DWTS - S10 Week 3

So it's the "Storytelling" challenge tonight, and honestly that's a way better idea than most of the gimmicks they've tried before (and a dam sight less confusing than all the stuff they're doing for the upcoming season of So You Think You Can Dance). The couples come down to the floor and I see almost as much male cleavage as female.

Professional demo of the dances we'll see tonight, to the now-to-be-expected atrocious music selection this show is cursed with. Dancing are Jonathan Roberts & Anna Demidova, Valentin Chmerkovskiy & Lacey Schwimmer and Dmitry Chaplin & Snejana Petrova.

In the audience: Marlee Maitlin, Florence Henderson, George Lopez, Helio Castroneves.


Evan & Anna: He asks her to speak in a thicker Russian accent. Quickstep. He starts without her, she's running late. Very cute routine, lots of energy. Very light with good speed. Finesse, nice lead, better posture. Needs more drive and better footwork. 25/30

Buzz & Ashly: He can't understand not thinking about steps and just feeling the movement (I get that). Waltz. He is a war hero coming home to be greeted by his daughter. He feels the music and the story. Can see her cueing and backleading him like a good teacher. 15/30

Jake & Chelsie: Trouble communicating. "Quick, quick... no." Quickstep. Huge props and smoke and costumes. He's running to keep up with the tempo. Okay frame. Stronger footwork and better leg action needed. 20/30

I think it's a little unfair for the judges to criticize the props and staging, since even Tom makes it clear it's a network tie-in to the episode of Castle that follows the show. Tom also coins the phrase "sarcopha-guy". In the... you know, I'm just gonna call it the Skybox (coined by Evan on this week's results show) because "Celebriquarium" is stupid. In the Skybox, Anna is wearing Buzz' hat making her look a bit like Marlene Dietrich.

Niecy & Louis: They will be a 1960's interracial couple, and there are tears on both sides. Waltz. She's very much moved by the theme and music, so much that she pays no attention to her steps. Stumbles, some nice shapes. No lift, not enough strength. 18/30

Very big respect to Louis, who talked about still not being able to love and marry as he might want to, and continued to mention those same themes in interview segments after dancing. Okay, so it wasn't a big secret to anyone who watches the show, but there's nothing easy about coming out, ever.

Chad & Cheryl: He's feeling humbled by not being excellent. Art imitating life as he chases her and is refused. Paso Doble. All very strong and appropriate attitude, but very simple choreography. Well attacked. Needs better posture. 20/30

Jonathan & Tony helped out at the beginning by donning sombreros and maracas. Afterward, they treat us to the Three Amigos salute.

Pamela & Damian: Paso Doble. She loves the matador, but hates the bullfight. Charo comes to teach her Flamenco technique, bringing subtitles. Shaky and with some missed connections, but lots of feeling. Over aggressive. Messy hair is just messy. 21/30

Aiden & Edyta: He has stamina challenges; his family visits. He is a painter whose dream girl comes to life. Quickstep. Well acted, good posture, OK frame. Footwork not bad, needs more drive. Very safe and by the book. 21/30

Only Edyta would have a Ballroom costume sheer enough to see her underpants. Oy.

Erin & Maks: Partnership is all about trust and surrender. They're using a blindfold she says "will either be hot or kinky and inappropriate"; "I want both," says Maks. Great chemistry, excellent presentation, good contact and hold. Nice frame and follow. Make more fluid. 25/30

In the middle of throwing to commercial, Maks blindfolds Tom, who keeps reciting the dialogue from memory. Wow, another reason Tom Bergeron is one of the best live hosts on TV.

Kate & Tony: An acting coach comes to help bring out real emotion from her. Horrible hair weave. Paso Doble. Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi", with him a photographer. No energy at all. Awkwardest arms ever. Clumpy, mincing, totally without attack. Ugh. 10/30

When the camera pans across the stars in front of the Skybox, Niecy can only muster a dismissive-looking golf clap. Awesome.

Nicole & Derek: His stress piling on her stress and so on. Quickstep. Sailors goofing around. Fantastic, bright and effervescent performance. Great expression and very animated and goofy. All performance, a couple of nice figures. 27/30

Yes, they broke hold and yes, they did a lift. But as Jonathan tweeted, why are the judges being harsh about technique when their challenge was story?

RESULTS SHOW

I have to learn to avoid Twitter. Some folks forget about the East Coast/West Coast time difference.

Safe: Aiden & Edyta, Erin & Maks.

Video: Len's review of Monday. Somehow, Len always seems much more pleasant and lighthearted about the routines in retrospect, even ones he bagged on.

Encore: Evan & Anna's Quickstep, still great.

Music Guest: Reba McEntire, "I Want a Cowboy". Can't not love Reba, right? The pro dancing by Maks, Val, Edyta & Snejana is just pretty good and, as Tom notes FTW, "the American West as danced by three Russians and a Pole." Tom actually talks to her, and she admits to Evan, Erin and Nicole being her favorites.

Speaking of Twitter, Val had some pretty lousy things to say about "having" to dance to country music with a country theme, basically dissing the number and the musical guest. So while Maks plays at being a bad boy, little brother is the real douchey deal.

Safe: Niecy & Louis.

Music/Pro Dance: An "acoustic Paso Doble". Derek starts playing Spanish guitar, is joined by Chelsie to dance while Mark gets to sit and be great on guitar. The routine is awesome and the music is great. Loved it.

Safe: Nicole & Derek.

Music Guest: Reba McEntire, "Consider Me Gone". Dmitry and Lacey come on to do a much more interesting and emotional theatrical routine. Good on them.

Video: Melissa Rycroft shows what it's like to be an audience member.

The male celeb for the Design-A-Dance will be Joey Fatone. The song will be "Rock and Roll All Night" by Kiss, and the dance will be Tango. WTF?

Safe: Evan & Anna, Chad & Cheryl (who does indeed do her \o/ thing).

Video: Cast bonding at the practice studio.

Safe: Pamela & Damien, Jake & Chelsie.

RLOD: Buzz & Ashly, Kate & Tony. Len when asked about Jake, Buzz & Kate, basically says that he thinks Kate needs to go. Over on Cafepress.com you can get t-shirts and stuff that say "FREE TONY". Can't argue the sentiment.

Eliminated: Buzz Aldrin & Ashly Costa. Not much of a shocker, but he's extremely gracious. The cast salutes him as he dances, which is nice (even if Chelsie uses her left hand).

Next week's challenge is the Double Score Showdown (they give Tom's voice echo for it). Two scores to be given: one for presentation, one for technique (which will hinge on at least one required element in each routine). I really, really like this and wish they'd do it every week. See you then.