The Television Column: DWTS Week 3: Couples Face-Off

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During  last Tuesday’s elimination show, we said goodbye to Actor Jake Austin and Jenna Johnson. I was rooting for Jenna because this was her first season as a professional dancer, but someone has to leave first right? (insert sad tears).

 jenna-and-j

Anyway, on to Monday’s episode.

Welcome to the fastest episode of Dancing with the Stars ever. Due to the Presidential debate, ABC cut down the DWTS episode from 2 hours to 1 hour (dare i say: yay). There was also a change in format of the show: the remaining contestants perform in Face-offs and earn scores from the judges. The couple with the highest judges’ score in each Face-off wins immunity while the other couple will be fair game for elimination on Tuesday. DWTS switched up on me, so forgive my change in format for this recap. It was quite challenging to recap this episode but here we go:

Jive Face-Off: Babyface Edmonds vs Jana Kramer

To be honest, each week Babyface impresses me. He seems to be getting it and is on an upward curve. Gleb Savchenko’s choreography for Jana was fun to watch but after both dances my only response was “meh”.

Babyface’s scores: 25 out of 40 & Jana’s scores: 26 out of 40 (Immunity winner)

Paso Doble Face-Off: Rick Perry vs Vanilla Ice

Unfortunately, I don’t have much to say about this Face-Off. Rick Perry’s dance was still not perfect but he’s dancing his best. On the other side, Witney Carson sure knows how to put together great Paso Doble choreography and Vanilla Ice did well.

Rick Perry’s scores: 23 out of 40 & Vanilla Ice’s scores: 23 out of 30.

It’s a tie and Len (head judge) broke the tie and Vanilla Ice won immunity

Cha-cha-cha Face-Off: James Hinchcliffe vs Ryan Lochte

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Thank you Ryan and Sharna Burgess for changing the pace of this face-off. James can dance! His hip movements showed great potential. I was swooning all through that dance.

I was not here for Ryan and Cheryl Burke’s dance because i was recovering from James and Sharna but i have to point out that Len gave Ryan and James both 7s. Something was wrong here (but when is it ever right?)

Ryan Lochte’s scores: 25 out of 40 & James Hinchcliffe’s scores: 29 out of 40 (immunity winner, duh!)

Viennese Waltz Face-Off: Terra Jole vs Calvin Johnson

Viennese Waltz is almost my favourite ballroom dance (Comes in close second to the Samba). It’s soft, graceful, beautiful and easy to watch (depending on who is dancing it). Terra and Sasha Farber’s dance definitely met all those requirements. I almost didn’t breathe during the dance, in a good way (okay, i teared up). It was everything i wanted and more, i truly loved it. Easily the moment of the night. terra-and-sash

Calvin and Lindsay Arnold’s dance was equally nice (something about Viennese Waltz, i tell you). Their dance had those qualities i mentioned above but was lacking in the “soft” department, in my opinion. I enjoyed them both and i wish this face-off was not a thing

Terra Jole’s scores: 30 out of 40 & Calvin’s scores: 32 out of 40 (immunity winner). 

I disagree but it’s terrible that Terra got the third highest score but is in danger of going home.

Salsa Face-Off: Amber Rose and Maureen McCormick

Amber seemed to be having fun with Maks Chmerkovskiy’s choreography but it was clear that she still overthinking and not confident about the dance (or the whole DWTS process). I enjoyed the choreography, yes it was not traditional salsa but it was so fun. I was sure the judges would not enjoy it and that reflected in their scores.

Maureen and Artem Chigvintsev’s dance had more traditional salsa content (which they’ll get rewarded for) but she looked really stiff and it looked like Artem was literally carrying her through the dance.

Amber Rose’s scores: 25 out of 40 & Maureen McCormick’s scores: 28 out of 40 (immunity winner)

My thoughts: wait, what were the judges scoring in Maureen and Artem’s dance?

Tango Face-Off: Laurie Hernandez and Marilu Henner

Does it matter if you’re 16 or 64? Age is just a number and Laurie and Val Chmerkovskiy’s tango proved that. Dance is about connecting to music and performing and Laurie is a performer, and a great one.

Having a Val and Derek choreography back to back is a Monday night blessing and we’re grateful. Both couples danced well and Marilu also proved that age is just a number. I hope to be dancing something similar to that at age 64 (you go girl!)

Marilu Henner’s scores: 28 out of 40 & Laurie Hernandez’s score: 31 out of 40 (immunity winner). 

We close out this fast paced night with Calvin Johnson being on top. Tuesday night is the 2 hour result show with either Terra, Marilu, Babyface, Ryan, Amber or Rick going home. We also get to hear judges comments on the dances because we missed out on them on the Monday night episode. Shall i say i missed their comments, a bit.

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Bye for now.

 

Credits: All photos gotten from Dancing Abc instagram

 

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