Episode Report Card Kim: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Exotic and Erotic
By Kim | Season 9 | Episode 8 | Aired on 10.12.2009
Kelly and Louis are up next. Kelly made a bit of a comeback last week after faltering the week before. This week, they have the Charleston, and are dancing to the song "Cabaret." Kelly admits that she got the lead role in Chicago on Broadway, but she then lost the part because she couldn't dance. So she's got something to prove. Kelly cracks me up during rehearsal because she tells Louis to stop making made-up noises while he dances like "Bop boo bow! Bam boo bop!" So true. Every dance teacher I ever had did that, and it is kind of annoying. Anyway, their Charleston has a lot of props, which I could do without. I actually wish the tempo was a little faster because while the routine has energy, I think it could have even more. It feels just a touch slow to me. But it's great to see Kelly's joy at doing well.
Carrie Ann thinks watching Kelly is like watching a baby bird learn to take flight. Len loved her confidence and joy, and while he has some small improvements, he loved it overall. Bruno enjoyed the references to Jolson and Fosse throughout. Scores: Carrie Ann 8, Len 7, and Bruno 8. I agree. Backstage, Louis says that his Joel Grey-like makeup was Kelly's idea and pretends like he doesn't love it. He peels off a fake eyelash. He's still creeping me out.
Joanna and Derek have the lambada this week. Derek jokes that the dance has "a lot of grinding and a lot of thrusting," take a beat and then, "I have the best job in America." He really is putting his everything all over Joanna in rehearsals. They are trying to up the difficulty of their routine to get their first 10. And then they go and volunteer with an animal organization, which I am all for, but you know... filler. Derek takes off his shirt before starting the dance, and the ladies squeal. I like their routine a lot more than Aaron and Karina's, for a few reasons. First, there seems to be actual dancing involved by both partners. Second, it's steamy but it feels like it's between two adults, whereas Aaron still looks like a kid to me. And third, it's just exciting to watch, thanks to Derek's choreography. And it is really hot.
Len jokes that he already knows what he wants for the encore, since Joanna started the routine feeling up on Len. He compliments Derek's choreography, although he felt it got repetitive. Bruno thought it was like "when animals get physical." Carrie Ann hopes that the children were in bed, and Tom quips, "I bet some of the adults are now." Tom! Dirty! Anyway, Carrie Ann concludes that it was "fueled by the crotch area" which is how it should be. Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Len 8, and Bruno 9.