Episode Report Card Kim: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT It's Like a Kind of Torture
By Kim | Season 9 | Episode 4 | Aired on 09.28.2009
Carrie Ann admits that she thought Melissa wasn't long for the competition last week, but this week, Carrie Ann thinks Melissa will be around a while. Bruno reminds Melissa to work on her feet as much as she works on everything else. Baz thinks there was big improvement, and he liked the joy and abandon, but she needs to work on the steps. Scores: Carrie Ann 7, Baz 6 and Bruno 6 for a total of 19. The audience disagrees, and boos loudly. Did they see her feet? Don't be fooled by the energy, people! She has to do the steps, too!
Last week, Michael Irvin took criticism for both his footwork and for his partner Anna's choreography. She feels like she let him down, too, and they vow to do better on their quickstep. There's a very NFL Films song playing behind their rehearsal, as they work hard and try to put more content in their dance.
Their quickstep begins. Oof. It's not good. It's mostly slow and Michael is dragging his feet, and I think the judges' comments took the pizzazz right out of him. Unfortunately, personality was his strength. His posture is terrible; he's sticking his butt way out. And the worst is his footwork. As a former wide receiver, he should at least have fast feet, even if they aren't precise, and he's dragging. It's not good. I know I said that already, but I was really hoping and expecting more because I thought he was underscored last week.
Bruno thinks they delivered on the "more content" promise, and really doesn't have much bad to say, surprisingly. Baz thinks Michael is a natural performer and charming, but he needs to stop wagging his tongue around. They all laugh. Carrie Ann thought it was a big improvement after last week. Man, was I watching a different routine? I don't get it. Scores: Carrie Ann 7, Baz 7 and Bruno 6 for a total of 20. The audience boos. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood or something.
Debi and Maks didn't get great scores last week, but this week, they have the tango. Debi thinks it will work out great, because she and Maks have a very mercurial relationship. In rehearsal, Maks really yells at her, right in her face, and Debi melts down and tells him that he can't talk to her that way. Maks feels bad and apologizes, and hopefully they come to some sort of understanding.
How does all this agita translate to their tango? They kind of recreate the tango from Moulin Rouge, to that version of "Roxanne," which the band totally kills, in a bad way. There are a few stuttery/missed steps. I can tell it was choreographed beautifully (not sure if Maks did it all original or if it was lifted from the movie), but Debi is too much in her head, especially after the first little blip. She kind of goes in and out of character, because she's thinking about what she needs to do next with her feet. So it's good, but it could have been great.