Post by stluee on Nov 11, 2014 14:39:59 GMT -6
Dancing With the Stars started the evening off with a BIG surprise: The low-scoring but highly endearing team of Tommy Chong and Peta Murgatroyd was announced as a semi-finalist, meaning another duo that scored higher (much higher) would be voted off.
Viewers already have a vote in who stays and who goes on this show, but for this week's show they got even more involved by making creative choices (dances, outfits) for the six remaining couples. Here's a look at the dances, how they did, and which routine made Len Goodman say he wished that he had an "11" paddle!
Alfonso Ribeiro and Witney Carson: 37/40 (Fox-Trot)
There's something enjoyable about watching a young dancer like Witney take on an old school dance like the fox-trot. She and Alfonso brought charm, elegance, and grace to the routine. They've been the most consistent pair in terms of great dances. People often say the winner of DWTS should be the one who's had the best journey. Has that really been Alfonso? Maybe not, but he shouldn't be penalized for being very good from the start. Carrie Ann Inaba's criticism that the pair made the dance look "effortless" really bugged me. A lot of effort goes in to making things look effortless.
(Another thing that bugs me is host Erin Andrews regularly interjecting her own experiences from her time as a contestant on the show—Erin, we know you went to the finals in season 10 with Maks Chmerkovskiy? "I wish I could have danced like that," she told Alfonso and Witney up in the skybox. I get that she's trying to relate and connect with the people she's interviewing, but there's not enough time for that on live TV.
Tommy Chong and Peta Murgatroyd: 29/40 (Viennese Waltz)
The Viennese Waltz is one of the most graceful dances, and over the years many older celebs have done it really well. Peta's smiled the whole way through because she probably thought, "We're going to the semi-finals! Woo-hoo!" The dance was okay. It's clear that Tommy can't keep up like the other celebs, but it's also clear that it no longer matters. Kudos to Julianne Hough for giving Tommy points for the moments he got right. I would have predicted Betsey Johnson would have been the sentimental favorite of this season, but instead it's Tommy—who's the luckiest guy on the face of the earth because he gets to dance with Peta each week.
TWO FOR ONE Star Lea Thompson dances the paso doble with Artem Chigvintsev and Henry Byalikov.
ABC
Lea Thompson and Artem Chigvintsev: 34/40 (Samba)
Artem's getting really tough on Lea during their pre-dance video package, like uncomfortably so. She looks like she'd rather be trapped in that car after the prom with Biff Tannen than continue rehearsing with Mr. Pecs-tacular. Still, they put it aside come showtime and the couple performed a sexy Samba with Lea in a sexy cat outfit. Host Tom Bergeron spoke for many when he called out, "Mee-ow!" after the couple's routine. Julianne noted that Lea's animal print outfit looked familiar, which proves that Erin's not the only one who can point out that she once competed on this show. Kudos to Lea for announcing her age: 53. I could tell there was a big age difference between her and Artem (he's 32), but I never saw her being unable to keep pace with him. The couple kissed and make up in the skybox after being interviewed by Erin, whom you may remember from when she competed on the show in season 10.
Bethany Mota and Derek Hough: 36/40 (Viennese Waltz)
America must like this dance; it's the second one they've voted for tonight. Bethany and Derek turned to Twitter folks for feedback, but since she's a YouTube.com star this must be like saying hi to coworkers. Seriously, I know she has like a bazillion Twitter followers (actually, 2.1 million), but I'd never heard of her before this season. I've said it before, but I think if she wins it'll be because of Derek's fans—not hers. Cody Simpson has more than 6 million followers, and last season he was cut early. The girl can dance, though, that's for sure. Although, Len Goodman did point out that there was a mistake with the "fleckerl"—and thank you Tom Bergeron for asking that to be explained.
Sadie Robertson and Mark Ballas: 33/40 (Jive)
Mark's known for going overboard with the extra dancers and props and sets in his routines, but tonight he kept it simple—just a solid jive. He added one cute bit: his and Sadie's four digit number to represent a number dancers wear on their backs in other dance competitions. The dance was terrific; Sadie seems to be able to handle whatever intense choreography Mark throws at her; the judges comments were flattering, but they didn't match the relatively low sores.
Janel Parrish and Valentin Chmerkovskiy: 38/40 (Quickstep)
Janel was stressing in the pre-dance video segment, but Val wasn't not being too tough on her. He's a rock, and the two went out and did a terrific quickstep. Apparently, Val's shoes got stuck together at some point, but the judges didn't hold it against him—or her. Good on Julianne for saying she didn't care about the shoes; she said of their routine, "That's what a quickstep is!" Speaking of getting stuck together, Val planted his lips on Janel at the end of their routine and that sure looked real to me. Are they officially this season's romance?
NEXT: The trio dances return—or Tommy Chong goes to heaven.
Viewers already have a vote in who stays and who goes on this show, but for this week's show they got even more involved by making creative choices (dances, outfits) for the six remaining couples. Here's a look at the dances, how they did, and which routine made Len Goodman say he wished that he had an "11" paddle!
Alfonso Ribeiro and Witney Carson: 37/40 (Fox-Trot)
There's something enjoyable about watching a young dancer like Witney take on an old school dance like the fox-trot. She and Alfonso brought charm, elegance, and grace to the routine. They've been the most consistent pair in terms of great dances. People often say the winner of DWTS should be the one who's had the best journey. Has that really been Alfonso? Maybe not, but he shouldn't be penalized for being very good from the start. Carrie Ann Inaba's criticism that the pair made the dance look "effortless" really bugged me. A lot of effort goes in to making things look effortless.
(Another thing that bugs me is host Erin Andrews regularly interjecting her own experiences from her time as a contestant on the show—Erin, we know you went to the finals in season 10 with Maks Chmerkovskiy? "I wish I could have danced like that," she told Alfonso and Witney up in the skybox. I get that she's trying to relate and connect with the people she's interviewing, but there's not enough time for that on live TV.
Tommy Chong and Peta Murgatroyd: 29/40 (Viennese Waltz)
The Viennese Waltz is one of the most graceful dances, and over the years many older celebs have done it really well. Peta's smiled the whole way through because she probably thought, "We're going to the semi-finals! Woo-hoo!" The dance was okay. It's clear that Tommy can't keep up like the other celebs, but it's also clear that it no longer matters. Kudos to Julianne Hough for giving Tommy points for the moments he got right. I would have predicted Betsey Johnson would have been the sentimental favorite of this season, but instead it's Tommy—who's the luckiest guy on the face of the earth because he gets to dance with Peta each week.
TWO FOR ONE Star Lea Thompson dances the paso doble with Artem Chigvintsev and Henry Byalikov.
ABC
Lea Thompson and Artem Chigvintsev: 34/40 (Samba)
Artem's getting really tough on Lea during their pre-dance video package, like uncomfortably so. She looks like she'd rather be trapped in that car after the prom with Biff Tannen than continue rehearsing with Mr. Pecs-tacular. Still, they put it aside come showtime and the couple performed a sexy Samba with Lea in a sexy cat outfit. Host Tom Bergeron spoke for many when he called out, "Mee-ow!" after the couple's routine. Julianne noted that Lea's animal print outfit looked familiar, which proves that Erin's not the only one who can point out that she once competed on this show. Kudos to Lea for announcing her age: 53. I could tell there was a big age difference between her and Artem (he's 32), but I never saw her being unable to keep pace with him. The couple kissed and make up in the skybox after being interviewed by Erin, whom you may remember from when she competed on the show in season 10.
Bethany Mota and Derek Hough: 36/40 (Viennese Waltz)
America must like this dance; it's the second one they've voted for tonight. Bethany and Derek turned to Twitter folks for feedback, but since she's a YouTube.com star this must be like saying hi to coworkers. Seriously, I know she has like a bazillion Twitter followers (actually, 2.1 million), but I'd never heard of her before this season. I've said it before, but I think if she wins it'll be because of Derek's fans—not hers. Cody Simpson has more than 6 million followers, and last season he was cut early. The girl can dance, though, that's for sure. Although, Len Goodman did point out that there was a mistake with the "fleckerl"—and thank you Tom Bergeron for asking that to be explained.
Sadie Robertson and Mark Ballas: 33/40 (Jive)
Mark's known for going overboard with the extra dancers and props and sets in his routines, but tonight he kept it simple—just a solid jive. He added one cute bit: his and Sadie's four digit number to represent a number dancers wear on their backs in other dance competitions. The dance was terrific; Sadie seems to be able to handle whatever intense choreography Mark throws at her; the judges comments were flattering, but they didn't match the relatively low sores.
Janel Parrish and Valentin Chmerkovskiy: 38/40 (Quickstep)
Janel was stressing in the pre-dance video segment, but Val wasn't not being too tough on her. He's a rock, and the two went out and did a terrific quickstep. Apparently, Val's shoes got stuck together at some point, but the judges didn't hold it against him—or her. Good on Julianne for saying she didn't care about the shoes; she said of their routine, "That's what a quickstep is!" Speaking of getting stuck together, Val planted his lips on Janel at the end of their routine and that sure looked real to me. Are they officially this season's romance?
NEXT: The trio dances return—or Tommy Chong goes to heaven.
