Dancing with the Stars Spring 2008: Week Two

The second week of the sixth season of Dancing with the Stars aired this evening on ABC. Both the ladies and the gentlemen took to the floor to show off their moves via either the Mambo or the Quickstep. Was your fave a stud or a dud? Read on.

The Dancers: Movie Star Steve Guttenberg and Anna Trebunskaya
The Dance: Mambo
Fact of the Week: Anna's mom Irina (who said she's a big Police Academy fan) came to help out, and enjoyed spending time with Steve.
The Music: I Got a Girl / Lou Bega
The Outfit: Cream suit, light green shirt, cream shoes
The Performance: I thought it was a cute, lighthearted performance. (My daughter, age three, liked Anna's "fantastic dress".) However, it was still awkward and lacked a smooth quality that competitors need in order to win.
The Evaluation:
Len - He likened the performance to his own performance in the kitchen and said though he knew Steve was trying "it didn't really work" for him.
Bruno - "All of the energy went into the facial expressions" and the rest of the performance suffered.
Carrie Ann - She said his musicality was off at the beginning, and that "it wasn't your best".
The Scores: 6, 5, 5 = 16

The Dancers: Film and TV Star Cristian de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke
The Dance: Quickstep
Quote/Fact of the Week: "The quickstep brings out the child in me. I haven't hopped around like this in years." - Cristian. Cheryl had him dress in a Naval uniform to help with his posture.
The Music: Americano / Brian Setzer Orchestra
The Outfit: Black pinstriped suit, white shirt, red tie.
The Performance: It was fast and fun. (My three year old: "I think that dance was the best.") But, I'm not entirely sure that the footwork was spot-on. It seemed too rushed.
The Evaluation:
Carrie Ann - She praised his posture, but said that "your footwork could be a hair sharper."
Len - "...it really flew around the floor", but it wasn't classic enough for him.
Bruno - "The dance was very, very fast and sometimes you have to watch your feet."
The Scores: 7, 6, 7, = 20

The Dancers: Tennis Pro Monica Seles and Jonathan Roberts
The Dance: Mambo
Fact of the Week: Monica and Jonathan went to Japan during the past week because she had an engagement there.
The Music: My Lovin' / En Vogue
The Outfit: Glittery gold sleeveless outfit with short skirt.
The Performance: It seemed like she was really trying hard, and I appreciate the effort very much. Monica seemed to have fun. She was, however, a bit awkward.
The Evaluation:
Bruno - "It seems to me sometimes you're running an alternating current" and said she went on and off the rhythm too often.
Carrie Ann - "What I really love about you... is that this week you came out and attacked it".
Len - "I can see that you're really out of your comfort zone" but there were too many technical problems.
The Scores: 5, 5, 5 = 15

The Dancers: Magician Penn Jillette and Kym Johnson
The Dance: Quickstep
Fact of the Week: Kym and Penn worked on his posture during the week, and he used a ballet barre as his posture bar for a few moments.
The Music: Man with the Hex
The Outfit: Grey pinstriped suit with long coat, white shirt, red tie.
The Performance: They definitely had fun. Penn's holds were decent and he did a decent job of staying on the beat of the music. he's done better these first two weeks than I'd guessed he would.
The Evaluation:
Len - "By and large, I thought you convinced me that you were having a go at a proper quickstep." He praised the hold, but said Penn's feet were terrible.
Bruno - "It was atrocious."
Carrie Ann - "I like you out there", though she admitted that his footwork is bad.
The Scores: 6, 6, 5 = 17

The Dancers: Actress Priscilla Presley and Louis van Amstel
The Dance: Mambo
Fact of the Week: "It's very quick, there's no time to think. You just hope and pray your body does what it's supposed to do." - Priscilla, on the Mambo.
The Music: Bossa Nova Hand Dance / Connie Francis
The Outfit: Funky leopard print-like bodiced outfit with brown and black asymmetrical frilly skirt.
The Performance: It amazes me that Priscilla is the oldest woman on this season of Dancing with the Stars. She's fluid and smooth and so good. She impresses me.
The Evaluation:
Carrie Ann - "You have this special alluring quality" and praised her for not overdoing it.
Len - "I must say, you come out and you do perform." He said it was a little too precise for a Mambo.
Bruno - "This was very good, very well placed, technically very accomplished" but not enough sexuality in it.
The Scores: 7, 7, 7 = 21

The Dancers: Actress Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough
The Dance: Quickstep
Fact of the Week: "I have no cardio stamina." - Shannon, on her troubles with the quickstep.
The Music: Swing with Me / Jessica Simpson
The Outfit: Single strapped long, flowy silver dress with split skirt, arm drape
The Performance: I thought it was better than last week's offering. However, her toes weren't pointed at times and the hold looked a little awkward at moments.
The Evaluation:
Bruno - "That's what dancing is all about... this is what we want."
Carrie Ann - "Thank you Shannon. This was getting to be a rough night."
Len - "I thought you did a great job with the routine, Derek... try to be a little bit lighter in your hold." he said it was the best performance of the night so far.
The Scores: 8, 8, 8 = 24

The Dancers: NFL Star Jason Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska
The Dance: Mambo
Fact of the Week: "I'm giving him the most crazy routine that I've ever given anyone." - Edyta, on Jason's Mambo
The Music: Unsure
The Outfit: Black collared shirt and pants.
The Performance: Jason had a great smile on and really worked his hips at times. It was a very rhythmic performance and he was very focused on Edyta's every move.
The Evaluation:
Len - "You're a winner."
Bruno - "You are the mambo king tonight... always musical, always in control."
Carrie Ann - "I think you're a real [Dancing with the Stars] contender... you look fantastic together."
The Scores: 9, 9, 9 = 27

The Dancers: Broadway star Marisa Jaret Winokur and Tony Dovolani
The Dance: Quickstep
Fact of the Week: Marisa was very upset after her performance last week on Dancing with the Stars so Tony gave her a pep talk.
The Music: One More Last Kiss
The Outfit: Long hot pink outfit with silver accents.
The Performance: Marisa's performance was full of energy, personality and overall sparkle.
The Evaluation:
Carrie Ann - "I love you, girl. You're just so much fun to watch." But, she said her synchronicity was off.
Len - "You make me smile. You are lovely and bubbly" and encouraged her to perform.
Bruno - "You came out, you did great fun work with the quickstep.... Much better than last week."
The Scores: 7, 7, 7 = 21

The Dancers: Radio Personality Adam Carolla and Julianne Hough
The Dance: Mambo
Fact of the Week: "I'm not sure dudes have a pelvis." - Adam to Julianne, after she told him to move from his pelvis.
The Music: House of Mambo
The Outfit: Black vest, shirt and pants, light green tie
The Performance: Adam did better than I'd thought he would do. There was, in the very least, entertainment value.
The Evaluation:
Bruno - "You're not a natural dancer, but you made me laugh."
Carrie Ann - "I'm curious to see what you're going to call me tonight after I give you a store... beyond all of that, I will say you are entertaining."
Len - "I thought it was brilliant." He praised the entertainment value.
The Scores: 6, 7, 6 = 19

The Dancers: Actress Marlee Matlin and Fabian Sanchez
The Dance: Quickstep
Fact of the Week: "I didn't know stunt work was involved with this." - Marlee, on the Quickstep
The Music: Unsure
The Outfit: Long robin egg blue halter dress with silver accents, long gloves
The Performance: Again, Marlee was graceful and the performance had a natural feel to it. At times, the hold looked a bit awkward.
The Evaluation:
Len - "I was very impressed with the musicality... great job." But he called it Mambo-ish.
Bruno - "You light up the room... you are so alive when you dance."
Carrie Ann - "You have this incredible musicality when you dance... it's like watching a film come to life." She told her to work on her hold.
The Scores: 8, 8, 8 = 24

The Dancers: Figure Skater Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas
The Dance: Mambo
Quote of the Week: "I'm a guarded person... so when we start shaking it it's a little embarrassing." - Kristi, on the Mambo.
The Music: Hey Baby / Gwen Stefani
The Outfit: Black and red glittery halter dress with knee length skirt, black lacy long gloves
The Performance: Kristi is just good. For someone who is shy as she claims, she really went out there and shook her stuff. She was really, really solid.
The Evaluation:
Carrie Ann - "You are so precise... it's boggling to me." She asked her if she was sure she didn't have any previous dance experience.
Len - "You set yourself a really high standard last week, but I tell you what, you've done it again."
Bruno - "You're right on it.... For the second round it's incredible what you did."
The Scores: 9, 9, 9 = 27

The Dancers: R&B Star Mario and Karina Smirnoff
The Dance: Quickstep
Quote of the Week: "This week it's all about the feet." - Mario, on the Quickstep
The Music: Valerie
The Outfit: Black tux with tails with the sleeves torn off
The Performance: It was good, though I think he's better suited to Latin styles of dance where there's more freedom of movement involved. The holds looked a little strange at times.
The Evaluation:
Bruno - "It was Mario and the Queen on Sheba."
Len - "I must say your footwork was pretty good most of the time.... Your hold was funny."
Carrie Ann - "You are so charming on the dancefloor."
The Scores: 9, 8, 9 = 26

Another night of dancing is in the books, and I'm both very impressed and rather disappointed with the performances we've seen. Kristi continues to blow me away. It's amazing that she's able to dance as well as she does. The way Jason looked at Edyta while he was dancing was crazy - they have incredible chemistry. I find Adam rather obnoxious and although I like Julianne a lot, I really won't be sad if he heads home tomorrow. On the women's side, I'm fairly certain that Monica will be sent home. She tries so hard and I appreciate her efforts, but she's just not a natural. Be sure to tune in to Dancing with the Stars tomorrow night at 9 for the results show, when TWO couples will be sent home during the first-ever double elimination.