OLTL Discussion Group

Topic: Dancing With The Stars - 11/01 - Performance

Tonight we are down to 7 couples as two went home last week and another two go home this week. The show included another replacement for a sick pro and the Team Dances. It all started with several pro couples showing us the Paso Doble and the Tango for the Team Dances. As always, these were very good to watch.

Michael & Anna--FOXTROT-"Sunny Afternoon"--Michael is trying to be more elegant and Fred Astaire-like. ~~ Very good job. Michael is improving well. Judges--L-Foxtrot was brilliant! B-Your musicality has improved. Your bum sticks out so remember the nickel. Well done. C-Your dance was gracious, it was fluid, it had content. C-8; L-8; B-7 = 23
NOTE: As Michael walked away from the judges, he kissed Tom on the cheek. Tom says, "Michael is just really happy".

Donny & Kym--QUICKSTEP-"Sing, Sing, Sing"--Donny is having trouble with posture and Kym brings out the posture bar. ~~ Fun, lively! I thought Donny did well. It was hard to catch any mistakes. Judges--B-You are solid as a rock. Nobody could cover up the mistakes as well as you did. C-Your footwork is very light. You were good but it was not your best. L-Good for the way you attacked the dance. C-8; L-8; B-8 = 24

Mark & Lacey/Anna T.--SAMBA-"Switch"-- Mark has to do his show in N.Y. so they practice there. Lacey is sick and can't continue. Tony happens to be in N.Y. so helps coach but when Lacey can't return back in L.A., Anna T. steps in to be Mark's partner and throws a whole bunch of new choreography at him. ~~ Mark seemed to do okay with what he was given but I didn't like the routine. It didn't seem like a Samba and was just weird. Why couldn't Anna go with Lacey's routine? Mark had to learn this in just two days. Judges--C-That was a mess. It was completely disjointed. L-I didn't think it was that terrible, but it was not your best dance. B-It was a little like watching Kung Fu Panda doing the Samba on the Planet of the Apes. C-6; L-7; B-6 = 19

Mýa & Dimitry--FOXTROT-"Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby"--Dimitry gets help from of all people, Cloris Leachman because she is from the era of the Foxtrot. Cloris gets serious and tells Mýa that she needs to connect with Dimitry with her eyes. ~~ Wonderful dance! Loved the whole routine yet they stayed with the traditional Foxtrot. Judges--L-Parts were traditional, but again, too many gimmicks. I'm not interested. B-This Foxtrot perfectly captured the glamorous aura of Hollywood's Golden Age. C-I loved it. It was dynamic, it was fluid, graceful. Your footwork moved as one. C-9; L-7; B-9 = 25

Aaron & Karina--JIVE-"We're Not Gonna Take It"--Aaron is having trouble with getting his feet fast enough. Karina takes him to Elite Athletics where Aaron went through several training techniques for fast footwork. ~~ Great job, fast & fun, but they didn't dance much together. The majority of the dance was apart. Judges--B-You danced like a fury on a ride to the Galaxy and Beyond. Your best performance. C-You're like a little roadrunner. It was sooo good. High energy. L-That had enough energy to light up Hollywood. C-9; L-10; B-10 = 29

Kelly & Louis--SALSA-"Good Lovin'"--Kelly is having problems with the stepped up practice sessions that Louis is doing. Note: Tom quips that to get back at Louis, Kelly designed the fringy pants for Louis for their dance. ~~ Her best performance. Cute costumes. Slight mistep in middle. Judges--C-Your posture was up. You were unafraid of the dance. L-So glad you finally controlled your nerves, however, all aspects of your dancing needs to come up another level. B-You've got to find the character. Be sexy, flirty. C-8; L-8; B-8 = 24

Joanna & Derek--RUMBA-"The Look of Love"--Derek has an imaginary dream about romancing Joanna to prepare for their dance but ends up kissing himself in the mirror. ~~ Too much positioning for me and not enough Rumba. It was done nicely, although there was a stumble. Judges--L-A little bit of basic. Well done. B-So Sexy. Tiny stumble. C-You dance at your edge. You got caught in your costume, but otherwise, well done. C-9; L-9; B-9 = 27

Team Dances --TEAM PASO DOBLE-Mark & Anna T.; Aaron & Karina; Mýa & Dimitry; Michael & Anna D.-"I Hate Myself for Loving You"--Practice-Michael says that it is okay to have debates just as long as we have one heartbeat as a team. ~~ It was okay. I think I liked Mýa & Dimitry's solo the best but I just didn't care for the routine as a whole. Judges--B-Strong, dramatic, you did all that but got out of sync in one area. C-Very Intense, but lost sync. L-It was an attack. As routine went on it got better. C-8; L-8; B-8 = 24

TEAM TANGO-Joanna & Derek; Kelly & Louis; Donny & Kym-"You Give Love a Bad Name"--Practice-The pros choreograph the whole thing first then teach to the celebs. Donny is having trouble concentrating because he thinks he is getting the flu but won't let that interfere. ~~ Loved it! I thought this was much better. I liked Joanna & Derek's solo the best. Judges--C -Why did you put in a lift? (as she spanks all the men) It was perfect without it. It wasn't Argentine Tango. It was Awesome! L-This was a much superior dance. B-Excellent individuals, superb as a team. C-9; L-9; B-10 = 28

The Team Dance scores are added to everyone's score putting Joanna & Derek at the top of the Leaderboard with 55 and Mark and Anna T. at the bottom with 43.

Results show will have another dance-off and double elimination. I'm afraid Mark might go this week. He was showing so much potential but that routine of Anna's might have done him in. Too bad Lacey got sick. Michael might be the other one, but who would he have a dance-off with…Kelly? She tied with Donny but I think his fanbase is bigger. It will be an interesting night.

Michael, Donny, and Mark are well liked by the fans AND Mark may get a break from the voters due to his terrible week. The man did his best under the circumstances, especially with Anna changing the choreography. WHY was that necessary? Let's remember that Kelly is Ozzy's kid and has a large fan base because of it.

Could we see an upset tonight based on strong voter likes/dislikes? ''Forum'' comments are focusing more on personality than dance. The dislikes are STRONG.

The bottom three should be Kelly, Michael, and Mark. IMO, we may see personality play a big part in deciding who stays and who leaves tonight. Then again, maybe not.

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That's the way I look at the list but I haven't had a chance to look at some of the other forums. The DWTS forum seems to be really cruel a lot of times and I don't always care to read it. I wouldn't doubt that they are going by popularity instead of dancing performance or ability. I've been questioning Anna's motives for Mark since I saw the show. Maks didn't change Derek's choreography for Joanna. He was just a replacement for Derek and went along with Derek's routine. Why couldn't Anna do the same with Lacey's routine? Afterall, Mark had already put two days work into it. I so hope every year that dancing ability gets voted on over personality but it never seems to change. We can always hope. With the contestants getting better and closer in scores, this will be a tough season. ~ eom. Linda

ITA with your comments about Anna changing the choreography. It proved to be the downfall of Mark.. My other issue concerns Len's problem with Mya. He fawns over sex pot Joanna but always disses Mya. Just an observation. /sb

Someone else mentioned this with Len, too, and I agree. Why is he (and the rest of the judges) constantly praising Joanna and he never seems to like what Mýa is doing? I loved her tribute to Fred & Ginger. You would think he would have liked that too. Len did this with Lil' Kim last year, I think. It seems there is always someone he keeps picking at and someone he fawns over. Mark had no time to perfect this routine which was all the more why Anna should have left things as they were and helped him work on Lacey's routine instead of starting something completely new. ~ eom. Linda

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Posted by: Gail M
Date posted: Tue Nov 3 12:30:20 2009
Message:

Michael/Anna...Most improved dancer by FAR!  

Donny/Kym...Another great dance imo and he is just delightful.   I didn't see the mistakes the judges were talking about and even rewound and watched it again trying to catch them.   ?

Mark/Anna...I felt sorry for Mark.   Why do they mark the dancer down so much when it is not THEIR fault the dance was a mess?    Not fair imo.   I think he should have gotten 7's from the judges.  

Mýa/Dmitry...Very nice foxtrot.

Aaron/Karina...LOVED IT!    This kid should have a shot at the finale!    He has rocked the last couple of weeks. 

Kelly/Louis...Eh.   I'd send her packing tonight.    Just mediocre.   Has a little stiffness still imo. 

Joanna/Derek...Not my favorite dance of theirs.   However, I love to watch Derek dance, think he's a very good choreographer,  and don't GET why you all dislike him so much.    Different strokes.   :-)   

Team Paso...Pretty good job. 

Team Tango...Very nice!

It's going to be hard watching two leave tonight I think.   No one is putrid.   I would send Kelly home, but hate to send anyone else home at this point.   ?    Michael?   Mark? 

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The thing about Donny...as a showman he knows to NEVER let them know you made a mistake. I saw ONE and he bypassed it beautifully. If there were others (he admitted 5?) I saw none of it. Loving him and I never expected to. eom/WE

My problem with derek is twofold. He OVER dances and steals focus from his partner. We should be watching her but the upstaging is unreal. There was a point when he was doing his turns that he whipped so fast I don't know HOW she stayed on her feet. What he's doing as a partner is wrong on every level. She's good enough to handle it but if he were with anyone else (think Kelly) they'd surely be on the floor. He's a great dancer but that level goes down and down as he puts his partner in jeopardy of making a mistake or falling. eom/WE

M&A--I agree. If people were to vote for most improved, Michael would get a lot more votes. He has really been doing a lot better the last few weeks. ~ D&K-I didn't see the mistakes they were talking about either except for one. Donny really does a great job covering it up. ~ M&A-They should mark the dancer on how he did with what he was given. Anna is the one at fault for changing everything when there wasn't that much time to perfect something new. She should have just filled in for Lacey and done Lacey's routine that Mark had been working on. ~ M&D-I liked their Foxtrot despite what Len said. ~ A&K-he should have a shot at the finale but that fanbase of his seems to be giving him a problem. ~ K&L-She has been doing well but not as good as some of the other couples. I think her fanbase is helping her more. ~ J&D--I wasn't that thrilled with it like the judges were but I do like Derek's choreography. He just has these times when he makes things more about himself when it is supposed to be about the celebrity. He did spin those turns a little fast as W.E. said below but I think he only did it because he knew Joanna could handle it and follow him well. ~ TP--They did give a good performance but I liked TT better myself. Maybe it was the type of dance and the number of people that made the difference. ~ All three of them have the lowest scores but it is the fanbase that always changes things. I wish people would vote on the dancing and not for their favorite. ~ eom. Linda

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Posted by: Tori
Date posted: Tue Nov 3 10:48:57 2009
Message:

My thoughts...

Michael/Anna...he is doing so much better, nice job...I'm glad he stayed around long enough to prove he can dance. (I think he will be in jeopardy tonight).

Donny/Kym...what a charmer...his showmanship can get him through anything. The dance was fun, but not his best.

Mark/Anna...oh, my. He has the talent, but they choose to use more tricks and not enough dancing. Changing partners was difficult...learning all new moves...it's really too bad. (think he'll be in jeopardy). I would rather watch Anna dance than Lacey. I think her attitude from SYTYCD hasn't left my mind yet.

Mýa/Dmitry...It was a beautiful, traditional fox trot...I loved it. I knew what Len would say, but I think the gimmicky stuff worked this time. This was my favorite dance of the night.

Aaron/Karina...very nice work...fast and fun!

Kelly/Louis...she showed more confidence this week...fun dance. (think she'll be in jeopardy).

Joanna/Dereck...she did fine...I liked her so much better the week she danced with Maks. Dereck can leave the show...his attitude stinks...he is so full of himself. I think he's a jerk.

Team dances...fun stuff. Team Paso...nice job and I really like the Paso. Team Tango...nicer job!! Wonderful precision.

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Derek is not only a jerk he is the most immature jerk. Why they don't corral his antics is beyond me. Those spins almost sent her flying and if he did I bet he'd never take the blame. eom/WE

M&A--I agree. It was nice that he finally learned how to do something properly. ~ D&K--I think his having the flu might have messed up his concentration. I know I had trouble concentrating on anything else but sleep last week. I sure would not have wanted to do any dances especially a Quickstep. I think he did a great job. ~ M&A--I really don't understand why Anna changed the dance with only two days left. If she had come in at the beginning but that late she should have stayed with Lacey's routine. I like Anna, too, but I fault her on this with Mark. ~ M&D--Yes, this was a beautiful dance no matter what Len said. I thought it was a wonderful tribute to Fred & Ginger. ~ A&K-It was very fast! He really picked up a lot at that training session. ~ K&L--After finally understanding that the dances get harder and that Louis was not trying to be mean, she did a great, & fun job! Even so, I was thinking 'jeopardy' too but it depends on that fanbase of hers. ~ J&D-She matches up better with Maks, I think. I didn't like that this so-called fantasy was all about him. Since he won the trophy, it has gone to his head. ~ TP-They did a good job but there just seemed to be too much that the dance seemed overwhelming. TT--Much better job and more enjoyable. ~ eom. Linda

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Posted by: W.E.
Date posted: Tue Nov 3 8:21:56 2009
Message:

Michael & Anna: This man is improving each week BUT is it too little too late? That, and, there's no way he can beat some of the others. Nice job though.

Donny & Kym: This showman is coming out of the gate full force. One obvious gaffe (he went right on) but I didn't see as many as the judges claimed to see.

Mark & Lacey/Anna T: What a holy mess. Mark has ability but I am so tired of his barrel leaps and turns. Is that all they think he can do? NOT his fault. It appeared Tony was helping him with Lacey's moves then Anna said he had to learn something different. They done him wrong and that might cost him his spot tonight.

Mýa & Dimitry: Lovely. I'm not a fan of hers but this was right up her alley.

Aaron & Karina: He nailed it and then some.

Kelly & Louis: I couldn't believe she didn't realize as the competition goes on the dances get tougher and so will your partner. At least she hung tough and pulled it off with little problems here and there. Nice to see.

Joanna & Derek: I get so ticked off when Derek forgets he's NOT the competitor. Constantly pulling focus from his partner. THEN he goes so wicked fast in his turns he near falls and takes her with him. I don't know how she stayed on her feet at times. He's a brat and because of that I don't find any of his skits even slightly amusing. JMO.

TEAM PASO DOBLE: I enjoyed this very much BUT there were so many problems and gaffes. The pros really have to rein it in sometimes.

TEAM TANGO: This was clearly the better team dance. The pros went with the strengths of their star partners and utilized the showman and the girls.

Sorry to say but Mark is surely in jeopardy. Not sure who will join him as fanbases get squirrely.

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M&A--I've thought the same that he is finally improving but there isn't enough time left. ~ D&K-I didn't see as many as the Judges claimed either, but Donny admitted to 5. ~ M&L/A--This was terrible. I really don't understand why Anna had to teach him a completely new routine. He had studied for two days on Lacey's, why not continue? Maks continued with the routine Derek laid out for Joanna and didn't change it. I think Anna really messed Mark up. ~ M&D- I'm not big on her either but I loved the tribute to Fred & Ginger. ~ A&K-He picked up those kicks brilliantly. ~ K&L-No matter how many filler segments we get with showing problems contestants have as the dances get tougher, you will still find people that don't ''get it'' until they're in that spot. Kelly's dance was good after all. ~ J&D-I wasn't thrilled with his ''fantasy'' either. Is he still with Shannon? They did a similar thing on the beach. I wonder what she thinks? ~ TPD-Too many complicated moves for too many people making the dance overcrowded. ~ TT-All individual solos were great and fit right in with the rest of the dance too. ~ I'm thinking Mark will be going. If it wasn't a double elimination, he might be safe. ~ eom. Linda

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