Dancing with the Stars Season 23, Week 8 – LIVE BLOG!!

Happy Halloween!!

Site rules in are effect – don’t hit refresh every 2 minutes, make sure you’re not posting one-liners, etc. Thank you. πŸ™‚

Loved the opening number…especially the outlines on the floor πŸ™‚

Big mention of Sharna – but no mention at all of a missing Derek. He wasn’t in any of the group number rehearsals either…I think Hairspray must have interfered. But he’s not anywhere visible – he’s either practicing with Marilu or he hasn’t gotten there yet. The other explanation is the couples standing on stage after the pro dance was also filmed earlier.

Love Beetlejuice – the dance was pretty good, but Halloween always screws with the dances. I suspect that the judges will use that against the couples when they want to, and won’t when they don’t. Come on, CAI…you think it was too slow?? SHE DIDN’T PICK THE MUSIC!! So stupid.

Sharna apparently told Dominic on All Access that she will “100%” be back on the floor – he said that to James so I assume the context was with James and not in general. And James confirms that it’s 100% Sharna choreo/production.

Val showing a tiny bit of personal growth! Good. But this edit makes me suspect a possible Laurie redemption arc…and I also suspect they’ll use Sharna’s injury to hose James.

Very good dance!! But not worthy of the perfect score that I suspect they’ll get.

Yep, perfect. It will be interesting to see who else gets the 40. And who ends up with immunity.

OH HOOO…they just claimed that the cumulative score will be the deciding factor. A different story from earlier in the season. That means that Jana is out of the running for immunity and it’s between Laurie and James if he gets a perfect score.

Interesting edit they gave to Marilu and Derek – just now mentioning the injury and making it seem like all was fine last week (in terms of the injury).

A couple sync issues at the beginning and then a slight miss at the end, bonking Derek on the head. Choreo was awesome, working with her feet well.

Note, they barely speak to Marilu and Derek after spending eons with Terra and Laurie. Shit adds up. I think a 7 is harsh for that dance…makes me wonder if she is safe.

Love Calvin and Lindsay!! Very good dance, although I saw a sync issue in the middle, not to mention they broke hold in a quickstep. I dug it though.

Hmmmm….interesting. NOW they start scoring him well? After breaking hold and a sync issue? That’s all well and good…I wouldn’t mind if he won…but it’s a bit suspect. I suspect they want several couples with perfect scores for the sake of DRAMA and who will get immunity. :::rolls eyes:::

I can’t help it… I think Ryan is just hilarious. Really liked that dance as well…but I confess I wasn’t watching closely so I can’t say too much more about it.

I will also comment on a fan double standard which I’m finding a bit sexist – the way Derek and Cheryl talk to their partners this season is nearly identical – honest, tough love. But Derek is the only one who gets any shit for it. Is it because Marilu is female that they think she should be treated differently??

Anyway, I would give Ryan a pretty good score…not having watched it closely, granted. πŸ™‚

I’m sure it’s a total coincidence that Ryan and Marilu are tied. :::smirk:::

Relax Gleb…all it really means on DWTS is that you have no rules. Do you WATCH this show? And no way is she the top girl….you forget Laurie?

Did I see a big glaring mistake at the beginning of Jana’s dance?? Again, multitasking too much…

It was also a good dance, but not terribly new or exciting. Will she be over scored? Eh, I guess 9s are okay. She had no shot at immunity anyway, so at least they’re not carrying the pretense that far.

Don’t worry, Sharna – you’ll get by on the sympathy spamming until you’re back. No danger for James, IMO.

Great dance! Should be a perfect score, if Laurie’s was. They cynic in me feels the need to point out that Laurie and James both did V. Waltz and both will probably be perfect. James’ dance was far superior to Laurie’s I think – have to agree with Julianne. Gonna have a hard time deciding who to vote for between James and Calvin in the finale. πŸ˜‰

Oh, Tom just pointed out before the score that James would get immunity if they get a perfect score. So, no dragging that one out. Thanks Tom. πŸ™‚

NOOOO….Tom, people HAVE TO VOTE for them to keep them safe next week!! He was far to wish washy on that point, it needs to be reinforced. They are not automatically safe next week!

Heh…the pros and celebs worked the dance off out before hand. Is it mean that I felt like Jana would pick Marilu just to ensure a win? πŸ˜‰

I’m gonna guess that whoever wins the dance off between Ryan and Marilu is the one going home tonight…that way they’re sure to get rid of the other one next week. You heard it here first.

Okay first dance off Calvin versus Laurie – I thought that Laurie and Val were very repetitive in the choreo. Mess up my ass Julianne. Are they going to score this??

Oh shut up, CAI – it’s the cowards way out to pick Ryan. And she acts like she doesn’t know they all worked it out beforehand.

And Laurie and Val win that one…no surprise.

Are they supposed to yield the floor in the middle?? If not, it’s a clever idea to make sure both get attention. Gleb’s turning into a bit of a famewhore with the shirt thing though. I personally thought that Terra and Sasha won that one, but I doubt the judges will give it to them.

No way…Terra was winning the public vote the entire time it was on the screen. Something smells.

:::sigh::: Jana gets the extra points. And remember my prediction from above?? I wonder…

What the hell were Ryan and Cheryl doing off to the side? Looks like Ryan won the audience vote in addition to the judges.

Wow, down to the wire….first couple safe is….Marilu and Derek!! See above for how I called the loser of their dance off being safe.

Next couple safe is…Laurie and Val.

Calvin and Lindsay and Janna and Gleb are both safe, damn it.

Person going home is….Ryan and Cheryl. Very happy for Terra…wish it had been Jana.

I couldn’t choose between Marilu and Ryan going home, while Courtney picked Marilu. Vogue said it was going to be Ryan! She called it right this week.

A note on the numbers…Terra is only one point ahead of Marilu, but it’s almost certain to be one of those two next week because the show has rigged it very, very well to get the couples they want next week, regardless of what the audience may want.

Incidentally, tonight is also an example of why they’re terrified of Derek, as much as they want him to come on every season. Clearly, his fanbase has power. πŸ˜‰