Liveblogging: Dancing with the Stars, Show #4

I'm liveblogging tonight's Dancing with the Stars. There will be further updates during commercial breaks.

Note: The post has been updated to include video stream feeds from Raphael Pungin's excellent blog on everything DWTS2.

Up first was George Hamilton & Edyta Sliwinska's paso doble. Ever the showman, George spoofed his role as Zorro in this performance. Len said it: what he lacked in technique he made up in entertainment and may I add, a healthy dose of flair. I don't think the mask interfered with the performance at all as Carrie Ann pointed out.

Scores: 7, 7, 7. This is fair.

Update I:

Tia Carrere & Max Chmerkovskiy performed the paso doble next. There were obvious footwork errors, but it was a charming, airy and elegant performance. The timing and transitions were good, too. You can't help but smile watching Tia dance here. Scores after the break.

Scores: 9, 8, 8. The 9 is a bit high.

Update II:

Master P. & Ashly DelGrosso had another cringe-inducing performance. During their paso doble, he just stood on the dance floor or was dragged around by Ashly who emoted so much to cover up for him that she almost tipped over accidentally at one point. Carrie Ann said it was "his best performance yet" (huh? woman, what are you smoking?!), but she didn't see a matador and so it wasn't a paso doble.

Bruno made more sense: the performance was indeed a nightmare and there was nothing to judge because Master P. "looked like a child lost at the mall looking for his mother". Len nailed the coffin on what Bruno calls "the dance of death" by saying the viewers are being cruel for bringing them back week after week. Amen to that.

Scores: 4,2,2. That 4 is way generous, Carrie Ann.

Update III:

Stacy Keibler & Tony Dovolani's fox trot was good but not their best. I think her height was a hindrance to this performance. I saw a lot of posing more than fluid transitions and elegant, airy movement. I agree with Carrie Ann here, she wasn't as graceful as she normally is.

Scores: 8,9,9. Len and Bruno should get a grip and stop being mesmerized by Stacy's mile-long legs. Another 8 would've been a fairer score.

Final Update:

Technically, Drew Lachey & Cheryl Burke's paso doble was near flawless although Drew didn't hold a taut body posture throughout. I disagree with Bruno and Len's lavish praise here; to me he didn't look like a proud and fearless matador; he looked more like an earnest imitation of a ballroom dancer imitating a proud, fearless matador.

Scores: 9,9,10. That 10 is way too high Bruno, although I agree that Drew didn't fall into the mistake of hamming it up too much, which is an easy temptation in the dramatic and flamboyant paso doble.

Jerry Rice & Anna Trebunskaya's fox trot wasn't bad. It wasn't as light and elegant as Tia and Max's, but Jerry's posture was great and he tried some smooth moves that worked well. It was certainly better than his performance last week and the judges agree: Jerry was back in the game.

Scores: 8, 8, 8. I stand corrected. I first wrote that their scores were 7s all around. These were fairer scores.

Lisa Rinna & Louis van Amstel were impressive again this week. Their paso doble was fiery, dramatic, passionate. I liked her costume as well, a sexy two-piece gold and brown number that showed off her amazing abs. Agree with Carrie Ann, she did nail this performance.

Scores: 9,9,8. I totally agree.

Summary: Again, it was Tia & Max's, Lisa & Louis's performances which stood out this week. I hope Len's words would make viewers stop voting for Master P. & Ashly but I doubt it. Since they're the other team in the bottom two, I think George & Edyta will be the next to go.

posted at 8:17 PM by City Muse

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