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Dancing with the Stars - 9
msbuni:
Dancing with the Stars
Aaron Carter Cha Chas Ahead on Dancing’s First Night
September 22, 2009
Let’s hear it for the boys! Dancing with the Stars‘ eight male contestants took to the freshly buffed parquet floor Monday night to kick off the new season.
First up, were pop star Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff, who appeared to be wearing the same fringe pants that she performed in at the Emmy Awards on Sunday night. Cheered on by Aaron’s brother, Nick Carter and his fellow Backstreet Boys, the duo delivered a solid cha cha. Len Goodman said it was full of potential. Bruno Tonioli called it sharp and edgy. And they were awarded 22 points.
It was a tough act to follow for ultimate fighter Chuck Liddell and Anna Trebunskaya, who performed a clunky and funky fox trot. Carrie Ann Inaba thought Chuck was smooth and Len suggested Chuck get in touch with his feminine side. Their debut earned 16 points.
Iron Chef America host Mark Dacascos and Lacey Schwimmer’s Kung Fu-style cha cha was a crowd pleaser, but Len didn’t buy it. Fewer gimmicks, more substance, he suggested. Still, the duo scored a solid 21.
With mom Alana Stewart and dad George Hamilton, who competed in season 2, looking on from the front row, Ashley Hamilton did his best fox trot with Edyta Sliwinska, but came up short. Len praised his footwork, but Bruno and Carrie Ann felt he lacked showmanship. The so-so routine got them just 15 points.
Not one to shy away from an enthusiastic audience, Donny Osmond and partner Kym Johnson turned up the electricity with their fox trot — and earned the first standing ovation of the season. Bruno praised Donny’s “full-frontal” theatrics (seriously, that’s what he said), while Len was felt there was too much razzmatazz. A score of 20 left Donny unable to wipe the smile off his face.
Louie Vito and Chelsie Hightower did a respectable fox trot as well. The diminutive Olympic snowboarder, whom Bruno called “a dancing hobbit,” landed a 19 for his first dance of the season. But despite the solid score, Len scolded him for his shaggy hair, saying it was not ballroom appropriate. Dude, that was harsh.
Right out of the gate, Michael Irvin swore he’d do better than NFL great and DWTS finalist Jerry Rice did on his cha cha years ago. Paired with new pro Anna Demidova, Irvin’s routine, full of repetitive and unimaginative moves, seemed to stall. His score of 13 was the lowest of the night.
Last up was former congressman Tom DeLay and his partner Cheryl Burke. The controversial Texas politician had the crowd and the judges in hysterics as he performed a cha cha to “Wild Thing.” Bruno declared DeLay was “crazier than Sarah Palin,” but nobody denied it was entertaining. He earned a 16 for his hip-shaking effort.
The final 15 minutes of the show were the most exciting as Dancing instituted its first relay and a new scoring system. Four of the couples danced the salsa and the four other couples danced the Viennese waltz. They were ranked first, second, third and fourth (and given points accordingly: 10 for first, 8 for second, 6 for third and 4 for fourth). Best in show for salsa was Donny, followed by Louie, Chuck and Ashley. And in the waltz relay, Aaron came out on top, followed by Mark, Michael and Tom.
Here’s the final tally for boys’ night at the ballroom:
Aaron: 32
Donny: 30
Mark: 29
Louie: 27
Chuck: 22
Tom: 20
Ashley: 19
Michael: 19
Tuesday night the boys will kick back while the ladies take to the ballroom floor. –Monica Rizzo
http://tvwatch.people.com/2009/09/22/aaron-carter-cha-chas-ahead-on-dancings-first-night/#more-17309
RealityFreakWill:
Monday’s DWTS: What You Didn’t See
Brotherly Love: Aaron Carter had “the Boys” in his corner Monday night on Dancing with the Stars — as in his brother Nick and the rest of the Backstreet Boys. The group, whose new CD This Is Us comes Oct. 6, were on their feet after “little Aaron” performed the show’s first dance of the season, an admirable cha cha with partner Karina Smirnoff. Carrie Ann Inaba remarked that Carter is “all grown up,” a sentiment the Boys shared with PEOPLE after the show. “We’ve grown up with him and still he has that spunk he had when he was six,” Howie Dorough said. Nick, meanwhile, said his little brother “killed it! … I told him that he needs to remember that it’s not how you start, but how you finish.”
Come Together: They used to be rivals on the record charts in the ’70s, but Marie Osmond and Jermaine Jackson teamed up to cheer on Donny Osmond, whose cha cha with Kym Johnson received the season’s first standing ovation. Later, during the salsa relay dance, Osmond came out on top, proving he could more than follow in Marie’s Dancing footsteps (she finished third in season five). After the show Donny told PEOPLE that his sister signed some words of support to him before he went on. “We know sign language because two of our brothers are deaf,” Donny explained. “She signed to me after my first dance, ‘You were great. Smile more.’ Osmond says he was touched his friend Jackson could come to the show. “It was so cool to have him here,” he said.
Buff Daddy: While most people drop weight on Dancing, pro Tony Dovolani has been packing on the pounds — nearly 20 — since the end of season 8 in May. Dovolani, whose twins turned one earlier this month, tells PEOPLE he’s in training for a role in the upcoming independent film Pumping Up. Shooting stars in December and Dovolani has been working out every day. “I eat like a horse, five or six times a day, and I drink protein shakes, I eat protein bars,” he says. “Right now I’m 192. Usually I’m at 175.” In the movie, Dovolani plays “a character getting ready for a bodybuilding competition. He’s an Italian guy from Queens.”
Injury Update: What’s a new season of Dancing without running down the roster of injuries? Tom DeLay was diagnosed with a “pre-stress fracture” on his right foot last week. “I’m hurting,” said the Texas pol, who changed into special orthopedic booties after the show to keep his toes flat. Like many contestants on this show, DeLay is “doing things he’s never done before in his life. There’s a cumulative wear and tear,” his doctor tells PEOPLE. Meantime, Kathy Ireland is recuperating from a gash she got while surfing in Santa Barbara two weeks ago. Mya received stitches after cutting her hand on, and Carter is seeking treatment after experiencing a bit of knee pain.
Scaredy Cats: The show’s opening number was quite the grand entrance as the eight male pros descended from the ceiling on scaffolding. “I was scared wreckless,” Alec Mazo confesses. Even tough guy Maksim Chmerkovskiy couldn’t wait to get his feet firmly on the ground. “I did not like that at all, and Mark [Ballas] was shaking and rocking the [scaffolding],” Chmerkovskiy says. “I am so glad that is over. Never again.”
It’s Ladies Night: Nerves are building for the women, who will take their turn on Tuesday night. After sitting through Monday’s two-hour show, Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin tells PEOPLE, “I’ve been antsy all day.” Debi Mazar says when she gets nervous, “I think of what Maks has told me during the rehearsal process.” His advice? “Do exactly half of what you do at practice because all of the adrenaline and nerves in your body will bring you back up to 100 percent.” Meanwhile, Kelly Osbourne is trying to keep things into perspective: “I’m just going to go out there and try to have fun.”
http://tvwatch.people.com/2009/09/22/mondays-dwts-what-you-didnt-see-14/
TexasLady:
We watched Mark Dacasco and Lacey dance last night and I hadn't caught who he was till I read it here. My hubby and I kept trying to place him. :groan: He was mesmerizing, I barely noticed his partner.
RealityFreakWill:
Ladies' Dance Scoring Results:
Debi/Maksim
Salsa 6 5 5 16
Melissa/Mark
Viennese Waltz 6 6 6 18
Mya/Dmitry
Viennese Waltz 8 5 8 21
Kathy/Tony
Salsa 6 5 5 16
Natalie/Alec
Salsa 7 6 6 19
Macy/Jonathan
Viennese Waltz 6 4 5 15
Joanna/Derek
Salsa 8 8 8 24
Kelly/Louis
Viennese Waltz 7 8 8 23
RELAY DANCE
FOXTROT
Debi/Maksim 3rd 6
Kathy/Tony 4th 4
Natalie/Alec 2nd 8
Joanna/Derek 1st 10
CHA CHA CHA
Melissa/Mark 3rd 6
Mya/Dmitry 1st 10
Macy/Jonathan 4th 4
Kelly/Louis 2nd 8
COMBINED SCORES
Debi/Maksim 22
Melissa/Mark 24
Mya/Dmitry 31
Kathy/Tony 20
Natalie/Alec 27
Macy/Jonathan 19
Joanna/Derek 34
Kelly/Louis 31
msbuni:
some more morning updates -
Dancing with the Stars
DWTS Blog: Ashley Hamilton Gets Lowest Scores Since SAT
September 22, 2009
As I approach the stage my heart pounds like it’s going to rip right out of my chest. The room seems huge at first, but starts to get smaller as I walk down the stairs. My heart pumps faster, I can almost taste it … just then I hear my dad’s voice, ”Just drink a Red Bull and smile.” I definitely do not need a Red Bull at this moment. But I do need to smile and remember to have fun. Even though this is an elimination show, I have already won. The worst thing that can happen after you get eliminated is you go to Jimmy Kimmel — not such a bad consolation prize if you think about it. But I’m not planning on going home anytime soon … I hope! I hear our introduction and the music starts. Everything you’ve learned with regard to technique and counting has to go out the door. It is now time to trust in your weeks of hard work, and have fun.
I remember my first live performance at school (it was during that same year that I got my arm caught in the vending machine while trying to steal cookies). There was going to be a talent show and all the parents were invited. I decided I would do comedy! A perfect choice for someone who spends most of his time by himself. I decided to learn a Jackie Mason routine. It started like this: “I went to a psychiatrist once, I did. He took a look at me and right away said this is not you. If this is not me then who is it? I don’t know, the doc replied. Well if you don’t know, what do I need you for? I didn’t get to finish the joke because when I approached the stage, I started to relieve myself in my white nylon suit!!! People were laughing alright, but not at the Jackie Mason skit.
My parents are in the audience again, but I am hoping to have a different outcome. Thirty seconds into the dance, I forget what foot goes where, but engage with Edyta and I have the time of my life! It was so exciting and it’s not even over yet…there will be one more dance, the salsa. Cue the music, we come on first. Even though it is only 20 seconds, it seems so much longer and I know we have to make this one count!!! We both give it our all! We are done!
Wow … I haven’t seen scores that low since my SATs. Even though the judges were harsh, it was just good not to be judged in a court of law. Even though I took more hits than Chuck Liddell did in the octogon, I feel like I accomplished a lot. I have truly come a long way from the boy at camp — and I owe it all to my amazing dancing partner, my parents’ love and support, and ABC for giving me this amazing opportunity.
Now myf ate lies in the hands of the people who vote! But this is so much fun and it’s so nice to be working again. And in the great words of my father, “Please don’t send me back to performing on the cruise ships!” –Ashley Hamilton
http://tvwatch.people.com/2009/09/22/dwts-blog-ashley-hamilton-gets-lowest-scores-since-sat/#more-17370
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