The Mirror Ball: Dancing with the Stars

The Mirror Ball Trophy Winner and Champion of 'Dancing With the Stars' is...

2011-11-22T23:00:48-05:00

It’s finally time to crown a new champion! It started with 12 couples and Tuesday, it was down to three. Still, only one would go home with the Mirror Ball Trophy. Let’s recap the night.

The show kicked off with the pros dancing an energizing opening number.

Then they reunited with their partners and did a little dance. Then the contestants still remaining came down the stairs and made their grand entrance.

Lady Antebellum was up next to perform "Dancing Away with My Heart" off their new album, "Own the Night". They were beautifully accompanied by Troupe members Sasha, Teddy, Kiki, Sharna, Dasha and Oksana on the dance floor. This was the first of two performances by the Grammy winning country group.

In this next round the stars will redo a dance that loved and try to do even better with it. Ricki and Derek chose their “Psycho” Tango to perform again, and I am so excited about that! I felt like it started off not as crisp as the first time I saw it, but then they quickly regained their momentum. This dance is just so interesting to watch with all of the timing changes and the intensity in the music. If I’m being honest, I liked it better the first time, but did think it was a lot of fun to see them perform it again. Len said it was the most memorable dance ever and that he loved it the second time around. Bruno said it was a cinematic extravaganza. Carrie Ann said that she proved that she was a fighter and thought it was beyond perfect the second time around. Wow! I guess I just don’t know what I’m looking at then because I thought it was better the first time.

Rob and Cheryl went second and they decided that they would perform their Fox Trot again because he dedicated it to his dad and it had a lot of meaning for him. Wow, he came out with flair! I loved how they got right into the dance. He does seem much lighter on his feet this time around. I think that it’s interesting to see a contestant to perform a dance they did so early in the competition, especially with little to no experience. His family was crying and smiling and cheering in the audience for him! Bruno said that he has improved beyond everyone’s expectations and he’s got his mojo. Carrie Ann said that there was elegance and refinement tonight and that he made it look easy. Len said that the little slip he had on the dance floor meant nothing and that he has some of the best footwork he’s ever seen of any guy who’s ever performed on the show! That’s a great compliment from Len!

J.R. and Karina decided to do their Jive again and take out the stuff that the judges penalized them for last time like the lift and doing some Lindy moves. They had a few timing issues in the very beginning but once they got past that, they did a great job! It was full of fun and energy. There was also a little trouble spot towards the end where it looked like he lost his place or timing a bit and didn’t really have the pop in his legs that we know he can have. Carrie Ann said that he is a catalyst for joy but didn’t know what happened to the problem parts of it out there. Len said that the band did a great job, but added that he did exactly what he was asked to do and complimented his personality. Bruno said that he loved the energetic, fast-paced fun, and he loved it! I guess they noticed all of those trouble spots too but it was hard not to like the dance just because he is so much fun to watch! I hope he didn’t just cost himself the Mirror Ball!

In 3^rd place for the round with 26 points it went to Rob and Cheryl (Seriously? Theirs was fabulous!) They now have 83 judges’ points.

In 2^nd place for 28 points, it was J.R. and Karina who now have 82 judges’ points.

Ricki and Derek took home the top amount of 30 points to get the top judges’ score of 84 points.

It was time for an elimination! The third place contestants after the votes from viewers at home and the judges scores was Ricki and Derek. Wow, I’m a little shocked! For some reason I thought people may not vote for Rob, but I think it’s very easy to underestimate his gigantic fan base. Ricki did a great job and they showed her boys in the audience. Derek and Ricki were clearly bummed, but they did seem happy just to make it to the finals.

Then it was time for the final two couples to perform their instant dances! They are dancing their instant Samba’s to “Shake Your Bon Bon” by Ricky Martin. J.R. is dancing his Samba first, and Rob will go second. The couples went off to rehearse while the show recapped.

Metta World Peace (AKA Ron Artest) and Elisabetta Canalis came back out to perform with their partners one more time. They both did better than I remember them doing during their actual performances on the show when they were being judged.

Kristin Cavallari and Mark Ballas came out next and did a new routine that was super cute like a sock hop! It was really great and I still can’t believe she didn’t make it further in the competition.

Then, Chynna Phillips was back with Tony Dovolani to perform the “Mission Impossible” dance that she completely messed up and blanked out on the first time. I bet she rehearsed that dance to death! It was WAY better than the first time, but let’s face it, she wasn’t as good as Ricki, J.R. or Rob! Still, it was nice to see her get her redemption.

Carson Kressley and Anna Trebunskaya were out next to dance to “Vogue”. Carson was his very own Madonna. He got to dance with Val Chmerkovskiy, a dream of his apparently ha-ha. The actual dancing parts were pretty good and I must say, Anna looked fantastic! I think my favorite part was when Carson spanked himself.

Nancy Grace was out to perform her “Spamalot” routine again and she did a great job! It was nice to see her out there having fun! I really think that her performance value really improved since the last time she was out dancing.

Chaz was up next with Lacey and her dad Buddy! Wow, after a little rest, Chaz had some pep in his step! I love watching Lacey’s dad dance! He’s fabulous! It’s clear where Lacey gets her talent from.

David Arquette and Kym Johnson performed “We’ll Always be Together” from “Greece” and it was fantastic! I really wish he would have lasted longer in the competition. I enjoyed watching him dance!

Lady Antebellum was back out to perform to perform their huge hit “I Need You Now”. What a great song! Remember, this whole time J.R. and Rob are practicing their “Instant Dance”. Is it just me or is an hour to rehearse not really “Instant”? It’s a short amount of time, I get that, but it’s not “Instant”.

Hope Solo and Maksim Chmerkovskiy came back and danced again. Oops! Hope accidentally kicked one of the lights on the stage! Hopefully she’s ok! She needs her feet to kick soccer balls! This dance was kind of a bit of a hot mess, but what can you do? It was out of sync and Hope looked like she hadn’t practiced it all that much. She was laughing at the end of it, so it looks like she just bumped the light and didn’t hit it too hard.

At long last, J.R. and Karina were up with their “Instant Samba”. It was full of fun and heat! Those two are electric together! I felt like a few of the parts were a little slow and they could have picked up the pace to the beat a little but it was a great job overall!

Then, Rob and Cheryl came out right away. You could tell he was closely watching every move Cheryl made. They had good energy and I really thought that their choreography was perhaps even a little better! But, it will all depend on what the judges thought of their performances technically speaking.

Len actually stood up and applauded them both! Bruno said that J.R. can turn it on and make it a party time, while Rob has really learned how to use his bon bon! Carrie Ann said it was so much fun to watch and that for one of them it was their victory dance, but that they are both winners.

Their final judges scores for J.R. and Karina were all 10’s! 112 was their final judges’ score to be combined with the viewers’ votes.

Rob and Cheryl got all 10’s! 113 was their final judges’ score to be combined with the viewers’ votes.

In the end, J.R. and Karina were victorious! They won the Mirror Ball Trophy! Rob and Cheryl did a fantastic job, but J.R. was consistently good pretty much the whole way through and was an inspiration to the entire country with his story. This also marks Karina’s first Mirror Ball win!

Rob Leads the Pack, Ricki and J.R. Tied for 2nd Going into Tuesday

2011-11-21T21:20:32-05:00

Here we go! Time for the finals on “Dancing With the Stars”! Tonight, the stars had to dance one dance that they had yet to dance and then they performed the fan favorite Freestyle dance.

Ricki and Derek were up first and they performed the Cha Cha. During rehearsals, Carrie Ann helped them with their technique. They were perfectly in sync with their movements, although you could see Ricki and Derek get their hands mixed up together in one of their holds. Overall, they did a fanstastic job, but some parts looked a little bit clunky to me. It wasn’t as smooth as they usually are. Len liked their hips but he thought it could have been a little more fluid. Bruno said she was running at full steam and that she has never been hotter, he agreed with Len that there was a lack of fluidity in some passes. Carrie Ann said that tonight she lived the dance! She added that their arms got a little confused but thought it was confidence at its best.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 9, and Bruno -9, for a total of 27 out of 30. I would have probably given that an 8 I hate to say! Also, notice, again Derek Hough has his bare chest showing! He loves it!

Rob and Cheryl followed with their Waltz. Bruno helped Rob figure out how to be graceful with this dance during rehearsals so we’ll see if that works. It had a beautiful, graceful start! Rob has shown that he really can be the leading man in a dance. Wow so much spinning! I got dizzy there watching them in the middle. They honestly did a fantastic job! It had great romance and good storytelling too. Bruno said that he was flowing and glowing and full of expression. He said that he missed a few crossovers in the footwork. Carrie Ann said that he’s the male version of Cinderella who made it to the ball! Len said that he had good holds and posture, he noticed occasionally it got a bit heavy, but it was simple and simply beautiful.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 9, and Bruno – 9, for a total of 27 out of 30. I thought it was better than Ricki and Derek’s and I was hoping for at least one 10 in there, but then again, they noticed some footwork problems. For those of you who care, Kim Kardashian is in the audience tonight to support her brother.

J.R. and Karina were the last up for round 1 with the Cha Cha Cha. Len helped J.R. work on his hip action during rehearsals. I love the energy of this dance. J.R. was confident enough to do a lot of solo cha cha sections as well. They were right in sync the whole time and the audience loved it. It was really steamy too! These two were Cha Cha-ing all over each other. I honestly think they did a near perfect job! Carrie Ann thought his musicality was a bit off and she wanted him to watch his arms. Len said that it was brave that he did a lot of the dance on his own but thought that it wasn’t that good. He spotted a lot of mistakes and thought his enthusiasm got the better of him. Bruno said that his intensity was right on the money and but noticed his hands were little off. Yikes, they thought it was way worse than I thought it was! Let’s hope they have something spectacular for their Freestyle.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 7, and Bruno – 9, for a total of 24 out of 30. Wow, Len was harsh! I think that dance deserved a 9.

Ricki and Derek were back with their Freestyle first. Ricki busted through a picture of herself and Derek did a series of flips across the floor. Their timing was much better on this dance than their first one. Plus, the lifts were just awesome! This dance was a lot of fun to watch. I loved their energy and fluidity. Ricki obviously loved their dance because she was jumping up and down at the end. I thought they did a fantastic job. Len thought it was fun and entertaining and said well done. He thought they lost it a bit in the quick step section. Bruno said that mixing the dances was tough but they did a great job. Carrie Ann said that it the lifts looked effortless and that the fluidity was much better. Oops looks like Ricki elbowed Derek in the jaw, ouch!

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 9, and Bruno – 9, for a 27 out of 30 and a 54 out of 60 for the night.

Rob and Cheryl were up next with their Freestyle. They did an old style dance that a lot of spunk. Rob did great with the lifts! Very impressive. He really does have great expressions when he dances. He makes you feel the joy! He even did a famous Kardashian booty shake. They did great! He really could win this thing! I’m shocked at how great he continues to do! He really has grown since the beginning of this show. Bruno said it was brilliant execution and performance. Carrie Ann said that she has been blown away! Len said that he gave it his all and that he and his family should be very proud.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 10, Len – 10, and Bruno – 10 for a perfect 30 out of 30 and a total of 57 out of 60 for the night. Amazing!

J.R. and Karina were last up for the night with their Freestyle. They had their work cut out for them after a less than perfect dance last round. Their dance was Salsa inspired. Their arms were amazing in the beginning. Some of those lifts were crazy! I don’t know how he pulled it off! They pulled off the crazy lift from rehearsal where he hooks her with his legs! Wow…that dance was hot! The guys in the newsroom all said wow, they want to vote for Karina haha. Carrie Ann loved it enough to get up in dance, and she said they were the sickest lifts she’s ever seen. Len said Karina’s body and J.R.’s talent were revealed! Bruno said that J.R. was an exhuberent animal out there. The judges went wild! I smell some 10’s!

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 10, Len – 10, and Bruno – 10, for a perfect 30 out of 30 and a 54 out of 60 for the night.

J.R. & Karina and Ricki & Derek were tied at 54 for the night, and leading going into tomorrow, Rob and Cheryl with 57 out of 60. Tomorrow night, Lady Antebellum performs and there will be one more dance scored by the judges to get combined with your votes from

The Season Finale of 'Dancing With the Stars' Begins Monday!

2011-11-18T17:51:17-05:00

After ten weeks of the most riveting performances, dramatic eliminations and shocking moments of the show's 13 seasons, Robert Kardashian and two-time champion Cheryl Burke, Ricki Lake and three time champion Derek Hough, and J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff will hit the dance floor for a chance to outshine the rest and be crowned "Dancing with the Stars" champions.

In the final one-hour performance show on Monday, November 21 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), all three couples will compete against one another with two dances.

The first number is a style the couples have not yet done. Then, all three contenders will perform the always popular and fan favorite Freestyle dances.

Eyewitness News Entertainment reporter Sandy Kenyon will be there for all of the action! You can watch his reports on Eyewitness News and on 7online.

Then, the two-hour Season Finale will follow on Tuesday, November 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET), as the three finalists perform their favorite dance of the season.

The two couples with the highest combined fan votes and judges' scores will then go on to perform the Instant Samba to determine who will reign as champions of "Dancing with the Stars" and take home the coveted mirror ball trophy.

Also on Tuesday, each of this season's 12 couples returns to the dance floor for a special performance.

The Final Three Have Been Chosen on 'Dancing With the Stars'

2011-11-15T22:07:44-05:00

After a wild night last night, tonight, there was no telling which three couples would make it to the finals next week on “Dancing With the Stars.”

The judges chose Rob and Cheryl’s Samba to see again! I loved it, the return of the rainbow and parade float! This dance was fantastic and I was so glad they chose this one to see again. There’s just so much joy exuding from Rob!

Rob and Cheryl were up first to learn their fate. Cheryl nearly fell to the ground when Brooke announced that they would be going to the finals next week!

Then Cobra Starship featuring Sabi, performed their hit single, "You Make Me Feel". I loved the energy out there. Pro dancers Kym Johnson, Tristan MacManus, Sharna Burgess and Sonny Pederson really lit up the stage and were a perfect combination with the band.

Before Hope and Maks’ news, it showed how tense things really are between them and the judges. They replayed the smile comment from Carrie Ann of course, and Len also picked on Maks for allegedly hiding behind Hope. I didn’t see any of that! These judges need to get over it. It was revealed that Hope and Maks were in jeopardy.

Derek and Anna were out next to perform the Paso Doble in the viewer’s choice dance to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”. All season long, fans have voted on the performance song, style, costumes and pro dancers for the season's Macy's Design-a-Dance. Derek must have loved that costume because he got to be bare-chested; we know how much he loves that! Still, they did a great job!

The final "AT&T Spotlight Performance" of the season highlighted four talented boys, Kyle Scanlan, David Guzman, Jacob Guzman and Matt Gilmore from The Gold School in Brockton, Massachusetts. Their inspiring performance was accompanied by female pro dancers Chelsie Hightower, Lacey Schwimmer, Sharna Burgess and Peta Murgatroyd. As one of the best dance schools in the country, The Gold School is known for producing amazing dancers. These four particular teen boys are members of the school's Project Moves campaign, which helps raise awareness to the bullying epidemic that continues to plague schools across the country. Growing up as male dancers, the boys have been targets of bullying themselves. However, with their common love of dance, the talented young dancers have learned how to triumph over adversity. Kyle, David, Jacob and Matt are assets to their community, incredible dancers and proof that there is nothing wrong with following your dreams.

Wow, those guys did amazing! They were so in sync the whole time and their dance just showed how much hard work and love they put into this performance. They should be really proud of themselves!

If you thought it was time for more results…not quite yet. First, the Muppets were there to dance and perform a new song, “Life’s a Happy Song”, from their new movie. Of course Kermit played the piano and Ms. Piggy was there to join in with the rest of the crew.

Finally, at last, it was time for results. Ricki & Derek and J.R. & Karina stood side by side as it was revealed that J.R. & Karina were still in jeopardy and that Ricki & Derek are in the finals! J.R. predicted on his Twitter account and Facebook page earlier that he thought he would be in jeopardy, but he said he hoped that his fans would vote him through so he could do an amazing job in the finals.

Then, it was down to Hope & Maks and J.R. & Karina. In the end, Hope & Maks were eliminated. I have to say I’m not really surprised because J.R. and Karina led the competition for weeks.

Maks told Hope that he wished he could have done better for her which was a little weird, but it was sweet that they both thanked each other and there was no more drama with the judges.

Kardashian Wows as J.R. Slips a Bit in the Semifinal Performances

2011-11-14T22:13:14-05:00

It’s the Semifinals on “Dancing With the Stars”! It was a tough night because the final four had to perform three dances a piece.

First up in the first round were Hope Solo and Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Poor Hope was having a lot of trouble with her shoulder and had to get some medicine injected just to make it through the rehearsals. The danced their Paso Doble first. It was full of fire and chains in the beginning and had a great but kind of slow start. It seemed like a full minute almost went by before they started actually dancing. Maks also danced around her quite a bit. The parts that Hope did dance, she gave it her all and did very well. There were a few little trouble spots in the middle to the end but she fought through it and gave a pretty solid performance. Len said that he thought it was incredible that they all had to learn three dances. He loved the attitude, but thought it was lacking in control and finesse. Bruno thought she was unchained and untamed. He added that it was lacking some artistry. Carrie Ann said that she nailed the character of the dance, but thought that the hold was a little out of sync and she lost her shaping at some points.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 7, Len – 7, and Bruno – 7, for a total of 21 out of 30. Brooke said Maks you look unhappy and he said, “No I love it, thank you everybody for everything you ever said or ever did.” Yikes! I would have given them an 8, I think the 7’s were a teensy bit low.

J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff were up next with their Paso Doble. J.R. is fresh off an ankle injury. They danced to a song from “The Mask of Zorro”. I liked how they got right into the dancing right away. It was full of passion and a lot of fun to watch. I loved the pacing of it. For the most part it was very smooth, but there were a few parts that seemed slightly clunky to me. The crowd loved it and J.R. and Karina got a standing ovation. There was a part where J.R. slid on the floor and he actually twisted his ankle again! Ouch! Bruno said that he could feel the thrill and excitement in the dance, but he did pick on his posture a bit. Carrie Ann said that she gives him a lot of credit for dancing with a hurt ankle the way he did and she noticed his slouchy posture as well. Len said it is what it is; he thought that the dance didn’t suit J.R. at all. He called it “more zero than Zorro”.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 7, and Bruno – 8, for a total of 23 out of 30. Wow the judges are being harsh tonight! That dance was in no way a 7!

Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke came out shaking maracas with their Samba and riding on a parade float! He shook that famous Kardashian toosh! Their timing was a little off in the beginning but I didn’t even care because this was so much fun to watch. He did a fantastic job bringing a great amount of energy to the dance. His footwork was fast and furious! Overall it was amazing! He really shined in this performance! Carrie Ann said who are you and what was that?! She thought it was amazing and that he was light on his feet and a fantastic dance overall! Len said that as soon as he was on the floor he said “Oh yes!” Bruno said, “That’s how you turn a handicap into an asset” in regards to his butt!

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 10, Len – 9, and Bruno – 9, for a total of 28 out of 30. That’s their highest score this whole season!

The last performance in the first round was Ricki Lake and Derek Hough with their Samba. They looked like two bananas in yellow! Ricki seemed to be lacking the spunk that Rob had in the last dance. She also messed up her steps once or twice. It just seemed to be lacking a little of the pop, but they did have few sequences that were really amazing as they danced across the floor. I think the audience enjoyed that a little more than I did. Len said that it was fabulous and that they’ve taken a giant step into the finals. Bruno said that it was sizzling hot and it was brilliant from the beginning to the end. Carrie Ann thought that Ricki did a great job keeping her shoulders down and that she did a fantastic dance. I guess they saw something I didn’t!

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 10, Len – 10, and Bruno – 10 for a total of 30 out of 30. Seriously? I would say a 9 at best! Ricki apparently thought she did badly, and so did I!

Then the DWTS Troop and some of the world’s best Argentine Tango dancers came out to show what the Argentine Tango looks like at its best. Get ready for some lifts!!! At last!

Hope & Maks were up first with their Argentine Tango. It was sultry and full of sexiness! She looked absolutely beautiful and dance was really good! It had much better flow than the last one. She also did great job in working with Maks on all of the lifts. She was actually able to make the very hard moves look quite easy so I think they did a great job! Len said it was far, far better than the Paso Doble. Len called it a buffet of tasty morsels laid out before him. Bruno said it was much better and said that she had more control. Carrie Ann said there was more fluidity to their movements. She said that her feet and the movements into the lifts were a little bit abrupt. She also took a dig at the way Maks was smiling and I don’t think Maks was smiling any way, and Hope defended him and Maks tried to cover her mouth. This whole Maks fueding with the judges thing is getting really old, I think the judges need to just get over it already! He's really on his best behavior, don't provoke him!

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 8, and Bruno – 8, for a total of 24 out of 30 and a score of 45 so far. Those scores were ridiculously low! They should have had three 9’s across the board. I think the judges want them to leave.

J.R. & Karina followed with their Argentine Tango. It started off with a lot of passion and a lift right off the bat. It was also much smoother than their last dance. The shapes were really amazing that they were able to make with their frames. I thought their footwork was really fantastic as well. There was one lift where he spun her around and I totally though her face was going to smash into the ground, but it was good! Thank goodness it didn’t! J.R. didn’t seem too happy at the end of it; he’s clearly in a lot of pain. Bruno said that it was an incredible job! Carrie Ann thought there was a true fire of passion burning between them. She thought they did a great job with some very difficult lifts. Len thought it had mood and intensity and said that’s the way to go!

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 9, and Bruno – 9, for a total of 27 out of 30 and a combined score of 50 out of 60. I would have given that a 10!

Rob and Cheryl tried to beat their personal best with their Argentine Tango. There’s a new ease that Rob has on the dance floor and it’s just stunning to watch! He took command of the dance and seemed to cope well with the lifts. Those can’t be easy, plus their footwork was really, really good. The end scared me a little when he was spinning around at the top of the stairs with Cheryl in a lift! I was so worried that he would have a little misstep and they would both go tumbling down the stairs. Carrie Ann said that there is no way to fake good dancing and she said that’s what she wants to see in the finals and that they did good strong dancing! Len said that they are finishing strong! Bruno said that he started out as a goofy outsider and that now he’s looking great.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 9, and Bruno – 9, for a total of 27 out of 30 and combined score of 55 out of 60!

I loved that they showed a picture of Rob dressed up by his sisters when he was a kid, so hilarious!

Ricki & Derek started the dance off with a very sexy pose which exposed a lot! There was some body bending moves that I don’t know how Ricki pulled off! I liked this dance much better than their earlier one; it had better flow and just a better performance value all around in my opinion. Now THAT deserves a 10! Len said that there was lovely contrast of movement and that he liked how the lifts swept in and swept out. Bruno said that he was totally transported into the world of Buenos Aires. Carrie Ann told Ricki that she sees the core strength developing and now it has added a pop and shine to her performances.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 10, and Bruno – 10, for a total of 29 out of 30 and a combined score of 59 out of 60. Seriously Carrie Ann? You give their last dance a 10 and this one a 9? Are we watching the same performances here? That was a 10!

Now it was time for the Cha Cha Relay! Each couple danced a portion of an Enrique Iglesias song. Ricki and Derek went first and they did a great job! I loved Ricki’s shimmery dress! Hope and Maks went second and she almost tripped on one spin, but quickly recovered. J.R. and Karina followed with a sultry Cha Cha! It was full of spunk and energy. Rob and Cheryl went last and Rob just loves to pop his arms! Their footwork looked really good and I thought they did great!

1^st place (10 points): Rob & Cheryl

2^nd place (8 points): Ricki & Derek

3^rd place (6 points): J.R. & Karina

4^th place (4 points): Hope & Maks

So overall for the night, Ricki & Derek lead the pack with 67 points, Rob & Cheryl are in 2^nd place with 65 points, J.R. & Karina are in 3^rd place (gasp!) with 56 and Hope & Maks are in last place with 49 points.

Another couple will be eliminated tomorrow night at 9 p.m.!

The Final Four Perform Tonight on 'Dancing With the Stars'

2011-11-14T13:33:12-05:00

The semi-finals have arrived and the competition is nothing short of intense as the four remaining couples charm audiences with three routines. That's a lot of memorizing which leaves a lot of room for error, let's hope our semifinalists are up to the task!

Their first performance is an Argentine Tango, their second dance is either a Paso Doble or Samba -- one of which is a style dance they have not yet performed -- and their third dance will be the Cha Cha relay, in which all couples will dance to the same song.

Their Cha Cha will not be scored, but it will be ranked by the judges: The couple who takes first place in the ranking will receive 10 points, the second-place couple will get 8 points, the third-place couple will get 6 points and the fourth-place couple will take 4 points.

Monday night's show also includes a fierce Pro Argentine Tango performance choreographed by world renowned Argentine Tango master dancers and choreographers Sandor and Parissa. Pro dancers Tony Dovolani, Kym Johnson, Kiki Nyemcheck, Sasha Faber and Oksana Dmytrenko will accompany Sandor and Parissa in this piece, live on "Dancing with the Stars".

The fun begins tonight at 8 p.m. on ABC!

Predictable Elimination on 'Dancing With the Stars'

2011-11-08T22:04:40-05:00

The first three couples were up to find out their fate first tonight on “Dancing With the Stars”. Rob & Cheryl, J.R. & Karina, and Hope & Maks all had great performances last night. The first couple into the semifinals is J.R. & Karina! Hope & Maks also learned that they were in the semifinals! Now, for the fate of Rob & Cheryl…they sadly found out they were in jeopardy. That’s crazy!

Andrea Bocelli graced the ballroom with a magical performance of "More" with Chris Botti off of his “Andrea Bocelli Concerto: One Night in Central Park” album. It was truly amazing. You felt like you were transported back in time to the days of “Casablanca” or something. Needless to say, he got a standing ovation for such a great performance.

During the Dance Center skit, they showed Hope Solo’s nude photo shoot for ESPN Magazine! Yowza! My favorite part was when Len showed his nude photo shoot, very funny, and not too bad for an older man ha-ha!

Cirque du Soleil was up next with their Michael Jackson tribute in the Macy’s Stars of Dance. The timing of this really couldn’t be better with the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray wrapping up this week. It was amazing when the aerialists got raised up into the air and did some astounding formations. Then, during “Billy Jean” their suits lit up and it really got exciting. It makes me really want to go see this show!

Miami-based rapper Flo Rida was up next to perform a medley of two of his chart topping singles, "Club Can't Handle Me" and "Good Feeling." It’s funny he’s one of those guys where I knew the songs but had no idea who performed them. It was a really fun and energetic performance!

Nancy & Tristan and Ricki & Derek were up next for results. The next couple into the semifinals was of course Ricki & Derek. That meant that Nancy & Tristan were in jeopardy.

In the end, Len was right; it was Nancy & Tristan’s time to go. She had a great run, and to last until the final five is a huge achievement! You can watch them tonight on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”!

Instant Dances were an Instant Hit on 'Dancing With the Stars'

2011-11-07T22:09:24-05:00

This week on “Dancing With the Stars” the final five had to contend with the dreaded “Instant Dance”! This time, they had to dance the Jive to an unknown song that they would find out on the show, and they also had to learn an individual dance, so they all had double duty!

First up this week were Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke with their Quick Step. It had a weird awkward start I thought, but then Rob found his groove. I love “Take on Me” what a great song with high energy. Rob’s timing seemed slightly off. It just didn’t seem to match the music at times, but he was good at keeping the energy up and making the dance fun to watch. The crowd loved it though! Rob really has improved over the weeks and I still see him making it to the final three. Len said that he thought he had a bad start and thought the opening was terrible, he said once he got into the hold it was much better and his butt was much better. He thought it was his best dance so far! Bruno said he had the best lines that he’s danced so far; he thought it was an incredible improvement. Carrie Ann said that he’s the ideal contestant because he’s really improved every week and found him elegant, smooth, and light on his feet.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 9, and Bruno – 9, for a total of 27 out of 30. Their instant Jive will be to the song “Man-eater”.

Hope Solo and Maksim Chmerkovskiy hoped to have a strong performance with the Quick Step this week. They had a very cute start where they twirled some yellow umbrellas and then things really took off. I think these quicker dances really suit Hope. They did some little hops in the middle that were out of sync, but I have to admit I really loved the energy of this dance and thought they did a really fantastic job! This was my most favorite dance of hers! I was really surprised at how comfortable she looked the whole time. Bruno said that it was light, breezy, radiant, and that she’s never moved so well! Carrie Ann loved it so much that she had to give her a hug! She even complimented Maks! Len said it was a great blend of speed and control and thought that she fulfilled her potential. Great comments!

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 9, and Bruno – 9, for a total of 27 out of 30. This was their highest score so far in the competition. Maks even thanked the judges; it was a regular love fest! As for their instant dance, they picked “The Best Damn Thing”. I’ve never heard of that one!

Ricki Lake and Derek Hough seemed to struggle during their rehearsal with their Waltz, but I had a feeling we were about to see an amazing performance! First of all, the set looked gorgeous draped in the sheer fabrics! It started off very passionate and lyrical. You could tell Ricki was really working hard to try and keep her shoulders down like Derek and Len warned her about. They really have a great flow with their dancing; their movements were just continuous the whole time. The crowd stood up for that one! I love how they always make it seem like you’re about to see a horrible dance with the rehearsal footage and then come show time, it’s just amazing! Carrie Ann said that she noticed a little stumble at the end, and she noticed her shoulders when she came out of holds just a tiny bit, but she loved how Ricki lost herself in the dance. Len said it was like a river gently flowing the whole time and it was beautifully executed. Len said that she has to fix her footwork or she’ll never get a 10 from Len. Bruno said it was absolutely a beautiful dance.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 9, and Bruno – 10, for a total of 28 out of 30. Yay Bruno! I totally agree that performance deserved a 10! Their instant Jive will be to “Land of 1,000 Dances”. Poor Ricki could yet again, not get a word in edgewise between Derek and Brooke during their after the dance interview!

Nancy Grace and Tristan McManus were back this week with their Tango. I think this dance will be a much better fit for her than her Jive last week; hopefully her instant dance later won’t drag her down too much. I felt like they wasted a bit of time in the beginning setting up their dance on purpose. I also hate to say it but Nancy needs to put a little more energy in her movements. I mean, pick up those legs higher, stomp your feet a little more deliberately, it needed to look stronger. She also slipped ever so slightly when Tristan was spinning and dipping her around. I think that dance was her ticket home. Len said that Nancy plateaued at week two, but he thought she did better tonight. Bruno said that he was shocked at how she wrapped her legs around Tristan and thought she had the right attitude in the dance. Carrie Ann said that she loved her spirit and thought it was very clean and sharp. She did pick on her toes not being pointed and also noticed her slip in the dip at the end.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 8, and Bruno - 8, for a total of 24 out of 30. I honestly would have given that a 7 and I think that was being generous. For their instant dance, they will dance the Jive to “Upside Down”.

J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff finished off the individual dance portion of the show with their Waltz. I love how smooth he looks out there on the dance floor. He was strong and confident, even when he had to float his arms about as he guided Karina. Karina lost her footing a little in a spin, but there was nothing J.R. could to help that. The crowd was continuously cheering throughout the dance; there was no denying that this was a fantastic performance! Bruno said it was like a musical Valentine’s Day card and that he really danced with his heart. Carrie Ann said that he has an incredible natural grace but in the middle of the dance it was pure “magic”! Len said that he came back all guns blazing this week after last week’s little misstep.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 10, Len – 10, and Bruno – 10, for a perfect 30! That is this season’s first perfect 30! Well deserved in my book! Their instant dance will be to “Tutti Fruiti”.

Rob & Cheryl were first up with their Instant Jive and I loved the energy that Rob brought to the dance. He picked up his legs like a prancing pony! He did seem to get a little lost in the middle but got right back into it and really seemed to pay a lot of attention to his arm movements and did a great job of following Cheryl. They really seemed like they were having fun, despite it being an incredibly challenging dance! Len said that there were little incidents but no glaring mistakes! He thought that he did a great job but wanted him to sharpen up his feet a little more. Bruno said that his arms were very nice and that he brought a lot of youthful energy to the dance. Carrie Ann said that the transitions were very good, but that he did need to point his toes more on the kicks and flicks.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 8, and Bruno – 8, for a total of 24 out of 30 and a 51 out of 60 for the night. I would have given them a 9! I thought they looked great out there.

Hope and Maks were up next and it was time to see if Hope could do a better Jive than her last one. She was off to a strong start. It’s almost like something clicked in her head and she became an amazing dancer overnight! I also loved their energy and Hope’s fringy pants! Her kicks were a little out of line with Maks but she quickly got right into the groove. Bruno said it was fast and furious and she was like a wild child! He did warn her to stretch the back of her knees, but added that it was very good. Carrie Ann said it was definite improvement over their last Jive. She thought her hands needed a little attention. Len said that it was fantastic! He thought it was well done and spot on!

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 9, and Bruno – 8, for a total of 25 out of 30 and a 52 out of 60 for the night. I would have given that dance a 9 like Len!

Ricki and J.R. started with a huge leap and jump from Derek into their Instant Jive. Sometimes it seemed like Ricki was waiting for the next move by Derek, but she did a great job for just learning the routine to that music. Their energy was really good, and they kept it at a smooth yet energetic pace the entire time. I have to say, I think I liked Hope and Maks dance a little better, but we’ll see what the judges say! Carrie Ann said that she thought everything was good except for the places where Ricki lost the choreography. Len said that he agreed with Carrie Ann basically but he thought she did a good job. Bruno also agreed but appreciated how she would always find her spot again and get right back into the dance. He ended it by saying, “It wasn’t terrible”. HA! That’s not exactly what you want to hear!

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 8, and Bruno -8, for a total of 24 out of 30 and a 52 out of 60 for the night. I can’t believe their score tied Hope and Maks tonight! Amazing!

Nancy and Tristan did their best out there, but I don’t think it was good enough to return next week. We’ll know for sure tomorrow night! Nancy appeared to get lost quite a bit and her kicks and flicks were not that great. She did a weak looking cartwheel at the end, but that made the crowd cheer. Len said that she’s lasted for 8 weeks and that it’s time for her to go home! Bruno said it was a little laid back and loose for a Jive. Carrie Ann said that she got lost in the choreography but she liked how much she trusted Tristan to keep her going.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 7, Len – 6, and Bruno -7, for a total of 20 out of 30 and a 44 out of 60 for the night. Len made it clear that he wants Nancy to leave with that brutal 6!

J.R. and Karina were the last up with their Instant Jive. This routine was packed with punch! It really did look like they practiced for a week on this dance! The choreography was complex! Other than the dip and the end kind of coming after the music stopped, I give that performance a 10! Bruno said his timing was impeccable and that he’s done it! Carrie Ann said that he’s in a class all of his own and that no one is coming close to them tonight! Len said that he’s got the X factor and the feel good factor mixed together and that they came out with the most fantastic Jive!

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 10, Len – 10, and Bruno – 10, for a total of 30 out of 30 and a 60 out of 60 for the night! Wow! A perfect score!!!

Tomorrow night, tune in to see the next couple eliminated and performances by Jordan Sparks, Andrea Bocelli, and Flo Rida!

Week 7 Elimination: More of a Trick than a Treat

2011-11-01T22:05:23-04:00

This week's show is sure to infuriate many. But like they say, if you want your favorites to stay in, you've got to vote, vote, vote!

The results show kicked off with Justin Bieber performing the title song from his documentary/movie “Never Say Never”. His hair looks so much better than it did as a mop top, I just have to say! I wonder if we’ll be seeing the “Biebs” as a contestant on “Dancing With the Stars” once his teen pop career begins to slow down…kind of like when Aaron Carter was on. There was a moment towards the end of the dance where he did a gross crotch grab move that probably made the 13-year-old’s squeal and made me nearly puke up my snack. Still, the crowd went wild. I think it’s probably hard not to catch a case of the “Bieber Fever” when watching him perform live.

The judges decided that they wanted to see Team Paso’s dance again from last night. I think Hope kind of did worse tonight than she did last night, good thing they weren’t going to be scored on anything tonight!

Rob Kardashian was upset at Bruno’s comment about his butt last night and even had some words with him, but fear not Rob! Your butt is just fine! Time for results! Nancy & Tristan found out that they were in the bottom two right off the top. Rob & Cheryl fared better by finding out that they were safe! We’ll be seeing more of Rob’s butt next week.

After J.R. talked about his tough night last night, he sang a little Bieber and it wasn’t half bad. But, it was time for the AT&T Spotlight performance, and Victoria Rose Viren shared her amazing story of recovering from brain tumor surgery at age 14. She went from relearning how to walk and do pretty much anything to becoming a superstar dancer! She is such an inspiration!

She danced to “Arms” from “Lovestrong” by Christina Perri. It was so amazing to see the combination of ballet and ballroom in this dance! Kyle Robinson joined her in this dance and they were such so lyrical and beautiful. It’s hard to believe that she’s just 16 years old! The best news, Victoria Rose says that she’s still cancer free two years later!

Derek Hough and Alison Holker performed a dance that they made up themselves for the audience. Geez, Derek just loves to be shirtless lately! We get it, you are proud of your pecks! What can I say, it was a great dance, and I just didn’t really see the point of it.

Then, it was time for more results! Ricki & Derek got some great news and found out they were safe. J.R. & Karina, no surprise here for these fan favorites, they were safe too! J.R. definitely seemed relieved because he was very upset with the 8’s he received from two of the judges last night. No worries, J.R.! You get another shot next week!

Justin Bieber came out and brought out “Boys II Men”. I missed them and I wish that they were front and center on this song instead of “backup” more or less. They did have a few breakout moments though. I love that it’s a Christmas song! It really gets you in that holiday spirit. "Fa La La," was accompanied by pro dancers Mark Ballas and Chelsie Hightower, although I think the crowd was more excited about Bieber! It was on his new album “Under the Mistletoe”.

The last groups out for results were David & Kym and Hope & Maks. Hope & Maks were safe! I was a little surprised at that even though they had a great dance. We know what that means. David & Kym ended up in the bottom two even though I thought their dance was way better! Oh well!

In the end, David and Kym were eliminated! Nancy and Tristan were safe! Seriously people? I cannot believe that after their amazing dance the other night they were eliminated. The crowd booed when it was announced! What a bummer! This is totally more of a trick than a treat for sure! I’m hoping that the remaining eliminations happen in this order…Nancy, Hope, and then after that Rob, Ricki, and J.R. to take it. I predicted Ricki to win, but now I’m rooting for J.R. I think. Who do you want to win at this point in the competition? Leave a comment with your thoughts!

More Treats than Trick on 'Dancing With the Stars'!

2011-10-31T22:03:14-04:00

The show started with showing the transformation of the stage and the transformation of the stars backstage for this week’s Halloween spectacular!

Tom Bergeron didn’t dress up, but Brooke Burke looked fabulous in a spider web dress with a black wig on.

David Arquette and Kym Johnson were up first with their Halloween Cha Cha Cha as he dressed up as a vampire and she was his victim. I love spunk that David brought to this Abra Cadabra dance. It had great energy the whole way though and I thought that he was able to hold his frame quite well too. He even did a little magic at the end where he threw a spider web, but it landed right on top of him. I’m not sure if that was how it was supposed to go. Len said that it was full of tricks and treats. He said he turned himself into a dancer there, but he could have had a little more rhythm but it was well done. Bruno said that David was a natural at turning tricks! Bruno called Carrie Ann a “Naughty little *****”. Carrie Ann said that he had polish and finesse, but thought his hold could be a little bit stronger.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 8, and Bruno – 8 for a total of 24 out of 30. I would have given it a 9!

J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff danced the Tango to the theme from “Ghostbusters”. I thought it was pretty cool because J.R. was the ghostbuster and Karina was his sexy ghost. He had a great hold and really took command in the dance. You can really tell his confidence with this dance is really high. The special effects with the lightning were also great. It seemed like their timing was slightly off at the end when he shot his Ghostbusters gun. Bruno said that it was a very solid performance but he noticed that he lost his timing a few times because the music is very difficult. Carrie Ann said there was a tiny slip where they were out of sync but that he really captured the tone and that they were very precise and sharp. Len said that this dance was substandard to what he expects from them. He thinks that J.R. worked too much on the performance and didn’t focus enough on his feet.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 8, and Bruno – 8, for a total of 25 out of 30. I have to say I was surprised there were two 8’s, but that’s pretty fair.

Nancy Grace and Tristan McManus danced the Jive this week to the Devil Went Down to Georgia. She lost her footing a bit in the beginning but got it back a short time later. She just seemed so much slower with her movements and kicks, I felt like Tristan was trying to have enough energy for the both of them. After this she’s in trouble I’d say. Carrie Ann explained that there are good days and bad days and this was a bad day. She thought that she could see when Nancy was able to get into the dance and when she lost her place quite frequently. Len said it wasn’t a good dance for her and that her kicks weren’t sharp. He thought it was a disappointment. Bruno said that the devil got her and that she was on and off the whole time. He thought the spirit was there but the footing was not.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 7, Len – 7, and Bruno – 7, for a total of 21 out of 30. Honestly, I would have given it a 6, I think they were generous.

Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke danced the Tango to theme from “The Addams Family”. They made a great Mr. & Mrs. Addams. He was very commanding and he really did look just like the TV show! I didn’t really care for the Tango to that particular song, but there’s not much you can do about that. I thought the dancing was very passionate and they were very in sync. Tonight in the audience we got a shot of Scott and Kourtney and little Mason. Len said that it had the right amount of attack and that it was great and thought it was well done. Bruno said that he was never so manly and in control. He warned him to stop sticking out his bum. Carrie Ann said that it was his best dance so far! For those who were wondering, there was no mention of Kim and Kris’ divorce. You know they all had to be talking about it backstage!

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 8, and Bruno – 8, for a total of 25 of 30. I think those 8’s were too low! Carrie Ann was right on with that 9.

Ricki Lake and Derek Hough were up next with their Paso Doble. Ricki has a rib injury that she has to keep bandaged up. She’s supposed to rest for 1-2 weeks, but since that’s not possible, she’s just got to power through the pain. Derek played the big bad wolf after Ricki who was Little Red Riding Hood. Now this dance had passion! They were right on and had such great energy and really struck every beat! It was nearly perfect as far as I could see. The crowd was on their feet at the end of that dance! Bruno said it was like a blizzard of passion and fear, he noticed at times he noticed her tense her shoulders but thought it was incredible. Carrie Ann loved her shapes and her movements, but noticed the shoulders come up a hair too. Len said that he loved the shapes and thought they were fantastic and loved the footwork and yelled “lovely!”

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 9, and Bruno – 9, for a 27 out of 30. I think Scott Curkin is right, Derek always does jump on the microphone and talk! Ricki couldn’t get a word out edgewise!

Hope Solo and Maksim Chmerkovskiy danced the Samba to a werewolf dance. Teddy from the dance troop helped Hope rehearse because Maks hurt his toe. She had some great rehearsals until Maks came in and tore her apart! Her arms looked a little weak at the beginning of the dance. But her footwork did seem a bit stronger from last week. She does seem like she’s not totally comfortable, but this is possible one of the best dances she’s had! Carrie Ann said that it was so nice to see her have some brightness and spirit, she loved watching her and that she had a newfound ease of motion. Len thought she coped well with a very difficult dance. Bruno said that she was running away from the big bad wolf and that she was dancing like her life depended on it and that she should be proud.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 8, and Bruno – 8, for a total of 24 out of 30. When they asked him how he felt, he answered with one word “Great”. That’s sure different from last week!

Team Tango was led by J.R. and Karina and Team Paso were led by Ricki and Derek. Team Tango was made up of David Arquette and Nancy Grace. Ricki & Derek’s team had Rob and Hope on it.

Team Tango went first. Nancy seemed to lose her footing a little bit but actually did a really fabulous job. She really upped her performance in this dance. David was very commanding but at one point seemed to slow down a little too much, not sure if that was the choreography or what. J.R. of course brought it! He shook those hips like nobody’s business! I thought they did a great job individually and as a team! Len said that he thought they did fabulous as a group, he thought the individual dances were all a disaster! Bruno said that he agreed with Len! I was shocked! Carrie Ann said that they started out extremely well but once individual they fell apart a little, but overall very nice. It’s so hard to learn two dances in one week; I give them all a lot of credit.

Their Group Score: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 7, and Bruno – 8, for a total of 23 out of 30. That 23 will get added to their individual scores from earlier.

Team Paso was up next. They started off very in sync, and then busted out into their individual dances. Rob was very commanding out on the dance floor again. Hope was a little stiff but had a great intensity. Ricki was amazing out there! She really did a wonderful job. I think this was the stronger group for sure. I thought their individual segments really did shine. Bruno said it was powerful and moody! He loved it and thought it was a fantastic ending. Carrie Ann said that they were in sync and it was very “Yeah!” Len thought the individual dances were fantastic.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 8, and Bruno – 9, for a 26 out of 30.

Tomorrow night, you might want a cool drink while you watch to avoid coming down with a case of Bieber Fever!!!!