Episode Report Card Kim: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT It's a Mod, Mod World
By Kim | Season 8 | Episode 12 | Aired on 04.20.2009
Len thought it was beautiful, although they need to work on the footwork. Bruno thought it was flowing and gorgeous as well. Carrie Ann thinks Gilles is extremely graceful, but he needs to watch his posture just a tiny bit. Gilles promises to work on it. Backstage, Samantha asks Cheryl about Gilles designing her outfit. She says she was nervous at first, but it turned out great. Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Len 9 and Bruno 9. Samantha asks how Gilles hopes to stand out in the group dance, and Gilles says that he just wants to have fun.
The dancers and their celebrity partners gather for rehearsal for the group dance, which will have a '60s theme. Shawn can't be there, as previously mentioned, so Mark brings a life-sized cutout of her to rehearsal. Ty takes the theme very seriously, and walks in dressed like a cross between Sonny and Cher, with long hair, a headband, and a vest. The choreographer has everyone quickly run through some '60s faves like the monkey, the gator and the mashed potato. Then he announces that they won't be dancing with their partners because these dances are done alone. The women are each put up on a pedestal go-go style, as if they're filming an episode of Hullabulloo. They all laugh at LT because he's totally not having it. Then they each get a solo where they need to come up with their own '60s move with their partner. I'm a little annoyed with LT for being such a sourpuss. Maybe they need to add in music with words to the rehearsal to get him in the mood or something. Everyone else totally gets into it, and I think this might actually be a decent group routine for once.
Tom and Samantha introduce the group dance, and Samantha reminds us that the judges will not be scoring this routine; this is just for the home viewers. The routine starts in black and white, with each of the ladies getting a little solo spot. Between the black and white and all the wigs, I had a hard time telling who each person was. Then the guys come out in a pack, as the screen goes to color, and do a short segment in sync. Well, almost in sync. Ty and LT are on the end and they're a little behind some of the others. Then the ladies get on their male partners' shoulders and do some more moves. I'm not sure what the point of that part was. Next, each couple gets a solo spotlight, with most of them doing stunts that look awkward at best. Ty and Chelsie get a big cheer -- he pretends to mount her like a horse and she bucks like a bronco. It's a lot less sexual than I just made it sound. For all his bad attitude, LT actually smiles while doing his brief solo, so that's something. After a break where they dance as a group again, the solo spotlights continue. Shawn does three back walkovers in a row while Mark does back somersaults. I have to say, watching the whole group, this is definitely the best group dance we've seen since they started doing group dances. It's about a thousand times better than last season's lame hip hop routine.