All My Children Discussion Group

Topic: Dancing With The Stars - 11/17 - Semifinals Results

Tonight we find out whether fanbases & popularity win out over technique. An interesting show.

Encore Dance--Mýa & Dimitry and their Sexy Salsa. With their perfect 30, Mýa & Dimitry get to do their encore having that given to Joanna and Derek last week because of their unusual futuristic paso. Again, just as hot or more than last night.

Backstage Comments.- We find out that Donny & Kym weren't the only ones to make up parts of their routine after their wardrobe malfunction. Kelly admits to completely forgetting her solo and she started adlibbing. Louis stood there and wondered what she was doing. No wonder it didn't look like much and was very weak. I finally got a chance to rewatch Donny & Kym's Tango and saw the hem come down and entangle their legs, mostly Kym's, throughout the dance. I can see why it through Donny off and why he didn't try to cover it up. It was hard to do that when you didn't know when that ripped piece was going to come in between their legs. It was better to keep their minds on what was happening around their feet so they didn't fall. In doing so, the passionate connection was lost that they started out with and the dance hadn't any spark. I also watched part of it in slo-mo and they do a great job of trying to keep that dance going. They should have gotten an extra point just for the concentration they had to put into keeping with the routine as much as possible and not fall. This happened only 33 seconds into their dance.

Macy's Stars of Dance--Cast of the movie "Nine"performed "Be Italian". Very good performance. I'm not familiar with the stage version (maybe W.E. or Songbird can help here) but although this was a good performance, aren't there any other dance numbers from the show that could have been done instead? Again, this is supposed to be a family show and I wasn't too thrilled with the costumes and some of the actions in the dance being that I know children watch this show especially now that it is to the Semifinals. On the other hand, if this is supposed to be family oriented, then they should muzzle Bruno. This is JMO.

Alicia Keyes singing, "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart", a very good performance. So were the pro dancers.

A little bit of filler where the four celebrities lip sync to Queen's song, "Under Pressure". Nothing special.

The two highest scoring couples are first:

First Couple in Finals - Mýa & Dimitry
In Jeparody - Joanna & Derek

Leona Lewis performs her song, "Happy". I'm not a fan of a Mariah wannabe (Geez, I'm so negative tonight) but she did start okay. I mostly enjoyed the dancers. Sorry fans of her.

The two lowest scoring couples are next:

Second Couple in Semifinals - Donny & Kym
In Jeparody - Kelly & Louis

The Bee Gees sing, "You Should Be Dancing" plus Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani with Chelsie, Cheryl and another pro partner dance the "Hustle". The dancing was great and the Gibbs still sing okay but somehow that high falsetto just doesn't sound right with these older guys. Again, JMO. Boy, I must be in a mood tonight. I really did enjoy the show but I liked last week's much better.

Another filler but this one is an interesting one. It shows how the pros have to choreograph the pro numbers on the Results show as well as the dances for their celebrity. With all pros being choreographers, it can get heated or confusing with so many ideas being thrown around. They said that since they are busy with their celebrities during the day, sometimes they don't get to rehearse the pro dances until midnight. And sometimes they only get to rehearse for 45 minutes because they have to work with everyone's schedule. I enjoyed hearing all this.

Kelly & Louis go onto the Finals.

Eliminated - Joanna & Derek -- I had a funny feeling that she would go and I think she and Derek did too. Derek nodded when their name was called as if to say he knew it. Len tells Joanna that she was the most consistent of all the dancers and how she did a lovely performance. Tom announces that they will do something different (again). They will break with tradition and have Joanna & Derek dance their Viennese Waltz instead of the usual sign off dance as the credits roll "to remind everyone of the amazing level of performance they brought to Season 9". It was lovely to see that dance again. They did a superb job. Looks like the fanbases & popularity won out. Sharon and Ozzy were in the audience and just beamed when it was announced that Kelly was in the Finals. She did better under the pressure of three dances than I figured she would.

Next week: Couples will do a Tango Tap-Out (don't know what that is), Freestyle, and Favorite Dance of the Season. The Final Results show will have Whitney Houston, and Kenny Mayne and Dance Center will be back with Jerry Rice going head to head with Michael Irvine in a dance. Should be an interesting final week!

Anyone surprised or shocked?

I have really enjoyed the musical talent this year.  It's been varied and really fun.  Leona Lewis was excellent as was Alicia Keys.  I really like both of them.

I have to say that Joanna and Derek danced  really well last night and I am sad that they will not be in the final.  Early in the season I thought it might come down to Mya, Natalie, Joanna, and Maybe Donnie or Aaron, but I was hoping for Kelly to make it.  Natalie going early was sad.

So I'm happy that Mya, Donny, and Kelly are in!  Joanna danced really well last night and I'm glad they got to do the whole dance for their farewell. 

Kelly's quickstep was so fast I couldn't believe it.  I felt so bad for Donnie and Kym when the hem of her dress came apart but the judges were right because a less experienced person would not have been able to manage that as well as they did.  While that was kind of disasterous for them, they came back and did a great second dance.

At the beginning of the season I though Mya could do the steps but was holding back her personality.  I didn't think she was projecting as much as she should have but in the last few weeks she really turned that around and has had some really good dances.  I enjoyed her a lot.

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The judges gave them 10's for the Salsa (Mya and Dimitry) but it was so much better the second night. IMHO.

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Posted by: Peace
Date posted: Wed Nov 18 20:09:09 2009
Message:

I don't know if any of you DWTS fans have yet visited Maks' blog.  He does a great blog once a week and the fan's comments at the end of the blog are also interesting.  There is also a short interview at the end of the blog.

http://www.tvguide.com/Celebrity-Blogs/Dancings-Maks-Pretty-1012140.aspx#BLKcommentCount

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Thanks, Peace. I knew about Maks' blog but only had the time to read it once. Thanks for posting the link. It was very interesting to hear his take on things and the final four. ~ eom. Linda

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Posted by: Eve
Date posted: Wed Nov 18 11:51:25 2009
Message:

Not surprised by the elimination.

A few questions:

Has Dmitry ever won a DWTS mirror ball trophy?  I didn't watch the first season so not sure.

When did the magazine layout of Joanna come out?  And was it nude photos?

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Dmitry came here after he competed on SYTYCD (as did Chelsee Hightower) and has only been here a few seasons and no he's never won. I know nothing about Joanna (lol). eom/WE

I wondered if Joanna did nude photos when they kept showing Hugh Hefner, so I did a google search and apparently she has. There is a link inside for an article with censored pictures. /LuvToLaf

Whoa, nelly on the pictures Luv, lol. They had to have been done before DWTS started so guess she is trying to further her career. She's a gorgeous woman but have to wonder if that hurt her in the voting, and now interesting that Hugh was there. The article is from Monday I think. Derek did not seem all that shocked at the elimination as someone else stated. Eve

my mom told me about the nude pix as well and I was surprised since ABC is a Disney co. I'm sure it had a lot to do w/ voters especially after showing Hugh the other night.... then again we've had other scandalous contestants, so maybe I'm completely wrong! - kris

I wasn't surprised either. Dimitry, Chelsie and Lacey all came from SYTYCD. Dimitry hasn't won as yet. Alec Mazo was the first season's pro winner. He won with Kelly Monaco and hasn't come close since. He is married to Edyta. I don't know when the magazine layout came out but I thought it was recent. It was nude photos because I remember seeing bands across certain areas when they were showing it on the magazine shows. I was wondering if that is what did her in and the fact that Hugh Hefner talked in her support besides being there with his three blondes probably didn't win over the mostly women that vote. I forgot about ABC being a Disney Co. That's why I'm surprised that they even had Joanna on there or the Lambada, or the dance from 'Nine', etc. Maybe Disney has a side adult department? LOL! ~ eom. Linda

All this talk made me go search again, LOL! Joanna will appear in the December 2009 edition of Playboy. (Click inside for a link to another article.) /LuvToLaf

Thanks, Luv. I knew it was either soon or it had just come out. That's why I wondered if this might have been poor timing and cost her the votes. ~ eom. Linda

I also found out that she had appeared in Playboy before in 2005, so this will not be her first time. If they hadn't shown that clip of Hugh, I never would have suspected. eom/LuvToLaf

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Posted by: W.E.
Date posted: Wed Nov 18 9:26:20 2009
Message:

I expected an upset but didn't expect BOTH Donny and Kelly making finals. Then again I think Derek (like Karina) loses votes for his partner each time he acts up. A shame as he's a wonderful dancer.

Joanna did a great job. There was a little awkwardness at times but overall it was wonderful to watch. Yep it was the Osmond and the Osbourne fans at work.

This means Donny might better Marie after all. He's got so many fans he might win the thing. That would be wrong as Mya is clearly the best dancer. If their fans take Donny and Kelly to 1st and 2nd over Mya we know this is no longer about talent but popularity.

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But doesn't that just prove that it's a popularity (albeit a reverse popularity) contest then? I think that it's unfair that a dancer's partner should have to suffer just because some people don't like the dancer. My personal opinion is that it should have been between Joanna and Mya. I also think that it was ridiculous that Aaron was eliminated before Kelly. Come on! Also, can someone tell me about why people don't like Derek and Karina? I don't watch the show that often (I always start watching halfway through the season) so I don't know what people keep referring to. eom. Junebug.

For me, it is the way a dancer portrays themselves on the show. They admitted during the pro rehearsal bit last night that they are all perfectionists with strong opinions, which is why they are there in the first place. Nothing wrong with that. In the past, Karina has been visibly upset, pouting, frowning to the camera when she and her partner are voted off. The pros do not get to pick their partners or nobody would want the poor apple guy (and I am not picking on him as he is a genius) who was not going to win. Karina did much better this year because her partner Aaron was very good. Derek is young and I think tends to suffer from the too much Hough kids syndrome. He overdances his partners as I have stated that Louis did. Louis completely changed this season with Kelly and I am enjoying him much more. Hope this makes some sense and sheds a little light. Eve

I wondered about an upset as I was responding to some of the posts on the Performance topic. It suddenly hit me that these two fanbases were going to go head to head for their contestant to make it into the finals and I said that we just might have an upset with Joanna going. A few others wondered the same thing. I think Derek just needs to grow up. Both Maksim and Karina were a lot better this year. Louis I never did have a problem with but I never saw all of the first season. He has been on SYTYCD and done very well with his choreography and this year on DWTS he has done just as well with his choreography and working with Kelly to make her look good. I still think it has to do with growing up a bit. These other male pros are older than Derek who is in his early 20s. Karina, well maybe she finally caught wise, I don't know. But these should not be reasons to vote or not vote for the celebrity just because of how you feel about the partner. It is the celebrity that you are supposed to vote for on their dancing. Yep, the Osmond and Osbourne fans are hard at work. I agree, if one of them wins and the other comes in second leaving Mýa for third, this is definitely not about talent anymore and hopefully, something will change for the next season. I thought that Aaron should have stayed and Kelly should have gone at that point. He had much better scores. That's why (as we keep saying every season) that these voting rules have to change. Voting during the show should not be permitted and the hosts have to stop saying to vote for your favorite. We shall see next week what the public goes for. ~ eom. Linda

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Posted by: CaroleA
Date posted: Wed Nov 18 8:38:00 2009
Message:
I'm going way out on a limb with my opinion, so please be gentle.  To tell the truth, the use of the word "star" is questionable so there were several of these "stars" that I've never heard of.  That said, the professional dancers are all very familiar, and while I liked Joanna (whoever she is) and thought she was a real lady, I just don't like Derek.  I do not believe I am the only one.

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You're far from the only one. When they started this show they said it would be C list celebrities. The use of the word star is odd when most of us don't know most of them. Still, I guess, they have celebrity as a model or sports star, gymnast or chef. Seems TPTB find them in all genres of the business of show. I find once I get into it and they prove themselves I can start to enjoy but your point is well taken and many feel exactly the same. I never heard of most this season. eom/WE

The word ''star'' in the title is questionable because not all are ''stars''. ''Celebrities'' is different because all these people are celebrities in their own right in the different professions that they are in. I never heard of Joanna either until this summer when she was on ''Superstars'' (another 'star' show) where celebrities had to compete in teams in athletic challenges at some swanky resort. I found out then that she was a model. The magazines where she models, I usually don't see, so I didn't know who she was. Yet, I found her to be really good and enjoying her routines. Derek, I can take him better than some on here. I like the way Derek choreographs but try to overlook his childish actions and ego. Maksim has a terrible ego and not that many people complain about him. I have noticed that he has gotten better with his ego and wasn't as bad this year. He was also in ''Superstars'', in fact, actually winning the show and I was rooting for him all the way. He was just so different. I think these guys are growing up a little and Derek just needs to grow out of this phase. He is, afterall, in his early 20s. A time when most people think they are so important. So, I try to look past this and just look at the routines he puts together and that Futuristic Paso was very well done. Of course, all this boosts his ego even more. Maybe them losing out on the finals will bring Derek down a bit. The 'star' status also brings us back to the voting problem of popularity over technique and improvement. People should vote on their dancing ability not on if these people are known or not. ~ eom. Linda

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Posted by: krisa225
Date posted: Wed Nov 18 8:37:02 2009
Message:
I am not surprised... I'm very happy w/ the results actually.  I hope Donny takes #2 and I'm sure Mya will win.

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No, I wasn't surprised either. I was more surprised when Natalie was voted off. I'm hoping for Donny in the No. 2 spot, myself. Mýa should be the winner. I just wonder what these two family fanbases will do. Will they over power Mýa or will Joanna's fans help Mýa? ~ eom. Linda

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Posted by: Angela
Date posted: Wed Nov 18 7:10:03 2009
Message:
In my opinion...I think everyone that is on this show does a great job and works very hard. I think Kelly should of been voted off. I was very suprised last night.  Thanks for the recap..I loved seeing The Bee Gees. I love their music!!

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I totally agree that everyone works very hard. Especially this last week, all four couples really worked their hardest. I thought Kelly should have been voted off too. She did great Monday night, much better than I thought she would do with the pressure of three dances. Maybe that's what she needed. But overall, she wasn't as good as the other three. Joanna rightfully should be in the finals. It was nice seeing the Bee Gees after all these years. ~ eom. Linda

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Posted by: katiesbeach
Date posted: Wed Nov 18 6:34:18 2009
Message:
Yes, I am definitely surprised to see Joanna and Derek go over Donny and Kym. Just goes to show the power of the vote. Not many people knew Joanna Krupp before she danced on this show (I didn't), but of course everyone in the world knows and loves Donny.

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Either Donny & Kym or Kelly & Louis should have been in the third spot. One of them should have gone leaving Joanna & Derek in the No. 2 spot against Mýa & Dimitry, but yesterday thinking of those two family fanbases, I had a funny feeling that Joanna was the one to be sacrificed. I didn't know Joanna either and every season there is one or more that I don't know but if they can do a good job at picking up the routines and improve and do them well, why shouldn't votes go to them over someone who is popular. The voting has always been wrong on this show but no matter how much we complain about it, TPTB never seem to do anything about it. ~ eom. Linda

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