Cut and Dance
In the first elimination show, each of the thirteen couples would have to sweat it out as Tom and Samantha slowly revealed who was safe. The couple that was declared safe would then perform their second dance. So it would go for the entire two hours until one couple was finally eliminated.
Weird Analogies
Lance Bass, with partner Lacey Schwimmer, was declared safe first. For their second dance, they performed a Quickstep. Lance noted that “Lacey’s teaching technique is unique. . .she speaks my language, like she’s talking to a kindergartener.” Lacey conceded that she tends to use weird analogies to make her point, like comparing a dance stance to that of a “peeing dog.” Lance’s dancing was pretty good, although his footwork was a little sloppy. Carrie Ann said he had “great energy” and that the dance was “creatively strong.” Bruno thought that they had an “incredible quality [which was their] fresh take on the dances.” Len thought that while Lance “moved well around the dance floor, [his] posture [Len] didn’t like [and his] holds [Len] didn’t like.” In sum, it “wasn’t [Len’s] cup of tea.” Len gave Lance a 6, Carrie Ann a 7, and Bruno an 8 for a total of 21.
Shaking What Your Mama Gave Ya
Misty May-Treanor and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, were the next to be declared safe. They performed the Mambo, and Maks noted that he needed to help Misty work on her hip action. Misty said that learning something new could be “the most uncomfortable feeling ever” but that she was ready to “shake what my mom gave me.” Her mambo was nice, and she was certainly working her hips, but her arm positioning was very awkward at times. Carrie Ann said the dance was “strong and sharp” and she “loved [Misty’s] courage.” Overall, the dance was “fierce.” Bruno appreciated “all her power” but he advised her to “ease [her] shoulders [and] extend [her] arms.” Len was “so surprised” by the performance and noted that her “hips were working well.” Misty received 7’s from all the judges for a total of 21.
Freeing Willy
Maurice Greene and his partner Cheryl Burke were the next to perform, and their dance was the Mambo. Maurice noted that the mambo “was much more his style.” He wanted to add some rather unconventional moves, but Cheryl said that they “need to follow the rules.” In the end, they compromised because their mambo was rather funky, and Maurice threw in the worm move near the end. Carrie Ann noted that the “transitions in and out of hold were good.” Bruno said it was “dynamic, energetic [but] it strayed a bit from the mambo.” Len said it was good overall, but chided Maurice on the worm, calling it “the free Willy move,” and saying he didn’t want to “see that nonsense.” Maurice also got 7’s from all the judges for a total of 21.
Baby Makes Three
Brooke Burke and her partner, Derek Hough, were the next to be declared safe. Their second dance was the Quickstep, and in rehearsals, Brooke was having trouble with positioning her chest in the hold. At one point, Derek had to tell her not to press her breasts into him, which as Samantha later noted, was not something many men would say to Brooke. To rectify the situation, Derek suggested Brooke carry her baby (in a snuggly carrier) across her chest while dancing. Oddly, it worked, and her son seemed to enjoy it too, falling fast asleep as Brooke danced around. Her quickstep was nice and elegant. Carrie Ann said it was “nothing but beauty, strength and grace.” Bruno said Brooke was “setting the standard” for the dancing and that her performance was “pure Hollywood.” Len said that he didn’t like to repeat himself, but like her performance on Monday, it was “the best dance so far.” Carrie Ann and Bruno gave Brooke 9’s, while Len gave her an 8 for a total of 26.
Older Than The Mambo
Audience favorite, Cloris Leachman and her partner, Corky Ballas, performed a Mambo. Corky told Cloris that the mambo originated in Cuba in the 1940’s, causing Cloris to say that learning that she was “older than the mambo was like a strike to the heart.” Their dance was entertaining and cute, but there wasn’t much dancing. Cloris joked at the end that she had “bribed the judges so we don’t have to waste time [on the comments.]” The judges went easy on Cloris, with Carrie Ann noting that “this golden girl can shimmy” and she gave Cloris “points for entertaining.” Bruno said he has “never seen a mambo like that [before].” And Len said that Cloris “can shake [her coconuts].” We’re not sure what that means and we’re pretty sure we don’t want to find out. Bruno and Len gave Cloris 5’s, while Carrie Ann gave her a 6 for a total of 16.
