hot, I can't even describe it. Your legs were phenomenal, you were committed to the character. Truly beautiful." - Carrie Ann
"Erin, you dirty, dirty girl. I absolutely LOVED it!" - Len
"Maks, you are a lucky fire hydrant. I never knew you could be so bendy. You were on fire." - Bruno
I Say: Looks like those pros were right about Erin's second-guessing. Every intro package, including this one, shows Erin fighting with Maks. And yet, every week she comes out and performs like those nerves were never there. Props to Maks for choreographing a challenging, super-sexy routine that flexed Erin in all the right ways. That was ... H. O. T-T-T-T-T-T-T!
Scores: 9+10+9=28
A TEN from LEN? His "dirty" mind is in a good mood tonight!
Evan & Anna
Dancing: Waltz
Song: "Open Arms," Journey
Judges Say: "I'm not sure if I liked it or not. I'd like to watch it again. I didn't like the roly-poly stuff on the floor. However, your posture's great, you've got lovely movement. I'm in flux." - Len
"Romeo and Juliet, reawakened. Your lyrical lines, the purity and beauty of your top half..." - Bruno
"You just get mesmerized by the lines. But when I look closer, you need to lose yourself in the moment." - Carrie Ann
I Say: Anna wanted to dance "the most romantic waltz that has ever been on DWTS," which is a little bit comical when you consider they were dancing to Journey. But what wasn't comical was the beautiful grace that Evan showed here. Last week John decided Evan was boring, but I disagree. He's just not used to performing emotionally, so he comes off as closed-off. This dance didn't quite fully open him up to the emotional element, but it was still gorgeously danced.
Scores: 9+9+9=27
I guess flux-y Len decided that he liked it.
Nicole & Derek
Dancing: Foxtrot
Song: "Haven't Met You Yet," Michael Buble
Judges Say: "Pure dancing JOY! That was like a jewel created by a master. I salute you." - Bruno
"It's nice to see you smiling again. You're dazzling. You're just defying my imagination. You're not phoning it in. You're challenging yourself." - Carrie Ann
"You've taken a foxtrot, a Michael Buble song, and you've turned it into an enchanting love story. It's irresistible." - Len
I Say: Okay, so it's really just a matter of time before Derek and Nicole either hit the road or our TVs with a vaudeville variety hour. And I think we should all make a pact to buy tickets, because that will be one hell of a show. Anyway: for taking it so super-seriously in rehearsals, Nicole does a great job of coming out like a consummate performer and keeping it fun and fresh. This was a joy to watch, and seemed like a joy to dance.
Scores: 10+9+10=29
The 10s are coming out to PLAY tonight, y'all! What do you think: are they deserved?
The Latin Era Round:
But first ... behold! The FUTURE! Where we all dress like the tin man and live in The Matrix.
Or, as Tom Bergeron puts it, "where we've outgrown our need for emotion, but not hair gel." Yuck, yuck.
Chad & Cheryl
Dancing: 60s Jive
Song: "The Love Man," Otis Redding
Judges Say: "It was high energy, it was fun, it was entertaining." - Len
"You definitely pimped that jive. It's great to see you smile. When you smile and have a good time, the whole thing changes." - Bruno
"It was groovy, the energy was a little wild at times, but it suited the dance perfectly." - Carrie Ann
I Say: This was a fast-paced, fun-loving jive, but Chad didn't feel fully committed to the movements. For a wide receiver, he needs a little lesson in hustling (but not hustlin'). His smile was convincing, but he seemed to be second-guessing himself and half-dancing the short steps of the jive. Chad makes a good love man, but I didn't love it.
Scores: 8+8+8=24
Niecy & Louis
Dancing: 90s Paso Doble
Song: "Rhythm is a Dancer," Snap!
Judges Say: "I think you throw yourself into it a bit like an avalanche. It's a very difficult dance. It requires a lot of control, and there was barely any." - Bruno
"I felt this was your most ambitious routine yet. At the beginning it felt like bumper cars. The balance of power was out of wack." - Carrie Ann
"Everyone has a dance that really doesn't suit their personality, and I think the paso doble is the dance that doesn't suit you." - Len
I Say: Well, on the plus side, my head didn't explode. But on the negative side, Niecy wanted to prove that she could be "intense, fierce and powerful," and she did it ... but at times she did it like a dizzy, pissed-off bumblebee. I still love her, but Len's right: this was not her dance. I wasn't overwhelmed by awesome like I hoped I would be.
Scores: 7+6+7=20
Uh oh. Should Niecy be worried about her fate tomorrow? That's a low score for Week 8, but we still have three dances to go. Maybe Nicole will really screw it up and save Niecy's day. (And maybe I'll win $1 million by never buying lotto tickets. It ain't gonna happen.)
Erin & Maks
Dancing: 80s Rumba
Song: "I Ain't Missing You," John Waite
Judges Say: "You do doubt yourself. You move beautifully. You should love every minute of it. I wanna see that." - Carrie Ann
"Overall the mix of steps was great. The whole thing was jerky. You've got to smooth it out." - Len
"You two make great music together. Your extension is getting better and better. I think you should be in the final." - Bruno
I Say: Like Erin's lilac legwarmers, this rumba was pretty, but not too powerful. After their torrid tango, this rumba felt lukewarm. But that's not to say that Erin didn't pull off some beautiful moves. Especially in the end of the routine, her chemistry and passion in her interplay with Maks was lovely.
Scores: 8+8+9=25
Evan & Anna
Dancing: Futuristic Cha-cha
Song: "Bulletproof," La Roux
Judges Say: "For me, Evan, your Latin generally lacks any rhythm. You're a robot, so you haven't got to be loose and liquid. Again, you've confused me." - Len
"For me it was clear: It's Mr. Spock meets Barbarella in Cha-Cha Trek 3-D!" - Bruno
"I actually thought that this time you were much more committed to your character. It was perfectly lucky. The stiff movement is what you were going for, and it worked well." - Carrie Ann
I Say: Ohhhh ... THERE'S my HEAD EXPLOSION OF AWESOME! I loved this. Loved the song, loved the concept, loved the dance, loved the costumes ... loved everything. Call me a sucker for a Fifth Element inspired costume, but this dance screamed "Amazingness!" straight to my geeky, sci-fi loving heart.
Scores: 9+8+9=26
Nicole & Derek
Dancing: 50s Paso Doble
Judges Say: "Full of color. The flavor of Spain has never tasted so good!" - Bruno
"How did you do that? How did you match 50s with paso in a way that was like ... BRILLIANT!" - Carrie Ann
"It's not in my nature to be nice about two dances in one night. I am really disappointment because there was nothing I could see to criticize." - Len
I Say: What is there to say? My geek heart didn't explode, but my brain was absolutely impressed by Derek's ability to marry the 50s with paso doble, and with Nicole's ability to perform it to perfection once again. I mean ... what did you expect?
Scores: 10+10+10=30
Final Scores & My Final Thoughts
Well, that's it for the Week 8 performances, and these top five are clearly in it to win it! With so many impressive routines tonight, which were your favorites? Who earned your votes tonight?
You guys, I'm like Natalie Imbruglia: Torn. Evan and Anna's futuristic cha-cha was my personal favorite, but as a whole package, Nicole and Derek schooled the group with two exciting, gorgeous dances that even had Len drooling. Their superiority is self-evident. But then you've got Erin and Maksim, who heated up the floor with a Argentine tango that screamed "SEXAY," and I screamed "LOVE IT" right back. How do I choose? Even Chad and Niecy, who earned hard-won 7s and 8s, had personalities I just don't want to see go bye-bye tomorrow.
Whatever way it goes, I'ma be wiping back some tears tomorrow night. And back here recording all my thoughts about it during my live results recap. Join me, won't you please?
Here are the final scores:
The Leaderboard:
Nicole and Derek: 29+30=59
Evan and Anna: 27+26=53
Erin and Maks: 28+25=53
Chad and Cheryl: 21+24=45
Niecy and Louis: 23+20=43
Monday, May 10, 2010
Meghan Carlson
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
I'm back, ballroom babies! Many thanks to my BuddyTV buddy John for covering for me last week while I rubbed illustrious actor elbows with Colin Hanks and Bradley Whitford on the Good Guys set.
But now my focus is back where it belongs: on Maksim Chmerkovskiy's beautiful bod! Wait, err, I mean, on dancing. Yes, that's what I meant. Dancing! (But really, shirtlessness.)
Tonight: The top five couples each take on TWO different dances, one Ballroom and one Latin, the latter of which will feature a song and style taken from an era in time. We found out who's dancing what thanks to their tweets, though some stars are staying mum on which eras they'll be repping tonight. But not Louis van Amstel, who just couldn't contain himself from tweeting that he and Niecy will dance a 90s Paso Doble to "Rhythm is a Dancer." Uhhhhhh ... ! Just so you know, if this recap stops after they perform, it's because my HEAD EXPLODED from awesome-overload, and I can no longer type. Because no head.
Needless to say, I'm stoked to be back and chatting about all-star dancing. Who's here with me? And what do you think of our top five couples? We're about to find out how they fared with double-dance-duty now, because it's time for Dancing with the Stars ... "Liiiiiiiive!"
We'll see the couples' ballroom dances first, and then their era routines.
First, we hear what the ballroom pros think of their star competition:
Erin: Long, graceful arms, but doesn't trust Maks enough
Evan: He's a born competitor, but needs to find chemistry with Anna
Chad: Great posture, but he needs to move faster and harder
Nicole: She's an almost-perfect dancer, but she needs to enjoy it more
Niecy: She's elegant, but needs to get lighter on her feet and improve technique.
The Ballroom Round:
Chad & Cheryl
Dancing: Tango
Song: "Sweet Dreams," Beyonce
Technical Difficulties: You've got to be KIDDING ME. The news interrupted my LIVE show for a tornado warning. Grrrr! When the show finally came back on, I heard Carrie Ann tell them that the dance was funky and lacked unity.
Update: I found the dance online! But honestly, if any tornado warning were going to interrupt my Dancing time, I'm glad it was during this routine. I was left ... underwhelmed. No, that's a bit harsh. Maybe just ... "whelmed" (if I were in Europe). What I'm trying to say is that my time being pissed off about a tornado warning was mostly unnecessary and in the end more memorable than Chad and Cheryl's tango, which was technically sufficient but not up to snuff for Week 8. Chad needs more polish or he's going to be waving good-bye tomorrow.
Scores: 7+7+7=21
Niecy & Louis
Dancing: Viennese Waltz
Song: "I Got You Babe"
Judges Say: "Great movement, you have to watch it though because at time you were swinging your arms and you looked like you were being chased by wasps. It was a tiny thing in an otherwise great performance." - Bruno
"There was a little too much push and pull happening. The transitions were not quite there." - Carrie Ann
"Niecy, I'm pleasantly surprised. It had a lovely, floaty quality to it. Your carriage was gorgeous." - Len
I Say: There's no question that Louis and Niecy have some of the best chemistry around, and they just look like they're having fun out there. But the dancing is still a bit clunky where it needs to be smoooooth. But what's nice is how energetic and joyful these two are. Their great personality easily distracts from the technical issues in their transitions. Love Niecy! She is FUN personified.
Scores: 7+8+8=23
Erin & Maks
Dancing: Argentine tango
Song: ? (A sexy Spanish number)
Judges Say: "That was just so hot, I can't even describe it. Your legs were phenomenal, you were committed to the character. Truly beautiful." - Carrie Ann
"Erin, you dirty, dirty girl. I absolutely LOVED it!" - Len
"Maks, you are a lucky fire hydrant. I never knew you could be so bendy. You were on fire." - Bruno
I Say: Looks like those pros were right about Erin's second-guessing. Every intro package, including this one, shows Erin fighting with Maks. And yet, every week she comes out and performs like those nerves were never there. Props to Maks for choreographing a challenging, super-sexy routine that flexed Erin in all the right ways. That was ... H. O. T-T-T-T-T-T-T!
Scores: 9+10+9=28
A TEN from LEN? His "dirty" mind is in a good mood tonight!
Evan & Anna
Dancing: Waltz
Song: "Open Arms," Journey
Judges Say: "I'm not sure if I liked it or not. I'd like to watch it again. I didn't like the roly-poly stuff on the floor. However, your posture's great, you've got lovely movement. I'm in flux." - Len
"Romeo and Juliet, reawakened. Your lyrical lines, the purity and beauty of your top half..." - Bruno
"You just get mesmerized by the lines. But when I look closer, you need to lose yourself in the moment." - Carrie Ann
I Say: Anna wanted to dance "the most romantic waltz that has ever been on DWTS," which is a little bit comical when you consider they were dancing to Journey. But what wasn't comical was the beautiful grace that Evan showed here. Last week John decided Evan was boring, but I disagree. He's just not used to performing emotionally, so he comes off as closed-off. This dance didn't quite fully open him up to the emotional element, but it was still gorgeously danced.
Scores: 9+9+9=27
I guess flux-y Len decided that he liked it.
Nicole & Derek
Dancing: Foxtrot
Song: "Haven't Met You Yet," Michael Buble
Judges Say: "Pure dancing JOY! That was like a jewel created by a master. I salute you." - Bruno
"It's nice to see you smiling again. You're dazzling. You're just defying my imagination. You're not phoning it in. You're challenging yourself." - Carrie Ann
"You've taken a foxtrot, a Michael Buble song, and you've turned it into an enchanting love story. It's irresistible." - Len
I Say: Okay, so it's really just a matter of time before Derek and Nicole either hit the road or our TVs with a vaudeville variety hour. And I think we should all make a pact to buy tickets, because that will be one hell of a show. Anyway: for taking it so super-seriously in rehearsals, Nicole does a great job of coming out like a consummate performer and keeping it fun and fresh. This was a joy to watch, and seemed like a joy to dance.
Scores: 10+9+10=29
The 10s are coming out to PLAY tonight, y'all! What do you think: are they deserved?
The Latin Era Round:
But first ... behold! The FUTURE! Where we all dress like the tin man and live in The Matrix.
Or, as Tom Bergeron puts it, "where we've outgrown our need for emotion, but not hair gel." Yuck, yuck.
Chad & Cheryl
Dancing: 60s Jive
Song: "The Love Man," Otis Redding
Judges Say: "It was high energy, it was fun, it was entertaining." - Len
"You definitely pimped that jive. It's great to see you smile. When you smile and have a good time, the whole thing changes." - Bruno
"It was groovy, the energy was a little wild at times, but it suited the dance perfectly." - Carrie Ann
I Say: This was a fast-paced, fun-loving jive, but Chad didn't feel fully committed to the movements. For a wide receiver, he needs a little lesson in hustling (but not hustlin'). His smile was convincing, but he seemed to be second-guessing himself and half-dancing the short steps of the jive. Chad makes a good love man, but I didn't love it.
Scores: 8+8+8=24
Niecy & Louis
Dancing: 90s Paso Doble
Song: "Rhythm is a Dancer," Snap!
Judges Say: "I think you throw yourself into it a bit like an avalanche. It's a very difficult dance. It requires a lot of control, and there was barely any." - Bruno
"I felt this was your most ambitious routine yet. At the beginning it felt like bumper cars. The balance of power was out of wack." - Carrie Ann
"Everyone has a dance that really doesn't suit their personality, and I think the paso doble is the dance that doesn't suit you." - Len
I Say: Well, on the plus side, my head didn't explode. But on the negative side, Niecy wanted to prove that she could be "intense, fierce and powerful," and she did it ... but at times she did it like a dizzy, pissed-off bumblebee. I still love her, but Len's right: this was not her dance. I wasn't overwhelmed by awesome like I hoped I would be.
Scores: 7+6+7=20
Uh oh. Should Niecy be worried about her fate tomorrow? That's a low score for Week 8, but we still have three dances to go. Maybe Nicole will really screw it up and save Niecy's day. (And maybe I'll win $1 million by never buying lotto tickets. It ain't gonna happen.)
Erin & Maks
Dancing: 80s Rumba
Song: "I Ain't Missing You," John Waite
Judges Say: "You do doubt yourself. You move beautifully. You should love every minute of it. I wanna see that." - Carrie Ann
"Overall the mix of steps was great. The whole thing was jerky. You've got to smooth it out." - Len
"You two make great music together. Your extension is getting better and better. I think you should be in the final." - Bruno
I Say: Like Erin's lilac legwarmers, this rumba was pretty, but not too powerful. After their torrid tango, this rumba felt lukewarm. But that's not to say that Erin didn't pull off some beautiful moves. Especially in the end of the routine, her chemistry and passion in her interplay with Maks was lovely.
Scores: 8+8+9=25
Evan & Anna
Dancing: Futuristic Cha-cha
Song: "Bulletproof," La Roux
Judges Say: "For me, Evan, your Latin generally lacks any rhythm. You're a robot, so you haven't got to be loose and liquid. Again, you've confused me." - Len
"For me it was clear: It's Mr. Spock meets Barbarella in Cha-Cha Trek 3-D!" - Bruno
"I actually thought that this time you were much more committed to your character. It was perfectly lucky. The stiff movement is what you were going for, and it worked well." - Carrie Ann
I Say: Ohhhh ... THERE'S my HEAD EXPLOSION OF AWESOME! I loved this. Loved the song, loved the concept, loved the dance, loved the costumes ... loved everything. Call me a sucker for a Fifth Element inspired costume, but this dance screamed "Amazingness!" straight to my geeky, sci-fi loving heart.
Scores: 9+8+9=26
Nicole & Derek
Dancing: 50s Paso Doble
Judges Say: "Full of color. The flavor of Spain has never tasted so good!" - Bruno
"How did you do that? How did you match 50s with paso in a way that was like ... BRILLIANT!" - Carrie Ann
"It's not in my nature to be nice about two dances in one night. I am really disappointment because there was nothing I could see to criticize." - Len
I Say: What is there to say? My geek heart didn't explode, but my brain was absolutely impressed by Derek's ability to marry the 50s with paso doble, and with Nicole's ability to perform it to perfection once again. I mean ... what did you expect?
Scores: 10+10+10=30
Final Scores & My Final Thoughts
Well, that's it for the Week 8 performances, and these top five are clearly in it to win it! With so many impressive routines tonight, which were your favorites? Who earned your votes tonight?
You guys, I'm like Natalie Imbruglia: Torn. Evan and Anna's futuristic cha-cha was my personal favorite, but as a whole package, Nicole and Derek schooled the group with two exciting, gorgeous dances that even had Len drooling. Their superiority is self-evident. But then you've got Erin and Maksim, who heated up the floor with a Argentine tango that screamed "SEXAY," and I screamed "LOVE IT" right back. How do I choose? Even Chad and Niecy, who earned hard-won 7s and 8s, had personalities I just don't want to see go bye-bye tomorrow.
Whatever way it goes, I'ma be wiping back some tears tomorrow night. And back here recording all my thoughts about it during my live results recap. Join me, won't you please?
Here are the final scores:
The Leaderboard:
Nicole and Derek: 29+30=59
Evan and Anna: 27+26=53
Erin and Maks: 28+25=53
Chad and Cheryl: 21+24=45
Niecy and Louis: 23+20=43
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