Well, Ty was sent home this week. He was such a joy to watch. Every season, we have someone that touches the hearts of the masses and really reminds us that anything is possible. I love that about our show. Ty Murray was that person this year. We actually had a few people that really brought heartwarming stories to our show — Steve-O, and Steve W. both pulled on our heartstrings as well. And I have to say that Lil’ Kim also really surprised everyone. I still wish she could have been in the final three. Derek does such great choreography that it would have been nice to see their final performances.
But who would they have replaced in the finals? That is something I wouldn’t want to address….
We’ve had good stars this year, all unique and strong but each withvery different performance styles. At this point, I think Gilles hasthe most well-rounded performances. He moves with incredible grace andpassion. He finishes his moves with polish and clarity and conviction.That is what earned him his 60 points Monday night. Melissa seemed tobe having problems this week with Tony. They were out of sync with eachother a bit, and she looked a bit timid out there, both emotionally andphysically. This is such a difficult show for the performers — I don’tthink the general public knows how hard they all work to do this showand to be as good as they are. We also have Shawn who is the precisionqueen. Jive was not her best dance but it’s over now and she’s still inthe finals. She is so cute and adorable, and so focused. She is so muchyounger than the rest of the performers, with so much less lifeexperience so she has to make up the emotional element of the dancewith technique and precision.
Gilles and Shawn appeal to different tastes. Melissa is right in themiddle. I get frustrated a bit with her because out of all thecompetitors, she is the most gifted in the physical attributes thatwould help her in this competition. She’s got grace, flexibility,lyricism and athleticism. Sometimes the people who have the mostnatural tendency to be a great dancer don’t have to work as hard andthat can hurt them. In my career, I have seen many a dancer who wasgifted with incredible natural talent — but didn’t have the work ethicto bring it to the edge with each moment. They didn’t have to work thathard to be good and when the others caught up, they easily would passthem by — no fault of theirs, but it makes it more difficult for themlater when the ones who have had to struggle more catch up. Hard workand talent = luck. And only the lucky ones really go far. I’m notsaying that Melissa doesn’t work hard. Everyone who joins our showworks hard. I’m just saying that dancing comes easily for her on manylevels, which doesn’t allow for her to dig deep.
I also think that Melissa’s injury may still be bothering her. I had ahairline fracture in my rib and to this day, it hurts me. It’s astrange injury. When I watch her movements, where she holds back andwhere she seems timid, it seems that her injury may still be hurtingher. She is a trooper though because she is not complaining. Shecontinues on. And I commend her on that…
We had a great performance this week by Julianne, Derek, Mark and Laceyin the Design a Dance. And congratulations to Rebecca Farmer, whodesigned and created their costumes. It was a high-energy performanceand those Design a Dance performances have been consistently good now.And I’m looking forward to next years dance.
Raphael Saadiq performed at the top of the show last night and it was atreat. I had never heard of him before last night but am going to buyhis album — or download it from iTunes today. High energy, greatmusic, a whole lotta fun! I hope he comes back to perform again. Ithink he’s a perfect match to our show. He’s a little retro too.
Tomorrow I go and work with one of the contestants for their "MasterClass." Usually, it’s just Len who goes and helps the performers ontheir final performance. This year, they have changed the format –Bruno, Len and I will each be working with the finalists to help themprepare for their last performances. I’m excited and always love beingin the studio…so tomorrow’s going to be a good day.
Next week we have the finals. I know one thing — it’s going to be atight race to the finish. They are all dancing in a dance off thatfeatures the Paso Doble — which is one of my favorite dances becauseit’s so dramatic and dynamic. Every one of them did well with theirprevious Paso performances so I think we are in for a treat.
Thanks for watching and for all your comments.
See you Monday!
-carrie ann
More on Dancing With the Stars:
Carrie Ann’s blogs: Week 9, Week 8, Week 7, Week 6, Week 5, Week 4, Week 3, Week 2
Annie Barrett’s ‘DWTS’ elimination recap: And Then There Were Three
‘DWTS’: Season 8′s Crazy Costume Watch!
I really enjoy your blog every week. It’s nice to get an inside view.
I think you are a little hard on Melissa. I thought you all were. I’m not sure how you can focus on the technical aspects of the dance,the footwork and all the specific movements and still see the overall “performance” To watch Melissa and say that she looks like she is not having fun is ridiculous. Ty was working hard. Shawn’s face looks like she could be doing anything, anything that needs full concentration. Gilles is acting. Melissa’s face shows complete joy at what she is doing.
I think all three of you have a Melissa chip on your collective shoulders.
Way to hate on Melissa, Carrie-Ann. I still think your overscoring of Shawn’s samba as a 10 was total favoritism and was ridiculous. Out of the three left, Shawn is easily the worst. I hope Melissa wins, because she so deserves it!!
Your comments on Melissa are spot-on, Carrie Ann. I think you’ve nailed exactly what the problem is with her, but “hating on” her? No, you just gave a fair assessment. She is very, very good. Gilles is my favorite though! Thanks for your blog. Glad to know you will be doing the Master Class thing too this time. Looking forward to next week!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I was waiting for your blog this week to say to you that I thought you & Bruno were completely wrong about Melissa’s Quick Step on Monday night. I thought it was a delightful dance, well choreographed and I really cannot imagine how Melissa was supposed to look even MORE like she was enjoying herself! They were cute together before it started, and were great throughout. The look of incredulity that Len gave you both mirrored mine here at home. Reading your comments about her, I truly believe this is yet one more example of holding some of the women dancers to higher levels. Each week, we see her working hard. You add, almost as an afterthought, that she “might” still be in pain. Ya think? What good does it do to add that after you spend a large paragraph basically saying she doesn’t work as hard as the others because it “comes easily” for her. Why do you think it comes easily? Because you decided that must explain her early success in the season.(cont)
Just because Melissa took ballet as a child & had worked as a cheerleader, does not make her a Ballroom dancer. Lil Kim has a much more current background in dance & it did not make her a Ballroom dancer automatically. I believe sometimes people latch onto supposed “explanations” as fact & don’t let go. I think it is very unfair in an opinion blog, going into the Final next week, for you to spend your largest paragraph basically explaining how Melissa’s natural talent means she doesn’t need to work as hard as everyone & therefore you believe she hasn’t. You have no way of knowing that unless you are present at every minute of every rehearsal. The fact that she is still dancing & doing beautifully with an injury shows me she is working very hard. And, perhaps – just perhaps – any little flaws you think you see might simply be because she *is* NOT A PROFESSIONAL. Did you think her feet got better, like Len did? Tony & Melissa saw a problem, listened to the judges, and WORKED on it.
Carrie Ann – Obviously your job is to JUDGE the contestants, but do you have to be so judgemental? I thought your comments Monday night about Melissa dancing without a soul were completely soul-less on your part! You took it way too far this week. I like you when you are thoughtful and encouraging and helpful, but can do without the nasty please?
I agree with Earl… I think the judges absolutely have a major Melissa chip on their shoulders! For all of the weeks CA has been doing this blog she NEVER went into a “not working hard enough” rant on any of the other contestants! Between her complete lack of willingness to criticize Shawn and her having what should be a private moment every time Gilles dances, I guess we don’t even need to watch next weeks show. Really it is discouraging to see the judges favoritism at work on the show, but just plain mean spirited to basically attack one of them for their lack of work ethic in a blog the next day. I expected more class from you Carrie Ann!
Thanks for your weekly blog, Carrie Ann! Tuesday night, after the elimination, the only thing I look forward to is your blog on Wed. It holds me until the following week. This is my first time ever watching DWTS and I think I am hooked. More than hooked, I am inspired to start dancing, what a beautiful show that can actually do that! About Melissa, I just wanted say, I think your comments may be fair, but the one thing no one brings up is how hard it must be for her to have had so little time to prepare for this show and bond with her partner, compared to the other contestants. I think she has had an equivalent amount of difficulty as other people – she has gone through a real roller coaster on many levels and I think people overlook that and think this must be easy for her. Even if the physicality is easier for her, the emotional part of it may be a lot harder. I think next week, we should judge based on the effort and ability that each dancer brings – and be fair!
I agree about the soul-less comment – that was uncalled for. I think Melissa and Tony look like they are having more fun out there than Gille or Shawn. Cheryl doesn’t look like she’s having any fun this year. Go Melissa!
I get restless watching Melissa. First of all, it’s so obvious she’s a total ringer. The little background we saw of her on Monday forgot to mention how many YEARS she worked as a cheerleader, learning new dances all the time. The only dance of hers I watched more than once was the Argentine Tango? The one with all the flicks. She has the endurance to do well, and she did.
Shawn is so bad. I don’t care how old she is, and there aren’t any Olympics this year. Her best dance – the only one I said Good to (out loud, alone, of course) was the Paso Doble. I think this was because it allowed her to take so many stops, oops, poses!
Love Gilles, and his dances make me tear up sometimes. That’s when dances become art for me.
Lastly about Gilles: I love him also & am so glad he is in the final. However, what was with all three of you climbing on a bandwagon that he DESERVED to be there? Are you afraid he doesnt have the fan base the others have? Also, I thought given your Melissa scores for the first dance, it meant you were planning to be tougher on everyone. Then Gilles comes up & we get responses like it was the 2nd Coming! It was beautiful, yes. However, I felt it was a little slow for most of it & frankly I am starting to feel Gilles is over-emoting at times too. Also (& I do recognize this is mostly Cheryl’s doing) even in a Waltz (sophistication, right?) it seems there HAS to be a purely sexual section where they basically stop & caress each other. Yes, he’s hot. But, seriously. Hotness shouldnt be blinding you to other aspects of his performance. With all due respect, even tho you think he’s best & think he should win (& used this forum to say it again), pls go back to judging the dances, period.
I dont think it matters how long Melissa was a cheerleader. Cheer dancing is NOT ballroom dancing! Yes, she may have the benefit of knowing how to learn & memorize dance moves. But almost every contestant has some “positive” that helps them. All (or almost all, I’m talking about LT) of the sports heros benefit from a strong work ethic, comfort with their bodies & being used to being “coached” & taking constructive criticism. The “performers” are used to working an audience. Bottom line, Melissa had the deficit of not having as much prep time & now dancing with an injury that even Carrie Ann felt she had to at least acknowledge for a minute. lol As someone else said, I believe Melissa & Tony are the one couple who have always looked like they are totally enjoying themselves & have great chemistry. That is why CA & Bruno’s comments after the Quick Step were so completely jarring, not just to me, but obviously to Len as well. I think Tony has really shined this season, I’m happy for him.
Earl you nailed it!!!! I look forward every Monday just to watch Melissa and Tony!! They dance beautifully together, are having a great time doing it. They work so hard at it and it shows. I am thinking Carrie Ann is a little jealous!
Way to go Shel. It’s very disapponting to see such bias in a contest. Maybe we need a phone number to vote on the judges.
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