A flaccid thread, so I feel a little uncomfortable bumping it (but then, looking at my post count, one could say I am uncomfortable bumping anything, let alone posting).
However.
I usually don’t care much for jive–which is surprising considering how much I like the music of the era–but Kristi’s jive knocked my (bobbie-)soxs off. Wow!
Normally, Marissa drives me crazy. I can’t take that much hyper. However, I thought she really toned it back to give a great waltz that was fun to watch.
And Christian put together a great foxtrot despite the few moments in the middle where he looked like he was thinking too hard.
**UNKASTUART ** Agree with your assessments of Marissa and Kristi, Christian was quite a bit better this week than in weeks past. I was totally blown away by Mario. The fluidity of his upper and lower body put all the other stars to shame. He looked relaxed and sexy as hell. I knew Len was going to complain that is was too risque (remember Anton’s cha-cha last year?), but he still gave him a 9 which surprised me.
Looking awkward and unimproved if not worse were Shannon and Marlee. Shannon reminds me of a newborn colt just learning to use its legs. Marlee I admire for her determination and spunk, but if you leave out her deafness as a factor, she doesn’t match the level the others are at this week.
I think Shannon and Marlee will the the bottom two with Shannon going home.
The jive was amazing – it looked like they were having so much fun! Definitely the dance of the night.
And, yeah, Marlee, you’ve gotten as far as you deserve to. Clearly this isn’t anti-deafness discrimination at this point – but from here on out, you need to be able to hear the music, not just count like a son of a bitch.
I was disappointed by Shannon, who I thought was going to do better than this, based on her performances around the second through fourth weeks – turned out that that improvement took her to her personal best, though. Oh well.
Shannon just can’t move her hips! If she could figure out why they’re in lockup, she’d have a much better chance of continuing. Oh well … everybody’s got to go home sometime.
I agree that it will be Shannon and Marlee in the bottom two, with Marlee going home. Too bad. She’s been a joy to watch.
I agree, Marlee and Shannon were definitely the bottom two. I think Marlee would’ve had a better chance if she hadn’t had two Latin dances in a row. Obviously she needs to be connected to her partner, needs a strong lead. And something has to be done to help Shannon move those hips. I know she’s a beanpole, but if Mario and Jason can move theirs, she should be able to move hers. Marissa really surprised me, she did an solid waltz. It didn’t seem fast enough for Viennese, to me - was it regular? And I think Tony really, truly likes her, which sort of surprises me. Mario was sex on the dance floor. Jason was good, but not great, IMO. Part of it is he’s so spidery-looking. Christian showed some real improvement, and moved himself up in my personal rankings.
Either that or work out some more subtle cues between the two of them to guide her. It was just really, really noticeable this week - much so than in the first weeks. It’s time.
I expected Shannon to be better, too. Ah well.
Ever since singular1 brought up the guppy faces, that’s all I can see. Mark has never been my favorite pro, and … well… guppy. But other than those, it was a great jive.
I know it’s not ABC’s intention – but it’s nice that they’re running this as a 62-minute show; I can watch Big Brother at 9 and still switch over in time to see who goes home, live.
I can’t speak for most people, but I found Karina’s dress distracting. It sounds silly and shallow, I know, but it looked like she had an accident with a bedsheet and part of it got stuck to her costume. Mario didn’t look as good to me as Jason Taylor did, and I don’t think he has as much of a fan base among people who watch Dancing With the Stars.
By the way, who got booted off last night? I’m looking at ABC’s website, but it hasn’t told me what I want to know most.
Fanbase issue I suspect, coupled with the illusion of safety thanks to the high score. Plus, I don’t think people really like Karina that much (I know I don’t), so he’s not getting any extra votes like Julianne, Derek, Maks, etc bring in.
Lots of outrage over at the TWoP boards about Shannon and Derek’s behavior in the confessionals today. I didn’t find their behavior as outrageous as some, but it certainly didn’t make them look good. And I imagine it won’t win them over many fans. Shannon seems to be taking this a little too seriously, and she seems to think she’s a little better than she is, and the combination appears to be breaking her down. And Derek is apparently trying to be supportive, but he needs to keep her grounded instead of fanning the flames. And while we’re on the subject, I think he’d be well advised to make sure he choreographs routines she can actually do. I think he thinks she’s a little better than she is too, and isn’t making her look good as a result.
You must skip past that stuff like I usually do. She was sobbing, and he started yelling about how the other dancers were doing this and that (I remember "heel-leads being mentioned specifically, I don’t recall what else) and getting nines and tens. They apologized soon after, citing their passion for the competition getting the best of them.
Shannon was doing more than sobbing. She was nearly bawling, and sobbing out how she had had hip action, and exactly where she’d had it. In short, she was behaving like anyone else either would or would want to behave if something they’d worked very hard on and felt they’d pulled off very well was then ripped to shreds (unjustly, in their opinion) by the people they’d done it for. And her co-creator and (for the moment) best friend was citing all the things that had been worse about other people’s projects that hadn’t been faulted. Very normal behavior, although folks usually wait until they get home and do it in private rather than in front of a camera. I found it a little heart-breaking, because like most of us, I’ve been in that position before.
This could be one of those times the judges were talking about, when they go home and question their own assessment. I disagree with Carrie-Ann; I don’t personally like Shannon all that much, but I don’t think she’s devoid of any innate ability to dance. You have only to look at the people who went home the first four times to see that; they were poster children for that lack!
Marlee was the right person to go, but I felt sad last night; I got the impression that the other competitors were quite unhappy. Not outraged, the way they were when Sabrina got booted (or would be if Kristi were), but just very unhappy to lose her. To see Bergeron step out of his usual ironic detachment was a bit startling, but certainly evidence that she has the ability to build very strong friendships.
Looks like it could end up with any number of people in the finals besides Kristi at this point. Since we never know the order other than the bottom two, it’s impossible to get a feel for how the audience is responding. I’m still betting on Jason Taylor for one of the slots, but I have no idea at this point who will be third.
But it’s true. It seems like the judging goes like this.
Cad: Your dancing was horrible! You looked like a quadriplegic fish out of water. The only saving grace to your routine is that you’ll die soon.
Announcer: We will now see the judges scores.
Cad: NINE!!!
<later for another dancer>
Cad: That was the greatest Nobel Prize for Dancing routine that I have ever seen. You’ve inspired me to walk across a lake to heal an injured swan.
Announcer: We will now see the judges scores.
Cad: eight
She was sobbing, and he started yelling about how the other dancers were doing this and that (I remember "heel-leads being mentioned specifically, I don’t recall what else) and getting nines and tens. They apologized soon after, citing their passion for the competition getting the best of them.