I really don’t “feel” Gilles or Emmitt, frankly. Neither of them do anything for me. They could get rid of those two and Kirstie and I’d be perfectly happy.
Actually, Melissa is considered favorite for 2nd at 44% with Emmitt in third. I don’t know what data they use for their predictions as I understand the actual voting numbers are kept confidential.
So double elimination this week. Who do you think will be the two who go home?
I’m going with Kirstie and Kelly.
Just read that Brooke Burke-Charvet has thyroid cancer.
'Dancing' co-host Brooke Burke has thyroid cancer.
IIIRC, it’s one of the more successfully treatable forms of cancer if caught in time. Here’s hoping for a full recovery.
Oh dear. Scary stuff.
I just heard that Tom Bergeron on Entertainment Tonight made a somewhat tearful announcement in which he wished her all the best in her treatment. I didn’t see it myself and don’t know just how tearful it was or what might meaning might be derived from it - i.e., he might have been just hamming it up for the ratings - but I’m hoping he doesn’t have worse news than has been released to the public.
I just did a little surfing, and according to Huffpo anyway it looks like Brooke’s known about this for some time and has spent a couple of months getting herself psyched up for the surgery, which she has now scheduled for a few weeks from now. She also says her doctor told her that hers is a “happily ever after kind of thing.”
So hopefully this is all correct and she will be fine. My sister’s boss had thyroid cancer and has recovered although she struggled for some time with fatigue and getting her meds right. She seems to be doing okay now though as she’s running her own exercise studio. 
Brooke did a short video talking about her cancer diagnosis. She’s a strong lady and I think she’ll get through this ok.
Just read that Derek Hough will need surgery on neck. He has herniated disc in his neck. Says he will finish the season as it’s just causing discomfort (meaning pain) and he can’t do it any more harm. That sure is a lot of dedication for a popularity dance competition. I do love Derek, but I hate to see him in so much pain.
I gave three votes to Melissa (though I was bothered by their navy costumes for “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” in which they specify that the young man in question is “in the army now”) and four to Kelly.
Please god, send Kirstie home.
I also voted for Melissa tonight. I had not voted for her before, but she was superb tonight. I also voted for Giles and Apolo. Kirstie doesn’t even look like she’s trying anymore. Very sloppy. And what was all that nonsense during her interview w/Brooke? She acted like she was drunk or something.
Like the choreography that Derek did for the primitive salsa, but have to agree it didn’t much resemble a salsa. More of a freestyle.
Emmit was way over scored. I like Emmit, but his difficulty just isn’t on par with the rest.
I loved the Trio dances. Except for that hot mess that Derek did. What the heck is wrong with the guy? Everyone else did a fantastic dance in the style that they were assigned. Why does Derek seem to think Shawn is incapable of performing a proper Samba? It’s just flat out insulting to her.
Gave all my votes to Melissa and Tony. They are such a fun couple to watch and they dance so well together.
I loved it, though I agree it was more a freestyle than a samba.
Three-point difference between the highest and lowest scores for it – has there ever been such a big spread before?
Not to my recollection.
Derek does seem to know how best to present his celeb and is a good judge of their abilities. If he’s not having Shawn do a samba, she probably can’t do an acceptable one. He’s probably calculated enough to know that he’s going to dinged on Len’s score (everyone knows Len’s a stickler), but also knows the audience votes are the deciding factor. I think on this show it’s better to do the wrong dance well than to do the absolutely correct dance poorly.
StG
[SPOILER]I’m not surprised that Kirstie went. She’s been steadily getting worse week by week. Some of her original season dances were so much better than what she’s done in All Stars.
Gilles’ elimination is a big surprise. He’s been dancing pretty well. But, I’ve seen comments that his desperate, got to win attitude was irritating fans. Maybe that caught up with him?
I guess it’s ok that Apollo is going to the semi-finals. He has gotten better the last few weeks. I was neutral between Gilles and him.
It was a very nice surprise the Emmitt survived to the semi. He’s got such a great, positive perspective on all this silliness. I just like seeing him every week.
[/SPOILER]
Overall, I’m happy with tonights results. It could have been a disaster with a double elimination.
Agree, on both points. Well, all three points.
Apolo and Gilles were neck and neck for me – and Gilles’s desperation was really off-putting. Bummer he had to go home, but other than Kirstie, there was no one who was clearly not as good as the other, so it came down to personality and relationship vibe. As Gilles’s desperation increased, and Karina’s dislike of Apolo either lessened or was hidden better, the vibe advantage tipped to the latter.
Emmitt Smith as Hall of famer is the most famous by far of all the finalists. He may not win, but he’s doing well. Also, he is the most balanced of all the finalists. He most always gets saved early, and because of the fanbase he doesn’t often get a tongue bath from the judges. I think Apolo constantly being shown in the bottom even if it isn’t necessarily the bottom 2 shows they are pimping him for votes. I thought Monday night was rather poor for Apolo. His Tango was no where near as good as his “Jessie Girl” Tango in season 4, his dance position was way off, and the pro showed him up quite noticeably on the Jive.
Moreover they are blatantly pimping Melissa with the scores as she’s now the only non-champion in the final 5.
Then they award scores for no Samba. That’s ashame, because I want to see Samba I don’t want to see African Jazz, so no Derek you’re really not that creative to rip off Sean Cheeseman. I was disgusted in that twerp Johnson and her cocky partner. I hate when snot nosed kids think they know it all.
As for Gilles, Karma baby… you just don’'t start off a season bad mouthing others and reek of desperation. I guess his departure was not too surprising.
I’m so glad that Tony and Melissa are still dancing and going to the semi-finals. I’ve never seen Tony grinning so much and he’s lost weight this season. He must really be working hard. Melissa said a few weeks ago that she was doing this as much for Tony as herself. He’s been there since season 1 and never had much of a shot except the seasons with Stacy Keibler and Melissa.
Trying hard to not get my hopes up. At least Tony and Melissa are in the semi-finals and I think that’s one of the pay bonus steps? I think everyone in the semi-finals gets rewarded.
Gilles had me the most worried. I wasn’t sure just how huge his female fan base was. I thought he might grab the win just based on decent dancing and his fan base. I’m not sure who is the most popular now. I’d think it’s between Shawn and Melissa. Apolo just isn’t a warm and fuzzy personality. Emmitt’s not that great of a dancer.
Like most seasons, I think the Freestyle will make or break the finalists. Melissa and Tony lost their season because of a weak Freestyle. I’m hoping Tony comes up with something a lot better this time.
I don’t understand how there can be 5 teams in the semi final. Aren’t there only 2 or 3 in the final? Does that mean they will lose two more next week?
I wouldn’t count on it - or, perhaps it’s just I’m almost always underwhelmed by Tony’s choreography. Even when I really like the dancing, it’s not because I’m wowed by the choreography, just the execution.
I’m ok with who went home.
And my guesses for next week’s songs -
CaveMan Hustle - “Walk the Dinosaur” by Was (not Was)
Big Top Jazz - “Circus” by Britney Spears
Espionage Lindy - “The Man with the Golden Gun” by Lulu (really not likely - but I think it would work)
Surfer Flamenco - Miserlou
But I can’t even guess about the Bhangra