Hey, y'all! I took a week off and now I feel totally out of touch with this show. I did tune in last week but watching as a random viewer versus watching as a recapper is so very different. But now I'm back! And it's Latin Night!
Oh, Carlos Santana. Don't you have more to do than play on this show? You are a legend. Then again, you did make that song with Rob Thomas like ten years ago so maybe you have IRS issues or something. Well, they have to have a reason for the troupe to exist and apparently that reason is to dance while Carlos Santana plays. I feel like the DWTS audience doesn't really appreciate Santana's amazing guitar work, I have to say. Santana is also wearing baggy leather pants, which I didn't even know were a thing that existed.
Brooke and Tom welcome us and I'm fairly sure I can see Brooke's areola, so that happened. Can you guys believe that Gavin is still on this show? Who would have thought he would make it this far? I am really happy that Sherri got eliminated though. It makes me feel better about America.
Jaleel and Kym are up first. In rehearsals, they discuss how shocking Sherri's elimination was, and how it means that anyone can go home at any time. Then Kym coaches Jaleel on how to shake his booty. And he definitely shakes it. They also talk about how there will be a dance duel this week, so they have to rehearse a second routine just in case they are in the bottom two. I forgot about the dance duel. I am against it, but trying to keep an open mind.
So let's see their samba. Well, the bouncing is good and the performance aspect is good also. But Jaleel's footwork gets screwed up near the beginning and I'm not sure he really recovers. His technique and his form aren't as good as in weeks. It's a good dance, but I don't know if it's a good dance for HIM. Judges? Len thought he had great hip action and it was a great start to the show. Bruno thinks Jaleel's wiggle was unstoppable. Carrie Ann loved how Jaleel attacked the dance, and she advises him to watch his arm when he's out of hold because it goes dead sometimes. Jaleel looks abashed, like he knew that was an issue. Scores: Carrie Ann 8, Len 8, and Bruno 8.
Melissa and Maks are having a grand old time on the dance floor, waiting for their turn to dance. But they have to sit through the clip package first. Last week, Melissa hit Maks's leg with her head while doing a spin and got a concussion and whiplash. So this week, she has to be careful during rehearsals. Maks tries to get her to be sexy and keeps calling her "Grandma." That would just piss me off, but it seems to work on Melissa.
They are dancing the salsa. Well, their routine has a LOT of content. Melissa doesn't stop moving from the first moment to the last, and she's trying REALLY hard. That said, there's something weird about her legs and hips. I don't know if they're stiff or what, but they don't look feminine. Judges? Bruno loved her attack but wants her to have more control. Carrie Ann loved Melissa's increased confidence but it was out of control a bit, and she advises Melissa to take smaller steps. I actually agree with that, and that might be the weirdness I saw. Len says there were good parts and bad parts, but overall, he enjoyed it. Way to say nothing, Len. Scores: Carrie Ann 7, Len 7, and Bruno 7.
Last week, Maria and Derek got high scores, and this week, they have the salsa, so they have to bring on the sexy. In rehearsals, they are practicing a move where Maria goes through Derek's legs face down and her hands slip and she lands chin-first on the floor. OUCH! It made a really loud noise and freaked her out, but she turned out to be fine. Good Lord. First, her ribs, then her feet, and now her chin.
So their dance. It has a LOT of tricks. But weirdly, not much content. Melissa and Maks did twice as much actual dancing, to my eyes. This seemed like a lot of repetitions of the basic salsa step in between Derek tearing off his shirt (that happened) or them grinding their pelvises together (that happened) or them kissing (that happened). It felt like Derek was choreographing around Maria's weaknesses and yet, in the parts that she actually danced, Maria looked good. Judges? Carrie Ann thought it was hot, but she didn't think they needed the kiss. Len thought the routine revealed Maria's huge talent. I think Derek has a boner, you guys. There is something happening in his pants area. Bruno asks if it was legal, if they need a room, and if he can join in. Well, that's a useful critique of the dance. Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Len 9, and Bruno 9. Hmm. I feel like they were rewarding glitz over technique.
Mark and Katherine were worried last week, so this week they are working extra hard on their Argentine tango. Except Katherine's kicks and flicks end up kicking Mark in the nuts, multiple times. I'm not going to pretend I didn't enjoy that. He needs a few kicks in the nuts. When their tango starts, Mark is holding a bottle and they do the first third of the dance with it, which is just distracting. That said, Katherine looks like a pro. Her movements are so smooth and beautiful. And there are tempo changes but Katherine doesn't miss a beat. It was really great.
Judges? Len thought it was beautiful but also sharp and menacing and he loved it. Bruno loved the technique, but he thought the acting and storytelling was amazing. Carrie Ann calls it "poetry in motion" and says that Katherine has the best legs of any contestant on the show, ever. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 9, and Bruno 10. I would agree with those scores.
Karina and Gavin are still in it, and I'm not sure why. Gavin is really uncomfortable rehearsing all the hip movements. Before I get to the dance, I have to discuss Gavin's outfit. He has on white pants, a dirty white shirt, and a white tank top. I guess he's supposed to be shipwrecked? But the stains on his tank top just make it look like he's a messy eater. Anyway, his dancing is terrible. But he's game. He's out there trying. But he really is way worse than anyone remaining.
Judges? Bruno thought it was delirious but he loved how Gavin let himself go and it was enjoyable. Carrie Ann loves how Gavin goes for it, but he lacked form. Len says it was more of a sham-ba than a samba, but he adds that it's a hard dance and Gavin made a gallant effort. Scores: Carrie Ann 6, Len 6, and Bruno 7.
Another performance by Carlos Santana. Instead of the troupe, we get Louis and Anna dancing, which is great. I love both of them.
William and Cheryl didn't do well last week, but Cheryl advises William to put it behind him and get into Latin week. Wait, didn't William get hurt in rehearsals? Didn't they tease that earlier in the episode? And they're not going to mention it in the roll-in package? Anyway, they have the Argentine tango. William does great when it's a part where he stands still but his movements are off a little bit. They aren't as sharp as the rest of the dance. It's intense but not passionate, if that makes sense.
Judges? Carrie Ann takes a while to gather herself and then calls William "the Latin dancing James Bond." Len saw mood, passion, sensuality, and color. Bruno goes overboard as usual talking about how sexy William was. He just does not do it for me, and I feel like it's coloring my opinion of his dancing. Backstage, William says that he tore a ligament in his ankle and he's supposed to be resting it. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 9, and Bruno 10.
Gladys says that she isn't bothered by the judges' critiques because she just sees them as challenges to overcome. She is awesome. Tristan tells Gladys that she gets to shake it this week, and she won't have to hold back and can show off her party attitude. I love her.
They have the samba. Gladys starts out sparkling but they try some ill-advised samba rolls. They look okay at first, but then they look stiff and awkward. Gladys almost seems restrained. She's got a big personality, and I'm not seeing it in this routine. I don't know if she's tired or if it's the choreography, but I feel like this is fine, but she could do more. Judges? Len thinks it was simple but effective. Bruno thinks Gladys is magic, and Carrie Ann says that there were a few tiny mistakes, but she loves Gladys's flavor. You know what else I love about Gladys? Backstage, she was clearly about to tell Brooke the reasons why her dance wasn't as good as it could have been, but she stops herself and says, "No excuses." Love that. Scores: Carrie Ann 7, Len 7, and Bruno 8.
Roshon was in the bottom two last week, but escaped elimination. Chelsie works on getting Roshon to be sexier during their salsa, and to get his moves to be more masculine. Roshon decides to dress like William, and William gives him some tips in the breakroom. Roshon is kind of built like an eleven-year-old, isn't he? So their salsa is well done, and Roshon doesn't miss a beat, but he doesn't looks very masculine. He looks like a little kid.
Judges? Bruno tells Roshon he has great timing and brought great energy to the dance. Carrie Ann thinks Roshon has his own thing going on, and he's appropriately sexy. Len likes Roshon's speed and attack but advises him to calm himself down on occasion. Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Len 8, and Bruno 9. Maybe a point or so too high.
Donald and Peta got high scores last week, so this week, Donald really wants to get 10s. They have the Argentine tango. It's very sexy, and very controlled, with some wild lifts. It's really great. Donald doesn't do a lot of the kicks and flicks but he's got swag, for sure. Judges? Carrie Ann loved Donald's control and his ability to go in and out of the lifts. Len loved the lifts but he didn't think the rest of the dance was quite there. He doesn't explain why, though. Bruno thought the build-up was amazing but that certain moves interrupted the flow. Donald has a ton of lipstick on his nose. I hope someone notices that soon. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 8, and Bruno 9. Donald goes crazy when he gets the score from Len.
I think Gavin and either Melissa or Gladys will be in the duel tomorrow night. Here are your scores:
Katherine and Mark: 29
William and Cheryl: 29
Maria and Derek: 27