Episode Report Card Kim: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Two Dances, Too Much?
By Kim | Season 8 | Episode 16 | Aired on 05.04.2009
Carrie Ann thinks that Shawn delivered the drama, and that her solo was powerful. Len liked the solo and some of the turns. He liked the precision, but thought it wasn't overly exciting. I pretty much agree with him. Mark appeals to the audience, who boos Len loudly. Shut up, Mark. He's really bugging me tonight. Bruno thinks that Shawn has the killer instinct and scored big. Shawn runs up and gives each of the judges a hug. Backstage, Shawn admits that she was really out of her element. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 9, and Bruno 10. That's their best score yet. Shawn is so cute. I wish her partner didn't annoy me so much.
Next up are Ty and Chelsie, and if Ty's attempt at hip-shaking is any indication of what's to come, he might be in trouble. In rehearsals, Chelsie gives Ty a little pep talk about how far he's come and then works with him on his hip action while he cracks jokes. I'm worried about this rumba. Ty tries so hard with the hip action, but it's just not there. And then in a sequence that's not at all about the hip action, which he should totally nail, he totally screws up and almost drops Chelsie. His solo, where he walks towards Jewel sitting in the audience and shakes his hips at her, is adorable, in the way that watching your arthritic aunt try to dance with her son at his wedding. You know she's trying, and you know she means well, and you love her because she's awesome, but it's just not good.
As they wait for judges' comments, Chelsie hides her face because even she is embarrassed. Len thought it was sweet, but compares Ty to a feather duster. Whuh? I guess he was trying to be sort of nice. Bruno thinks Ty is "one of the most likeable contestants we've ever had," but you can't confuse likability with ability. Carrie Ann wishes she could score him on improvement, but she needs to score him on his dancing. Plus, there was a lift. This isn't looking good for scores. Scores: Carrie Ann 7, Len 7, and Bruno 7. The audience boos, but Ty and Chelsie admit that they were hoping for higher than a 19, so it's all good. Ty jokes that he did his solo in front of his wife and he hopes that it pays dividends later. The audience and the dancers in the back room all crack up.
Kim and Derek have to do their salsa next. Kim is thrilled to bring back her bionic booty and "shake it like a salt shaker, or a pepper shaker." Derek explains that he isn't a fan of tricks, but they're at the stage where they need them. For the solo, Derek put on music and had Kim dance around so he could get ideas. I really hope they make the finals, because their freestyle will be awesome. But first, the salsa. Maybe all the hype got to me, but I was a little bit underwhelmed. It seemed a little manic and hectic to me. The tricks were pretty awesome, but the actual dancing was good, but not as awesome as I thought it might be.