DWTS 13: Compare samba

SAMBA

Ricki Lake and Derek Hough

• “Jump in the Line” – Harry Belafonte
• 30 (10,10,10)

J.R. Martinez & Karina Smirnoff 

• Score: 28 (9,9,10)
•  ”Conga” by Gloria Estefan

Robert Kardashian & Karina Smirnoff

• “I Go to Rio” – Pablo Cruise
• Score: 28 (10,9,9)

Hope Solo & Maksim Chmerkovskiy :

• Score: 24
• “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon

Kristin Cavallari & Mark Ballas

• Score: 24 (8,8,8)
• “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce ft. Jay-Z

Chaz Bono & Lacey Schwimmer

• 21 (7,7,7)
•  ”Get Down on It” by Kool & the Gang

Maksim Chmerkovskiy and his mighty mouth

Maksim Chmerkovskiy bills himself as the bad boy of the ballroom, but he knows what he’s talking about.  Haven’t fans been a little uneasy since Bristol Palin? So he had something to say last night on “Dancing with the Stars,” when Len Goodman told his celebrity partner Hope Solo that she had just performed her worst dance of the season.

That rumba wasn’t great, it wasn’t sexy, but at least Solo looks happy. She has such an electric smile, but it’s her footwork that is hard to watch.

So what exactly did Chmerkovskiy say?

It began with Goodman commenting, ”This is your worst dance of the whole season.” He continued, after admonishing Chmerkovskiy for encouraging the audience boos, by saying, “I’ve been in this business for nearly 50 years…”

Chmerkovskiy couldn’t resist adding, “Maybe it’s time to get out…”

At which time, Carrie Ann Inaba told Chmerkovskiy, “Don’t be disrespectful like that.”

Chmerkovskiy defended his comment by saying it hurts when the dancers and celebrities “hear you guys a little judgmental comment.” I think we can fault his English, but perhaps the comments of the judges go a bit far out of line.

Chmervkovskiy later said, “This is my show…I helped make it what it is” and he was tired of having the celebrities ”judged on their so-called potential.”

We also had high hopes for Hope Solo and didn’t figure out that her biggest challenge was learning to walk in high heels and be girly.

Yet, don’t you think the judges are being a little bit too easy on someone like Chaz Bono? We found Bono a little whiny, particularly since he’s not the oldest contestant. He’s also not the first overweight contestant either.

See the clips from “Access Hollywood” with Billy Bush and Kit Hoover

“Cute little penguin,” is what judge Bruno Tonioli called Bono and I thought that was kind. Bono and Schwimmer feel that the judges have a personal dislike of him. Seriously? Tonioli might have been unnecessarily cruel to singer Michael Bolton (“It was a doggy mess of a jive. You did it all very, very, very badly”), but he’s been quite kind and even indulgent to Bono in my opinion.

I think Goodman could have been stricter with Bono. Bono doesn’t have much personality on stage.

Remember, Chmerkovskiy spoke out about that season when the dancers and the celebrities were being overworked. That was the season Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson won the mirrorball. Season 9 the contestants were asked to perform:  cha cha cha, jive, rumba, tango, paso doble, samba, waltz, quickstep, foxtrot, Argentine tango, Viennese waltz, salsa, salsa/Viennese waltz relay, foxtrot/cha cha cha relay, two-step/Charleston/bolero/lambada, hustle group, mambo marathon, team paso doble/tango, megamix and freestyle.  Compare that to season 5. Marie Osmond made it to the semi-finals, but consider there were only these dances: cha cha cha, foxtrot, quickstep, mambo, jive, tango, Viennese waltz, paso doble, rumba, samba, and freestyle. That’s 11 dances during season 5 compared to 20.

Season 11 had only 15 dances, including one team and a winner-take-all cha cha cha. That season was won by Jennifer Grey who sometimes got tens when there were obvious missteps, but the judging seemed to be more generous when it became clear that Bristol Palin was going to make it to the semi-finals.

Chmerkovskiy’s partner that season was Grammy Award-winning singer Brandy. Brandy was cut, but Palin moved to the finals. Luckily the energetic and ever entertaining Kyle Massey with Lacey Schwimmer finished second. Chmerkovskiy’s partner during season 5 was Mel B who finished second behind Helio Castroneves (with Julianne Hough).

There are personalities that make DWTS interesting and certainly Maksim Chmerkovskiy is one of them. He makes the show interesting–in terms of choreography and his clashes with his partners.

Without personalities like Chmerkovskiy, Julianne Hough, Derek Hough, Tony Dovolani and Cheryl Burke, I don’t think the show would have been successful.

And when things get a bit dull, it’s good to have pros who liven up the situation (or even a judge like Bruno Tonioli).

DWTS 13: Compare Paso Doble

Ricki Lake & Derek Hough

• Score: 27 (9, 9, 9)
• “Sweet Dreams” by Beyoncé

Rob Kardashian & Cheryl Burke

• Score: 24
• Theme from: “Superman”

David Arquette & Kym Johnson

• Score: 23 (8,7,8)
• “The Raiders March” from “Raiders of the Lost Ark”

J.R. Martinez & Karina Smirnoff – Paso Doble (Week 9)

• Song: Theme Song to “The Legend of Zorro” by James Horner
• Score: 23 (8,7,8)

Nancy Grace & Tristan MacManus

• Score: 21 (7,7,7) Week 4 (Movie Week)
• “Flash’s Theme” from “Flash Gordon”

Chaz Bono & Lacey Schwimmer

• Score: 21
• “Gonna Fly Now” from Rocky

Hope Solo & Maksim Chmerkovskiy – Paso Doble ( Week 9 )

• Song: “Can’t Be Tamed” by Miley Cyrus
• Score: 21

DWTS 13, Week 6: JR and Ricki on top; Chaz at bottom

Tonight on “Dancing with the Stars,” it was Broadway week and Carson Kressley was sorely missed. We’re glad they brought Kressley back as a “creative director.”

Vote online

Again, J.R. Martinez and his partner Karina Smirnoff were on top, but they were joined by Ricki Lake and her partner Derek Hough.

Both teams performed the quickstep and received two tens–both from Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. Head judge Len Goodman didn’t think these teams were perfection.

The real surprise of the night was who finished in third place: Nancy Grace and her partner Tristan MacManus. Nancy received her first nine. Not bad for the oldest competitor this season.

Chaz Bono and his partner Lacey Schwimmer returned to the bottom with a 19 for their tango performed to “The Phantom of the Opera.” Still, it is likely that Bono will survive tomorrow night’s elimination.

Probably the couple really in danger is soccer player Hope Solo and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy who were just one point ahead of Bono and Schwimmer with a 20 for their rumba to “Season of Love” from the musical “Rent.”

Vote online

• J.R. Martinez & Karina Smirnoff : 29
• Ricki Lake & Derek Hough : 29
• Nancy Grace & Tristan MacManus : 24
• David Arquette & Kym Johnson : 23
• Robert Kardashian & Cheryl Burke : 22
• Hope Solo & Maksim Chmerkovskiy : 20
• Chaz Bono & Lacey Schwimmer : 19

CHA CHA CHA

Robert Kardashian & Cheryl Burke : 22 (8, 7, 7) to “Walk Like a Man” from “Jersey Boys”

Kardashian and Burke would at this point be the second best team in the cha cha cha.

• See previous cha cha cha performances.

Here’s the scene from the musical:

FOXTROT

Nancy Grace & Tristan MacManus : 24 to ”Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” from “Monty Python’s Spamalot”

QUICKSTEP

J.R. Martinez & Karina Smirnoff : 29 (10,9,10) to ”Hot Honey Rag” from “Chicago”

Ricki Lake & Derek Hough : 29 (10,9,10) to ”Luck Be a Lady” from “Guys and Dolls.”

David Arquette & Kym Johnson : 23 to ”We Go Together” from “Grease”

All of these teams scored better than the teams who had performed the quickstep during previous weeks.

• Other quickstep performances

RUMBA

Hope Solo & Maksim Chmerkovskiy: 20 (7, 6, 7) to ”Seasons of Love” from “Rent.”

TANGO

Chaz Bono & Lacey Schwimmer : 19 (7, 6, 6) to “The Phantom of the Opera” from “The Phantom of the Opera.”

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE COUPLE

J.R. Martinez & Karina Smirnoff : 29

• 1-800-868-3410
• TEXT: 3410

Ricki Lake & Derek Hough : 29

• 1-800-868-3411
• TEXT: 3411

Nancy Grace & Tristan MacManus : 24

• 1-800-868-3405
• TEXT: 3405

David Arquette & Kym Johnson : 23

• 1-800-868-3406
• TEXT: 3406

Robert Kardashian & Cheryl Burke : 22

• 1-800-868-3402
• TEXT: 3402

Hope Solo & Maksim Chmerkovskiy : 20

• 1-800-868-3408
• TEXT: 3408

Chaz Bono & Lacey Schwimmer : 19

• 1-800-868-3412
• TEXT: 3412

Of course, I have to leave you with clips from the movies “Sweet Charity” and Cabaret.” Tomorrow I’ll add the celebrity performances to this article.

DWTS 13: Compare Jive

JIVE

Ricki Lake & Derek Hough — Team DRickilous 

• Score: 23 (8, 7, 8) ”Hey Ya!”—OutKast

Chynna Phillips & Tony Dovolani — Team ChynnaDove

• Score: 22 (7, 7, 7) ”The Boy Does Nothing”—Alesha Dixon

J.R. Martinez & Karina Smirnoff — Team Martinoff 

• Score: 22 (7, 7, 8) “Jump, Jive an’ Wail”—The Brian Setzer Orchestra

Robert Kardashian & Cheryl Burke — Team CherBert 

• Score: 21 (7, 7, 7) ”Surfin’ Safari”—The Beach Boys

Nancy Grace & Tristan MacManus

• Score: 21 (7, 7, 7)
• “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels Band

Hope Solo & Maksim Chmerkovskiy — Team MakSolo 

• Score: 19 (6, 7, 6) ”Girlfriend”—Avril Lavigne

Carson Kressley & Anna Trebunskaya — Team CarsonAnna 

• Score: 19 (6, 6, 7)
• “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” by Wham!

David Arquette  & Kym Johnson — Team Good Times 

• Score: 18 (6, 6, 6) ”Runaway Baby”—Bruno Mars

DWTS 13: Compare Cha cha cha

CHA CHA

• Hope Solo & Maksim Chmerkovskiy (week 3)
• 24 (8,8,8)
• “Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)”by Enrique Iglesias

David Arquette & Kym Johnson

• Score: 24 (8, 8, 8)
• “Abracadabra” by Steve Miller Band

• Rob Kardashian & Cheryl Burke
• Score: 22 (8,7,7)
• “Walk Like A Man” by The Four Seasons from Jersey Boys

Kristin Cavallari & Mark Ballas — Team KristinBalls

• 1-800-868-3403
• Score: 19 (7, 6, 6)
• “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz

Carson Kressley & Anna Trebunskaya — Team CarsonAnna 

• 1-800-868-3409
• Score: 17 (6, 5, 6)
• “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera

Chaz Bono  & Lacey Schwimmer — Team Schwaz 

• 1-800-868-3412
• Score: 17 (6, 5, 6)
• “Dancing in the Street” by Mick Jagger and David Bowie

Nancy Grace & Tristan MacManus — Team MacGrace 

• 1-800-868-3405
• Score 16 (5, 5, 6)
• “Cry Baby” by Cee Lo Green

Elisabetta Canalis & Val Chmerkovskiy — Team Valisabetta 

• 1-800-868-3407
• Score: 15 (5, 5, 5)
• “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” by Katy Perry

Metta World Peace (Ron Artest)  & Peta Murgatroyd — Team PetRon 

• 1-800-868-3401
• Score: 14 (5, 4, 5)
• “Krazy” by Pitbull featuring Lil Jon

Good-bye ‘Psycho’ Mike Catherwood

• Dance: Foxtrot
• Song: “Cooler Than Me” by Mike Posner
  Score: 13 (5,4,4)

• Dance: Jive
• Song: “The Boys Are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy
  Score: 17 (6,5,6)

DWTS 12: Compare jive routines

Jive

• Best of past performances
  

Hines Ward & Kym Johnson: 26 (9,9,8) to “Chantilly Lace” by Jerry Lee Lewis

Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy to “La Bamba” by Richie Valens. Score: 30 (9,7,6,8) or 21 adjusted.

1. Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff: 21

1. Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas: 18/

1. Petra Nemcova and Dmitry Chaplin: 18

1. Sugar Ray Leonard and Anna Trebunskaya

1. Mike Catherwood and Lacey Schwimmer: 17

DWTS 12: Compare foxtrot routines

Hines Ward and Kym Johnson: 28 (9,9,10) to “This Will Be” by Natalie Cole

Romeo Miller  and Chelsie Hightower: 26 (9, 8, 9) to “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra (Week 5 American week)

Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff: 24 (8, 8, 8)  to “Ain’t that a Kick in the Head” by Dean Martin.

Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: 23 (8, 7, 8) to “American Woman” by The Guess Who (Week 5 American week)

Kendra Wilkinson  and Louis van Amstel: 22 (8, 7, 7) to “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (Week 5 American week)

Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas: 21 (7, 7, 7) to “King of Anything” by Sara Bareilles

Petra Nemcova and Dmitry Chaplin: 18 (6, 6, 6) to “Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones

Sugar Ray Leonard and Anna Trebunskaya: 17 (6, 5, 6) to “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and the News

Wendy Williams and Tony Dovolani: 15 (5, 5, 5) to “Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life” by  Michael Cleveland (week 3)

Mike Catherwood and Lacey Schwimmer: 13 (5, 4, 4) to “Cooler Than Me” by Mike Posner

Dancing with the Stars 2011: Men’s rehearsals

Mike Catherwood and Lacey Schwimmer

Chris Jericho and Cheryl Burke

Sugar Ray Leonard and Anna Trebunskaya

Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff:

Romeo Miller and Chelsea Hightower

Hines Ward and Kym Johnson