LIVE! It’s Dancing With The Stars!

Tonight each couple tackles two dances - one chosen by the judges, and one freestyle (woot!)

First up is Laila & Maks.

The judges chose the paso doble for them - a dance they got three 7’s in the first time around. So, yeah, Maks looked awesome. And the energy and music was great. Laila looked lovely but was just sort of out there. I mean, she did a nice job, and kept in with it, but she doesn’t have that “ballroom flair” if you know what I mean. Good, yes. Finale good? Compared to the other two (and past female finalists?) Not to me. But I’ve been saying that for weeks and they keep lavishing her with perfect scores. She’s an 8 to me. And for finale night, this was just barely that. Good, but not near enough to win this thing. Judges - once again, they gush. Sigh. Scores - 29. Whatever.

The judges choose the rumba for Apolo & Julianne which is the one they used the chair with last time (which I loved, but Uncle Lenny hated.) No chair this time. Way more advanced. Can’t wait to see it! Stoner Music Dude better give them appropriate music. Nope. Unlike Maks and Laila, they get a non ballroom tune. Last Train to Georgia. Sigh. Her little peekaboo nightie outfit is probably giving Uncle L a heart attack, but I think it suits. I also think they get slammed for being ultra sexy because of their age, when the other teams (not to mention the pros) writhe all over each other. I thought it was great! Will be interesting to see what the judges say. Judges - Bruno gushes, Lenny and Carrie Ann totally buzzkill it. What is UP with that anyway? It’s really making me crazy how hard they are on these two when their skill level is SO much higher. If they score lower than Laila? Yeah, I’d scream fix. Or maybe they have such high fan scores, they’re trying to keep it level. I don’t know. But I don’t like it. Scores - 28. That? Comparitively? So very wrong.

Ending the first round is Joey & Kym with their judges pick of cha cha cha I thought the opening was cute, but Lenny better slam them for it if he’s to stay consistent with his bashing of Apolo and Julianne for similar antics. Wait. Consistancy in judging? Why, that’s crazy talk! Okay, back to the dance… And it’s good, but I felt like they were a little off at the beginning and not really milking the song for all it was worth. It wasn’t up to Joey & Kym par, no thanks to Joey’s horrid outfit, either, (or Kym;s shaggy mess of a hairstyle) but it was entertaining and they did take some risks by breaking out the alterna stuff, which I respect. But the overall skill was more Laila level. Which makes me feel better about Apolo and Julianne, who, so far to my eyes, are the only ones who have brought finale level material. Now, watch the judges give them a tongue bath, too. Judges Yay, Carrie Ann actually agrees with me. As does Lenny. Quel shock! Bruno even goes with me. Heeeey! Scores - 26. But that leaves Laila with the highest first round score, and that’s not really right. I guess she gets it by default for playing safe and bringing the angst.

Round Two…Freestyle!

Laila & Maks are up first and doing their freestyle to…the paso doble, which….didn’t they just do that? Whatever. I’m sure it won’t have a passing resemblance to one anyway. I thought it was just “freestyle” no other name required. Maybe that was an announcer’s gaffe. Anyway - it’s all a really weird Michael Jacksonian nightmare with Laila in spangly shorts and sneakers and Maks in suspenders and…I don’t know. I think it’s a mess and shows a lot about how she doesn’t really finish her movements with flair. She’s elegant in her own way, and she can get down and funky, for sure, but she’s still kinda clunky and flat-footed-looking to me. I’m sure I’ll be the only one saying that, however. Okay, seriously? That was NOT finale level choreo or style or skill. (Even with the bare Maks chest at the end, so you know I mean this.) Very talent show/pedestrian. I don’t care what the judges say. Not impressed at all. Not even on par with their regular routines. Judges? My god. Sure they wanted more elegance (because Apolo can’t do that?) But…all in all, they liked it. I give up. Scores - 26. Much more normal. THANK YOU.

Now, onto Apolo & Julianne. I hope this lives up to expectations. All in all, this evening hasn’t been so great for me. A disappointing finale. Which is a shame. They bust out the street dance to a (horrible rendition of) Busta Move. And…I hate to say it, but while the technical difficulty is certainly waaaay higher than anything Laila or Joey has done tonight, it wasn’t Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy. Wish they all hadn’t abandoned ballroom for funkytown. I still enjoyed it more than the others. The crowd LOVED it. Heartening, for sure. Judges thought it was great. FINALLY. Scores - 30. Deserved.

Joey & Kym close the season with their freestyle. And who’da thunk it? They go for elegance and style. Hunh. Yeah, that lasted about fifteen seconds. I knew that wouldn’t be his style. Still, cute opening. He should rock this as this is NSYNC all the way, baby. And..so far, I have to say, dance of the night. Dammit. Disco and still ballroomy, and despite the music choice (Last Dance, which, appropriate considering they are closing the season) really entertaining and technically very difficult. Makes me glad they scored low the first time and Apolo got his 30 already. I think this was a good season ender! (But who the hell dressed Joey tonight? Stoned Stylist Dude?) Judges - they give it the kudos it well deserved. It will be a 30. Scores? Yep, 30.

So, close final scores, but exactly the way I’d rank it. So, yay for that, at least.
Apolo & Julianne - 58
Joey & Kym - 56
Laila & Maks - 55

One more performance tomorrow night, which the judges apparently get to score. Odd, but, whatever. Like it hasn’t been manipulated all along. Fun night!

Who do you think will win the fabulously cheesy Glitter Mirror Ball Trophy?

Tags: Writing //