We opened with the encore dance. In a bit of a surprise, the judges didn’t choose Mya’s perfect scoring dance. Instead they went with the futuristic Paso Doble of Joanna & Derek. I’d have to agree. I loved Mya & Dmitry’s number but the Paso was the more memorable dance.
Audience Alert: Hugh Hefner and the new “Girls Next Door”. He’s not letting a cross promotional opportunity for Joanna’s Playboy issue pass him by.
In no particular order, hosts Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris announced that the first couple safe to dance again was: Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough.
Musical Guest #1: Michael Buble singing “Haven’t Met You Yet” while Jonathan Roberts, Anna Trebunskaya, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Cheryl Burke danced. Ah, Michael. Could you be any more adorable?
The next couple moving on to the semi-finals was: Mya & Dmitry Chaplin.
Dance Center is back!! This time around Kenny Mayne, Jerry Rice and Len Goodman were joined (briefly) by Stacy Keibler. Part one was pretty good. I especially like the comment about Donny being like a 3 year old on sugar.
Macy’s Stars of Dance: It was time for the “Design a Dance” audience creation. Sabrina Bryan danced the Paso Doble to “Eye of the Tiger” with, whom else, Mark Ballas. They may have moved on from their showmance but we haven’t. As the Salty Old Dog said to me, that little girl hit the dance floor with something to prove. She truly is one of the best dancers EVER on DWTS.
Michael Buble’s second song was “Feeling Good”. He was joined by a pair of dancers whose names I had to look up because they were a mouthful: Urs Geisenhainer and Agnes Kazmierczak.
The next couple safe was: Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson.
Musical Guest #2: Susan Boyle with “I Dreamed a Dream”. I’m still thoroughly enchanted by Susan. She looked so sweetly awkward in her backstage shots but so at home behind the microphone. Tony Dovolani and Chelsie Hightower danced and, it should be noted, the camera work and editing for the number was particularly good.
Dance Center Part Two: I was actually most surprised to learn that Mya is 5′9″. She doesn’t seem that tall. I also got a kick out of Kenny’s bit about thinking that Dmitry was one of the celebrities – and a soap star. Actually, he does kind of look like one.
The last two couples were Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff and Kelly Osbourne & Louis van Amstel. After a tortuous commercial break, we learned that Aaron & Karina were the couple leaving. Kelly looked shocked that she was staying and both Aaron & Karina looked like they saw their elimination coming. I felt bad. Aaron is the better dancer and he deserved to stay over Kelly – and I say that as someone who really, really likes Kelly. Head judge Len Goodman had asked for a chance to say something if Aaron was the one eliminated. He praised Aaron’s dedication and said that, if Aaron were his son, he’d be very proud of him. More importantly, though, Len wanted Aaron to be proud of himself. I know the kid has been teased for being emotional but you couldn’t blame him for getting choked up over that speech.
I didn’t have a great opinion of Aaron coming into DWTS but he changed my mind. I respect how he handled the criticism from the judges and the lack of support from the audience. Aaron’s young but he does seem to be growing up.
Full episodes of DWTS are available at ABC’s website here:
This week our remaining couples had to perform two individual dances – one Latin and one Ballroom. Plus, the Latin dances were based on the styles of specific decades from the 60’s to the future.
Ballroom Round
Mya & Dmitry Chaplin: This pair has made some choreography choices that haven’t gone over well with head judge Len Goodman. I’ve been putting the blame on Dmitry but, in the rehearsal clip, it was clear that Mya agrees with the way Dmitry has been putting together the dances. She was, however, getting a bit stressed during the week so we watched as Dmitry took Mya horseback riding. They performed a straightforward Quickstep and I couldn’t imagine how Len was going to find fault with it. Len began by saying he was very disappointed. As boos rained down on him, he smiled and said that he was disappointed because he couldn’t find anything to criticize. Finally!!! Bruno Tonioli likened the dance to vintage champagne. After you taste it nothing else will do. Carrie Ann Inaba said Mya made a difficult dance look easy. Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 10, Bruno – 10. Total = 29. Host Tom Bergeron declared Len to be an old softy.
Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff: Last week Aaron did really well with the judges’ scores but still ended up in the bottom three. He’s in a tough spot because it just doesn’t look like the fan support is there for him. Karina knew they were in jeopardy and, even though it was her turn to battle the flu, she kept going because she wasn’t going to have someone else dance with Aaron. Unfortunately this Foxtrot wasn’t the “wow” dance they needed. I thought Aaron looked stiff and uncomfortable. Bruno said he could see all the work that went into the dance but it didn’t have the ease of flow needed to sell it. Carrie Ann saw a lift and agreed that there was a loss of fluidity. Len said watching Aaron dance was like watching his son in a toy shop – there was excitement, joy and bewilderment. He was proud of how hard Aaron has worked. Len has definitely got a soft spot for this kid. Scores: Carrie Ann – 7, Len - 8, Bruno – 8. Total = 23.
Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough: This pair spent some time analyzing footage of Mya’s Ballroom dances. They see Mya as the strongest competitor and were looking to match the ease with which she dances. As for their Quickstep, the word quick doesn’t do it justice. Joanna was running all over that dance floor. Carrie Ann said there were a few out of sync moments but also a lot of content in their dance. Len said the dance lacked body contact and did not meet quarter-final standards. Bruno said it looked a bit like Joanna was running from the scene of a crime. He added it wasn’t one of her best dances. Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 7, Bruno – 8. Total = 23.
Kelly Osbourne & Louis van Amstel: Louis was at his wits’ end with Kelly’s short attention span so he took away all her distractions - like her phone and laptop. Kelly said she would have loved for Louis to have been wrong, but it actually did help her concentrate. I’d say it worked because their Foxtrot was fabulous. It had great personality and choreography and I think it was Kelly’s best dance so far. Len said Kelly’s footwork was a distraction but the rest of her was fantastic. Bruno called Kelly light and ethereal and Carrie Ann said Kelly’s secret weapon was how the audience responds to her breakthroughs. Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 8, Bruno – 9. Total = 25. I agreed with Bruno. That was definitely a 9 dance.
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson: Donny confessed that he hit the wall last week with juggling all his obligations. He found he wasn’t having any fun. He told Kym that he was hitting the reset button and was looking at it as a whole new competition. Their Waltz was lovely. Kym’s choreography was exceptional and presented a sweet, grown-up, romance. Bruno said it was like watching a Lifetime movie. Carrie Ann called it mesmerizing and noted that Donny’s posture had improved. Len thought it was good, but a bit “arty, farty”. Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len - 8, Bruno – 9. Total = 26.
Latin
Mya & Dmitry: The couples drew their decade out of a hat and Mya & Dmitry got a 70’s style Samba. Dmitry was feeling a bit insecure saying that he was having choreographer’s block. If he did, it certainly didn’t show in this dance. His disco-inspired number was a lot of fun. Mya looked to be having the time of her life. And Dmitry? Well, he looked almost too comfortable in his 70’s porn star outfit, hair and mustache. Carrie Ann said she truly believes that Mya wants to win this competition. Len declared that Mya was on fire and called her hips “hypnotic.” Bruno launched into a full Bruno moment and, somewhere in the middle of it all, said Mya did a “mean Samba”. Scores: Carrie Ann – 10, Len – 10, Bruno – 10. Total = 30. It was a well deserved perfect score. Total for the night: 59.
Aaron & Karina: They got a 90’s style Samba. Aaron grew up in the 90’s so he had lots of ideas. Karina’s main job was keeping it all under control. It was lively, fun and a perfect homage to the era of the boy bands. It was the perfect kind of dance for Aaron. Len said it was tough to have to follow someone who gets a perfect score but he loved how Aaron came out and really sold his performance. Bruno said he thought it would be a disaster of a dance but it actually was quite good. Carrie Ann said she could see how Aaron has smoothed out all his rough edges and is now truly a great performer. Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 9, Bruno – 9. Total = 27. Total for the night: 50.
Joanna & Derek: They drew the toughest “period” dance – a futuristic Paso Doble. But, if anyone could come up with a clever dance under these circumstances, it would be Derek. He’s great with innovative steps and that ability was clear in this dance. It was inspired and really played to Joanna’s technical strength. Bruno called it a masterful reinvention of a classic and called Derek a “genius”. Carrie Ann said there was outstanding execution and Joanna never missed a step. Len agreed it was genius because it also contained real Paso choreography. Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 10, Bruno- 10. Total = 29. Total for the night: 52.
Kelly & Louis: Kelly was excited about getting a 60’s era Jive because she finally had some knowledge to bring to the dance. It is a favorite era for her. She did struggle in rehearsals, though, with the speed of the Jive. You could see some of that in the dance. Kelly was frequently just a little behind Louis. Len called Kelly a revelation. He thought the pressure would have eventually got to her but she has kept coming back stronger and stronger. Bruno said it was groovy and Carrie Ann thought it was one of Kelly’s best performances – although there were still a few technical issues. Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 9, Bruno – 9. Total = 26. Total for the night: 51.
Donny & Kym: Oh my. Donny really was in full Adam Ant mode for this 80’s Paso Doble. Donny & Kym’s look was great. Kym seemed to have come straight out of a Heart video and some moments were really clever. I laughed out loud at the wind machine. That was brilliant. But, overall, the 80’s and the Paso didn’t blend together. Most of it seemed forced. Len called it the most crazy, bizarre and scary Paso Doble he’d ever seen. It was like a cross between Adam Ant and Adam Carolla. Bruno said it had more camp in it than a drag queen convention. Carrie Ann thought it was hysterical but added that Donny’s costume interfered with some of his lines. Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 8, Bruno – 8. Total = 24. Total for the night: 50.
So the evening ended with Mya solidly in the lead with 59 and Aaron & Karina and Donny & Kym tied for last place with 50. This doesn’t bode well for Aaron.
Full episodes of DWTS are available at ABC’s website here:
Posted on November 18th, 2009 by Princess Kitty in Amazing Race
Aired 11-08-09
We picked up at the Pit Stop in Northern Holland. After the mandatory rest period, brothers Sam & Dan were the first to depart at 9:33PM. The teams had to fly to Stockholm, Sweden. Once there, they had to travel by train and ferry to the Tivoli Grona Lund amusement park and locate one of those demon drop-type rides. The brothers were excited to have a real first-place finish but they seemed in a crabby mood as they headed to the airport.
Dating couple, Meghan & Cheyne, were in 2nd place leaving at 9:48PM. They’ve been dating for over 4 years and Cheyne sees marriage in their future. He thinks their success so far in the race is a good indication of their compatibility. Harlem Globetrotters, Flight Time & Big Easy, followed at 10:32PM. It was Flight Time’s birthday and he wanted a victory.
Father and son team, Gary & Matt, were the 4th team to depart at 11:08PM. Gary’s now the oldest competitor in the race but Matt said he doesn’t seem like it. He’s always trying to keep up with his dad.
At the airport we found out there were two morning flights to Stockholm – one at 6:55AM and one at 9:25AM. Unfortunately the ticket counter didn’t open until 5:30AM so they settled in for a long wait.
The last team to depart was married couple, Brian & Ericka, at 1:38AM. They had a rough time during the last leg but persevered and made it through. Brian said that they’re excited to have the chance to show what a good team they make especially to Ericka’s mom who is still not comfortable with their interracial marriage.
Once the ticket counter opened, Meghan & Cheyne, Sam & Dan and Flight Time & Big Easy got tickets for the 6:55AM flight. Gary & Matt and Brian & Ericka were stuck on the later one.
In Stockholm, the first three teams made a dash to buy train tickets. Meghan & Cheyne and Sam & Dan made the first train but Flight & Easy had trouble with the ticket machine and had to catch the next one. The brothers and the dating couple had some success working together on the last leg and that continued at the amusement park. The next clue instructed them to have one team member ride the demon drop. While going up they had to look around for an arrow pointing them in the direction of the next clue. Cheyne and Sam helped each other find the arrow.
They quickly got to that next clue and found they had to play a ring toss game. In a plug for Travelocity, they had to toss a ring on to a cone. If the cone was covering a Travelocity gnome, they’d get the next clue on the bottom of the gnome. They would also have to carry the gnome with them for the rest of the leg. Both teams had no trouble getting a gnome. The next clue was a Detour.
Detour
The choice was between “Nobel Dynamite” and “Viking Alphabet”. In “Nobel Dynamite” the teams had to fill sandbags to create a protective bunker at a rock quarry. They then had to set off an explosion to unearth a box containing the next clue. In “Viking Alphabet”, the teams had to decode a message using the ancient Viking alphabet. Not a single team wanted to do that. They all wanted to blow stuff up.
Flight had to do the demon drop because it had a height limitation of 6′4″ and Big Easy was just too big. Flight had no trouble finding the arrow.
The other flight finally arrived and this time it was Gary & Matt who missed the first train out. Brian & Ericka’s luck seemed to be improving. Ericka easily found the arrow. About 15 minutes later, Matt was on the ride and also found the arrow on the first try.
The three leading teams arrived at the dynamite detour at the same time. We were then treated to a long scene of Meghan yelling at Cheyne. She wanted help and encouragement and for him to work with her but, mostly, she just seemed to want to yell his name over and over again. I like Meghan but she seriously needed a sedative.
The brothers were the first ones done with their bunker and happily set off their explosion. The next clue sent them to Bogs Gard Farm. The Globetrotters quickly followed them. It didn’t seem like Meghan & Cheyne were all that far behind but Meghan was still quite agitated.
Meanwhile, Gary & Matt fell further behind as they got lost looking for the rock quarry.
The brothers were the first to the farm and found the next clue. It was a Roadblock.
Roadblock
In a race “switchback”, one member of each team had to unroll hay bales in search of one of seven flags. In a previous season, one team searched for 10 hours and unrolled over 100 bales but never found their clue. The farm was also the Pit Stop so, once a team found a flag, it was just a short jog to Phil and the mat. Sam took the challenge and Dan “helped” by screaming at him nonstop. And I do mean nonstop.
Meghan & Cheyne arrived and, unbelievably, Cheyne didn’t volunteer to do the challenge. He just stood there when Meghan asked him. Finally she said, “Fine, I’ll do it ’cause you don’t want to do it.” Maybe she did have reason to yell at him. This was clearly a physically demanding challenge and, while Meghan’s an athletic woman, Cheyne certainly has more upper body strength. He said he didn’t do it because Meghan seemed to be “taking the lead” on the leg but, frankly, it looked like he wussed out. Between these two teams, this was one cranky roadblock. The mood didn’t even get lighter when Big Easy joined in.
Brian & Ericka blew up their box ahead of Gary & Matt but it seemed the father and son had made up some time.
Sam & Dan continued their screaming match and I think at one point Sam flipped his brother off. I couldn’t blame him. Dan was taking obnoxious to a new level. Meanwhile, Easy was the first to find a flag. He and Flight Time checked in and host Phil Keoghan informed them they’d won a trip for two to Turks and Caicos. It was a good birthday present for Flight Time.
Brian & Ericka arrived and, sensibly, Brian did the challenge. Gary & Matt were right behind and Gary began searching as Sam & Dan were still fighting and Meghan dissolved into tears. Eventually the light bulb flickered on for Dan and he realized what a jerk he was being.
Meghan was the next to find a flag and decided to psych out Cheyne by running to him screaming that she couldn’t do it anymore. He thought it was the funniest thing ever.
Meghan & Cheyne checked in 2nd. Cheyne said he was overwhelmed with pride at how Meghan performed.
Brian was the next to find a flag and he and Ericka checked in 3rd place.
Sam was next and he and Dan checked in 4th. Dan broke down saying that he wasn’t proud of the way he behaved.
Gary kept plugging away and, as the sun appeared to be setting, he found a flag. Phil informed the pair that they were the last team but – it was a non-elimination leg. They would survive to race another day. Matt said his dad was Superman and never gave up.
Next Week: We discover that Matt doesn’t know what a candelabra is and things get tense between the brothers and the Trotters.
Full episodes and bonus clips of TAR are available at CBS’ website here:
Posted on November 16th, 2009 by Princess Kitty in Biggest Loser
Aired 11-03-09
Immediately after the teary exit of the beloved Abby, host Alison Sweeney met with both teams for a big announcement. She told them that obesity was an epidemic in the US and, for the next week, they were going to have to do all they could to help their fellow Americans live happier and healthier lives. To start off, they were heading to Washington, D.C.
The first thing our remaining contestant noticed about their trip was that they no longer needed extenders for the seatbelts on the plane. We also got a subtle:
Product Placement Alert 1: Daniel telling us how wonderful Jet Blue is with their little TVs and ample leg room.
At the Jefferson Memorial, they all met up with Ali and trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. Ali shared that they’ll be speaking to some senators about their journey and visiting the White House during their visit. Bob was brimming with pride saying this truly validated their show. Ali also announced that the teams were done and they would be going forward as individuals. They put back on the colors they started in.
Pop Challenge
Alison informed the group that, in a couple of hours, Bob and Jill would be holding a public workout at the Washington Monument. Their challenge was to get as many people as possible to attend. Ali was vague about the prize, but said the person who gathered the most participants would get a huge advantage at the weigh in. Plus they’ll take all their participants to:
Product Placement Alert 2: Subway!
They hit the streets handing out stickers in their personal color. Amanda had some early success when she ran into a group of young girls who recognized her from last season’s finale. They donned their stickers and walked through the streets chanting her name. Unfortunately for Amanda, the group ran into Daniel … and they loved him. He got a bunch of them to replace their Pink Amanda stickers with his Orange ones.
Allen realized his success would come from calling out to his fellow firefighters. His brothers responded in big numbers. It came down to Allen and Liz for the victory. Liz had used motherly (and in some cases grandmotherly) guilt to get people to show up and it worked. Liz won the mystery prize and a trip for her group to Subway for dinner.
The contestants met with Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Robert Casey (PA). I think it was a bit like preaching to the choir as it was clear these two were already concerned with the obesity issue - particularly childhood obesity. Daniel spoke with a great deal of authority on that subject. Jillian also made a plea for Americans to be more aware of what is in processed foods.
Challenge
The prize for this week’s challenge was immunity at the weigh in. It was setup in four phases with the first taking place at Constitution Gardens. They had to run two laps around the lake which equaled one mile. That started the waterworks for Tracey as she recalled collapsing and being hospitalized after the mile run on day one of the season. As the winner of the Pop Challenge, Liz got a pass allowing her to skip one of the first three phases – but Ali wasn’t going to tell what the other phases were. Liz opted to run the mile and save the pass. The top six finishers out of the nine total would move to phase two. Those six were Rebecca, Daniel, Allen, Amanda, Rudy and Liz.
Phase two was at the Watergate Steps. They had to transport pennies from halfway up the steps to the top and fill a container. Liz chose to sit this one out. Rudy and his giant hands finished first followed by Daniel. Only one more person could move on and it came down to a battle between Allen and Rebecca. Rebecca won by a hair.
Phase three was at the Capitol Building. The remaining four had to stand on a narrow ledge while holding a Pilates ball over their heads. Rudy and Rebecca won and headed to the final phase.
Phase four was outside the gates of the White House. Two step up boxes were attached to monitors. The first person to take 206 steps would win. The 206 stood for the total number of BL contestants who have appeared on the show so far. Rebecca slowly built up a lead and won immunity.
Now that the teams were done, the contestants were back to working with both trainers. Bob was reunited with his favorite this season – Amanda. Together they did:
Product Placement Alert 3: for Extra Sugar Free Gum.
The next day the group got their visit to the White House. They met with Assistant White House Chef Sam Kass. They picked vegetables out of Michelle Obama’s garden and used the produce to prepare a salad in the White House kitchen.
Bob expressed concern during the last chance workout that the numbers would be low this week. It happens every time they go on vacation. Meanwhile Jillian finally got her hands on Tracey. Jill flat-out stated that she’s never liked Tracey because of all the game playing. She wanted to get through to Tracey about what BL is really all about. Jill thought she saw signs of a breakthrough.
Weigh In
The weigh in took place at the Lincoln Memorial. They weighted in as individuals and the two with the lowest percent of weight loss would fall below the yellow line. Rebecca went first since she had immunity. She lost 4 pounds for a total of 1.79%.
Shay lost 9 pounds for a total of 2.24%. She was finally out of the 400’s.
Tracey lost 3 pounds for a total of 1.52%. She was very disappointed.
Daniel lost 11 pounds for a total of 4.04%. It was about time! He’s been having a run of bad weigh ins.
Allen lost 9 pounds for a total of 3.44%.
Danny lost 12 pounds for a total of 3.48%. He’s lost 97 pounds so far.
Rudy lost 9 pounds for a total of 2.64%. He was less than thrilled. He had become used to the double digit drops.
Liz lost just 3 pounds for a total of 1.36%. She was disappointed – but not surprised.
Amanda lost 7 pounds for a total of 3.27%. It was her biggest weekly drop. Bob was especially thrilled.
Tracey & Liz were up for elimination. It was clearly time for some chickens to come home to roost. Liz made a rather lukewarm plea to stay. She didn’t like asking for help. I also think she was upset with herself and, maybe, was struggling with whether or not she deserved to stay. Shay didn’t like the lack of fight. It made her think Liz didn’t want to be there anymore. Tracey, on the other hand, was very teary and desperate. Daniel called her out a bit on her gameplay but Tracey swore she wanted to be there for the right reasons now.
At the elimination vote, Amanda led off with a vote for Tracey. She said it was because of previous betrayals. Shay voted for Liz because she couldn’t get past her lack of passion. Danny said his vote was obvious. He’s super-close to Liz so he had to vote for Tracey. Daniel also voted for Tracey. Rebecca went next and said she was voting for Tracey because she just didn’t know what Tracey was going to do next. Tracey was done and it was about time. I’ll give her credit – she was much more gracious and self-aware about the situation than I ever would have guessed.
Tracey got a pretty spectacular “Where They Are Now” clip. She returned home on a helicopter and was greeted by a large crowd including her husband and four kids. She really seems to have a loving family. Perhaps she’s just one of those people for whom competition brings out their dark side? She looks fantastic now. You could really see the difference since she left the show. She reran that first, infamous, mile at the beach. She did it to show her family how much she’s accomplished. The graphic at the end showed that she’s lost 85 pounds so far and is training for a full marathon in December.
Next Week: It’s a double elimination!
Full episodes and bonus clips of BL are available at NBC’s website here:
It’s the second week of double eliminations. There’s no way around it – tonight’s gonna hurt.
We opened with the encore dance. To no one’s surprise it was the Team Tango dance. This time around there seemed to have been more nervous energy. That may have been the difference between performing at the beginning of a show as opposed to at the end when they’re all exhausted. It was still a great dance.
We started off the results with co-hosts Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris announcing the first couple safe and the first couple in the bottom three:
Kelly Osbourne & Louis van Amstel: Safe
Mark Dacascos & Lacey Schwimmer: Bottom Three
Musical Guest #1: Colbie Caillat performed “Fallin’ for You” as Alec Mazo and Edyta Sliwinska danced. Alec & Edyta were their typical, ridiculously hot, selves.
More results followed:
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson: Safe
Michael Irvin & Anna Demidova: Bottom Three
Musical Guest #2: Ballas Hough (as in Mark Ballas and Derek Hough) with a song called “Move”. I was kind of surprised when Tom referred to them as just Ballas Hough (as opposed to The Ballas Hough Band) but then I saw that the Band was nowhere in sight. This song wasn’t really my thing. It was too techno for me.
Tom and Samantha announced the status of the remaining three couples:
Mya & Dmitry Chaplin: Safe
Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough: Safe
Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff: Bottom Three
Musical Guest #3: Rod Stewart performing “It’s the Same Old Song”. I’m always surprised by how well Rod’s raspy rocker voice works with so many musical styles.
We next got the fate of the bottom three. Michael & Anna were going home first. That meant the dance-off would be between Mark & Lacey and Aaron & Karina. Michael was as classy as he could be. I really like that man.
Mark & Lacey: They chose to do the Cha Cha. Wow! They pulled out all the stops for this number. Mark did all his flips and kicks. I think the best compliment I can give them was that I was really disappointed when it was over. Head judge Len Goodman said Mark was back to his best. Bruno Tonioli announced that Mark could turn more tricks than Heidi Fleiss. Mark & Lacey’s reaction to that was priceless. Carrie Ann Inaba agreed that Mark was back in top form and added the he moved effortlessly between the dance and the tricks.
Aaron & Karina: Whew! You go, Aaron! It was a great style choice for them to stick with the Jive. Aaron was simply on fire with it. Bruno stated he couldn’t believe that Aaron was even in this kind of situation. Carrie Ann thought this Jive was even better than Monday night. Len called Aaron the comeback kid.
The judges sounded really torn and said both couples did great but, in the end, they chose to save Aaron & Karina. I thought Aaron’s reaction to the news was very interesting. Karina immediately jumped for joy but Aaron seemed more concerned with acknowledging Mark. It wasn’t until after he hugged Mark and Lacey that he even smiled. This is a competition but you can really tell how attached these people get to each other. Mark talked about the bond they’ve all developed. I got a little misty eyed when Mark called Lacey “my dancer” and when Lacey commented on how happy she was that they got to dance together one more time. The poor guy had a rough week but he certainly went out on a high note.
Full episodes of DWTS are available at ABC’s website here:
We opened with the pro dancers giving a demonstration of the Tango and the Paso Doble – the dances featured in this episode’s team competition. Another twist this week was that the celebs designed the costumes. They all pretty much stuck with the traditional except for Kelly. She got a little creative as I’ll mention later on in the recap.
Michael Irvin & Anna Demidova: Michael said that in last week’s dance-off he was able to just enjoy himself because he was sure he was going home. For the Foxtrot, Anna wanted to bring out Michael’s inner Fred Astaire. Michael was very smooth in the dance. It really looked like he was gliding across the floor. This dance was a good fit for his low-key style. Head judge Len Goodman called it brilliant and said that, in the early weeks of the season, he would have been glad to have seen Michael go but he’s really happy now that Michael’s still around. Bruno Tonioli said he could see a marked improvement in Michael’s musicality – but his bum still stuck out. Carrie Ann Inaba thought the dance was graceful and fluid and she loved it. Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 8, Bruno – 7. Total = 23. Michael was very happy and called it a touchdown.
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson: For the Quickstep, Kym went to war with the Osmond slouch. She made Donny wear a posture bar during their rehearsals and it did kind of look like a torture device. It was a fun dance, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, although there were a few flubs/hesitations. We learned later that Donny had the flu so it was the performer part of him that powered through it. Bruno said that, as a performer, Donny was solid as a rock because no one else could have covered up that many mistakes. Carrie Ann thought it was good but not Donny’s best. Len liked that it was a full on Quickstep from beginning to end and they didn’t play it safe. Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 8, Bruno – 8. Total = 24. Donny looked quite relieved.
Mark Dacascos & Anna Trebunskaya: Oh man. Mark had a tough week. He had to be in New York to film “Iron Chef America”. While there, Lacey got sick. He had to send her home to recuperate. On Friday, while still in NY, Mark worked with Tony Dovolani. On Saturday afternoon, Mark was back in LA and got paired up with Anna. In 48 hours he had to learn a brand new dance – and it showed. Poor Mark looked like all his effort went into remembering what came next. It lacked his usual polish. Carrie Ann said she had a lot of compassion for the week Mark had but the dance was a mess. Mark had a lot of nervous energy that caused it not to flow. Len said it was not Mark’s best dance but, under the circumstances, he coped well with some tough choreography. Bruno said it was all a bit like watching Kung Fu Panda dance the Samba on the Planet of the Apes. Scores: Carrie Ann – 6, Len – 7, Bruno – 6. Total = 19. Yikes! Mark’s in trouble. It was a complicated dance but Anna was in a difficult spot as well. If she’d dumbed it down they would have taken a hit for that too. I think poor Mark was just in a no win situation.
Mya & Dmitry Chaplin: Dmitry wanted their Foxtrot to have old Hollywood flair so he brought in someone to coach Mya who experienced it first hand – Cloris Leachman. It actually was a pretty good choice. Mya can dance like nobody’s business and about the only thing she needs to improve on is flair. I think they definitely achieved the Hollywood glamour they were shooting for. Mya was absolutely gorgeous and showed a new, mischievous side to her personality. Len liked the parts of the dance in hold but there were way too many gimmicks and tricks for him. Len really has a problem with Dmitry’s choreography. I think we have a battle of wills going on here with poor Mya caught in the middle. Dmitry always smiles and laughs through the criticism but he also keeps putting in stuff he knows Len won’t like. I just hope Mya doesn’t end up paying the price for all this. Bruno thought it perfectly captured the aura of Hollywood’s golden age. Mya looked like a dream and danced like an angel. Carrie Ann said that Len was officially smoking crack. She loved the dance and thought they looked like they were floating on ice. Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 7, Bruno – 9. Total = 25. Oh Len. I love you but that 7 was just silly. An 8 would have made your point.
Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff: Aaron was beside himself over finally not being in the bottom two. To get Aaron up to speed for the Jive, Karina took him to a trainer. It paid off because, to quote the Salty Old Dog, Aaron kicked the Jive’s ass. It was sharp, fast and controlled. I have to say, this kid has grown a lot during his weeks on DWTS. Bruno called it Aaron’s best performance. Carrie Ann said he was like a little roadrunner and was excellent. Len thought it had enough energy to light up Hollywood. He also added that he was tempted to dust off his 10 paddle. Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 10, Bruno – 10. Total = 29. It was a well deserved score.
Kelly Osbourne & Louis van Amstel: This was an interesting week for Kelly. Louis dialed up his expectations and she wilted under the pressure. Playing armchair psychiatrist, I got the feeling Kelly isn’t used to having high expectations placed on her. She even said that it was the first time she was in a situation that she couldn’t “BS” her way out of. She’s proven to us that she can dance so now it’s expected she’ll be good. Kelly’s reaction to the pressure showed that there is still a lot of little girl in her. It wasn’t her best moment. As I mentioned earlier, the celebs designed the costumes and Kelly must have still been ticked off at Louis when she did these. She put him in those fringy pants that I loathe. The good news was that Kelly’s personality made a strong comeback. It was a fun dance and a big improvement over the past couple of weeks. Carrie Ann began her comments by calling Kelly over for a congratulatory hug. Her posture was great and she was unafraid of the dance. Len said he had been afraid that Kelly was going to come out and dance the Salsa like a little girl but, for the first time, she seemed to really control her nerves. He did caution, though, that Louis was right about pushing her. Bruno said the key was that Kelly really found her character for the dance. Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 8, Bruno – 8. Total = 24.
Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough: The rehearsal clip for Joanna and Derek’s Rumba was actually a rather funny dream sequence of the two of them getting romantic at the beach. It ended with Derek making out with his own reflection in the mirror. He had a nice touch with the comedy. As for the dance, except for one little hiccup, it was a very technically sound number. Joanna has great body control, like an athlete, but she isn’t quite as strong with her character and facial expressions. It was a good dance, don’t get me wrong, but the acting part is what Joanna needs to improve to get the trophy. I did enjoy the end when Derek ran over to shake hands with Joanna’s fiance. Len thought they hit all the key parts of a successful Rumba. Bruno called Joanna a love goddess and Carrie Ann said she loves to watch Joanna dance. Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 9, Bruno – 9. Total = 27.
Team Paso Doble: Mark & Anna T., Aaron & Karina, Mya & Dmitry and Michael & Anna D. Things were a bit rough for this group when rehearsals started. As Karina put it, there were too many chefs in the kitchen. Michael was the hero of the piece as he pulled them all together as a team. Each pair did fine individually but, as a group number, it didn’t flow that well for me. Part of that may have been the music. I really didn’t think it worked for the Paso. Mark & Anna had much better chemistry in this dance. Mya was her typical stellar self and Michael’s abs were quite spectacular. Bruno said it was strong, dramatic and powerful but they were a bit out of sync. He thought Mya & Dmitry were the standouts. Carrie Ann loved the intensity but thought the choreography was a little basic. Len felt the routine got better as it went along. Scores: Carrie Ann – 8, Len – 8, Bruno – 8. Total = 24.
Team Tango: Joanna & Derek, Kelly & Louis and Donny & Kym. This group figured they had an advantage from the start because they only had to deal with three couples. Everything seemed to go smoothly for them. Plus, you have to love anything that results in an Osbourne feeling up an Osmond. And, oh yeah, the dance rocked. All the solo bits were great but the group stuff was even better. I loved it. Carrie Ann ran over to give them all high fives and then yelled at them for putting in a lift. Len said it was easier for the Tango group because so much of the dance was in hold but it was still clear that this was the superior dance. Bruno said they were excellent as individuals and superb as a team. Scores: Carrie Ann – 9, Len – 9, Bruno – 10. Total = 28.
The evening ended with the following results:
Mark & Anna T. – 43
Michael & Anna D. - 47
Mya & Dmitry – 49
Kelly & Louis – 52
Donny & Kym – 52
Aaron & Karina – 53
Joanna & Derek – 55
Mark is in big, big trouble.
Full episodes of DWTS are available at ABC’s website here:
Posted on November 8th, 2009 by Princess Kitty in Amazing Race
Aired 11-01-09
We opened at the second Pit Stop in Dubai as Meghan & Cheyne departed first at 1:13PM. The teams had to fly over 3000 miles to Amsterdam. Once there, they would drive themselves to a 19 mile causeway called Afsluitdijk and locate the Lely Monument and the next clue. The dating couple knew they had a target on their backs but their plan was to just stay in first place. Unfortunately for them, they discovered that the first flight to Amsterdam wasn’t until midnight so their lead was gone. They had a pretty good one too because team two, poker players Maria & Tiffany, didn’t leave until 3:09PM. Right behind them were brothers Sam & Dan who left at 3:10PM
Husband and wife team, Brian & Ericka, were in 4th place and left at 3:25PM. Ericka displayed some self-awareness when she said she knew she was yelling at Brian a lot and she hated that she’s doing that. Her hope was that, in recognizing it, she could get some control over it.
Father and son team, Gary & Matt, were 5th departing at 3:34PM and Harlem Globetrotters teammates, Flight Time & Big Easy left last at 4:20PM.
Indeed, all the teams got booked for the midnight flight and they had some down time together at the airport. The first thing the group wanted was the real story of what happened with Mika & Canaan at the giant waterslide. Big Easy gave them the scoop and, humorously, conveyed the little mind game he played with Mika. Sam & Dan, who were in an alliance with Maria & Tiffany and had done a lot of flirting with the girls, decided to come out as gay to the whole group. Brian responded that now their matching red swimsuits made sense. Tiffany said she and Maria might be a little disappointed that they aren’t available but they are still the most gentlemanly guys in the race.
In Amsterdam, things got off to a rough start when Brian couldn’t figure out how to put the car in drive. The other five teams arrived at the statue together. The next clue instructed the teams to drive to the city of Groningen and locate the highest building named Martinitoren. Brian & Ericka arrived shortly after and Ericka was already in full scream mode.
Meghan & Cheyne got to Martinitoren first and discovered a Roadblock.
Roadblock
One team member had to climb to the top of the building while counting the number of bells in the carillon. If they got the correct count of 62 they’d be presented with the next clue. Meghan took the challenge and she teamed up with Sam so they could get it done quickly. Flight Time and Matt started soon after. Tiffany and Ericka also joined in the search before any other team had finished.
Matt got the correct count first and he and Gary got the next clue taking them to the town of Vierhuizen de Marne. Sam and Meghan quickly followed and, on the way out of the bell tower, Sam gave the answer to Tiffany. Meghan & Cheyne weren’t crazy about that move but continued working with the brothers. The two teams pitched in to hire a cab driver to lead them to Vierhuizen de Marne. This put them ahead of Gary & Matt who were looking for directions.
Flight Time got the correct number next leaving just Ericka counting the bells and, wow, did she have a tough time of it. She went up and down the stairs repeatedly counting and getting more and more emotional.
Sam & Dan got to the windmill in Vierhuizen de Marne first and found a Detour.
Detour
The choice was between “Farmer’s Game” and “Farmer’s Dance”. In both cases the teams had to first don traditional Dutch costumes (including wooden shoes) and ride a bike to the task. For the sake of comedy, one person would wear a male costume and one would wear a female costume regardless of the makeup of their team. In “Game”, the teams would first have to find a creek, strip down to their traditional Dutch underwear, and swim across. Then they would have to play a game that looked like golf with giant balls. They would have to play three holes using 8 or fewer strokes for each. If they went over 8 they would have to go back to the beginning. In “Dance”, the teams would first have to ring the bell at the top of a high striker. Then they would have to learn and perform a Dutch folk dance. Finally, they’d have to cap it all off by eating some salted herring and onions. Sam & Dan and Meghan & Cheyne opted for the game. Gary & Matt and Maria & Tiffany went for the dance.
Back at the bell tower, Ericka dissolved into tears and sought out Brian. He calmed her down and sent her back in. He actually was remarkably sweet and patient with her. It must be their yin and yang. Meanwhile, Sam & Dan effortlessly moved through the golf game while Meghan & Cheyne (mostly Meghan) struggled. The brothers quickly got the final clue instructing them to bike to the Pit Stop at Zoutkamp Harbor.
Gary & Matt were in the midst of learning the dance when Matt suddenly realized they’d have to eat herring. Matt apparently has some major fish issues so they high-tailed it over to the golf game.
Meghan finally got the hang of the golf game and she and Cheyne were on their way to the Pit Stop. Maria & Tiffany made it to the dance challenge but hit a wall at the high striker. Tiffany could only hit hard enough to get the ringer about 3/4 of the way up. Maria, on the other hand, seemed to barely be able to pick up the sledgehammer.
Flight & Easy finally got to the Detour. I’m not sure how they managed to fall so far behind. They decided to do some dancing.
Ericka got the right number and was greeted with a big hug by Brian who told her how proud he was that she hadn’t given up.
Sam & Dan checked in first. Host Phil Keoghan informed them they’d won a sand buggy.
Maria & Tiffany gave up on the striker and headed to the golf game. Meanwhile, Flight and Easy delighted the Dutch folk dancers. They were adorable – even when eating the herring.
Meghan & Cheyne were 2nd.
The wheels continued to come off for Brian & Ericka. They didn’t fully read the Detour and headed off to the dance challenge on foot instead of using the bikes. It was a long walk in wooden shoes and Ericka did a lot of carrying on about it.
After a few tries, Gary & Matt figured out the golf game and finished. Maria & Tiffany, however, were having a terrible time. Finally they decided to head back to the dance. They still couldn’t get the high striker to work and they ended up hugging each other while the tears flowed.
Flight Time & Big Easy checked in 3rd.
Gary & Matt were team number 4.
It was now a battle between the meltdown teams. The girls headed back to the golf game and Brian & Ericka finally made it to the dance.
Brian, like all the male racers, had no trouble with the high striker. Ericka found her center as the dancing began. She described it as the moment she fell in love with Brian all over again. I was a little concerned how Miss America would handle the herring but, by then, her sense of humor had returned and she ate it like a trooper.
Meanwhile, poor Maria & Tiffany were in the midst of a disaster. They still couldn’t figure out the golf game and were exhausted from all the running around and from all the swings of the sledgehammer.
Brian & Ericka borrowed a couple of bikes and headed to the Pit Stop. They checked in 5th but had to wait out a 30 minute penalty for not using the correct bikes. The girls were still stuck at the golf game so the 30 minutes came and went and Brian & Ericka were officially team 5.
Phil ended up going to the golf field to meet with the girls. They told him they could not foresee being able to finish the challenge. They knew that would mean their elimination. They held on to each other through the whole thing. I felt bad for them because they didn’t lose by making a mistake. They just weren’t physically strong enough to pull off either Detour.
Next Week: The racers blow stuff up in Stockholm and it’s Meghan’s turn to have the mandatory meltdown.
Full episodes and bonus clips of TAR are available at CBS’ website here:
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 by Princess Kitty in Biggest Loser
Aired 10-27-09
The episode opened with the Black Team returning to the house after the elimination of Dina. Blue Team Rudy, who was originally partnered with Dina, was disappointed but not surprised. The two outsiders on Black were Dina and Danny. Danny had immunity so Rudy knew Dina would lose out. Black Team Liz, who has really turned into a little spitfire the past few weeks, said in an interview that she didn’t want to hear Blue talk about what a difficult decision it had been. They knew from the moment they lost the weigh in who was going to be sent home. Her hope was that Black would lose again, and Danny would again be immune, so they’d be forced to vote off one of their little group.
The next morning the whole group met up with host Alison Sweeney who informed them that this week’s weigh in would be a head to head match-up. It was face-off week. She also told them they were about to have a Pop Challenge to determine who would choose the match-ups.
Pop Challenge
For the challenge one team member at a time would have to run back and forth hitting two hanging disks while ducking under a bar placed in between. They could trade off at any time but each team member could only have one turn. The first team to get to 500 would have the power to set the match-ups. Abby and Tracey, who so far have been unable to compete in the challenges for medical reasons, got to lead off this one. After only 20 touches, Abby felt like something was wrong and pulled herself out. Shay took over for Black. The lead went back and forth several times but it ended as a race between Daniel and Rebecca - and Rebecca won it for Blue 500 to 497. After 10 minutes, Blue picked the following matches:
Rebecca vs. Amanda
Tracey vs. Abby – In an interview clip, Tracey said Abby should be worried because she’s “stoked” about being in the gym every day. Abby said, “Tracey is, um, well … she’s crazy. Tracey’s crazy so you just never know what’s gonna happen.” I love Abby.
Allen vs. Danny
Rudy vs. Shay
Liz vs. Daniel
To prepare for the face-off, trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels were really pushing their teams in the workouts. Jill was particularly driving Amanda. She explained that her intention was to create a situation that takes the person out of their comfort zone and triggers all their issues. She wants to do this in a safe, controlled environment where she can create a positive outcome for them and teach them how to handle it in the real world. When it comes to Amanda, Jill suggested that the problem wasn’t a fear of failure – it was a fear of success. Jill flat out told Amanda that she was the strongest person on the team. Amanda replied, “That’s not true.” It all ended with Amanda leaving the gym in tears saying she couldn’t handle the pressure.
Challenge
The group met up with Ali on a baseball field for this week’s challenge. The challenge was explained, via video, by Derek Jeter. In addition to doing:
Product Placement Alert 1: for 24 Hour Fitness centers, Derek told them they were going to have to work as a team in this challenge. The field was covered by 2535 baseballs (one for each hit Derek’s had so far in the majors). They had to run out, grab as many balls as possible, and throw them at one of their opponents’ targets. When someone’s target got hit by 316 balls, that person would be out. And yes, 316 had meaning too. It’s Derek’s career batting average. Ali added that the winning team would have lunch cooked for them by Curtis Stone AND a two pound advantage at the weigh in. Abby couldn’t participate for medical reasons so Blue had to sit out one player (Tracey) to keep things even.
The Black Team focused on eliminating Allen first because he was Blue’s strongest player. They succeeded and he was the first one gone. Amanda was knocked out first for Black. Rebecca was next for Blue and Daniel followed for Black. Rudy was the next gone for Blue leaving just Liz in the competition for them. She didn’t last much longer and Black finally won a challenge.
Curtis showed the Black Team how to make a Mediterranean burger using:
Jill had a heart to heart with Abby about why she was at the ranch. Abby said it was to find a purpose and it was working. She was loving people again even though that was a scary thing to do after you’ve lost everything. It was a difficult scene to watch as we saw Abby recount the story of the day she lost her family in a car crash. Abby is an amazing woman and I think I’ve become more attached to her than just about any other BL cast member ever. She said that she wants to live again and not just exist and now she knows she can do that. It was fascinating to watch Jillian’s face through the conversation. It was clear that the teacher/student roles were reversed and Jill was mesmerized by Abby and her spirit.
This was followed by another heart to heart between Jill and Amanda about Amanda walking out of the gym. First off, Jillian wanted to clarify that Amanda didn’t walk out on her. Amanda walked out on Amanda. Amanda explained that she’s not used to being the strong one of a group and its generating fear of failure. Jill said that failure is how one learns and sometimes you just have to fall down.
Weigh In
To win the weigh in, one team would have to win at least 3 of the match-ups. Black still had their two pound advantage and they opted to give the whole thing to Amanda.
Amanda lost 4 pounds. With the two added, she had a total of 2.75%. Rebecca lost 9 pounds for a total of 3.88%. One point for Blue. Basically, Black just wasted their two pound advantage.
Abby lost 3 pounds for a total of 1.47%. Tracey lost 5 pounds for a total of 2.48%. Oh, man! I’m never going to get rid of Tracey. Two points for Blue.
Danny lost 12 pounds for a total of 3.36%. He’s definitely riding a wave of confidence right now and it’s nice to see. You can tell it’s been a long time since he felt that way. Allen lost 8 pounds for a total of 2.96%. Finally, a point for Black.
Daniel lost 5 pounds for a total of 1.81%. Jill and Bob were shocked – particularly since Daniel had gained a pound last week. Jill said she had him on the same program as Danny and Daniel’s only lost 4 pounds to Danny’s 27. She said something was really wrong. Liz lost 7 pounds for a total of 3.07%. That was 3 points for Blue and they won. Black would have to send someone home.
The weigh in continued, though, with Shay losing 9 pounds for a total of 2.19% and Rudy losing 14 for a total of 3.94%. That meant Rudy had lost 100 pounds in 7 weeks setting a new BL record. The previous record holder, Dane from season 7, was on hand for the occasion. Dane announced that he and 12 former BL contestants would be doing a triathlon the next morning. Bob was bursting at the seams with pride saying that even he has never done a triathlon.
The Black Team had just 20 minutes to talk it over. Danny had the highest percent loss so he was immune. Abby wasted no time sacrificing herself. She said that something is wrong with Daniel’s weight loss and he needs to stay to figure it out. Amanda was on the verge of a breakthrough and Shay has only just started. She went on to say that her journey has been different. It was about opening up and loving people again and she’s accomplished that. The group was a crying mess. In an interview Shay said she’s fought her whole life for a mother’s love and Abby gave that to her. Danny was clearly uncomfortable with eliminating Abby. He felt that it was Daniel’s turn to go since he’s on his second season.
In the elimination room, Abby lead off the voting by putting down a name she figured no one else would write – Amanda. Shay said that every time she looks at Abby she sees the mom she wanted and didn’t have. She said that’s why she minded and did what she was told. She voted for Abby. Amanda also voted for Abby. Danny just couldn’t bring himself to do it. He voted for Daniel. Daniel said Abby made him promise to vote for her so he did. Abby said that she thought her dreams had died with her family but she’s starting to have new dreams now. Ok, at this point I was an absolute mess. I love this girl.
Back home, there was a huge crowd waiting to greet Abby. Abby said her future was looking totally different. She always had these people who loved her but she hadn’t been ready to let them in. She announced to the crowd that she was truly back. The looks on the faces of her parents was priceless.
Today, Abby’s doing motivational speaking and is following her dream of helping people. Oh, yeah. And she’s lost 80 pounds so far and looks fab.
The final graphic revealed that this episode of BL was dedicated to Abby’s family: Rick, Macy and Caleb.
Next Week: BL goes to Washington and, hopefully, Tracey finally gets her comeuppance.
Full episodes and bonus clips of BL are available at NBC’s website here:
Two points for Blue.