Meryl and Maks doing a salsa. Courtesy of On The Red Carpet/ABC/Adam Taylor. |
Host Erin Andrews’ best move so far this season was to goad #DWTS viewers to vote (via Twitter) whether or not Tony should dance with his shirt off or on. Of course, the vote was “Off.” Sadly, the couple’s fate also ended up being “off”...the show. Although they were due to be ejected, IMHO. They were my least favorite at this point in the competition. NeNe never really got the whole complicated steps part. She definitely had the big personality down, but dance isn’t all about that, sorry.
Interesting changes this season to DWTS. As you can see, costuming is not what it once was, it’s much more modern and with the times these days. So too, the music. Much more heavy beat, club kind of music. I do think it’ll go far to bring in a younger audience, but still not sure if I like it.
Val and Danica do a samba. Courtesy of ABC/Adam Taylor |
This dance also brings up something which I find curious about this season. Previously, the dance being judged was only the two people at hand. More and more this season, the dancers are bringing in the troupe as backup. Certainly it adds more depth to the presentation, but I don’t know that it’s entirely fair to those who only dance with two people.
Val and Danica do a steamy samba. |
Also on the injury tangent, we have Derek and Amy. They had an amazing rumba that they performed. Very sexy, very sensual. The pictures don’t even do it justice. It was just fluid poetry to watch.
Derek Hough and Amy Purdy do a tantalizing rumba. |
Here’s hoping that both injured competitors regain their health swiftly.
There were other controversies. Meryl (one half of the Charlie and Meryl ice dancing gold medal team) is knocking out 10 after 10 after 10 being paired with Maks. Charlie, not so much. Sharna, to her credit, is choreographing some amazing stuff, but I think that Charlie is his own worst enemy here. I really do think that in ice dancing (or ice skating competition in general) it really is all about the scores. With dance (and DWTS in particular), it’s about the dance, and Charlie is forgetting that. Or needs to learn it.
They were tasked to do a paso doble (which we haven’t seen nearly enough of this season yet).
Sharna Burgess and Charlie White. Courtesy of ABC/Adam Taylor. |
Now we get to the big controversy that’s blowing up social media. Mind you, these are the people who got all up in arms about Janet Jackson’s nipple, so I tend to ignore them.
In one corner, we have the Candaces of the world (who actually send her children out of the studio during Peta’s dance!), and then we have this.
Latin dances are supposed to be hot, steamy, sexy. On this night, there was no more sexy one than Peta and James’ samba. Her choreography was stunning, the concept was great. He’s a gas station worker, and she stops by for some gas. Along the way, they are stripping off each other’s clothes, and she’s dancing most of the time in skimpy lingerie. I thought it was awesome.
Peta Murgatroyd and James Maslow do a steamy samba. Courtesy of On the Red Carpet/ABC/Adam Taylor. |
Candace Cameron-Bure and Mark Ballas do an Argentine tango. |
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So, as much as I hate to admit it, Candace does deserve to stay another week. I was proud of her.
Our lovely hosts, Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews. Ricky Martin, guest judge, behind. |
The losing team. |
The winning team (minus Amy Purdy, who was in the hospital). Courtesy of ABC/Adam Taylor. |
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