- The contestants compete in the jitterbug and waltz in the first double-elimination week of the season. They also face off in a marathon-style mambo competition, and preview the following night's dance-off.
- Going into tomorrow night's double elimination...
As they rehearse, Lacey reminds Mark to try smiling while he dances. She gives him goofy clothes and they go to a Jitterbug club and meet some Jitterbug dorks on their tour to 1930.
Mark & Lacey -- Lacey's dressed like a cigarette sales girl as they shimmy and shake to "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Mark even throws in a handspring, 'cause he's jaunty like that. And, yow, man splits. The dance ends with him in a heap on the floor. Tom proclaims it best of the night so far. Carrie Ann says she "loved it" but is bummed Mark stumbled at the end. Len call it "full on" and "full of energy." Bruno says "truly spectacular" but knocks him for losing the timing at the end.
Carrie Ann: 9; Len: 9; Bruno: 8. Total: 26
Aaron & Karina, the waltz
He comes to the studio in a suit and brings her red roses to show he's committed to the dance. He wears a suit for the dance, too (velvet jacket).The super tall white collar makes him look like an ostrich. They dance to "One, Twice, Three Times a Lady" (not the Buckwheat version). Len says Aaron had lovely posture and his frame was good and it was their best dance and he's proud of them. Bruno says "the boy has become a gentleman." Bruno notices Aaron lost his footing a couple times, but it was good. Carrie Ann calls it "beautiful" but also notices the bad footing.
Carrie Ann: 8; Len: 9; Bruno: 8. Total: 25
Michael & Anna, the waltz
Michael thanks his fans on his ESPN radio show. Anna thinks Michael's really stressed about the double elimination. He compares it to playoff time in the NFL. Bruno says it wasn't a "premiere league" waltz, saying his posture wasn't good enough. Carrie Ann calls it "charming" but "ok." Len says the other two got it totally wrong, it was "gentle" and he had "the best footwork of any waltz we've seen tonight."
Carrie Ann: 6; Len: 8; Bruno: 6. Total: 20
Kelly & Louis doing the Jitterbug. Louis tells Kelly to stop second-guessing herself. So he takes her to do some trapeze work (over a safety net). She tells Louis he can "take his own f---- leap of faith, I don't want to do this." But she swings and drops. Dancing she looks nervous but like she's really enjoying herself. She doesn't show any signs her ankle is bothering her, either. When they're done Tom leans in and tells her "it's so fun watching you have fun."
Carrie Ann calls her on stumbling and thinking too much and tells her to "stay in the happy place." Len says it was "flat footed" and lacked "freedom" like a "blueberry muffin without any blueberries." Bruno calls it cute and nice but tells her she needs to "ignite the performer." Bruno calls it "beige."
Carrie Ann: 7, Len: 6; Bruno: 7. Total: 20
Louie & Chelsea doing the Jitterbug. Chelsea tries to find moves from Louie's snowboarding that he can apply to dancing. Louie plays the nerd, starting out in suspenders and busted big black frames. But he flips Chelsea onto her bum at one point. Then jumps on the judges' table and rips off his sleeves before finishing the dance with a dip and a smooch.
Len says "parts of that were fantastic" but unfortunately there are some bad bits. Bruno commends his energy but says he loses precision. Carrie Ann says she "loved this dance," but notes he dropped his partner twice.
Louie tells Samantha he's surprised he's still there, but he thanks his fans.
Carrie Ann: 7; Len: 7; Bruno: 7. Total: 21. (Samantha: "That's actually pretty good!")
Joanna & Derek doing the waltz. Derek says she's struggling with maintaining a strong frame while dancing. Tom calls it "our 'get a room dance' of the season." Bruno says she looked like a "butterfly gently gliding over an Alpine meadow." And Carrie Ann says she had hesitation. Len says her "footwork wasn't too brilliant" but she had good hold and posture for the best waltz of the night.
Carrie Ann: 8; Len: 9; Bruno: 9. Total: 26.
Donny & Kym doing the Jitterbug. In rehearsal Old Man Osmond is starting to show his age, creaking and getting wiped out. They pause rehearsals and do some charity dance work with the Down Syndrome Association of L.A., where Donny gets schooled in the splits. After a train-themed dance with suspenders and conductor hats to "Choo Choo Ch'boogie", Carrie Ann says they certainly know how to work a room, but notes an early stumble and moments of being out of sync. Len commends him for performing "full on." Bruno says at times it was like watching a "steam engine trying to keep up with a bullet train."
Carrie Ann: 8; Len: 8; Bruno: 8. Total: 24
The first-ever dance marathon of competition mambo is coming up next. They dance 'til they're tapped out. The first person out gets 2 points, the last gets 10, with one point for each spot in between. The points will be added to their points from round 1. They'll be dancing for a scheduled four minutes (which actually runs to four and a half).
Michael practices with inflatable props representing the other competitors, and knocks them down occasionally. Aaron Carter plans to bring a "sexy character" to the dance. Kym plans a full four-minute routine for Donny. Kelly and Louie plan to free-style.
The nine couples begin the mambo. Tom announces he'll be using his "golf announcer voice" to keep us updated on their progress.
The judges confer and Michael & Anna are the first out. Next go Louie & Chelsea (3 pts). Then Melissa & Mark (4 pts). Kelly & Louis are next (right after Derek held Joanna by the next and pumped her up and down under his crotch, prompting Tom to say "I'm not sure what that was.") Mark & Lacey are out next. Donny & Kym follow, then Aaron & Karina. Two couples remain.
Mya & Dmitry come in second with 9 points, and Joanna & Derek get the 10 points as he does the neck pumping move again (this time much less provocatively on his leg and not between them).
The judges absolutely loved the competition. Carrie Ann says it was close at the end, but they won for spirit and determination.
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