Episode Report Card Kim: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Broadway Babies
By Kim | Season 13 | Episode 11 | Aired on 10.24.2011
Last week, Hope thought about quitting because she couldn't take the judges' criticism, but later she realizes that she's really just disappointed in herself for always getting the same scores. She feels like she's not improving. This week, Maks brought in the three female troupe dancers to help Hope with her rumba moves. See! How long have I been saying that! And they really help! But then the next day, Hope regresses and Maks tells her that everyone else have given up on her except him. That's borderline abusive. Shut up, Maks.
They are doing a rumba to "Seasons of Love" from Rent. The beginning is actually really sexy. Hope looks great. When they get out on the floor and into the actual routine, she kind of loses it. I think part of the problem is that she's wearing boots (because she's dressed like a '90s street urchin) and they don't make the hip action as easy as heels would. She's flat footed. And sometimes her "sexy" moves just look like she's cold. Overall, it's better than I expected given their lack of chemistry, though.
Judges? Carrie Ann thought that Hope was trusting her natural sexiness for the first time, but sometimes she forced the moves a little. Len says he's never lost faith in her, no matter what Maks says. Len also blames the boots for her bad footwork, and then blurts out that it's her worst dance of the whole season. Hope is shocked, and I think Len's totally wrong. Len yells that he's been in the business for a long time and Maks snarks, "Maybe it's time to get out." Carrie Ann tells Maks not to be disrespectful and Maks says that the judges are too judgmental. Oh, fuck off, Maks. You might have just gotten Hope eliminated. No one likes it when people talk back to the judges like that. Maks claims he's just protecting his partner and they finally move on to Bruno, who tells Hope that she did a great job telling the story, but there were problems with technique. Backstage, Hope says that she was too intense at first, and this was the first time she was able to loosen up. Scores: Carrie Ann 7, Len 6, and Bruno 7. Maks gives a little speech about how this is his show and he helped make it what it is and he loves it. Behind him, Derek pulls a face like, "Oh REALLY???" Maks adds that he's tired of some people being judged on effort and some on heel leads. You know, he's right that Hope was underscored. There is NO WAY she was as bad as Chaz. But after he called it his show, no one will call in and vote for him except the Maks fangirls. It's just a mess, and I doubt the producers are very happy. Now that they have Derek back, Maks had better watch his ass.