There are boos in the ballroom at Len's 9 and I agree. Booo!
Tom says that the freestyle is the dance some people say has won or lost the competition for some couples in past seasons. I think those people are correct.
William Levy & Cheryl Burke
WIlliam's nervous about the lifts. Put those muscles to work, man. William is wearing both a shirt AND A vest, fully buttoned. I disapprove. Ah, there, Cheryl rips them open within the first 30 seconds. Good girl. I like that their freestyle is still mostly ballroom Latin with a lot of work in hold. I think that suits William. The screaming fans won't stop until Len is halfway through his comments. What he says to start is that what William does he does well, and that he liked it, the lifts and the changes of rhythm, but it was too predictable: "All you do is shake your butt and get the women screaming." Cheryl talks over Len to explain that she was choreographing for the audience and not Len. She doesn't say that explicitly, but that's the gist of it. Bruno's just lost his damn mind. Carrie Ann has forgotten how to use her words and flutters her arms around like one of those weirdo inflatable thingies on the top of a used car dealership.
Scores:
Carrie Ann: 10
Len: 9
Bruno: 10
Katherine Jenkins & Mark Ballas
Mark tells Katherine he feels she's been the most versatile of the contestants and he wants to show that off in her freestyle routine. Whatever shoes she's wearing during rehearsal have a logo on them that the show is blurring out and it's really distracting. They start with Katherine singing the opening to "Swing, Swing, Swing." This is a really high energy dance and a lot of fun and loads better than seeing Katherine try to tackle something like a hip hop routine. Near the end there's a weird segment where it looks like Katherine's energy is starting to flag, and overall I'd say some of the lifts were a little awkward. But what did the judges think? Bruno calls it "fast and flamboyant" and that he's "never seen so much content." Carrie Ann says it was "a dance of a champion." Len says, "Tom, if I'm asleep and dreaming, don't wake me up."
Scores:
Carrie Ann: 10
Len: 10
Bruno: 10
'Dancing with the Stars' recap: The final couples perform
This, a perfect score of 60, guarantees them the lead tonight.
Donald Driver & Peta Murgatroyd
Wow - Donald really knows his DWTS, he correctly predicts that William will do "something like a salsa" and Katherine will do, "like, a quickstep." I love that he's clearly such a superfan of the show. He brings up Cheryl and Drew Lachey's Season 2 "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" freestyle. Because he's from Texas, he wants to use country music. Bold choice, Driver. During one of their lifts, Peta gets a smack in the mouth that gives her a bloody tooth. Youch! Ooooh-kay - Cowboy Troy is on hand to sing "I Play Chicken with the Train." I did not know I would ever type that sentence in my entire life. I do like that they're in Packers' green and gold. Peta's essentially in a country-fied cheerleader outfit and cowboy boots and somehow she's making it work. There are a lot of impressive lifts and tosses in this routine - Peta is just FEARLESS. They cut to Donald's daughter in the audience and she's wearing a cheesehead and SHE IS THE CUTEST THING EVER. Carrie Ann says that was "by far" her favorite dance tonight. They cut to Donald's family again and they're ALL wearing cheeseheads. LOVE THEM. Len says they took chances and it paid off. Bruno is enthusiastic.
Scores:
Carrie Ann: 10
Len: 10
Bruno: 10
Well, let's see, Katherine and Mark are on top with 60, and William and Cheryl and Donald and Peta are tied right behind at 59. They're leaving it up to the audience there, and I'm still predicting William, but would be delighted and not ENTIRELY surprised if Donald takes home the mirrrorball trophy. Can't wait 'til tomorrow to see what the 24-hour dance scores might do to things.
