Episode Report Card Kim: A- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Tuesday's Gone
By Kim | Season 8 | Episode 18 | Aired on 05.11.2009
Tom interviews Gilles and Cheryl about how mean Cheryl can be in rehearsal. Gilles says that he couldn't learn dancing any other way (how does he know?) and her urges Cheryl not to change. Tom jokes that Cheryl needs to stay cranky, and Cheryl laughs and says she would call it strict. This format change is throwing me off my game.
Shawn and Mark are going to review their ballroom dances next. They think their breakthrough ballroom dance came with the quickstep, because Shawn got to show her personality. They discuss how they took a risk in breaking hold, and that the audience loved it even if the judges didn't. Mark and Shawn don't have much to say, so we're basically just rewatching the routine. For the Latin, Shawn thought the paso doble was important because no one thought she could be serious. Shawn admits that she struggled with the character, but she got so into it that she actually smacked Mark kind of hard at one point. It's kind of weird to me that they chose the two dances they did last week. It's not like there are rules to this little exercise, but it's not supposed to be your best; it's supposed to be your breakthrough. Anyway.
Tom interviews Shawn and Mark on the dance floor. Shawn is excited to do the Argentine tango tonight because she's gotten into the angry character after the paso doble. She's quick to clarify: "Only here! Only here!" You know what? I hope someone lets Shawn know that it's okay to be angry sometimes, and she doesn't have to be America's Sweetheart 24/7. And in fact, she'll be a lot more interesting as a person if she drops the bubbly bouncy crap when she's not feeling it. I'm not denying that she seems inherently sweet and happy most of the time, but no one feels like that ALL the time, and people are more interesting when they're multifaceted. Especially when they are role models to young girls. That's why I like Kristen Stewart. She seems bitchy. I dig that.
Ty and Chelsie are the last to review their dances. Ty remembers their "comeback"in week two with their quickstep, since he got a 14 in the first week, so he needed a decent score to remain in contention. Chelsie points out how good Ty's frame and posture is, and asks him to keep that in mind this week. Chelsie announces that the Lindy Hop in week four was the first time Ty showed he could do something besides be a "wooden robot." Ty says he was confident, and he liked how the dance started with them leaping off the stage. Chelsie thinks he looks like he's enjoying himself, and that his strength in the lifts was an asset. They're pleased that they went from fours to nines in terms of scoring, but know they have to make zero mistakes this week.