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Learn more- We can assume there will be no more unicycle shenanigans or religious commentary now that Adam Carolla and partner Julianne Hough are no longer on the show. Host Tom Bergeron promised "the sexiest show of the season" as the dancers take on "Latin Night," when Bergeron said, "We've double up on the sequins and cut back on the fabric." This is still a family show, right?! It's the halfway point in the competition as the dancers performed the Samba and the Rumba.
Mario & Karina: R&B singer Mario was still reeling from the judge Len Goodman's harsh criticism last week, and he went to Stevie Wonder for inspiration. Stevie told him to let his spirit dance, and let his soul dance. Marion and his partner Karina Smirnoff danced the Samba with Karina appropriately wearing a skimpy yellow number (as was spray-tanned beyond belief!) as they performed to Ella Fitzgerald's "A-Tisket A-Tasket." Some fancy footwork from both dancers earned smiles from the judges' table. Len said the dance suited Mario and he called it his "best dance so far." Judge Bruno Tonioli said that if Mario's hips could talk "we'd be censored tonight." Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said she enjoyed that it was nice and to the point. Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Priscilla & Louis: Actress Priscilla Presley said that going from second place to second-to-last was "a wake-up call." We got a peek at the tension between teacher and student, but Priscilla was talking comeback as they took to to the dance floor. Priscilla and partner Louis Van Amstel to "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" while Priscilla draped a sparkly crab net over herself. The routine got a little "Cirque du Soleil" toward the end. Bruno said that the slow dance exposed a lot of flaws. Carrie Ann said Priscilla appeared to be concentrating too much on her technique and it was clear she was thinking too much. Len said he was disappointed because the dance lacked spontenaeity. Scores: 7, 7 and 7.
Marissa & Tony: After a big bounce-back performance last week, Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur said the higher scores just make her want to harder. Her partner Tony Dovolani suggested she do something to get herself into the Brazilian "Carnivale" spirit, so she got herself a headdress and did it up right. Marissa and Tony danced the Samba with Marissa sporting a sparkly purple tassel skirt and shaking everything her momma gave her. She kept shaking even after the song ended. Carrie Ann said it was Marissa's best routine by far. Len enjoyed the mix of steps in the dance and said it was "more bounce to the ounce" than he's ever seen. Bruno said everybody loved it and said that despite a hiccup at the start, once she got into it, "there was no stopping you!" Scores: 8, 8 and 8.
Cristian & Cheryl: Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente was coming off his best performance ever and said his Latin blood is finally starting to dance through his veins. He found it. Their rehearsal video included a funny little dream-sequence skit in which he played the Spanish-speaking leading man trying to seduce his partner Cheryl Burke, and it worked even though she had no idea what he was saying to her and simply answered, "Si" to everything. Cristian and Cheryl danced the Rumba to some hyper-cheesy love song. Len said it was a "competent" performance but it didn't blow him away. Bruno said the chemistry between Cristian and Cheryl is good, but the slow walks in the dance exposed flaws again. Carrie Ann disagreed with Bruno and said the chemistry wasn't there and that the dance wasn't "super-erotic." Scores: 7, 8 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Marlee & Fabian: Last week, Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin brought Carrie Ann to tears with her Viennese Waltz. Marlee and partner Fabian Sanchez's video showed them taking a trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, where they helped fit deaf children with hearing aids that helped some of them hear for the first time. It was quite moving. Back to business, Marlee had some trouble picking up the steps to the Samba, which has a lot of challenging off-beat movements. Marlee and Fabian danced the Samba and there appeared to be a few missteps and Marlee looked a little disappointed at the end. Bruno said it was very, very hot and sexy, but noticed that a lot of times she lost the timing and stumbled. Carrie Ann noticed a few slips and stumbles, but that she saw a couple of moments when she could have given up or kept going, and Marlee kept going. Len said it is the most difficult Latin dance and she pulled it off considering that she can't hear anything. Scores: 7, 7 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Kristi & Mark: Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi is still dominating, but is feeling the pressure coming up behind her. Her partner Mark Ballas Jr. said the Rumba is "a vertical expression of a horizontal design." Kristi suggested, essentially, role playing with Mark in order to pull off the seduction of the dance without being uncomfortable. Just as she settled into her sexy new role, her kids burst into the rehearsal room shouting, "Surprise!" Kristi and Mark danced the Rumba. Carrie Ann said Kristi really did take a risk, but that she gave up some movements to get some of the emotion. Len gave her "three words: Fab-U-Lous." Bruno said the chemistry was great and called the dance "stupendous." Scores: 9, 10 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Shannon & Derek: Actress Shannon Elizabeth's partner Derek Hough continues his health struggles. Two weeks after being rushed to the hospital with a neck strain, Derek went to the hospital on show day with a bout of food poisoning. He was back and Bergeron kept a bucket handy. Shannon and Derek danced the Samba. Len said that halfway through we should be down to the best, but "as good as that was, it wasn't, for me, really good enough." Bruno said she has to go out there and "shake those maracas." He said she messed up the timing a few times and that maybe it was too hard for her. Carrie Ann admired her attitude and effort to try a difficult routine, but agreed that it wasn't the best. Scores: 8, 8 and 7, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively.
Jason & Edyta: Coming off a 29-point performance, NFL star Jason Taylor had to prove it wasn't a fluke. Jason struggled with some of the more sensual, graceful movements in rehearsal. Could he handle it on the dance floor? Jason and Edyta danced the Rumba. Bruno said he had the look of a love god and asked Jason how he can be so light and so big at the same time, and said it was "another incredible job." Carrie Ann said the couple has the "most insane chemistry" on the dance floor. Len said Jason has a naturalness about him and called him a "bloke," which is a good thing. Scores: 9, 9 and 9.
Scoreboard:
Kristi & Mark: 29
Mario & Karina: 27
Jason & Edyta: 27
Marissa & Tony: 24
Shannon & Derek: 23
Cristian & Cheryl: 23
Marlee & Fabian: 22
Priscilla & Louis: 21
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