• Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovaloni
• Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke
• Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas
• Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower

Here’s the complete rundown of: Week 10: The Semi-Finals!

Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovaloni:

• Ballroom Quickstep: “I Got Rhythm” Gershwin I have no idea how they managed to be elegant and cheeky at the same time! Amazing! Fun, upbeat yet coy and graceful. Musical, fancy footwork! Loved the ending, dramatic spin. Melissa’s dress was simply stunning! I wish I had it. Len loved it. Bruno and Carrie-Ann thought it was very pretty but not as dramatic and soulful as they expected her to be in the semi-finals.
  • Scores: 9-10-9 = 28
  • Watch Melissa & Tony’s Quickstep video on YouTube in the sidebar
• Latin Cha-Cha-Cha: “Save the Last Dance For Me” The Drifters/Michael Buble Interesting. Very interesting. I loved the dance. I thought it was un-freaking-believable. But like Bruno said “I like my Cha-Cha full thrust and full on” and I feel the same. He called her out that the energy wasn’t there through the whole thing. I also don’t feel it was a “cha-cha.” Fun routine but not the long -legged promenades and sassy-shaking of a cha-cha that I really love. Like Len said “I liked it, but not as much as I thought I would.”
  • Scores: 9-9-9 = 27
  • Total for the night: 55/60
  • Watch Melissa & Tony’s Cha-Cha-Cha video on YouTube in the sidebar!
    

Gilles Marini

• Ballroom Waltz: “Come Away With Me” Norah Jones I take back everything I’d said about Ballroom Gilles. I’ve always loved him more as Latin Gilles but this changed my mind. It was stunning. Gilles was dashing and dapper! Yes, I said dapper. But he was. The dance was so simple—a classic waltz with rise and fall—but it was absolutely breathtaking.
  • Scores: 10-10-10 = Perfect 30! And he deserved every point! **Gilles was also so humble and sweet in the  backstage interview. He even had tears in his eyes when he said he really wanted to give Cheryl another perfect score.
  • Watch Gilles & Cheryl’s Waltz video on YouTube in the sidebar!
• Latin Salsa….also known as the dance of The Peculiar Purple Pants Man of DWTS Peak. I do not like my Gilles dipped in Grape Kool-Aid……or perhaps it’s Grape Drink. Either way, Did. Not. Care. For. Outfit. Purple Pants?? Seriously? Anyway…. The judges loved the routine. Len wanted to give him 11. Bruno said “Lil Kim is alive and well and she is hiding in your pants!” That makes me want to go back and re-watch it. I must have been so distracted by purple pants because I thought it was okay but not my fave.
  • Scores: 10-10-10
    
  • Total for the night: 60/60
  • Watch Gilles & Cheryl’s Salsa video on YouTube in the sidebar!

Shawn Johnson

• Ballroom Argentine Tango: Two words: HOT DAMN! Okay, one more: WOW. Carrie-Ann said “Precision is your middle name.” Len said it was by far her best performance. Sharp flicks and legword and stunning, really complicated lifts. Okay, I’m gushing again…..
  • Scores: 10-10-10 First perfect score! Rock on Catherine Zeta-Shawn!
  • Watch Shawn & Marks’s Cha-Cha-Cha video on YouTube in the sidebar!
• Latin Jive: Jolly good fun! Polka-dot explosion of personality, spunk and flash! Youthful and full of fabulousness! I loved it! Mark looked Pissed! Judges came down hard on them.
  • Scores: 9-8-9 = 26. I have huge objection to that. I mean,  freaking Ty had an 8 and he was pure crap. How can they put Shawn in that league? She was fantastic.
  • Total for the night: 56/60
    
  • Watch Shawn & Mark’s Jive video on YouTube in the sidebar!

Ty Murray

• Ballroom Viennese Waltz: That sucked. That’s really all I have to say. People are idiots for voting off Lil Kim, who could actually dance to watch this bumbling idiot try to stumble his way through the routine. Yeah, he tries so hard and blah blah blah. So could I. Doesn’t mean I deserve to be in the semi-finals as the best of the season.
  • Scores: 8-9-8 = 25
  • Watch Ty & Chelsie’s Viennese Waltz video on YouTube in the sidebar!
• Latin Samba: Do I really have to critique it? Bubbling, awkward, and kinda painful to watch. I appreciate how much effort he has put in and how far he has come but he has got to go! Props to Chelsie for all her hard work this season, she did a great job!
  • Scores: 8-7-8 = 23
  • Total score for the night: 48/60
    
  • Watch Ty & Chelsie’s Samba video on YouTube in the sidebar!

It was Classic Rock Week. I heart Daughtry. I heart David Cook. I’ve even been known to rock out to some hard rock like Sevendust and Taproot. But I’m just not a 70s/80s Classic Rock kinda girl. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the musical talent of the era  but I literally shudder at the thought of being forced to listen to it for more than half a song. Maybe it’s because my brother and his friends were huge classic rockers?

Anway, the infamous Slash from Guns N Roses was the mentor this week, which was pretty cool! Plus, they added a new twist this round. Instead of singing two solo performances, the contestants had one solo and one duet!  Apparently, Idol feels they have to compete with DWTS for new gimmicks this year.

***Just learned that the contestants weren’t allowed to “make them their own” with the songs this week. They had pretty stricty rules with how much they could change. Still, they could have picked better song choices for me for you.

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Adam Lambert:“Whole Lotta Love” Led Zeppelin

Of course, he was amazing. I didn’t even have to listen to him (thankfully*) to know he was going to be the freaking star of Rock week.

For the first week the producers had him at the front of the show, meaning no other performance could compare, blah blah blah. Yes, he has mad skills. Been saying it for weeks. But I know without a doubt that I would never, ever by his album because shrieking, falsetto rock is like nails on a chalkboard to me. That said, he deserves to win.

(*I did listen until I couldn’t take it anymore)

Allison Iraheta “Cry Baby” Janis Joplin.

Good. Powerful. Her vocal talents are staggering and she actually pulled out some rock swagger.

But, it was kind of a boring song choice since there were no melodies. Basically just her belting out the words “Cry Baby” over and over….and over….and over.

Have to throw out some love for the new hair. She actually hooked up with Adam’s hairdresser for her new long colored tresses!

Kris Allen “Come Together” The Beatles.

Kris is meant for slow ballads only. For one, he is quiet and doesn’t have full ennuciation so when he is trying to rock, you can barely hear him. Simon was right; it felt like a jam session with his band instead of a Top Idol performance. Boring.

Someone should have given him the Monster Ballads Platinum CD to pick from this week instead of Classic Rock Anthems.

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Danny Gokey “Dream On” Aerosmith

Everyone that cringed when they heard that Danny was going to be attempting this Rock Anthem raise you hand!

I lied earlier–I did sit through this whole performance. It was like a train wreck that you know is coming so you keep watching the tracks until it hits, even though you really want to turn away.The final note was bloodcurdling and really, really bad! Kara was right on the money that he should have done Steven Tyler’s “Cryin’” or “Crazy.”

The Duets:

Danny & Kris “Renegade” Styx

Danny outdid Kris in solos during the duet. But their harmonies were really good together. Hated the song choice. Hated performance. It just wasn’t them. The should have done a Classic Monster Ballad—or a 90s Power Ballad!

Adam & Allison “Slow Ride” Foghat

Of course the two rockers hit it out the park. They are ready to put out a duet album together and go on tour. Not that I would buy it or go see them but lots of others would.

all photos from Rickey.org, the best source of latest Idol, DWTS & other reality news!

But this is one of the best Top 5′s that Idol has ever had. These kids can really sing and they know how to make it their own.

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Kris Allen “The Way You Look Tonight”

When Kris came on stage in a suit, I knew I was in trouble. You put any man in suit and their hot factor instantly goes up. I’ve always thought Kris was dreamy so tonight I pretty much drooled all over myself.

“The Way You Look Tonight” is one of my favorite songs of all time and I’m wary when others try to sing it. But Kris took this song to a whole new place. It’s going to be the first American Idol song I download on iTunes this season. It was sensational.

He wooed every female in America, ages 6 to 96 tonight.

Randy, Kara and Paula loved him.

Simon did not. Apparently Kris is now a “wet Cocker Spaniel on a walk” that “wears women’s panties*.”

In case you didn’t see that episode, Paula drunkenly accidentally said Kris shops in the women’s department, meaning he knows what women like.  Simon mocked her something silly for that comment!

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Alison Iraheta: “Someone to Watch Over You”

First, her dress was absolutely fabulous. She looked stunning.

I didn’t love the arrangement of the song but her voice was just ridiculous. Katherine McPhee sang it a few seasons ago and I still lsiten to it all the time but Allison may have outsung her.

She put so much power and emotion behind that song that I was totally floored. Plus she made it her own, and not a cheesy karaoke version. Randy called her “Pink but with more octaves” and he is right on the money. Except I really hate Pink (the artist, not the color!) and I love Allison!

Randy, Paula and Kara all thought she was phenomenal. Simon still thinks she doesn’t have the attitude and presence to make it to the finals.

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Matt Giraud “My Funny Valentine”

It’s not my favorite classic song to begin with, and I felt like Matt really didn’t do anything to it.

I was bored silly and couldn’t wait for it to be over. I kept waiting for it to get good. Finally I tuned out and just drifted off.

I almost missed his last runs, which were really good. Randy and Kara felt the same way. Simon liked it and said he thought it was brilliant. Huh.

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Danny Gokey “Come Rain or Come Shine”

Um. Huh. That was different.

At first I really wasn’t feeling it. And then….BAM! The runs at the end were really amazing!

I did think that the band was a bit loud  and kinda overshadowed him but even then you could tell he was singing the hell out of that classic! Totally made it original and modern.

Kara said he had “Rat Pack Swagger” tonight. Paula, Randy and Simon all agree and thought it was “superb!”

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Adam Lambert “Feeling Good”

Snazzy white shiny suit!

I’m really beginning to feel that the other contestants are warm-up acts for the Adam Lambert show, especially since they always put him towards the end. It’s a shame because that’s not the headlining act that I bought my tickets for.

It reminds me of the Live X concert here in Southwest Florida two years ago when Buckcherry and Sevendust were the headliners, but I went to see Chris Daughtry…. I’m loving Idol for Allen, Gokey, and Iraheta but I get a whole lot of Lambert.

Anyway…

Randy said it was a bit “theatrical, drama filled and Broadway” for him, to which Simon retorted, that’s like complaining that a cow moos. In other words, duh. Adam = Mr. Theater.

Kara said: “Mouth drops open. Is he really doing that? Confusing. Shocking. Sleazy. Superb. Way over the top. But I like you.”

I agree with all of those adjectives except

1. nothing he does really shocks me because I expect him to be unexpected)
2. those same qualities actually make me not like him, even though I know he is the technically and vocally the best. I just know I would never actually buy his album and listen to it. Although I do admit that his Mick Jagger screaming would be a better wake up in the car-ride to work than my cup of coffee.

Oh, and Paula said he is the Michael Phelps of the competition. Which is just funny.

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Bottom: Matt and Allison and maybe Danny. Simon may not think that Kris wowed tonight, but all the females will agree that he definitely upped the ante for fan favorite.

all photos from Rickey.org

For Week 8, every couple did their normal routine and then was put into either Team Tango or Team Mambo for their group routine. The two teams danced off to win the top scores from the judges which would count for half of their scores of the night. Each couple in the team had to perform a solo routine and dance in sync with the other couples.

Click on any name to see the star’s complete profile and weekly dancing recaps! Except Ty because, well, he bores me.

Team Mambo:
Score: 8-8-9 = 25
“Single Ladies” Beyonce
Chuck Wicks & Julianne Hough
Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas
Melissa Rycroft* & Tony Dovaloni
*due to Melissa’s rib injury, Lacey Schwimmer danced in her place.

Team Mambo Video

Team Tango:
Score: 9-9-10 = 28
“Womanizer” Brittney Spears
Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke
Lil Kim & Derek Hough
Ty Murray & Chelsea Hightower

Team Tango Video

The show is looking for the next generation of DWTS  Professional dancers! They are starting with Six Dancers and every week America gets to vote for their favorites! The dancers are paired in couples, but we are supposed to vote for our fave individual dancer.

Every week the male and female dancers with the lowest scores will be eliminated (much like So You Think You Can Dance).

The dancer with the most votes at the end of the competition wins a guaranteed “professional” spot on the next season of Dancing With the Stars.  I love that the fans get to pick the pros this time! Although, their decision to use Julianne, Derek, Lacey, Dimitri and Chelsea in the past few years has been right on the money!

The only catch of this competition is….well, you know what the competition really means right? At least one of our beloved pros is leaving next season. Hence needing a new one.

If I had to guess, it’s going to be Julianne. Rumors were flying at the end of last season that she would not be returning for Season 8 because she wants to pursue her music—but she did!

Anyway, the competion should be fun. Here’s a break down of who is in the running:

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Couple 1 Cha-cha-cha: “Damaged” Danity Kane

Afton DelGrosso, National Ten Dance Champion, US National Latin Finalist

Loved her sister Ashley when she was on the show and loving Afton too. Think she would be a great ball of spunk and fire—a lot like Lacey actually.

STATS:
Style: Ten Dance
Nationality: American
Based in: Las Vegas, Nevada
Status: Not currently competing

Brent Borbon, Emerald Ball Amateur Open Latin finalist

Feeling him a little. I think he has a fun quality. Although he does come across really, really young which doesn’t lend itself well to the “professional” title. I like my leading men of the ballroom to be a little more grown up. I can see him being the star of So You Think You Can Dance! Actually, now that I think about it, he reminds me a lot of Dominic from a few seasons ago. Hmm.

STATS:
Style: International Latin
Nationality: American
Based in: Las Vegas
Status: Not currently competing

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Couple 2 Viennese Waltz: “Weekend in New England” Barry Manilow

Anna Demidova, USA Dance National Standard Champion

Bruno called her dazzling and I agree. But I think it was because of her glittery jewelry. I think her  lines and moves were incredible—especially that ending spin thingy. But, it just seemed so fake and overdramatic. It felt like two actors playing dancers in a B-movie instead of dancers really connecting on the floor

MORE ACHIEVEMENTS:
International Grand Ball 10 Dance Champion
2 Time U.S. Youth International Standard Champion

STATS:
Style: International Standard
Nationality: Russian
Based in: Los Angeles
Status: Not currently competing

Mayo Alanen, US Rising Star Smooth Champion

Well, this Mayo is a little too slick and smooth for my taste. (Come on, someone had to make that pun!) He scares me. He looks like a really fake Ken doll. But creepy looking. He was a good leading man-dancer but ew. I shall name him, Plastic Slime because I felt slimy after watching him.

MORE ACHIEVEMENTS:
International Standard Formation Champion in Blackpool
Rising Star Smooth Champion at the Ohio Star Ball
Open Smooth Champion at Captial Dancespot

STATS:
Style: American Smooth/International Standard
Nationality: American
Based in: New Jersey
Status: Currently competing with Lisa Vogel

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Couple 3 Rumba: “Stop and Stare” One Republic

Snow Urbin,, US Latin Youth Champion

But if you are a dance fanatic like me, you probably instantly recognized her from SYTYCD! That’s right, she was on Season 1 but she was ousted in the third round. However, her legacy lingered throughout the seasons:  she is the iconic dancer in their opening montage.

Back to DWTS: She’s a hot blonde bombshell! If it is Julianne that is leaving the show, well, then, gimme Snow as her replacement! Okay, not really. No one could replace Julianne in my world. Snow actually reminds me a lot of Kim Johnson.
DWTS Clips (big thanks to Rickey.org who compiled them!)
Snow – Audition
Snow solo – Ma Ya Hi
Snow solo – And She Said
Snow solo – Lambada
Snow – Hip Hop (with Ryan Conferido)
Snow – Quickstep (with Jamile)
Snow – Hip Hop (with Allan Frias)
STATS:

Full Name: Snejana Urbin

Style: International Latin
Nationality: Russian
Based in: Los Angeles
Status: Not currently competing

Genya Mazo, UK Amateur Latin Rising Star Champion

You may recognize his flair since his brother Alec won DWTS Season 1! The judges loved this routine but I personally thought that they were not in sync. It looked like they were competing with each other and I didn’t like it!

ACHIEVEMENTS:
U.K. Amateur Latin Rising Star Champion
Ohio Star Ball Amateur Latin Champion
Emerald Ball Amateur Latin Champion

STATS:
Style: International Latin
Nationality: Russian
Based in: Los Angeles
Status: Not Currently Competing

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Stay tuned! This is sure to be a fun few weeks!

*stats & achievements  sections compiled with a lot of help from AOL Message Boards.

Was anyone else terribly bored by disco week? I watched the whole show, rewatched the clips at the end of the show and within 30 minutes promptly forgot every single performance. I even just re-watched the clips and still barely remember them. Nothing stood out to me tonight and I don’t really know why!

Here’s the rundown:

Lil Rounds “I’m Every Woman” Chaka Khan

She finally went back to singing what she knows: divalicious sound. But it’s like the last few weeks of being battered by Simon in judging has sucked her soul out of her singing. It was okay, I just wasn’t wowed.

What I love is that her hair changed again! The stylists can’t seem to decide on her personal style. Maybe that’s why she can’t seem to define herself as an artist yet, In any case I think she’s had more hair changes than Sanjaya.

Kris Allen “She Works Hard for the Money” Donna Summer*

I will never hate on a hot boy playing guitar. I was in the kitchen making dinner when I heard that Kris was singing this song and came running into the living room in horror. But he changed it up and totally blew me away! And I may add, that rendition would fit in perfectly down here in Southwest Florida with all the open-air music venue/bars…. just in case he feels so inclined to stop by and sing it for me!

Side note: Really sick of Simon and Paula’s drama. Or at least Paula. There was a big whole thing about Kris wearing women’s panties or something equally as stupid. It’s not even funny anymore, it’s obnoxious and irritating. And really isn’t fair to these contestants that work so hard to impress us. We don’t even get a chance to get to know the contestants anymore because the judges spend so much time babbling.

Danny Gokey “September” Earth, Wind and Fire

You know I love me some Danny. But I do not love Danny doing disco. Judges liked it but I just wasn’t feeling it. I

like my Danny doing ballads and being all soulful. Not dancing around the stage a la Taylor Hicks! Not my fave choice for me for him.

Allison Iraheta, “Hot Stuff” Donna Summer*

This is why she is the only female left standing! Oh. My bad, forgot about Lil already.

This girl is so insanely talented. She blows me away every week. I feel the same as Randy, I didn’t love the arrangement and I wouldn’t rush out to buy it, but man, she sang the hell out of it!

Outfit was a little much. Ha. Just a tad.

Adam Lambert, “If I Can’t Have You” from Saturday Night Fever

Yes, I realize I’m the only person in America not loving up on Adam. I think he is extremely talented and his skills totally astound me. But I just don’t like him because I know I wouldn’t buy any of his albums.

This week he came close to changing my mind. I thought the song was amazing. Until he did his little Mick Jagger screeching yell in the middle and it brought me crashing back to earth, shuddering violently. Too bad. Thought it was really fantastic.

The crazy Elvis hair was back this week but much more contained and not as slicked with oil. I think I kinda liked this look for once.

Matt Giraud, “Staying Alive” Bee Gees

Ah Matty. Judges saved him last week and I was really happy about that because there are weeks when I really love him. And then there are others when I wonder what the hell he is thinking.

This was one of those latter weeks. Compared to the other leading guys, he just didn’t do enough with the song to make it his own. Really wish he had picked something more soulful and JT like to play with!

Anoop Desai “Dim All the Lights” Donna Summer*

Holy Outfit, Anoop-Dog! I like bits and pieces and love the pink but WOW. That was a whole lot of look for one little guy!

As for the singing and song: Singing, good; song choice and arrangement, YUK. The last note was a hot mess. I agree with Simon, I think the song would have been a huge “moment” if he had just kept it slow the whole time and didn’t let the tempo come in because you could see it coming…..like a train wreck…but you prayed it wouldn’t happen. And it did. Then it got uber-cliched!

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That’s it! Say Goodbye to Lil, Matt and Anoop. Oh, yeah only two go home. I think I have to rewatch Matt and Anoop’s videos to really decide who I want to see one more week.

*photos from Rickey.org. Best reality TV site there is!

I became a fan of Shawn’s a few months ago when I was writing my First Annual Stiletto Sports Academy Awards pieces and really learned a lot about her gymnastic career and the US team. I was pretty happy to see that she was going to be on the show. And I’ve really grown to like Mark a lot over the last few seasons. I think the two of them are fantastic together! He was great with Kristi Yamaguchi but I really think she could have danced with a monkey and still won because that’s how good she was.

But with Shawn, I think the two of them really bring out each other’s best qualities and she makes Mark’s choreography really shine!

They say it every week, but Shawn is the youngest star contestant ever to be on the show (minus the kid’s competition!). At 17, she has this amazing elegance and sophistication with the fluidity of her movements all while managing to keep her youthful glow.

Recaps!

• The Finals Freestyle
  • Scores: 10-10-10
    
  • Watch Shawn & Marks’s Freestyle video on YouTube in the sidebar!

• The Finals Paso-Doble Face-Off
  • Scores: 9-9-10
    
  • Watch Shawn & Marks’s Paso Doble Face-Off video on YouTube in the sidebar!

• Semi-Finals Week 10 Ballroom– Argentine Tango: Two words: HOT DAMN! Okay, one more: WOW. Carrie-Ann said “Precision is your middle name.” Len said it was by far her best performance. Sharp flicks and legword and stunning, really complicated lifts. Okay, I’m gushing again…..
  • Scores: 10-10-10 First perfect score! Rock on Catherine Zeta-Shawn!
  • Watch Shawn & Marks’s Cha-Cha-Cha video on YouTube in the sidebar!
• Semi-Finals Week 10 Latin– Jive: Jolly good fun! Polka-dot explosion of personality, spunk and flash! Youthful and full of fabulousness! I loved it! Mark looked Pissed! Judges came down hard on them.
  • Scores: 9-8-9 = 26. I have huge objection to that. I mean,  freaking Ty had an 8 and he was pure crap. How can they put Shawn in that league? She was fantastic.
  • Total for the night: 56/60

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• Week 9 Latin–Paso Doble + indiv. solo: “Gotta Get Through This” It gave me chills all over my body. FANTASTIC! I love my Pasos in red and black! Power, fire, anger, passion, drama, great footwork and technique. She had her Olympic game face on and she worked that dress, the floor and even Mark!  Carrie-Ann said that was hard song to Paso to but Mark’s choreography went amazingly with the beat!
  • Scores 10-9-10 Best score to date!!!
  • Total for the night: 56/60
  • watch Shawn’s Paso Doble video on YouTube in our sidebar!




• Week 9 Ballroom Quickstep! “(You Ain’t Never Had a) Friend Like me”–Aladdin Soundtrack. My favorite Disney movie set to ballroom! Love it! Fun, vibrant and full of personality. Judges thought it would have been a perfect routine if they didn’t break hold throughout the dance. Carrie Ann said it was her best dance ever! Funny, because there were times when they were not in perfect sync in the beginning but I think their enthusiasm and flair made up for it!
  • Scores: 9-9-9 = 27. Would have been a 30 if they didn’t get docked for breaking the rules.
  • watch Shawn’s Quickstep video on YouTube in our sidebar!

• Week 8 Samba: Coming off of last w “eek’s fabulous “P.Y.T.”  Cha-Cha, I have to say that Shawn’s Samba was definitely a let down. It was okay. But that’s it, just okay. I think Len was right when he said that her dress was doing all the work. It felt like dancing for beginners–technically good, but lacking the fire and heat that comes with time
  • Scores: 10-8-8

  

  • Team Mambo: Shawn redeemed herself with this sassy performance in the Team/Group dance! There was plenty of shaking, foot flicking and sass!
    • Team Scores: 8-8-9

  Team Mambo Video
  

  • Week 7 Cha-cha-cha: “P.Y.T”  More like W.O.W!!! It was really, really good! I usually like my cha-chas with really long legged blondes doing them but Shawn may have changed my mind! It was packed with technique and fun! They came out like Michael Jackson and even threw in some typical 70s disco moves. But they were so sharp and crisp that they looked fantastic instead of cheesy. I thought they really nailed this routine and I loved watching it. I’m actually going out there and saying it’s one of my favorite performances of the season!
    • Scores: 9-9-10
    • watch the video on YouTube

  

  Shawn Johnson’s Cha-Cha-Cha to “P.Y.T.”
  

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  • Week 6 Rumba: “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” They were worried about the dance being too sexy worked really hard to make it age appropriate and it paid off. It really was exquisite. She looked so beautiful yet maintained her youthful innocence. It had class, elegance, sophistication and grace. And I really loved the practice videos –seeing how Mark threw Shawn a “Prom” because if she continues on in the competition, she’ll wind up missing her own prom this year.
    • Scores: 8-9-9 = 26
    • Watch the video on YouTube

  

  

  • Week 5 Viennese Waltz: “Ordinary Day” THIS is the reason I love waltzes so much. It was as pretty as a picture, or as Len said “lyrical.” It really made me want to cry because there was such a story behind the dance and the emotions came through. And anytime someone can get away with doing a lift and not be penalized by Carrie-Ann, well, it must be an amazing dance!
    • Scores: 9-8-9
    • watch the video on YouTube

  

  • Week 4 Lindy Hop: “Ready Teddy” The stars were allowed to do tricks and lifts this week and Shawn’s Lindy Hop was packed with them. The tricks were really badass. But the dancing, eh….. not so great.
    • Scores: 8-8-9
    • watch the video on YouTube
      

  

  • Week 3 Foxtrot: “More Than This” It was very pretty and she was definitely gliding across the floor effortlessly. But honestly, it didn’t really stand out to me among all the other dances of the season. *Even on retrospect, watching the video a few weeks later I didn’t remember the dance.
    • Scores: 9-9-9 = 27
    • watch the video on YouTube
      

  

  • Week 2 Salsa: “Las Muchachas” Bruno said it best “you must be one of the cutest little things I’ve ever seen.” And she really is! She’s this little bundle of energy. She hit all the steps but there something missing. The judges said it was missing “the raunch” that Latin dances usually have. But some of the moves and techniques were sick! Especially for a Week 2 dance! Oh, and loved the colorful costume!
    • Scores: 8-8-8
    • watch the video on YouTube
      

  

  • Week 1 Waltz: “Is it You (I have Loved)” You knew 10 seconds into her first dance of the season that this young lady was going to be the contestant to watch. It was so moving and powerful. The elegance in the way she executed the beautiful choreography and the lines she hit while maintaining the Waltz’s subtle rise and fall was really remarkable.
    • Scores: 8-8-8
      
    • watch the video on YouTube

  

  Check back after each week, I’ll be adding to Shawn’s profile!

  on to Gilles Marini Profile & Recap

  on to Lil Kim Profile & Recap

  on to Melissa Rycroft Profile & Recap

  on to Chuck Wicks Profiles & Recap

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  Like DWTS and American Idol? Follow me on Twitter at StilettoSportsJ and tweet with me live during the shows!

I can’t tell you how many times we listed to her albums in college. But as much as I loved her, I always wished we could see her without the whole hardcore edge. She is such a pretty girl but it’s hard to call her that considering she was the biggest X-rated non-porn star celebrity around! Face it, you have to be really careful letting your kids search for “Lil Kim dwts” on Google and Google Images because you really don’t know what you are going to get.

So I was really happy to see her enter a ballroom competition where we would get to see her in pretty flowing gowns looking like a lady.

Oh, and of course, dedicating her first dance to all her girls in the Federal Detention Center as if she had just gone on holiday there, not served actual time in prison. Like I said, Love her!

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Kim shaking like a pepper shaker!

Recaps!

• Week 9 Latin–Salsa + indiv. solo:  Len said something about eating his pickled walnuts if Lil Kim couldn’t handle the Salsa because she already has “junk in the trunk with her bionic booty!” There is so much disturbing in that sentence! She definitely came out shaking like a hot pepper shaker! Bruno: “you spin my head right round, right round, right round when you go down.” And then Len said she got along with Salsa like “spotted dick and custard.” Thankfully I have a wonderful British lady friend who had already told me all about spotted dick before.
• I liked it, I didn’t love it. I agree with Carrie-Ann that it was a bit wild at times. I also didn’t see a lot of amazing choreography, just shaking. Unfortunately, the audience agreed. Kim was voted off the next night, much to the shock of well….everyone. People actually kept Ty Murray over her. Go figure.
  • Scores: 9-9-9 = 27
    
  • Total for the night: 52/60
  • watch Lil Kim’s salsa video on YouTube in our sidebar!

• Week 9 Ballroom- Waltz: “When I Need You” Serene and simply stunning! Derek was worried because slow dances are not Kim’s forte. She is so much better when she can let loose and shake it up a bit. But, Len was shocked with the quality of the dance because it was so breathtakingly beautiful and classic ballroom. Bruno said “you are trying to be a lady but you are more comfortable being a tramp!” I completely disagree. I thought she looks classy and elegant and her movements were like liquid. Yes, she had a stumble or two but it barely registered in my mind because I was totally captivated by her.
  • Scores: 8-9-8 = 25
  • watch the Waltz video on YouTube in our sidebar!

• Week 8 Paso Doble: I don’t know why, but I was actually a little bored with this Paso. It was good and it had fire but I was left wanting more.  I really can’t put my finger on what was missing: there were sparkles, swirly gown, great footwork, powerful moves, and passion. Should have been loving every minute but it felt flat. Go figure.
  • Scores: 9-9-10= 28

  

  • Team Tango: “Womanizer”  Even with her missteps towards the very end of her solo with Derek, I still think Kim’s group Tango performance had more drama,  fire and passion and POW! then her Paso. Really loved how she worked it.
    • Total Scores: 9-9-10: 28 WINNERS of the Team Tango vs. Team Mambo competition.
  • Total Score for the night: 56

  Team Tango Video
  
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  • Week 7 Rumba: “Lost Without You” Robin Thicke. All those who have been looking forward to this week all season say “me!” Me!ME!Me!ME! I mean come on, the Rumba and Lil Kim are like made for each other! It’s the sexiest, sultriest dance of them all and the hottest, raunchiest star the show has ever had. Plus, this week she was going to be designing the costumes. Match made in heaven and guaranteed to steam windows.
    • Scores: 9-8-9 = 26
      

  Only it really didn’t at all! Technically it was great. But there was no fire. No heat. No va-va-va-voom hip action that she is known for! Hello, I think the defintion of rumba is “hip action” and there wasn’t much! The dress was super pretty though and so not what I expected her to make. But the routine fell flat for me and the judges agreed. Bruno said “taking the raunch out of Lil Kim is like having a margarita without the tequila” and I 100% agree!

  
  

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  • Week 6 Jive: “Jailhouse Rock” Elvis. This was even better then when she dedicated her first dance to her girls in the State Pen! Such a unique take to the jive and it was so much fun to watch! Derek’s choregraphy just keeps getting better as the weeks go on! Carrie-Ann gave standing O and screams!
    • Scores: 10-8-10 = 28 Top of the night!
    • watch the video on YouTube

  

  

  • Week 5 Viennese Waltz: “I’ll Be” Edwin McCain. Who knew she could be so feminine and pretty? Okay, one, I’m a sucker for waltzes in pretty, frothy pink dresses. Two, I adore that song and have for years. The rise and fall of the music made a perfect backdrop to the dance. And Kim just looked so ethereal and soft. Carrie-Ann talked about Derek and Kim complementing each other and working so well together and they really do. Bruno said she somehow made a Viennese Waltz sassy and sultry and she did but in a very understated way. She made me want to get off the couch and sign up for dance lessons so I could look like her!
    • Scores: 9-8-9 = 26
    • watch the video on YouTube
      

  

  • Week 4 Argentine Tango: Very hard, rough and nasty! Loved it! For someone that didn’t know much about an Argentine Tango before, Derek certainly choreographed a wonderful dance. Kim looked classy and elegant while keeping up a rough exterior—and never looked all ghetto-fab. There was so much passion, drama and suspense I needed a big glass of water when it was over! The footwork and lifts were really slick too! Great job and my favorite of hers so far!
    • Scores: 9-8-10 = 27. It was the first 10 of the season!
      
    • watch the video on YouTube
      

  

  

  • Week 3 Samba: Plenty of hip shaking, saucy fun! Really loved seeing her personality shine through in this performance. You could see that she totally wanted to busy out and get even nastier! Love her!
    • Score: 8-8-9 = 25
    • watch the video on YouTube

  

  • Week 2 Quickstep: “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” I defitely think she pulled off the elegant and refined look that she was trying to prove. Very classy dance and they really worked the floor with the steps too! The only thing I didn’t like is that most of the time she was dancing with her mouth gaping open which I found very distracting.
    • Scores 8-7-8 =23
      
    • watch the video on YouTube
      

  

  

  • Week 1 Cha-Cha-Cha: “Nasty” I think it was a great Week 1 performance. I just really wish she had the Cha-cha a little bit later in the season because I think she could totally kick ass with this dance, just not right off the bat. There were some sections that really popped but others that kinda fizzled
    • Scores: 7-7-7 = 21
      
    • watch the video on YouTube
      

  

  Check back after each week, I’ll be adding to Lil Kim’s profile!

  on to Gilles Marini Profile & Recap

  on to Shawn Johnson’s Profile & Recap

  on to Melissa Rycroft Profile & Recap

  on to Chuck Wicks  Profiles & Recap

Well, until their hot, saucy Rumba in Week 6!

I really didn’t know anything about Chuck except he is dating Julianne and he sings country.

I’m not a huge country music fan. That’s an understatement. I’m not remotely a country music fan although I do admit to having some Taylor Swift and Dixie Chicks (and even a few Tim McGraw) on my Zune. And Julianne but that’s besides the point. I heart her so I buy her things. Much like my love of David Cook. I bought his album and will go see him in concert even though the album was pretty terrible. But “Lie to Me” would make a perfect song for a Viennese Waltz.

Oh. Right. Point is, I never bothered to listen to Chuck’s music. Big mistake.

When I was looking for DWTS clips of him I came across of his videos and I am now heading to iTunes to DL them so I can listen every day. “All I Ever Wanted” was great and “Stealing Cinderella” blew me away. Not just because it’s named Cinderella although that is why I chose to listen to it! But I was actually crying by the end because it is so moving—-a lot like “Butterfly Kisses”  by Bob Carlisle actually. Definitely worth watching the video, it’s really, really good.

Plus, through YouTube I found all sorts of videos that Chuck and Julianne have been doing right after the show to get people to vote. So stinkin’ cute! And completely changed my perception of him.He seemed like kind of an arrogrant prick on the show and he really isn’t!

He could fall flat on his face next week and mess up every move and I’d probably still vote for him. Go Team Chuck!

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• Week 8 Cha-cha-cha: I wasn’t feeling the Smurf blue costumes they were wearing but I was definitely feeling the hip action! Chuck has really come out of his shell and he was working the floor like a Cha-Cha machine! His hips were “on fire!” He does look a little disjointed because his bottom half is shaking and shimmering but the top half is a little stiff. He flings his arms out and it doesn’t look smooth and natural—a common problem with the male celeb dancers. But it’s definitely improving.
  • Scores: 9-9-8=26. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough and Chuck was sent home.

  

• 
  
  • Team Mambo: “Single Ladies: okay 1. his solo with Jules was great. 2. That ending was freaking hysterical and anyone that didn’t see that……You missed out BIG TIME. The dance was to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” and the finale of the dance was an imitation of her video. Including the guys.
    But damnit, I just got that song out of my head from February with “Steeler Ladies” and the Obama Spoof! Now it’s back in again!
    • Team Scores: 8-8-9=25

    Total Scores: 51

  

• Team Mambo Video
  
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  • Week 7 Samba: “Baila Baila” My favorite part was that it was Chuck’s week to design the costumes and he dressed himself in a red satin outfit that look like some jammies that I actually have! I thought he nailed the dance and loved watching it! I mean, it was no Apollo-Julianne Samba but it was great! (ps–shhh! there is a bonus Apollo video at bottom of this post!)
    • Scores: 9-9-9=27
    • watch the video on YouTube

  

  • Week 6 Rumba: “She Will be Loved” Maroon 5. HOT DAMN! This was the sultriest, sexiest rumba ever on the show! It really was like a sneak peek into their sex lives especially in the racey lace costumes! Not that any male in America (and a lot of females, myself included) is going to complain about that! He was a great leading man and really turned up the raunch. Although I was really distracted by the hot blonde dancing around him!
    • Scores: 8-7-8
    • watch the video on YouTube

  

  

  • Week 5 Viennese Waltz: “Feels like Today” Again, they could have just sat down the entire dance and not done a thing and I still would have loved it. I mean, they had me at “Extremely good looking, dark haired man + hot blonde in pink floaty dress with sparkles doing the Viennese Waltz.” Gimme a piece of chocolate and you can put me to bed happy! And they didn’t disappoint. It was froathy pink happiness! Love! Plus, he got down on one knee at the end of the dance and it was super sweet. Although, a bit cruel since there was no special on-screen proposal!
    • Scores: 7-8-8 =23
      
    • watch the video on YouTube

  

  • Week 4 Lindy Hop: “Summer Time Blues” The Who. It was fun and cutesy but really wasn’t a fan. Just felt kinda blah, especially compared to the other performances of the night. Not the right dance, costume and song choice “for me for them.” Judges agreed and said it was just okay, not great. And he has more in him so let it shine!
    • Scores: 8-7-7 = 22
    • watch the video on YouTube

    

  • Week 3 Foxtrot: “All I Want to Do” Sugarland. Could be the funniest dance I’ve ever seen. My old roomie and I couldn’t stop laughing and actually had to watch it over and over to get the giggles out. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a bad performance!  It’s just that Chuck overplayed his character -especially when they broke hold- that it was downright comical. He was prancing while dancing. And seeing hot, strong manly-men prance is always entertaining!
    • Scores: 8-7-8 = 23
    • watch the video on YouTube
      

  

  • Week 2 Salsa: “Say Hey” Michael Franti. Um. All I can really say is what on earth was up with Julianne’s pants? They were crazy pants! Like a train wreck, I couldn’t stop looking at them and pretty much missed the whole routine! Although from what I’ve been told, I didn’t miss much!
    • Scores: 6-7-7 = 20
    • watch the video on YouTube

  

  • Week 1 Waltz: “Are You Lonesome Tonight” Elvis. Who didn’t love this routine? It was floaty and pretty and their real life romance was evident. Sure there were flaws but it was week 1! Carrie-Ann said he is the most graceful male star dancer this season.
    • Scores:
    • watch the video on YouTube

  
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  a quick added bonus because I mentioned it. I wanted to throw in Apollo Anton Ono’s Samba with Julianne. I watched it again and it made me just as happy as it did the first time!

  
  ————————–

  Check back after each week, I’ll be adding to Chuck’s profile!

  on to Gilles Marini Profile & Recap
  on to Lil Kim Profile & Recap
  on to Melissa Rycroft Profile & Recap
  on to Shawn Johnson Profiles & Recap

When Melissa was interviewed for Cheerleader of the Week for the Dallas Cowboys squad two years ago, she said her goal was

“Just to be happy, keep smiling, and have no regrets about any of the decisions I’ve made.”

I think it’s safe to say that she is following her goal. Maybe she does have some regrets about everything that has happened in the last year of her life, but you would never know by watching her glide across the dance floor with a beaming smile on her face.

What I absolutely love and admire about this young 26-year-old woman from Texas is that she took the negative fame of being the jilted fiance from The Bachelor and turned it into something great and magical. She really has become America’s Sweetheart AND and amazing star on the dance floor.

Shoot, when I have a breakup I crawl into a hole and don’t come out for months! This girl had her heart smashed on TV and a few weeks later, she was putting herself back out there, with a huge smile always on her face, and showing America what it means to be strong, brave and fearless.

• Dancing background: Studied ballet when she was younger, was part of the elite Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders–the most coveted in the land!
• Partner: Tony Dovolani. Tony is a ballroom master! I’ve actually seen him on some competitions on PBS and he is really, really good! He’s had the short end of the stick when it comes to partners for the last few seasons.But in Season 2 when he was matched with stunning blonde Stacy Keibler, they lit up the dance floor.

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UPDATE: Melissa came in third this season on Dancing with the Stars! Big congratulations to Shawn Johnson who beat out Gilles Marini by a mere 1% of the votes! This was my fave season to date! All three finalists were so equally matched that I didn’t even care who won!

Recaps! Beginning with the current week and going all the way back to week 1!

• The Finale Freestyle “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” C&C Music Factory
  • Scores: 9-9-9 =27
  • Total for the night:  56/60
  • Watch Melissa & Tony’s Freestyle video on YouTube in the sidebar

• The Finale Paso Doble Face Off “So What” Pink
  • Scores: 10-9-10= 29
  • Watch Melissa & Tony’s Paso Doble Face off video on YouTube in the sidebar

Melissa & Tony’s Solo begins at 1:43

• Week 10 Ballroom–Quickstep: “I Got Rhythm” Gershwin I have no idea how they managed to be elegant and cheeky at the same time! Amazing! Fun, upbeat yet coy and graceful. Musical, fancy footwork! Loved the ending, dramatic spin. Melissa’s dress was simply stunning! I wish I had it. Len loved it. Bruno and Carrie-Ann thought it was very pretty but not as dramatic and soulful as they expected her to be in the semi-finals.
  • Scores: 9-10-9 = 28
  • Watch Melissa & Tony’s Quickstep video on YouTube in the sidebar
• Week 10 Latin– Cha-Cha-Cha: “Save the Last Dance For Me” The Drifters/Michael Buble Interesting. Very interesting. I loved the dance. I thought it was un-freaking-believable. But like Bruno said “I like my Cha-Cha full thrust and full on” and I feel the same. He called her out that the energy wasn’t there through the whole thing. I also don’t feel it was a “cha-cha.” Fun routine but not the long -legged promenades and sassy-shaking of a cha-cha that I really love. Like Len said “I liked it, but not as much as I thought I would.”
  • Scores: 9-9-9 = 27
  • Total for the night: 55/60
  • Watch Melissa & Tony’s Cha-Cha-Cha video on YouTube in the sidebar!

• Week 9 Latin -Samba + indiv solo: Love love love love!!!! She looked amazing! Her solo was awesome and booty shaking-licious! I’m going out there and saying it’s my favorite Samba of all time which is the biggest compliment I can give since I have held Stacy Keibler’s Samba (season 2) as #1 and Apollo Anton Ono’s #2 for years! Len said she 100% deserves to be in Semi-finals. Everything anyone could possibly want and more! Every Samba step, roll and movement you can imagine! Carrie-Ann said it was “Flawless!”
  • Scores: 10-10-10 = 30 **Tony said he hasn’t had a perfect 30 since Season 2….which was during Stacy’s Samba!
    
  • Total for the night: 57/60, highest of the night
  • watch the Tony & Melissa’s perfect Samba video on YouTube in our sidebar!

• Week 9 Ballroom – Viennese Waltz: “Angel” Sarah McLachlan/City of Angels Soundtrack. From the opening moment until the graceful ending spin, I thought the whole dance was simply breaktaking. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. The routine was full of beautiful lines, twirls, grace and fluidity. And through it all there was a wonderful underlying romance. The judges were mixed and still think she has some minor tweeking work to do, but to the novices like myself, it was 10-10-10!
  • Scores 9-9-9 = 27
  • watch Melissa & Tony’s Viennese Waltz video courtesy of YouTube in our sidebar!

  Mel & Tony’s Solo Starts at 1:43
  
  

  • Week 8 Jive: Melissa could not perform live due to hairline fracture in ribs. They had to judge the taped rehearsal from the morning which is a shame because it looked like it could have been fantastic live. I was impressed that she could even perform that well in that kind of pain. Judges said that rehearsals are for “marking” which means just performing to see if they were in line with the band and the cameras. PLEASE VOTE FOR HER! LET’S GET HER BACK!
    • Scores: 7-7-7 = 21 *** just think of how great that would have been live!!
    • Team Mambo: Because she couldn’t perform, Lacey stood in for her. Melissa will automatically get the same score as Shawn and Chuck, the other two star members of the mambo team. Really wish we could have seen Mel’s version!
      • Team Scores: 8-8-9=25

      Total scores: 46

  • Week 7 The Argentine Tango: I thought it was brilliant! I’ve been saying from the beginning that I just like Mel as the sweet girl next door and have a hard time believing her in the passionate, sultry roles but her training with Teri Hatcher must have paid off because I was feeling it!  I didn’t like Paso but I loved her Tango! The footwork was just sick! And the “legal lifts” were breathtaking
    • Scores: 10-9-10 = 29
    • watch Melissa & Tony’s Argentine Tango video
      
  • 
  • Week 6 Rumba: “If I Were a Boy” It was so poignantly beautiful that I almost don’t words to describe it. The moves and lines were amazing and the costume was gorgeous. I just really wished that she pulled more emotion from within. The songs lyrics really mimic her story with Jason so it would have been nice to see a lot of fire coming from her but otherwise, totally flawless and wonderful!
    • Scores: 9-9-9 = 27
    • watch the video on YouTube
      

  

  • Week 5 The Paso Doble: The Paso is one of my favorite dances! I love the drama and the passion. But I didn’t really love it on Mel. She looked great but it just didn’t feel quite right. She’s just too cute and sweet to be convincing as the powerful Paso Diva. Had some good moments, but wasn’t my favorite dance at all.
    • Score: 8-8-9:
    • Watch the video on YouTube!

  

  Pretty, but no hot saucy passion!

  

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  • Week 4 Lindyhop: “Brown Derby Jump” Tons of tricks, complicated moves, talent, skill, pop, pizazz, sizzle, sparkle, and FUN! I thought Melissa looked as cute as a sparkly pink button! She was like eye-popping frothy pink cotton candy. It was fun, young, hip and right on point.

  

  • • Score: 10-9-10 It was the highest score of the competion to date…until Gilles came out with the perfect Tango!
    • Watch the video on YouTube

  

  • Week 3 Foxtrot: “Recipe for Love” –Once again, Mel’s classical training showed in this graceful ballroom routine. Bruno said it looks like the “music plays from within” her because of her grace, fluidity and musicality. I thought it was breathtaking!
    • Score: 9-9-9 = 27
    • Watch the video on YouTube

  

  • Week 2 Salsa: “Cup of Life”  Sassy! In Week 1, Mel showed off her ballet training in the ballroom and in the Latin week she showed her saucy side! The judges called it the Salsa of the night! Smooth and fluid she made the complicated choreography look effortless and sexy! Not to mention, she looked smoking hot in that outfit and wild hair. Jason Mesnick you can keep your Molly! I want Melissa! And I’m a heterosexual female!

  

  • • Score: 9-8-9 =26 The First two 9s of the season!
    • Watch the video on YouTube

  

  • Week 1 The Waltz: “Moon River” I can’t say enough about this dance. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. I had no idea going into the show that she was going to be on it and was just floored by her grace and sophistication. Now, normally I like my waltzes in froathy pink gowns but I thought this was simply fantastic. Timeless, classic, gorgeous, stunning and hauntingly chilling with its perfection and fluidity. And she only had like two days to do it!
    • Score: 8-7-8 = 23
    • Watch the video on YouTube

  

  

  
  

  Melissa and Tony are definitely my favorite couple of the season and I can’t wait to see what they do next!

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  Check back after each week, I’ll be adding to Melissa’s profile!

  on to Gilles Marini Profile & Recap

  on to Lil Kim Profile & Recap

  on to Shawn Johnson Profile & Recap

  on to Chuck Wicks & Ty Murray Profiles & Recap

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