We saw two of the three final performances from the three remaining contestants on Dancing With the Stars tonight, and it was an awesome show. I can’t remember a better end to a season. But still? There’s a clear winner. I broke it down for you, first by The Judge’s Pick and then by jawin’ about the all important Free Style performances. …
William and Cheryl: The Judge’s Pick for these two was from Bruno. He chose the cha-cha for them, and called William “Sex on legs.” Sigh. Ya know? I’m simply weary of hearing about how hot William is every week. So much focus is placed on this, that it definitely takes away from the judges looking at him fairly. In my personal notes, I scrawled the words “terminally flat footed.” And Cheryl relies waaaay too much on Humpy and Grindy Choreography.
But Len called it one of the best cha chas in the fourteen seasons of the show. Huh. Bruno swooned as usual. Perfect score for this round.
Score 30.
Katherine and Mark: Len picked the paso-doble for Katherine. He pointed out his reasoning for this was because she could improve on her finesse this time and not be so aggressive and choppy. (By the way, I liked it last time and thought they were too hard on her.)
Well, she sure showed them! It looked technically perfect to me, and Mark tuned down the choreography to get the judges to notice that she can listen and improve. Not that she’s ever needed much improvement.
Which brings me to the first reason why Katherine will win come tomorrow night: consistency. Every performance has been nothing short of amazing, week after week.
Perfect score of 30. (The first “ten from Len.” Because he’s judged her like he would a professional, and not an amateur. Shame on him.)
Donald and Peta: Carrie Ann had Donald tackle the Argentine Tango again and asked for more content in the choreography to please Len. (Is this guy’s opinion all that matters, even to the other judges?) She wanted more dynamic and bigger movements from Donald. And in my opinion, she didn’t get any of that in this dance. My attention wandered so the content was still lacking. That shouldn’t happen in the finals. I should be riveted. The judges agreed it was too careful.
Score of 29.
The Free Style Round (Also called the “Make it or Break it Dance”)
William and Cheryl: Len finally agreed with me that all William does is rip off his shirt and get the girls screaming. Thank you Len. This time it looked like that moved kinda backfired, and William’s shirt didn’t come all the way off as originally planned. Hey. Shit happens. Also? The lifts didn’t look all that dangerous to me as William was talking about in the rehearsal packages. They were fine, but they seemed rather “normal” for what we’d see at this stage of the competition.
I think this pair has coined a new maneuver in dance. I shall call it “choo choo dancy humpy.” (It involves standing sideways back to back and … well … you know.) And Bruno? Just stop it.
Score: 29
Katherine and Mark: I think Katherine accomplished her goals, which were to show how much she’s learned and what a great performer she has turned out to be on this show. Those are the two other reasons she’ll win the Mirror Ball: she’s a crowd pleaser and has not only learned this new craft of dance, but has mastered it.
What a fun and fast freestyle. You go girl!
Score of 30. Perfection for the night. Your votes count for half.
Donald and Peta: It was fun, but Donald just isn’t technically good enough to win this thing. I felt his triumph and pride at the end of the song. And I’m glad he finally got that ten from Len. But pure fun alone doesn’t win Dancing With the Stars.
And Bruno? Stop it.
Score of 30.
The competition continues tomorrow night, with a final dance and the results. By now? You know who I think should take it.
What do you think? Who got your vote tonight?
Clacked by Tara Shrodes
on May 21, 2012 @ 21:36 EST5EDT
Just to chime in real quick —
I thought William’s Cha-cha was deserving of the 30. I thought it was technically perfect and his hip action is amazing. Most of the guys just can’t do it because it makes them uncomfortable. But, I agree that the freestyle just wasn’t as “dangerous” as it seemed (and maybe they pulled some of the more daring stuff out). But I’m still throwing some votes in his direction.
Katharine’s Paso was amazing, and I’m shocked that as great as she’s been, this was her first perfect score. This was just perfection. Her freestyle to me was just a tad frenetic and sometimes verging on being totally out of control (and there were a few times it seemed she was just flailing her arms and legs about hoping no one would notice). I’m surprised Len didn’t call her out for that (but I think he wants her to win). That said, I’ve loved her from day one and agree with you that she should be the ultimate winner.
I wholeheartedly agreed with Len about Donald’s Argentine Tango. I could just see that he was over-thinking it and playing it way too safe. The freestyle was terrific, but this isn’t a country bar, line dancing competition. I didn’t see much ballroom content in the dance, and that should be a requirement. William was criticized by Len for doing a salsa with lifts, but at least he had some ballroom content. Unfortunately, for a make it or break it dance, with that one coming last in the show, it’s the one the voters will have freshest in their minds when they vote. Unless something really disastrous happens with Donald’s final dance, he could actually win based on the freestyle.
Chuck, you criticize Donald’s freestyle and make jokes that this isn’t a country bar, line dancing competition. That’s why they call it “freestyle”. The lifts were great and for Katherine, she’s very good but I agree it seem a bit out of control. I didn’t think the lifts were that great. The routine was good, but I didn’t think it deserved a 30. I’m voting for Donald because Katherine is a favorite to win. I’m going with the underdog!! good luck to them all..
I said Donald’s freestyle was fantastic, but that it didn’t have enough real ballroom content was my only criticism. This is a ballroom dancing competition after all. If we spend all of these weeks watching stars learn the basics of ballroom only to have it all undone by a spectacular, country line dancing freestyle that has little of that technique included in it, then what’s the point? Just make it an all-around dancing competition like So You Think You Can Dance, but with stars. Lifts and throwing Peta around like a rag doll was amazing, but for me it was all flash. At least Katherine’s and William’s freestyles incorporated the ballroom basics. I would think that’s what the judges should really be looking for.
You need to go back and view other free styles from previous seasons. Let me say this again “It’s Free Style “!!! I just don’t care for your comment. It’s very trivial ..
Good review, Tara, but I’m still hoping my “emotional” favorite – Donald – can pull it out.
PS – “Freestyle” does not mean “no rules”, BTW. Look at ice skating. The long program is referred to as “Freestyle”, but elements within it must meet the same judging criteria as the required elements in the short program. I think it would be reasonable to require that certain “ballroom” elements be required as part of the Freestyle program.
Donald’s lifts were nothing short of amazing.
I will be happy if Kathryn wins or Donald. Just don’t want to see William win.