The show opens with a disembodied Cher head floating over the dance floor, which disappears to reveal the actual Cher floating on a platform, singing "Believe." Dude, this song was played when it was a plot point on a Buffy episode in the late '90s. I guess now it's old enough to be a classic. I'll say this: Cher is actually singing into a microphone that's turned on (albeit with a lot of backup and reverb and a backing track). But I can hear her actual voice, so that's something.
Corbin and Karina are dancing first tonight with the Argentine tango. Corbin had a busy week with his other obligations, and his phone was ringing constantly during rehearsals. Karina actually didn't throw a tantrum as I would have predicted. Their tango is perfectly fine. Corbin's posture is great, although he's sticking his butt out a little. It seems like Karina is dancing around him a bit, which surprises me. Their stunts look good (although Corbin nearly drops her on the last one). Overall, it leaves me feeling as I have for most of Corbin's dances this season: there was nothing really wrong, but there was also nothing REALLY right. It was just there.
Judges? Carrie Ann thought the lifts were breathtaking, but sometimes his footwork was not as smooth as it could have been. Bruno loved the passion, but thought some of the passes were not as clean as they could have been. Oh, what will Cher say? Cher thought it was amazing, of course. She is going to be useless as a judge, isn't she? Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Cher 9, and Bruno 9. So does Cher just copy whatever Carrie Ann does? I really miss Len. I am cranky.
Leah and Tony got great scores last week. This week, they have the Viennese waltz, and Leah gets really into the story of "I Got You Babe," hoping that Cher will appreciate the artistry, even if the technique isn't spot on. Leah looks really graceful, and does a great job acting out the storyline of her dance. I'm impressed! I'm not so impressed with the ending, where they kind of just give up the last few bars of the song and walk off the floor, but you can't have everything. I think that was one of her best.
Judges? Bruno thinks it was beautiful, especially during the side-by-side parts, but Leah's frame wasn't as good in hold. Carrie Ann thinks Leah is feeling in her zone, but she got a little behind the music at times. Cher loves how they interpreted the day that she met Sonny, and she loved the look in their eyes. That's exactly what Leah was hoping to do, so she's happy. Scores: Carrie Ann 8, Cher 9, and Bruno 8. Not bad.
Brant has the foxtrot this week, and he's worried after his routine last week was not as well received. I'm not loving his routine this week either. First of all, he and Peta are wearing these weird peach outfits. And then they look like they're fighting one another through the first half of the dance? I think they're trying to really put some oomph into it, but it comes off as aggression. The technique was good, but he needed to take it down a few notches. Not my favorite.
Judges? Tom asks Cher what she looks for when auditioning dancers, and Cher says that she looks for star quality and Brant has it. Carrie Ann thinks that Brant has the most potential, but he needs to watch his lines because sometimes his knees go in. Bruno loves how Brant gets the technique down, but he needs to refine it instead of pushing so hard. Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Cher 9, and Bruno 9. Hmm, a little overscored. Also, is Cher only going to give out 9s?
Val and Elizabeth have jazz this week, and since Elizabeth has a jazz background, she's very involved. And after they pick a song and a concept, Elizabeth decides to change the song. And then she kind of flips out because she's putting so much pressure on herself. Have I mentioned that Elizabeth has the crazy eyes? She so does. Wow. I hate this routine. Like, I really, really despise it. It's very choppy and Elizabeth has such long arms and legs that she's totally losing her lines with the choreography. I think their original concept was something more Broadway or cabaret style and that would have been awesome. This was just not my cup of tea; it didn't look pretty, and it made Elizabeth look choppy and there was no musicality.
Judges? Cher loved that it was rough and I think she says that she likes it when bitches are strong but they bleep it out. Bruno loved the rage and aggression, but the intensity made Elizabeth miss a few musical cues. Carrie Ann thought the anger was one-dimensional. Scores: Carrie Ann 8, Cher 9, and Bruno 8. Overscored.
Bill was totally ready to go home last week, and thought that he probably should have gone home, but he also acknowledges that he's working really hard and improving. He and Emma have disco this week, and Bill is from the disco era so he's ready to show Cher what he's got. Bill is always fun to watch, and their outfits are hilariously '70s. They do a bunch of lifts that look great but when they're dancing side-by-side, Bill is all floppy arms and slumped shoulders. It's a party, but there's no technique and no musicality.
Judges? Bruno says he was gagging with laughter. Carrie Ann says that Bill has this magical effect and his dancing makes her day better, even if he was off the beat. Cher was amazed that Bill could swing Emma around like that, and she noticed the missed steps but still thought it was brilliant. Scores: Carrie Ann 8, Cher 8, and Bruno 8. Fair, I guess. I don't think the judges will give out a 7 unless it's really awful.
Jack got his first 10 last week, and he can't believe how much he loves dancing now. They have the tango. Jack notes that he's seen people perform his dad's songs for him and screwed up, and Ozzy gets pissed, so he's nervous to dance to Cher's music in front of her. He shouldn't have been worried; their tango is really great, the best I've seen Jack all season. His posture is sharp, and he's right on the beat with his kicks.
Judges? Carrie Ann loves Jack's confidence and thinks he looks refined. Cher yells out that he looked like a tango-dancing pimp. Bruno agrees, and says that Jack has grown so much as a dancer. Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Cher 9, and Bruno 9. I thought he'd get at least one 10. It was that good, I thought.
Amber and Derek have the rumba this week, but Amber got injured so rehearsals were limited. I'm guessing they hope to distract from her injury by ripping off Derek's shirt and putting him in tight white pants, and it kind of works. Amber covers up the rest with her awesome attitude and facial expressions. There are no mistakes, but it seems like a pretty basic routine.
Judges? Cher says that Amber pulled off the sex appeal and how much she owned it. Bruno calls Amber a "girl on top" and she turned around the typical rumba where the man leads and took charge. Carrie Ann loved the undulations, but she thinks Amber could push herself a little more. Agreed. Totally. Maybe she makes it look easy, but she needs more content in these routines. Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Cher 9, and Bruno 10. Eh. Overscored.
Since Amber and Derek have the highest score of the night, they don't have to do the dance-off. Amber gives an emotional speech about how much she loves being there and doesn't want to go home.
Oh my God, now Cher is performing while wearing a wig made out of black feathers and it's amazing. I need a wig made out of feathers. I guess I couldn't really wear it anywhere, so I would just wear it while I was recapping and channel the spirit of Cher.
The dancers explain how the dance-off is going to work to their partners. The first place team, Amber and Derek, get to sit out. Then the two teams get to pick their opponents, and the opponents get to pick the dance style. The dance styles are cha cha, disco, and rumba, so they have to rehearse all three. The winning team gets three extra points.
Time for the choosing! The first couple to choose is Corbin and Karina. They choose Val and Elizabeth as their opponents, and the style will be cha cha. Corbin and Karina dance first, and they are electric. Elizabeth and Val go ; I'm not sure Elizabeth actually did any cha cha steps. She also loves to do these high kicks and they don't look nearly as good as she thinks they do. What do the judges think? Carrie Ann thinks they both nailed it, Bruno loved both of them too, and Cher loves how people interpret the same song differently. Ultimately, all three of them vote for Corbin and Karina.
Brant and Peta are up, and they choose Leah and Tony as their opponents, and the style will be rumba. Tony promises that Leah is hot and can dance the rumba beautifully. They start dancing right away, with Brant and Peta going first. Brant is once again way too intense for the rumba and his hip action is not great. He's saved by his great lines and his chemistry with Peta, though. Leah and Tony seem like they are trying to fit a different routine to a song and it doesn't quite work. She has all the steps, but they feel a little rushed and like Tony is throwing her around. Judges? Bruno thought they were both sexy, Carrie Ann thinks Leah nailed the passion, and Cher was enthralled with both and felt the emotion from both. Leah and Tony get votes from Carrie Ann and Cher, so they win the points.
So that means Jack and Cheryl will face Bill and Emma in a disco dance-off. Jack's dance is kind of a mess. He misses a few steps but tries to save it at the end with some spins and lifts. Bill is basically doing the same routine he did earlier sped up a little bit, floppy arms and all. That hardly seems fair. He gives it his all, though. Carrie Ann was surprised by Jack's disco moves, and she points out Bill's advantage. Cher laughs at how Bill tossed Emma and left her, but she was amazed by Jack's moves. Bruno also found it wildly entertaining. So who gets the points? Jack and Cheryl get all three votes. I don't know that it was better, but there was a higher degree of difficulty for sure.
Before we go to break, Tom tells Bill to read what's in the teleprompter. Bill and Emma are safe! Again! Oh, now I'm sad for who will be going home, because I thought it would be Bill.
Here's the leaderboard. I'm just going to assume that Amber and Derek get an automatic three points to keep them on top of the leaderboard.
Amber and Derek: 28 + 3 = 31
Corbin and Karina: 27 + 3 = 30
Jack and Cheryl: 27 + 3 = 30
Leah and Tony: 25 + 3 = 28
Brant and Peta: 27
Elizabeth and Val: 25
Bill and Emma: 24
So it comes down to Jack and Cheryl or Brant and Peta going home. Brooke says carefully that they are not necessarily the bottom two. So who is going? Cheryl looks really scared. She's usually a pretty cool customer. And Brant and Peta are going home. I think he just didn't have the fanbase. In his exit interview, Brant says that he learned how to dance and about himself. Peta says that Brant is amazing as they hug. I can't believe Leah and Bill are both still there. I never would have predicted that after the first week.