Episode Report Card Kim: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Chasing the Mirrorball
By Kim | Season 10 | Episode 18 | Aired on 05.24.2010
As she waits for the judges, Erin is really emotional. Len says that they are being more critical because it's the finals. He saw a lot of improvement over her previous samba. Bruno mumbles something I don't understand but he liked it. Carrie Ann thought she moved up three notches in her dancing performance and technique, and she got the fun part of the dance this time. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 10, and Bruno 9. Whoa. I really am shocked by those scores, but good for them. They need that if Erin wants to compete with Evan and Nicole.
Evan is up next, and he's redoing his Viennese waltz to try to improve their chemistry. Len comes to their rehearsal and demonstrates to Evan how to connect with his partner instead of just going from move to move. Wow, that was a short clip package. Evan looks nervous as their waltz begins to "Piano Man" by Billy Joel. You know, that old romantic tune. It was my first dance song at my wedding. About old alcoholics and wasted youth. Because I'm classy like that. Jay slash kay, it was actually "Let's Get It On." I'm surprised that Evan redid this one, but I guess it's not about what he didn't do well, but instead what the judges felt he could do better. As usual, his lines are great and his feet look better than usual. There is definitely more of a connection than previously, but some of that might be just that they know each other better now. The audience gives them another standing ovation.
Bruno liked the fluidity and lyricism, and thought they were good in hold. Most importantly, they had a connection. Carrie Ann thinks he fixed all the problems that he had last time around and then some. Len has a small criticism that I don't understand, and like one audience member boos and they act like the whole audience turned on him. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 9, and Bruno 9. Hmm, I thought Bruno would give them a 10. Evan is happy with the start for the night, but he's sad that the competition is almost over.
Tom shares that Nicole has scored the most cumulative points of any star at this point in the competition. Way to help people set aside that ringer talk, Tom. Anyway, the judges have given her the rumba to redo and Carrie Ann visits their rehearsal to discuss and offer critique. She reminds us that Nicole was so nervous when they did the rumba before that she didn't connect to the routine. Derek interviews that Carrie Ann gave Nicole permission to let herself go and not worry so much about technique. And I think that's part of why the viewing audience hasn't totally connected with Nicole; she seems like she's doing steps instead of dancing. The routine starts and it's very beautiful, intimate, and sexy. I sort of feel like I'm watching something I shouldn't at times! And some of the moves that Nicole does -- I don't even understand how a body goes that way.