Dancing with the Stars Recap: The Top 5 Tackle Two Dances


OK, America you had your fun, but seriously?

We're down to what they call the "quarterfinals", and the next step is the Final Four. With four excellent dancers and one guy that tries real hard still left in the competition, I gotta say: You can like Ty. You can admire how far he's come. You can find it not-at-all-creepy to see him gyrating his pelvis right at his wife's face-level in front of a cheering crowd. but can you really say you want him to beat out the other four to keep on dancing?

OK, now that I got that out of my system, let's get started:

Each couple had to do one ballroom dance and one Latin dance last night. Am I the only one confused that a Paso Doble is a Latin dance, while the Tango is a ballroom dance? Confusion aside, doing one from each kind of dance was bound to put the contestants' strengths and weaknesses on full display all in one night.

1. Shawn and Mark

First they danced the Quick Step. I was actually a little worried about Shawn on this one, because if I'd fault her on anything it would be on not always being exactly on beat. She does sometimes seem to be a milli-step behind Mark. Not this time, though. She was light on her feet and seemed to move with lightning speed. If she had a weakness it was that she is not wildly expressive facially. So, I have a message for her partner Mark: Mark, when you first came on the show, I didn't like you because you seemed like a showboater. You went over the top on your moves and your expressions...and it didn't actually help your star, it hurt them by making it more obvious where they lacked. So it was last night. Calm your face the frak down, m'kay!? Shawn's strength is not her facial expressiveness, and you over-compensating by mugging and making huge faces does. not. help. OK, moving on.

For their Latin, they danced the Paso Doble. Again, she was right on it...sharp, fast, no sign of being behind the beat. Again, I have only one criticism. Yes, she managed to avoid smiling or giggling or letting her bubbliness peek through, but what we got instead was a very stoic, impassive expression. Serious, yes. Dynamic, no.

Still, with every below the face, she proved she belongs in the Final Four.

2. Ty and Chelsie

First they danced the Argentine Tango. Look, Ty did a respectable job...for the early weeks of the competition. I totally admit he didn't come in with the skill, grace, natural talent or musical background of the rest of the four competitors. But it's certainly not their fault they were cast in the show with those advantages. We can tell the producers we don't like ringers, but in the end, it should be about who does a better job. Ty had good posture and surprisingly good sharpness, but he's always going to be the guy stomping about the dance floor, not stepping. And the minute he's out of hold and has to extend his arms, you see how his very proper, upright posture gets taken too far...making him look stiff and robotic. Respect what he has accomplished, but come ON.

For their Latin, they danced the Rumba. Again, cute effort, truly. I appreciate he finally got his hips moving (although I don't so much appreciate the kind of manly-man, bordering on homophobic, attitude that always accompanies any clip of these kind of guys learning to loosen up). Again. Come ON. If another couple goes home, it's not fair. (And did anyone else feel like averting their eyes while he gyrated his hips in front of Jewel?)

I think it's clear that Ty does not belong in the Final Four.

3. Lil Kim and Derek

First they danced the Waltz. Although Lil Kim came out of the gate strong, surprising everyone with her skill and grace, I would not say she is closing well. I don't see a ton of progress. She seems about the same level of skill she's been since the beginning. But also the same level of intermittent awkwardness or hesitation. If she had really worked through those gawky moments over the course of the show, I think she'd have had a shot at winning...because her story is also one of "who'd a thunk?" But as it is, I think she is the most likely to be sacrificed on the altar of Ty being inexplicably charming to a lot of people. This Waltz was actually quite difficult because Derek played a lot with the rhythms within the Waltz time constraint. It wasn't just ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three. So while I didn't see the mis-steps that one of the judges pointed out, I did see an occasional bit of physical stuttering or hesitancy. On the plus side there were TONS of spins, and there's no reason Lil Kim would be good at those (unlike either a gymnast or a former ballet dancer) so I gots to give her props on her mad spinning skillz!

For their Latin, they danced the Salsa. And I think our expectations were set way too high. This was actually better when they were dancing together in hold...I think Lil Kim has better balance and stability when she can rely on her partner. Some of her solo stuff just seemed awkward. There were good tricks and some high quality moves, but I also saw mis-steps. Bottom line was that this was built up to be in her wheelhouse, so it seemed disappointing.

Lil Kim deserves to be in the Final Four, but I think she is most at risk to lose to Ty's inexplicable charm.

4. Gilles and Cheryl

First they danced the Foxtrot. It was terrific. Gilles' face occasionally gets frozen into position, but other than that minor critique (similar to my only minor critique for Shawn) this was entertaining and well-executed. It didn't seem like the most difficult Foxtro I had ever seen, but the style was terrific.

For their Latin, they danced the Rumba. And I'm so glad that the judges were as confused by his Michael Jackson moonwalking in his solo as I was. It was truly bizarre. I also agreed that the rolling about on the floor was awkward and more messy than sexy. The rest of it was very nice, but a bad beginning and end pretty much mars one's memory of the entire thing!

It's obvious that Gilles belongs in the Final Four.

5. Melissa and Tony

First they danced the Viennese Waltz. I wouldn't say it was the most interesting Waltz I've ever seen, for two reasons: 1. There was not a lot of expressiveness or chemistry between the two. 2. Tony relied on way too many developes in the choreography. (That's where she did those high, slow kicks.) Yes, she's great of them and you gotta take advantage, but they were in there every other phrase. Show me something else. Find another way to leverage her flexibility.

For their Latin, the danced the Samba. This was mostly terrific, but I do have two small comments: 1. Her hips don't actually move that much...she's great at loosening up her upper body, but her lower body still seems a bit more balletic than frenetic! 2. I felt they got out of synch with one another towards the end. Just a tiny bit. It really is nit-picking when it comes to most of these contestants at this stage.

So yes, Melissa deserves to be in the Final Four.

Bottom line: I think it will be Lil Kim and Ty in the Bottom 2, and I HOPE Ty says adios tonight.

But what did you think?

Posted: Tue - May 5, 2009 at 08:48 AM       EmailFeedback

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