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Learn more- Three months can fly by when you're having fun. Host Tom Bergeron reminded viewers of the journey that led them to the 90-minute semifinal round where four couples would compete for three spots in the final. Random draws decided which dances each couple would perform. The one-week pass on lifts was rescinded, so the dancers would be penalized for lifts. Judge Len Goodman told all the dancers that because they were performing dances they'd done before, so they were really expected to step up their games.
Jason & Edyta: NFL star Jason Taylor was up first, looking to bounce back from his samba he previous week. Jason pulled the foxtrot and the paso doble from the random drawing. Those are both dances he's performed well, but this round would require new music and choreography. To get Jason back in competitive mode, his partner Edyta Sliwinska gave him a classic chalkboard coach's pep talk. She also got Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino to give Jason a boost, via video. Jason and Edyta performed a foxtrot to "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off." Len said Jason glided around the ballroom and said it was "fantastic." Judge Bruno Tonioli praised Jason and Edyta's choreography. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said Jason had a lot of content and a lot of charisma and said, "good job." Scores: 9, 10 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur and her partner Tony Davolani landed at the bottom of the judges' scoreboard the previous week. She drew the rumba and quickstep for her semifinal dances. Marissa got a visit from Stacy Kiebler, who was paired with Tony in the past. Marissa and Tony danced the quickstep "for everyone who believed in us," Marissa said. Bruno pointed out that Marissa missed a move and Marissa said, "you noticed." Carrie Ann thought Marissa did "a great classic quickstep." Len said that for a dance so technical and so fast, "I thought you did a great job." Scores: 9, 9 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Cristian & Cheryl: Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente and his partner Cheryl Burke drew the samba and the Viennese waltz. The samba was the dance they were performing when Cristian injured his arm two weeks earlier. He had to overcome some mental anxiety. But that would wait until after they performed a Viennese waltz to Dave Matthews Band's "Satellite." Carrie Ann said it was enjoyable to watch. Len said everything was better than the last time. Bruno said it was a Viennese waltz "with a wow factor." Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Kristi & Mark: Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi was looking to regain her place at the top of the leaderboard after two weeks out of first place. Her partner Mark Ballas Jr. took her to a professional ballroom class to get some feedback on their routine. She was once again reminded to show some more passion during her dance, especially on the tango, which was what the couple would have to be performing, in addition to the jive. Len said everything technically fine and said "sometimes, for me, it was a little bit hectic." Bruno said a bunch of stuff very loudly that made it sound like he enjoyed the performance very much. Carrie Ann nearly had a wardrobe malfunction while rising to give Kristi a standing ovation. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
At the half: Kristi and Mark led the scoreboard with 29 points; followed by Jason and Edyta with 28; Cristian and Cheryl with 27; and Marissa and Tony with 26.
Len's pointers: Len visited each of the dancers and gave them each a specific step that he wanted to see in their Latin dances.
Jason & Edyta: Jason and Edyta performed the paso doble. Jason got through the dance with far fewer poses than he did last time and brought a great amount of intensity. Bruno said Jason had "the strength and momentum of 'Ironman.'" Carrie Ann said the judges have knocked him before for not having enough content in his routines but this one had way more choreography, way more difficult steps and said he did a great job, "nice execution." Len said Jason was a bit like the price of gas, "you're going up." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Total: 55 out of 60.
Marissa & Tony: Marissa and Tony performed a sultry rumba to "Just the Two of Us." Carrie Ann said she "wasn't excited by that." She didn't feel like it was a semifinal dance. Len said the rumba doesn't have the wow factor of the other Latin dances, it is a precise dance, "it has got to be right on the money with the technique and the choreography. I thought you did a very, very good job." Bruno said the last time he told her it wasn't sexy enough, but this time she pulled it off. Carrie Ann jumped back in and blasted the judges, suggesting they weren't holding Marissa to as high of a standard as they were holding the other dancers. Scores: 8, 9 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Total: 52 out of 60.
Cristian and Cheryl: Cristian and Cheryl took on the samba for the first since the injury. It was an intense and fun display. Len said it was "hotter than a chili pepper." He said he thought Cristian's arm injury made him focus and come out stronger than he'd ever been before. He did criticize Cristian for being a bit flat footed at times. Bruno said it was the rematch of the century. Carrie Ann said Cristian reminded her of Emmitt Smith, who won this whole thing not long ago. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Total: 56 out of 60.
Kristi & Mark: Kristi and Mark danced a new jive, a dance that scored them a perfect 30 a few weeks back. This one seemed to lack a little bit of the style and performance of the first. Bruno said it was the cherry on the icing on the cake of a sweet, delicious jive. Carrie Ann said it was an extremely difficult routine and said Mark throws more difficulty at Kristi than any other dancer in the competition. Len said there was great rhythm, but said it was just a little bit stiff at times. Scores: 9, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Total: 57 out of 60.
Scoreboard:
Kristi & Mark: 57
Cristian & Cheryl: 56
Jason & Edyta: 55
Marissa & Tony: 52
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