Welcome back everyone for another night of DWTS! :D
We are now in week three but so far, only one celebrity has had to hang up their dancing shoes. Martina Navratilova was sent packing last week after having the lowest scores and audience votes following two full weeks of competition. Martina had a great personality and was taking the show seriously but at the end of the day, she just couldn’t compete with the wide range of impressive dancers that the show cast this season. I hope Tony is able to get a really awesome partner next season. He deserves to go far on this show!
Tonight, eleven couples return to the floor to perform either a rumba or any unlearned dance. It is also “personal story/most memorable year” night, so expect lots of emotion, tears, and feel good sentiment. This is usually a night of competition where the judges go a bit easier on the celebrities as most of their personal stories can really tug at the heart strings. And if you couple important moments in these dancers lives with their already impressive dancing, we could be in for a really strong night overall.
With all that being said, let’s all get up and dance! I’m kidding of course, but you get the idea. Here we go people… :)
Jack Wagner & Anna Trebunskaya – Samba
To vote for Jack & Anna, call 1-800-868-3402. You can send the word “Vote” to 3402 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 11 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this third week.
Jack’s memorable year was last year, when he was reunited with the daughter he never knew. This is a whole lot better than last week (and the week before). Jack is attacking the samba very well. He has the mood of the dance down completely. My only issue is that he sometimes looks so awkward doing some of these moves. But that’s not really something he can do much about. It is what it is. I can’t find much fault with the dancing though as Jack has obviously practiced and Anna’s choreography is paying off here. Good job, Mr. Wagner.
Len says he saw a totally different side of Jack. A bit of forced upper body but Jack’s best dance. Bruno said Jack got the party started and was in the driver’s seat. Carrie Ann was worried due to the backstage package but Jack uplifted the room and she wants to see more.
Carrie Ann- 8, Len- 8, Bruno- 8 for a total of 24/30.
Maria Menounos & Derek Hough – Rumba
To vote for Maria & Derek, call 1-800-868-3401. You can send the word “Vote” to 3401 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 11 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this third week.
Maria’s most memorable year was 1988 when she was ten. Times were difficult when she was a kid. This is gorgeous. Derek knows how to choreograph is rumba routines. Go check back on youtube if you haven’t seen his previous ones. He always works to his partners strengths and creates a memorable dance. Maria did everything that could be asked of her. It was graceful, elegant, and beautiful to watch. Maria’s most impressive dance so far in the competition.
Bruno says he felt it. He says Maria did something that is extremely difficult- no beat, she did it all on the melodic line. Carrie Ann says it was the vertical and horizontal expression of the true horizontal desire. I’m not at all sure what that means but I am just trying to quote these judges correctly. She complimented everything about the dance. Len says it had a mix of the ballroom and the bedroom. It was a fabulous and just a bit hesitant from time to time.
Carrie Ann- 9, Len- 9, Bruno- 9 for a total of 27/30.
Gladys Knight & Tristan MacManus – Foxtrot
To vote for Gladys & Tristan, call 1-800-868-3411. You can send the word “Vote” to 3411 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 11 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this third week.
Gladys is using 1957 because it was the year she first went on tour with The Pips. Gladys and Tristan perform quite a tender and sweet foxtrot. Once again taking the age into consideration, Tristan choreographs a simple foxtrot that he and Gladys can look good doing. That’s about what I expect from her. It was tasteful, had a nice flow, and no obvious mistakes were present. Obviously, this is a major improvement over last week. It is the weakest of the three dances thus far tonight but that’s because the level of difficulty is decreased when Gladys takes the floor. Good job.
Carrie Ann saw improvement in the frame. She said Gladys can dance like she sings. Len realizes the amount of work and dedication that goes into the show and he admires Gladys. He also speaks on the improvement. Bruno compliments her grace and the fluidity.
Carrie Ann- 8, Len- 8, Bruno- 8 for a total of 24/30.
Roshon Fegan & Chelsie Hightower – Samba
To vote for Roshon & Chelsie, call 1-800-868-3405. You can send the word “Vote” to 3405 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 11 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this third week.
Roshon’s memorable year is 1996- the first time he saw Michael Jackson on stage. Wow. Well, this is a definite tribute to Michael Jackson and Roshon is emulating him very well. This has loads of energy, is a lot of fun to watch, and the MJ moves are very good. I have a feeling the judges may make a comment that the dance was a little too much of a copycat of MJ and needed some more technique. I wouldn’t necessarily disagree with that but I do think that the samba moves we are seeing are very good. Roshon has skill. His biggest positive though is his energy and natural ability to pick up these styles. A very good job!
Len loved the flare and exuberance. His only issue was he wanted a little more traditional samba. Bruno says Michael Jackson would love it. Carrie Ann thought it was a great tribute but said some of the transitions caused Roshon to lose timing a bit. So, she agreed with Len a bit.
Carrie Ann- 8, Len- 8, Bruno- 9 for a total of 25/30.
Gavin DeGraw & Karina Smirnoff – Rumba
To vote for Gavin & Karina, call 1-800-868-3404. You can send the word “Vote” to 3404 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 11 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this third week.
Gavin remembers the year 1998. He moved to NYC after seeing a Billy Joel concert and realized that this is what he wanted to do with his life. Gavin also shows improvement this week but I find him to be a tad stiff. It isn’t bad but I just wish he had a better flow. If I am comparing this to what we saw from Maria and Derek, it obviously doesn’t quite measure up. That being said, this is yet another contestant who is performing their best dance of the season. Gavin and Karina do a very good job. Here’s hoping that bottom two scare helps the votes come in so Gavin could improve even more. He just needs to continue working and he can become less stiff in his movements and knock it out of the park.
Bruno compliments Gavin’s hips. He tells him to watch his turns. Carrie Ann agrees with the turns but she calls the dance extremely sexy. Len talks about how slow the rumba is and compliments Gavin’s hips and musicality. He sees progression week after week.
Carrie Ann- 8, Len- 8, Bruno- 8 for a total of 24/30.
Katherine Jenkins & Mark Ballas – Waltz
To vote for Katherine & Mark, call 1-800-868-3410. You can send the word “Vote” to 3410 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 11 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this third week.
Katherine remembers 1996. It was the year she found out her father had cancer. This backstage package is very sad and touching. And the dance echoes that. Katherine and Mark are beautiful dancing together. An extremely emotional waltz. Katherine has such beautiful lines. I am going to be a bit critical and note that I saw a few moments of “oops” with her feet during that. I mention that because Katherine is so perfect when she goes out to dance, so even I hold her to a crazy high standard. But what more can be said? It was a beautiful dance and Katherine is heading right for the finals of this show if this keeps up.
Carrie Ann says Katherine’s dad is smiling down on her. She can barely talk. Len says it was danced with grace and elegance. He mentions that in hold, there wasn’t quite enough dancing. But he is in a good mood and so he isn’t going to come down on them hard at all. Bruno calls it sensational.
Carrie Ann- 10, Len- 9, Bruno- 10 for a total of 29/30.
Sherri Shepherd & Val Chmerkovskiy – Rumba
To vote for Sherri & Val, call 1-800-868-3406. You can send the word “Vote” to 3406 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 11 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this third week.
Sherri remembers the year her son was born because he almost died. He was born prematurely and many problems occurred because of that. This is another emotional backstage package. Sherri’s ability to act comes in very handy here. Her facial expressions are making the dance very special. She is really into it and that helps so much when you are doing a slow rumba like this. And you know what? The movements are actually quite good. This is a very respectable job. Sherri should be proud. I thought this was her best dance of the competition. I didn’t see any glaring issues and she is improving.
Len appreciated the emotion. He complimented how she was able to get into the dance so well. Bruno says “momma can move.” Bruno thought she was going to lose it but she didn’t. Carrie Ann compliments how true to herself Sherri is. She also gives praise to Sherri’s lines.
Carrie Ann- 8, Len- 8, Bruno- 8 for a total of 24/30.
Melissa Gilbert & Maksim Chmerkovskiy – Jive
To vote for Melissa & Maksim, call 1-800-868-3407. You can send the word “Vote” to 3407 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 11 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this third week.
Melissa picked 2010 when she needed a walker because she fell and broke her back. The beginning was nice. However, the beginning was not a jive. When the jive kicked in, you notice Melissa’s mistakes. Her hands and feet need work for a jive. It is a bit sloppy. Then it returns to what isn’t a jive and it is a better once again. So, the beginning and end were good but I am just not quite sure what this would look like if it was a true jive all throughout. Keep it up though, Melissa. You need to keep practicing and like Gavin for example, she can improve and fix the little things.
Bruno says Melissa wants to put the raunch in the jive. He compliments the opening. He tells her to watch when she is on her own. Carrie Ann loved it. Len said that Melissa has come into the competition.
Carrie Ann- 8, Len- 8, Bruno- 8 for a total of 24/30.
Jaleel White & Kym Johnson – Rumba
To vote for Jaleel & Kym, call 1-800-868-3412. You can send the word “Vote” to 3412 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 11 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this third week.
Jaleel recalls the year (or years) he played Urkel. Oh, a lift! Is Carrie Ann going to call that out and deduct a point or are you allowed to do one in a rumba? Unsure. Anyways, Jaleel is doing much better than last week. He is bringing back some of that suave movement that he had in the first week. Kym did a really good job with the choreography here. The only thing I expected a bit more of was the acting part. Jaleel is an actor and I wanted to feel it more. I thought that part needed some work but the dancing was good. I think Jaleel does better with slow dances and so, he just needs to work on those latin and quick routines and he can return to his week one status as a frontrunner.
Carrie Ann said Jaleel is back in the game. Again, mention of Gregory Hines. Len thought Jaleel coped well but he says the melody didn’t come out through Jalee’s upper body. A bit stiff in the arms. Bruno said Jaleel played cool and smooth. He does agree with Len though. He wants it to be more fluid.
Carrie Ann- 9, Len- 8, Bruno- 8 for a total of 25/30.
William Levy & Cheryl Burke – Salsa
To vote for William & Cheryl, call 1-800-868-3408. You can send the word “Vote” to 3408 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 11 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this third week.
William’s year is 1995. It was the year he came to America. OH BOY. Cheryl ripped William’s shirt. It doesn’t come off but the abs definitely come out. And that’s pretty much all the audience needs to lose their collective minds. But let me speak on the dancing. The dancing- very good. William uses his latin background to near perfection. His hips are moving. It is sexy. His ass is shaking. It is hot. A minor issue (I think it was an issue) with Cheryl and his legs. I’ll have to watch that again. But I want to watch it again. A very fun and sexy dance. William’s best of the competition. (I feel like I have said that about nearly everyone tonight).
Len said William put a new meaning into free willy. He said William conquered the salsa. Bruno wants William to come closer. He calls it amazing. Carrie Ann wants to go to Cuba. She calls it ridiculously hot.
Carrie Ann- 9, Len- 9, Bruno- 10 for a total of 28/30.
Donald Driver & Peta Murgatroyd – Rumba
To vote for Donald & Peta, call 1-800-868-3403. You can send the word “Vote” to 3403 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 11 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this third week.
Donald remembers 2010. It was a year that his good friend passed away from cancer. Donald is knocking this rumba out of the park. Peta did one hell of a job choreographing this. They both come together and are sexy, sensual, emotional, and on fire. Donald obviously takes this show very seriously and it shows. We have had many rumbas performed tonight and this is right up there with the others. Donald is someone else I am expecting to head toward the finale.
Carrie Ann compliments Donald’s passion. She mentions a few issues but doesn’t care. She is not looking at lifts tonight. Len also compliments everything. He calls the whole evening awesome. Bruno likes that Donald pushes himself to the limit and mentions how difficult the dance was.
Carrie Ann- 9, Len- 8, Bruno- 9 for a total of 26/30.
Final Judge Leaderboard For Week 3:
Katherine & Mark- 29
William & Cheryl- 28
Maria & Derek- 27
Donald & Peta- 26
Jaleel & Kym- 25
Roshon & Chelsie- 25
Melissa & Maks- 24
Sherri & Val- 24
Jack & Anna- 24
Gladys & Tristan- 24
Gavin & Karina- 24
This is tough. First off, we have five couples with a tied score. When that happens, we usually see some type of shocking elimination because the voting becomes too close. So, if you do have a favorite, go ahead and vote. It may actually help! I don’t even feel comfortable enough trying to pick who could potentially be in trouble. I need to really think about this one. Everyone either improved on a previous week, continued to shine, or made a touchdown. Good group! Tough as heck vote. Good luck to all of them. :D
