After lots of spray tanning flowing downstream and down the drain our finalists are ready to show us what they’ve got and why they should be considered dancing stars, not just props in the hands of hard and hot bodied professionals.
The cha-cha face off gives us the final Latin taste of the season, and here is where we see the improvement, their transformation and the skill of each one clearly compared to the others. In a great and entertaining number all three stars dance one after the other.
After all the dancing, we believe that the most improved of all is Cristián, having found his Latin rhythm—remember he is from Chile, not exactly renowned as a “dancing country” among the Latin crowd. He was hot (pink) in the first number! For the second number, we enjoyed the samba, choreographed by Cheryl in a little more classical form than usual for the freestyle, except for all those one armed lifts. Question: Did the fact that they had no hip-hop moves affect the Judges’ comments? In the end, this show has been great for Cristián, because we all knew who JT is, and we also knew Olympian Kristi, but who really knew about Cristián before DWTS? He really has worked hard to be in the finals and whatever the results, he’s won. Sí!
Regardless of any previous experience as an ice skater, Kristi was the greatest transformation of the season. She got Bruno’s vote early in the dance off, by leaving lipstick under his nose starting the Cha-cha. But she was definitely dancing, not skating. Many will say “unfair” if she wins, because she was an “ice dancer” to start with. But she has demonstrated to us—and learned herself—the difference between ice skating and dancing. That jazz/hip-hop freestyle number was outstanding! The difficulty of the fast choreography and multiple lifts left the couple and the audience floored. Her personality did come through this time and we can see that she took Julianne’s advice to spread her legs and pointe her feet (though with those Converse on her feet, pointing seems pointless). She has the greatest chance to win this thing… because she IS dancing!
Jason’s arms were overshadowed once again by Edyta’s legs. She has a way of distracting our eyes, but still we did get to see that Jason has not improved as much as he should have. In the freestyle her Pocahontas costume distracts once again, and JT, not to get outdone has his shirt ripped off at the end! Len comments on all the eye candy in a way that shocks our brain with an image related to him and Jason we need to erase! This number is fun and better than the Paso from last time, with the amazing lifts and push & shoves this time a lot easier on the eyes than the rag-doll feeling we got that time. The hip-hop funk continues (from Kristi’s previous dance) more credible, less jazzy. But Edyta: you really should have taught JT what to do about those arms. Jason amrs always looked awkward, unnatural and, sorry, but not the way a man moves. Did JT never see how Derek moves? Or Mark? Or even Cristián (although his injury got in the way of posture at the end)?
Our prediction: For the greatest, and in the end most difficult, improvement in dancing technique and showtime personality: Kristi Yamaguchi. For coming out of nowhere and incredible transformation, first runner up: Cristián de la Fuente. And coming in third over all the rest of the competitors, and originally our personal favorite: Jason Taylor.
Showing posts with label kristi yamaguchi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kristi yamaguchi. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
DWTS: Stepping up to the Finals
Okay, so we were wrong: Jason prances on. It was a tossup, trying to choose between him or Marissa leaving. Two athletes and an entertainer are left. We’re glad that Cristian made it to the final, because he really deserves it. Kristi’s been good from the beginning. And Jason, well, he even said it (his own words) he’s “fooling America into voting for him.”
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
DWTS: Random Balls of Dances / Deliberate Acts of Dancing
Semifinals week, four couples left, one week left. The couples select their dances picking out little mirror balls out from a giant half of a Mirror ball (mistakenly referred to as a hat by Jason: is that what he wears on his dome?). This contrasts with what should be the intentional selection of final-worthy choreographies: the show tonight should be especially tough.
Jason makes a charge to end zone clicking his heels in the Fox Trot: a good attempt. Good flow, it looked good, with the occasional odd arms, in this case it seemed like he was trying for real. But when it came to his Latin dance, The Paso Doble, he looked stiff all over. What was Edyta’s thinking, trying to make him show off extensions that just were not there? The choreographed moves just made him look stiff and awkward. Edyta, having herself thrown around like a rag doll? Perhaps the “aggressiveness” that Len wanted went a little overboard: a little on the Frankenstein dance look, not looking effortless, not pretty, a little scary even. Paraphrasing Jason in his own comments afterward: it seems as if he doesn’t want to dance, but does it as an obligation. Training camp for the Dolphins has started, and DWTS has not ended... is he showing his priorities? I think he fumbled.
Love seeing Stacy Keibler once again giving tips and, okay, so that was weird: Len shaking his hips hotly with Marissa (and Marissa sliding her hands down). Marissa does deserve to be in the finals, great moves in the quick-step, as always a bit on the safe side: occasionally a slow-step instead. That rumba demonstrated what this show is all about. Her development since the show started is amazing! She pulled it off, slowly seductive moves that worked well. Carrie Ann did not care for this number, though; she even thought that it was not up to semifinal standards. Bruno, comparing Marissa to a locomotive—as always a little on the non-PC side—does bring to mind the little engine that could, or maybe not? The competition was hard tonight; her personality may carry her through even when her dancing may not. However, it seemed as if the judges have their own hidden agenda, and want Jason in the finals instead.
Good Viennese for the one armed dancer! He does look scared all the time, his mouth agape even since before his injury. But maybe we were looking for something more risqué in this one: there did not seem to be that much “chemistry” going on. What happened? His Samba, though, was outstanding! No arm troubles here. His scared face once again does make him look a little intimidated…. by Cheryl’s hot moves? or by the possibility of re-injuring his arm? Regardless of his “Mask” expression and oversized dental veneers, shirtless Cristian should make it to the finals! We like it when he talks, but when he dances: can he please keep his mouth closed?
For Kristi it seems as if the Tango is hard emotionally: a dance that has to show seduction between two people that do not care about each other, except in a professional sex-trade way. She has to seduce, but does not care. He has to seduce but does not care. Success in making it come together in the end is hard. Kristi tried, but was not quite convincing enough in this department. However the technical aspect in this dance is so far removed from ice skating that this time you could see some real dance moves from her. Not perfect but close. What we loved about Kristi this week is that she wasn’t ice skating any more (except for that little slide in the jive). Truly this was her best night to show and demonstrate improvement. She is dancing; she is going to the finals.
The votes really count tonight, and we may be wrong for the second time this season, but if all is fair and we want to see some entertaining dances in the final of DWTS, these will include Kristi, Cristian and Marissa toe to toe. Sorry Jason: back to training camp. Jason, when Balanchine said: “I don't want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance,” this is not what he meant.
Jason makes a charge to end zone clicking his heels in the Fox Trot: a good attempt. Good flow, it looked good, with the occasional odd arms, in this case it seemed like he was trying for real. But when it came to his Latin dance, The Paso Doble, he looked stiff all over. What was Edyta’s thinking, trying to make him show off extensions that just were not there? The choreographed moves just made him look stiff and awkward. Edyta, having herself thrown around like a rag doll? Perhaps the “aggressiveness” that Len wanted went a little overboard: a little on the Frankenstein dance look, not looking effortless, not pretty, a little scary even. Paraphrasing Jason in his own comments afterward: it seems as if he doesn’t want to dance, but does it as an obligation. Training camp for the Dolphins has started, and DWTS has not ended... is he showing his priorities? I think he fumbled.
Love seeing Stacy Keibler once again giving tips and, okay, so that was weird: Len shaking his hips hotly with Marissa (and Marissa sliding her hands down). Marissa does deserve to be in the finals, great moves in the quick-step, as always a bit on the safe side: occasionally a slow-step instead. That rumba demonstrated what this show is all about. Her development since the show started is amazing! She pulled it off, slowly seductive moves that worked well. Carrie Ann did not care for this number, though; she even thought that it was not up to semifinal standards. Bruno, comparing Marissa to a locomotive—as always a little on the non-PC side—does bring to mind the little engine that could, or maybe not? The competition was hard tonight; her personality may carry her through even when her dancing may not. However, it seemed as if the judges have their own hidden agenda, and want Jason in the finals instead.
Good Viennese for the one armed dancer! He does look scared all the time, his mouth agape even since before his injury. But maybe we were looking for something more risqué in this one: there did not seem to be that much “chemistry” going on. What happened? His Samba, though, was outstanding! No arm troubles here. His scared face once again does make him look a little intimidated…. by Cheryl’s hot moves? or by the possibility of re-injuring his arm? Regardless of his “Mask” expression and oversized dental veneers, shirtless Cristian should make it to the finals! We like it when he talks, but when he dances: can he please keep his mouth closed?
For Kristi it seems as if the Tango is hard emotionally: a dance that has to show seduction between two people that do not care about each other, except in a professional sex-trade way. She has to seduce, but does not care. He has to seduce but does not care. Success in making it come together in the end is hard. Kristi tried, but was not quite convincing enough in this department. However the technical aspect in this dance is so far removed from ice skating that this time you could see some real dance moves from her. Not perfect but close. What we loved about Kristi this week is that she wasn’t ice skating any more (except for that little slide in the jive). Truly this was her best night to show and demonstrate improvement. She is dancing; she is going to the finals.
The votes really count tonight, and we may be wrong for the second time this season, but if all is fair and we want to see some entertaining dances in the final of DWTS, these will include Kristi, Cristian and Marissa toe to toe. Sorry Jason: back to training camp. Jason, when Balanchine said: “I don't want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance,” this is not what he meant.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Our Take and Handicap
DWTS’s backstage comments were lame, no major exciting insights here. The most facetious, of course, were Cristian and Cheryl’s, suggesting the illegality and after hours chemistry that would be needed to increase the hot chemistry between them.
The first number was appropriately hot and Latin with “Coso Matte” and the dancing professionals shaking it up with a salsa / samba number that had them all over the place strutting their stuff. Changing the dynamic and shaking the house, the first results came in and, well Kristy is safe—no surprise—but Cristian and Cheryl are in peril!
Once again, the kids danced, giving us a glimpse of future Edytas, and Dereks. Then all that “show day” stuff was fun: with the guys showing how “macho” they are—Cristian playing football, Jason saying that he has more time because he doesn’t have to do his hair, Mario showing off his pecs (he may be dancing in this show but he is a “macho man”); and the girls: Priscilla doing Yoga, Marissa being girly, Shannon worrying and worrying, Marlee with her kids… and then we went back to the Studio and Jason was safe.
James Blunt gave us the next musical interlude with great star power and an beautiful and athletic accompanying dance routine. In the end, however, many of the lifts did not seem effortless, but rather strained.
Cue the scary music… and Priscilla was gone.
Now who do we think will actually win? It is hard, we like them all, everyone brings something to the floor and to the show. Now it is almost down to personality and likeability but the three finalists we expect will be Kristi, Jason and Mario. And the winner will be Jason. Do we think he’s the best dancer, however? Actually no, we don’t, but that’s life!
The first number was appropriately hot and Latin with “Coso Matte” and the dancing professionals shaking it up with a salsa / samba number that had them all over the place strutting their stuff. Changing the dynamic and shaking the house, the first results came in and, well Kristy is safe—no surprise—but Cristian and Cheryl are in peril!
Once again, the kids danced, giving us a glimpse of future Edytas, and Dereks. Then all that “show day” stuff was fun: with the guys showing how “macho” they are—Cristian playing football, Jason saying that he has more time because he doesn’t have to do his hair, Mario showing off his pecs (he may be dancing in this show but he is a “macho man”); and the girls: Priscilla doing Yoga, Marissa being girly, Shannon worrying and worrying, Marlee with her kids… and then we went back to the Studio and Jason was safe.
James Blunt gave us the next musical interlude with great star power and an beautiful and athletic accompanying dance routine. In the end, however, many of the lifts did not seem effortless, but rather strained.
Cue the scary music… and Priscilla was gone.
Now who do we think will actually win? It is hard, we like them all, everyone brings something to the floor and to the show. Now it is almost down to personality and likeability but the three finalists we expect will be Kristi, Jason and Mario. And the winner will be Jason. Do we think he’s the best dancer, however? Actually no, we don’t, but that’s life!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Latin Night: Should’ve been the Sexiest Night of Competition…
…but it wasn’t. Only Cheryl and Christian had some chemistry tonight. Lots of ultra tans, open chests and skimpy dresses couldn’t compensate for the lack of passion. We definitely missed Adam’s joker wicked sense of humor. And Marissa’s taking the place of the comedian of the pack did not satisfy our amusement cravings. I guess we will have to lose some sleep and endure Jimmy Kimmel Live at some point. On to the couples:
Competing against a deaf lady, Mario (pronounced poopee) asked for dancing tips from a blind guy. Dancing the samba, however it was too bad that Stevie Wonder could not see! A seeming natural, Mario started the show on a high note! And Karina really moved that scant Yellow—Big Bird—Basket! All about hips and hopes, Mario demonstrated that he dances in more than one way, richly heeding to Len’s admonishment that he should demonstrate that he can dance differently from week to week. A well deserved 27. Karina’s exhibited body seemed like it should have been in an exhibition of extreme spray tanning disorders.
Priscilla. Being aware now that lifts are a no-no, repented and contrite came to practice, somehow with her face looking better. Dancing the Rumba, that sensual slow Latin dance, she got down with that initial split, signaling a routine (and eventually a night) full of dance tricks. They planned a tough routine, in an especially tough slow dance for non-experts; it was a little shaky in the hard tricks, simply trying too hard. Unfortunately, the complicated choreography was not favorable to achieve a high score. We thought that the 21 was a bit generous and, at this stage, not good enough.
Marissa admittedly got to shake her tushie and other parts of her body in ways she had never before. Besides all the shimming, though, there was also some dancing going on. Tony really did an outstanding choreography job, his tall stature offset by his smartly bent knees, pairing well with Marissa. They do have a vertical challenge, don’t they? The judges were a little disparaging with all the fat jokes (“lots of bounce per ounce”? “bouncing like a beach ball”?), and we thought that she should have had more than last week, but with a 24 she should be safe.
Cristian and Cheryl are a dreamy couple indeed, as that Spanish telenovela sequence demonstrated. Again, a slow sensual Rumba but this time a lot more convincing. Cheryl is definitely an amazing instructor, actually making a dancer out of Cristian. But this dance (the Rumba) is definitely hard. Cristian stumbled and faltered but did not look as bad as Priscilla did. A 23 perhaps was almost unfair, but perhaps just a point shy from what we thought it should have been. By the way, Cheryl should expand her Spanish vocabulary: saying “si, si, si” all the time might get her in trouble.
In the preamble to her routine, Marlee’s handicap was truly and painfully obvious. Fabian struggled to communicate, and Marlee to respond. This Samba dance routine definitely was problematic, given her handicap. She obviously stumbled, had to wait for her partner’s signals, lost her synchronization at times, and definitely had a hard time. She looked great, though! Back cleavage with a rhinestone tattoo! Spirit and tenacity! Too bad this is a dancing competition and not a personality contest (altogether). The judges, and Bruno in particular, were a bit generous with the scores, giving her a 22.
Kristi had to try that hard Rumba with what she described as a young hot thing, and her two young daughters watching. Looking like a young hot thing herself she managed to give the best Rumba of the night, although her turnout is still obviously faltering. The tricks well performed and the sensuality convincing. Over 27 would have been fair, 30 would have not—we liked the 29! The oriental pacific pearl comment seemed almost non-PC—but that is a good thing about this show: it really is not PC and they do not seem to care.
The Kismet couple came next. Shannon’s little throw up from a few weeks ago seems to be contagious. Derek has pranced several times towards the hurling bucket, apparently. To the dancing: despite the glitter all over her body, tourmaline legs, and locks flying about, Shannon definitely did not shake her maracas enough. Lots of energy dissipated in the dancing with lots of panting at the end, Shannon seems like she needs to work a little on her endurance training. Definitely not her best. The weirdest judge comment of the night: Carrie Ann wanting to partner with Shannon? Ok, it was hard to tell whether Shannon was channeling Disney’s Esmeralda, Jasmine or Jack Sparrow, she being a self-confessed tomboy, but still…
Jason and Edyta danced the dreaded Rumba but, how can you disparage leggy Edyta? She was smart also, avoiding in her choreography the dance tricks for the Stars that all the other couples tried so hard to pull off—despite that crotch-and-foot-in-his-face-split that she did, not him (which obviously would have been disastrous). Again we disagree with the Judges, regarding Jason’s lines. He needs to work on his arms and shoulders!!! He can be so much more masculine in his movements if he just wouldn’t try to imitate Edyta. Edyta, please, he needs to see some real men dancing. Jason, please, pay attention to the other men in the show! He had a big score with that 27, and will be safe, but could be so much better! If he does not correct his attitude and posture he will not make it to the end… and we actually want him to.
When all is said and danced, even though this was supposed to be the sexiest night of the season a markedly lack of chemistry and hotness was all around. From what we saw, and given the judge’s scores, Marlee might be in the bottom two, but we think that Priscilla will not be able to lift herself out of this one.
Competing against a deaf lady, Mario (pronounced poopee) asked for dancing tips from a blind guy. Dancing the samba, however it was too bad that Stevie Wonder could not see! A seeming natural, Mario started the show on a high note! And Karina really moved that scant Yellow—Big Bird—Basket! All about hips and hopes, Mario demonstrated that he dances in more than one way, richly heeding to Len’s admonishment that he should demonstrate that he can dance differently from week to week. A well deserved 27. Karina’s exhibited body seemed like it should have been in an exhibition of extreme spray tanning disorders.
Priscilla. Being aware now that lifts are a no-no, repented and contrite came to practice, somehow with her face looking better. Dancing the Rumba, that sensual slow Latin dance, she got down with that initial split, signaling a routine (and eventually a night) full of dance tricks. They planned a tough routine, in an especially tough slow dance for non-experts; it was a little shaky in the hard tricks, simply trying too hard. Unfortunately, the complicated choreography was not favorable to achieve a high score. We thought that the 21 was a bit generous and, at this stage, not good enough.
Marissa admittedly got to shake her tushie and other parts of her body in ways she had never before. Besides all the shimming, though, there was also some dancing going on. Tony really did an outstanding choreography job, his tall stature offset by his smartly bent knees, pairing well with Marissa. They do have a vertical challenge, don’t they? The judges were a little disparaging with all the fat jokes (“lots of bounce per ounce”? “bouncing like a beach ball”?), and we thought that she should have had more than last week, but with a 24 she should be safe.
Cristian and Cheryl are a dreamy couple indeed, as that Spanish telenovela sequence demonstrated. Again, a slow sensual Rumba but this time a lot more convincing. Cheryl is definitely an amazing instructor, actually making a dancer out of Cristian. But this dance (the Rumba) is definitely hard. Cristian stumbled and faltered but did not look as bad as Priscilla did. A 23 perhaps was almost unfair, but perhaps just a point shy from what we thought it should have been. By the way, Cheryl should expand her Spanish vocabulary: saying “si, si, si” all the time might get her in trouble.
In the preamble to her routine, Marlee’s handicap was truly and painfully obvious. Fabian struggled to communicate, and Marlee to respond. This Samba dance routine definitely was problematic, given her handicap. She obviously stumbled, had to wait for her partner’s signals, lost her synchronization at times, and definitely had a hard time. She looked great, though! Back cleavage with a rhinestone tattoo! Spirit and tenacity! Too bad this is a dancing competition and not a personality contest (altogether). The judges, and Bruno in particular, were a bit generous with the scores, giving her a 22.
Kristi had to try that hard Rumba with what she described as a young hot thing, and her two young daughters watching. Looking like a young hot thing herself she managed to give the best Rumba of the night, although her turnout is still obviously faltering. The tricks well performed and the sensuality convincing. Over 27 would have been fair, 30 would have not—we liked the 29! The oriental pacific pearl comment seemed almost non-PC—but that is a good thing about this show: it really is not PC and they do not seem to care.
The Kismet couple came next. Shannon’s little throw up from a few weeks ago seems to be contagious. Derek has pranced several times towards the hurling bucket, apparently. To the dancing: despite the glitter all over her body, tourmaline legs, and locks flying about, Shannon definitely did not shake her maracas enough. Lots of energy dissipated in the dancing with lots of panting at the end, Shannon seems like she needs to work a little on her endurance training. Definitely not her best. The weirdest judge comment of the night: Carrie Ann wanting to partner with Shannon? Ok, it was hard to tell whether Shannon was channeling Disney’s Esmeralda, Jasmine or Jack Sparrow, she being a self-confessed tomboy, but still…
Jason and Edyta danced the dreaded Rumba but, how can you disparage leggy Edyta? She was smart also, avoiding in her choreography the dance tricks for the Stars that all the other couples tried so hard to pull off—despite that crotch-and-foot-in-his-face-split that she did, not him (which obviously would have been disastrous). Again we disagree with the Judges, regarding Jason’s lines. He needs to work on his arms and shoulders!!! He can be so much more masculine in his movements if he just wouldn’t try to imitate Edyta. Edyta, please, he needs to see some real men dancing. Jason, please, pay attention to the other men in the show! He had a big score with that 27, and will be safe, but could be so much better! If he does not correct his attitude and posture he will not make it to the end… and we actually want him to.
When all is said and danced, even though this was supposed to be the sexiest night of the season a markedly lack of chemistry and hotness was all around. From what we saw, and given the judge’s scores, Marlee might be in the bottom two, but we think that Priscilla will not be able to lift herself out of this one.
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