An Unplugged 'Dancing with the Stars' Format Shakeup!
 Adam Larkey/ ABC |
"Dancing with the Stars" shook up its format this week with a brand-new, round dance floor on a raised stage; unplugged, acoustic music; and two separate scores for each couple's rumba or Argentine tango -- one for performance, one for technique. Were the stars able to handle the changes? Read on for the recap!
Former football star Kurt Warner and pro partner Anna Trebunskaya delivered a passionate rumba on the circular stage to Train's "Drops of Jupiter." Judge Len Goodman rated both the technique and the performance, saying, "You've got a very nice hip action going there. … As for the performance, I thought you pitched the romantic side just right." Judge Bruno Tonioli complained, "You pitched the performance to a level more like brothers and sisters than [lovers]." Judge Carrie Anne Inaba commended, "There's a true chemistry between you guys," but critiqued, "Your musicality was just a hair off this week." On the technical side, all three judges delivered a score of 5. For performance, Len and Bruno delivered scores of 6, while Carrie Ann gave the couple a 7. The combined technical (15) score plus performance (19) score tallied a total of 34 out of 60 for Kurt and Anna.
Singer Brandy and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy danced a sensuous rumba to Maxwell's "This Woman's Work," and Bruno said, "The whole room was watching you -- you played it very, very well." Len agreed, "The performance was very good, [but] it was a little hot and spicy for my taste." And Carrie Ann raved, "I've been waiting for the real Brandy to show herself, and finally the rumba [provides your comeback]. … Wow, huge difference." The judges scores: Carrie Ann: Tech-7, Perf.-9; Len: Tech-8, Perf-8; Bruno: Tech-7, Perf-9. The couple's tech score of 22 plus performance score of 26 combined for a total of 48 out of 60.
Basketball great Rick Fox and pro partner Cheryl Burke delivered a taut Argentine tango with a dramatic lift. Carrie Ann said, "You came out looking like a cover of a romance novel … but for some reason it came out feeling one-dimensional." Len observed, "You started that dance full of intensity, full of drama, [but it lost some steam]. … I thought it was all around a good performance." And Bruno said, "It wasn't as musical as it could have been." The judges scores: Carrie Ann: Tech-6, Perf.-6; Len: Tech-7, Perf-7; Bruno: Tech-6, Perf-7. The couple's tech score of 19 plus performance score of 20 combined for a total of 39 out of 60.
Disney star Kyle Massey and partner Lacey Schwimmer delivered a dignified rumba to B.O.B.'s "Nothin' On You." Len said the performance "didn't flow. … The performance, though, I thought was excellent. It had chemistry." Bruno said, "You play it well, you're a natural." And Carrie Ann summed up, "You were uneven in your dynamic," but added, "I loved your performance. You still lit up the room." The judges scores: Carrie Ann: Tech-6, Perf.-8; Len: Tech-6, Perf-7; Bruno: Tech-6, Perf-7. The couple's tech score of 18 plus performance score of 22 combined for a total of 40 out of 60.
"Jersey Shore" star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino and pro partner Karina Smirnoff danced the Argentine tango to an instrumental version of the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)." The judges were not kind. Bruno said, "Michael, you know that was a terrible mess. … You did as best as you could -- and a really, really terrible [performance]." Len joked, "It was consistent -- it was bad throughout." But Carrie Ann, after acknowledging the reality star's abs, said, "I was very impressed. … I see true improvement in your performance." The judges scores: Carrie Ann: Tech-4, Perf.-6; Len: Tech-4, Perf-5; Bruno: Tech-4, Perf-5. The couple's tech score of 12 plus performance score of 16 combined for a total of 28 out of 60, the lowest score of the night.
"Brady Bunch" mom Florence Henderson and pro partner Corky Ballas danced a racy rumba to the Beatles' "Yesterday," raising the temperature of the dance floor. While the crowd was very appreciative, the judges were not kind. "What just happened? You're Mrs. Brady!" cried Carrie Ann. "You definitely proved that age has no relationship to how sexy and raunchy and dirty you can make a rumba. I thought you went a little too far." Len praised, "It was much better than I expected. Well done." But Bruno said, "I've seen better." The judges scores: Carrie Ann: Tech-6, Perf.-6; Len: Tech-6, Perf-6; Bruno: Tech-5, Perf-6. The couple's tech score of 17 plus performance score of 18 combined for a total of 35 out of 60.
Raising the bar for the evening, "Dirty Dancing" star Jennifer Grey tangoed with partner Derek Hough to rave reviews, with Bruno shouting, "This really is primetime delight. The intricacy of what you did is beyond belief." Len agreed that their dance "combined excellent technique; great performance too -- beautifully played." And Carrie Ann raved, "The precision was incredible, the passion was incredible. That was amazing." The judges delivered some of the first 10s of the season: Carrie Ann: Tech-9, Perf.-10; Len: Tech-9, Perf-9; Bruno: Tech-9, Perf-10. The couple's tech score of 27 plus performance score of 29 combined for a total of 56 out of 60.
Teen activist Bristol Palin and partner Mark Ballas attempted to find romance in a rumba to Rihanna's "Umbrella." With Mama Grizzly Sarah Palin looking on in the audience, the judges were still tough on the teen mom. Len said, "The performances lack a bit of conviction." Bruno whined, "I'm still waiting -- you have to sustain it all the way through, I've been saying it for weeks." And Carrie Ann complained, "There's no effort. We're week four. [You're performing on TV in front of millions, but] I feel like you're just dancing for Mark. I want to call you out." The judges scores: Carrie Ann: Tech-6, Perf.-4; Len: Tech-6, Perf-5; Bruno: Tech-6, Perf-5. The couple's tech score of 18 plus performance score of 14 combined for a total of 32 out of 60.
The last dance of the night belonged to "The Hills" star Audrina Patridge and pro partner Tony Dovolani, who unleashed a technically adept but not especially passionate Argentine tango to Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody to Love." Carrie Ann said, "I can see the improvement but you've got to work on it more." Len said he was looking for a little more "hot and raunchy" in the dance, and Bruno described the reality star as an "ice queen type -- cool and determined and slightly detached." The judges scores: Carrie Ann: Tech-8, Perf.-8; Len: Tech-8, Perf-7; Bruno: Tech-8, Perf-7. The couple's tech score of 24 plus performance score of 22 combined for a total of 46 out of 60.
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