Watching Reality TV

If you need to catch up, I recapped last week’s competition here and the results show here.  The long and short of it?  Mel rocked and Jane was sent packing.

The competition is really heating up this week.  I’m going to miss Jane, I’m sure of it.  But it was her time.  Whose time will it be this week?  I actually hope it’s obvious because I’d hate for someone who did really awesome to have to leave.  And WOW, Edyta is covered tonight!

Jennie and Derek are up first and this week they’re dancing the jive and the foxtrot.  Gah, the foxtrot.  Richard Simmons comes to give her a peptalk during practice and makes her cry.  Wild.  The jive is first and she’s certainly dressed for it.  She goes into it with full energy.  The choreography is great too.  She seems confident this week, very smiley and bubbly.  And this dance needs fun to pull it off.  I actually giggled a couple times.  Nice!  Len didn’t think her jive was deserving of the semi-finals next week.  Even Bruno didn’t like it, thought it was limp.  Carrie Ann agrees with Bruno, and lectures her on watching her posture.  Eek.  Scores?  8, 8 and 8 for a total of 24.  Could have been worse, I guess.

Cameron and Edyta are up next and this week they’re doing the Viennese Waltz (hence Edyta being fully clothed) and the cha cha.  Cameron really wants a 10 this week.  Just one.  Please?  The Waltz is up first and the Harry Potter music is a little disconcerting. But the dance itself is very beautiful.  Edyta has some serious slits in that gown.  I guess I shouldn’t be that surprised, huh?   Nice but I wasn’t terribly impressed.  Bruno thought he did a great job, comparing him to an albatross?  Carrie Ann loved it and thought it was beautiful.  Len wants him to button his collar but other than that, he grew to love it more and more.  Shows what I know!  Scores?  9, 9 and 9 for a total of 27.  Still no 10!

Marie and Jonathon are up next and she talks about her dad and how he passed away the morning after the performance dedicated to him.  This week, they’re doing the rhumba and the jive.  Marie gets permission from Jon’s wife to get romantic  during the rhumba.  Cute.  So the rhumba is first and can they pull off the passion?  I think they do really good, actually.  Marie is a great actress and here’s where she shines.  There’s some great moves that she does with ease and I thought it was great.  Carrie Ann says she loves watching her move, but she’s worried that Marie isn’t as aggressive as she could be with her moves.  Len gets heckled for insinuating Marie is old but he liked the sophisticated tweak on the rhumba.  Bruno thought she was like Mrs. Robinson but he also felt he needed to see more.  Scores?  8, 8, and 8 for a total of 24.  I was expecting more.  Am I off tonight or what?

Helio and Julianne are up next and this week they’re dancing the Paso Doble first and the costumes are downright adorable.  All that aside, the dance seems awesome to me.  They seem to work all the elements seamlessly. And the audience really enjoys it.  So did I!  Len’s comments are drowned out by the crowd for a moment and he liked the cape work.  Good job, overall.  Bruno says mission accomplished.  Carrie Ann loved the intensity without it being just an angry face and the attention to detail was right on.  Scores?  9, 9 and 9 for a total of 27.  Decent!

Mel and Maks are up next with the Tango first and the Mambo second.  These seem like some great dances for her, great potential.  Once again with the great costumes and music.  There are some great head twists and strides and I can’t think of what else to say because I just loved it, start to finish.  Do the judges agree?  Bruno says he was scared, it was strong and powerful.  Carrie Ann loved the stalking but didn’t completely love it.  Len says the footwork was right on but her shoulders came up.  Bah.  Scores?  9, 9 and 9 for a total of 27.  The judges are totally anti-10 tonight.

Jennie and Derek are back doing the foxtrot.  I don’t generally enjoy the dance, as you all know.  She looks elegant though and they have some cute moves.  Despite the judges comments earlier, she still has that confidence from before.  I thought they did a darn decent job of it.  Carrie Ann says she improved her posture but she doesn’t want her to lead with her chin.  Len thinks she came back stronger this time around.  Bruno says it’s still not happening for him, he knows she has it within her.  Scores?  9, 9 and 8 for a total of 26.  Their total for the night is 50 out of 60.

Cameron and Edyta are up with their cha cha.  My husband is comforted that Edyta is at least wearing less clothes on top this time around.  I don’t have a lot of experience with the cha cha but I thought their moves were great and right on.  Let’s see if the judges agree.  Len didn’t find it terrible but a bit like painting by numbers.  Bruno thought it was too stiff for a cha cha.  Carrie Ann enjoys watching him dance but does agree with Bruno.  Scores?  8, 8 and 8 for a total of 24.  Bah.  51 out of 60 for the night.

Marie and Jonathon are up next with a western jive.  I thought the premise was adorable though, and while maybe not as energetic as Jennie’s jive, I think she pulled it off better than Cameron’s cha cha.  I do wonder if the judges are right and that Jonathon isn’t pushing Marie as hard as he could.  I do wonder sometimes, if she’s holding it back.  But she more than makes up for it with personality.  Bruno says it was cute and fun but not enough jive step.   Carrie Ann loves what she does, but she didn’t feel a lot of jive either.  Len says it was definitely fun which is what a jive should be.  Scores?  8, 9, and 8 for a total of 25 which gives them 49 for the evening.

Helio and Julianne  are up next with a “Mask” themed quickstep that actually really works.  Their feet are literally like a blur on the dance floor.  The moves are fast and furious and fun.  And it ends awesomely.  SERIOUSLY.  The cheering is amazing.  Carrie Ann says it was intricate and effortless.  Len says their dance was fantastic.  Bruno says he has the finish line in sight.  Incredible.  Scores?  To no one’s surprise: 10, 10 and 10 for a perfect 30.  That gives them 57 out of 60 for the night and the lead as well.

Last up are Mel and Maks with their mambo.  And they are ON.  It’s energetic, fast-paced and full of dynamite moves.  Mel really knows how to strut her stuff.  They also have a fantastic finish.  Len thought it was so hot he’s surprised it didn’t set off the smoke alarms.  Bruno thought it was flirtatious fun.  Carrie Ann thought it was great and how much fun Maks was having was a testament to her ability.  Scores?  9, 10, and 10 for a total of 29 and 56 for the night.  Just behind Helio and Julianne.  I hope they’re safe.

So stay tuned to Thursday’s post to see who was booted out.  I have NO idea who it should be, though I’m thinking either Cameron or Marie.  POSSIBLY Jennie, but I somehow doubt it.  I don’t want to see ANYONE go though.  This has been a great season.