ABC/KELSEY MCNEALNo offense to Brooke Burke, but whoever wins the disco-ball trophy this season is going to have to outdance more than one similarly talented celeb.
This has been shaping up to be the best season of Dancing With the Stars in some time, what with last week's influx of 9s and 10s, three of which added up to Gilles Marini's first 30, and a double elimination that trimmed nearly all the fat from the competition, leaving a lean, mean waltzing machine.
Then there's Steve-O, who entered tonight hanging on by a thread (not one attached to his privates or anything).
But did Monday's showcase of paso dobles and Viennese waltzes further inflate our opinion of this season's stars, or did it prove we're just full of hot air? And was that a touch of musicality in Steve-O's performance?
Chuck Wicks: It's difficult to look as if you're really "going for it," as the judges requested last week during a Viennese waltz, but Chuck tried to let it all hang out just the same. He and real-life partner Julianne Hough sure cut a pretty picture, but we're not going to be mistaking the ground beneath their feet for air anytime soon. Len Goodman noted that Chuck had come out of performance "hibernation," while Bruno Tonioli appreciated that the country singer's "impetus" was showing. But Carrie Ann Inaba is irritated that Chuck seems thisclose to breaking out of the pack and hasn't done so yet.
Score: 23
Lawrence Taylor: If anyone should have proved a force to be reckoned with on the paso doble, it was L.T., who's credited with forever changing the role of the outside linebacker in professional football. But the retired Hall of Famer remains a stiff presence on the floor. He has strength to spare and he dragged Edyta Sliwinska around with ease, but he looks like he's thinking too hard out there. Bruno said he "started off like a block of granite" before he got going, but it was his best dance so far, according to Len.
Score: 20
Shawn Johnson: ShawnJohn the way we like her—midriff covered, dancing ballroom. After last week's Lindy hop hiccup, the Olympic champion was back in top form, floating across the floor with her head held high. The judges nitpicked at her shoulders and toe-heel action, but the graceful lines she and Mark Ballas created looked like perfection to us. "As pretty as a picture," Bruno said.
Score: 26
Melissa Rycroft: This paso doble started off very wham-bang, with Melissa flinging her skirt and stomping into action as if she were about to face off against a certain other dark-eyed hombre. But then it turned a bit mechanical for the former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, as the difficulty of the routine and the effort of looking dark and stormy rather than bright and smiley ate away at her usual poise. At least Tony Dovolani feels confident enough in his partner this season to finally be crafting some interesting routines.
Score: 25
David Alan Grier: There isn't a whole lot of chemistry between Kym Johnson and the comedian, who tends to ignore his pretty Aussie partner unless he's forced to be engaged in a hold, as the waltz required tonight. We liked the Spanish-tinged sensuality Kym injected into the choreography, but David turned out to be just one more celeb who was off his game tonight. "When you kept it classic, it worked," Bruno said, ruefully noting that so much of the routine wasn't classic. But Len was "very pleased."
Score: 22
Gilles Marini: The French actor, who equaled Sabrina Bryan's season-five achievement last Monday by scoring a 30 in week four, transcended borders with his fiery ode to bullfighting. Cheryl Burke could only be shapely putty in his hands as he moved in for the kill. And no, the shirtless beginning didn't hurt. "That was more than a dance, it was a battle for supremacy!" Bruno exclaimed.
Score: 29. Len and his pec envy found it "a tad hectic in places."
Steve-O: Definitely the least ridiculous Steve-O has looked on the floor to date. Who knew the Jackass star was a closet romantic? (That rehearsal visit from Johnny Knoxville and Wee-Man must have helped.) His waltz wasn't transformative by any means, but the fresh-faced star gamely stepped into the role of French mime and finally kept up, timing-wise, with Lacey Schwimmer's fluid feet.
Score: 18. Their best yet.
Ty Murray: Despite his bull-riding background, the bubble burst a bit for Jewel's hubby, who had too much time to think during the paso doble and therefore didn't have a chance to dissolve into the dance, as he did with last week's Lindy hop, and it resulted in a few missteps. Still better than some, but down a notch in the grand scheme of things.
Score: 21
Lil' Kim: The rapper remains one to watch. She and Derek Hough were in perfect harmony, Shawn-and-Mark style, as they floated across the floor. They may have had less time to rehearse this week, but Derek made the most of the time they had. If Kim could only figure out something better to do with her bottom lip as she sashays across the floor…Len had some qualms about the footwork, but Bruno told the Brit he must be crazy if he couldn't find anything to look at besides her feet.
Score: 26
The scores were down a bit tonight, but we're sure it's only a temporary blip. The reality check should have all the stars hoofing it out double-time during rehearsals this week. Etta James and Demi Lovato perform on Tuesday's results show.
It's even odds that Steve-O will be the next to go home, while L.T.'s exit is a 2-1 bet. Ty and David aren't too far behind at 5-1 and 8 -1, respectively, courtesy of America's Line oddsmaker Benjamin Eckstein.
Here's a rundown of tonight's leaderboard:
Gilles and Cheryl: 29
Lil' Kim and Derek: 26
Shawn and Mark: 26
Melissa and Tony: 25
Chuck and Julianne: 23
David and Kym: 22
Ty and Chelsie: 21
Lawrence and Edyta: 20
Steve-O and Lacey: 18