“Dancing With the Stars” Recaplet (Ep. 7.06): Blood on the dancefloor!

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.