Dancing with the Stars: The Welterweight Bout

Last week, Carson was sent home because of low scores and bad dancing. This week, it is Broadway time at DWTS. Exciting. The show opens with a number from the new Broadway musical Sister Act. It is fun, but I don't think anyone other than the main lady are actually singing, which is strange for Broadway. Apparently Kristin Chenoweth is here as a special guest. Score!

Rob  and Cheryl (Cha Cha Cha, "Walk Like a Man", Jersey Boys): You wouldn't think this is a dance that plays to Rob's limited strengths. We'll see how he does. In rehearsal, Rob's scary mother shows up and praises him and then kind of yells at him. Cheryl is dressed like a slutty waitress (with a vest and a bra). How fun. Rob has no good hip action, that much is clear immediately. He also looks awkward snapping to a beat—not a good start to the routine. It doesn't really get much better, but at the end of the dance the crowd goes freaking nuts. Perhaps I am off. Len thinks it was clean, precise and had good timing, but he thinks there was no rhythm. Bruno points out how his snapping was really lame, and thinks he doesn't have enough power. Carrie Ann thinks he was charismatic, but he was a little adolescent still. Scores: 8,7,7.

Nancy Grace and Tristan (Foxtrot, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life", Spamalot): There is tension in the rehearsals where Nancy thinks Tristan is trying to sabotage her. Apparently she keeps telling him to make things more difficult, and he is not really doing it (because she can't do the steps, apparently). It seems like a complicated relationship. I will say this for the dance, it is one of the more fun foxtrots we have seen this year. The song is fun, and Nancy finally seems to be having some fun with it. Tristan seems to be having a good time too. It didn't blow me away, but it was better than I was expecting. Bruno liked the humor and execution of the dance. Carrie Ann thinks she upped the ante on her content and nailed it. Len thinks she had more flair and more personality, but the hold parts weren't great. Scores: 9,7,8.

David and Kym (Quickstep,"We Go Together", Grease): In rehearsal, David is working on controlling his movements in this fast-paced dance. This song is great. It helps that Kym is Australian and looks a bit like Olivia Newton-John too. It isn't perhaps the cleanest quickstep I have ever seen, but David pulls off the energy and most of the technical pieces too. Standing O from the audience. Carrie Ann thinks David lived up to the performance, but they were a little bit out of sync. Len thinks it was rough around the edges, but it was fun. Bruno thinks he is too charged up, and it hurt his technique a bit. Scores: 8,7,8. Len is loving that 7 paddle tonight. 

Ricki and Derek (Quickstep, "Luck Be a Lady", Guys and Dolls): Derek is being extra tough on Ricki this week, because he thinks that makes her perform better. He does seem like a really smart teacher. He gives people what they need. Wow, you can really see a difference between Ricki's quickstep and David's. Hers is just much more smooth and flowing, while maintaining the high energy. the kicks and turns are sharp and the whole dance brims with energy. Solid performance…standing O from the audience, Carrie Ann and Bruno. Len thinks Ricki just proved her talent, and loved it. Bruno thinks it had impeccable style and the dance fit the music really well. Carrie Ann is tearing up at how good it was. Scores:10,9,10.

Chaz and Lacey (Tango, "The Phantom of the Opera", Phantom of the Opera): Chaz struggles in rehearsal this week because Lacey is asking much more of him. We are past the point in the competition where the pro can just lead the star around, and Lacey knows it. The tango is pretty good. Chaz really sells the theatre side of it, but I don't know how much technique was there. Bruno thinks he looked a bit out of place, and calls him a penguin. Carrie Ann thinks he did come across as aggressive, but he needs to up the ante in terms of content. Len appreciates his efforts and the work he is putting in, but the hold wasn't great. Scores: 7,6,6.

Hope Solo and Maks (Rumba, "Seasons of Love", Rent): In rehearsal, Maks wisely brings in some of the lady pros from the troupe, and they seem to help Hope see how she can look sexier. There is some more rehearsal drama between these two where Maks says something kind of mean, but doesn't really get that he has done that. Yeesh, this rumba is not great. Hope just looks awkward and like she is running around. It isn't a dance that suits her, for sure, but there are other problems too. Perhaps choreography? Carrie Ann saw her finally relax a bit, but still thinks things seems forced. Hope looks like she is going to cry for sure. Len wants her to do well, but it just isn't happening. He calls it the worst dance of the season. Yeesh. Maks and Len start bickering, and Maks's argument is that some people are getting scored on effort, but others are getting nailed on technique. It is awkward as always. Hope now looks like she wants to die. When we finally get to Bruno, he says she tried to work with the emotion well, but the technique wasn't there. I get Maks's frustration here, but Hope just doesn't have the stage personality to make up for her lack of technique like maybe David does. Scores: 7,6,7.

J.R. Martinez and Karina (Quickstep, "Nowadays", Chicago): In stark contrast to Maks and Hope, J.R. and Karina seem to be getting along swimmingly. She is choreographing a difficult routine, and J.R. seems up for it. It certainly is very fast, and he does great with the steps and gets the crowd excited about it. The style of the dance is fun too, with the jazzy moves matching the music. Len thinks it was one of the best quicksteps he has seen on the show. Bruno thought it was an absolute hit. Carrie Ann thinks it was Tony-worthy. Scores: 10,9,10.

Kristin Chenoweth: As a fun treat for all, Wee Chenoweth is here to sing! She belts out "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret, which is great, of course. This is followed by "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady. 

Group Dance: They keep alluding to "all the craziness that has happened in previous group routines", but I have never seen anything nutty. This many people doing a dance on one floor should be fun. Carson Kressley is back as a creative director, which is funny. Ricki is nervous about the lifts because she thinks she is huge. The dance itself is fun, but a bit useless. The pros are doing all the work in the solos, while the stars just kind of stand there. 

More Verbal Jabs

• Random Celebrity Sightings: Rob Reiner in the audience, y'all! I caught him in a wide angle lens audience sweep, so props to me. I also thought Tim Robbins was there, but the Peanut Gallery happily corrected me—it was just a look alike. John Hurley (the guy who I couldn't name last week, he of the silver hair, deep voice and Seinfeld appearances) is also back--I wonder who is supporting. We also have the obligatory shots of the Cox-Arquettes, as well as the brash and spackled Kardashian section. 
• The broadway-inspired routines were kind of disappointing tonight. I mean, some of the songs were fun, but the dances just can't really live up to what the shows have come to represent. 
• Who's in trouble tonight? It has to be Chaz and Lacey and Hope and Maks. Chaz and Lacey are at the bottom of the scoreboard, and the competition is really getting out of Chaz's ability. Same is true for Hope, and Maks really didn't help her tonight by arguing with Len and being rude to the judges. No one likes to see that. I think it will be close between these two. 

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