DWTS - S9 Week 3

As usual, they refer to this as "Latin Night" and "the sexiest night of the season" because it features both Samba and Rumba. The costumes are surprisingly low on skin this season around and are either great or ridiculous. Apparently, Lacey's is her favorite ever for no reason I can discern.


Mark & Lacey: Trouble keeping him slowed down and calm and smooth. Rumba. Good hips in place, but loses the flexibility and smoothness in motion. Good stretch and lines. Lack of chemistry and feeling for music. Needs grounding. 7.0/10.0

In the audience: Lance Bass, Sabrina Bryan, Paula Abdul (!)

Joanna & Derek: She says she has no problem with the sexy and the "shaky shaky". They're trying the difficult-for-anybody Shadow Samba Roll. Samba. Some nice start to bounce and leg action. She over-reaches on step back. Awful wig. Keeps shape in Shadow Roll, great rhythm. 8.5/10.0

Mya & Dmitri: They make the dance all about the relationship. She dresses up the practice space to get into romantic character. Rumba. Excellent stretch and very fluid, good extension. Needs a little more footwork and figure content to show skill. Awesome chemistry, great dress. 9.0/10.0

Headdress Lady is going explode out of a pink Flinstones-print dress.

Melissa & Mark: "I'm a mom," she says, "I haven't been out partying in a while." It's tough teacher time. Samba. Very good leg action and strength. Great footwork. Thinking too much again, losing the animation except in side-by-side. More upper body rhythm. Mark's fluffy hair? 7.5/10.0

Louie & Chelsie: He's actually heard of Rumba and looks way better with his hair slicked back. They're editing them into the designated showmance. So little dancing for him, no content at all. Good partner and support for all her tricks. Cameraman likes her shiny rear end. 5.5/10.0

Debi & Maks: She's motivated by last week and promises to be quiet. They bring in Mel B, who also came back from being Bottom 2. Samba. Cute start, lots of textbook figures, very clean but not especially exciting. Flubs a bit at the end, you can see the worry on her face. The audience is clapping too fast. 6.0/10.0

Donny & Kym: Looking to tap his serious, emotional side-- "like singing a love song" she coaches. Rumba. Good job, especially in solo, but not strong enough. Nice hips, good footwork. Takes it easy and doesn't try too hard, but not a whole lot of fire. Okay. 8.0/10.0

Bruno calls his arms "airy fairy" and sensing a pot/kettle situation, Donny runs up to the table and pretends to make out with him. Everyone's stunned and cracking up, especially Donny who thinks "they might not let me back in Utah now!"

Tom talks to Paula. She has prepared for this show like she does for Idol, and begins the usual near-hysterical drug-fueled rambling, referring to Len as "Mr. Bad-man" and also comparing him to Simon Cowell among other wanderings.

Michael & Anna D: She's pushing hard, and there's some communication cross. They set a goal checklist which works for him. Samba. Light and quick enough on his feet, but it's a lot of walking. Fun and relaxed, but a lot of "groove shoulder" and no middle motion at all. 5.5/10.0

Natalie & Alec: Trying to be sexy, she blushes and giggles. They bring in Edyta to "help". Rumba. Smoke and wind machine intro like a Copperfield trick. Great stretch and movement throughout. Excellent legs and feet. Good hips and solo work. Solid and expressive. 9.0/10.0

Chuck & Anna T: She's goofy and calls it a flamboyant party dance. He gets a pedicure with his daughter, aww. Samba. He has the standard ruffle-sleeves that tear off. So stiff in the middle and awkward with the movement. Entertaining, though, and fun. He's really trying to do the technique and perform. 5.0/10.0

In the Red Room, Donny & Aaron are dancing. Apparently, the camera did not catch this exchange-- Samantha to Donny: "Only a 7 from Bruno? You should have given him tongue!" One of her rare funnies.

Tom & Cheryl: Working hard, but his feet are getting worse. Stress fractures on both sides. Doctors, producers & Cheryl all advising to quit, but "What's pain when you can party?" he says. Samba. Republican/Democrat costumes. He's totally counting out loud. No bounce, not on those feet. Tries, stays clean, nearly drops her at end. 5.0/10.0

Kelly & Louis: Her confidence shaken, she's looking for focus and determination. Samba. Louis has an ugly shirt, and he knows it. Fantastic footwork, great figures and speed. When she's on, the technique is awesome. Having fun, lots of personality. Smooth. 7.5/10.0

Results show. Between Paula's comments and Len's scores, they call the previous night "mayhem". In their interviews, the celebrities are taking the comments and criticisms hard and emotionally.

Encore: Chuck & Anna T's Samba! Nice to see them recognizing a low-score, high-commitment dance. He's way more relaxed, loose and on time. Way improved over last night.

Musical guest: Queen Latifah, "Fast Car". She's really there, with people instead of pre-taped. Unexpected straight pop song. Maks & Cheryl dance a great routine.

In the audience: Napoleon & Tabitha Duomo from SYTYCD, Christian Slater.

Three lowest scoring men: Tom (Safe), Michael (Jeopardy), Chuck (Safe)

Video package: First impressions and reactions.

Tom DeLay withdraws from the competition because of his injuries. He was scheduled to do Country Two-Step, which he's disappointed about, but is invited to come back for the finale if he's better.

Three highest scoring women: Mya (Safe), Natalie (Safe), Joanna (Safe)

Four highest scoring men: Donny (Safe), Louie (Safe), Aaron (Jeopardy), Mark (Safe)

And the celebrity picked for the Design a Dance? Sabrina Bryan! Good pick, considering she was so ROBBED.

Stars of Dance: Jabawockeez, dancing to a great remix of "Singin' In the Rain". Their usual masterful choreography is on prime display, working in wires and props and even a couple of "mystery dancers" who turn out to be Mark and Lacey.

Musical guest: Queen Latifah, "Ease On Down the Road". Her own dancers perform.

Video package: Predicting a winner with an ESPN Fantasy Sports Analys, Steve Wozniak and a toddler. That third was supposed to be a chimpanzee, but animal activists complained.

Three lowest scoring women: Debi (Jeopardy), Kelly (Safe), Melissa (Safe)

Safe: Aaron (Tom: "You cried for nothing!"), Michael

Eliminated: Debi Mazar & Maks Chmerkovskiy. She trips on the way down the stairs. She's sort of ready and settles (sort of) the pronunciation of her name.

Four new dances next week: Bolero, Charleston, Country Two-Step and Lambada. Oy.