Reality Round Up-- Dancing With the Stars All Stars and The Voice Edition

For many viewers of Dancing With The Stars, week eight was one they had been waiting for, Kirstie and Maks were voted off. It wasn't that we didn't enjoy them, I know I did. They provided entertainment, comic relief, and a whole lot of chemistry. The other couple to be voted off during this double elimination week was Gilles and Peta much to the chagrin of female fans everywhere. For the past six weeks Gilles was near or at the top of the leader board, he lit up the ballroom every time he took the stage, but for the past two weeks Gilles seemed overconfident, with every reason to be, yet he also seemed uninspired when he danced.

Think about the remaining couples in the competition-- Melissa and Tony, Shawn and Derek, Kelly and Val, Emmitt and Cheryl, and Apolo and Karina. They dance every week like they're dancing for their lives, dancing for the last time, and dancing with enough passion and fire to burn the floor. The two couples that were eliminated perhaps possessed that at one time or another during this competition, especially in the case of Gilles and Peta, but somewhere along the way, the fire went out.

Please come back later in the week when I will recap my favorite performances!

This week the Top 12 (3 members from each team) performed to secure their spot in the Top 10.

So at the end of this week of performances the two eliminated contestants were Michaela Paige from Team Blake who sang Blow Me (One Last Kiss) by Pink! and Adriana Louise from Team Christina who sang Good Girl by Carrie Underwood.

Michaela was a little bit of a surprise to me, I expected her to advance over Melanie Martinez from Team Adam. Michaela to me is a better vocalist with just a little bit more appeal I think.

I wanted to mention some of my favorite performances this week:

Amanda Brown from Team Adam was edgy and when does she not take a vocal risk? She does it every single week, singing something that the audience assumes is totally outside of her comfort zone. Then something happens, she opens her mouth, starts singing, and all of sudden you're not just mesmerized, but convinced that this woman can sing and conquer any song. This week was no exception, her performance of Spectrum by Florence and the Machine was like perfectly executed vocal acrobatics, her vocals absolutely took off and soared in spots.

Bryan Keith from Team Adam absolutely had a moment this week that I just didn't expect him to have. He sang Amy Winehouse's Back to Black like a modern day Sinatra; the crooner style works well for him because he has such a cool sound to his voice. There was a new found rasp in his voice and  there was an ease with the way he phrased things within the song. He's the most consistent person on Adam's Team right now, so I am going back to Bryan.

There's something about eighteen year old Trevin Hunte from Team Cee Lo that I just never tire of. This week it was his effortlessness on the vocal on When a Man Loves a Woman. I loved Adam's comments saying that Trevin's voice is a gift from God and it would be a travesty if he weren't here. Cee Lo was humbled by his voice and called Trevin an angel of some sort. The sound is heavenly and Trevin is always trying to get better, you can evidently see the effort he puts into every performance.

It could have been really cheesy (i.e. Cody Belew and Sylvia Yacoub's performances this week) but Nicholas David's rendition of Power of Love by Huey Lewis and the News was so cool. Nicholas is so unique, but it's not weird, it's so sincere and genuine. This is really who he is.

My final favorite performance is this Top 12 was Terry McDermott's performance of More Than a Feeling by Journey. I've been wondering how is it possible for someone to lead a competition and be a favorite for so long? I've figured out that you just have to be Terry McDermott and have an amazingly authentic rock voice. The judges are so blown away that they have trouble making comments. Cee Lo: damn good! Impressive. Adam: Do you realize how good Terry is? Holy crap, that was so good!  

Dancing with the Stars All Stars Season 15: Week 7

There are no eliminations during Week 7, but there will be a double elimination Week 8.

Week 7 was the week of the Mash-up: two dances fused together.

Apolo and Karina danced a Cha Cha Cha/ Paso Doble fusion-- Len said Apolo really attacked this dance, Apolo Ohno, Apolo oh yes!Bruno said the Cha Cha was clean and the Paso was powerful; triumphant. Carrie Ann liked the hot transition into the Paso, and commented about how he is still pushing himself. I thought he did well and I agree with Carrie Ann, he does seem to push himself more every week.
Scores: 9, 9, 9= 27

Emmitt and Cheryl danced a Rumba/ Samba fusion-- Bruno found it smoothed and balanced, it was difficult but he did it with ease. Carrie Ann said he was lacking in the upper body. Len said he didn't think he could have done that fusion as well as Emmitt did. This was not Emmitt's best dance, but I do think he gave it his best shot, and I'd be surprised if a fan favorite like him went home before the finale.
Scores: 8.5, 9.5, 9.5= 27.5

Kirstie and Maks danced a Quickstep/Samba fusion-- Carrie Ann thought it fell apart when she got to the Samba. Len said she lost her timing but it was an admirable effort. Bruno said it's always great to watch you. That's just it, the entertainment factor is there, but the quality of dance just isn't as high as the rest of the celebrities left in this competition.
Scores: 8, 8, 8= 24

Kelly and Val danced a Foxtrot/ Cha Cha Cha fusion-- Len thought it was lovely. Bruno said the timing and control was good, better than ever. Carrie Ann said that overall it was really beauty and she was impressed with Kelly's ability to combine elegance and sexiness. I loved this dance and I totally believe that they were underscored. Is this sabotage, quite possibly?
Scores: 9, 9, 9= 27

Melissa and Tony danced a Tango/ Cha Cha Cha fusion-- Bruno said you were on fire, the shapes in the tango were fantastic, in your cha cha, you've never been sexier. Carrie Ann said she was a star, and loved the transition. Len said it was beautiful all the way through and well done. He liked how it was a real fusion and went back and forth between dances. I thought Melissa was really exciting and I think based on how she has danced all season, she deserves to be in this finale. Tony deserves it too, his choreography has been phenomenal.
Scores: 10, 9.5, 9.5= 29

Shawn and Mark/ Derek (out with injury) danced a Tango/ Paso Doble fusion-- Carrie Ann said that's exactly what dance fusion should be. It was seamlessly intertwined. Len said I'm voting for you, that was fantastic. Bruno said the fusion was flawless. It was a really fun performance to watch, and I love how Shawn has really matured this season. It just makes everything that much more enjoyable to watch, she looks like she's really having fun.
Scores: 10, 10, 10= 30

Gilles and Pera danced an Argentine Tango/ Samba fusion-- Len thought both dances were well done. Bruno said sultry and intense in the Argentine Tango and exciting and exotic in the Samba. Carrie Ann mentioned the arm thing once again and the audience booed her. She did say it was a fantastic fusion though. I loved Peta's legs in this dance. For some reason though, I started to tune out, I hope Gilles hasn't peaked.
Scores: 9.5, 9.5, 9.5- 28.5

Swing Dance Marathon:
Kirstie and Maks – 4 points
Gilles and Peta – 5 points
Apolo and Karina – 6 Points
Emmitt and Cheryl – 7 points
Shawn and Mark – 8 points
Kelly and Val – 9 points
Melissa and Tony 10 – Champs!

Leaderboard:
Melissa and Tony – 39
Shawn and Mark – 38Kelly and Val – 36Emmitt and Cheryl – 34.5
Gilles and Peta – 33.5
Apolo and Karina – 33
Kirstie and Maks – 28

   

Dancing with the Stars All Stars Season 15: Week 6

For all those who didn't think it could happen twice, myself included, it happened; Sabrina Bryan was voted off Dancing with the Stars on the same week she was voted out in Season 5, and this time around she was the high scorer overall according to the judges' scores.

This is country week:

See www.abc.com/dancingwiththestars for video or M.J.'s Big Blog

Gilles and Peta – Cha Cha Cha – “Man I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain-- I agree with Len, Gilles consistently gives 100% and it's amazing to watch every time. I just cannot keep my eyes off them dancing. Carrie Ann called it classy and sexy, and I so agree.
Scores: 9, 9, 9.5= 27.5

Sabrina and Louis – Rumba – “Wanted” by Hunter Hays-- Bruno mentioned the emotional thread that ran through the dance. Carrie Ann hugged Sabrina and told her she was dancing from her heart, and  Len said it had wonderful choreography. I am still shocked that Sabrina went home.
Scores: 10, 10, 10= 30

Kelly and Val – Tango – “Good Girl” by Carrie Underwood-- Kelly was so good this week, I'm so proud to say that I'm a fan. Carrie Ann and Bruno both made comments about Kelly's great comeback. Len said that it was a bit hectic at times, but she held it together. Bruno said,  "You are back in the game big time. What a come back.”
Scores: 9, 9, 9= 27

Melissa and Tony – Viennese Waltz – “Why You Wanna” by Janna Kramer-- Wow, Melissa's solo is absolutely stunning, best I've seen so far. Len gave Melissa a standing ovation and said she has the how and she has the wow. Bruno said her solo was exquisite, it was weightless, fluid, and lyrical. Carrie Ann felt she wasn't dancing out enough and her dancing was internal. Bruno really argued about this with her. I agree with Bruno, Carrie Ann it totally knit picking. This was gorgeous.
Scores: 9.5, 10, 10= 29.5

Shawn and Derek – Cha Cha Cha – “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” by Kenny Chesney-- I agree with Len, I thought her solo was pretty stuff. My positive comment about Shawn is that I love how she "performs", she smiles, she has great personality and charisma when she dances. Bruno liked the fusion of country and cha cha cha in the dance, and Carrie Ann agreed. Carrie Ann also liked how she articulated her movements. Len liked the choreography and the movement, but not the gimmicks.
Scores: 9.5, 8.5, 10= 28

Kirstie and Maks – Rumba – “Home” by Blake Shelton-- Here's what I am going to say about this, and I am going to skip the judges' comments, I would agree with most people that Kirstie isn't the best dancer, and that she probably should have gone home before Sabrina. What sells her every week though is her connection with Maks and their chemistry.
Scores: 9.5, 8.5, 9.5= 27.5

Apolo and Karina – Viennese Waltz – “Sara Beth” by Rascal Flatts-- Apolo is dancing really well in this number, it's probably his most expressive number since he started on Dancing with the Stars. Bruno proclaims him a leading man and Len says he had great musicality, and he loved it. Carrie Ann says, “That was poetry in motion and it was so nice to see you guys connected that way". Each movement was done with so much intention.
Scores: 10, 10, 10= 30

Emmitt and Cheryl – Fox Trot – “Islands in the Stream” by Dolly Parton and Kenny Chesney-- Well Emmitt's solo was the best part for me. The dance itself seemed a little bit off at points and it didn't have the polish that it usually does coming from Cherly and Emmitt. Len said it lacked finesse but was very entertaining.
Scores: 8.5, 8.5, 9.5= 26.5

Dancing with the Stars All Stars Season 15 Week 5

I sure do hope that everyone voted for their favorite All Star via facebook, phone, abc.com, or text. I know one of my favorites is in a bit of trouble; Kelly Monaco finished with the lowest score, despite another amazing effort.

This was a weird week to say the least; guilty pleasures week always is. Here are some of the highlights. 

Val and Kelly danced the Samba--
Len criticized the long winded start and felt it was a little too raunchy. Bruno said the Samba bounce wasn't good, but the spins were and everything was finished nicely. Carrie Ann felt uncertainty from Kelly, and thought it was a good try but not her best. I think Kelly was probably scored right, but then that means that a lot of other couples were over-scored.
Scores: 8, 8, 8.5= 24.5

Gilles and Peta danced the Rumba--
Bruno said it was masterclass theater, he maintained musicality without music, and one of the best performances I've seen. Carrie Ann said let the baby making begin and then she fell out of her chair. Len said it was a blockbuster; it had everything. It was a great performance, and I would most agree with Len's score. He challenges the All Stars and the dancers.
Scores: 10, 9.5, 10= 29.5

Kirstie and Maks danced the Quickstep--
Kirstie looked beautiful and seemed to be moving better. I think she deserves to be here, but how much longer? Carrie Ann thought it was her best dance and it was elegant. Len believed Kirstie was dancing to the maximum and Bruno thought she delivered.
Scores: 8.5, 8.5, 8.5= 26.5

Emmitt and Cheryl danced the Samba--
Wow, that was amazing! I was entertained and I did not want it to end when it did. Clearly these types of rhythmic dances are his strength. Len said it was an unstoppable performance. Bruno felt like his Samba was like the best party in the country. Carrie Ann admitted that no one Samba's like Emmitt and that he had the Samba swagger.
Scores: 9.5, 9.5, 10= 29

Melissa and Tony danced the Tango--
I love Melissa and she is honestly one of my faves this season, but this was a little bit too bland, especially with this dance and this music. It just needed to be sharper; that's what was missing. Len said she performed excellently, Len did want her to snap a little bit more. Bruno thought it was intoxicating. Both Carrie Ann and Bruno talked about how her gritty character came to life.
Scores: 9, 9, 9= 27

Shawn and Derek danced the Rumba--
This dance was breathtakingly beautiful. Shawn looked gorgeous, she expressed emotion; they glided across the floor. I do understand why Len gave it an 8, because of the contemporary flairs to it. Bruno thought it was touching, romantic. Carrie Ann liked her maturity, passion, and vulnerability. She also said she saw a lift and that wasn't allowed. Len said there was no hip action, he loved the number, but it wasn't a Rumba.
Scores: 9, 8, 10= 27

Apolo and Karina danced the Samba--
The cool thing that I loved about this dance was that it was a Samba with tons of disco style. It was fun, interesting, and I was watching both of them  throughout the whole dance. Carrie Ann thought his legwork was fantastic, but she doesn't feel like Apolo has broken through yet, and urged him to vote on his chemistry. Len thought it was terrific, and said he saw rhythm and clear, sharp, precise movements. Bruno said he found Apolo and the dance terribly sexy and that they did a good job.   
Scores: 8.5, 9.5, 9= 27

Sabrina and Louis danced the Waltz--
Len loved the story and the flow; he found it charming. Bruno said it was like a ride into a magical kingdom. Carrie Ann said she didn't completely capture the vulnerability, but it was light and elegant. I must agree with each judge; this was actually just beautiful and graceful. Sabrina had a lightness to her that was unmatched this week.

With the group dance added in:

Sabrina and Louis – 58.5
Shawn and Derek – 56.5
Melissa and Tony – 56.5
Gilles and Peta – 56.5
Apolo and Karina – 56.5
Emmitt and Cheryl – 56
Kirstie and Maks – 53.5
Kelly and Val – 51.5

The group dances were odd; I am bypassing talking about them..... look them up on M.J.'s Big Blog if you're interested.

Dancing with the Stars All Stars Season 15 Week 4

This was the week where the contestants chose the dances for each other. It was a week where the first tens were handed out, and couples who usually come out at the bottom achieved personal bests. It's also the week where Bristol Palin was voted off, to the delight of those who don't really understand what the show is all about. Maybe the real reason they wanted her voted off is because they don't like her mother's politics or they don't like her personal choices. Like it or not, Bristol embodies what the show is about; it takes well known personalities who know nothing about dance and gives them the opportunity to be taught by professional dancers, and show their progress. She progressed every week. Should she have won? No, but she possesses exactly the right attitude and spirit, and therefore, why wouldn't we wish her the best?

Paula Abdul sat in as a guest judge on this night, and there were times where I asked myself whether or not the judges would stop copying each other on the scores.

Kirstie and Maks danced the Charleston-- It was fun, and it certainly did play to Kirstie's strengths. My critique is that the footwork was messy at points, and had the cleaned that up her scores would have been higher.
Scores: 7.5, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5= 30 out of 40 (scores are in this order Carrie Ann, Len, Paula, Bruno)

Bristol and Mark danced Rock and Roll-- For all the haters out there, this was Bristol's best dance ever. It had lots of energy, she actually did hit the steps, and the judges believed it. Len said the only failure would be a failure to try. Carrie Ann high fived her and talked about how much she has blossomed.
Scores: 8, 8, 8, 8= 32 out of 40

Sabrina and Louis danced Disco-- This was different for Sabrina, it was quick, full of precision, and I loved the energy. Len loved it. Carrie Ann noticed the mistake but agreed that Sabrina showed something very different. She and Bruno argued about whether or not she lost time at some point. Paula said that Louis definitely choreographed to Sabrina's strengths.
Scores: 9, 9, 8.5, 9= 35.5

Emmitt and Cheryl danced the Bolero-- This was simple but so beautiful; wow, I have no idea what Bolero is but they both looked graceful and elegant. My favorite part was when Bruno said, “The mood was steamier that August in Louisiana. You just got it, man.”
Scores: 9, 9, 9, 9= 36

Giles and Peta danced  Bollywood-- I think this was the most challenging dance of the night, but that being said, I also think it was over-scored a little bit. M.J. said it best on M.J.'s Big Blog, the novelty of the dance contributed to the score. All the judges agreed that it was beyond belief fantastic; they talked about the level of commitment to the dance etc.
Scores: 10, 9.5, 10, 10= 39.5

Melissa and Tony danced the Jitterbug-- One of my favorite couples this season and thus far on DWTS, Melissa and Tony are a match made in heaven. Paula said it best when she said, they go together like hand in glove. The footwork was impeccable she said. Carrie Ann commented on Tony's exceptional choreography and I must agree with that. So often, we pay attention to the celebrity, we need to start paying attention to these wonderful pros also. Len praised the fact that they took risks with ambitious jumps and failed on one, and mentioned that every single dance Melissa dances is "clean and correct".
Scores: 9, 9, 9.5, 9.5= 37

Shawn and Derek danced the Mambo-- Great performance! Mambo being a Cuban street dance, this dance was really down, and Shawn did a great job of moving her hips similar to the way you do in Salsa. Carrie Ann loved their synchronization and Len thought it was brilliant. Paula said that Shawn has really blossomed into a sexy young lady and that she had looked forward to seeing this dance.
Scores: 10, 9.5, 10, 10= 39.5

Apolo and Karina danced Hip Hop-- I felt bad for Karina because she thought she had failed Apolo. For some reason, I feel like the choreography could have been better, dirtier, more challenging. Apolo is a good dancer and she shouldn't have been afraid to give him harder material. Despite the fact that the judges all thought they did great and didn't make any mistakes they ended up with 8s.
Scores: 8.5, 9, 8.5, 8.5= 37.5

Kelly and Val danced Contemporary-- Their dance had it all, poise, grace, passion, beauty, and emotion. Kelly seemed exhausted by the end of it, but I could tell she poured everything into it that she had. Even more amazing was the fact that Kelly was sick at the time and had a broken toe! Len said that Kelly is biggest revelation this season. Bruno said, “Your task was the hardest tonight. You did it beautifully. I believed every moment.” Carrie Ann said that Kelly laid her heart out there.
Scores: 9, 9.5, 9.5, 9.5= 37.5 

Dancing with the Stars All Stars Season 15 Week 3: Iconic Dances

My predictions for the bottom three are Kirstie and Maks, Drew and Anna, and Bristol and Mark

Week three was Iconic Dance Week meaning that the celebrities could pick any dance from a past season and recreate it.  The celebrities were also the creative directors of these routines which I thought could be a disaster, but they all did surprisingly good jobs.

Why does Drew Lachey keep having to go first? I smell sabotage; going first on these shows is almost never a good thing.

Drew and Anna danced Joey McIntyre and Ashley Del Grosso's Cha Cha Cha from Season 1-- Len said he got the balance of precision and rhythm right for the dance. Bruno and Carrie Ann liked his creative direction and thought that he brought out the sexy Anna. I love Drew but I haven't seen the fire from him that he brought in Season 2, and I think he's in real trouble this week.
Score: 8, 8, 8 = 24

Gilles and Peta danced Erin and Maks' Tango from Season 10-- Bruno called the dance strong, dominant, erotic, and powerful, but also mentioned that he lost his footing a few times. Carrie Ann loved the dramatic nuances, but thought he should work on his control. Len said that overall it was good but at times there was so much energy that it fell off. I most identify with Carrie Ann's comments; I think Gilles' acting abilities worked well with this dance.
Score: 8.5, 8.5, 8.5 = 25.5

Melissa and Tony danced J.R. and Karina's Samba from Season 13-- Carrie Ann said the Samba was stellar. Len compared it to cola: fizzy, refreshing, and satisfying. Bruno loved the imaginative choreography, each move more difficult than the next. He felt she performed like a star. I have to say that I am so impressed with Melissa; I did not think she would be as committed to winning as she is. I'm becoming a real fan.
Score: 9, 9, 9 = 27

Apolo and Karina danced Gilles and Cheryl's Foxtrot from Season 8-- Len felt that there was great fluidity and musicality, but that Apolo needed to clean up the feet a little. Bruno urged him to extend his lines but thought he did an exquisite job. Carrie Ann loved the creative direction and felt this dance would be memorable. She loved how he led. This dance for me had a huge amount of sex appeal and I am in agreement with the fluidity, they just moved so well across the dance floor.
Score: 9, 8, 8.5 = 25.5

Kelly and Val danced Laila and Maks' Paso Doble from Season 4-- This was my personal favorite dance of the week. I loved the attack and the precision; Kelly has real passion. Bruno said her performance was defining and had beauty and power; he was tingling with pleasure. Carrie Ann called Kelly and Val the couple to watch. Len questioned where that came from and where Kelly has been; he said her arms were as expressive as her face.
Score: 9, 9, 9 = 27

Kirstie and Maks danced Carson and Anna's Cha Cha Cha from Season 13-- This dance was pure fun from start to finish; I loved the creative direction she took with it. Carrie Ann thought it was both fun and her best dance of the season. Len said it was the whole package, and that he wished the celebrities were the creative directors every week. Bruno said Marks looked like an extra from Boogie Nights.
Score: 8, 8, 8 = 24

Sabrina and Louis danced Mel B. and Maks' Paso Doble from Season 5-- I have to agree with Carrie Ann; I found this dance weak, and I didn't think Sabrina took as much creative license as she could have and should have. Bruno thought that the dance had lots of firepower, and Len liked the twists and turns.
Score: 8.5, 8.5, 8.5 = 25.5

Emmitt and Cheryl danced Mario and Karina's Paso Doble from Season 3-- Carrie Ann thought Emmitt's posture was awesome and that he was like a human torpedo with his stunts. Len liked it, but felt it lacked finesse. This was an improvement over last week, but another champion could be eliminated if Emmitt doesn't step it up.
Score: 8.5, 8, 8.5 = 25

Helio and Chelsie danced Apolo and Julianne's Quickstep from Season 4-- Carrie Ann called Helio the Quickstep King, and I agree he just possesses so much exuberance for this particular dance. Len said it was so good, and he deserves to be back next week, it was just top notch. Bruno felt bad that Helio got caught up in Chelsie's dress.
Score: 8.5, 8.5, 8.5 = 25.5

Bristol and Mark danced Joanna and Derek's Paso Doble from Season 9-- This was a personal best for Bristol and I enjoy her new found confidence; however, I don't know if it competes with the top contestants in this competition. Carrie Ann felt she was a worthy competitor, Len said she had attack, and Bruno loved her lines.
Score: 7.5, 7.5, 7.5 = 22.5

Shawn and Derek danced Helio and Julianne's Quickstep from Season 5-- I think Bruno calling this one of the best performances in all 15 seasons was going a bit overboard especially considering he didn't even give it a 10. Carrie Ann and Len both commented on how much they liked it, but could not deny the fact that it broke the rules and therefore they needed to be penalized points wise.
Scores: 9, 8, 9.5 = 26.5

Anna and Drew and Helio and Chelsie were eliminated-- this doesn't seem quite right, but what do you think? Feel free to share your comments.

Week three dance videos

Dancing with the Stars All Stars Season 15 Week 2

Week two for me was difficult to watch. There was no dance that was particularly great, well, maybe Gilles and Peta's Jive. What I will say is that I don't quite understand what the judges are looking for. The scores were odd, it seemed like everyone was 7.5.

Twelve couples danced and I am going to separate them into thirds based on who I felt was best.

Top third

Gilles and Peta danced a Jive-- Even injured, Gilles knows how to pull off a performance. Len said Gilles' Jive had attack, dynamic, and that it was fast and fabulous. Carrie Ann thought he had the best kicks of the night. Bruno commented, "let the good times roll".
Score: 8.5, 8.5, 8.5 = 25.5

Melissa and Tony danced a Jive-- Although they danced first, their score and the quality of their dance held up. It was beautiful. Len felt Melissa set the bar high, and that she had good energy, and the dance was full of technique. Bruno said it was one of the best Jives he's seen, but said there were a few missteps. Carrie Ann said she was made to Jive and told Tony his choreography was great.
Score: 8, 8, 7.5 = 23.5

Apolo and Karina danced a Quickstep-- The best Quickstep of the night and Apolo had the best footwork of the night. His feet were so tight and so precise, as Len said, he was gold medal worthy and had speed and control. Bruno thought his determination, focus, and hard work paid off; he also commented about his amazing footwork. Carrie Ann said he put his competition pants on.
Score: 8.5, 8, 8 = 24.5

tie:

Sabrina and Louie danced a Jive-- I thought this was a bit over-scored in comparison to the other couples in this top third. She did have fantastic lines as Carrie Ann mentioned. Bruno said the variations were incredible. This is the highest scoring dance so far.
Score: 9, 8.5, 8.5 = 26

and

Shawn and Derek danced a Jive-- Len said there was just enough Jive, content, and technique. Bruno called it exhilarating, eye popping, and lots of synchronicity. Carrie Ann agreed with Bruno and dubbed them "All Star" sweethearts. I personally loved the quickness of this, and loved that Shawn took risks and went out there and did something daring.
Score: 8.5, 8, 8.5 = 25

Middle third
 
Helio and Chelsie danced a Jive-- This was an improvement over last week; however, there were still some parts where he and Chelsie weren't in sync. Len said he provided style, joy, fun, and entertainment.
Score: 8, 7.5, 7.5 = 23

Kelly and Val danced a Quickstep-- Bruno thought it was extremely elegant and very pretty. Carrie Ann urged Kelly to extend all the way through her lines because she is so small; she needs to be sure to dance big. Len liked when she was out of hold as well as her spins , and called it a good job well done. She was a little bit underscored.
Score: 7.5, 7.5, 7.5 = 22 

Joey and Kym danced a Quickstep-- It was a fantastic performance Carrie Ann said, but it went out of sync in some areas. Len enjoyed the dance despite his bad posture and sloppy footwork. You do entertainment, Bruno exclaimed, you're fun, big, and bold. I agree with Bruno, Joey can dance, but he needs to stop making the little mistakes. I am going to say it again though, he was underscored.
Score: 7.5, 7.5, 7.5 = 22.5

Bottom third

Emmitt and Cheryl danced a Quickstep-- This was a disappointment from last week. The reason being, and Len said it, the technicalities lacked, but the style didn't. So the danced looked good, but it wasn't executed correctly. Bruno though his chemistry with Cheryl was red hot. Carrie Ann said the race car driver and the speed skater were better than him tonight.
Score: 7.5, 7.5, 7.5 = 22.5

Drew and Anna danced a Jive-- It was powerful like Bruno said, but I feel like the old Drew isn't quite back yet. Len warned him to walk on the balls of his feet, and  and felt that he was wouldn't be in the bottom two.
Score: 7.5, 7.5, 7.5 = 22.5

Kirstie and Maks danced a Quickstep-- There was indeed a big improvement from last week. Bruno felt it was played beautifully, and Len found it to be neat, precise, and chock full of jive.
Score: 7, 7, 7 = 21

Bristol and Mark danced a Quickstep-- Bristol has so much more confidence than she had last time she was on the show. Bruno said it was different, but the frame was not good. She needs to work full force on technique.

Score: 6, 6, 6 = 18


My bottom three: Bristol and Mark, Kirstie and Maks, and Drew and Anna

Dancing with the Stars All Stars Season 15 Week 1: It really is full of stars

One of the most exciting nights of this new fall TV season will without a doubt be the Season 15 premiere of Dancing with the Stars: All Stars Edition. I watched with great expectations, and I was not disappointed. You see read my Fall TV Preview if you want facts about the couples (i.e. what season they were on, if the all star is paired with a new pro or the same pro, etc.). New this season, the introduction of the half point; I personally don't like this idea, it just means that the judges can be more indecisive and less sure of their score.

Scores are in this order: Carrie Ann, Len, Bruno

Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson started off the night with a Cha Cha Cha
I loved Joey's eagerness and how much fun he had. Len said their was a lot of energy and a high performance level. Carrie Ann loved Joey's showmanship, and yet it didn't translate in the score. I understand that he danced first, but I do believe he was under-scored.
Scores: 6.5, 7, 7 = 20.5 out of 30

Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough danced the Foxtrot
Shawn's maturity level shows, and she has a new found poise when she danced, but it did lack style as the judges mentioned. Bruno said it was like two dances for the price of one. Stylistically it had to be more defined. Carrie Ann said it was the whole package.
Scores: 8, 6.5, 7.5 = 22 out of 30

Sabrina Bryan and Louis Van Amstel danced the Cha Cha Cha
I am so happy that Sabrina won the fan's vote because this young lady deserves to be here; she danced her butt off. Carrie Ann called her incredible but warned her not to over-dance. Len said it was clean and precise. I don't get how Shawn got an 8 and Sabrina got all 7.5's.
Scores: 7.5, 7.5, 7.5 = 22.5 out of 30

Helio Castroneves and Chelsie Hightower danced the Foxtrot
This performance had a really smooth flow to it; it was just joyous to watch. Len told Helio he took pride in what he did and it was a joy to watch, hence them dancing to "Pride and Joy". Carrie Ann and Bruno both talked about his charisma and charm.
Scores: 7, 7.5, 7 = 21.5 out of 30

Pamela Anderson ans Tristan McManus danced the Cha Cha Cha
She basically didn't do much moving for the performance, it actually looked like she walked around on stage a lot; this was not good. Bruno said there was not enough work in the performance to praise her. Carrie Ann said, we love watching you, but you need to watch and learn the techniques. Len felt like she just got through it.
Scores: 5.5, 5.5, 6 = 17 out of 30

Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani danced the Foxtrot
I was actually impressed with Melissa, I don't remember her being this good, and she was very dedicated in her rehearsals. Carrie Ann said gorgeous lines but there needs to be more body contact. Len said it was a bit too theatrical, but beautiful lines and extension. Bruno said the frame needed to be stronger, but it was excellent overall.
Scores: 7, 7, 7 = 21 out of 30

Apolo Ohno and Karina Smirnoff danced the Cha Cha Cha
Apolo is another contestant that really matured and it made his dancing and performance better all around. Len said it was a bronze medal performance and needed more hip action, but you sold it. Bruno said, great foot placement. Carrie Ann said Apolo was 3000 times more sexy and he had great hip action and legwork.
Scores: 7.5, 7, 7.5 = 22 out of 30

Gilles Marini and Peta Murgatroyd danced the Foxtrot
Always a dream to watch, Gilles is not only easy on the eyes but talented. Bruno said it was so good, can I see it again? Carrie Ann said I missed you Gilles, that was poetic and gorgeous. Len said it was terrific and the scores translated.
Scores: 8, 8, 8 = 24 out of 30

Bristol Pain and Mark Ballas danced the Cha Cha Cha
She did come out of her shell, and there was more confidence displayed for sure, but this was weak in comparison to the other all stars. Carrie Ann said you're the most improved, but you need more pop. Len said you had more confidence, great legs, but you need to be more fluid on the arms.
Scores: 6.5, 6.5, 6.5 = 19.5 out of 30

Drew Lachey and Anna Trebunskaya danced the Foxtrot
Drew was someone I expected to come out and just nail it, and he didn't exactly. There were some sloppy spots; he's a little rusty, so I think he should still be here, but needs work. Len said it was too hard and hectic. Bruno called it dynamic and full of energy, but said that sometimes Drew stiffened up. Carrie Ann said fabulous, but at times it was rigid. This shouldn't have been a higher score than Joey Fatone.
Scores: 7, 7, 7.5 = 21.5 out of 30

Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerkovskiy danced the Cha Cha Cha
She never danced the Cha Cha Cha before! What? She was awesome! Bruno said hotter than ever, a stunner, well done. Carrie Ann thought that Kelly and Val had insane chemistry, and threw in, Apolo's not the only one who got sexier. Len said you weren't this good in Season 1, the beat was terrific, I loved it, well done.
Scores: 7, 7, 7.5 = 21.5 out of 30

Kirstie Alley and Maxsim Chmerkovskiy danced the Foxtrot
I could tell that Kirstie kind of did this half way, her heart wasn't completely in it. Carrie Ann loved Kirstie's sensuality, but said that she didn't turn that all the way for this performance. Len told her to lift her ribcage and that it needed refining.
Scores: 6.5, 6, 6.5 = 19 out of 30

And Finally,

Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke danced the Cha Cha Cha
This was so good, it was like Emmitt and Cheryl have been dancing together forever and didn't even miss a beat. Len said, you can't teach flair, and called it the best of the night. Carrie Ann screamed, "Yabba dabba do! Twinkle toes is back".
Scores: 8, 8.5, 8 = 24.5 out of 30

Who should go home: Pamela Anderson