Tom did a quick introduction of groups of guests from every season... except no one from season 6 apparently? And it seemed like the camera wasn't sure who it was supposed to be on at one point. But we saw some familiar faces, whatever season they were from!
And now for the teams!
They introduced Season 6 champ Kristi Yamaguchi and on Team Kristi were Rick & Cheryl, Bristol & Mark and Kyle & Lacey! Next was Season 4 champ Apolo Anton Ohno and on team Apolo were Kurt & Anna, Brandy & Maks and Jennifer & Derek!
Tonight each of the pairs scores will be added to the other scores of their team mates and the team dance score to determine which team is the winner. After the teams were announced, we saw tape of the captains picking their teams. Apolo chose Jennifer & Derek first. The smart move would be for Kristi to pick Brandy & Maks but since Mark was her partner in Season 6, she went with Bristol & Mark. Which meant Apolo got Brandy & Maks. I'm sure you can guess which team I think will take the game tonight.
Team Kristi danced first with a group Cha Cha. They came out in sparkly black suits & hot pink flapper dresses and I thought it was hot.
Rick & Cheryl danced the first solo and I think that of the two sports men, Rick seems to move better than Kurt. Call 1-800-868-3404 to vote for Rick & Cheryl for 30 minutes after air-time, or go to abc.com to vote online till the morning after.
Bristol & Mark had the next solo and I have to say I'm proud of Bristol! She rocked it and even gave us a little attitude! Call 1-800-868-3407 to vote for Bristol & Mark for 30 minutes after air-time, or go to abc.com to vote online till the morning after.
Kyle & Lacey had the last solo in the dance and I thought Kyle did alright but it wasn't anything to write home about. Call 1-800-868-3403 to vote for Kyle & Lacey for 30 minutes after air-time, or go to abc.com to vote online till the morning after.
Len said when he saw the team lists he thought this team was the underdog but seeing their dance, these dogs have got some bite. Bruno pointed out Bristol lost the step a bit but they did a good job. Carey Anne said the group choreography was great and Rick was on fire! The judges gave them a score of three 8's!
Apolo's team was up next with their own Cha Cha and their costumes weren't nearly as sexy. The guys are wearing neckerchiefs and white t-shirts with bedazzle rhinestones all over them... not so sure about this wardrobe choice.
Kurt & Anna danced the first solo in their group and I totally called it when I saw Rick earlier - Kurt just looks awkward compared. Call 1-800-868-3408 to vote for Kurt & Anna for 30 minutes after air-time, or go to abc.com to vote online till the morning after.
Brandy & Maks were sharp and Brandy looked good in the slotted hammer pants the girls had. Call 1-800-868-3406 to vote for Brandy & Maks for 30 minutes after air-time, or go to abc.com to vote online till the morning after.
Jennifer & Derek looked great aside from one little hop Jennifer had to keep her footing. Call 1-800-868-3411 to vote for Jennifer & Derek for 30 minutes after air-time, or go to abc.com to vote online till the morning after.
Bruno thought it was hot, Carey Anne thought they were all at their best & Len liked the pattern changes and thought individually everyone upped their game. The judges gave them a score of three 9's!
In round 2 each pair got to recreate an iconic dance from a past season and was also judged by the star who made it famous. The six past favorites who returned as guest judges: Helio Castroneves, Kelly Osbourne, Emmit Smith, Drew Lachey, Mel B and Gilles Marini.
The first guest judge was the runner up from season 5, Mel B and Tom Bergeron actually told us that Mel B was the first one to ever grab his cheeks on DWTS - you never forget your first he said. Mel's famous dance was her Paso Doble to Free Your Mind. This time Kyle & Lacey took on the Mel B Paso. Well Kyle is no Maks but he was pretty fierce. He brought some attitude,, his steps were sharp, I was impressed. Of course Lacey is a pro so it may not be fair to compare her to Mel B but to be honest, I thought the unruly blond mane took away from the intensity of the original number. But overall it was great fun. Len said Kyle needs to up his game but also said it was his best dance. Mel B thought it was amazing & it blew her away. Bruno said Kyle had the attack & energy of an untamed young bull. Then he told him he had to keep his shoulders down. Carey Anne said it was a difficult original to live up to and Kyle did well by also being in his own power & strength, as she was the first time around.
Scores from Mel B, Carey Anne, Len & Bruno are 10-9-8-8 Call 1-800-868-3403 to vote for Kyle & Lacey for 30 minutes after air-time, or go to abc.com to vote online till the morning after.
The season 3 champ Emmit Smith joined us next to judge a new version of his awesome tango, performed this time by Kurt & Anna. Kurt just doesn't have the grace that Emmit had! It was alright but I just wasn't too impressed. Bruno said he went from Mission Impossible last week to Mission Accomplished this week. Carey Ann said what made Emmit so great wasn't his footwork but the character & she thought Kurt also brought a character to life. Emmit said he looked dapper in the suit and thought the technique was great. Len thought it was sharp and had drama but he needed to learn the difference between flexed knees and bent knees.
Scores from Emmit, Carey Anne, Len & Bruno are 10-8-8-8 Call 1-800-868-3408 to vote for Kurt & Anna for 30 minutes after air-time, or go to abc.com to vote online till the morning after.
The third guest judge was season 9's Kelly Osbourn. This week Bristol & Mark got to dance her Viennese Waltz again. I do think it's cute that Bristol did Kelly's dance - especially since both are young girls who weren't great dancers to begin with and had to sort of blossom in the ballroom. Bristol didn't have quite the frame she should have - not quite what Kelly had - but she was graceful and she's come out of her shell quite a bit since the start. Carey Anne said she touches our hearts but still seems slightly detached. Kelly said Bristol stole her heart and did fantastic. Len said he enjoyed it very much, loved the reverse turns etc. He said they lack chemistry but had good footwork. Bruno said she moves so well and it comes naturally to her but she needs to become someone else and connect as that character.
Scores from Kelly, Carey Anne, Len & Bruno are 9-8-8-8 Call 1-800-868-3407 to vote for Bristol & Mark for 30 minutes after air-time, or go to abc.com to vote online till the morning after.
The season 5 champ Helio Castroneves joined the show next to judge Rick & Cheryl's rendition of his Quickstep. He told us he'd be looking for Rick to be "smooth up here, fast down here, and of course have fun!" Rick definitely brought some fun into his dancing but I wonder if it was a little over the top. The kiss at the end I loved just as much as the original between Helio & Julianne. Len said sometimes he gets too analytical but when he enjoys himself so do we and tonight it was like that. Bruno said he did his best performance yet & had more faces than Jim Carey. Helio loved it and said he couldn't believe Rick stole his kiss! Carey Anne said that was by far his best dance yet.
Scores from Helio, Carey Anne, Len & Bruno are 10-9-9-9 Call 1-800-868-3404 to vote for Rick & Cheryl for 30 minutes after air-time, or go to abc.com to vote online till the morning after.
Next up was the season 8 runner up Gilles Marini to judge his iconic Foxtrot! Brandy & Maks will have their go at the Foxtrot and Gille will look for sexiness but also for Brandy to take charge a bit. Once again I was impressed with Brandy! Her steps were sharp & she definitely brought some sexy sass to the number! Bruno thought it sizzled with sex, every step driven by eroticism. Gilles said he felt goosebumps all over his body and the performance was unreal. Carey Anne said she liked that Brandy attacked the sensuality but could transform into the elegant hold. Len said he was surprised the others would be so pedantic about a little misstep (the others mentioned Brandy's small mistake as well as giving her praise) when they've just witnessed the best foxtrot of the season!
Scores from Gilles, Carey Anne, Len & Bruno are 9-9-10-9 Call 1-800-868-3406 to vote for Brandy & Maks for 30 minutes after air-time, or go to abc.com to vote online till the morning after.
The last guest judge was season 2 champ Drew Lachey to judge Jennifer & Derek's rendition of his Tango. I don't know that Jennifer is going to make it much further if she keeps coming unraveled like she seems to be. She's kind of coming undone and of course her body is having a hard time keeping up the pace. Tonight though, she was graceful, controlled & fierce. And as always, Derek's choreography was awesome. Carey Anne said on this show there's nothing we love to see more than someone who comes back after a tough week and blows us all away and that's what she did. Len said she came out with tension, passion & attack -very well done. Drew said the musicality was amazing & her lines were beautiful. Bruno said he felt like we were watching a phoenix rising from her own ashes, more splendid than ever.
Scores from Drew, Carey Anne, Len & Bruno are 10-9-9-9 Call 1-800-868-3411 to vote for Jennifer & Derek for 30 minutes after air-time, or go to abc.com to vote online till the morning after.
Jennifer is damn good but she could lose it emotionally. Brandy wants it and isn't going to give it up easy so if Jennifer can hold it together, it'll come down to Jen & Brandy at the end! So tonight with all the scores added, Jennifer & Brandy are tied at the top and Rick & Kurt are tied next, then Kyle and Bristol at the bottom. Here's tonight's leader board:
Jennifer & Derek: 64
Brandy & Maks: 64
Rick & Cheryl: 61
Kurt & Anna: 61
Kyle & Lacey: 59
Bristol & Mark: 57
Helio's partner was Julianne, not Chelsie! I love reading your reviews every week, Rachel. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYOU'RE SO RIGHT! Thanks Teri - I fixed it. Glad you enjoy the updates. :)
ReplyDelete