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Learn more- "Dancing with the Stars" host Tom Bergeron promised at the start of the episode that "double the dancing means double the pressure," and that's a big statement in what has already been a tension-packed season. The stress reached a climax last week with dancing pro Derek Hough knocked the rest of the dancers for their "heel leads" and "the horrific, demented lines" after taking some criticism from the judges. Hough and his partner Shannon Elizabeth apologized to the rest of the dancers, but did the tirade signal their end?
It was getting heated as the dancers took on two individual routines for the first time this season, a traditional ballroom dance and a Latin dance.
Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur was coming off her best score of the season and said she couldn't believe she was still in the competition. Marissa and her partner Tony Davolani first took on the tango. It was a passionate, dramatic rendition. Judge Len Goodman said the first couple of weeks he thought the first couple of weeks, Marissa was not so good, then flattened out the past few weeks. But he wrapped up to say, "three words: your best dance." Bruno Tonioli said "great job." Carrie Ann Inaba said she's pushing herself and called the performance "fantastic." Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Cristian & Cheryl: Actor Cristian de la Fuente saved folks from seeing Len's bare bottom in a supermarket. Cristian and his partner Cheryl Burke first danced the Viennese waltz to Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You," which was a little awkward because his background video said he was going to dance as if he was dancing with his daughter. Bruno said the interplay between the dancers was brilliant and called it "a pleasure to watch." Carrie Ann criticized, "just a hair," a slight lack of energy, but enjoyed it. Len said it had a bit of romance about it, but there wasn't enough Viennese waltz and would have preferred a more traditional version of the dance. Scores: 8, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Kristi & Mark: Olympian Kristi Yamaguchiand her partner Mark Ballas Jr. were coming off the first perfect score of the season, but seemed to have some trouble in rehearsal with two dances (so, what, they'll only score 29?). Kristi said she felt the rest of the pack breathing down her neck, "but I kinda like it." She used a sparkly umbrella as a prop as they danced the Viennese waltz to Avril Lavigne's "I'm With You." An open umbrella indoors after a perfect 30? Sounds like bad luck to me. It didn't seem quite as fluid and graceful as their past performances, but let's see what the judges thought. Carrie Ann said they took a risk with the prop, but it worked. She said that technically the turns were a little off. Len said some moves were impressive, but the start was a little long and said "you don't need props." Bruno said it worked and it was good to see Kristi acting the part. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Mario & Karina: Mario needs to do something to impress the viewers more as his highest score of the season still landed him in the bottom two. In addition to the two dances for the show this week, Mario had to learn the choreography for his new music video. Would it hurt him? Mario and his partner Karina Smirnoff danced the foxtrot. Len said Mario is a real role model for other 21-year-olds, but said Mario is not the most elegant of dancers, but said "well done and a good job." Bruno said the foxtrot requires a lot of control and sometimes Mario is "not quite there." Carrie Ann complimented him on taking on very ambitious and difficult routines and said he needs to be a little stiffer on the more traditional ballroom dances. Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
Shannon & Derek: After an emotional outburst last week, actress Shannon Elizabeth and her partner Derek Hough had to wonder if their comments about the judges were going to hurt them. Derek told Shannon in rehearsal that they had no time to worry about the judges. Derek was bring a strict teacher in rehearsal and an annoyed Shannon threatened that he could be "going home alone tonight." Guess that clears things up, huh? Shannon and Derek sought to channel their aggression into the passionate tango. They both looked a little distracted as they seemed to miss a fair amount of moves, and it looked like she missed taking Derek's hat off toward the end of the routine. Bruno said the tango is "a bitch of a dance to master" but that the performance was "fascinating." Carrie Ann said it was their "best dance yet." Len thought they did "a terrific job." Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Jason & Edyta: After finishing second to last, NFL star Jason Taylor realized that he and partner Edyta Sliwinska had their backs to the wall for the first time. Jason and Edyta danced the quickstep and Jason ran to the judges' table and tossed a stack of paper in the air. Carrie Ann said it was all fantastic. Len said that "with performances like that, you're in the final." Bruno said "that wasn't the quickstep, it was quick lightning!" He finished by calling it "the performance of the night." Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Scoreboard check: After the first round of dances, a check of the scoreboard showed Jason & Edyta in the lead with 29; Marissa & Tony and Shannon & Derek tied for second with 27; Kristi & Mark in fourth with 26; Cristian & Cheryl in fifth with 25; and Mario & Karina in last with 24 points.
Marissa & Tony: Marissa and Tony followed up their 27-point tango with a sultry rumba. It was graceful and romantic. Bruno said they could have pushed a little more on the sex, "but it was nice." Carrie Ann disagreed and said she thought it was beautiful. She said everything was fluid and said it was great. Len praised Marissa for acting the part, but said there wasn't enough hip action and it was "all a tad careful." Scores: 9, 8 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Combined score: 52.
Cristian & Cheryl: Cristian and Cheryl went from the Viennese waltz to the saucy samba, but it turned somewhat disastrous when Cristian apparently pulled a muscle in his arm. He stopped dancing at one point and, at the end, fell over Cheryl as she dropped herself into his arms and fell to the floor. He wanted to continue to the judges' scores, but Bergeron took the show to a break so he could get checked. Carrie Ann said it was difficult to comment but said the dance is judged up to the point when the injury occurred. She said she was sorry she didn't get to see the whole dance and appreciated that he tried to pull through and was there for Cheryl. Len also praised Cristian for his bravery in carrying on and continuing. Bruno said the judges would have to judge on what they saw, but that he hoped Cristian would come back. Medics said Cristian suffered severe cramping in his arm. Scores: 7, 7 and 7. Combined score: 46. Update: Bergeron later told viewers that Cristian had gone to the hospital to get his arm checked and that he wouldn't be around for the end of the show.
Kristi & Mark: Kristi and Mark danced the cha cha cha to Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music." The high energy, upbeat performance was a welcome relief after Cristian's awkward finish. Len went on a tirade about "boogaloo hip hop dancing." He didn't like the choreography. Bruno told him to "get rid of the cobwebs." Bruno said it was a fantastic cha cha cha, "kids are gonna love it and I'm gonna love it!" Carrie Ann, the former "In Living Color" Fly Girl, gave her "two snaps up." Scores: 10, 8 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Combined score: 54.
Mario & Karina: Entering the second half of the night with the lowest first-round score, Mario and Karina danced the mambo. Bruno called it "fast, furious and dangerous" and called the Latin dances Mario's comfort zone. Carrie Ann said the couple "set this place on fire." Len called it "wild, wacky, wonderful." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Combined score: 51.
Shannon & Derek: After landing in a tie for second place after the first round, Shannon and Derek danced the mambo, with Shannon starting and ending with moves aimed directly at Len. Carrie Ann told Shannon she wasn't trying to be cruel but some of her lines still look a bit awkward. She told Shannon that because she has long limbs, it takes a lot more work for her than someone like Kristi to get those lines to look right. Len said he thought he'd died and gone to heaven. Len agreed that her movements are sometimes a bit gawky. Bruno said that sometimes she has to watch the gangliness in her moves. Scores: 8, 8 and 8. Combined score: 51
Jason & Edyta:After a near-perfect first dance, Jason and Edyta returned with a dramatic paso doble to the "Monday Night Football" theme song, with Jason wearing eye black on his face and his Miami Dolphins colored sweatpants and Edyta in a Dolphins' color schemed outfit. Len praised Jason's attack, but said there was a bit too much posing going on, "but when you've got a body like yours and mine, we like to pose." Bruno seemed to like it. Carrie Ann called it an unconventional paso doble that she enjoyed, but called out Edyta on lifting her foot at one point. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Combined score: 55.
Scoreboard:
Jason & Edyta: 55
Kristi & Mark: 54
Marissa & Tony: 52
Shannon & Derek: 51
Mario & Karina: 51
Cristian & Cheryl: 46
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