DANCING WITH THE STARS - Week Eight Update

Only five couples remained to dance in Week Eight.  Next week, the four surviving couples will dance in the semi-finals, where the pressure is soul crushing!  Unless you happen to be an Olympic medalist or the NFL Man of the Year, in which case the pressure is no biggie.

But Kristi Yamaguchi and Jason Taylor, the athletes who have enjoyed their time in the top spot, were both bumped from the top of the leaderboard by Cristian de la Fuente and his partner Cheryl Burke in a dramatic reversal.  Last week Cristian suffered a tendon injury in his arm while dancing, resulting in a big wipeout and low scores.  This week, dancing to special choreography designed to work around his injured wing, Cristian came roaring back and seized the top spot.

I'm not saying Cristian and Cheryl didn't deserve to be #1, but I think the judges were a little soft on them this week.  The Guchi, on the other hand, seems to be scored by the judges to a different standard - they don't overlook minor mistakes with Kristi like they do with the other dancers.  Bruno at least seems to score The Guchi consistently. 

Ah, well.  It's easy to second-guess the judges - and part of the fun.

Tune in for the Results Show and the 100th Show gala on Tuesday.  Amid all the festivites and nostalgia, somebody has reached the end of the line.  Is it finally Marissa and Tony's turn to dance the Dance of Shame?  Seems likely.  But as the past couple weeks have shown us - anything can happen.

--Dave Campbell

Comments

[wildcatjungle]

I think Marissa should have been eliminated the first week. She can't dance and has no grace on the floor. The music to the Latin dances also sucks this season. Most of the time they were Latin dancing to American Hip-hop type music, the two do not go together. I'm surprised the judges don't recognize this, particularly Bruno, who is Italian! Marlee did a great job for a person who is deaf and can't hear any music. She should still be in the show as far as I'm concerned.

[wildcatjungle]

I think Marissa should have been eliminated the first week. She can't dance and has no grace on the floor. The music to the Latin dances also sucks this season. Most of the time they were Latin dancing to American Hip-hop type music, the two do not go together. I'm surprised the judges don't recognize this, particularly Bruno, who is Italian! Marlee did a great job for a person who is deaf and can't hear any music. She should still be in the show as far as I'm concerned.

[Nectarine]

Both Jason and Kristi routines were not as well choreographed as Cristian's, it was obvious from the get go and Kristi's costumes looked awful on her which I'm sure did not help her self confidence. Maybe some of Shannon's ego demands would get Kristi back on top where she deserves to be. Also, would someone please get some clothes on Edyta! Surely there's money in the costume budget for a couple more yards of fabric to cover her up, too much skin to skin contact with Jason is becoming too awkward to watch, even in the rehearsal segments! He's married, get off of him!
I agree with Wildcatjungle, the music and singing are not up to the past seasons.

[Donna]

I love this show -but now I have to wonder when cheating starts -I have to reconsider if I want to continue watching- They have double standards - like Christian has a hurt arm - I will give him that but he didnt even dance -Cheryl did all the work to make it look like he did -& shame on the judges for turning an eye & not judging the way they are suppose to & yet they call themselves professional! I think Cheryl & Christian should have gotten lower scores as he did not even perform w/ 100% and yet others that do get scored because their foot came down a "little" but atleast they used all of what they have -thats dancing!!!!Cheating is just not fair!!!!

[cheri,michelle, david,ken]

carey needs hormone replacement therapy and glasses; len needs fiber and viagra, and well....
it seems they all try to act surprised when the scores are given but we think its contrived and blatenly artifical. maybe a search for more judging talent is needed here.

[Debra]

I cannot stand dat gal Smiroff she is too much of a flirt and sneekie every an she dance with she want them i feel sorry for Mario that first Big foot magician he should have been smiroff partner so the she be the first off the show too flirty flirty

[marilouise]

The judges should have stuck to their rule of not allowing lifts. This week's dances were full of lifts and totally neglected the beauty of ballroom dancing. I thought I was watching figure skating! Please no more lifts. Let's enjoy ballroom dancing.

[Debra]

I think Jason is all that and a bag of chips he can dance with me anytime

[Angelina]

I have watched this show from the beginning and have always found it quite entertaining, however, I have to join a number of my friends and colleagues in saying that the show is 1) not fairly judged and 2) I find it disturbing when older, supposedly “professionals” need to stroke their egos by insulting contestants to get a point across. I found it offensive that the judge (Len) old enough to be the grandfather of the contestant Mario, found it fitting to consistently and unnecessarily insult the young man every opportunity he had. Shame on him! We keep saying that we need to set examples and encourage our young people to be the best that they could be, but this is certainly not a show that promotes that. I would certainly not be wasting my time looking at a horse’s ass every week. OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NEED ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT IN TODAY’S WORLD, NOT PUT DOWNS!

[Terry]

I have watched this wonderful family show since the very first season and I must say it has been a great time and has made me want to take some ballroom dancing lessons. My only negative comment comes to your judge(s)...Len, I have to say on the May 12, esposide (which by the way Happy Birthday to me!! Len Goodman-He needs to act more like he did,when was Len/Len Goodman 007, because I have to say how cute was that!!!!! and I really enjoyed that fun side of him instead of the cranky and negative side. May you have many more successful seasons.
P.S. Tom B. you rock!!!!