Archive for the Dance Your Ass Off category.
Aired 8-31-09
The finale episode began with all the eliminated contestants returning to the loft and I must say – they all looked fabulous. As they greeted each other with hugs and kisses, I was struck by how well they have got along with each other throughout this process. Unlike the vast majority of reality shows, DYAO didn’t play up the conflicts or competitiveness. It really has been a nice show about good people trying to get healthy.
Host Marissa Jaret Winokur arrived to announce that the whole group would be performing again AND they would be wearing their costumes from week one. A whole lot of tailoring had to be done as they have lost a combined 420 pounds. The best part wasn’t even how they looked. It was how they moved. They all were more limber, confident and faster than when their journey began.
For the final dance off, the three remaining contenders (Ruben, Shayla and Pinky) had two dances. Round one was a freestyle dance and round two was a dance chosen by the judges. Shayla was assigned the Rumba, Ruben got the Paso Doble and Pinky was given the Samba. Both rounds were done in random order.
Round One
Pinky & Mr. Lucky: Pinky injured her foot early in the week and was told to stay off it as much as possible. She switched her workouts to the pool and had to visually study her choreography. For the freestyle, Pinky chose her comfort zone – hip hop. It was definitely funky but the movements were very compact. That may have been the result of her injury. Judge Mayte Garcia said she could see the injury in the performance but still loved it and gave the dance a 9. Lisa Ann Walter also gave it a 9 saying she could see pain but also confidence, determination and sexiness. Danny Teeson thought it was the best hip hop Pinky has done this season and also gave it a 9. Average: 9.0.
Ruben & Hilary: This pair went into the finals feeling confident – as they should have. Ruben has placed first for a majority of the weeks. They did a country number to “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” and it didn’t really work for me. It reminded me of the winning freestyle done by Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke from season 2 of DWTS – but Ruben’s dance wasn’t nearly as exciting. I think it was a bad style choice for him. Mayte said it was clear Ruben was having fun and that’s what it’s about so she gave him a 9. Lisa Ann called it adorable and scored it a 9. Danny also gave it a 9 but questioned the style choice because he felt Ruben could have done so much more. Average: 9.0.
Shayla & Mario: Shayla said winning would definitely make all her pain and sacrifice worthwhile but she’d still do it all again in a heartbeat. She and Mario did a lyrical jazz number and I think it was the best freestyle of the bunch. It was a different style than we’ve been seeing and it included some very impressive moves. Mayte loved the partnering and the lines and gave it a 10. Lisa Ann gave it a 9 saying there was beautiful unity between the partners. Danny thought it was great but started a little slow so he gave it a 9. Average: 9.3.
In between rounds we had a little competition for the eliminated players. Marissa told them that the person who had the highest percentage of weight loss since the beginning of the show would win $5000. The results were as follows:
Warren: Lost 29.1 pounds for a total of 8.14%.
Angela: Lost 22.3 pounds for a total of 12%.
Mara: Lost 31.5 pounds for a total of 12.03%.
Tara: Lost 31.1 pounds for a total of 13.1%.
Brandon: Lost 21.5 pounds for a total of 9.33%.
Trice: Lost 39.4 pounds for a total of 14.33%.
Karla: Lost 23.8 pounds for a total of 13.61%.
That left just Alicia and Miles.
Alicia lost 48.2 pounds for a total of 18.71%.
Miles lost 45.3 pounds for a total of 17.3%.
Alicia won the $5000. In a shocking turn of events, Alicia cried. 
Round Two
Ruben & Hilary: Ruben was very thankful for his time on DYAO for a number of reasons. Chief among them, it gave him back his passion for performing. I’m sure their Paso was very good but the camera angles, cuts to reaction shots and flashing lights were all way too distracting. I couldn’t enjoy the performance. None of that was Ruben’s fault so it was really a shame. Mayte called it “mind-blowing” and gave it a 10. Lisa Ann loved the choreography and Ruben’s technique and gave it a 10. Danny said that he’d have given Ruben an 11 if he could, but would have to settle for a 10. Average: 10. Combined Average: 9.5.
Shayla & Mario: Shayla said this journey has changed her life forever. It certainly changed her health. When Shayla arrived she was pre-diabetic and that is all gone now. The Rumba is one of my least favorite dances but Shayla was very smooth and sexy. Mayte called it very sensual but wanted to see more partnering. She gave it a 9. Lisa Ann only gave it an 8 saying it was really more of a lyrical dance than a Rumba. Danny, like me, said he usually finds the Rumba to be a “snoozefest” but he was drawn into Shayla’s version and gave it a 9. Average: 8.7. Combined Average: 9.0.
Pinky & Mr. Lucky: Pinky has loved her body’s transformation and the discovery that she can be both a B-girl and an elegant lady. Pinky’s Samba was energetic to the point of being frenetic. She limped over to get her scores while crying from the pain. Mayte said she was speechless. The dance was everything she could think of and gave it a 10. Lisa Ann called Pinky a “party in a little, tiny package.” She gave it a 10. Danny also gave it a 10 saying he knew this was just the beginning of what Pinky’s going to do. Average: 10. Combined Average: 9.5.
The group then moved to the scales:
Shayla lost 4.0 pounds for a total of 2.29%. Total Score = 11.29.
Ruben lost 7.5 pounds for a total of 3.03%. Total Score = 12.53.
Pinky lost 4.4 pounds for a total of 2.73%. Total Score = 12.23.
Ruben won the $100,000 prize. It was a very appropriate conclusion given how many times Ruben placed first throughout the competition. Plus, he really came alive as the weeks went by. You could see his confidence and self-esteem grow.
This has been a fun show. It’s done very well for Oxygen so I’m sure there will be a season two. I’ll be watching.
Next Week: It’s the reunion show! Miles was on the “Today Show” yesterday and he was looking even better than he did in this episode. I expect there will be some other amazing transformations.
Sneakpeaks and bonus footage are available at Oxygen’s website here:
http://o2.oxygen.com/player/?fid=1100245
Aired 8-24-09
This week was all about Ballroom as the contestants had to perform a Viennese Waltz and a Cha Cha. To prepare, they all got some additional coaching from “Dancing with the Stars” alum, Nick Kosovich. The four semi-finalists also got to participate in makeovers in preparation for a photo shoot with Life & Style magazine. They worked with a hairstylist, make-up artist and celebrity stylist Rachel Zalis. They all looked fantastic but the makeover was particularly profound for Alicia (see above photo). Pinky was also moved when she realized the dress they had her in was a size 8. She burst into tears after looking at the tag.
For round one the dance order was random. The bottom two for weight loss was revealed during the second round.
Round One
Shayla & Mario: Shayla declared that this journey has given her a newfound confidence and she’s ready to attack life. In the Cha Cha, Shayla had all her slinkiness going. She also achieved some very striking poses. Judge Mayte Garcia called it a sexy number but added that Shayla could even let go a bit more. She scored it a 9. Lisa Ann Walter clearly loved it and gave it a 10. Danny Teeson said it was “amazing” and also scored it a 10. Average: 9.7.
Alicia & Italo: Alicia has gone from a size 20 to a size 16 but recognizes that she still has a ways to go. She said she’s a new person now and she won’t give up. Alicia was able to reign in her boisterous personality for the Waltz but the dance was a bit on the clunky side. There was no gliding effect at all. Mayte called it beautiful but added that she would have liked more traveling across the floor and gave it a 7. Lisa Ann also gave it a 7 saying there wasn’t enough time in proper dance hold. Danny said the dance was a little clumsy and seemed to lack confidence. He made it 7’s all around. Average: 7.0.
Ruben & Hilary: Ruben seems to be feeling on top of the world. He said, “I finally feel like I’ve totally committed to something in my life and I succeeded at it.” He looked like he was brimming with confidence during the Cha Cha. Mayte noticed a footwork problem but thought the overall performance was great and gave it a 9. Lisa Ann had some problems with the choreography (she said it took too long to get to the actual Cha Cha) but liked the hip action and partnering so she gave it an 8. Danny like the content and loved the hip action so he gave it a 9. Average: 8.7.
Pinky & Mr. Lucky: Pinky said she’s now a better version of herself because she’s confident and believes in herself. Their Waltz was lovely and it was the most elegant and graceful dance that we’ve seen from Pinky. Mayte loved it and gave it a 9. Lisa Ann was thrilled to see someone do a technically correct Waltz and gave it a 10. Danny called it simple and to the point and also gave it a 10. Average: 9.7.
In between the dance rounds was a brief segment about the show going “green”. The contestants were all given reusable grocery bags and their second round costumes were made of fabric recycled from previous costumes.
Round Two
Alicia & Italo: The Cha Cha was a much better fit for Alicia and she attacked it. Mayte told her she really took control of the dance and gave it a 9. Lisa Ann said Alicia was the Cha Cha (sexy and fun) and gave it a 10. Danny called her the comeback queen and also gave it a 10. Average: 9.7. Combined Average: 8.4. On the scale, Alicia lost 3.5 pounds for a total of 1.62%. Total Score = 10.02.
Ruben & Hilary: They did a lovely, and fast, Waltz but the camera work for it was annoying. For some reason the director decided to get all artsy on us and it was very distracting. It must have been great, though, because Mayte finally gave up a 10 saying she loved every aspect of the dance. Lisa Ann appreciated Ruben’s commitment to the technical aspect of Ballroom but wanted to see more of the floor used. She gave it a 9. Danny gave it a 10 saying they looked, at times, like they were gliding on ice. Average: 9.7. Combined Average: 9.2. For the week, Ruben lost 7.1 pounds for a total of 2.79%. Total Score = 11.99.
That left Pinky and Shayla in the bottom two.
Pinky & Mr. Lucky: Little Pinky was sizzling in her Cha Cha. It was choreographed with a lot of fast movement and she kept up effortlessly. Mayte said Pinky had great lines and was looking much more comfortable in her high heels. Lisa Ann said Pinky’s footwork was still a little stompy but her hip action was great and no one else could compare with her upper body movement. Danny said he now thought Pinky could actually win the whole thing. On the scale, Pinky lost 1.9 pounds for a total of 1.17%.
Shayla & Mario: Their Waltz was very elegant but I don’t think it had much content. Mayte thought the dance was beautiful but needed more Viennese Waltz movement. Lisa Ann said they had proper dance hold but she also wanted more actual waltzing. Danny said it was technically a good dance but it left him feeling a bit cold. For the week, Shayla lost 2.1 pounds for a total of 1.19%.
Alicia, Pinky and Shayla lined up for the final results.
Shayla: Mayte – 8, Lisa Ann – 9, Danny – 9. Average: 8.7. Combined Average: 9.2. Total Score = 10.39. She was going to the finals.
Pinky: Mayte – 9, Lisa Ann – 9, Danny – 10. Average: 9.3. Combined Average: 9.5. Total Score = 10.67.
Alicia, who looked like she was going to hyperventilate waiting for Pinky’s scores, was going home. Pinky started bawling so there were a lot of tears on that stage. The judges very sweetly gave Alicia a standing ovation. She was a bit of a mess but, considering how off-the-hook she can get, Alicia handled it all OK.
For the umpteenth time, Ruben took first place. He’s definitely the front runner as we head to the finale.
Next Week: The finale brings all the eliminated contestants back and Pinky suffers an injury to her foot or ankle.
Sneakpeeks and bonus footage are available at Oxygen’s website here:
http://o2.oxygen.com/player/?fid=1100245
Aired 8-17-09
The four remaining contestants were surprised with visits from their relatives this week. The family members even got to be in the audience and see the final routines. I’m sure they were amazed at how different the contestants all looked from when the show started. I know I was.
The order for the first round of dances (80’s style) was random. The bottom two for weight loss wasn’t revealed until round two (Foxtrot).
80’s
Pinky & Mr. Lucky: Pinky was visited by her hip hop dancing brothers. She said seeing them was inspiring. A prime motivation for her has been to lose weight so she can join their dance crew. Pinky & Mr. Lucky danced to Madonna’s “Holiday” and it was very cute and very period. The choreography was a good fit with Pinky’s energetic and precise style. Judge Mayte Garcia thought it was all “great” and scored it a 9. Lisa Ann Walter was overjoyed to see how everything is streamlining for Pinky and also gave it a 9. Danny Teeson made it 9’s all around saying he appreciated that the routine was fun without being cheesy. Average: 9.
Ruben & Hilary: Yeah, I needed some tissue for this reunion. Ruben was visited by his partner of 20 years, John. John has been recovering from cancer so the separation has been particularly tough on Ruben. A lot of tears were flowing. John specifically mentioned how happy he was to see Ruben regaining the self-confidence that he’d lost over the years. Even though Ruben is the only contestant left who can really remember the 80’s, this was not his natural style of dance. Despite this, he did quite well with it and his face was much more expressive than when he started on the show. Perhaps that’s yet another sign of his increased confidence. Mayte thought it started a little rough but then kicked into gear. She gave it a 9. Lisa Ann liked it but gave it an 8 because the choreography seemed too careful. Danny agreed with Lisa Ann that it started careful but midway through Ruben really let loose. He gave it a 9. Average: 8.7.
Alicia & Italo: Alicia was visited by her mother and sister and we learned that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Mama seems to be a colorful character herself. The past few weeks Alicia has had a tendency to overdo the “fierce” facial expressions making her look angry when she dances. This time it all looked fun and happy – as it should when one is doing a cheerleading routine. Mayte said she loved the whole thing and was very proud of Alicia. She gave the routine a 10. Lisa Ann gave it an 8 but added that it was great to see how Alicia can now just pop right back up after doing the floor work. Danny wanted it to be more technically challenging and gave it an 8. Average: 8.7.
Shayla & Mario: Shayla got a visit from her beloved daddy and her super hot boyfriend. She and Mario had a cute dance, and Shayla did well with the moves, but the choreography seemed disjointed to me. Mayte said it was clear Shayla was focused and having fun and gave it a 10. Lisa Ann thought the dance really worked for Shayla and gave it a 9. Danny said it was the best of the 80’s numbers and gave it a 9. Average: 9.3.
In between the two rounds was a segment on a luncheon the contestants had with all the family members. Each person made a healthy version of their favorite dishes to share.
Foxtrot
Alicia & Italo: Alicia made a point of having her mom and sister meet with the show’s nutritionist, Meg Werner Moreta, to help convey the healthy food message so the whole family can share in what Alicia has learned. For the Foxtrot, Alicia had the right character going (and an awesome dress) but there was no glide to it. Mayte liked Alicia’s carriage and arm work and gave it an 8. Lisa Ann thought it was very elegant and that Alicia’s posture had greatly improved. She scored it a 10. Danny also noticed the lack of a glide across the floor but still very much enjoyed it. He gave the dance an 8. Average: 8.7. Combined Average = 8.7. On the scale, Alicia lost 5.9 pounds for a total of 2.66%. Total Score = 11.36.
Shayla & Mario: Shayla also had a meeting with her family and the nutritionist because she knew she’d be challenged when she got home. Her boyfriend is an athlete and eats about 6000 calories a day. Shayla has to be prepared to eat just 25% of that. Shayla & Mario’s Foxtrot was very elegant and did have some glide to it. Mayte loved Shayla’s carriage and emotion in the dance and scored it a 9. Lisa Ann gave it an 8 because Shayla had some trouble following Mario’s lead. Danny also gave it an 8 saying it was good but he would have liked more energy. Average: 8.3. Combined Average = 8.8. For the week, Shayla lost 4.5 pounds for a total of 2.48%. Total Score = 11.28.
That left Pinky and Ruben in the bottom two. It was the first time Ruben has been in jeopardy.
Pinky & Mr. Lucky: Pinky took her brothers to the gym and had a great deal of fun showing them up. Pinky looked lovely in the Foxtrot but the whole thing seemed to lack grace. Mayte said that she loved Pinky’s arm work. Lisa Ann felt the steps were a bit too small and careful. Danny felt it was more a pas de deux than a Foxtrot. On the scale, Pinky lost 3.7 pounds for a total of 2.22%.
Ruben & Hilary: Ruben was a bit shaken by the visit from his brother and boyfriend saying he feared it was a distraction and he struggled to get his head back in the game. I think this was the most graceful Foxtrot of the bunch. Mayte called it “fluid like water”. Lisa Ann said Ruben was the picture of masculine elegance. Danny simply called it “magic”. It was looking like he’d be getting some pretty good scores. For the week, Ruben lost 5.4 pounds for a total of 2.08%.
Shayla, Pinky and Ruben lined up for the final results.
Ruben: Mayte – 10, Lisa Ann – 10, Danny – 10. Average: 10. Combined Average = 9.4. Total Score = 11.48. He took over the first place spot.
Pinky: Mayte – 7, Lisa Ann – 7, Danny – 8. Average: 7.3. Combined Average = 8.2. Total Score = 10.42.
However, after a teary speech by Lisa Ann during which she expressed admiration for all of their transformations, she declared that no one would be eliminated. All four will be in the semi-finals.
Next Week: It’s makeover time (!) and our remaining four will be doing the Cha Cha and Viennese Waltz.
Sneakpeeks and bonus scenes are available at Oxygen’s website here:
http://o2.oxygen.com/player/?fid=1100245
Aired 8-10-09
This week the 5 remaining contestants had to perform two dances – hip hop and Tango. They approached the task with varying degrees of confidence. Mara was feeling particularly sure about it (never a good sign on a reality show) as she’s already danced a Tango and considers herself a natural at hip hop. The whole group had the chance to learn some new moves from Madonna Grimes who is a fitness/dance/hip hop instructor.
The first round was hip hop and host Marissa Jaret Winokur stated that the order for that round was random. The bottom two for weight loss would be revealed during the Tango round.
Hip Hop
Mara & Paul: This pair continued to be on an upswing with their working relationship. Paul took the lead in choreographing their Tango and Mara guided them through the hip hop number. That was clear because the dance definitely reflected Mara’s personality. It was fun and sassy. It wasn’t, however, particularly complicated – at least to my eye. Judge Mayte Garcia loved it and said Mara was ready to shoot a video. She scored it a 9. Danny Teeson gave it an 8 saying he was entertained. Lisa Ann Walter gave it a 9 saying that she’s gratified to see the journey Mara has made in just a few weeks. Average: 8.7.
Pinky & Mr. Lucky: Pinky was getting frustrated by her lack of weight loss. She has been in the bottom two numerous times. Last we knew, she was taking in just 950 calories a day. She complained of a lack of energy (duh!), so the show’s nutritionist, Meg Werner Moreta, had Pinky add 50 more calories to her diet. That’s better than nothing but I still believe Pinky needs to be eating at least 1200 a day. Their hip hop routine was a first for the show – the pro dancer was shown up by the contestant. Mr. Lucky wasn’t bad, by any means, but his moves were not as quick and sharp as Pinky’s. Lisa Ann enjoyed the performance but wanted to see more use of the space. She gave it an 8. Danny said he saw an eight count where Pinky forgot her steps but still scored it a 9. Mayte also saw the error but said it was probably the difference between doing a choreographed routine versus freestyling. She also gave it an 8. Average: 8.3.
Shayla & Mario: Shayla was very thankful for having Mario as her partner. They’re from the same area and she said he’s like “home” to her. I liked their number. It was a bit like watching a hot chick trying to be a badass but it worked for me. Danny gave it a 9 saying that he thinks Shayla could probably dance any style. Lisa Ann called it powerful and sexy and gave it a 10. Mayte also gave it a 10 and Shayla was so shocked she almost looked like she was going to pass out. Average: 9.7.
Alicia & Italo: Alicia was on a high after being the top scorer last week. She was also thrilled to be in the 220’s – a weight she has not seen since the 8th grade. I’ll give Alicia credit for doing some challenging choreography. It did look like she was struggling a bit with some of the moves but she’s come a long way from where she started. Mayte gave it an 8 saying she loved the routine although Alicia was off beat in a few places. Lisa Ann thought there were some wasted steps in the beginning but, overall, she loved it. She also gave it an 8. Danny made it 8’s all around saying Alicia might not have a natural groove but she makes up for it in personality. Average: 8.
Ruben & Hilary: Hip hop is not Ruben’s thing so he was quite nervous. He’s a trained ballet dancer so he’s much more comfortable with fluid movement. Ruben is also the oldest of the remaining contestants and, thankfully, Hilary remembered that. She didn’t try to make Ruben act like a kid. It actually was my favorite of any of the routines Ruben has danced so far. Lisa Ann gave it a 9 saying they were the most in sync couple of the night. Mayte said she could completely understand why hip hop was alien to Ruben but she enjoyed it and scored the dance an 8. Danny said it was a safe dance and gave it an 8 as well. Average: 8.3.
Tango
Alicia & Italo: Their Tango was fine but lacked sharpness and fire. Mayte gave it a 6 saying she wanted to see more precision and sharpness. Lisa Ann loved most of the dance but said the posture was missing. She gave it an 8. Danny also gave it an 8 saying he missed the snapping head movement. Average: 7.3. Combined average for both dances: 7.7. On the scale, Alicia lost 6.4 pounds for a total of 2.80%. Total Score: 10.50.
Ruben & Hilary: Ok, this is now my favorite dance from Ruben. He was brimming with confidence and attitude which may have been the missing pieces all along. Mayte said Ruben truly led the dance and gave it a 10. Lisa Ann thought it would be Ruben’s dance and it was. She also gave it a 10. Danny was almost bubbly as he made it all 10’s. Average: 10. Combined average for both dances: 9.2. For the week, Ruben lost 6.4 pounds for a total of 2.40%. Total Score: 11.60.
Pinky & Mr. Lucky: Hey! She’s not in the bottom two! Pinky’s moves were nice and clean but there was definitely a lack of Tango attitude. Her natural, sunny personality was still there. Mayte gave it a 7 saying there was some struggle in the partnering. Lisa Ann also gave it a 7 saying the hold was very good but other technical aspects of the Tango were missing. Danny gave it a 9 calling it an unconventional Tango. Average: 7.7. Combined average for both dances: 8.0. On the scale, Pinky lost 6.4 pounds (a popular amount this week) for a total of 3.70%. She burst into tears. Total Score: 11.70.
That left Shayla and Mara in the bottom two with Alicia in last place on the leader board.
Mara & Paul: It actually looked more like a Paso Doble than a Tango. Mara had the right attitude for the dance but her posture was way off. Mayte said she enjoyed it all – including the posture. Lisa Ann was impressed by the technical elements and the partnering. Danny also enjoyed it saying the arm placement was particularly good but she still needed to work on the rest of her posture. For the week, Mara lost 2.9 pounds for a total of 1.21%.
Shayla & Mario: They had some flashy moves in their Tango and Shayla’s movements looked very crisp. Mayte said she saw passion, romance and elegance. Lisa Ann thought they were hot and romantic – as always. Danny said it was fantastic and added that Shayla’s quiet confidence was separating her from the rest of the pack. On the scale, Shayla lost 2.4 pounds for a total of 1.31%.
Alicia, Mara and Shayla lined up for the final results.
Shayla: Mayte – 9, Lisa Ann – 8, Danny – 10. Average: 9.0. Combined average for both dances: 9.4. Total Score: 10.71. Shayla was safe.
Mara: Mayte – 10, Lisa Ann – 8, Danny – 8. Average: 8.7. Combined average for both dances: 8.7. Total Score: 9.91.
Mara was going home. Despite the tears streaming down her face, she was lovely and gracious as she said her goodbyes.
Next Week: The contestants get a visit from their families.
You can view sneak peeks and bonus footage at Oxygen’s website here:
http://o2.oxygen.com/player/?fid=1100245
Aired 8-03-09
It’s time to Swing! The twist this week was that the person who came in first place would get to make a phone call home. Most of the contestants wanted to call their parents but Ruben had his heart set on calling his partner John. John is recovering from cancer and Ruben wanted some reassurance that he was doing OK while Ruben was gone. The whole group was shown hitting the gym with renewed determination.
Trice & Jesus: After giving a beautiful tribute to her mom (whom she wanted to call), Trice and Jesus did a West Coast Swing dance. This was the first time Trice has had to do a straight up partner dance and she didn’t seem as sure of herself as she has been. Judge Mayte Garcia gave it a 7 saying that she really enjoyed the performance but thought Trice was anticipating the steps. Lisa Ann Walter said Trice needed to work on her posture to avoid her tendency to try and lead Jesus. She gave it a 6. Danny Teeson scored the dance a 7 saying that he appreciated the level of content in the dance. Average: 6.7. On the scale, Trice lost 4.2 pounds for a total of 1.69%. Total Score = 8.39.
Alicia & Italo: Alicia was in the bottom two for weight loss last week and her confidence took a hit. She vowed to fight back this week. They did a Jive number and it was a good fit for Alicia’s boisterous personality. I was impressed with the energy level she maintained. Mayte gave it an 8 saying the footwork, posture and confidence were “on”. Lisa Ann gave it a 9 saying the choreography was “genius”. Danny also loved it and scored the dance a 9. Average: 8.7. For the week, Alicia lost 6 pounds for a total of 2.56%. Total Score = 11.26. That’s going to be tough to beat.
Shayla & Mario: Shayla has started to really see the difference in the mirror and said that feeling was like a drug. She was determined and confident. Their dance was very clever. They did a high energy Lindy Hop to a very mellow song. I think Shayla hit it out of the park. It was a dance that would have been very impressive on “Dancing with the Stars”. Mayte said she had to give it a 10. Mario began jumping around and I think it was the biggest reaction we’ve seen from one of the pros. Lisa Ann said it was a bit incongruous to have that style of dance with a romantic song but it somehow worked. She scored it an 8. Danny didn’t think it worked all that well but did think Shayla was great so he gave it a 9. Average: 9.0. On the scale, Shayla lost 3.4 pounds for a total of 1.82%. Total Score = 10.82. Shayla won’t get the call home but she did get to make a very moving statement about what her father means to her. It certainly got me all teary eyed.
Ruben & Hilary: Well, there was no question that, after watching Ruben talk about how much he wanted to talk to his boyfriend John, I was rooting for him. He’s been in first place so many times when it didn’t really matter that it would be a shame for it not to happen when it did. Ruben showed a lot more personality in the dance then he usually does and it was a solid performance. Mayte gave it a 9 praising Ruben’s ability to go from strong to soft with his movements. Lisa Ann only gave it a 7 saying she thought Ruben’s movements were too fluid for a Jive. Danny was more in agreement with Mayte and appreciated how Ruben has improved each week. He gave it a 10. I thought that was a bit too high. Average: 8.7. On the scale, Ruben lost 6.2 pounds for a total of 2.28%. Total Score = 10.98.
That left Mara and Pinky in the bottom two for weight loss with Trice in last place on the leader board.
Mara & Paul: Mara hurt her knee during a group exercise. It must have happened the week before because the clip they showed of the workout included Miles. On the plus side, her sometimes tumultuous relationship with Paul seems to have settled down. Mara is a little powerhouse but it all seemed muted this week. It might have been from the injury and/or the dance style. Mayte enjoyed it but would have liked a bit more bounce in the steps. Lisa Ann disagreed and said the lack of bounce was in keeping with the West Coast Swing. She also loved Mara’s facial expressions. Danny thought Mara and Paul had their spark back. For the week, Mara lost 3.0 pounds for a total of 1.24%.
Pinky & Mr. Lucky: Pinky had decided that if she won, she’d give her call to Ruben. She dialed up her workouts to try and lose more weight which, unfortunately, didn’t seem to have worked. Her Lindy Hop, however, did. It was a nice fit for our hip hop dancer. Mayte thought there was a little bit of a struggle with some of the partner work but, overall, enjoyed it. Lisa Ann said they were a fun pair but she really wished Pinky wasn’t so frequently in the bottom two. Danny called her the cat with 9 lives and wondered how many she had left. On the scale, Pinky lost 1.3 pounds for a total of 0.75%.
Pinky, Mara and Trice lined up for the results.
Mara: Mayte – 9, Lisa Ann – 8, Danny – 8 for an average of 8.3. Total Score = 9.54. She was safe.
Pinky: Mayte – 8, Lisa Ann – 7, Danny – 9 for an average of 8.0. Total Score = 8.75.
Trice was going home. She was beautiful and composed as she made her exit. She must have been quite popular because the remaining girls were in tears over her departure.
Next Week: Each contestant has to do both a hip hop dance and a Tango.
Sneak peeks and bonus clips are available at Oxygen’s website here:
http://o2.oxygen.com/player/?fid=1100245
Aired 7-27-09
After last week’s double elimination, only 7 contestants remain. Host Marissa Jaret Winokur showed up at their loft to announce that the show would be assigning dance styles this week. Each person drew their style and movie song choice from a bucket of popcorn. Some were thrilled and others were panic stricken.
I have to say, I could really see a difference in the appearance of each contestant this week. Hopefully they could see it too.
Shayla & Mario: Shayla was still battling her ankle injury this week which limited what she could do physically. She was assigned a hip hop routine to “Low” from “Step Up 2″. Her partner did a great job with the choreography. The focus always stayed on Shayla and the moves were interesting. Shayla doesn’t have Pinky’s sharpness in hip hop but she did still do a very credible job. Mayte Garcia scored the dance an 8 saying she appreciated how Shayla was fighting through her injury. Lisa Ann Walter called Shayla a star and gave it a 9 adding that it was great to see her do something other than sexy. Danny Teeson gave Shayla an 8 commenting that she was starting to separate herself from the rest of the pack. Average: 8.3. On the scale, Shayla lost 5 pounds for a total of 2.60%. Total Score: 10.90. She was beyond thrilled.
Pinky & Mr. Lucky: When last we checked in with Pinky she was down to just 951 calories a day and wasn’t losing much weight. Of course not! She was in starvation mode. She met again with the show’s nutritionist (Meg Werner Moreta) who said Pinky was eating too much peanut butter and jelly. How much PB&J can someone eat on 951 a day!?! Pinky said that, this week, she was making a point of eating all her fruits and vegetables. Pinky was assigned a tap routine to “Shout” from “Animal House”. She’s a very gifted dancer but Pinky was out of her element. You could see the effort behind every step. None of it looked natural. Mayte called the performance “OK” and gave it a 6 because of the lack of connection between the partners. Lisa Ann said she did see a connection but added that there was a bit too much Latin influence which caused Pinky’s upper body to be too loose. She gave it a 7. Danny liked it but didn’t love it and gave it a 7. Average: 6.7. For the week, Pinky lost 4.2 pounds for a total of 2.35%. Total Score: 9.05.
Miles & Michelle: Miles isn’t a trained dancer (he said he’d never had a lesson) so this week’s routine was tough for him. He said he was trying to just stay focused – particularly on his eating. He was much more concerned with being sent home because of a lack of weight loss than for low dance scores. Miles had to do a Jazz routine to the theme from “Fame”. How do I say this gently? It was clearly a routine choreographed by a girl who wasn’t remembering that her partner was a man. It was all rather silly and sloppy. Mayte gave it a 5 saying it looked like a dance recital. Lisa Ann also gave it a 5 saying it just didn’t do anything for her. Danny (whose face was priceless as he watched) said he “absolutely hated it.” He gave it a 6 because Miles was at least trying. Average: 5.3. On the scale, Miles lost 6 pounds for a total of 2.48%. Total Score: 7.78. He was not a happy camper. Miles, buddy, your partner let you down this week.
Mara & Paul: Mara has a very touching back-story. She lost her brother to complications from diabetes and is diabetic herself. In just 5 weeks she has lowered her blood sugar levels to the point of not needing her medication. She was assigned a Tango to “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” from “The Wedding Singer”. Mara has a big, boisterous personality so the constrained nature of the Tango had to have been a challenge. It started off weak but, once Mara got to her solo section, it all kicked into high gear. Mayte gave it an 8 saying she loved the connection. Lisa Ann also liked the sections that had Mara dancing separately and gave it an 8. Danny gave it a 7 saying he loved the routine that Paul designed. Average: 7.7. For the week, Mara lost 5 pounds for a total of 2.03%. Total Score: 9.73.
Ruben & Hilary: Ruben was feeling very positive about himself. He was feeling healthier and could see the physical changes in the mirror. He wasn’t, however, feeling too good about his dance. He had to do a Foxtrot to “Old Time Rock and Roll” from “Risky Business”. I think they had the toughest song/dance combination. They did their best to put some appropriate personality in the routine but the traditional Foxtrot steps just looked out of place. Mayte enjoyed seeing Ruben’s obvious love for dancing and gave him an 8. Lisa Ann gave it just a 6 saying she was disappointed by the lack of passion, power and actual Foxtrot steps. Danny gave it an 8 saying he had very low expectations for the routine but was pleasantly surprised. Average: 7.3. On the scale, Ruben lost 10.3 pounds (Wow!) for a total of 3.64%. Total Score: 10.94. He’s lost a total of 41.8 pounds since starting the show!
That left Trice and Alicia in the bottom two for weight loss and Miles in last place on the leader board.
Trice & Jesus: Poor Trice. She had to do a Fosse style dance to “All That Jazz” from “Chicago”. Bob Fosse did not choreograph for voluptuous women. Supermodels were probably too curvy for him but Trice gave it her best shot. Several of the moves looked awkward (how could they not?) but she nailed the personality of the dance. Mayte congratulated Jesus on the job he did training Trice. Lisa Ann liked that Trice was still able to bring the joy and fun even while focusing on her posture. Danny said Trice made up for her flipper like feet with performance and style. For the week, Trice lost 3.9 pounds for a total of 1.55%.
Alicia & Italo: Alicia took previous criticism from the judges to heart and worked on strengthening her core. She had to dance a Jive to “Maniac” from “Flashdance” and she went for it with all the classic moves and even the torn sweatshirt. My problem with it was that she did it all with a rather angry look on her face. Mayte said she could see improvement with Alicia’s core but she needed to also focus on staying with the beat. Lisa Ann somehow saw joy (?) in the dance but noted that some of the Jive steps were not as complete as they should have been. Alicia got a little defensive over that remark. Danny was bothered by the lack of actual Jive steps. For the week, Alicia lost 4.2 pounds (which is a good number for someone in the bottom two) for a total of 1.76%.
Miles, Trice and Alicia lined up for the final results.
Alicia: Mayte – 7, Lisa Ann – 7, Danny – 6. Average: 6.7. Total Score = 8.46. She was safe.
Trice: Mayte – 7, Lisa Ann – 8, Danny – 6. Average: 7.0. Total Score: 8.55.
Miles was going home. He was sweet, gracious and funny in defeat. I’m going to miss him. Trice, on the other hand, seriously lost points with me by going crazy with her celebration right in front of Miles. Honey, that wasn’t your moment. It was his and you just looked thoughtless.
Next Week: It’s Swing dancing and the person who finishes in the top spot will get to make a call home.
Bonus footage and sneak peeks are available at Oxygen’s website here:
http://o2.oxygen.com/player/?fid=1100245
Aired 7/20/09
The episode began with host Marissa Jaret Winokur visiting the 9 remaining contestants at their loft with a big announcement. This week there would be a double elimination. Ruben and Miles responded to the news with confidence bordering on cockiness – which is usually the reality show kiss of death.
The good news of the week was that Brandon has lowered his blood sugar by over 100 points. He’s one of the people with the most serious health problems so it was good to hear he had things going in the right direction.
As usual, the two contestants with the lowest percentage of weight lost for the week danced last.
Miles & Michelle: This pair has been using a camcorder to record their rehearsals so Miles can study his technique. He really is more of a character dancer and he looked challenged this week because the Latin style demanded more real dancing. He did well on the lifts but looked awkward on the relatively simple steps and hesitant on the transitions. Judge Mayte Garcia gave it a 6 saying she wanted to see more strength from Miles when he’s partnering. Lisa Ann Walter thought Miles did well with a style he wasn’t used to and gave it a 7. Danny Teeson said they could have made better use of the dance space and gave it a 6. Average: 6.3. On the scale, Miles lost 4.3 pounds for a total of 1.75%. Total Score = 8.05. Yikes! Miles may be in big trouble.
Trice & Jesus: The show’s nutritionist (Meg Werner Moreta) had Trice drinking anabolic shakes to reduce the lactic acid in her muscles so she wouldn’t get so sore from working out. Trice was also being careful about her calories because of the scare she got when she was almost eliminated the previous week. They showed her reducing her serving of chicken from 4 ounces to 2. Ummmm. I’m not sure that is the healthiest message to send. One can get too carried away with the calorie cutting. I really like Trice because she never seems to doubt that she is hot stuff when she’s dancing. I thought she was really working it through the number. Mayte gave Trice a lot of compliments on her strength and technique but only scored it a 6 because of a mistake in the choreography. Lisa Ann gave it a 7 saying she was pleased to see Trice doing steps outside her comfort zone. Danny would have liked more hip action but also scored the dance a 7 because Trice went for a new style. Average: 6.7. For the week, Trice lost 5.9 pounds for a total of 2.29%. Total Score = 8.99.
Alicia & Italo: Alicia was excited for Latin week because her partner is a top Latin dancer and she’s part Chilean. They spent the week focused on technique. I’ll admit that I can’t really judge that part (I couldn’t tell you if Alicia lead with her heel or toes) but it seemed that the speed of the dance reduced the sharpness of her moves. Mayte gave it a 6 saying that she liked the sensuality but thought the footwork could be sharper. Lisa Ann thought the hip action was good but that Alicia needed to extend herself up so her upper body movements could be bigger. She also scored it a 6. Danny didn’t care for the lift saying they weren’t ready for it, but he liked the progress he was seeing and gave the dance a 7. Average: 6.3. On the scale, Alicia lost 6.4 pounds for a total of 2.61%. Total Score = 8.91.
Ruben & Hilary: Ruben was very proud of having lost the most weight so far. He said that his calorie minimum was 1,735 which struck me as a healthy and realistic number. The difficulty I have with Ruben is that, since I know he was a professional dancer, my expectations for him are always high. Once again, I didn’t feel like the dance really challenged him. The moves he did, though, were sharp and confident. Mayte thought the whole thing was great and “hot, hot, hot” and gave it an 8. Lisa Ann thought the technique was spot on and scored it a 9. Danny also gave it a 9 but added that Ruben had to warm up a bit at the beginning and needed to work on being ready right out of the gate. Average: 8.7. For the week, Ruben lost 4.7 pounds for a total of 1.63%. Total Score = 10.33.
Shayla & Mario: Shayla hurt her ankle during practice and was told by Dr. Huizenga that she could only walk through her routine for the rest of the week. Her regular workouts were also changed to include more work in the pool. Shayla’s goal was to not have the injury show on the dance floor and I think she accomplished that. It was a smooth and stylish Salsa. Mayte gave it an 8 saying the dance was on fire and she also couldn’t tell there was an injury. Lisa Ann loved everything about the number and gave it a 9. Danny said it was a perfect mix with an unbelievable performance. He also gave it a 9. Average: 8.7. On the scale, Shayla lost 4.3 pounds for a total of 2.19%. Total Score = 10.89. Shayla was in first place with Miles and Alicia in trouble at the bottom of the scoreboard.
Mara & Paul: This partnership was running into some personality issues – meaning two big personalities were trying to run over each other. The background clip made it seem that Mara was trying to work things out while Paul was being intractable. I think it was Mara’s weakest dance so far but that probably had more to do with the style than from any conflict going on between her and Paul. Mayte gave it a 6 saying the footwork and the connection between the pair could have been stronger. Lisa Ann said it can be difficult for a strong, modern woman to let the man be the boss but, on the dance floor, that’s the way it is. Mara still had to learn to let Paul lead without fighting it. She gave the dance just a 5. Danny saw it completely different and thought the tension made it more interesting. He gave it a 7. Average: 6. On the scale, Mara lost 3.5 pounds for a total of 1.40%. Total Score = 7.40. Oh, oh! That put Mara in last place! It also made Alicia safe from elimination.
Tara & Michael: Tara was thrilled because she’s already down two jeans sizes. As for the dance ….. I felt bad for her. It was all quite awkward and unsure. To top it off, she almost fell on the final move. Mayte gave it a 4 saying the footwork and technique weren’t there. Lisa Ann gave it a 5 saying Tara’s more of a rocker chick. Danny said it was clear at the start that Tara didn’t believe she could do it. He also gave it a 4. Average: 4.3. For the week, Tara lost 4.2 pounds for a total of 1.85%. Total Score = 6.15. Oh my. I think Tara is toast.
That left Brandon and Pinky in the bottom two. It was Brandon’s third time in that position!
Pinky & Mr. Lucky: Because Pinky hasn’t been losing much weight, the show’s nutritionist dropped her calorie intake from 1,089 to 951 per day. I know Pinky’s one of the smaller contestants but come on! That’s too low for someone who is sedentary. It’s ridiculous for someone who’s doing intense workouts. Bob Harper would have a fit over this. I think Pinky is probably the best overall dancer in the cast. While this may not have been her best number, she still did very well. Mayte said it was obvious that Pinky wasn’t use to dancing in heels – but she loved the ending backbend. Lisa Ann thought it got a little “stompy” in the middle which was either caused by the heels or by Pinky reverting back to her normal hip hop mode. Danny liked the choices that were made with the choreography. On the scale, Pinky lost 1.4 pounds for a total of 0.78%. I’d bet money that if she got her calorie intake up to 1,300 per day she’d lose a lot more.
Brandon & Yesenia: Brandon’s setup clip made it sound like he was feeling good about the calorie intake and workouts for the week. But, given the extreme plan that Pinky was on, I’m a bit concerned that they had Brandon at too low a daily calorie allowance as well. Yesenia gave Brandon some really challenging choreography this week and I thought he did a solid job with it. Some of the moves were very slick. Mayte thought it was a good performance but said Brandon still needed to go full out through the whole number. Lisa Ann loved the tricks but Danny wanted more of the basics. For the week, Brandon lost 1.7 pounds for a total of 0.77%.
Pinky, Brandon and Tara lined up for the final results.
Pinky: Mayte – 7, Lisa Ann – 8, Danny – 8 for an average of 7.7. Total Score = 8.48. Pinky was safe and Tara was the first to go home.
They then brought Mara out to stand next to Brandon.
Brandon: Mayte – 6, Lisa Ann – 6, Danny – 6 for an average of 6. Total Score = 6.77. Brandon was also going home.
Tara was the picture of composure but poor Brandon was quite tearful. Bless her heart, Mara also got teary but it was obviously out of support for Brandon. She kept telling him to remember everything she’d told him. She certainly didn’t seem to take any joy out of beating him.
Next Week: DYAO goes to the movies with Hollywood themed dances. Yes, someone is wearing a torn sweatshirt.
Aired 7/13/09
Week three opened with our 10 remaining contestants attending a pole dancing class in preparation for this week’s routines. Host Marissa Jaret Winokur informed us that they didn’t just need to prove they have skill on the pole, they also have to let their flirty and sexy sides show. I have to admit; watching men spin around on a stripper pole does take some getting used to.
As always, the two people with the lowest percentage of weight lost for the week had to dance last.
Shayla & Mario: In just 3 weeks, Shayla has eliminated all signs of her pre-diabetic condition. She looked great in the dance and her pole moves were quite graceful – almost elegant. Unfortunately, her partner’s choreography pulled focus from Shayla too often. Judge Mayte Garcia called it a “sexy tease”. Even though she commented that Shayla was anticipating some of the moves, Mayte still scored it an 8. Lisa Ann Walter gave it a 7 saying she could tell Shayla was feeling hot and sexy. Danny Teeson gave it an 8 saying that, if he saw Shayla dancing like that in a club, she wouldn’t be at all out of place. Average: 7.7. On the scale, Shayla lost 2.3 pounds for a total of 1.16%. Total: 8.86.
Ruben & Hilary: Ruben was surprised by how well he did in learning the pole moves and felt good about his chances at repeating as the high scorer. I thought it was an odd dance. Ruben wore a three piece suit and did the routine in a robotic/puppet style with a deadpan face. Wearing a suit was a clever idea but it would have been more appropriate for a comic routine. To me, the robot choreography just looked awkward. Mayte, though, saw it as being considerably better. She called it sexy and gave it an 8. Lisa Ann also gave it an 8 saying it was entertaining and conveyed an interesting story. Danny also liked the choice but took off a point because Ruben didn’t use the pole enough. He gave it a 7. Average: 7.7. For the week, Ruben lost 7.8 pounds for a total of 2.64%. Total: 10.34.
Trice & Jesus: The “Biggest Loser” has always given contestants “temptations” involving junk food but this show takes it to another level. Not only do they have a cupboard full of junk food, they also have cheesecake in the refrigerator! That’s just cruel. Especially for Trice because it’s one of her biggest cravings. The nutritionist told her to eat a dark chocolate covered strawberry to satiate those cravings. Trice certainly had a good time with her dance but I found it to be a bit dull. She hardly used the pole and most of her moves were repetitive of her previous dances. Mayte gave it a 7 saying she also wanted to see more use of the pole. Lisa Ann gave it a 6 saying she wanted to see Trice slow down and have longer, more languid movements. Danny gave it a 6 saying that Trice needed to have worked the pole more – and added that it would have burned more calories. Average: 6.3. On the scale, Trice lost 2.9 pounds for a total of 1.11%. Total: 7.41.
Miles & Michelle: Miles was disappointed that he only lost 2.9 pounds in week 2. This week he followed his diet plan exactly saying that he is allowed 1519 calories per day. 1519? There must be some sort of calculation behind that odd figure. I’m curious as to what it is. Miles said he has a friend who tells him that he always dances like a stripper – and he does. Miles fully embraced the spirit of the dance by peeling off his clothing. It was all done with a sense of humor and I was entertained. Mayte gave Miles an 8 but said she thought he could still hit his moves harder. Lisa Ann also scored it an 8 saying she couldn’t keep her eyes off Miles despite the “slubby” start to the routine. Danny was pleased that Miles finally stopped looking at the floor and gave it a 7. Average: 7.7. For the week, Miles lost 4.6 pounds for a total of 1.83%. Total: 9.53.
Pinky & Mr. Lucky: Pinky was not at all comfortable with the idea of pole dancing saying that sexy and feminine were out of her element. She decided to create an alter ego to help get into character. It worked for her because the little thing had no problem at all bringing the sexy. Mayte gave it a 7 saying that it was a good routine but Pinky didn’t use the pole enough. Lisa Ann was in tears saying that Pinky had bloomed right before their eyes. She gave it a 9. Danny gave it an 8 saying he loved it but suggested Pinky keep working on strengthening her core. Average: 8. On the scale, Pinky lost 2.0 pounds for a total of 1.10%. Total: 9.10.
Brandon & Yesenia: Brandon was in the bottom two for the first two weeks. He had a bit of a “come to Jesus” meeting with Dr. Huizenga. Despite being one of the smaller contestants, Brandon has the most health problems. Last week Brandon’s dance was very entertaining and saved him from elimination. This time around he wasn’t as sharp. Mayte thought Brandon may have focused so much on the weight loss that the dancing suffered. She gave it a 7. Lisa Ann thought Brandon wasn’t comfortable with the style so it lacked sexiness. She gave it a 6. Danny also gave it a 6 saying that, because Brandon has upper body strength, he should have done more on the pole. Average: 6.3. For the week, Brandon lost 4.3 pounds for a total of 1.91%. He was ecstatic. Total: 8.21.
Tara & Michael: Tara injured her knee last week but said it was feeling much better this week. She worked on bringing out her inner MILF and said her kids were definitely not going to be watching this performance. Tara was certainly working that pole. She didn’t swing on it much but she barely took her hands off of it. It was a good, sexy number. Mayte called it sensual and seemed to like it but only scored it a 6. Lisa Ann gave it an 8 saying it was a great comeback from the injury. Danny also gave it an 8 calling it a clever use of the pole for someone without a lot of upper body strength. Average: 7.3. On the scale, Tara lost 2.0 pounds for a total of 0.87%. Total: 8.17.
Alicia & Italo: After last week’s meltdown (which got Alicia featured on several versions of “The Soup”) she had a calmer week and was feeling confident. Never one to lack personality on the dance floor, Alicia went to town with her routine. Mayte was impressed with the sensuality and gave it an 8. Lisa Ann also gave it an 8 saying she loved the pole work. Danny said it was a great turnaround from the previous week and gave it a 7. Average: 7.7. For the week, Alicia lost 2.3 pounds for a total of 0.93%. Total: 8.63.
That left Mara and Karla in the bottom two for weight loss with Trice in last place among those who had performed.
Karla & Jull: Karla had to tone down her comedienne side for this performance. She found that challenging so she planned to step up her workouts to compensate with weight loss. Clearly that didn’t work. Unfortunately, she did look just as uncomfortable on the pole as she feared she would. Mayte said she could see doubt in Karla’s eyes at the beginning of the routine. Lisa Ann thought Karla needed to stop thinking of herself as the funny girl who just plays at being sexy. She was, however, impressed with the pole work. Danny said he could tell that Karla didn’t think she was sexy. On the scale, Karla lost just one pound for a total of 0.62%. Given her huge numbers the first two weeks, this lull should have been expected.
Mara & Paul: Mara had been feeling supremely confident about her dancing ability but the idea of pole dancing shook her up. She knew she lacked upper body strength. Her discomfort was evident to me but, otherwise, Mara was slamming and writhing all over the place. Mayte, on the other hand, thought Mara looked quite comfortable with the pole. Lisa Ann thought it was good pole work and Danny said it was clear Mara worked hard on the routine. For the week, Mara lost 1.8 pounds for a total of 0.71%.
Trice, Mara and Karla lined up for the final results.
Mara: Mayte – 9, Lisa Ann – 8, Danny – 8 for an average of 8.3. Total Score: 9.01. Mara was safe.
Karla: Mayte – 5, Lisa Ann – 6, Danny – 6 for an average of 5.7. Total Score: 6.32.
Karla was going home. For a change, the person saved didn’t steal the loser’s final moment by crying. No, Trice decided to cheer for herself right in front of Karla. Ugh! Manners, people, manners. Karla was gracious in defeat and blew kisses to the judges.
Next Week: It’s Latin time AND there’s a double elimination.
Sneak peeks and bonus footage are available at Oxygen’s website here:
http://o2.oxygen.com/player/?fid=1100245
Aired 7/6/09
It’s Disco Week! And host Marissa Jaret Winokur’s hair fits right in.
You know how last week I said that Alicia seemed very young. She is. She may be the same chronological age as several of the others but she is definitely the kid of the group. This week she got frustrated with herself because she wasn’t picking up the choreography as quickly as she thought she should. She walked around the common room and kitchen screaming at the top of her lungs. She then went to the “Cheat” cupboard and started throwing all the junk food into the trash. That part I actually liked because, while the anger itself was way out of proportion to the situation, she at least found a direction for it that wasn’t self-destructive. When she first went for the food I really thought she was going to eat it. It was nice to see that several of her housemates helped her carry out the bag full of junk.
Unfortunately, that scene was about all the real background we got on the contestants this week. Hopefully as the number of contestants dwindles, more of the hour will be spent on their eating plans, emotional challenges, etc. I love the dancing but the other stuff is important and interesting too.
Marissa informed us that the setup would be the same as week one. The last two people who will dance are the two with the smallest percentage of weight lost for the week. As happens every season on the “Biggest Loser”, the weight loss numbers in week two were down significantly.
Karla & Jull: Karla was last week’s first place finisher. She was feeling quite confident going into this week’s performance. Hmmmm. Her dance last week was really fun but this one was rather dull and slow. Karla didn’t seem to have all that much choreography to do and, what little there was, she didn’t execute cleanly. Judge Mayte Garcia thought Karla seemed a bit stiff in the shoulders and gave it a 6. Lisa Ann Walter gave it a 5 saying that Karla didn’t seem as connected to the music as she had been the previous week. Danny Teeson called it a case of “second show blues” and also gave it a 5. Average: 5.3. Karla lost 4.4 pounds for the week for a total of 2.66%. Total Score: 7.96. I’m thinking Karla may be in trouble.
Shayla & Mario: Pictured above. It really hit this former cheerleader that she can’t do the type of moves that she could when she was thinner. What she was given to do in this dance ended up not being all that complicated but she really sold it. Shayla also looked pretty darn good in her shiny, orange, skintight costume – an accomplishment for anyone. Mayte called it sexy and in sync and gave it a 7. Lisa Ann thought it was lovely and smooth but could have used a little more energy. She gave it a 6. Danny said Shayla nailed the spirit of the dance and gave it an 8. Average: 7.0. For the week, Shayla lost 2.7 pounds for a total of 1.34%. Total Score: 8.34.
Miles & Michelle: They took to heart the judges’ comments from last week that Miles can handle more content. They concentrated on technique in their rehearsals. Miles did a nice job of keeping up with his partner and Michelle did structure the dance to keep the focus on him. Mayte called it a tight performance and gave it a 7. Lisa Ann liked the speed and energy and also scored it a 7. Danny said it was a good routine but Miles blew it by looking down at the ground for most of the dance. He scored it a 6. Average: 6.7. On the scale, Miles lost 2.9 pounds for a total of 1.14%. Total Score: 7.84. Karla was off the hook as Miles moved into last place.
Mara & Paul: Mara had the highest dance score last week and she was feeling extremely confident about her abilities. The dance was very fun and Mara had a lot of good moves – although some could have been sharper. Mayte called it amazing and gave it an 8. Lisa Ann loved the attitude and also scored it an 8. Danny felt there was too much “shtick” (he called it “all ham and no content”) and gave it a 6. Average: 7.3. On the scale, Mara lost 3.2 pounds for a total of 1.25%. Total Score: 8.55. She moved into first place.
Ruben & Hilary: Ruben felt pretty good about this week because of his dance background AND because he was the only one in the cast alive during the disco era. His experience did show a bit more this week and his lifts were quite good. Mayte loved the lifts but still wanted to see more real dancing from Ruben. She scored it a 7. Lisa Ann gave it an 8 saying that a good, strong male partner is a tough thing to find. Danny also gave it an 8 because he liked that Ruben worked on last week’s problem of being too delicate and was very strong this week. Average: 7.7. For the week, Ruben lost 5.1 pounds for a total of 1.70%. Total Score: 9.40. He was now in first place with Miles still in last.
Pinky & Mr. Lucky: Pinky got a real scare last week being in the bottom two for weight loss. She was struggling with the calorie counting and food journaling. Pinky was also uncomfortable with the style – although you never would have known that from watching her. It was very crisp and flashy. Mayte gave it just a 6 saying that it was a clean routine but she knew Pinky could handle more content. Lisa Ann gave it a 7 but suggested Pinky let more of her femininity come through. Danny also gave it a 7 and said Pinky’s shown she can do styles other than hip hop. Average: 6.7. On the scale, Pinky lost 2.6 pounds for a total of 1.41%. Total Score: 8.11.
Alicia & Italo: Alicia was feeling much better after her meltdown and said she’d underestimated how technical the dancing was going to be. She definitely has the personality and smile of a performer. The routine, though, was a mixed bag. Some moves were done very well and some seemed a bit clumsy. Mayte gave it a 6 saying that Alicia needed to work on her core strength and stamina. Lisa Ann felt that several of the moves looked awkward and scored it just a 4. Danny said it was clear that Alicia wanted to do all the moves but she just couldn’t pull them off physically right now. He gave it a 6 saying her energy and determination carried the routine. Average: 5.3. For the week, Alicia lost 2.8 pounds for a total of 1.12%. Total Score: 6.42. She was now in last place by over one point.
Trice & Jesus: Trice was ecstatic about her 11 pound weight loss in week one. Her goal this week was 8 more. This was my favorite routine of the night. It wasn’t all that complicated but Trice was working the whole thing and was just a delight. Mayte also loved it, praising the footwork and attitude, and gave it an 8. Lisa Ann called it sweet and feminine but gave it a 6 saying she wanted to see more of a connection between Trice and Jesus. Danny said that Trice had reigned in her energy, just as he had asked, and gave it an 8. Average: 7.3. On the scale, Trice lost 2.7 pounds for a total of 1.02%. Total Score: 8.32.
Tara & Michael: Tara felt like she was having a great week – right up until she twisted her knee. I couldn’t tell if it was because of the injury or not, but the whole routine seemed awkward and disjointed. Mayte applauded the determination and gave it a 7. That was a very generous score. Lisa Ann also liked that Tara powered through the routine but gave the dance a more realistic 5. Danny also gave it a 5 because he just didn’t care for the routine, injury or no injury. Average: 5.7. Tara lost 3.8 pounds for a total of 1.63%. Total Score: 7.33.
That left Warren and, for the second week in a row, Brandon in the bottom two.
Warren & Sarah: Warren was feeling very challenged by the eating plan. He was also a bit challenged by the routine. There were several clear missteps. Mayte thought the dance started better than it ended. Lisa Ann said Warren looked like he was having fun but also looked like he was trying to remember the steps. Danny enjoyed it but was disappointed that Warren forgot part of the routine. On the scale, Warren lost 3.1 pounds for a total of 0.90%.
Brandon & Yesenia: Brandon knew he had to step it up this week after being in the bottom two but he had concerns because Disco wasn’t his style of dance. He certainly looked like it was his style. His moves were very authentic and there were some dazzling lifts. Mayte thought it started a bit weak but Brandon ended very strong. Lisa Ann thought the performance was “awesome” and couldn’t understand why Brandon wasn’t losing more weight. Danny said Brandon really stepped up the performance about halfway through. On the scale, Brandon lost 1.5 pounds for a total of 0.66%.
Warren, Brandon and a crying Alicia lined up for the final results.
Brandon: Mayte – 7, Lisa Ann – 7, Danny – 8 for an average of 7.3. Total Score: 7.96. He was safe.
Warren: Mayte – 5, Lisa Ann – 4, Danny – 6 for an average of 5. Total Score: 5.90.
Warren was going home. And, for the second week in a row, the loser found themselves having to comfort the sobbing person who was staying. Seriously, people. If you aren’t being eliminated then get a grip. Stop stealing what little thunder the person leaving has left. Warren was very gracious saying that he was skinnier and that was the whole point.
Next Week: The stripper pole! Yikes!
Clips and previews for DYAO are available at Oxygen’s website here:
http://o2.oxygen.com/player/?fid=1100245
Aired 6-29-09
TV’s first dancing weight loss show is hosted by Marissa Jaret Winokur and began with a cast of 12 contestants who will be dancing and losing weight for a $100,000 prize. Each contestant gets a professional dance partner and will be able to work with a weight loss doctor (Dr. Rob Huizenga from the “Biggest Loser”), a nutritionist (Meg Werner Moreta), a fitness trainer (Lee Wall), a lead choreographer (Lisa Ligon) and costume designers (Lena & Warden). They’ll be living in a building with a gym and dance studios. Their weekly rankings will be determined by adding their average dance scores to their percentage of weight lost for the week. The person with the lowest combined score will be eliminated.
The judges are:
Mayte Garcia – a choreographer and lead dancer for six of Prince’s world tours.
Lisa Ann Walter – a co-star in the movie “Shall We Dance” and the winner of dozens of dance titles.
Danny Teeson – starred in “Fame – the Musical” and choreographed for Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
Dr. H. met with the group right after their arrival to discuss all the health problems caused by their weight. It resulted in one contestant, Alicia, dissolving into tears because she was scared. I immediately got the feeling that we’ll be seeing a lot of tears from Alicia. She seems very young, high-strung and emotional. The common room of the residence includes two cupboards. One labeled “eat” that contains healthy snacks and one labeled “cheat” with all the junk food. Dr. H. explained that they did this because the contestants have to learn how to cope with temptation.
For week one, each person got to do the dance style of their choice. They were all weighed ahead of time (without the results being revealed to them) and the two people with the lowest amount of weight lost danced last.
Alicia: 23 years old with a starting weight of 257.6 pounds. She stated that she has battled weight her whole life and has never been thin. Her partner’s name is Italo and they did a Latin style dance. Alicia definitely has confidence and personality to spare. She ended with a full split that was really impressive. Mayte gave her a 6 but said it was a “good” 6. Lisa Ann like the musicality and thought the split deserved an extra point. She gave it a 7. Danny loved that Alicia attacked the routine but thought she needed to control her enthusiasm. He scored it a 6. Judges’ Average: 6.3. Alicia got on the scale and lost 7.5 pounds for a total of 2.91%. Total Score: 9.21
Ruben: 43 years old with a starting weight of 314.3 pounds. Ruben is a former professional dancer. He informed us in an interview that his partner of 17 years, John, is recovering from cancer but still wanted Ruben to participate in the show because it was so important to him. Ruben struggled in rehearsals saying that he knew the steps but had trouble getting his body to do what he wanted. His partner is Hilary and they did something that looked like a Disco/Fosse hybrid. It was fine but, knowing Ruben was a professional dancer, I expected a lot more. It all seemed rather subdued. Mayte thought the timing needed work and gave it a 6. Lisa Ann responded that Mayte was being tough on Ruben because of his experience (which I actually think is fair) and gave it a 7. Danny thought Ruben’s facial expression was deadpan as he was too in his head and not connected to his body. He gave it a “harsh” 5. Judges’ Average: 6.0. On the scale, Ruben lost 13.9 pounds for a total of 4.42%. Total Score: 10.42
Shayla: 27 years old with a starting weight of 206.5 pounds. She is a former cheerleader and homecoming queen. She’s partnered with Mario and quickly found that she can’t do as much as she could when she was just 130 pounds. Shayla did a Tina Turner inspired number and was hot. This girl is truly blessed in the genetics department. She carries all of her weight exactly where every woman wishes she did. Mayte loved that Shayla did the dance in the Tina heels and gave it a 7. Lisa Ann also gave it a 7. Danny told Shayla she moved like she was still 130 pounds and also scored it a 7. Judges’ Average: 7.0. Shayla got on the scale and lost 4.9 pounds for a total of 2.37%. Total Score: 9.37
Warren: 29 years old with a starting weight of 357.6. Warren is a father of two and is afraid of dying and leaving his kids without a dad. He is partnered with Sarah and has no dance experience. His number would best be described as Dom DeLuise doing hip hop. It was very entertaining. Mayte thought he needed to connect more with his partner and gave it a 5. Lisa Ann also gave it a 5 saying that Warren’s face really showed his concentration. Danny was impressed with how Warren kept up with the steps and gave it a 6. Judges’ Average: 5.3. On the scale, Warren lost 11.6 pounds for a total of 3.24%. Total Score: 8.54
Trice: 24 years old with a starting weight of 274.9 pounds. She wants to show that someone can be a size 18 but still move like they’re a 2. She is partnered with Jesus and was in full “fierce” mode with her hip hop number. It was fun but did seem a little disjointed. Mayte thought Trice needed to be sharper with her arm movements and gave it a 6. Lisa Ann liked the flexibility but thought Trice needed to be a little less frenetic. She scored it a 6. Danny said her attack was amazing and also gave it a 6. Judges’ Average: 6.0. Trice got on the scale and lost 11.4 pounds for a total of 4.15%. Total Score: 10.15
Angela: 24 years old with a starting weight of 185.9 pounds. She is a former model who has gained 65 pounds in the last 2 years. She is partnered with Kenny and the poor thing just looked uncomfortable through the whole number. She seemed to have no confidence at all in her steps. Mayte told her to work on her shoulders and gave it a generous 6. Lisa Ann thought Angela needed to relax into the dance and gave it a 5. Danny said he could see her struggling with the rhythm and scored it a 5. Judges’ Average: 5.3. On the scale, Angela lost 3.5 pounds for a total of 1.88%. Total Score: 7.18
Mara: 32 years old with a starting weight of 261.9 pounds. She is a diabetic who lost her brother to the disease. She is partnered with Paul and was very sharp and confident in her hip hop routine. Mayte called it amazing and gave it a 7. Lisa Ann said it was clear Mara was feeling good about herself and also gave it a 7. Danny loved that Mara enjoyed the dance but was still able to remain focused. He scored it an 8. Judges’ Average: 7.3. On the scale, Mara lost 6.6 pounds for a total of 2.52%. Total Score: 9.82
Tara: 32 years old with a starting weight of 237.4 pounds. She wants to show her kids that she is making the choice to be healthy. Her partner is Michael and I thought their routine was light on content. Tara also seemed to be having some problems keeping the beat. Mayte thought Tara forgot she had a partner and needed to acknowledge him more in the dance. She gave it a 6. Lisa Ann told Tara she needed to finish her moves and not just go halfway. She scored it a 5. Danny gave it a 6 and said he could see Tara wearing all the week’s emotions on her sleeve. Judges’ Average: 5.7. Tara got on the scale and lost 4.5 pounds for a total of 1.90%. Total Score: 7.60
Karla: 29 years old with a starting weight of 174.9 pounds. She was surprised to find herself one of the smaller people on the show. She is partnered with Jull and her routine was full of every party dance move you could think of – and she did them quite well. Mayte liked the connection and energy and gave it a 7. Lisa Ann also gave it a 7 and enjoyed the 80’s flashback. Danny said the routine wasn’t technical but was entertaining and gave it a 7. Judges’ Average: 7.0. On the scale, Karla lost 9.5 pounds for a total of 5.43%. Total Score: 12.43
Miles: 28 years old with a starting weight of 260.8 pounds. He is afraid of dying young like his father. Miles is paired with Michelle and already knew how to do partner dancing. They did a Swing number that rocked. There was a lift at the end that was worthy of a “Dancing with the Stars” freestyle routine. Mayte said Miles’ footwork was great and gave it a 7. Lisa Ann gave it an 8 and said that Miles needs to be given more challenging moves because he can handle it. Danny also thought Miles could do more and gave it a 7. Judges’ Average: 7.3. Miles got on the scale and lost 6.9 pounds for a total of 2.65%. Total Score: 9.95
That left Pinky and Brandon in the bottom two for weight loss and Angela in last place among those who had already danced. The show had Pinky and Brandon both dance before revealing their scores from the judges.
Brandon: 20 years old with a starting weight of 230.4 pounds. He is a type 2 diabetic who almost wasn’t allowed to participate in the show. He is paired with Yesenia (pictured above). Brandon could not have been cuter and had a nice, relaxed style to his dancing. Mayte thought he could have been stronger in his movements. Lisa Ann loved it and Danny said Brandon had a natural groove but needed to up the energy level. On the scale, Brandon lost 3.6 pounds for a total of 1.56%.
Pinky: 29 years old with a starting weight of 186.9 pounds. She comes from a family of street dancers and said that she knows her brother would like to give her a shot at being in his dance group but she’s just never been good enough. Her partner is Mr. Lucky (yep, that’s his name) and, as with Ruben, my expectations were high because of Pinky’s experience. She lived up to them. It was a very quick and sharp routine. Mayte loved the energy but wanted her to hit the moves even harder. Lisa Ann said she could see the determination but added that no one had a better smile. Danny was amazed that Pinky was in the bottom two considering what a workout her routine was. Pinky lost 2.4 pounds for a total of 1.28%.
Angela, Brandon and Pinky lined up for the final results:
Pinky received a 7 from Mayte, a 7 from Lisa Ann and an 8 from Danny. Judges’ Average: 7.3. Total Score: 8.58. She was safe.
Brandon received a 6 from Mayte, a 7 from Lisa Ann and a 7 from Danny. Judges’ Average: 6.7. Total Score: 8.26. He was safe.
Brandon burst into tears and poor Angela, who’d just been eliminated, found herself having to comfort him. She broke my heart by tearfully telling Marissa that she had a lot more to show but now wasn’t going to have the chance. Wow, this is really early to be feeling this bad about an elimination. The truth, though, is that Angela was the weakest dancer and was the right person to go.
Next Week: Alicia has a meltdown and its Disco week!
Bonus footage and additional DYAO videos are available at Oxygen’s website here:
http://o2.oxygen.com/player/?fid=1100245
