Welcome to week three of season twenty-five of Dancing with the Stars. Before we get started, I would just like to send out my thoughts and prayers to the victims of today’s horrendous mass shooting in Las Vegas. I have been doing this blog for quite a few years and it seems like every season, I end up writing something like this because these things happen way too often. It feels odd to even blog about a meaningless dancing show on a day like this but perhaps a diversion is necessary. Still, all my thoughts are with the victims and their families.
Tonight is “Guilty Pleasures Night,” which means the couples are performing one unlearned dance to a song that reminds them of their secret indulgences. We will see a wide range of routines tonight, from the likes of the Charleston down to jazz. When all is said and done, a third couple will be eliminated. Last week, Debbie Gibson was booted, which was both a surprise and expected. A surprise because she was a decent dancer and was seemingly on the rise in the competition. But truth be told, she got a bit lost in the shuffle of all the bigger personalities and better dancers. It wasn’t such a shock that she wasn’t able to muster the votes to stay. She will be missed though, as she had a great hardworking personality and credited the show to giving her her life back after her medical setbacks.
Let’s see where you guys stood in terms of last week’s poll results. Jordan & Lindsay remain at the top of the favorite partnership poll, earning 35% of the vote. Frankie & Witney surged to second, taking 22%, while Lindsey & Mark fall to third with 16%. Frankie & Witney‘s cha-cha-cha was the favorite Latin night routine at 30%, with Jordan & Lindsay earning 27%, and Lindsey & Mark at 19%. For least favorite, Terrell & Cheryl‘s samba took 46% of the vote, Nick & Peta ended up with 16%. Once again, the majority voted the show as above average (55% gave it a “B“), which is pretty fair. But the big question is… who do you guys think is heading home tonight?
61% of you feel this is the end of the road for Terrell & Cheryl, while 12% believe Nick & Peta are out. We all thought last week was the end for Terrell, but surprise surprise, he wasn’t even in jeopardy. Are we in for another surprise tonight? I don’t think so. I am with you guys. I think Terrell is out. I’m not so sure Nick will be in jeopardy again though. His fans may have voted hard and he could escape being in danger. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the likes of Nikki, Sasha, or Drew be in jeopardy.
This is our fourth night of competition, and we are definitely seeing three couples move slowly away from the pack. Jordan, Lindsey, and Frankie are looking like sure bets to go very far in the competition. Vanessa, Victoria, and Derek are in that next pack of possible middle of the road competitors looking to break out. Will tonight continue that trend? Or will a new pairing emerge? Can the couples who seem to be fading into the background come alive? All those answers and more as guilty pleasures night commences…
We begin tonight with an ABC News update on the situation in Las Vegas. The show will begin shortly. Tom begins with a message to the victims before we begin the usual opening.
This is cute. It is clearly based on everyone’s old school guilty pleasures. If I didn’t know better, I would say it was 90’s night or something to that affect. Mandy Moore put that together of course. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO
Maks is dealing with a personal issue tonight so Alan is stepping in. Also, NO elimination tonight. I take it they are doing away with anything negative this evening in order to just celebrate dance and keep it positive. That’s a good thing.
Drew & Emma – Argentine Tango
I have to commend Drew on that. It was a proper argentine tango and he had control over Emma the entire time. So nice footwork and from what I saw, decent posture and frame. He also kept the character going throughout. Perhaps his best dance of the season so far.
Len feels the standard from last week was kept. He says Drew is on a roll. Bruno says Drew cracked the case. He was quite complimentary. Carrie Ann says Drew is growing and she is pleased. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO
Carrie Ann- 8
Len- 7
Bruno- 8
You can vote for Drew by calling 1 800 868 3404 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.
Derek & Sharna – Cha-Cha-Cha
That was cute and fun. I wish Sharna had thrown in just a bit more cha-cha-cha because it was more of a freestyle dance to be honest. But Derek kept up for the most part and was having a whole lot of fun. I think the audience will really enjoy that and it was memorable. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO
Bruno enjoyed the bootylicious moment. He says that if you are having a good time, we all are. Carrie Ann says Derek is moving outward and he is finding his body more. She says he missed one little turn but he is getting there. Len thought the content was good and he felt Derek really enjoyed himself.
Carrie Ann- 7
Len- 7
Bruno- 7
You can vote for Derek by calling 1 800 868 3403 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.
Victoria & Val – Quickstep
Solid quickstep. I was worried about Victoria in this considering her legs but they were moving fast and keeping the pace. Perhaps not as crisp and clean as needed in parts but a definite a plus on the energy and commitment. I also enjoyed the way the dance was put together. It worked without being too busy. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO
Carrie Ann loves the path Victoria is on and feels like although there is a bit of trickery going on, it is fair and by the rules. Len saw a nice amount of content and fun but needed more body contact. Bruno loved that Victoria went for it but yes, the body contact and frame were lost a bit.
Carrie Ann- 8
Len- 7
Bruno- 7
You can vote for Victoria by calling 1 800 868 3413 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.
Vanessa & Alan – Jazz
That was a whole lot of cute. It was a jazz routine so the way this show goes, you can basically do whatever you want in jazz. It isn’t really the definition of what jazz should be but I digress. This was just cute and I loved Vanessa’s attitude. She was also dancing very well with those troupe ladies and I saw no glaring issues. It was just a fun routine, if a little bit on the easy side if I am being honest. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO
Len says it would have been difficult to know who was the celebrity and who was the troupe dancer. He enjoyed it. Bruno loved the timeless slick elegance of it. He absolutely loved it. Carrie Ann mentions two wobbles (one during a lift) but she says Vanessa is fantastic.
Carrie Ann- 7
Len- 8
Bruno- 8
You can vote for Vanessa by calling 1 800 868 3412 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.
Nikki & Artem – Viennese Waltz
Well, I don’t think the elevator beginning did Nikki any favors. It was sort of sloppy and the dance didn’t really hit a level until they came into the ballroom. I’m not saying it was too sexual or anything like that but it just didn’t work as well as I think it was intended to. I enjoyed the stuff in the ballroom though. Some nice lines and good movement. I think Nikki really needs to come out swinging soon because she is dancing decently but not really leaving much of a mark. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO
Bruno felt it worked. He thought the acting worked. Carrie Ann loves that Nikki goes for it. She wants Nikki to trust a bit more in Artem. Len wasn’t transported to old Vienna. He loved the lyrical side of last week’s routine and found this a bit too aggressive.
Carrie Ann- 7
Len- 7
Bruno- 7
You can vote for Nikki by calling 1 800 868 3409 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.
Frankie & Witney – Samba
LOL. Okay, so Frankie is taking the award this season for most memorable routines. And that’s very important. Good on Witney for keeping things interesting. Frankie isn’t the most natural dancer out there and he got a bit ahead of the music here but I couldn’t help but watch with a huge smile on my face. I think this partnership is worth gold and it is going to take Frankie quite far- especially if his dancing improves. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO
Carrie Ann thought Frankie was good at the boy band stuff but not so much at the samba stuff. Len thought it was fun. Len agrees that it needed hip action in the samba. Bruno says Frankie passed the audition but work a little harder next week.
Carrie Ann- 7
Len- 7
Bruno- 7
You can vote for Frankie by calling 1 800 868 3405 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.
Lindsey & Mark – Jive
So cute. Mark always puts together excellent jive routines. Nice kicks and flicks from Lindsey. Okay, so I did see a few that could have used some more energy but overall, this routine was jam packed full of content and Lindsey handled it all really well. It was cute, fast, fun, and showed that Lindsey is still one to watch this season. Oh, and the opening bed moment totally tricked me- had no clue they were standing up. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO
Len loved it. He thought it was great. He calls it the dance of the season so far. Bruno loved the content and comments Mark on the choreography. Carrie Ann says that number will go down as one of her favorites. She feels like Lindsey is just getting stronger.
Carrie Ann- 9
Len- 9
Bruno- 9
You can vote for Lindsey by calling 1 800 868 3407 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.
Sasha & Gleb – Jazz
Well, I mean it was jazz so anything goes again. Unfortunately, at least for me, there was nothing really to it. It was just some simple steps and fun with props. Sasha can handle more and Gleb should have stepped up with some better work here. There was nothing technically wrong with it and I guess you can label it cute but we are seeing some intricate choreography tonight and that wasn’t it. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO
Bruno calls it fun but it didn’t quite come together. Carrie Ann was waiting for the dance to happen. It wasn’t jazz but jazz is broad and she wants to see more from Sasha. Len felt it didn’t showcase Sasha’s ability to dance.
Carrie Ann- 7
Len- 6
Bruno- 6
You can vote for Sasha by calling 1 800 868 3410 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.
Nick & Peta – Jazz
Okay, so at least this jazz routine had some more content and it was probably the best Nick has done but that’s not saying a whole lot. He is still coming off terribly awkward and uncomfortable. He just isn’t a natural dancer and unlike someone like Frankie, he isn’t able to hide it with clever choreography and fun steps. Something is just not working with Nick on this show and I find it hard to see him lasting much longer at this rate. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO
Carrie Ann enjoyed Nick having fun. Len liked the concept, commitment, and confidence. Bruno says that finally Nick has his juices flowing.
Carrie Ann- 7
Len- 7
Bruno- 7
You can vote for Nick by calling 1 800 868 3408 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.
Terrell & Cheryl – Salsa
Oh heavens. That was…not too good. The salsa was there, though barely. There was really no break dancing to be seen so I have no idea why it was featured so much in the package. Beyond that, Terrell seems to still have issues really dancing outward and owning the floor. I don’t know if it is nerves or if just lacks a real rhythm but he has yet to really come out and just surprise me on this show. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO
Len saw a nice mix of salsa and fun. He says it wasn’t a touchdown but Terrell is in the end zone. Bruno says it wasn’t a traditional salsa but he looked good. Carrie Ann feels Terrell finally brought it. She does mention a mistake but she says this is what she has been wanting and looking for each week from Terrell.
Carrie Ann- 7
Len- 7
Bruno- 7
You can vote for Terrell by calling 1 800 868 3411 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.
Jordan & Lindsay – Charleston
Haha. So much fun. Again, like in other routines tonight, a little more of the style would have been appreciated. I did see a little charleston. But you could have told me it was jazz, and I would have believed you. Jordan is an excellent dancer and Lindsay is an excellent choreographer. It is definitely a match made in dancing heaven. Now, if Jordan wants to compete with the likes of Lindsey for example, he is going to need to really concentrate on technique so the judges score him high because right now, he has Lindsey beat on dances but Lindsey has him beat on steps. But I love a good competition and things are heating up. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO
Bruno loved the visuals. He calls him an X-MAN first class. Carrie Ann says Jordan is amazing and he was never lost in the whole number. She says this was another favorite dance of hers. Len says Jordan is terrific but there was virtually no charleston. He can’t score it high though.
Carrie Ann- 9
Len- 7
Bruno- 9
You can vote for Jordan by calling 1 800 868 3406 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.
Week Three Leaderboard (Out Of A Possible 30)
Lindsey- 27
Jordan- 25
Vanessa- 23
Drew- 23
Victoria- 22
Nick- 21
Derek- 21
Nikki- 21
Frankie- 21
Terrell- 21
Sasha- 19
Again, no elimination tonight. But POLLS are coming very soon! I hope you all enjoyed the show. :D See y’all a week from tonight.
