In the introduction, Tom said something about winning immunity? Is this Survivor all of a sudden? I don't know how I feel about this. I guess the couple with the highest score after the first round gets immunity, which doesn't mean all that much since they would likely be safe anyway.
Jacoby and Karina are up first with the salsa. During their first day of rehearsals, Karina tries a lot of lifts and Jacoby ends up with a lot of kicks to the face. So Jacoby takes the day off to get a massage and do some icing. He explains that in football, the players get a day off after games, and he's not used to this grueling schedule. I feel him, but everyone else is doing it, so... anyway, he returns the day and Karina seems pretty happy with how rehearsals are going.
Did their lack of rehearsal time hurt them? It seems like it actually did a little bit. This dance feels a little unfocused. It doesn't help that there are a ton of lifts, and I'm not a huge fan of those because it feels more like gymnastics and less like dancing. He has good hip action and posture, although he's still pigeon-toed. They do one move where I think Jacoby is going to leap over Karina's head (as they've done the past two weeks) but instead she falls backwards and he catches her with his head between her legs. I don't love that move, although I've seen others do it many times. Usually it's the pro doing the leaping though. Anyway, it was fine but not my favorite dance of his.
Judges? Len loved it but would have liked fewer lifts. Agreed, Len. Jacoby's mom heckles Len from the audience. Bruno has a lot of praise for Jacoby's hip action. Carrie Ann says that Jacoby could fart salsa. Ew, gross. I don't mind fart talk but that made me thinks about tomatoes and onions coming out of his butt. Oh, Lord. Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Len 9, and Bruno 9.
Ingo has the rumba, and during rehearsals, he's really worried about getting the hip action right. He was correct to be worried; when they start dancing, he looks fine at first but when they get to those rumba figure-eights with the hips, it's...not so good. He just doesn't have the fluidity that this dance requires. It looks like a series of poses in between attempts to shake his butt unsuccessfully. And on some of the strength moves, he stumbles a bit. You'd think a soap actor could fake being sexy a little bit better.
Judges? Bruno says that the hip action wasn't fluid enough, and he lost the timing near the end. Carrie Ann thought his form was nice but his hip action wasn't good enough. Len gets to be the hero by saying that he thought Ingo's arms were great and while the dance wasn't perfect, it was pretty good. Scores: Carrie Ann 7, Len 8, and Bruno 7.
Kellie had a bunch of concerts on the road this week, so Derek had to travel with her and rehearse. Plus they had to learn all of the routines for the immunity dance. So we'll see if they can "wing it" as Kellie says. It doesn't look like they winged it, but honestly the chorography seemed a little simpler than Derek usually creates. It was a good samba and for anyone else, it would be a pretty great samba, but it seemed quite basic. They do this section in the middle where they pretend to be in slow motion which is a great concept but it wasn't quite executed perfectly and it wasn't clear to me what they were trying to do at first, so I don't know about that. The ending move was really quick and cool, and something I haven't seen before; I can't even describe it but it was a turn with a dip and a twist and lots of other moves as well.
Judges? Carrie Ann says that Kellie has every line perfect and pristine, but she needs to add in more emotional connection. Len thought it was crisp and clean and he disagrees with Carrie Ann on the performance aspect. Bruno says something I can't hear at all because the audience is cheering, but basically he agrees with Len. He even thinks the content was amazing, which was the part I didn't love. Hmm. Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Len 10, and Bruno 10. And Derek apologizes to his grandparents for going shirtless. Aw, that was kind of sweet. Mark Ballas would never apologize.
Andy Dick has the rumba this week and he's a little worried about his ability to play the sexy Latin lover. Sharna has wisely choreographed a comic routine where she's a gold digger and he's a rich guy so she's trying to use her sexuality to get some diamonds, and he just wants to get some. So the dancing is basically just Andy walking through the routine; there is zero hip action at all and it barely looks like a rumba. And yet, it's entertaining to watch. We've gotten to the point in the season where he should really only make it one or two more weeks; if he stays and someone like Jacoby or Kellie goes home, that's really unfair.
Judges? Len loved the entertainment value of the dance and Andy's enthusiasm, but it was more erratic than erotic, since it lacked hip action and movement. Bruno recognized the allusion to Gene Kelley and Cyd Charisse that I didn't get (from Singin' In the Rain), and tells Andy that he's doing the steps but he's not feeling the music. Carrie Ann advises him to incorporate his arms more into the dance. Scores: Carrie Ann 5, Len 6, and Bruno 6. Ouch.
In rehearsals, Mark is carrying Aly around on his shoulders and hurts his back or neck. He goes to the doctor (and wears his fedora, as you do while also wearing a hospital gown) and learns that he might not be able to dance on Monday. Aly rehearses with Henry all week. Will Mark be able to join her in dancing the salsa? I guess so, since he's wearing a special blue fedora and lime green spectator shoes. I don't know if Mark's wearing a back brace or if he's just stiff, but you can tell that something's up with him. Aly, on the other hand, is dancing her ass off. She throws herself into this routine like she never has before, and it's pretty great. This might be the first routine of theirs that I really liked. Maybe it's because Mark couldn't overdance the way that he usually does?
Judges? Bruno tells Aly that it was uplifting and a "delicious cocktail of tropical flavors." Carrie Ann loved it and she was happy that the real Aly finally came out. Len thought it was sharp and fruity, although he would have liked a little more recognizable salsa. Carrie Ann and Bruno tease him for his grouchiness. Mark looks like he is in a huge amount of pain. I almost hope they don't have to dance again, because I don't know if he'll make it. Scores: Carrie Ann 10, Len 9, and Bruno 10. So what do they do if there's a tie for the immunity/lead?
Sean has the rumba this week, but he has a hard time getting into sexy character, so Peta brings in his fiancé so he can practice his sexy moves. Although they haven't yet had sex. Or maybe they have, if you believe the tabloids. Anyway, he totally feels her up and Peta feels like she's intruding. So will Sean be able to do that with Peta? Sean does a good job with the tone of the dance, and with the poses and the lifts. But his hip action is awful and his arms are pretty stiff instead of fluid. He's middling.
Judges? Carrie Ann is impressed because he listened to the judges telling him to listen to the music, and she loved their chemistry, although she did see an illegal lift. Len thought that Sean was a little wooden, especially his hands, which were flopping around. I agree, Len. Bruno thought it was much better than past weeks, although Sean does have a tendency to stick his butt out. Scores: Carrie Ann 8, Len 8, and Bruno 8.
Zendaya has the paso doble this week, and she thinks that Val is always intense, but she's pretty laid back, so she needs to match his energy. She does a good job with her intensity but there was something missing from this performance for me. There were a couple of tiny missteps in the beginning and after that, Zendaya seemed a little too in her head instead of dancing full out. I'm probably on crack, though. The judges seem to love her no matter what.
Judges? Len thinks they played their roles to perfection, but Zendaya needs to lift her chin sometimes. Bruno liked the flamenco beginning but Len was right about her chin. Carrie Ann thought it was beautiful, especially her lines, although it seemed to be missing some of the background strength. Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Len 9, and Bruno 9.
So now Brooke has to announce who has immunity. Since there is a tie at the top, they have to go to the highest cumulative scores, and that means that Kellie and Derek have immunity. They seem surprised. Mark looks pissed. While we wait for this dance-off to begin, we're going to see a performance from Latin Grammy winner Juanes.
I don't understand this dance-off at all. Aly and Mark, with the highest scores, get to choose which couple they will dance against, and they choose Andy and Sharna, who choose the cha cha. Mark looks terrified and in pain. God knows Mark is not my favorite, but I feel a little bad for him.
Aly and Mark go first, and Aly is still dancing her ass off. It's funny because usually Mark outdances his partners so much that this week really shows how he could tone it down and let his partner shine, if he chose to do so. Andy and Sharna have a rough start and while there are flashes of a good routine, Andy is still just stepping through the motions. Len admires that Andy was cheering for Aly, Bruno thought they both did a fantastic job, and Carrie Ann loves that Andy never gives up. But obviously Aly was better, and they win unanimously, so she gets an extra three points.
Now it will be Zendaya and Val choosing their opponent, and they pick Jacoby and Karina, who were tied with them. Jacoby and Karina choose the jive, obviously. And I don't know how they are going to pick a winner. Zendaya was more technically correct - I seriously don't think she made one mistake - and yet Jacoby has so much more flavor in his routine. It really feels like he just got out there and danced from his soul instead of doing step two three four. Bruno says it was like watching two champions, Carrie Ann loves that it was two equally-matched couples, and Len adds that it was a tough call. Ultimately, Zendaya and Val get the points.
That means that Sean and Peta are going up against Ingo and Kym in the rumba, which they both danced tonight already. Sean's arms are better but he really does stick his butt out - he looks like he's pooping at one point. I think Peta's choreography is better for this type of routine - it's short and flashy. Ingo does fine but he still looks stiff. I would pick Sean and Peta. Carrie Ann thinks Ingo showed improvement, Len thinks there is a clear winner, and Bruno calls it "the battle of the hunks." Carrie Ann and Len vote for Ingo, while Bruno votes for Sean, so Ingo gets the points.
Brooke explains that Kellie and Derek have immunity, so they don't need votes and it doesn't matter that, with the added points, they aren't on the top of the leaderboard anymore. Here are the scores for the rest of them. Looks like Andy's probably going home and it's probably time.
Kellie and Derek: 29 (IMMUNITY)
Aly and Mark: 29 + 3 = 32
Zendaya and Val: 27 + 3 = 30
Jacoby and Karina: 27
Ingo and Kym: 22 + 3 = 25
Sean and Peta: 24
Andy and Sharna: 17