- In addition to their individual dance, the seven contestants split into two groups to compete as teams, paso against tango.
- Monday night's "Dancing with the Stars" again challenged the remaining contestants to undertake two dances -- an individual routine and a team performance. With another double elimination on the line, the dancers were split into two teams: Team Tango and Team Paso. The pros put on an exhilarating display of what the two dances should look like before the remaining seven couples.
Head judge Len Goodman said the pressure would go up a notch, but "good isn't good enough from now on -- we're expecting great dancers."
Michael & Anna: NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin hung on last week for another round after winning the dance-off. While rehearsing his foxtrot, Michael admitted he's "never been mistaken for Fred Astaire." Len, who loved Michael's dance last week, said "again tonight, this foxtrot was brilliant." Bruno Tonioli said Michael's musicality has improved, but his butt still sticks out. Carrie Ann Inaba said Michael's routine was "gracious, it was fluid, it had great content," and she even praised the costume he designed for partner Anna Demidova. Michael was so excited, he gave Tom Bergeron a peck on the cheek on his way off stage. Scores: 8, 8, and 7. Total: 23
Donny & Kym: Donny Osmond admitted he had a bit of trouble keeping up with his partner Kym Johnson last week, and the work wouldn't get any easier with this week's quickstep. Bruno said "nobody could cover up all the mistakes as well as you did." He said Donny "still sold the performance," but he had to point out the missteps. Carrie Ann also noted that Donny went wrong four, "maybe five" times. Len called it "a full-on quickstep, full of attack, full of drive," and praised him for coming out and attacking the dance. "It was great," he said. Scores: 8, 8, and 8. Total: 24
Mark & Lacey (with Anna Trebunskaya filling in): A week after winning over the judges, Mark Decascos was feeling like he and Lacey were clicking. But while Mark was in New York for his day job, "Iron Chef America," Lacey fell ill and went home. Tony Dovolani happened to be in New York and helped Mark through some steps, but it wasn't until Mark returned to Los Angeles on Saturday morning that he got his replacement partner Anna Trebunskaya. With 48 hours before showtime, Mark had to learn brand new choreography for his samba. Carrie Ann said she had compassion for Mark in what was a really hard week, and "the bad news is: that was a mess." Len it was a bad combination that he had a tough week and a very hard dance, and said "under the circumstances, you coped very well." Bruno said it was "like watching 'Kung Fu Panda' does the samba in the 'Planet of the Apes.'" Scores: 6, 7, and 6. Total: 19
Mya & Dmitry: Mya's jitterbug last week got under Len's skin and earned her lowest score of the season. Mya and partner Dmitry Chaplin set out to prove they could be elegant with the foxtrot. "DWTS" legend Cloris Leachman stopped by during Mya's rehearsal to give her some pointers on how to demonstrate passion on the dance floor. Len said he liked the parts that were in hold, but he again didn't like "too many gimmicks, too many unnecessary bits, walkin' on your knees -- I'm not interested in all that stuff." Bruno said the foxtrot "perfectly captured the glamorous aura of Hollywood's golden age." He called it "sexy, sassy, beautiful." Carrie Ann said "Len is officially smoking crack." She then said she loved the dance. Scores: 9, 7 and 9. Total: 25
Aaron & Karina: Aaron Carter got back in the judges' good graces with an elegant waltz last week and was glad to be out of the bottom two for the first time in three weeks. He was having trouble keeping up with the demands of the jive and Karina took him to a trainer who works with NFL players to speed up his feet. Bruno said Aaron "kicked ass." He said it was Aaron's best performance. Carrie Ann said Aaron was like "a little roadrunner." She said "there was a little weird thingy in the middle," noting a missed bit of timing. Len said it was wild but clean, fast but controlled, "fun but it wasn't slapstick." Scores: 9, 10 and 10. Total: 29
Kelly & Louis: After a "beige" week, Kelly Osbourne set out to prove she was anything but beige. She confided in her partner Louis van Amstel that this is the first time in her life that she couldn't talk or dramatize her way of something by causing a scene. She just had to do it. Louis asked Kelly to step up a notch for their salsa. Kelly wasn't digging Louis' new tough love approach. Could they work their way through the drama? Carrie Ann gave Kelly a hug and called the dance "brilliant" and said she was "unafraid of the dance." Len also stood to give his comments and said it was the first time Kelly controlled her nerves, but said all aspects of her dancing had to come up a notch. Bruno stood on the judges' table and shook his moneymaker a bit. He said Kelly "let it out," even if there was "still a bit of a stumble." Scores: 8, 8, and 8. Total: 24
Joanna & Derek: Model Joanna Krupa was on top of the pack after a wonderful waltz last week. This time, she and partner Derek Hough had to get romantic with the rumba. Joanna said she didn't get Derek's version of romance, which led into a little skit in which Derek imagined them frolicking on the beach and ended with Derek being awoken from his daydream by Joanna as he kissed the mirror in their rehearsal studio. Len said their rumba "ticked all of our boxes," referring to what he and his judging cohorts enjoy out of a rumba. Bruno pointed out a tiny little stumble, when Joanna caught her heel on her dress, but said he loved it. Carrie Ann said Joanna looked completely in control of her routine throughout, with the slight exception of the costume malfunction. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27
The team dances: The two teams performed and the judges assigned a group score out of 30 that was added to the couples' individual scores.
Team Paso: Mark & Anna, Mya & Dmitry, Aaron & Karina, and Michael & Anna made up Team Paso. Lacey Schwimmer called out some of the shots for the order in which the dancers would perform (but she ended falling ill). Lacey and Karina butted heads a bit on the choreography and Michael tried to get everyone on the same page. Bruno said that Mya & Dmitry stood out, but the group lost the timing a bit. Carrie Ann said the choreography was "a bit basic" but that Mark redeemed himself from his individual performance. Len said that as it went along, the routine got better. Scores: 8, 8, and 8. Total: 24
Team Tango: Joanna & Derek, Kelly & Louis, and Donny & Kym made up Team Tango. Louis van Amstel immediately said Team Tango was at an advantage with fewer egos in play. The pros choreographed the entire routine before giving it to the stars, in an attempt to avoid confusion. They decided that the performance would start with all the women fawning over Donny. Kelly decided this routine would be her shot at redemption for a "dreadful tango" earlier in the season. Carrie Ann came down from the table and handed out high fives, but then smacked all the guys on the butt and asked why they put in a lift. Len said "obviously this was a much more superior" performance. Bruno called it magnificent, and handed out compliments to each individual dancers. Scores: 9, 9, and 10. Total: 28
LEADER BOARD:
Joanna & Derek, 27 + 28 = 55
Aaron & Karina, 29 + 24 = 53
Donny & Kym, 24 + 28 = 52
Kelly & Louis, 24 + 28 = 52
Mya & Dmitry, 25 + 24 = 49
Michael & Anna, 23 + 24 = 47
Mark & Anna, 19 + 24 = 43
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