Rosado's Recaps-Dancing With The Stars - The Cultute of Pop, DVD, Movie, TV, Pop Culture Review

Rosado's Recaps-Dancing With The Stars

Posted: Mon, 11 Apr 2011 22:23:13 PDT

Week Of April 11th, 2011

 One month into its 12^th season run and the most unlikely or so called doomed-to-fail cast of Dancing With The Stars is becoming one of the most enjoyable, stirringly entertaining and extremely talented troupes in the show's history.

An emotive Ralph Macchio waltz one minute, a delightful, almost child-like waltz from Sugar Ray Leonard the next...there's literally something for everybody. Aside from a few missed steps, posture problems and occasional oops moments (bless your HEART, Kirstie Alley!), not a single dance merited lower than a B- in my grade book this week...

Wanna find out who's the teacher's, er, blogger's favorite this week? Well, there's the imaginary bell a-ringing, class...Everybody be seated and let's review each pair, one by one as we celebrate the program's first ever classical music evening, featuring the fastest violinist in the world in David Garrett, and the lovely mezzo-soprano wonders of Katherine Jenkins (who turned me into putty al'a Snow White and Dopey).

 Romeo and Chelsie: Make or break week for this guy whom I think got unfairly treated by the judges last week for his sweet remembrace of his cousins...So it was game face time to the riveting dance of the Paso Doble. At first, Romeo seemed a little unsure of his footing, but one he got the lead out, full steam ahead. Can't recall when I've seen him more effective on the dance floor. But will being on at the top of the show hurt his chances?

Jeff's Grade: A-

Kendra and Louis: A key week for this duo who's been hot one week, cold the following week. Since last week fell into the former bracket, would their crack at the Vieneeze Waltz prove disastrous? It doen't look promising from the pre-dance video profile with Kendra scrunching her nose to the strains of classical music...Even before she stepped on the dance floor with Louis, she continued to roll her eyes.

What's really a pity? This girl has some serious dance magic inside herself, but she's not embracing it; the commitment level isn't being met much at all. But there are moments of potential greatness in their routine, especially her grace at being rolled around the floor. If Kendra could embrace this potential she's yet to realize, who knows how far she could go in this competition...Unless she's turned viewers off this week (not to mention the emergence of a new sex tape from her past), next week will be the most pivotal dance of her time on DWTS to date..

Jeff's Grade: B-

Sugar Ray and Anna: Mr. Leonard could not have been in better hands this week with Anna's expertise in the Viennese waltz set to one of classical music's staples: The Waltz Of The Viennese Flowers. Although traditionalists no doubt squirmed (Hi Len!), I loved this mixture of whimsy and funkiness during this dance...Sugar Ray still had a little bit of tightness in his shoulders...but for a routine that had a nice blend of technical touches and sheer entertainment, it's Sugar Ray's finest DWTS' moment yet.

Jeff's Grade: B

Petra and Dimitry: There's nothing more challenging on this show than a celebrity dancer who's all but counted out in the opening weeks to follow up a “blossom out of nowhere” moment such as Petra experienced last week. Making sure that wasn't gonna happen? Her trusty partner Dimitry, who's also become a huge fan fave this season, picking up some of that Derek Hough adoration (and good for him)..

This week, Chaplin's major assignment? Get rid of Petra's irresistible smile which would have been so out of place in the Paso Doble. Thanks to a little modeling assignment he observed, he pointed out the expressions to Petra that would suit their routine to perfection...and although it wasn't perfect, I'll tell you all this: At times, I felt Petra could have been mistaken for DWTS alum Edyta Sliwinska, not just in looks but in footwork as well...and that's quite a compliment for somebody who's been dancing less than two months if you ask me.

But my rave is nothing compared to Bruno's...I could picture ABC putting up either color bars or a Please Stand By graphic until he could be hosed down.

Jeff's Grade: A-

Ralph and Karina: I just knew something was up with that poison container Ralphie kept muggin' with during commercial break transitions...and once it was revealed that it served as an intro to Romeo and Juliet? Color me riveted from the minute the strains of Henry Mancini's classic theme emerged from the orchestra as the dance began.

Could not take my eyes off of them from start to finish. Amazing emotional commitment from them both, defined. Heartbreaking, romantic, moving. Best performance by these two to date.

Jeff's Grade: A

Hines and Kym: After weeks of breezing thru the competition, it appeared our dancing Steeler might have an off week a-comin'. Since most classical works don't have vocals, one's entry point on the dance floor can be super tricky, and Hines was having a wale of a go with his timing.

But if I may borrow a Steven Tyler-ism from American Idol...Hines and Kim did it again. Everything worked: Passion, timing, synchronization, emotion Every I was dotted; every T crossed. So thought this was gonna garner the first 10 of the season from the judges, but alas, not. Here's my consolation mark...

Jeff's Grade: A+

Chelsea and Mark: A pairing that seems to top themselves every week, although I didn't enjoy this routine as I have their first three. It seemed slightly mechanical and too polished for me...however, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy watching it. But I wouldn't mind seeing these two mix it up a little; take a ride in the slow lane and showcase some versatility....

Jeff's Grade B+

Chris and Cheryl: Take a woman who's specialty is dramatic dances, then add a wrestling legend who built a career around the word dramatic. Results?: Team Chericho's best routine to date (and I don't see how Chris did that Russian folk dance-esque moves in the middle; fantastic stuff). Len must have taken a little too much Robitussin before settling in to the judges corner; his speed is a little off on the mental turntable in his head (I didn't see no Jericho Slowdown to the music, mister!)

Jeff's Grade: A

Kirstie and Maks: While it wasn't exactly a classic in progress like last week, Kirstie had bad luck on her side for the second consecutive week in a row, although thankfully not as serious as Mak's thigh giving out on him last week. Poor Kirstie had her shoe come off as the dance hit the halfway mark...

...and I'm thinking/praying last week wasn't the start of a Dan Jansen type existence for these two...Remember the Olympic speed skater that fell on numerous occasions? Lord bless Kirstie and Maks and protect them in weeks to come...Because we want to see our fellow DWTS junkie go as far as possible...

Jeff's Grade: B-

With all these folks so gosh darn likeable and talented, we might as well start calling the second day of the week Terrible Tuesday for the rest of the DWTS season, because that's the emotion we're gonna be dealing with from studio headquarters in Hollywood to all over the world.

My picks for the bottom three: Sugar Ray and Anna, Chelsie and Romeo, and Kendra/Louis. Wild card danger pick: Chris and Cheryl (just because the fan base let them down last week; I hope the trend reverses this week).

Talk to you guys during the DWTS post performance show podcast by no later than this afternoon...

 

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