Dancing With The Stars Review: Niecy Nash is no more

For the first time this season, our stars will be performing two full individual routines in the hopes of landing a spot in the Finals.  For the most part things have unfolded as I think they should, in terms of who stays and who goes.  But you never know when the audience will throw a curve ball.  Stranger things have happened.  Each of the Latin dances will be based on a specific era, but first up will be a ballroom number.

BALLROOM ROUND
Chad & Cheryl
Chad recognizes that as the ranks dwindle, he needs to become more serious about the competition.  He tries to keep the laughing and joking to a minimum in rehearsal, but his newly refined focus doesn’t serve him well in the Tango.  Rather than build upon his great performance last week, Chad falters in ballroom.  His movement looked stunted and he lacked fluidity.  Something just seemed awkward about the whole dance.  Len allowed that learning two dances in a week’s time will reveal flaws because you don’t have time to polish the performance.  It lacked refinement.  Bruno said it needed to be slicker and more precise, but the emotional commitment was there.  Carrie Ann said she still sees potential, but there was something missing from his Tango.  Carrie Ann: 7 Len: 7 Bruno: 7

Niecy & Louis
She had a great performance last week but can’t rest on her laurels too long, having been in the bottom two more than once.  During the pre-dance package Niecy outlines her busy, grueling schedule.  It’s a wonder these stars do as well as they do, considering how hectic their lives are.  When they finally get to their Viennese Waltz, I wasn’t too impressed.  I thought there were some awkward moments and that her arms flailed about.  Her footwork was a little better, but overall I still think Niecy is the weakest remaining contestant.  Bruno said that it started well but at some points she looked as if she were being chased by wasps.  Carrie Ann thought there was too much “push and pull” in the dance and that her transitions were poor.  Len was pleasantly surprised and praised her posture.  Carrie Ann: 7 Len: 8 Bruno: 8

Erin & Maks
Erin got the highest scores she received all season but still ended up in the bottom two last week.  They will be doing an Argentine Tango this week, and there are a few lifts in the routine.  Erin is fearful about the lifts and reluctant to do them in practice.  Thankfully she conquered her fear, because the dance was great.  She successfully did the lift: a jump off the stage where her legs end up wrapped around Maks’ neck.  She also executes a Gumby-like bend that shows off her flexibility and versatility.  Carrie Ann was so excited by the routine that she planted a big smooch on Len, go figure.  She said it was fantastic and truly beautiful.  Len absolutely loved it.  Bruno said he never knew she could be so bendy and that she was incredible.  Carrie Ann: 9 Len: 10 Bruno: 9

Evan & Anna
He rebounded in a big way last week by receiving the first perfect score.  Anna pushes him even harder during rehearsal, trying to get him to capture the right attitude for their Waltz.  She wants him to show a warmer, more romantic character this week.  Their Waltz was effective, but a bit boring.  I guess it’s just the nature of the dance.  His movement was graceful and his lines were predictably perfect, but what do the judges think?  Len isn’t sure if he liked it or not.  He disliked the beginning, but his posture and movement were great.  Hey, a judge agrees with me!  Bruno enjoyed the romance and his lyrical lines.  Carrie Ann said that his lines are impeccable, but when she looks closer it becomes apparent that he is not “losing himself” in the dance.  Carrie Ann: 9 Len: 9 Bruno: 9

Nicole & Derek
Now it’s time for the prissy Pussycat.  Nicole is a fantastic dancer, but she’s a bit of a drama queen.  I’ve never seen a frontrunner find so much to be stressed out over.  Derek really makes an effort to incorporate her suggestions into the performance, and he’s a good partner.  He tries to allay her concerns, as she’s always whining.  Suck it up Missy!  Their Foxtrot is fun and playful.  There’s basically no dance that Nicole can’t handle.  At this late stage of the competition she has shown that she’s the real deal.  Their Foxtrot is a little corny, but I think that’s what they were going for.  You can’t exactly make ballroom look sexy.  Bruno said it was a minute and a half of pure dancing joy.  It was like a jewel created by a master.  Carrie Ann said she defied her imagination.  They could easily be phoning it in but instead they continue to challenge themselves.  Len said it was an enchanting love story.  There was a lack of body contact during hold, but he still liked it.  Carrie Ann: 10 Len: 9 Bruno: 10  This girl is gonna be tough to beat.

LATIN ROUND
As I mentioned previously, each of the Latin dances will feature a theme from a certain era that must influence the dance.  For example, an ’80s themed Samba.  The couples will pick their decade and dance out of a hat and take it from there.  When they did this last season, Derek ended up having to choreograph a futuristic Paso, and it was phenomenal – so I’m excited about this portion of the show.  Let’s get to it!

Chad & Cheryl
He needs to get his swag back a little bit with this one.  They will be performing a ’60s era Jive.  The Jive is considered Latin? Who knew.  They will be performing to “Love Man,” a song that perfectly describes Chad.  He comes out wearing velvet pimp pajamas, and I honestly would not be surprised if he pulled this getup out of his own closet.  Zebra print and red velvet should never be combined.  Right away the Jive’s energy suits Chad perfectly.  His footwork is much better than it was in the Tango, but Chad is only a notch above Niecy, in my book.  Definitely not in the top tier.  Len said it was fun and entertaining.  Bruno said he “pimped” the Jive and it was great to see him smile and have a good time.  There could have been more kicks.  Carrie Ann thought it was great and groovy.  The energy was wild at times but it suited them perfectly.  She thinks it was one of his better dances.  Carrie Ann: 8 Len: 8 Bruno: 8

Niecy & Louis
These two have a ’90s Paso Doble.  The ’90s always throw me off a bit because it wasn’t too long ago.  Louis said the ’90s was the age of the Diva, and that’s exactly what Niecy is.  I agree, but I’m skeptical about her pulling off a powerful Paso.  Sure enough, she moved like a sack of potatoes.  It is what it is, and it wasn’t very good.  The Paso demands fiery passion, and she just didn’t bring it.  Bruno said it required power and control, and she looked unsteady most of the time.  Carrie Ann gave her credit for being ambitious, but it was like bumper cars.  Len said she got through it but just getting through it isn’t good enough at this point.  Everyone faces a dance that doesn’t suit their personality, and the Paso did not suit Niecy.  Carrie Ann: 7 Len: 6 Bruno: 7

Erin & Maks
She had a great first round, but can she pull it off again?  They will be dancing an ’80s Rumba.  Maks said he doesn’t plan on dancing in an ’80s style, because he doesn’t see much difference between an ’80s Rumba and present-day Rumba.  Erin mentions that people have told her that she should be right up there with Evan and Nicole, it’s just a matter of her believing it.  Boy do they look corny!  Maks looks like an extra from Miami Vice.  Their Rumba was ok, but it wasn’t very sexy.  It did nothing for me.  Carrie Ann agreed that she should be equal with Evan and Nicole, but the reason she’s not is because she doubts herself.  Len liked the beginning and thought the mix of steps was great.  He thought there was a “jerky” action and she needs to smooth it out.  Bruno said they make great music together.  She’s dancing better and better and should be in the Final.  Carrie Ann: 8 Len: 8 Bruno: 9

Evan & Anna
Mr. Monotone is what I should call Evan.  He’s adorable, but that deadpan voice is killing me!  They will be performing a futuristic Cha Cha.  Anna tries to keep it cool and modern and convey the proper time period.  She says there is a lot of pressure on him, because the last Latin dance they performed earned them their lowest scores.  He comes out looking like a metrosexual Bob’s Big Boy character.  I thought it was ok and I could really see that they tried to make it futuristic.  Len said his Latin lacks rhythm, but he got a pass by acting like a robot (which incorporated the era).  Bruno said it was Mr. Spock meets Barbarella in Cha Cha Trek.  LMAO, that’s pretty clever.  Basically, he thought it was inventive and he liked it.  Carrie Ann thought that the stiff movement worked well.  Carrie Ann: 9 Len: 8  Bruno: 9

Nicole & Derek
It looked like the top couple might falter a bit when they randomly selected their dance and time period.  They are tasked with dancing a ’50s-inspired Paso Doble.  Derek points out that the ’50s are fun and happy-go-lucky, which is the polar opposite vibe of the Paso.  Paso demands passion and seriousness, so how will he incorporate the playfulness of the decade?  Let me just say that Derek is one of the more creative, ingenious professional dancers on the show.  Just as he blew me away with his choreography last season, he floored me again with his Paso.  He and Nicole were splendid.  She absolutely killed it.  They managed to combine the edginess of the Paso with moves that characterized the ’50s, and it was brilliant.  She is a force to reckoned with, and if she doesn’t win the whole thing it will be a travesty.  Bruno said they were the Beauty and the Rebel.  The flavor of Spain has never tasted so good.  Carrie Ann was delirious.  She said it was brilliant.  Len was nice about her first dance and said it’s not in his nature to be nice about two dances…but he has nothing to criticize.  Their scores mirrored their comments: perfect 10s all around.

RESULTS SHOW
If I had my way Niecy would be going home, leaving Chad, Erin, Evan and Nicole to duke it out in the Finals.   But first the judges want to see an encore performance of Nicole and Derek’s ingenious Paso Doble (of course).  Before we find out who is in the bottom two, one unlucky couple will sweat it out under the red lights for the entire episode.  In the last few minutes they will reveal the other couple in the bottom two and then quickly eliminate one of them.  Tonight it’s Chad who must experience the harsh glow of the red light for the first time.  Last week Erin was in the bottom two, so you never know who will be going home.  After some filler involving a collegiate dance battle between Purdue and the University of California and high-jinks with Jerry Rice and Kenny Mayne, it is finally revealed that Niecy will join Chad.  After a few nerve-wracking moments the fair result is announced: Niecy Nash is no more.

Season 10, Week 8: Round 7 Performances and Results Show (originally aired May 10 and 11, 2010)

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Photographs courtesy of ABC, Adam Larkey