Hey All :)
Welcome to week seven, “Halloween Night,” on Dancing with the Stars. For the first time this season, the celebrities will have to dance twice– once with their partners and then in a team dance. It will be team trick versus team treat and all the points will be added to the live vote before we say goodbye to another pair.
Last week, we had a shocking bottom two comprised of Ally & Sasha and Sailor & Val, with the latter getting the boot. Will tonight’s scary festivities bring another surprise? We will be entertained by seven different dance styles and the team rounds will be freestyle. Expect some great costumes and music dedicated to the spookiest time of the year.
As always, you can vote for your favorite(s) right at the top of the show and continue to do so through the final commercial break. America’s live coast to coast vote is more important than ever as we head toward the end of the season. Here is your weekly reminder on how to participate…
Voting commences at the top of the show as follows:
–You can head on over to ABC.COM or use the ABC App. A valid email is required and a limit of 10 votes per method.
–You can text the name of your choice to 21523. Example- text the word James to 21523 to place a vote for James. Again, a limit of 10 votes for this method.
We begin with a scary opening routine, featuring the pros dressed to the nines in their Halloween best. It’s zombies, ghosts, and ghouls, OH MY. Even the celebs get in on the fun. Len of course, started it off by driving in a hearse with a casket to be delivered to the ballroom. Everyone is in costume, hosts and judges included! Tom and Erin tell us about tonight’s two rounds of competition. It begins with the individual dances…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8ZYLlNZEMw
Kel & Witney – Jive
A hell of a fun opening. Love the presentation. I saw Kel’s arms and feet on occasion go a bit soft and in the jive, they need to be strong and steady- especially on those kicks and flicks. But he got better with it as the dance progressed. The last thirty seconds were aces. A very appropriate and enjoyable jive and a good way to open a Halloween show.
Len says it was fast and fun. He thought the feet were good and called it a terrific way to start off the evening. Bruno loved that a cult classic was re-imagined. He notes it was a surprising Halloween treat. Carrie Ann says incredible and mentions how tight and clean it was.
Carrie Ann- 9
Len- 9
Bruno- 9 for 27/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wyw4ZHhh2k
James & Emma – Viennese Waltz
It is an odd thing to say but that was an elegant routine in how scary it was. It was like a horror film that stopped for a moment as the villain and heroine did a dance in the ballroom. Very interesting concept and lovely choreography by Emma. Another solid routine from James, who has definitely cemented himself as one of, if not, the top male dancer this season. Strong rise and fall, posture, and great movement around the ballroom.
Bruno says it was such a powerful performance. He mentions a mistake (I didn’t notice it) and says it was perfect before that. Carrie Ann felt like she was in the dance. Other than the mistake, she calls it flawless. Len thought the dance was terrific. He mentions it would have been a 10 had the incident not occurred.
Carrie Ann- 9
Len- 9
Bruno- 9 for 27/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcllGXNzfEc
Ally & Sasha – Tango
Not a fan of the skirt they put Ally in here- makes it hard to see footwork which is important in a tango. But I commend her on her posture as her hold position with Sasha is very good. It was a nice tango- full of character and feeling. Perhaps not the most memorable routine we are going to see tonight (which could pose a problem with votes if people forget) but it was serviceable and a nice comeback routine after the bottom two appearance from last week.
Carrie Ann says it was ridiculously good. She notes Ally dances right on the edge and lost her focus for a moment. Len is glad Ally came back to life tonight with a terrific tango. He tells her to watch her head a bit (over exaggerated). Bruno says the tango was as it should be even though she slightly lost balance for a second.
Carrie Ann- 9
Len- 9
Bruno- 9 for 27/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6IoT7wYMHg
Hannah & Alan – Jazz
Fun number, though I’m surprised at the simplicity. Alan isn’t known as being a choreographer who goes easy and Hannah has more than proven she can handle difficulty. So I am not sure why this jazz piece had some really basic steps in it and didn’t do much to show off Hannah’s growth or ability. What she was asked to do she did well and it was entertaining but I just expected a little more at this late stage of the game.
Len enjoyed the different dances Alan put in there. He loved that she went out there and performed. Bruno felt it was theatrical. He wants her to be much sharper and more grounded in her steps. He admits he is being hard on her. Carrie Ann agrees with both judges. She feels something is lacking in Hannah’s dancing- she is disconnected from the dance.
Carrie Ann- 8
Len- 9
Bruno- 8 for 25/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3o-Ln-oAQM
Karamo & Jenna – Paso Doble
Whoever did Karamo’s makeup deserves a raise. What a stunning job. I really enjoyed this paso. It was edgy and fun with some great classic paso steps. In this, I did see a little mistake toward the middle but watch the judges not mention it just to screw with me? LOL. Anyways, I am glad Karamo has seemingly broke through in the last couple of weeks and given us solid performances. It may have come late but he is doing so much better than he was when the season started.
Bruno says no lack of power and purpose. He mentions the mistake I noticed. He tells him not to lose the shaping when dancing with so much power. Carrie Ann loved that he opened up and let it rip. She felt it. Len gives kudos to hair, makeup, and wardrobe. He agrees with Bruno about the shaping. It needs to be more exaggerated.
Carrie Ann- 9
Len- 8
Bruno- 8 for 25/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB7kA_L3kWc
Lauren & Gleb – Argentine Tango
Well, Lauren almost fell, which is unfortunate. She slipped but recovered nicely. It was going really well up until that point. I didn’t care for Gleb throwing in his own solo moment there- make it about the celebrity, not yourself. But Lauren handled the fancy footwork well and she was totally in character. Just a few minor hiccups seen throughout which will no doubt lower the score but a good job overall.
Carrie loved that she slipped but went with it. She says Lauren’s core is strong and she is evolving. Len filled the argentine characterization. He thought the chemistry was good too. Bruno gives the performance props for Lauren’s character.
Carrie Ann- 9
Len- 9
Bruno- 9 foe 27/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFJR2PAKrco
Sean & Lindsay – Jive
Almost no kicks and flicks to speak of. I mean, seriously. Sean did a few of them toward the end (not very good) but this is a jive and it was the missing one of the main components. Lindsay went for character and acting over dancing, which is smart but they had a tough time this week because a jive is difficult and calls for some type of dance quality to look decent. I’m afraid all the characterization can’t save a dance that is sorely lacking what it needs.
Len says it lacked jive content. He liked that he comes out and gives it his all. Bruno loved the monster part but not the jive part. He compliments Lindsay on the production. Carrie Ann feels he decreased a bit this week from previous weeks in terms of dance quality.
Carrie Ann- 6
Len- 6
Bruno- 6 for 18/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkVeVXT05A8
Kate & Pasha – Rumba
Kate’s dancing has become so distinctively Kate. I love it. She has the unique factor on 10 and she just has a way about her that makes you not only want to watch but cheer her on. What is a perfect rumba? No. She was a bit unsteady and some of the movements need to look more natural but she is the perfect example of a non-dancer coming on the show, improving, and giving it everything they have.
Bruno loves how Kate tells a story. A little fluidity was lost but he compliments her improvement. Carrie Ann agrees with Bruno. She enjoys that Kate is confident when she dances. Len gives Pasha big compliments on his choreography. He tells Kate that the rumba magnifies errors but he still thought it was terrific.
Carrie Ann- 8
Len- 8
Bruno- 8 for 24/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5cXiyMB9nk
Team Trick – James, Hannah, Lauren, and Ally – Freestyle
That was a really strong team effort. A lot of content- far more than we usually see in team dances. And for the most part, it was very much in-sync. I loved the theme and the music and it really felt like a rehearsed and well thought out dance. Solid job to all the players. No one really had any solo moments to shine as this group opted for the whole team idea above anything else. And it worked.
Len loved the paso, tango, and Viennese waltz mixed with interesting choreography. Bruno calls it dramatic but elegant at the same time. Carrie Ann calls it powerful. She and Bruno both tell Hannah that they saw better from her in that dance.
Carrie Ann- 9
Len- 9
Bruno- 9 for 27/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rJ07tAcmjY
Team Treat – Sean, Kel, Karamo, and Kate – Freestyle
Well, that was a whole lot less in-sync than the other team- mostly due to Sean. But I’ll be kind and say it could have been worse. This team went for more character driven dancing which is fine. It entertained, which is what it is supposed to do. It just didn’t add up to the dance quality of the first time. But props to the choreography for going full out. Loved the costumes as well.
Bruno calls it nightmarish entertainment. He notes how Lindsay was screaming the steps. LOL. Carrie Ann gives Kate MVP for her performance in it. Len enjoyed the fun of it. He calls it wonderful entertainment.
Carrie Ann- 8
Len- 8
Bruno- 8 for 24/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuhOp6c61dQ
Final Judge Leaderboard For Week 7 (Out of 60)
James- 54
Ally- 54
Lauren- 54
Hannah- 52
Kel- 51
Karamo- 49
Kate- 48
Sean- 40
RESULTS…and here we go!!!
The following couples are SAFE to dance next week…
Ally & Sasha, Hannah & Alan, Kel & Witney, James & Emma, Lauren & Gleb, and Sean & Lindsay
Bottom 2– Karamo & Jenna & Kate & Pasha
Carrie Ann SAVES Karamo & Jenna
Bruno SAVES Kate & Pasha
Len SAVES Kate & Pasha
Eliminated: Karamo & Jenna
Karamo takes his exit well and dances over to the judges before the entire cast comes out to lift both he and Jenna in the air for their goodbyes. Aww, nice to see the camaraderie. Welp, another week, another surprising (though less so than last week) bottom two and another unfortunate exit. Karamo wasn’t the best and his journey started wobbly but he definitely improved and was quite good in his last few performances.
Next week- We will have dance offs as well as individual dances as the seven remaining couples go out once again to try and earn high scores from the judges and America’s live votes. POLLS for this week’s SPOOKtacular show will be up later or tomorrow and I will see you guys in a week’s time. BE SAFE this Halloween and have fun! :D
