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
Hometown visits! Let's go to Melissa's hometown of Dallas, Texas. Melissa's mom says that Melissa did ballet and drill team as a girl, and she'd get frustrated when she couldn't get things right on the first try. Her mom is impressed that Melissa has worked through the pain of her rib injury. I'm kind of in love with Melissa's former coach on the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. I would watch a whole show about her. I mean, I did watch that DCC reality show, but it's not the same. I want to know, like, what she eats for breakfast. Anyway, then Melissa got accepted and then rejected on The Bachelor, which you may have heard about, and now she's determined to make it to the finals.
Whew, is it finally time to dance the cha cha cha? This routine is probably my favorite routine they've done so far. It's fun, and flirty, and there's not a ton of tricks and lifts and stuff -- just dancing. Melissa actually looks like she's having fun out there, and like she feels good about herself, and it's really a joy to watch. I didn't even hate the fact that they were wearing fedoras, and you know how I feel about extraneous hats. The audience loved it too.
Bruno says he likes his cha cha full on, and at times they were sensational, but the energy wasn't sustained, and that's what they need to win this thing. Carrie Ann thinks Melissa was much more emotional and attached, but her footwork wasn't perfect. Len says he liked it, but it's not up to her usual standards, because she's a really good dancer. Hmm. I liked it more than the judges. That rarely happens. Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Len 9, and Bruno 9.
Let's visit Gilles's hometown of Cannes in France! Gilles explains that he grew up in the center of town, the middle of three kids, and they apparently didn't live in the lap of luxury. Gilles thinks that French men can show their passion and emotion without shame. Gilles's best friend reveals that Gilles used to do the moonwalk and yelp like Michael Jackson. Then there's a photo of Gilles's father, and he had the MOST AWESOME mustache ever. Anyway, after his father's death, Gilles and his wife came to America where he worked as a model and tried to support his family. And Gilles also really wants to win.
So how's their salsa? Gilles starts off with some maracas, and he doesn't stop shaking it even after he drops them a few seconds into the dance. My only quibble is that Gilles seems like he is dancing in a club or at a party instead of in a competition; his movements seem kind of frantic and not very precise. But he looks like he's having a helluva time doing it. There's one segment where he and Cheryl are standing next to each other dancing that makes me really excited for their freestyle if they make it through to next week. Gilles really does have a great sense of natural rhythm. He'd be really fun at a wedding reception.