Jaleel White & Kym Johnson
Kym's giving Jaleel a koala that talks with an Australian accent as a reward for doing so well last week. Lordy - I think her rehearsal outfit is a strong contender for this week's "Why Straight Men Should Watch This Show" picture. They're doing the Viennese Waltz to the "Downton Abbey" theme, "Did I Make the Most of Loving You?" Again, lots of dry ice. Jaleel is occasionally making some weird shapes with his legs, particularly during turns and spins. Len liked it "enough not to be cruel, but not enough to be kind." Len had a lovely feeling, but there was no footwork and lacked rise and fall. Bruno said that content-wise he couldn't've asked for more, but that it wasn't executed as good as it could be, and mentions his arm extensions specifically. Carrie Ann tells him not to lose his confidence, that the storytelling was excellent, but he needs to watch his hands.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 8 Len: 8 Bruno: 8
'Dancing with the Stars' recap: Maria Menounos owns 'Classical' night
Before the team dance competition it's the little girl with the grown woman's voice, singing while a Karina in her skivvies and see through dress dancers in a lot of dry ice with Tristan all in black. I'm not sure the CHILD on STAGE should be seeing this.
Teams were chosen by team captains, last week's high scorers, Katherine & Mark and William & Cheryl, who do the playground pick' em. K&M win the coin toss and choose Maria & Derek. W&C pick Donald & Peta first. K&M select Jaleel & Kym next. W&C take Roshon & Chelsie. Leaving Melissa & Maks to be picked last. Team Katherine (aka Team Tango) has 7 mirrorball trophies amongst the pros and each of the couples have been atop the leaderboard at least once.
Team Tango, all in tuxedos, are doing a sloppy kick-line as we head into the commercial break before their dance. OK — time to dance — but first there's some faffing about holding violins - don't hurt the musical instruments, kids! The men are wearing actual trousers, while the women appear to be wearing skintight leggings. Sigh. After an initial bit of in-sync dancing with all four couples, they split off to showcase one couple at a time. Nothing too remarkable, except that Roshon can high kick almost as well as Chelise and she can darn near do a backbend while dancing and is practically a contortionist. Then they come back together, all eight of them, for some kaleidoscopic formations that really work best from the overhead Busby Berkley camera angle - I always wonder how that plays from the angle at the judges' table. Len says Maria and Roshon were the standout couples. He says the group was good, technically it was bad, and some of the lines were ugly. Bruno says the beginning and end choreography was excellent. He adds that Roshon KILLED it. Carrie Ann says it was incredible and singles Roshon out for praise as well.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 10 Len: 8 Bruno: 9
Team Paso (aka Team William) explain that they have the manly men. Again, Val is in rehearsal in case he has to go on in Maks's place.
Aw, you knew you couldn't make it through classical night without a little Orff and "O Fortuna" They start out as three couple and then Melissa and Maks have the first solo. She's still awkward. William and Cheryl go next and it's got the facial intensity, but I feel like I want William to be hitting his steps harder into the floor. PEta and Donald go last and dang if this isn't Donald's dance he does that controlled intensity with the elegant flourish so well. Now all three men are shirtless and whirling capes and the audience is screaming itself hoarse. Oooh, they went a bit out of sync there, getting up from the knees-up walk/crawl thingie. Bruno says it was more power than the Avengers and all three boys clamber up on Bruno and HIS night is made. Carrie Ann says it was so much fun. Len says they "undressed to impress."
Scores: Carrie Ann: 9 Len: 8 Bruno: 9
So, wait, that seemed more praised than Team Tango, but was one point lower? No wonder the ballroom audience is booing.
See you tomorrow night to find out who's in the bottom two and in the dance duel. I predict Roshon (I don't know why, but the audience doesn't seem to be voting for him) and either Melissa or Jaleel, based on judges' scores.
