GLEB SAVCHENKO, LAUREN ALAINA
Hey DWTS fans…
Well, it certainly has been a while. After taking a season off, Dancing with the Stars returns tonight for edition number twenty-eight. Twelve all new celebrities will be paired with professional dance partners and tasked with learning and performing ballroom routines to earn high marks from the judges and votes from viewers at home. Each week, following a LIVE coast to coast vote, a pair will be eliminated from the competition.
The show is hoping to bounce back after the disaster of the Fall 2018 season. Hopefully this year, someone who can actually dance well will be crowned champion, thus ending the reign of one Bobby Bones. Let us all hope that the live voting this year will be one of the major changes that improves the overall quality of the show, especially the eliminations. But that’s not all that is different.
Former pros Artem & last season’s winning pro Sharna are out, replaced by new dancers Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov. We will not have a troupe at all this time around, as some former pros and troupe members from previous seasons will help out at various points throughout. The actual partnerships are being revealed for the first time on tonight’s show, though the secret of who is with who has been spoiled already for many of the celebs.
All of our previous judges are back, as well as Tom and Erin to host. Now tonight, there will NOT be a live vote or an elimination. The judges scores will carry over to next week’s show and that show’s voting will help determine which couple is the first to get booted this season. So, with that being said, let’s see if the show comes back strong after a long hiatus and which contestants rise to the occasion. It is officially time to get back to the ballroom.
OH. The ballroom has been done over. It is all gold and black. Very pretty. The pros are out first for a little dance before Tom and Erin welcome us to the show. Here come the judges followed by this season’s cast. Good lord, what do they have Sean Spicer wearing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhjN2vUDsiU
Hannah Brown & Alan – Cha-Cha
Really good job for a week one routine. Hannah has some skills. She can move well, keep up with Alan, has decent musicality and looks to be having a blast. I think this partnership will be great.
Len saw lots of recognizable cha-cha moves. He calls it crisp and confident, though a little unsteady at times. Bruno says she has the right attitude and is expressive. He wants her to be careful not to lose balance and get wobbly and don’t rush the music. He says she went a little bit ahead at times. Carrie Ann enjoyed the posture and attitude. She says Alan was dragging her in the beginning but then she got better.
Carrie Ann- 7
Len- 7
Bruno- 6 for 20/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v28P25PsOXQ
Kel Mitchell & Witney – Tango
Solid job. A bit clumsy in spots and needs a lot of refinement but you could tell that Kel can at least dance. He lost the character a few times during the routine so he needs to not only work on technique but staying in the dance as well. But he can go far with improvement.
Bruno enjoyed seeing his serious side. He says it was a real tango. He wanted it more on the same level though. A little too jumpy and he went on the wrong foot. Carrie Ann says he lost his grip and was a little far ahead but she thinks he can fix those things and be really good. Len liked the attack and attitude. He wanted some more heel leads. All in all, he thinks the hold and frame got loose. He says he has potential.
Carrie Ann- 6
Len- 5
Bruno- 5 for 16/30
https://youtu.be/_tqVf6_8zx0
Kate Flannery & Pasha – Cha-Cha
Kate is hysterical. Okay, so the dancing isn’t great. But honestly, I expected worse. She can get better. She looked a little scared throughout and I thought the choreography didn’t do her a lot of favors but maybe the intention was for it look basic. We’ve seen way worse opening night routines so I am hoping she can steadily improve as the show goes on.
Carrie Ann was impressed. She tells her she rushes the music but she thought it was a great first dance. Len tells her to straighten her legs. Without that, the hip action isn’t natural. He loved her attitude. Bruno wants her to be careful of not finishing her moves.
Carrie Ann- 5
Len- 5
Bruno- 5 for 15/30
https://youtu.be/ep8c-oXIXyA
Lamar Odom & Peta – Foxtrot
YIKES. That was…something. Way too stiff. Way too awkward. Way too much…. walking. I mean, a foxtrot is supposed to look like a glide on the floor with elegance. This was not that. His height is a problem but he can’t help that. But the dancing needs to get better and that he can help. He needs to do it fast too because dancing like that will not result in staying power.
Len thinks Peta did a terrific job with the dance but it needed more smoothness and elegance. He doesn’t think the foxtrot is his dance. Bruno feels he was focusing so much on the steps that he didn’t really dance. He tells them to not overthink it. Carrie Ann disagrees. She was impressed. She felt he stood up straight and listened to Peta and smiled when he should.
Carrie Ann- 5
Len- 3
Bruno- 3 for 11/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdDRrnZIu-w
Lauren Alaina & Gleb – Cha-Cha
Best dance of the night so far. Confident and steady. She needs to watch some of those hand placements because they got a little flimsy but I loved the cha-cha steps and I thought for week one, that was one hell of a good job.
Bruno calls her a sultry southern belle. He tells her he enjoyed her finishes. He tells her to be careful of locking her knees. He mentions a little mistake during the routine. Carrie Ann thinks the choreography was a risk at the beginning but she enjoyed it. She says she is a little loose and needs some core strength. Len liked the rhythm. But he didn’t like the beginning. He tells Lauren he liked it very much though.
Carrie Ann- 7
Len- 6
Bruno- 6 for 19/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a5_cWfeQaU
Sailor Brinkley-Cook & Val – Foxtrot
Those three days of rehearsal wee used wisely. A solid number. I have to imagine had she been cast at the jump and had weeks to prepare like everyone, it would have been even better and the little issues I saw with frame would have been fixed. But no real complaints from here because it was a job well done and she is more than likely going to do well on this show.
Carrie Ann is blown away. She tells her she has a poise and carefree spirit. Len says Sailor floated his boat. A bit stompy and needs more body contact but he tells her that for three days, she did a wonderful job. Bruno says she has the talent. He can’t wait to see what she can achieve with proper rehearsal time.
Carrie Ann- 6
Len- 6
Bruno- 6 for 18/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d_Owu6r_dU
Karamo & Jenna – Salsa
A very spirited and quite ballsy routine. Jenna put a lot in there for week one, including some tricky lifts. Not everything came together but overall, it was a fun number that matched Karamo’s personality. In other words, perfectly suited for him. Now just go rehearse more and refine all of it. But good job.
Len says it was all a bit disappointing. Not enough hip action and lacked rhythm. He loved the lifts though. Bruno says he has good looks and style. He wants him to get the hips right though. Carrie Ann feels he under preformed the routine. She calls it solid but underwhelming.
Carrie Ann- 6
Len- 5
Bruno- 6 for 17/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kewbJdeP3co
Ray Lewis & Cheryl – Salsa
Oh boy. Cheryl. Why those moves? WHY? You can put together a proper salsa without giving this man a dance so sexualized and off putting. It just doesn’t look comfortable on him. I’m sorry. He did what was asked of him decently but I did not enjoy the choreography at all.
Bruno tells him he went wrong and did a misstep. But he says he is charismatic. Carrie Ann says it was pretty damn good. Len says a couple of mistakes but great potential.
Carrie Ann- 5
Len- 5
Bruno- 5 for 15/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3F445pc2m8
Mary Wilson & Brandon – Foxtrot
Color me impressed. I was expecting so much worse. The foxtrot is a perfect dance for Mary. She can be elegant and graceful. Sure, a little wobbly and a minor mistake in the middle but all in all, I thought it was going to be a disaster and it was far from that.
Carrie Ann calls it so elegant and sophisticated. She mentions a few mistakes. Len says he is the same age as Mary and he wishes he could do a foxtrot as well. Bruno says he is a star struck and she knows how to sell it. He is proud she did a heel turn.
Carrie Ann- 6
Len- 5
Bruno- 6 for 17/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcatLDiJeec
Ally Brooke & Sasha – Cha-Cha
Fabulous. Not a good song choice for this style but they worked it out in spite of that. This was a late in the competition quality cha-cha. Just oozing everything right and with some wonderful technique. Best dance of the night by a mile.
Len says a lot of hip thrusting and gyrating but it isn’t his cup of tea. He calls it Beyonce stuff. He calls her a very competent dancer. Bruno loves the attack and flare but she gets muddled by the beat. Sometimes faster, so she needs to be on the music. Carrie Ann thinks a balance is lacking. Wild and sexy but you got to reign it in.
Carrie Ann- 5
Len- 5
Bruno- 6 for 16/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdDRrnZIu-w
*Note- I know dance is subjective but those scores for what Ally just did as compared to what others did was ridiculous. Just needed to say that.
Sean Spicer & Lindsay – Salsa
Oh boy. That choreography. Smart of Lindsay to give him the most basic salsa steps in existence. I mean, how could you mess up almost doing nothing? So in that respect, well done. I actually expected worse. I’ve been saying that a lot tonight. But if this dude is gonna last on here, he is going to have to step up to the plate with some real dancing.
Bruno says some elements were there of salsa- but not on rhythm. He mentions the hip action is not good either but he calls it strangely entertaining. Carrie Ann agrees and likes her sense of fun. She says he was off beat most of the dance. Len admires his courage and he brought fun to the ballroom.
Carrie Ann- 4
Len- 4
Bruno- 4 for 12/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YBEceR7oeM
James Van Der Beek & Emma – Tango
OH YES. ohhhh yes. Great routine. Beautifully choreographed and executed so well. James is without question a contender here and Emma could be setting herself up for another victory if this keeps up. I cannot wait to see James tackle a fiery routine now to see what his rhythm is like in that.
Carrie Ann calls him a leading man- style, technique, and flavor. She tells him to point his toes. Len wants a little more compact in hold but he says it was a terrific number. Bruno calls it strong and passionate. He loved how James was in character and in control.
Carrie Ann- 7
Len- 7
Bruno- 7 for 21/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR6qeMyY_Mg
Final Leaderboard
James- 21
Hannah- 20
Lauren- 19
Sailor- 18
Karamo- 17
Mary- 17
Kel- 16
Ally- 16
Kate- 15
Ray- 15
Sean- 12
Lamar- 11
Next week– the LIVE voting begins and these judges scores will carry over. Also, a big announcement next week about the elimination and how it will change for this season. In addition to all new dances, a pair will be sent packing.
Thanks for watching with me everyone. I’ll see you next week and look out for some POLLS on tonight’s festivities either later or tomorrow. :D
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