Double the MAC, Double the FUN.

Unless, of course, you’re Lance and Keri. Ha. Sorry. They actually did handle their horrible, disqualifying Leg of Doom far better than I ever expected them to, with even a modicum of humor (well, Lance style. Kicking over the snowman? For the love of snow, Lance…we get it. You have big guns. What are you compensating for, anyway?)

So, after sending home the most lovable team, this week, the least enjoyable team exits and in a flameout of glory. And I can live with that, Amazing Race. I can live.

It was a very dynamic leg, with treks across the desert (didn’t that look brutal?) followed immediately by digging in snow inside a winter wonderland. (How bizarre, yet awesome, was that place, anyway?) I even enjoyed half of Team Poker for a change. At least one of them has a sense of humor.

All in all, a very enjoyable leg…and we’re guaranteed a nicer future without Team Scream. Phil, my love is back.

Then, over on Dancing With the Stars…what was the crowd ON last night, anyway? Wow. But it was paso/Argentine tango night (which, YAY, do that every season…preferably with stars we really love next time!!) My two favorite dances in one night…paired with a group dance of…The Hustle? Wow, talk about buzz kill. But I will live, because it’s paso, it’s tango! Bring it!

Alec can totally bring the paso, but Natalie? Not so much. I don’t know that she’s long for this competition now that we’re culling the dross. Aaron will stay because, much as I’m not a fan of the kid, you gotta admit he did a really great job with his tango. Of course, it doesn’t hurt having Karina on your arm…and your back….and humping your leg…in this particular dance. But credit where it’s due, after the total thrashing he took last week, he did really step it up.

Irvin and the Other Anna were next with the paso. I really expected Michael to finally earn some love. I mean, I think he’s just getting trashed by the pro he has, whose choreo skillz are not madd. At all. Badd. Maybe. As in baaaaaaaaaad. So I was hopeful. And the brunette makeover with Anna wasn’t a bad idea. Plus Mike, yowza with the muscles, dude. About time we got the powah. And then? They give them FREAKING circus music!?!? What the hell was up with that? So her already lame choreo looks even more lame? I mean, do they hate him so much? Thank you crowd for at least making an effort to support. I can’t even tell how bad it was, because I was cringing so much the entire time. And then the judges? They praise. I officially give up. A nickel for your thoughts? (And what a gentleman he is in the face of inane Samantha Flintstone.)

Mya and Dmitry had Argentine Tango, which was good as that is an even tougher dance for the female partner and she was one of the few stars this season who had an even remote chance of pulling it off. For the level of difficulty, I thought she did really well. Judges agreed. Amazing. Lacey/Mark get paso, and I think it should be a good match for them. Mebbe not so much in rehearsal, but on stage (with good music, btw) they did really well. Lacey’s costume was a little too over the top, and way too red, in that it distracted more than it helped, but overall, I think Mark did a great job. Judges agree - again! I’m verklempt. (Anna? THAT is choreo. Take notes.)

So, DonnyKym get tango and HA! Kym: “Do you understand the passion of tango?” Donny: “I have five kids.” So, we’re off to a good start. Now Kym’s costume? Yowza. And wow, you two. Rockin the tango. Anna? THAT? Also great choreo. More notes. Louie and Chelsie get the tango, too. Wonder how The Adorables are going to do with such a serious, passionate dance. So, props to Louie for doing the best he could and he definitely got into the character of the dance. Very fortunate he had Chelsie, her choreo (and good tango music, Band) to help him along the way. She used his upper body strength and her very long legs to their advantage, and though he’s still very limited in his range of motion, it was much better than last week.

Sick Mark and Melissa muscle through their tango rehearsal, and I love how Anna T (Good Anna!) helped out with rehearsals. I think she helped Melissa get in touch with her side of the performance better than her male partner could. (How come there are so many tangos and not as many paso’s? I just realized that… Not that I’m complaining…but I am crossing fingers that if Maks has to sub for Derek, we get a Maks Paso. Please, show?) Back to Mark/Melissa. I think giving her something as intricate and hard as the Argentine tango was really unfortunate for her. She’d have done much better with the broader movements of the paso. Dangit. She tried hard, so props for that. But Mya she’s not. And this is a Mya level dance. (Why didn’t they get paso?)

Kelly/Louie get paso. (Yay!) They’d better get paso music! Every Argentine dance got it, but only one paso so far with good tunes. (American Woman? And Circus Music?) Okay, so cool. They get an Ozzy song. I’m very okay with that. Because Ozzy? IS paso music, baby. Love the skull on the floor. This thing rocked from the opening All Aboard. Was she the best? No. Not by a long shot. Did I love it? You betcha. And Ozzy was there to see her, so that was awesomeness, too. Awww.

Yay! Maks/Joanna are next. They make a pretty hot couple, actually. But it’s tango. Dangit. Except, Maks and tango = hotness as well. So win win, really. And that? Was HOT baby, with a capital HAWT. Dang. Sorry, Derek, but Joanna just danced, with a MAN, baby. Yeah, yeah, stumble, yadda. Don’t even care. Loved it.

Group Hustle is next. Hmm. Mostly it was just hilariously cute to see Donny Flashback. And the clip package was fun, too. Smiles all around. Mark’s Asian Disco look was cute. Alec’s caveman disco look, not so much! Dmitry was almost unrecognizable. All in all, I don’t know that it helped anyone’s scores…but it was fun.

Next week we double eliminations and tonight we get a Michael Jackson tribute. Good times!

Also a Good Time? Free Stuff Friday! Send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “Free? As in FREE?” in the subject line. I’ll draw one name from the stack and announce it right here on Friday.

Tags: Writing //