Here we go again, gang! We are only eight days away from crowning the season fourteen champions of DWTS. This is the semi-finals. Two dances each for the remaining couples (any unlearned ballroom and lain routine) followed by a single elimination tomorrow night and the reveal of our finalists. It has been a really solid season and we have four celebrities left that make up what very well could be the strongest semi-finals in the show’s long history. I hope you guys enjoy the show. Let’s get to it.
William Levy & Cheryl Burke – Tango
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. 5 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this 9th week.
A strong tango from William. He is definitely in control on the floor and the emotion and feel of a tango is there. If anything, the emotion needed to translate a bit better to the footwork at times. In certain spots, William’s bottom half wasn’t as strong as it could be. His frame looks good though and no glaring errors as he seems to be in good sync with partner Cheryl.
Len is very excited about tonight and he is going to be extremely critical. He wanted a tighter hold and for things to be a bit crisper as well as William watching his feet so he isn’t flat footed but overall, good job. Bruno enjoyed how dominating William was and called it aces. Carrie Ann compliments William but goes into super specific dance critiques and says she is doing so because of this is the semi-finals.
Carrie Ann- 9, Len- 9, Bruno- 10 for a total of 28/30.
Katherine Jenkins & Mark Ballas – Quickstep
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. 5 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this 9th week.
As expected, this is extremely quick. Because of that, I saw some instances where Katherine’s feet weren’t exactly doing what I’m sure she intended. On the plus side, it seems she has found the emotion of the dance and is grinning from ear to ear. So, well done on bringing the character to the dance. The footwork greatly improves towards the middle to end of the routine.
Bruno says it was outstanding and picture perfect. Carrie Ann doesn’t think Katherine brought her A game. It was her A+ game. She calls it perhaps the best dance she has ever seen on DWTS. Len compliments everything but did mention a foot issue. Overall, he calls it a fabulous number.
Carrie Ann- 10, Len- 9, Bruno- 10 for a total of 29/30.
Donald Driver & Peta Murgatroyd – Waltz
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. 5 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this 9th week.
With lots of smoke on the floor and both in white, Donald and Peta are dancing a very elegant and refined waltz. This is a very pretty routine with all the usual waltz type steps. Good extensions, good footwork, and lovely emotion.
Carrie Ann calls it dreamy. She felt the emotion in the dance. A few times, Donald’s feet didn’t quite finish the steps. Len found it charming. His only critique is that Donald’s head needs to stay to the left more. Bruno was impressed by a dance that is difficult to impress with. He thought Donald did a fantastic job.
Carrie Ann- 9, Len- 9, Bruno- 10 for a total of 28/30.
Maria Menounos & Derek Hough – Argentine Tango
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. 5 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this 9th week.
Derek continues his impressive streak of creating especially memorable tango (and of the Argentine variety) routines. So much passion, crisp movement, emotion, and great footwork. This is very dramatic. Exceptionally choreographed by Derek and wonderfully danced by Maria.
Len was caught up in the whole thing. It was a silent fabulous. Bruno thought every step had a meaning and purpose. It was fabulous. Carrie Ann talks about Maria’s journey from the beginning. She calls it beautiful and amazing.
Carrie Ann- 10, Len- 10, Bruno- 10 for a total of 30/30.
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. 5 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this 9th week.
This is a really fun salsa. Everything about it totally screams a fantastic latin number. William’s butt is shaking, his hips are going, the musicality is perfect, and he is smiling. Lots of emotion and character and so much fun. He is definitely doing his part to show that his dancing is strong and like other latin routines this season, William is at home.
Bruno says he is going to die with bum envy. He is all compliments. Carrie Ann says he had her at hello. All compliments from her as well. Len has never looked at a man’s bum so long in his life. He loved the basic steps and rhythm.
Carrie Ann- 10, Len- 10, Bruno- 10 for a total of 30/30.
Katherine Jenkins & Mark Ballas – Salsa
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. 5 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this 9th week.
It seems we are two for two when it comes to outstanding salsa routines. Mark choreographed a belly dancer type salsa and Katherine is bringing it. Lots of shaking and lots of smiling. Katherine isn’t as natural in a latin dance as she in ballroom and it shows at times during her movements. Something odd happened at the end. I’m not sure if it was a mistake or if Katherine felt weak for a moment. Mark and Tom stay with her as she apologizes over and over again. It seems she is fine but she is clearly disappointed in herself and keeps on apologizing. Katherine is near tears. She should be very happy because that was a really good routine despite what happened at the end.
Carrie Ann thought it was fantastic. She loved that Katherine found some new moves and was just upset about the end. Len thought Katherine came out and gave it one hundred percent. Bruno is thrilled and doesn’t want Katherine to beat herself up.
Carrie Ann- 9, Len- 9, Bruno- 9 for a total of 27/30.
ETA: It seems that the error was something with Katherine’s back. Perhaps that quick mess up at the end caused some back pain for her. The doctors are going to check up on her and Tom says we will get an update later in the show.
Donald Driver & Peta Murgatroyd – Samba
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. 5 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this 9th week.
A great attack at the samba by Donald. Peta put lots of crowd pleasing moves into this. Donald is working the audience with his charm. When he and Peta are back together, they are in sync and having a really good time. The samba fits Donald’s very fun personality on the floor and I like that Peta took a different approach with the choreography. Good job.
Len thought it was a good time, just a bit careful. Bruno said Donald took a big risk and it paid off. Carrie Ann at first has nothing to say. She is just smiling. When she speaks, she says it was A+, game.
Carrie Ann- 10, Len- 9, Bruno- 10 for a total of 29/30.
Maria Menounos & Derek Hough – Jive
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. 5 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this 9th week.
Some more great choreography by Derek. Maria started on a table as if she flat-lined and Derek brought her back to life. From that point on, it is a very energetic jive. My only complaint is that Derek took a bit out of Mark’s page in this routine and showed off a bit more than he is supposed to. Don’t forget pros- this IS about the celebrity.
Bruno loved it and mentioned that the footwork was Fosse-like. He thought it was brilliant. Carrie Ann called it stunning and said Maria is a winner tonight. Len mentions it wasn’t a traditional jive but it doesn’t matter because the feel of the dance was great. Len brings up a little stumble that Maria had but he liked it.
Carrie Ann- 10, Len- 9, Bruno- 10 for a total of 29/30.
Final Judges Leaderboard:
Maria & Derek- 30 + 29 = 59/60
William & Cheryl- 28 + 30 = 58/60
Donald & Peta- 28 + 29 = 57/60
Katherine & Mark- 29 + 27 = 56/60
Well, you see how close those scores are. The audience vote will make the difference because the celebrities are basically starting at square one with scores that close to one another. The bigger fanbases and more intense voters are going to determine who the finalists are. Good luck to all of them but I am keeping my prediction that the finalists will be Donald, Katherine, and Maria. I actually feel quite confident about that and I’ll include my reasoning tomorrow night before the segment by segment recap of the results show.
