PureDWTS Season 17, Week 3 – Power Rankings
Well apparently I missed the memo that Hollywood night was really “Gatsby Night”, as last night’s show seemed to borrow pretty heavily from the new movie…if Baz Luhrmann was going to be a guest judge this season, last night would have been a good night for him to do it! Overall, almost everyone did well and got a rather generous score from the judges – but the unfortunate downside to that is that we may have seen our first glimpse of the puppet strings from the men upstairs, as there was some suspicious overscoring going on that may or may not have contributed to Bill Nye’s exit. Granted, I think it was his time to go, due both to his injury and the fact that he wasn’t really progressing at the same rate as his fellow contestants. But Heidi’s numbers post should be exceptionally interesting this week…
…and once again, my rankings are about as clear as mud 😛 I’m seriously having a hard time determining who is the most likely to get sent packing – I’m getting some “struggling with votes” vibes from a few of the couples, but nothing that screams “This person is going home next week!”; I’ve also got the added complication of anticipating the modus operandi of TPTB, who now have the power to influence the outcome since they know exactly how many points each couple needs to stick around. A rather scary pall cast over an otherwise lovely season to watch, no? For that reason, I could see anyone in my bottom 5 potentially getting sent home – depending on how things go down next week.
1.) Corbin & Karina – I think Corbin had, by far, the highest level of difficulty in terms of choreography in his routine last night – and for what it’s worth, he actually handled it pretty well. There seemed to be a few issues with wobbly frame, and I saw a couple “deer in the headlights” looks, but he kept up with the footwork decently well and delivered a great quickstep, reminiscent of the quickstep Karina did with Apolo a year ago. But, like the quickstep she did with Apolo, this one didn’t seem to get the love it deserved – or rather, the love it did get was overshadowed by some suspicious overscoring of another couple. It also confirmed a fear of mine that has been brewing since week one: that Corbin seems to thrive more in the Latin dances, and loses a bit of his sparkle in the ballroom dances. He’s got a lot of room to improve, but last night was the first time I’ve seen him be less than confident on the floor – hopefully he can hit a groove with the next ballroom dance he gets.
2.) Amber & Derek – Judging from some of the comments I’m seeing on the show discussion post, seems like there’s a debate raging over who had more “Charleston content” in their routines last night – Amber or Christina. To be honest, I don’t think either was bona fide Charleston – first off, there aren’t that many Charleston steps that exist; secondly, Amber’s music dictated that she do something more than just Charleston, and Christina had Mark’s tendency toward the theatric to contend with. I would say Amber had more Charleston basics, but the overall mood, steps, and theme of Christina’s routine fit the Charleston better. And at the end of the day, I’ll be honest: I didn’t particularly care for either one. Amber unfortunately got saddled with a song that was really more hip-hop than Charleston, and with a ridiculously long intro that didn’t allow for much dancing – and the dancing she did do was just ok for me. She seemed to hit a bit of a wall with the foot action of the Charleston (which isn’t easy – they ended up using a dance double for Tobey Maguire for a few scenes in Gatsby), but I will give her this: ever the showman, she sold the performance well…even if she wasn’t really nailing the steps. Anyone else find it totally trippy that Len was the one that seemed to gush about this routine – and it was Bruno & Carrie Ann complaining about the content? 😛
3.) Nicole & Sasha – These two are quite possibly the most underappreciated couple so far this season, for me – Nicole is actually pretty good, and she’s hilarious to boot. Saw a few issues with her frame getting wobbly, but really – the poor thing is like, 4 foot something, and she may be the only person in the world that makes Sasha look like a giant 😛 But really, she sold the routine well – I think she got lucky with the Marilyn Monroe theme, as it really seemed to play well to her skills as an entertainer. I actually loved the cartwheel – was visually very cool to watch, and they handled it flawlessly (despite the comedy of Nicole trying to do it in rehearsal). The only odd thing about them for me so far? Sasha just seems very…sedate. Like the exact opposite of what we saw from him in the troupe – and yes, I know I complained about him bouncing off the walls in the troupe routines, but I was hoping that some of that enthusiastic energy would carry over into his partnership with Snooki – but so far, it seems like her trying to bring him out of his shell by cracking jokes and giving him a hard time. Maybe he’s just taking his job as a pro very seriously, maybe he’s trying to keep the focus on Nicole – but crack a laugh and a smile every now and then, dude. This is supposed to be fun 🙂
4.) Leah & Tony – Still having a bit of a hard time warming up to Leah, but it was nice to see a little more character out of her in this rumba. She’s actually not a bad dancer – she was handling a lot of the hip action well, and actually seems to grasp the concept of transferring her weight from foot to foot; she seems a little bit wonky on her turns, though, and still doesn’t seem to be 100% confident when out on the floor. She sells the routine fairly well, but there just seems to be a lingering tinge of “oh crap, what am I doing?” with some of the steps she does. Not sure what Tony was thinking when he threw in that silly roll at the end, as it seemed to take a pretty serious performance and render it silly, but I guess if that’s my biggest gripe about this routine, they’re doing pretty well 😛
5.) Jack & Cheryl – A little bit of an off-week for Jack, but for what it’s worth, even his “off week” was still technically pretty good, and seemed to be more a struggle of showmanship and really selling his dance. Like Corbin & Leah, I think his biggest struggled seemed to be with confidence – this was the first time I think we’ve seen Jack get a little to into his own headspace, and focusing too hard on the steps and forgetting to enjoy himself and interact with the audience. He actually had some good footwork and a good lead in this cha-cha – in a pleasant change of pace, Cheryl seems to have gotten a partner that can actually lead, as opposed to being back-led. He kept up with her, and was there for her every step of the way – which is more than I can say for some of the other male contestants this season. Overall, I think he’s doing quite well, and if he can get back into enjoying himself when he dances, he could stick around for awhile.
6.) Bill & Emma – Since other Bill is out – I think I’m safe dropping the E. when referring to this Bill, right? 🙂 I think these two are my favorite couple right now – he’s improving each week, he’s enjoying himself, and he & Emma just seem to click really well together…and none of us saw it coming! Really and truly, Bill actually kept up quite well in this paso – granted, it was pretty simple, but he didn’t get off-time (even with a potentially disorienting song), he was perfectly in-sync with Emma, and he seemed to sell his Lone Ranger character well. I think Emma is making some pretty wise decisions, choreographically-speaking, and she must be a good teacher as well, because Bill seems to be grasping what she’s teaching him…and having fun while he’s at it 🙂 They got all my votes again this week – and I’m hoping that the tide is turning for these two and TPTB are recognizing that they’re an asset to the show. Part of me still worries that they may see Bill as expendable, and may try to backdoor him in order to keep a contestant they think appeals more to the younger demographic (namely Brant, but possibly Elizabeth or Christina).
7.) Elizabeth & Val – Let me say this: Elizabeth is a great dancer. And she seems to great showman as well. But there is just something about her that BUGS. I’m not sure if it’s her intensity, or those eyes (which freak Mama Spence out), or a lack of chemistry with Val – but there is just something about her that prevents me from really connecting and getting attached to her. Her foxtrot last night started off well, but she seemed to hit a snag and get a little ahead/behind the music; she has a good frame, but needs to drop her chin a bit. The floor sweep at the end seemed like it was a little heavy, but overall, it was a nice foxtrot – so why did I struggle to remember it without my notes??? I’m still getting a real Chynna Phillips vibe off of her – a great dancer that just can’t seem to connect with the audience or her partner. If anyone is cannon fodder for a surprise elimination, I’m afraid it might be Elizabeth – she’s a great dancer, but I fear she’s getting lost in a sea of bigger personalities.
8.) Christina & Mark – Like Elizabeth, Christina is a good dancer & performer that I’m just having a hard time really connecting with. This was the first week I think she really got comfortable out on the floor, which was nice to see; but at the end of the show, I’m finding myself mentally running through the list of couples, and she’s always one of the last I remember. While I think she had a bit more Charleston in her Charleston than Amber did, I didn’t like Christina’s quite as much, because it didn’t seem as energetic and enthusiastic as Amber’s. I also thought Mark’s clown face was a little distracting, and may have shifted focus away from her and onto him. The fact that she was one of the “in jeopardy” couples was interesting – like Elizabeth, I think she may be struggling with votes, and may also be getting lost in a sea of big personalities. And like Elizabeth, I think she may be at risk of a surprise elimination. However, I think TPTB may try to save Elizabeth, in order to keep around a really strong dancer; but I’m not sure they’d take the same pains for Christina. I would not be surprised to see her in jeopardy again next week…or even heading home. We’re entering surprise elim territory, kids….
9.) Brant & Peta – This quickstep was pretty good – but it was NOT 27 points good, and that just makes me a little suspicious of why he got so blatantly overscored…especially since he was also one of the “in jeopardy” couples. Remember, kids – TPTB now know EXACTLY what score the couples need to get to stick around, so it stands to reason that they COULD potentially save Brant from elimination by urging (or outright telling) the judges to give him a rather generous score. “Could” being the operative word. And this one is especially fishy to me, considering that there were some major technical issues in this quickstep – Brant dropped his frame on several occasions, he nearly collided with Peta when trying to get into promenade position, there was some iffy footwork that may have been off-time, and the level of difficulty was not nearly as high as Corbin’s routine, which Corbin arguably handled better…yet Brant still bested Corbin by a point. Even Peta looked shocked when the judges whipped out the 9’s – I think she even knew deep down that quickstep was not 9-worthy. It all just bugs a bit. I like Brant (and I tolerate Peta), but if he’s not getting the votes, he’s not getting the votes – and I’m gonna be royally pissed if one of my favorites (like Bill E. or Snooki) gets sent packing as collateral damage from keeping Brant (or any of the other struggling celebs) around.
10.) Valerie & Tristan – Oh, Valerie 🙂 Still such a joy to watch, even when she’s forgetting the bulk of her choreography. God bless her, she was trying – but I didn’t see a whole lot of cha-cha here, and I think Tristan’s Freddie Mercury ‘stache may have stolen the show for me 😛 I know she’s likely still getting a lot of votes from supportive fans, but I think we may be reaching the point where the judges have to start getting real with her and recognizing that, while she’s an inspiration to watch, she may be a bit in over her head now. She’s injured, she is likely getting tired, and before long, she may be sticking out like a sore thumb amongst much stronger dancers. For that reason, I would not be too surprised if we saw an attempt by TPTB to (gently) backdoor her – then again, I also wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to prolong her stay as well. I can’t decide what’s more important to them: the potential ratings from having such a high-profile, currently-notable celeb on the show; or keeping younger, stronger dancers around in an attempt to draw in the young vote. I’m just not quite sure how this is all going to play out.
So what did you guys think of last night’s show? Was Bill Nye the right person to get sent home? What do you think the coming week holds?
Hey C, while reading your rankings, I decided that Mark did the facepaint solely for the purpose to distract from Christina….. Why he would do that, I don’t know, because she is technically one of the better dancers, but he seems to be deliberately distracting from her.
I agree with mostly everything posted. The thing that annoyed me last night was that we can see the obvious of overs-coring to save a couple and underscore others to keep the playing field equal.
I thought Corbin did great but as I said in other post I wouldn’t cry if he was eliminated. The whole I’m not a ballroom dancer but I’ll play it up does seem to bite him in the butt.
Amber I think no matter what she gets. She puts on a show. Whether there are some footwork issues or not. It’s clearly obvious that Amber and Derek just light up that dance-floor and the entire audience get excited. They bring in the most cheers and excitement into the room. I also believe she is getting a lot of the votes. (Ps… I don’t think she peaked w/ the 1st dance. I so believe Derek by the 6th week will bring out some more surprises from her that we’ll all go WOW! I think she has a lot more to show and prove).
Brant I’m sorry is just forgettable. The Qs had so many errors that you can tell the judges overscored to “save” him from elimination. I think Peta will kick start the “sexy” factor even more now. He can go next week and I wouldn’t really care.
Nicole I think is a lot better than we give her credit for but I just think she doesn’t have the “oh wow let me vote for her likability”. I do think she will at least make it to top 5 or 4.
Bill E is really improving. He is the surprise this season. You would think he wouldn’t last long but he does.
Elizabeth I’m sorry to say is just boring. She is a great dancer and could be the one to beat if she just showed her personality more. She hasn’t been able to get the “likable” factor yet. I don’t know if she will tbh. I do believe he judges would love to keep around for the top 4 if not top 3. Also I think she brings down Val’s over cheesiness this season. He’s been pretty good this w/o the “sexy”, “showmance”. He has been doing a great job on choreography and as a teacher. I give him a lot of credit.
Christina falls in the same boat as Elizabeth. I’m just not connecting with her. I also think she’s not connecting with Mark either because w/ a background dancer wise that she is. Christina should be up there with Corbin but she’s not.
Jack is another surprise. He falls in the Bill category. He could be the one that stays in the middle of the pack.
Leah I think is improving week to week too. I do think they do tend to oversocre her doe. I do find her stiff at times in the routines but you can tell she’s trying.
Valerie bless her heart. She’s a joy to watch. You know she’s not best dancer but the fact that she’s even doing this just puts a smile on your face. I just love watching her and Tristan together.
Overall this week wasn’t as exciting as the previous two. I’m curious to see yow the next few weeks will go.
The couples that I do see making it to the finals are Amber/Derek, Corbin/Katrina, Elizabeth/Val or Nicole/Sasha. I think Christian might get eliminated earlier than we think. I think the judges will save Elizabeth to reach the finals.
I think Bill E was amazing last night, definitely shocked at how good he became that paso matched so well. I did not agree with some of the scores from the judges for Peta either. Amber had a tough week and i give her props for even knowing all those moves so perfectly. Christian did better but it was the same amount of charleston as you said and they both mixed it up a bit. Everyone else did great, i couldnt watch bill nye it was painful and think its good he went home. Snooki was alright. It was a good night of dances. Cant wait to see what happens next week!
I found last night to be “wonky” in parts. I do feel TPTB pulled the strings on Brant/Peta dance so not worthy of a 27.
I agree with most of your comments-I believe Amber’s dance was not as “charlestony” as Christina’s as the music was weird for this-but Mr. Choreography again pulled it out and Amber’s enthusiasm shone through.
I can’t read Elizabeth or Leah-not sure if it’s their partners or just them. I hope Corbin & Karina settle down a little bit and enjoy the dances more. I like Jack but not as much last night.
Snooki is fun to watch.
@Courtney great job as usual. I like your comment about your comment about Elizabeth’s eyes. I think I’m the only one who thinks her eyes a little bit weird. Even though I’m not rooting for her, I think she’s a great dancer and want her to stay longer. But her eyes, I dont know, those scared me. Dont get me wrong, she’s very BEAUTIFUL woman and one of talented dancers. I read she uses botox. Is it because her using botox? I have no problem with people using botox. If it’s true, I hope she doesn’t use it too much. Sorry if I’m wrong. 🙁
1. Brant and Peta – Even though they did break hold and they did deserve to get a point knocked down for it… I felt it was amazing. Peta choreographed an amazing routine, easily her best since Donald. Brant has some natural dance ability and hopefully Peta will take this route than the overly sexed up dances. GREAT!
2. Corbin and Karina- This was absolutely fantastic. Karina always pushes her partners with her innovative choreo and it was great and i thought he was another stunner.
3. Elizabeth and Val – Love Val’s choreography. Even though Elizabeth is quite dull in the personality department, there is no denying that she has amazing dance ability and it showed. I loved it.
4. Snooki and Sasha- FANTASTIC QUICKSTEP!!! From start to finish Snooki was in it! Sasha choreographed an incredibly fast and ambitious routine for her and she coped with it really well. Loved it.
5. Bill and Emma- These two are easily my favorites. Emma choreographed another amazingly entertaining routine. AMAZING. Bill really gives it his all and it shows. He was absolutely fabulous. YAY FOR BILLEMMA not being in jeopardy.
6. Christina and Mark – Of the two Charlestons this one had more “Charleston”. Even though Amber and Derek’s was more entertaining this was a more of a charleston and that’s why it is higher.
7. Amber and Derek – They would’ve been higher if the genre was “pop jazz with charleston influence” It was an amazing routine but it was no charleston. But still entertaining.
8. Leah and Tony – This was not that great. I don’t have much to say but the last bit when they were rolling on the floor like two turds should have been taken out.
9. Jack and Cheryl- Just a decent effort. I wasn’t entertained.
10. Valerie and Tristan- Even though they are sweethearts they are obviously the weakest.
I really enjoy watching Bill E. dance last night. I hope he sticks around since I enjoy his dancing. I wouldn’t mind seeing him win the trophy. I also enjoy Snooki dancing. She is a surprise for me because I didn’t think she would do well and I am not a fan of her. I thought their cartwheel was really cool. I agree with everything in your post about the other couples. One thing I like about Brant is that he hasn’t been acting sleazy like other partners of Peta.
I think it was time for Bill Nye to leave. I am just so sorry that he was injured. I hope he doesn’t need surgery. I love Valerie and the fact that she is doing the show, but I think it is her time to go next. She completely forgot her dance ladt night. I felt sorry for her and Tristan too. Tristan is one of my favorite dancers.
Sorry, I forgot to mention that I like the show on one night rather than having the elimination dragged out to Tuesday evening despite the fact that the scoring can now be controlled as you mention.
Leah & Tony: I agree she’s improving.. However, there’s something about her that makes me find her SO boring when she dances and part of me thinks it’s also because of Tony. The dance was pretty and all but it was SUPER forgettable, boring and at times she looked so insecure. I personally think that if she doesn’t deliver a WOW performance in the next two weeks or so, she’s toast.
Corbin & Karina: I agree with what some people have been saying. The guy is REALLY good, but I think they are throwing TOO much out there already. Karina needs to ease up on the choreography a little because at times to me it seemed a bit hectic and kinda lost the elegance of the dance.
Elizabeth & Val: I liked this dance the most out of the three she has done. I found it pretty, elegant and fun. That’s just the dance though. I still find Elizabeth’s personality unrelatable, boring and not that appealing and her chemistry with Val seems SO forced. I’d be more than happy if she turns out to be a surprise elimination these next few weeks.
Brant & Peta: I dont know.. I actually think he did really good last night ;\ I admit though that the judges were very generous on him specially for not calling out the breaking of the hold but I just found myself enjoying this dance more than Corbin’s to be honest because I feel like he really sold it to me.
Valerie & Tristan: I love Valerie, I love Tristan… but this was just a bit painful to watch :\ I honestly think that she may be going home next week. As much as I enjoy her partnership with Tristan, I think her charm might be wearing off ):
Bill & Emma: I couldn’t help but to smile through this performance. Bill might be one of the most enthusiastic dancers that this show has had in a long time. I liked this dance a lot. I do admit it looked very simple, but it played to Bill’s strengths and I think he did an awesome job with Emma’s choreography. (Can we keep Emma as a pro forever please? She could replace Peta! Pleaaaseee?!)
Amber & Derek: This dance turned out just the way I thought. Full of personality and fun, but lacking in the technical side. I liked her Charleston more than Christina’s. My sister and I watched this and we were just like “WOW SHE CAN MOVE”. The whole performance was just incredible.
Jack & Cheryl: I’m a big fan of Jack but this dance was just… not good ;\ I liked his enthusiasm and charisma but that’s all I enjoyed about it. Hopefully it was just a one week thing and he can do better next week cause I want to see him around for longer 🙂
Christina & Mark: The dance was fun and cool… Mark’s face was just ridiculous and pointless really. Christina is just not doing anything for me and her partnership with Mark is still a big question mark to it because I am not sure if they click as well as they seem to. I also wouldn’t mind them being a surprise elimination in the next few weeks.
Nicole & Sasha: Beautiful lady in red 😉 I really enjoyed this dance a lot. It was elegant and cute which is a whole different side of Nicole and I am happy to be able to see it. That cartwheel was flawless and so cool! I really hope these two continue to get better and better and make it to the end hopefully. Love ’em!
I thought it was a great show! Loved Derek and Amber. Still don’t understand why she is wearing flat shoes. Why? I know she has an injury, but next week is the TAngo, I doubt she will be wearing them then.
With the tptb having so much more control over the income it is going to drive me crazy but got to remember its just a tv show.
I enjoyed both christinas and ambers charlestons. There not my favorites celebs this season but they both had fun dances.
I love Bill and it seems just from reading online it looks like a lot of people are getting behind him and emma. He could be the the Ty Murray of the season as other people pointed out as long as tptb dont screw him over.So glad Emmas getting her time to shine, shes great should of been a pro over lindsey last season.
I kind of figured Jack would struggle with the chacha but I still like him. He’ll bounce back hopefully.
Sasha and Snookis little cartwheel in there quickstep was to cool. There so much fun to watch cant wait to watch them jive my favorite dance. I though Sasha almost seemed annoyed of her, not sure but maybe its just his personality not the most happyish type.
I dont think Corbin should be complaining how hes never danced ballroom, with his dance background it still gives him a advantage/edge over most of these celebs with zero dance training. Im not a big fan of the quickstep in general but I still love him and Karina. I agree Karina just needs to relax a little.
I like Brant and Peta, I wonder if they overscored him to keep him around or if they just wanted a new couple at the top of the leaderboard type of thing. He would appeal to the younger demo. which tptb are looking at now.
I couldnt watch the show live last night I didnt even bother to youtube leah or elizabeths dances.
I’m not usually a fan of overly forced musical numbers to fit a dance style – but I loved Bill & Emma’s Lone Ranger Paso Doble. I gave them all my votes.
I think Corbin & Karina deserved a higher score, as did Amber &
Snooki. Brant & Peta and Tony & Leah were over-scored. Do TPTB think we’re unaware of their manipulation?
Maybe it is my memory but wasn’t Emma Slater supposed to be a pro on the UK version this fall? Or is it another Emma….or maybe I dreamed it.
Usually when someone’s eyes pop like Elizabeth’s it usually means too many face lifts or Grave’s disease. Former First Lady Barbara Bush had it and my neighbor’s daughter has the disease as well and her eye’s look just like Elizabeth’s.
Really enjoyed Bill’s paso. My favorite of the night.
I agree with one of the other posts…last night seemed kind of wonky.
@Katy Emma was originally going to be in the UK version, but then she decided to do the US one and she was replaced by another dancer in the UK
I haven’t followed every season of DWTS like most of you so I’d say I’m partially the GA. Only partially because I did Irish dancing until my mid 30’s for the joy of it. So, I am looking for energy, joy, plus footwork, technique and personal style. But the other side of me sees a TV show with pretty people, music, and a contest and wants to be entertained.
I’m not shocked in the least that there is some tinkering from the producers. It’s not just in the judging but in who is given which pros, dances, music selection, position in the rotation and how the rehearsal videos are edited. This is a multi-million dollar entertainment franchise! They aren’t leaving it all up to chance!
I do see big differences in where the show is at now vs early and middling seasons. But I’m entertained. Thrilled that Bill Nye is gone. He was very entertaining but 2 weeks was enough. It was clearly time to go. And since he had a huge following, this smacks of a BTS deal. Of the remaining pairs, I’m torn with who I want to part with next. I suppose I won’t cry to see Valerie or Leah depart. And I’m torn on Elizabeth. She’s clearly the best dancer up there but she lack’s charisma and I find her Bette Davis eyes spooky!
I’m not sure what I think of Bill Nye as a person…..because he should have taken himself out of the competition……even if he wanted to perform that so called “dance” last night…fine….but then he should have said I hate to do it but I’m removing myself….my knee is just not going to be able to continue with this and I wouldn’t want someone else to go home…..I would have thought so much of him…….I wish TPTB would just let the judges judge…not give them any idea who is doing what with the voting…and just let the chips fall……it would be so interesting to watch…don’t they get that?….maybe the ratings are down because of all their manipulations…..ugh……no connection for me still with Elizabeth, Christina or Leah…..I have to look away when they show close up’s of Elizabeth’s face…those eyes….!!!!…….Bill E and Snooki are my favorite…which shocks the heck out of me……but they both are having fun, improving and want to be there…..love Valerie and she is inspirational BUT I’m not a fan of keeping her there over a better dancer….I like Amber and I’m a big lady so I appreciate how well she is moving…I know it’s not easy BUT she has to be in heels….she just looks flat footed because she is……I appreciate not having the “encore” dance….ha, ha…no arguing over who it should be!!!!!
Using C’s rankings to share my thoughts…
1) Corbin and Karina: Loved the speed and the energy, loved the choreography, but she’s already beginning to fail Corbin, as she did Apollo…. She does GREAT choreography, and definitely packed it full force last night. It’s like she WANTS another win so much, she’s forgetting some of the aspects of the show! Both of them need to slow down, settle down and start having more FUN! in the rehearsal hall, and on the dance floor. Honestly, when she’s “on” she’s on fire! My 2 favorite routines she’s choreographed were when she wasn’t gung-ho determined…. BoomBoomPow Foxtrot, and Romeo and Juliet Waltz.
2) Amber and Derek: I like them, and I loved this routine! I love their partnership… I liked their charleston more than the other one, and that girl can MOVE!!!!! I think they were underscored, and I’m looking forward to their Tango next week!
3) Nicole and Sasha: I’m loving her, much more than I thought I would! Sasha partners well with her, and so far, he hasn’t overdanced her! In their package, she’s coming across TO ME as more than a bit of an airhead, and it seems that she is keeping Sasha on his toes, and he’s doing well keeping her head where it should be!
4) Leah and Tony: Sometimes, her facial expressions look forced…. Pasted onto her face, but no real emotion/believability behind it for me. I did like the dance, but it felt a bit rushed at times, almost like Tony had sped it up, instead of slow and sensual.
5) Jack and Cheryl: My first thought when he started to slide was that they found another use for Derek’s Footloose Slide from last season. Still, it looked scary, and I did see him start to almost fall off! That probably could have thrown him off his “game”. I am LOVING Cheryl this season, Jack is definitely what she needed, she seems to be completely refreshed, with a renewed spirit!
6) Bill and Emma: Ditto to everything that everyone else has said, I love watching them!! Hope they stay around at least a couple more weeks. I do think he could be poised to stay over another pair….
7) Elizabeth and Val: I almost liked her this week, but I still cannot connect with either her or Val. She HAS to have a personality inside there somewhere, right???? She could be a very beautiful dancer, she has the technique, but….. And Val isn’t connecting with her, either.
8) Christina and Mark: This pair is just like Liz and Val, they SHOULD be at the top of the board with Corbin, but they lack that “something” that is keeping them at the lower portion of C’s Power Rankings…. No connection. Yes, Christina did show more personality last night, she “vamped” quite a bit, kept in character, and it turned me off. And Mark!!! He was FAR outdancing her, and that turned me off. And his clown face turned me off! The outdancing and the clown face make me think he was trying to grab attention from her because she was lacking, but she’s technically a much better dancer than Amber…. And she’s just NOT! Yes, I do think there’s a connection between them. Not much, but definitely more than Liz and Val.
9) Brant and Peta: Again, not feeling the connection, and he’s got a lot of potential. The one thing I loved, is that for the first (and probably only) time, she’s not sleazed up their routine. She did give him a more difficult routine than she ever has (but still not REALLY as difficult as he could probably be pushed to, with the right coach)and he did a great job with it. BLATANT rule breaking that they weren’t penalized over which peeves me off. And more than once, it looked to me like they had overly animated and forced expressions on their faces, as if just touching each other pained them teribly. The more weeks into the season we get, the more they’re being shoved into this “showmance”, the more we are told how terrific is their chemistry, the less I feel like they even like each other very much.
10) Valerie and Tristan: What can I say? Tristan is the ultimate partner, and once again, leaves me in tears…. He’s wonderful and sweet, and he’s been a real blessing to Valerie on this journey. And she showed how trusting she is, and he has not betrayed that trust! No, not well danced, but they both excelled at partnering last night!
Great job Courtney, in my opinion, your assessments are spot on.
I do hope the producers read this site… 🙂
Nearly everyone seems to agree that Bill and Emma are the “hidden gem” for season 17. Such a sweet and pleasant surprise.
Not feeling: Elizabeth, Christina, or Brant, not sure if it’s the pairings or just the celebrity themselves. I think any or all of those 3 could be surprise eliminations. At the end of the night they are long forgotten. Yawn!
I just love these posts. Good job Court and everyone. Ok, here’s mine….
1. Amber And Derek – They were my favorite of the night again. I thought the choreography was pure brilliance again. It was clever and had so much pop and get up and go. From the music, the speed, quickness, their faces, their costumes, and creativity, I loved it all.
2. Mark and Christina – Wow, what another show stopper and Christina just keeps improving week to week. She gets into character now and stays there. I love how relaxed she is and is just having fun now. I also loved how they “mirrored” one another. Cool and creative choreography from Mark.
3. Snooki and Sasha – I never thought I’d see the day that I’d put Snooki this high, but, she and Sasha sold it totally tonight. I loved the energy and their characters. I loved her attitude and strength to keep at it. The cartwheel topped it off.
4. Corbin and Karina – These two were so good too. They were a delight to watch again…so fast and furious. I loved his fast kicks.
5. Val and Elizabeth – There was a little messiness in her middle turns, but, for the most part, I just loved this dance. They captured that old Hollywood feel. It was romantic, sexy, and full of charm. I loved her leg extensions.
6. Brant and Peta – I was impressed with Brant tonight. He was light and quick on his feet. I loved their hand movements together. They had a lot of speed and control. I enjoyed them very much.
7. Bill and Emma – LOLing to the Paso Doble sounding like a “Mexican food dish” to him. He makes me laugh always and he is a pure delight to watch every time. He gives it his all and he had some powerful Paso moves.
8. Jack and Cheryl – This is the first time I’ve been disappointed in these two. I still like them, but, there was a lot off with them tonight and he was tight and sluggish.
9. Leah and Tony – I thought they were ok, but, Leah’s moves are slow and stiff. She may have the faces down, but, she still isn’t dancing in the caliber that she should. I don’t see how she deserved 8’s either and why the judges cater to her continually.
10. Val and Tristan – I just love these so much. It’s amazing because even though there was difficulty in her turns, footwork, forgetting the choreo, etc, she shines and radiates with her positivity and love of life. It’s all you see. She’s like an angel and Tristan is gold. I hope she doesn’t go next week. I want to see more. I hope it’s Leah to go.
11. Bill and Tyne – Eliminated and rightfully so. Though it was cool how they made the best of it. Even though he didn’t move much, it was still entertaining to watch and a cool way to go out. Loved the song too.
I do not believe at all that the producers are telling the judges how to score. If it was up to them, I don’t think they would want Bill Nye going home because they’d think he was bringing in a lot of viewers (Facebook and twitter comments).
I know for a fact that the judges’ scores and comments are not pre-planned because the crew in production is often just as surprised as anyone else.
Yes people get over and under-scored, but it’s based on the judges’ whims – CA and Bruno thinking guys are hot, Len’s weirdness, etc. And a lot of the time, the judges will get influenced by the atmosphere and excitement in the ballroom. They’re not watching the dance on TV like we are, sometimes it’s easier to miss mistakes or problems when you’re live.
Overall I thought the scores were more fair than usual last night – Brant was overscored somewhat, but I honestly liked his QS a lot myself and found it more entertaining than Corbin’s.
Sorry for the repeat post…I meant to put this here, and not on the recap post! Ooops!
Love Karina. Love Corbin. I don’t think he’s wrong for saying that he was nervous…I’m pretty sure that’s a normal feeling for anyone who’s doing something they’ve never done before…no matter how much similar experience they have. Now, I will say that Karina needs to relaaaaaaaaaax. I can sense they’re still having fun, but the intensity needs to come doooooooown or else both of them are going to burn out, turn everyone off, and THEY will be surprise elimination of the season. *knocks on wood this won’t be the case* He’s the only ringer I actually enjoy!! I need them go back to their first week vibes!!
Like everyone else here, I really enjoy Bill E. and Emma!! I really hope they make it far, as they are such a delight to watch!
Not so sure how “Get Lucky” fit into whole “Hollywood” theme, a lot of things concerning that dance were a little…off. Hope TPTB realize that they may have created an unfair precedent by (if this was really the case) switching the dance for an injured participant. Could come back to bite them.
Overall, great show!!
I agree that Nicole and Sasha are underappreciated. While I did think she rushed a bit to keep up I would attribute that to her size. Love this couple!
There is no way Brant&Peta’s quickstep was better than Corbin & Karina’s. Not even close. Obviously way overscored.
I still think Bill should’ve bowed out gracefully instead of lurching around the dance floor.
It was quite evident that Jack was concentrating way too much on the choreo and forgetting to have a little fun.
Love Bill and Emma. Thought he handled himself well.
didn’t karina complain about being sick yesterday? she certainly didn’t seem like it… maybe for sympathy votes.
If Tristan is a life partner like he is a dance partner his fiance is one lucky woman. I’m so glad Len pointed out how amazing he is at taking care of his partner. 12 from me for that. I remember during the side by sides last season he really paid attention to Victor to make sure to dance in a way as to not make him look bad (or more bad). They are getting some of my votes, one because I so appreciate her philosophy about her life right now, two because she still is an entertainer, and three, because he is so wonderful.
I’m very much enjoying Bill and Emma. They seem to have such a great partnership and he seems to be really embracing this.
I enjoyed all the good dancers, Corbin, Elizabeth, Christina, and Amber can move and has such infectious charisma.
The only one I didn’t enjoy last night won’t be there next week.
Leah/Tony. It was ok, but I just can’t get behind them. Didn’t understand that roll at the end. How awkward was that?
Corbin/Karina. I enjoyed their dance. It was so fast from start to finish and a lot of fun to watch. Karina needs to calm down some or she’s going to burn out.
Elizabeth/Val. Another pair I can’t get behind. Her deer in the headlights look is very distracting to me on and off the dance floor, but when she dances, it makes her facial expressions comical. They don’t grab my attention and I don’t get the all the gushing the judges give them. Would love to see them as the first surprise elimination.
Brant/Peta. That was one of the more enjoyable dances from Peta in a long time. I give Brant a lot of credit for dancing the quick step with a torn ligament. I’m not a dancer, I rely on this site for learning what was good and bad and why, but I even know that could not have been easy to do. I agree though, it was over scored, so he’s not getting the votes TPTB hoped he would.
Valerie/Tristan. I will never get tired watching these two. They enjoy dancing together, they have a good relationship and it shows. They are a joy to watch, even with the mistakes that were made. Valerie forgot a good portion of the dance, but like Carrie Ann said, she kept the smile on her face and kept going. I would like to see her stay for a few more weeks, but I think she’s going home next week.
Bill E./Emma. He’s working so hard each week and having so much fun. The joy on his face at the end of his dance when he threw his hat was nice to see. And the happiness with his score was priceless. I loved it. No one gave him a chance when it was announced he was dancing, and he’s proving everyone wrong.
Amber/Derek. I love Amber. She’s so much fun to watch and Derek, as always, brings great choreography.
Jack/Cheryl. I never thought I would say this, but I’m sort of enjoying Cheryl this season. She seems to be having fun and it’s nice to see. I like Jack too and like the effort he gives every week.
Christina/Mark. It was good, but I liked Amber’s better. Didn’t care for the clown face on Mark. And Christina doesn’t excite me.
Snooki/Sasha. It was nice to see her smile getting the judges comments after seeing her face fall last week. She’s another one that is working hard each week and having fun at the same time. Sasha’s right, she wants this, she wants to prove she can do it, but it’s hard for her to admit it. I think she has the potential to knock out both Elizabeth and Christina.
Bill N./Tyne. Hmm. Don’t understand why he danced. He was told by a doctor not to and yet he did, and it was hard to watch. It’s for the best that he’s been eliminated.
I’m reading that there are so many that find Christina and Elizabeth boring and forgettable. I don’t think either one is getting the votes and could be an early surprise elimination. Though it wouldn’t be a surprise to me, I would welcome either one leaving.
I’m with you, Jess. I try to limit my comments on the pro’s personal lives, but I think Tristan’s life partner will be loved and cherished in a special way.
I hope Valerie and Tristan’s next dance is a lovely waltz (they should allow her to do the slow waltz). Also, I hope she says ‘no’ to more outside commitments (as she said in the OTRC interview). If she can come to rehearsal fully rested, perhaps she can retain a bit more of the dance.
Pretty much agree with all the comments. No matter how good a dancer a celeb is, if they don’t seem to connect with their pro, it’s not enjoyable to watch. I do realize the celebs had a longer time to learn their first dances, and now they only have a few days, plus whatever else is going on in their lives. Some seem to be able to handle it. For the most part I’m enjoying this season.
Not a fan of the red couches either. Just too close to judges table. Also, the camera folks seem to catch the backs of the sitting celebs when they stand to applaud whoever is out on the floor. A major furniture rearrangement is needed.
This was another great night of competition. So many movie themed dances and fun tributes. Too bad that Bill N. got the boot, but he now needs to focus on his recovery.
1. Brant & Peta: Best dance of the night. I was surprised that they scored higher than some of the front runners, but that’s the fun of the competition; you never know who will come out on top every week. He has this charm and charisma when he dances, and he and Peta are fun to watch regardless of their chemistry.
2. Corbin & Karina: They definitely wowed this week, but I do agree with the judges. He did lose it a few times, and it was so fast, I lost my breath at the end. He is still a contender to win.
3. Amber & Derek: They’re having difficulty re-gaining the top spot from Week 1. They are quite an adorable pair, and the choreography this week was spectacular. I did feel like some of the moves kinda went into hip-hop a little bit, but they had the audience on their feet from start to finish, and that’s what counts.
4. Elizabeth & Val: She is really surprising me this season. This dance had everything, but I think the judges are waiting for the right time to give them higher scores in the coming weeks.
5. Bill & Emma: Believe it or not, I think Bill was underscored this week. The judges had nothing but positive things to say, and they still gave them 8s across the board. I thought there would at least be a 9.
6. Leah & Tony: Leah has been surprising me every week. She definitely looked the part of a Bond girl, and Tony looked like he could actually be James Bond. Amazing peace of music, great choreography, and it all fell into place.
7. Christina & Mark: I think it was kinda unfair that they were able to do lifts, and Amber wasn’t. There was some Charleston in there, but it didn’t really come together. Also, Mark’s face make-up was creepy, and made the dance look unappealing. Judging by her being the last one saved, I’m not sure if she’ll reach the finals.
8. Nicole & Sasha: They were over-scored this week. I was impressed with the one-handed cartwheel in the end, but she had her shoulders up a majority of the dance, but that could be the drawback of being little. It was still fun to watch though.
9. Jack & Cheryl: This dance did not play to his favor this week. He was stiff in the hips, he looked like he forgot part of the routine, and he almost fell off the slide at the beginning. Hopefully the public will save him.
10. Valerie & Tristan: This was a disaster. She looked lost half the time, and she couldn’t seem to get through it. Tristan did most of the work, and looked hot doing it.
After seeing all the couples perform here’s how next week might go.
Bottom 2: Valerie & Tristan, Jack & Cheryl
Going home: Valerie & Tristan
If Albania decides to do their movie version of a James Bond secret agent then they definitely need to hire Tony.
I only wish they had started the Rumba with a spotlight on him walking to the center of the floor then whirling around with a gun like the beginning of the Bond movies.
I hope Valerie gets a Slow Waltz next week too. I do believe she’ll be the one out next week and I want her to have a lovely, sweet last dance with Tristan.
I’m really loving Nicole on the show, but I do wish she would drop the dumb girl act. She doesn’t need that shtick. I want to see more of her warm and naturally funny personality.
Well, Hollywood Night definitely became Gatsby Night. I do LOVE this theme overall though. Better than a good chunk of the other themes of poo TPTB have thrown at us. I overall enjoyed tonight still, but there were some…ahem…issues.
Corbin/Karina- Honestly…I didn’t like this quickstep as much as I thought I would. It was indeed very good, and I liked it, but I just wasn’t blown away by any aspect of it. Karina, in an attempt to cram so much content and speed in this, really took a lot of the enjoyment out and it caused Corbin to struggle with the control portion of the Quickstep. There were a number of times he seemed to be just barely keeping his head above the water for me. His posture really got lost, and his feet were occasionally sloppy. There were moments where things connected just right and was full of fun, energy, and good technique. But there were issues with this, and I think both just need to take a breather and slow down…otherwise I don’t think they’ll go as far as some may think.
Amber/Derek- Incredibly fun and adorable 🙂 Yes, there were some errors technically in this routine, but she totally sold it as a performance, and Derek’s choreography really fit Amber and the music. I’m really interested to see what else these two bring, and I can’t wait to see Amber improve her technique. I think we’ve yet to see everything these two can do 🙂
Nicole/Sasha- I LOVED this dance. Just about everything about it. It was fun, had good energy, was vibrant, but was also stylish, elegant, and sophisticated. Nicole really kept up well and acted the performance so much better than she did in her rumba. I agree that they are an underappreciated couple. She is really working hard and doing her best, she is a pretty darn good dancer, and she and Sasha are a hoot 🙂 They are quickly becoming a favorite couple of mine. I have enjoyed them more and more each week.
Leah/Tony- I remember liking this dance pretty well. Leah seemed to get the hip action and the romance of the rumba rather well and her legs were actually pretty good. She does really need to work on her turns and her feet could use some more work too, but overall I liked this. My major complaints about this? Nose…to…eye. Rolling around…just….well…yeah 😛
Jack/Cheryl- I really like Jack but I felt that he struggled some this week. This cha-cha could have actually been really good but he just wasn’t that comfortable or confident with it, and it seriously showed. His footwork was really good, and his arms weren’t half bad, but there was sadly little to no hip action and he seemed to not enjoy this dance nearly as much as he could have. I hope he becomes more confident in himself because he is a GOOD dancer and he’s capable of some great things. Also, I’m really liking Cheryl this season. She’s really working with Jack and being a good partner for him.
Bill/Emma- I love these two so much it’s not even funny! 😀 If you told me during the cast announcement that I’d end up loving Bill and Emma, I’d heartily laugh at you and just be like “WTF? :D” But I totally agree, he’s improving week after week, he’s really giving it everything’s he’s got, he’s a decent dancer, Emma is doing a fantastic job with him, and they just click so well 🙂 Definitely in my top 3 favorites this season, they just bring me joy and some decent dancing, I will surely take that! He managed to do rather well in this Paso I thought. His arms actually created some really nice shapes and he stayed right on time and in sync with Emma. His feet, though they could still use work, improved from the past couple of weeks. I’m looking forward to see more improvement and joy from these two!
Elizabeth/Val- I actually loved this foxtrot for the most part. There were maybe one or two spots that got a smidge dull, but for the most part, it was very beautiful, elegant, and executed well. She’s got nice posture, her feet are pretty good, and she really moves her limbs better than most tall people would. The theme was nice and I really liked Val’s choreography. However, I do totally agree that something just doesn’t click with these two yet. A lot of people just aren’t connecting to Elizabeth, and I don’t think she’s got much of a connection with Val yet. I do think things are slowly but surely getting better…but I’m not sure they can afford slowly getting better.
Christina/Mark- Another routine I actually really enjoyed for the most part. I think this was actually Christina’s best yet. She seemed much more relaxed and confident than the past few weeks. This had a really nice theatrical feel to it and I think she danced it pretty well. Her bottom half had some technical issues much like Amber, but it was still overall a nice performance. Did not like Mark’s face paint…as I felt it was unnecessarily distracting. But this was a good dance. But she’s got pretty much the same problem as Elizabeth, however, she’s not quite as good of a dancer as Elizabeth. I fear Christina could go home earlier than Elizabeth, and both ladies could easily be a shock elimination very soon.
Brant/Peta- Okay, I REALLY liked this Quickstep, but what I didn’t like is A) It was totally overscored, and B)There was absolutely no comment on the broken rule in this dance. If the judges try to call out another couple on any kind of rule breaking later, I will be a very Pissy Patty. Anyways, I thought this was a good dance, and I actually kind of liked it more than Corbin’s in some ways, but it was definitely not worth a 27. There was good energy, his posture wasn’t bad, and his footwork (though flat at times) was overall really nice. I do cut him a little slack since his injury probably held him back a bit. I also liked the expression they gave and Peta’s choreography was actually nice. What makes me very sad is the fact that I really like Brant, he did a nice job in this despite an injury, and Peta actually for the first time this season focused solely on his dancing rather than overloading it with sexiness and his good looks and gave a good routine, yet the judges overgush about it and score it so oddly. Sadly, I don’t think Brant’s getting the votes, but why not just let the chips fall where they may? If he’s not getting the votes, he’s not getting the votes. Do I wish that he would last longer than the votes he’s getting? Of course, but I hate that they’re overscoring to compensate.
Val/Tristan- God bless Valerie, I adore she and Tristan. Yes, she did pretty much forget her choreography and honestly I could barely tell it was a cha cha. She is such an inspiration and such a joy to watch, and Tristan is definitely a fantastic partner, but I fear that her time is running short. I do think it’s about time for her to go, as much as I do love these two. I wish them all the best!
I really enjoyed Hollywood night – as themes go it was a good one, but I think we could have done with some variety in costuming – bit bored of the flapper thing by the end!
Leah – Still not her biggest fan, but am finding her easier to relate to in the packages but something is not quite right with Tony’s attitude to me: major chip on the shoulder. Have to admit, I got a bit bored in their rumba, but she is beginning to move better. For me she was still a still overscored, but not as badly as last week.
Elizabeth – she is such a good dancer, but just not connecting for some reason – cringed a bit when Val brought in the blindfold – I saw Season 10 – and drop the constant ‘hashtag’ comments!.
Corbin – I was surprised that they were in this slot, but actually after seeing this dance, less so. I really don’t mind a ringer on this show, but don’t complain about how hard it is for you! Hope they calm it down a little for next week because Karina is one of my favourite female pros.
Brandt – like him – he has charm. Quite liked this quickstep. Did prefer it to Corbin’s, though I agree it was not as good technically and badly overscored. But I thought he captured the joy, passion and fun of the quickstep not tortured intensity!
Valerie – continues to charm, but the dances are getting more painful to watch. Shame, because I like me a bit of Tristan!
Bill – go Bill – and go Emma. Thought this was good and I am glad they got decent scores – though not sure if they were the same level as Amber and Derek. Whilst it was a relief not to have another 20s costume, would have preferred a more traditional paso costume – helps the lines for me. But so infectious!
Amber – a fabulous performance. But I have to confess I was a little disappointed. I’ve been waiting to see Derek choreograph a Charleston for ages, and this one was not all I had hoped for. Got to hand it to Derek – he choreographed to Amber’s strengths, she loved the routine and the crowd appeared to love it too. Is her ankle still sore? – hope she’s back in heels for the tango next week.
Jack – was surprised it was a bit wooden, because he did so well with the Rumba and I thought the Cha Cha was the same steps, speeded up (or have I made that up?) Think the slide at the beginning may have thrown him slightly. Agree that Cheryl looked amazing.
Christina – I appear to be in a minority here – I thought it was her best dance by far and the first time she really connected with the audience. She was let down by Mark – I did find the clown face distracting.
Nicole – I like her and her commitment. Thought the dance was promising – and the cartwheel fantastic. She does need to refine technique though – and hope that Sasha and she can show the same enthusiasm and joy as Bill and Emma.
Glad Bill N went last night. As to who will go next week – would like to keep a lot of them so suppose it’s fairer if Valerie goes, but could cope if Elizabeth went or even Leah.
I have been voting for Bill/Emma, if they were eliminated I would vote for Snookie/Sasha. It’s funny I never heard of Bill and I hated Snookie before the show. I can’t warm to Elizabeth or Corbin, big deal a dancer can dance.
Agree with most. But Buttercup, my posting friend, I believe the judges “write” their comments during the dress rehearsal then edit with the help of the writing staff. These days, Len cannot speak w/o looking at his “notes”. It has gotten so bad the camera gives him a quick shot, then he looks at his notes and they pan away. Still begging for a straight jacket for Bruno and a speech coach for CAI. However, I think Brooke is much better in this format vs. the stilted Q & A from past years. Love that Tom calls the new holding area, “The Glitter Pit.”
Past week was a bit of a bore. Voting for Bill E. I find him to be quite refreshing.
Shocking, Mark did or wore something that put the focus on him not his partner? That never happens ~sarcasm~
Regarding Mark’s clown face…I thought it was pretty obvious that he put that on because the LYRICS OF THE SONG were talking about a clown and the story of the dance was that Christina was supposed to be introducing a clown performer but got caught up in the performance herself.
Now, you might still hate Mark’s clown makeup, but it was done with a purpose and was relevant to the performance and the song, NOT because Mark was trying to make it about himself or being weird.
Ryan (#28) said: “I think it was kinda unfair that they were able to do lifts, and Amber wasn’t.”
I’m sure Christina and Amber were both allowed to do lifts for the Charleston, Amber/Derek just chose not to do any.
The judges don’t watch the dress rehearsals, and LOL there is no writing staff either – if you’ve heard those cheesy lines that the pros/celebs sometimes end their packages with, that is the extent of the writing help given by the producers. (Well that, and some of those packages about how tough this season is or how physically draining it all is, where all the different stars say one line, are very scripted). As I’ve said before, Len comes up with all his own lines and they are far more clever than the producers could come up with.
Yes Len is reading his notes, which he takes during the actual performance.
Hehe…whatever you say, Cali. I could give a rat’s ass what the lyrics of the song are saying – the clown face was still distracting, and I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels that way. You do seem unusually defensive about it, though…u mad bro? 😉
To be honest with you I didn’t even notice that one Charleston had lifts and the other didn’t.
The reason I preferred Amber/Derek’s over Christina/Mark’s is that the former seemed to be more jazzy and peppy, which is what I think of when I think of the Charleston.
What I don’t think of with regards to the Charleston is clowns, no matter what the lyrics say.
I do think Christina danced what she was given really, really well. She looked fantastic too.
I see Karina is addressing the issue of their QS speed on her Facebook page. She explains that she was requesting all week that the music be slowed down but it was not done due to clearance issues.
It’s unfortunate so many think she might be losing control and becoming a bit frantic, when in fact she was dealing with the cards she was dealt. I’m sure she’s especially tuned in to these types of comments after the all-star season.
Sorry if this was addressed elsewhere and I missed it.
Mark is Mark. By now I have learned to expect the unexpected from Mark. (And I don’t mean his dancing). Either I like or I don’t… This season I don’t.
I got that too from the performance @Cali I thought Mark’s clown face fit their theme and routine well. It was the best Charleston that night and one of the best performance that night. Amber Charleston could’ve been good if she had more lift in her feet. Christina executed well and her kicks were sharp. I think Mark is doing really with his choreography this season. Christina is bringing out another Mark…he’s not out dancing his partner, he is dancing with her. That Charleston was very synchronize, I agree with Carrie Ann on that.
I think Mark blew it. The show asked if he wanted to explain the clown makeup before the dance and all he said was, “you’ll see”. What I don’t think he took into account was not everyone watching the show is ‘cosmopolitan’ enough to know “The Wild Party” or was going to listen to all the lyrics in a 1:05 dance. All he had to say was he was Burr the clown and Christina was the showgirl from a vaudeville act from ‘The Wild Party’. Then people would have thought he was inventive, not weird and distracting.
Mark is Mark. He’s not as self-effacing as some of the other pros. Also as they said on AfterBuzz, he’s theatrical and likes to get out the face paint. This song and theme night was an opportunity to indulge himself. Unfortuantely, the contrast between his full face paint and Christina’s pristine face was too jarring. He should have gone with “clown lite” (maybe a little white oval around one eye outlined in black and a red tear outlined in white) and he should have put a few gems or patches or *something* on Christina’s face.
As for Karina defending herself on FB, I’m glad she’s putting that info out there. However, I still think it would be a savvy move to switch it up and apply the KISS principle for a couple weeks. Show viewers the fun side of her and Corbin’s partnership instead of the hard-driving side.
@Karen T, yes, he blew it…. But honestly, I don’t know most of the songs they use for the show. When it’s been a song that’s been used before, I can usually place that it’s been used before, but that’s pretty much it. Even if Mark had said he was Burr the clown and Christina was the showgirl from a vaudeville act from ‘The Wild Party’, I still wouldn’t have gotten it. If he had simplified it, and said that he and Christina were the characters in the song they’re dancing to, I would have gotten it…. Still thought it was weird and distracting, but at least I would have understood it!
I still don’t know who Burr the Clown is! Off to google…
Derek said/implied in one of his blogs or interviews (was it Derek, or one of the other pros?), that the judges can and have in the past, seen dress rehearsal on studio monitors. I know they don’t sit out on the floor, though.
As for the scoring, I don’t think the crew would know if the Executive producer or others higher up dropped a note to Len or the others about who needs points and who doesn’t, so of course the crew would be surprised. That said, there is always the possibility that they don’t see something. Other times, though, it sure seems like there is monkey business going on.
I think everyone is smart enough to realize what the lyrics were to the song Mark and Christina danced to – but that doesn’t change the fact that some found the face paint distracting.
Crazy couple of weeks, and I’m *finally* catching up on DWTS. Better late than never, right?
I don’t really have a ranking, but I’ll use Court’s to share my thoughts.
Corbin & Karina – Really good dancing, good performance, and I enjoyed it. However, I feel like I’m starting to lose connection to them, and I think it’s because I’m not feeling the fun. So please, lighten up so we can see the fun!
Amber & Derek – Loved the dance, kind of hated the music. I didn’t really feel like Charleston music at all. I think Amber’s performance was stellar, and that Derek’s choreography fit both the music and the dance (like always).
Nicole & Sasha – A fun routine, and she’s a pretty decent dancer. They’re growing on me.
Leah & Tony – Eh..the end of that dance was just *awkward*. Tony, what were you thinking??! I have really mixed feelings about this couple – there are moments I like them, and moments I really don’t – and some of those come from Tony’s continuing comments about how Leah is starting from scratch and isn’t a dancer, etc. He’s talking as if she’s the only one in that situation – and she’s not! What about Bill, and Jack, and Brant, and even Nicole – she has a gymnastics background, not a dance background. Even Amber doesn’t have any serious dance background. So I’m a little over the attitude, and while I applaud Leah decision to leave Scientology, I’m not a fan of the “everyone’s against me” schtick.
Jack & Cheryl – This wasn’t their best dance, but I still really enjoy them. This is the most I’ve liked Cheryl in a *very* long time, and I think her choreography is leaps and bounds better than what she’s done the last few seasons. Jack has a lot of charm, but I do think he needs to gain a little more confidence, especially for the latin dances.
Bill & Emma – Love these guys! Bill did a really good job with this dance, and while it wasn’t really the best paso music, I still enjoyed. Bill really knows how to perform, and Emma is doing a great job with her teaching and choreography. So glad she’s here, and not it the UK. Also glad to see that Bill is moving up the Power Rankings (and I think this is more accurate than where the odds makers have him).
Elizabeth & Val – This was a lovely dance, but I still don’t feel a connection to this couple. I will say, though, that I’m finding Val much less annoying than last season – he actually seems really subdued this season.
Christina & Mark – A fun dance. However, I’m not really liking them much. Christina feels a bit fake to me – or maybe it’s just her mannerisms, but she grates on me a bit. I don’t feel that I have seen the real Christina once yet; she seems buried beneath a facade of openness and “being out there”.
Brant and Peta – I enjoyed their dance much more than I expected to. Peta seems to be doing a little better with not sexing things up as much this season (or maybe Brant isn’t quite comfortable with all that). Like with some of the others, there are moments when I really like them (due to Brant) and others when I don’t (generally due to Peta). Does anyone else get a vibe of desperation off her? Like she’s too desperate to win or do well?
Valerie & Tristan – I love Valerie. I love Tristan. I didn’t love watching them dance. It felt a bit painful to watch, and while I wouldn’t mind her knocking out Christina (and probably Leah and Elizabeth as well), I don’t want to to knock out Bill or Nicole or anyone else I really like. I think she’ll either be going this week or next.