Dan Fricker's blog

This week’s Results Show was a bit light on ... well, results. Talk about anticlimactic!

As already reported, it was revealed on Monday night’s episode that Misty May-Treanor "popped" her Achilles tendon in rehearsals and has been forced to leave the competition. (By the way, according to the producers she’s had her surgery and she is doing great.)

As such, DWTS was down a celebrity. So, rather than sending an additional couple home this week (thus shortening the series’ run by another episode … gasp, the lost advertising revenue!) they instead decided to keep everyone around. Strangely enough, host Tom Bergeron left this information out until the end of the episode. Viewers sat at home for an hour as couples were one by one dramatically “saved from elimination” … an elimination that never really came. Curse you ABC (angry wave of the fist)!

That’s it, I’m getting a TiVo and fast-forwarding this stuff.

So who would have been eliminated? The lowest combined voter/judge score went to celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito and partner Karina Smirnoff (sidenote: real/stage name … thoughts?). Rocco and Karina’s low scores, and as best I could understand from Tom, all the couples’ scores from this week, will be added to their results next round (to then come up with an average).

I guess the whole night wasn’t a wash. We did get to see Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson perform her new single “Spotlight”, as interpreted on the dancefloor by Derek and Julianne (true story: when he flipped mid-dance, I choked on my linguini … I might just have to learn how to do that.)

More excitement (and sparkle!) after the break!

Injuries pile up on the dancefloor, but Lance and Lacey make it through unscathed.

Last night was the fourth time the celebrities hit the dancefloor, and for Lance Bass and Lacey Schwimmer apparently fourth time’s a charm.

Lance looked dapper as ever in his suit and tie as he and Lacey danced the Viennese Waltz.  They were nervous going into it because for the last three routines they’ve come up short with head Judge Len Goodman.  Host Tom Bergeron called the couple on a “crusade to crank up Len”.  And cranked he’s been indeed ... Len’s scores for Lance and Lacey thus far:

• CHA CHA CHA: 6
• QUICK STEP: 6
• PASO DOBLE: 6

Clearly, a pattern has been developing.But do not fret, last night the cycle was broken.

In preparation for their dance this week, we actually got to see Lance and Lacey go outside the studio and into … Beverly Hills’ Sunrise Senior Living Centre? Well, we’ll take what we can get I guess.   

They performed for the residents of the centre (my nana and papa included) and the two received high scores of 8’s and 9’s from everyone, although it should be noted Lance was knocked by some biddy for his untraditional hairdo (oh granny, if you only knew…). And Lacey's crack about the seniors seeing Cloris Leachman sooner than later was pretty much the highlight of the show.

Their practice seems to have paid off though: they danced the Viennese Waltz and followed all its inherent rules.  Lance played the role of King and Lacey of Queen, they were as traditional as could be, and there were no “tricks nor gimmicks.” (Minus the magic hiding trick that made Lance’s sexual orientation disappear … oh wait that’s been hiding since Week 1.)  

The Judges’ responses were varied: Bruno Tonioli said the dance was “prim and proper” but he missed the couple’s “sparkle” this week.  Carrie Ann Inaba said she thought it was “beautiful” and “traditional”.  And Len… well, he said it was their “best dance” so far.  (He also said it was flatfooted and the posture was poor … but we’ll ignore that because of his 7.)

In other news, everyone on the show has an injury.

Derek Hough apparently blacked out after banging his head on something (that’ll teach him to mess with Brooke).  Susan Lucci was wearing an ankle brace after she rolled her foot during rehearsals (that’ll teach her to mess with ... The Rockettes?).

And Olympic Gold Medalist Misty May-Treanor is out of the competition!  She popped her Achilles tendon last Friday night practicing.  She appeared on the show last night crutch-bound with her leg in a cast, and says she’ll be going in for surgery today.  We wish her a speedy recovery. Wow. Judge Len Goodman went so far as to call this reality show the “toughest challenge on television”.  First reaction: laughter.  But, maybe the old guy’s not far off?

By the way, I’m pretty sure Bruno called Cody a “Twinkly Twinkie” tonight. (Did that actually happen?) The Results Show is scheduled around the debate tonight (uh, good call, ABC) so check your local listings.

 
Noah's Arc's Christian Vincent was among the men of Macy's Stars of Dance

Last night was Results Night on Dancing With The Stars, and it ran about 41 minutes out of its 44 too many.

As always, there was a lot of filler and contrived suspense, as viewers had to wait until the very end of the episode to find out who was eliminated. The 11 competing couples began next to each other on stage and were slowly whittled down. Fans of couple Lance Bass and Lacey Schwimmer were kept waiting in anticipation until the very end, as they were not revealed as safe until there were just four pairs left.

On Monday night the two took “fantastic risks” with their routine and were “thrilling to watch”, but were inarguably “untraditional” in style. Ultimately, though, their 7th place score of 20 from the Judges, combined with viewers’ votes from home, kept them in the competition.

While we were waiting to find out the results, the hour was at least filled with a number of (debatably) entertaining performances: Carmit Bachar (a former member of the Pussycat Dolls) and Jenna Dewan (of Step Up) danced with others in a Macy’s Stars of Dance routine, choreographed by Brian Friedman, and Jessica Simpson sang … twice.

Also, out of the 11 dance routines presented this week, the Judges chose to see NFL star Warren Sapp and partner Kym Johnson’s Paso Doble again, because, in Len Goodman’s words, it was full of “drama, artistry and entertainment”. Warren was tied for the top spot in Judge scores this week with Brooke Burke, who has been told she was “born to dance”. These two couples are seemingly Judge and fan favorites and will most likely be major competition for Lance in the weeks to come.

David Charvet
 

I’m glad they’ll be sticking around though, mostly so I’ll get to keep seeing David Charvet in the audience cheering on Brooke (it’d be even greater if he were shirtless and jogging on a beach, however).There was also a short piece on how Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli travel back and forth between Dancing With The Stars (shot in L.A.) and Strictly Come Dancing in London, England. In reference to the amount of time the two spend together, Len considers he and Bruno as “a great couple”… perhaps a bromance is on our hands this season (although I’d rather it be between Cody and Derek, no?).

They even did a segment on the Red Room backstage and how it is so “full of energy”. Apparently everything happens back there; the room “runs the gamut of emotions”. OK, let’s take a step back, folks: you’re on a celebrity reality show about dancing. I’m pretty sure the folks right now on Wall Street or in Washington can talk with  more authority about "the gamut of emotions" than you.

Let’s move onto the results...

So, let me get this straight … He kissed a girl and he liked it?

Wait, what?

During last week’s three-night premiere event of Dancing With The Stars, Lance Bass’s ‘very-public sexual orientation’ was referenced on a few occasions. Nothing too explicit: a quick gag about his gay androgynous fan on the street, and a joke made by partner Lacey Schwimmer about now not being able to marry her boyband crush.

Last night however, the pink gay elephant in the ballroom pretty much came out.Or did it?

In their third dance so far this season, Lance and Lacey danced the Paso Doble to the hit song “I Kissed a Girl” in a very modern and unique way. The judges seemed to enjoy the energy of the performance, but were disappointed in the dance’s loss of authenticity and tradition. Apparently the Paso Doble is a dance style full of rules and regulations; and according to Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, the couple broke them.

One of the things that may have stood out in the judges minds as (how should I say this…) too flashy? Perhaps it was the hardcore P.D.A. the pair engaged in at the end of the routine.

Yeah, Lance and Lacey basically made out:

I’m not sure if you all know this, but Lance is gay. (Has that been mentioned?) So his actually kissing a girl, well, it got some laughs. Again, there were subtle nods made at Lance’s orientation, but his gayness was never explicitly mentioned out loud. It was just the clever butt-end of the joke (excuse the unintentional pun).

So far we have heard all about Susan’s balancing act of both rehearsals and filming All My Children, as well as Brooke’s challenge of dancing while raising a family. However, Lance has yet to have any real video segments that explore his personal life (well, that’s if you don’t include his quasi-relationship he’s having with Lacey … is it just me or does it almost seem like they’re dating?).

Yes, Katy Perry’s single has been all over the pop charts for months now and it’s not a surprise her song was selected for a dance on the show … but is it a coincidence the song went to Lance? From what I can see, they’re referring to his sexual orientation, while ironically ignoring at the same time.

The results show will air tonight, Tuesday September 30th, on ABC. Predictions: Cloris or Kim go home (clearly).

Ted McGinley gets some bad news

***SPOILER ALERT***

It was elimination night on Dancing With The Stars yesterday and Ted McGinley and partner Inna Brayer were asked to leave the tribal council area immediately.  After dancing two routines already this week as part of the show’s three-night live premiere event, the couple was voted off after receiving the lowest overall score.  I guess Ted won’t be dancing for “all the men of America” any longer… shame.

The episode began with a group performance from the dancing pros to “Under Pressure” and went on to feature musical performances by Jesse McCartney and the Jones Brothers (I may have never heard as many pre-pubescent screams in my life as I did last night). 

Jesse McCartney

One of the episode’s highlights was Lance commenting on his time thus far in the competition, saying he’s never before “worn as many rhinestones” or “sweat as much” in his life (…no comments on the latter).

Adam Carolla, of last season’s DWTS, came back to do a short, comedic interview segment with random passersby and fans of the show on the street.  Mostly, Adam joked about jealousy over contestant Cody Linley being paired with his former dancing partner Julianne Hough.  The comedian also made some (arguably offensive) insinuations about the “androgynous man on the street” he spoke to, only being a fan of Lance’s because they were both… “former members of a boy band” (an intentionally transparent nod to Lance’s gayness).

Adam Carolla interviews "weird androgynous man on the street"

Adam’s comment comes after a couple of others on DWTS this week that have casually mentioned Lance’s very-public sexual orientation.  For example, Lance’s partner Lacey made a remark about wanting to marry the boybander while he was in N’Sync, but that she knows now it “won’t happen anymore”. 

Last night’s episode of Dancing With The Stars was part two of this season’s three-night live premiere event.  (Seriously though, who knew this show would make it to its seventh season, and with enough steam to take up five of ABC’s weekly fifteen primetime hours no less?).   

Again last night, this year’s crop of B- (and C-) Listers continued to provide some notable highlights: comedian Jeffrey’s sequined eye patch fad, actor Cody Linley’s jokes about his manliness and masculinity, dancer Mark’s frontless red sparkly shirt (an upgrade from his pink tux from the night prior) and Len’s obsession with Cloris Leachman’s “coconuts”.  That’s not to mention Lance Bass’ funny (and sort of awkward) slip of the tongue about “peeing on a dog”.   

Cloris shakes her coconuts

Last night he and Lacey Schwimmer (of So You Think You Can Dance fame) were the first couple to get through the round of voting and successfully make it to the second leg of the competition.  It was no real surprise though, as the duo dominated the top of the contest on Monday.  The only real criticisms had come from Judge Len Goodman, who called Lance and Lacey’s first performance “young and modern”, but proclaiming that he was “old and traditional”.  Well this second time around they still failed to really impress Len with their dance, who gave them merely a score of 6.  At this rate, it seems the generational gap might be an obstacle in the couple’s way throughout the season.  

Lance & Lacey's quick step

Bruno on the other hand continued to be nothing but supportive, randomly shouting positive adjectives like “dynamic” in the pair’s direction.  Host Tom Bergeron, fresh off of his non-Emmy win (…zing?), even liked the performance, saying he had wished it would “last longer”.  (Don’t worry Tom, I think there’s a pill for that).  Overall Lance and Lacey received a score of 21 from the Judges, but will still need votes from the American audience to stay in the competition… although I don’t really see that being an issue just yet.