Episode Report Card Kim: A- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Less Than Perfect
By Kim | Season 13 | Episode 19 | Aired on 11.21.2011
Judges? Bruno tells him that it was a brilliant concept with brilliant execution and Rob is peaking at the right time. Carrie Ann thinks you have to blow the judges away to get a perfect ten, and she's blown away. Len knows that Rob gave it his all, and he and his family should be proud. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 10 and Bruno 10. Rob is surprised to get a perfect score, especially because the routine was so, so difficult. He seriously still hasn't caught his breath.
JR and Karina decide to do a Latin-tinged dance, since JR is Latin and has had luck with those routines. They work on the stunts and there's one I totally don't understand where JR has to jump on Karina's head or something? And it never quite works out in rehearsals, and JR is worried that he's going to hurt her. I thought they were going to take it out, but then in this morning's rehearsals, it looks like everything continued to go horribly wrong. Karina cried, and JR tried to soothe her. You guys, I'm kind of worried. I hope no one gets injured.
Well, they didn't screw up any of the lifts, THANK GOD! They nailed a particularly scary-looking one in the opening and I think that gave them the confident to get through the rest. It was Latin-flavored, but mostly contemporary, meaning that they didn't really dance in hold at all, which means I'm less likely to enjoy it. But they had a TON of energy. They were out-of-sync at times, which wasn't great, but they nailed all the lifts and got the crowd going, so that's worth something. It was good, but it was everything I hate about the freestyle round.
Judges? Carrie Ann's critique consists of dancing and she thought those were the "sickest lifts [she's] ever seen." Len thought the routine revealed Karina's body and JR's talent. Bruno liked the "animal physicality" and quite a comeback. JR is so fired up that he takes a victory lap. As they wait for scores, JR looks like he might have a heart attack. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 10 and Bruno 10. Wow, what a coincidence that their two scores add up to the same as Ricki and Derek's, huh?
Man, who would have thought that Rob would be on top going into the final night of the show? Not me. But I do think he deserved it. They dance again tomorrow night, then one couple is eliminated, and then the final two do an instant samba. This was a good finals. No bad feelings, no fights, just couples who are truly teams and some great dancing. Any of them could win and I'd be fine. Even Ricki.