(S04E13) This week's elimination wasn't exactly surprising, but the entertainment value of the results show made up for it. I wish that ABC had made DanceCenter a regular part of the elimination episodes instead of the Jimmy Kimmel segments. Nothing against Guillermo, but Kenny Mayne grilling Len Goodman is just good TV.
The judges chose the encore performance by a coin toss, but they would have picked a winner either way. Laila and Maksim won out over Joey and Kym, and their Samba was as hot as ever. I initially thought the judges were going to let both couples perform, since the results shows are normally so padded. This week, however, there were some amazing and hilarious segments.
Some of this season's musical acts have been less than astounding (Macy Gray, anyone?), but Dancing With The Stars is on a hot streak lately. Last week's Joss Stone appearance was followed up with a breathtaking set of performances by Meat Loaf. Meat Loaf isn't quite the voice of my generation, but, as a performer, he is a sight to behold. The Loaf brought the house down as three of the professional couples danced.
This was probably the first time that a musical performer had my undivided attention. I did my best to watch pros Alec, Elena, Brian, Kym, Cheryl, and Louis, though. My favorite pair was probably Cheryl and Louis; I miss Louis. The backstage "male bonding" between Ian and Joey was inevitable, given Joey's comments on Monday. Ian's only response to Joey's joke was to call him the "driving force behind *N Sync." Easy there, Steve Sanders. Remember what they say about glass houses.
Part one of DanceCenter was funnier than anything I've seen on this show. It was refreshing to hear jokes that had nothing to do with how old Len is. Season Two competitors Kenny Mayne and Jerry Rice joined Len for some ESPN-style commentary on the remaining contestants. My favorite moments: Kenny claiming that women hate Cheryl Burke; Jerry asking why Laila can't be called the "female Jerry Rice" (Kenny: "because Emmitt won"); and, the giant telestrator circle drawn around Joey's bottom.
The first elimination round revealed that Laila and Maskim were safe, and that John and Edyta were in the bottom two. I booed along with the audience, but John was a natural choice. That downer moment was turned around by a group of tiny dancers. How do you top dancing children? Will dancing teddy bears perform next week? Maybe they could just let a group of puppies frolic around onstage. The kids were sweet and polished at the same time. I'm trying to remember how coordinated I was at their age. Perhaps I shouldn't dwell on that.
The men of DanceCenter returned to size up the last three contestants. Kenny thought that "J-Rat" was 70 or 80 years old, and compared his facial expressions to a child excited about a new toy. Agreed, but why wasn't the J-Rat nickname used earlier? Now it's too late. Len took some heat from Kenny about giving Billy Ray such "crappy scores," and Apolo's facial hair got some telestrator time. Meat Loaf's second showstopper was accompanied by another professional couple. I honestly wouldn't have minded if Meat Loaf sang without the dancers; he's that incredible.
Jimmy Kimmel and Guillermo's Cha Cha Cha demonstration was forgettable. The second phase of the elimination put Apolo and Julianne in the clear. Next, it was on to the audience feedback. Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth supported their 90210 classmate, Cheech Marin praised J-Rat, and fans believed that Billy Ray's animal magnetism would keep him in the competition. They got the animal part right, anyway.
Ian and Cheryl had to sweat it out until the final elimination announcement, but they were safe (along with Joey and Kym). This put Billy Ray and Karina in the bottom two with John and Edyta. After the break, John and Edyta were sent home. Billy Ray was disappointed; I don't think he's looking forward to learning two more dances. The audience gave John a well-deserved standing ovation. For a last-minute replacement, he went very far, and this week's performances were his best ever. So long, J-Rat.
Like all results shows, this episode contained filler, but it was entertaining filler. I'm giving it a 6 out of 7. Brett will be back next week to review the top five couples' Ballroom and Latin performances. Make sure you keep voting for your favorite celebrity dancers in AOL's Dancing With The Stars poll!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-02-2007 @ 12:29AM
Melissa said...
I am going to catch so much hell for this...
Laila is so overrated. I feel like I'm watching a drag queen dancing mediocre ballroom. Except, I know drag queens who have more grace and charm on the dance floor than she does. I really hope she leaves before Ian, Anton, or Joey.
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5-02-2007 @ 12:47AM
Mandee said...
Great review, Erin, and you are right, this episode deserved a 6. The Dance Center stuff was a lot of fun --hope we'll see it again. And Meat Loaf was top notch.
You know, the Results show has been morphing into a terrific '60s style variety show, with comedy segments, guest musical performers, and, of course, lots of dancing. A slice of retro-cool, for the whole family, from grandma to pre-tweens.
Like you, I wish the J-Rat tag had been applied earlier. The old boy knew his departure was inevitable, it was just a question of whether it would be before or after Billy Ray. He exited with lots of class, and a smile (of relief?) on his face.
And speaking of our favorite hillbilly, Billy Ray looked genuinely sad that J-Rat got eliminated first. Unlike some past contestants, BR appears truly uncomfortable with the prospect of defeating obviously better dancers. I bet he'll make that all the more clear next week.
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5-02-2007 @ 12:58AM
ol' joe said...
I liked the review, but I gotta know the name of the song the young kids danced to. Can anyone help with the song title? Please?
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5-02-2007 @ 1:08AM
Connie said...
Well, Melisa, you must know some very elegant, sexy, talented and graceful drag queens if they can top Laila.
When Laila danced the Samba, her wrist and hand movements were particularly delicate, while the rest of her moves were wonderfully feminine and ALL woman. She can be sensuous, flirtatious and downright sexy. Most importantly, her dancing technique is excellent. At times, it's hard to remember that she's not a professional.
In short, she's a natural, just like fantastic Apolo.
Yes, Laila is a large, athletic woman. And Apolo's a tiny, athletic guy. Big deal.
C'mon, Melisa, as some of your drag friends might say: don't be such a size queen.
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5-02-2007 @ 1:09AM
Melissa said...
You know, I was perhaps a bit too harsh in equating Laila to a ballroom drag queen in my post above. She has just never EVER done anything to impress me the way Anton, Joey, and even Ian have, but the judges, among others, are making her out to be this phenomonal dancer. In no way is she as good as the top 3 guys, and even though it was a coin toss, her boring samba should never have been picked over Joey and Kym's. That's all I'm saying. I'm done.
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5-02-2007 @ 7:37AM
GLORIA said...
KEEPING BILLY RAY? FOR WHAT?
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5-02-2007 @ 7:41AM
Josee said...
Please remove that Jimmy Kimmel, what's funny about 2 men acting like that, there was a comment about Laila Ali dancing like a drag queen come on now who looks more like a drag queen between the 2. I think that segment is horrible.
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5-02-2007 @ 8:03AM
Sheila said...
I have to agree with Melissa about Laila. Not that I think she looks like a drag queen - but that I feel her performances were lackluster. She HAS had some good performances, don't get me wrong. But this week, the judges just got it wrong with her. Her Samba was too bouncy for my tastes - watch the replay on ABC.com and watch her head - it reminds me of a carousel where the horses go up and down! And her feet - there should have been some point to the toes on extensions and all she had were flexions. When you start getting to this point of the competition - you have to get those small details right too, not just have a pretty smile and a famous father.
My other complaint is Ian. It is just plain painful to watch him dance. This week he looked constipated. What was it with the bent knees all the time? Reminded me of Grocho Marx truckin' - but then that would be an insult to Groucho.
Sorry to those that don't agree, but from this dancer's POV - that's how I feel.
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5-02-2007 @ 8:10AM
Sharon said...
I think it was a sad time when John lost. Billy Ray has no dancing skills. And it doesn't seem like he even wants to be there. He wants out. And John tried so hard. I think John should have stayed. He may not be a great dancer, but he put his all into it. Billy Ray is just drifting along. I think the wrong person was put out last night.
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5-02-2007 @ 8:13AM
Dave said...
Meat Loaf was terrible. He had a great album 30 years ago and he's trying to build off it again. In his prime he could belt out a song better than anyone but he has lost some of his power in the past 3 decades.
I agree, Laila is very overrated. Her arms and wrists are all over the place. She does look a little masculine when she dances. (She's more masculine that Joey is feminine) She is a great performer, but she has no chance to beat any of the men. Apolo should have this competition in the bag.
Goodbye, John. We'll miss you.
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5-02-2007 @ 8:15AM
joanna said...
i love billy ray. i have picked him from day one.laila is a very pretty girl.i dont think billy will win but i love that guy.i think joey will win.
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5-02-2007 @ 8:20AM
grumpyoldman said...
Love the Meat Loaf. He sounded great on Bat Out of Hell, but I believe he was lip-synching the second song.
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5-02-2007 @ 8:34AM
Anne R said...
I'm with Dave (and others) on this one. Laila is too boxy. She is attempting Tina Turner when she should be dancing. But she's built like a linebacker and moves like one. She needs to go--after that trashy Billy Ray.
Meat Loaf was terrible, I agree.
The best part of this results show was the "generational" dancers. HOW WONDERFUL! And to follow each one as if the previous couple had progressed in age under the rotating ball. Excellent--and were they ever talented.
John should have stayed. It's the sex-starved women out there, including Carrie Ann, who find attractiveness in that slimy BRC, that are keeping him on the show. And why is it acceptable that he openly displays his regret at being there, when Master P did the same thing and got scolded for it? This judging stinks. Bruno is the only objective one.
Tom Bergeron is so good he could have kept the Titanic from sinking. Something he's also doing for Samantha.
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5-02-2007 @ 8:36AM
Dollie said...
Well I can't believe Billy Ray is STILL in this compitetion. It is basically like American Idol. Im a down home country girl but Bill Ray has to go. His music is just as bad as his dancing in my opinion. His only hit showed his dancing abilities then, but the public didn't have enough of it I guess. He should of been the first to go in my opinion. His partner does all the work and he just fumbles around like a toddler. What is America thinking?
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5-02-2007 @ 8:41AM
Adrienne Herrell said...
I LOVE Billy Ray's personality BUT he's in misery....end his pain, and send him home. The country music fans have supported their own for two seasons now....next year let's get a country singer who can dance!
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5-02-2007 @ 8:45AM
cb said...
It was John's time to go, as will it be Billy Ray's next week. I think all of the remaining contestants are doing a GREAT job! I missed the first half of last night's results show but enjoyed the rest. Ahhhh, Meat Loaf...brings back such memories...as a teenager in New Jersey, the very first concert I went to was Meat Loaf in the summer of 1978, at the height of "Bat Out of Hell mania." The Loaf was awesome and it was an amazing concert on an incredible "hot summer night and the beach was burning..."
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5-02-2007 @ 8:50AM
Nancee said...
Ian tries so hard...give him a break. Of course, if the competition is legit..he will NEVER win. The remaining "dancers" all bring a certain element to the show...Laila - Manly? I think not! Sexy? Definitely! Joey, uses humor to hide his buring desire to win...I think he wants to be remembered for something other than those "boy band" days. Apolo is a natural. He's both athletic and graceful and oozes with charm! LOSE Jimmy Kimmel...once or even twice was enough. Is that really supposed to be comedy?
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5-02-2007 @ 8:55AM
LENORE said...
WHOMEVER THINKS LAILA IS LIKE A DRAG QUEEN MUST BE ONE THEMSELVES AND A JEALOUS ONE- IF YOU DONT LIKE SOMETHINGS ABOUT HER, OK! YOUR CRITICISM IS CRUEL AND DUMB. BILLY RAY IS A GREAT SOMETHING ELSE- HIS DANCING IS TERRIBLE! HE IS SO STIFF- HE IS LIKE A BIG FRIGHTENED COWBOY WITH THE MOST UGLIEST HAIR !!!!!!!! JOHN HAD CLASS ,STYLE AND WAS ENJOYABLE TO SEE A MAN OF HIS AGE DO AS WELL AS HE DID. - TAKE THE JIMMY KIMMELL ACT OUT! ITS STUPID! I AM SURE ABC COULD COME UP WITH A BETTER ENTERTAINING ACT!/ZOOZIE
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5-02-2007 @ 8:56AM
welroundedeileen said...
I loved all the comments made so far and I have a suggestion for the show.
I think all the judges should be in the dance competition
and go through judging by past winners.
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5-02-2007 @ 8:56AM
Renate said...
I loved the young dancers! Extraordinary. Billy Ray should have left before John. That boggled my mind. He will definitely be leaving next week but the rest of the dancers are up for grabs. I like Laila and think she is beautiful and graceful. It is surprising how feminine she is despite being a tall, strong woman. Apolo, Ian and Joey are all very talented as well. Out of those three I would go with Joey as the best, then Apolo and Ian last.
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