Tonight on Dancing With the Stars we celebrate the music of Broadway! Ballroom dance and Broadway….hmmm. We’re about half way through the season! Still two hour shows, though. Group dances are coming this week. Kristin Chenowith is here too! Oh, not to mention what a great job by singing nuns from Sister Acts!
Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke – Cha Cha Cha – Rob and Cheryl appeared on Ellen today. Kris Jenner comes in to visit Rob! Momma love. Aww, she never thought Rob could do anything special…wait… Time to not be nice anymore! They’re dancing to the music of Jersey Boys. This would’ve worked really well if Cheryl was a guy. They could’ve done the whole boy band thing! Oh well. Great hip action from Rob. He’s still a little bit too robotic for my taste, especially in the cha cha. His musicality has improved. Not really loving this though, he didn’t let go at all. It feels like move…move….move….move…watch Cheryl…move. Kardashians in the house! Len calls it clean, precise, had good timing, but his cha cha cha needs to show rhythm, and there was none. I agree! Too stiff. “Starchy.” Bruno said he has to take it full on for his opening night on Broadway, and Rob just walked through it half-heartedly. LISTEN TO MAMA says Bruno! Carrie Ann didn’t think it was as great as last week, but she saw more charisma. Rob said Broadway week is preparing him for Halloween… Carrie Ann – 8 Len – 7 Bruno – 7 – 22. – VIDEO
Nancy Grace and Tristan McManus – Foxtrot – Oh my goodness. A glimpse of Chaz in the background tells me that he’ll be dancing to Phantom of the Opera. Maybe if the judges want Nancy to improve they shouldn’t give her a not so great show (Spamalot), an early spot, and a boring dance. Nancy thinks Tristan is trying to sabotage her by making choreography too hard when she asks for harder choreography. Great intro from nancy! This is her style, definitely. Tristan’s choreography shows off just as much of Nancy as himself, which I love. Nancy’s spins are all fantastic. This is her best dance so far! Great kicks, great transitions, great foot movement. Love the leprechaun kick at the end! Yay Nancy, that was fantastic! I’m pleasantly surprised. Bruno loved the feel of the dance while still dancing a foxtrot. Carrie Ann said she upped the ante and called it a “show-stopper.” Excellent. Len is smiling because he keeps saying more flair but less care, which is what she did. He didn’t like how much of the dance wasn’t in hold, however. I’d let it slide though (a. it’s Broadway week; b. it’s not as strict as quickstep, Len!) Carrie Ann – 9! Len – 7(???) Bruno – 8 – 24. Come on now, Len! Boooo. 1-800-VOTE4-05. First 9 for Nancy! Carson is back as the creative director of the group dances! – VIDEO
David Arquette and Kym Johnson – Quickstep – It gets me mad how, week after week, Nancy, David, and Rob are always in the front of the order. Meanwhile, frontrunners J.R. and Ricki are always at the end, along with Chaz. NOT FAIR. It’s very high energy, and David has had a hard time all season to keep it in. I wish every contestant would stop bringing up Ricki and J.R… you’re only making them seem like more of frontrunners. Happy Days is from Broadway? Ooops. Crazy moves from David, without a lot of conrol. Much better in hold! Great frame by both of them. Swift, clean motion. Courtney’s in the audience every week, what a good (ex) wife! Carrie Ann loved the performance and he lived up to her expectations. On the bad side, they were out of sync. Len said it was rough around the edges, but high energy and full on. His enthusiasm was too much. Bruno said he got everyone going in the crowd. Carrie Ann – 8 Len – 7 Bruno – 8 – 23. UGH. More pimping J.R. annd Ricki because they are both dancing the quickstep. It’s getting super annoying… – VIDEO
Ricki and Derek – Quickstep – Music via Guys and Dolls! Ricki wants to redeem herself this week. I wonder if her Hairspray experience will help her. MORE JR PIMPING. If Derek wants to top the leaderboard, he SHOULDN’T BREAK HOLD IN THIS! -crosses fingers- Good intro. “Luck Be a Lady” is the song! Not too much to say here, I really like Ricki, but this just isn’t anything special. The best parts were the intro and end where they broke hold. No breaking hold in the middle though! The Kardashians (except Kim) are up on their feet. Irrelevant. I think Carrie Ann and Bruno were up too. I didn’t think it was all that great, sorry! Len said Ricki doesn’t need luck when you’ve got talent. He’s just nit-picking. He loved it. Bruno said it was incredible style with outstanding choreography. The interpretation was beyond belief. Carrie Ann said she loved watching poetry in motion. It was everything a number should be. Can anyone say Tony Award? (cough cough looking for an Emmy for choreography perhaps?) Carrie Ann – 10! Len – 9 Bruno – 10! – 29.Their highest scores yet. I thought it was good, but nothing special. Oh well :) – VIDEO
Chaz Bono and Lacey Schwimmer – Tango – PHANTOM! PHANTOM! PHANTOM! My recap for Chaz didn’t save, so here’s a quick rundown. Lacey says it’s finally time for Chaz to step it up and not have Lacey drag him through the routine. PHANTOM. Okay, I’m done. The singers sound great. The dancing? Eh. It’s not bad, but I just can’t buy Chaz as the phantom. He’s also not exerting himself. Kick higher, move quicker, etc. Bruno said it was like a penguin trying to be a bird of prey. Carrie Ann was mixed. Len wasn’t buying it at all. He needs to step it up. We’re half way through the season. Carrie Ann – 7 Len – 6 Bruno – 6 -19. Yikes! – VIDEO
Hope Solo and Maksim Chmerkovskiy – Rumba – Music of Rent! Maks hasn’t given up on Hope, but he’s close. Wow, he’s being super harsh. Passionate, but not quite believable. Hope is improving, but it’s not at that point where it’s all connected yet. It’s fluid and steamy, though! LOL at Maks jumping on her at the end. Carrie Ann saw Hope enjoying and relaxing in her natural sexiness. But still she forces the mood so much that it distorts it (that’s exactly how I feel). Len said he never lost faith in Hope. But for some reason it hasn’t come out. It was her worst dance of the season, he says! He’s super disappointed. UH OH. Maks is getting the crowd rowdy, Len calls him out on it though because he’s the reason Hope can’t succeed. No talking back, Maks! Len looks like he is going to jump across the table and kill him. Tense. Hope can only look down in disappointment. Bruno said the story was told, but her rumba was staccato. It didn’t gel 100%. Oi. Next show is on Halloween! I just realized that. Carrie Ann – 7 Len – 6(!!) Bruno – 7 – 20. Maks. Stop talking. He calls out the judges for being judges every week on different things. They’re out, and it’s his fault. – VIDEO
J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff – Quickstep – Blah blah top of leaderboard blah blah Ricki and Derek blah blah my spot blah blah leaderboard blah blah 10’s. That wraps up our inro. Great synchronized intro! Musicality is very good. Foot movements are a little out of control, but he’s keeping up with Karina. Leaps look good. Cartwheel! High energy, great fun, and good footwork! Surprise he’s got the pimp spot again…NOT. Len said he never thought anyone would top Helio’s quickstep, but he was up there. Bruno said it was a sure hit. Carrie Ann said Bob Fossey would have been proud. She gives a second Tony to J.R. and Karina. That was certainly NOT the most challenging choreography Karina has ever given, Brooke. Carrie Ann – 10 Len – 9 Bruno – 10 – 29. Tie at the top with Ricki and J.R. – VIDEO
Oh my goodness. Kristin Chenowith, you are perfect in every way. Kristin has a great country voice, but her Broadway voice is phenomenal. She has such great showmanship, and her voice sounded phenomenal. Especially that crazy note at the end. Nothing else needs to be said, but that was fantastic. I’ll probably post it as a separate post tomorrow :) – VIDEO
Group dance is all sorts of madness and wonderfulness. Even nancy Grace is keeping her own and being sexy! The highlight of the group solos were Ricki and Derek; Rob and Cheryl; David and Kym; and Nancy and Tristan! – VIDEO
