Category Archives: Brandy
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: Compare Bristol to Brandy
Brandy grew as a performer and we loved that she had a positive outlook.
Week 1: 23 (7,8,8) Viennese Waltz “Cry Me Out”—Pixie Lott
Week 7: 33 (9, 8, 8, 8) adjusted 24 Viennese waltz “Trouble” by Ray LaMontagne
Week 2: 21 (7,7,7) Jive “Magic”—B.o.B
Week 5: 18, Jive to “The Monkees” by The Monkees
Week 3: 24 (8,8,8) Samba “Put It in a Love Song”—Alicia Keys feat. Beyoncé
Week 8: 23 (7, 8, 8) Instant samba to “Mas Que Nada” by Sergio Mendes
Week 4: 22 (7,8,7) 26 (9,8,9) Rumba “This Woman’s Work”—Maxwell
Week 4: 18 (technical) 14 (performance) rumba to “Umbrella”
Week 5: 27 (9,9,9) Quickstep “I’ll Be There for You”—The Rembrandts (from Friends)
Week 2: 22 (7, 8, 7) Quickstep to “You Can’t Hurry Love” by Diana Ross & the Supremes
Week 6: 26 (8,9,9) Tango “Holding Out for a Hero”—Bonnie Tyler
Week 6: 23 (8, 7, 8) Tango to “According to You” by Orianthi.
Week 6: 10/10 Rock n’ Roll Marathon “La Grange”—ZZ Top
Week 7: 27 (9,9,9) “Bust a Move”—Young MC Team Apolo Anton Ohno
Week 7: 24 to “Workin’ Day and Night” by Michael Jackson for Team Kristi Yamaguchi
Week 7: 37 (9,9,10,9) Foxtrot “Fever”—Peggy Lee with guest judge Gilles Marini
Week 3: 19 (6, 6, 7) Foxtrot to “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars.
Week 8: 29 (9,10,10) Waltz “Dark Waltz”—Hayley Westenra
Week 9: 26 (8, 9, 9) waltz to “Mary Goes to Jesus” from “Passion of Christ” soundtrack.
Week 8: 28 (9,9,10) Cha-Cha-Cha “Teenage Dream”—Katy Perry
Week 1: 18 Cha cha cha to “Mama Told Me (Not to Come” by Three Dog Night
Week 9: 27 (9,9,9) Paso Doble “Firework”—Katy Perry
Week 9: 27 (9, 9, 9) Paso doble
Week 9: 30 (10,10,10) Argentine Tango “Taquito Militar”—Conjunto Tipico del Tango
Week 8: 24 Argentine tango to “Buttons” by Pussycat Dolls.
Brandy and Maksim: Cinderella leaves the ballroom
Brandy always seemed upbeat despite her fights with Maksim Chmerkovskiy. They were only had a 0.5 lower average than Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough. Their lowest score of 21, was a point higher than Grey and Hough’s lowest score of 20.
Week 1: 23 (7,8,8) Viennese Waltz “Cry Me Out”—Pixie Lott
Week 2: 21 (7,7,7) Jive “Magic”—B.o.B
Week 3: 24 (8,8,8) Samba “Put It in a Love Song”—Alicia Keys feat. Beyoncé
Week 4: 22 (7,8,7) 26 (9,8,9) Rumba “This Woman’s Work”—Maxwell
Week 5: 27 (9,9,9) Quickstep “I’ll Be There for You”—The Rembrandts (from Friends)
Week 6: 26 (8,9,9) Tango “Holding Out for a Hero”—Bonnie Tyler
Week 6: 10/10 Rock n’ Roll Marathon “La Grange”—ZZ Top
Week 7: 27 (9,9,9) “Bust a Move”—Young MC Team Apolo Anton Ohno
Week 7: 37 (9,9,10,9) Foxtrot “Fever”—Peggy Lee with guest judge Gilles Marini
Week 8: 29 (9,10,10) Waltz “Dark Waltz”—Hayley Westenra
Week 8: 28 (9,9,10) Cha-Cha-Cha “Teenage Dream”—Katy Perry
Week 9: 27 (9,9,9) Paso Doble “Firework”—Katy Perry
Week 9: 30 (10,10,10) Argentine Tango “Taquito Militar”—Conjunto Tipico del Tango
Compare Brandy and Bristol: paso doble week 9
Last night on “Dancing with the Stars” Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas received the same score for their paso doble as Brandy Norwood and Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Did both teams deserved a 27 (9, 9, 9)?
I think Palin isn’t particularly sharp, her legs lack full extension and her face still looks pretty blank. She doesn’t have the crisp staccato moves of the paso doble.
- Week 9
- “Gimme More” by Britney Spears
- Score: 27 (9, 9, 9)
- Week 9
- “Firework” by Katy Perry
- Score: 27 (9, 9, 9)
Brandy Norwood and Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s Week 8 dances
Brandy Norwood and Maksim Chmerkovskiy had a butt-shake dance off and during the second dance, he took on Len Goodman. Do you love the bad boy of the ballroom or what?
I loved both of Brandy’s costumes. Harem pants are going to be the next big thing on the dance floor.
- First dance: waltz
- Week 8
- “Dark Waltz” by Hayley Westenra
- Score: 29 (9, 10, 10)
- Instant dance
- Week 8
- “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry
- Score: 28 (9, 9, 10)
DWTS: Original dances
Mel B and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
- Season 5
- Week 7
- Paso Doble
- “Free Your Mind” by En Vogue
- Score: 30
Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer
- Season 11
- Week 7
- Score: 35 (10, 9, 8, 9)
Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke
- Season 3
- Week 3
- Tango
- “Simply Irresistible” by Robert Palmer
- Score: 19
Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya
- Season 11
- Week 7
- Score: 34 (10, 8, 8, 8)
Kelly Osbourne and Louis van Amstel
- Season 9
- Week 1
- Viennese Waltz
- “Trouble” by Ray LaMontagne
- Score: 23
Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas
- Season 11
- Week 7
- Score: 33 (9, 8, 8, 8)
Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough
- Season 5
- Week 8
- Quickstep
- “Hey Pachuco” by Royal Crown Revue
- Score: 30
Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke
- Season 11
- Week 7
- Score: 37 (10, 9, 9, 9)
Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke
- Season 9
- Week 9
- Foxtrot
- “Fever” by Peggy Lee
- Score: 29
Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
- Season 11
- Week 7
- Score: 37 (9, 10, 9, 9)
Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke
- Season 2
- Week 6
- Tango
- “Shut Up” by the Black Eyed Peas
- Score: 30
Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough
- Season 11
- Week 7
- Score: 37 (10, 9, 9, 9)
DWTS paso doble routines compared (VIDEO)
Paso Doble
- Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer: 35/40 or 25 adjusted.
- Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovolani: 24 (8,8,8) Paso Doble to “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen
- Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough: 20 (6,7,7) Paso Doble to “So What” by Pink
- Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya: 18 (6,6,6) Paso Doble to “The Final Countdown” by Europe
Best paso doble performances of past seasons
During the special 200th episode (week 7), Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer: 35 (10, 9, 8, 8) Paso Doble to “Free Your Mind” by En Vogue. Adjusted score is 25 without the celebrity judge’s score.
Week 9, Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas performed the paso doble to “Gimme More” by Britney Spears for a score of 27 (9, 9, 9).
Week 9, Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy performed a paso doble for a score of 27 (9, 9, 9) to Katy Perry’s “Firework.”
DWTS tango routines compared (VIDEO)
Tango
- Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough: 37/40. 27 adjusted.
- Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya: 35/40. 26 adjusted.
- Brandy Norwood and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: 26 (8,9,9) Tango to “Holding Out for a Hero” by Bonnie Tyler
- Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke: 24 (8,8,8) Tango to “You Really Got Me” by Van Halen
- Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer: 23 (8,7,8) Tango to “If I Had You” by Adam Lambert
- Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas: 23 (8,7,8) Tango to “According to You” by Orianthi
- *Florence Henderson and Corky Ballas: 21 (week 5)
Best of tango performances from previous seasons
During week 5, Florence Henderson and Corky Ballas performed the tango for a 21. They were eliminated that week.
Week 7, Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough: 37 (10, 9, 9, 9) Tango to “Shut Up” by the Black Eye Peas. Adjusted score is 27.
Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya: 35 (10, 9, 8, 8) Tango to “Simply Irresistible” by Robert Palmer. Adjusted to 25.
DWTS: Rumba routines compared
Rumba (technique/performance)
- Brandy Norwood and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: 22 (7,8,7) 26 (9,8,9)=48
- Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer: 18 (6,6,6) 22 (8,7,7)=40
- Florence Henderson and Corky Ballas: 17 (6,6,5) 18 (6,6,6)=35
- Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya: 15 (5,5,5) 19 (7,6,6)=34
- Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas: 18 (6,6,6) 14 (4,5,5)=32
During week 5, Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke performed the rumba for a score of 24 (8, 8, 8) to the theme from “Hill Street Blues.”
During week 5, Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovolani performed the rumba for a 23.
During week 8 for the instant dance challenge, Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough were awarded the first perfect score.
DTWS: Compare Argentine tango performances
Argentine tango (technique/performance)
- Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough: 27 (9,9,9) 29 (10,9,10)=56
- Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovolani: 24 (8,8,8) 22 (8,7,7)=46
- Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke: 19 (6,7,6) 20 (6,7,7)=39
- Mike Sorrentino and Karina Smirnoff: 12 (4,4,4) 16 (6,5,5)=28
Week 8, Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas performed the Argentine tango and received a score of 24.
Week 9, Brandy Norwood and Maksim Chmerkovskiy performed to “Taquito Militar” by Conjunto Tipico del Tango for a score of 30.
