By Tracy Phillips
As Seen On TV
Comcast.net
"The Mambo King" may not have saved Marlee. Can anyone catch Kristi? More tears for Shannon? And who let Paula Abdul in the audience?
Let’s get right to this week’s recap:
Jason and Edyta:
Bruno complimented Jason on his “heroic presence” and I say right on! Jason also gets points for getting away with the most masculine outfits of the season (haven’t seen a sequin yet!). I also think Carrie Ann is off-base on her criticism of his “awkwardness with the arms.” He has excellent carriage and holds his arms gracefully.
Dance: Cha Cha Cha. Score: 8, 8, 8
Shannon and Derek:
If we learned anything last week, it’s that the Rumba is a killer. The slow speed of the dance draws attention to flaws. While the (real-life?) couple got props for their “love action,” “great chemistry” and for “sizzling,” Shannon also got slammed again (and looked very unhappy) for her footwork and lack of hip action. I didn’t notice sloppy feet...what are they talking about?
Dance: Rumba. Score: 24
Marlee and Fabian:
Fabian is the World Mambo Champion, so I had hoped he could guide Marlee to better scores after last week’s let down. (She even got a pep talk from The Fonz!) But the judges were forced to pepper their compliments with tough truths: Your achievements are inspiring and amazing BUT you are “forcing and struggling” and “you looked uncomfortable.” I think Marlee is the next to go.
Dance: Mambo. Score: 21
Cristian and Cheryl:
It was a surprise to find these two in last week’s Bottom Two. This week, Cristian invoked “Federico Astaire” and turned in a flawless fox trot! His footwork was so fantastic that Len made the dumbest statement of the night: ‘I’ll show my bum in the supermarket if you’re in Bottom Two again.’ Um, No thanks.
Dance: Fox Trot. Score: 27
Marissa and Tony:
Riding “The Winokur Wave” yet? “Dizzy” Marissa kept her head on straight… At least until she found out she got two 9’s, then it was back into freak-out mode. No longer an underdog; as Marissa’s confidence grows, so do her scores.
Dance: Viennese Waltz. Score: 26
Kristi and Mark:
Just as I’d become nearly bored with Kristi’s near perfection, we learn she had a disability!? (News to me, at least.) Kristi was born with club feet and had surgeries to correct it. New reason to admire her graceful dancing skills. She and Mark did the jive, getting a standing O from Carrie Ann. And with that, Guchi-coo went from near perfect to perfectly perfect.
Dance: The Jive. Score: 10! 10! 10!
Mario and Karina:
Mario said he was ‘bringing sexy back’...and it caused a case of the He said/She Said’s with the judges. Len: ‘Too raunchy.’ Carrie Ann: ‘Better than good sex!’
Dance: Rumba. Score: 28
