DWTS 14 Week 8: Katherine Jenkins tied for third

Monday night (7 May 2012) on “Dancing with the Stars” season 14, Katherine Jenkins lost her cool and topple to a tie for third.  Jenkins and her professional partner Mark Ballas lost ground in their individual dance but regained momentum with the Trio Challenge.

You’d think with her elegant style that Welsh singer Jenkins would be a natural for the Viennese waltz, but a trick that had a rough transition seemed for unnerve Jenkins.

Head judge Len Goodman questioned whether the trick was even necessary because the routine had plenty of content and the “swinging thing” didn’t fit with the rest of the dance.

Bruno Tonioli complimented Jenkins on her technique, but wondered if that swinging thing wasn’t a lift. I thought it was a lift.

Carrie Ann Inaba noted that Jenkins lost her balance and that seemed to make her lose focus.

That score, 26 (8,9,9), was the third highest score this season for the Viennese waltz to “Kathleen” by David Gray, leaving her tied with Roshon Fegan and Chelsie Hightower who performed the Viennese waltz during week 4.

• Compare Viennese waltz routines

Unlike Maria Menounos and Derek Hough, during the Trio Challenge Jenkins and Ballas didn’t take chances. Teamed with Tristan MacManus, the threesome were near perfection. That shouldn’t have been so hard since they were dancing the cha cha cha. I hated seeing Jenkins in that unflattering suit. I thought it made her butt look big, but there was a reason for that.

Goodman loved the two spies outsmarted by the sexy siren and noted that Jenkins acted like a pro with that slight wardrobe malfunction (not the indecent kind).

Tonioli said it was sexy with that Hitchcock blonde coolness.

Inaba said that last week she lacked fire, but this time, she was hot.

The cha cha cha is usually one of the two dances performed during week 1. Jenkins had the foxtrot that week. The threesome’s score of 29 (10,9,10) tied them with the eliminated Jaleel White and Kym Johnson for the high score for the cha cha cha thus far this season.

Jenkins and Ballas should make the finals and a bright future waits for her even if she doesn’t win the mirrorball trophy. Some day I expect to see her performing in a musical on stage.

LEADER BOARD
Individual dance + Latin Round

William Levy and Cheryl Burke: 30 (10,10,10) + 27 (9,9,9) = 57
*Tony Dovolani*
Roshon Fegan and Chelsie Hightower: 29 (10,9,10) + 27 (9,9,9) = 56
*Sasha Farber*
Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd: 27 (9, 9, 9) +28 (10,9,9) = 55
*Karina Smirnoff*
Katherine Jenkins and Mark Ballas: 26 (8,9,9) + 29 (10,9,10) = 55
*Tristan MacManus*
Maria Menounos and Derek Hough: 28 (10,8,10) +25 (9,7,9) = 53
*Henry Byalikov*
Melissa Gilbert and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: 24 (8,8,8) + 27 (9,9,9) = 51
*Val Chmerkovskiy*

INDIVIDUAL DANCE

William Levy and Cheryl Burke: 30 (10,10,10)

• Foxtrot
• “Stray Cat Strut” by Stray Cats

Roshon Fegan and Chelsie Hightower: 29 (10,9,10)

• Foxtrot
• “Sweet Pea” by Amos Lee

Maria Menounos and Derek Hough: 28 (10,8,10)

• Viennese waltz
• “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri

Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd: 27 (9, 9, 9)

• Tango
• “Higher Ground” by Stevie Wonder

Katherine Jenkins and Mark Ballas: 26 (8,9,9)

• Viennese waltz
• “Kathleen” by David Gray

Melissa Gilbert and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: 24 (8,8,8)

• Foxtrot
• “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart

LATIN ROUND

Katherine Jenkins and Mark Ballas:  29 (10,9,10)

• Tristan MacManus
• Cha-Cha-Cha
• “She’s a Lady” by Tom Jones

Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd: 28 (10,9,9)

• Karina Smirnoff
• Jive
• “Rip It Up” by Little Richard

Roshon Fegan and Chelsie Hightower: 27 (9,9,9)

• Sasha Farber
• Paso doble
• “Turn Me On” by David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj

Melissa Gilbert and Maksim Chmerkovskiy:  27 (9,9,9)

• Val Chmerkovskiy
• Samba
• “Hard to Handle” by Otis Redding

William Levy and Cheryl Burke:  27 (9,9,9)

• Tony Dovolani
• Paso doble

Maria Menounos and Derek Hough: 25 (9,7,9)

• Henry Byalikov
• Samba
• “Mama Do the Hump” by Rizzle Kicks

• Vote online