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Opening Night for DWTS, Season 13
- Author:
- Phillip Stephens (philtex44@aol.com | 713-248-2299)
- Date Published:
- September 21, 2011
Dancing With The Stars
Season 13, Week 1, 9/19/2011
Opening night
Brooke Burke is now using her husband's last name, and will be known as Brooke Charvet
Ron Artest - the ball player - looked downright weird! He looked nice in the rehearsal tapes, and then came out looking like an Internet-circulated photo of a WalMart shopper on the show. What were they thinking?
I guess Val Chmerkovskiy will be showing us lots of bare this year. Well, if Elizabetta lasts more than 3 weeks, which I don't think will happen.
Ron Artest & Peta Murgatroyd – Cha Cha
He was quite a handsome chap with a certain charm to him in the pre-dance film segment, but certainly missed the mark with that Halloween/WalMart Shopper look he presented on the dance floor. He had terrible footwork and is really quite stiff. I can’t see that he will develop into a dancer, and will be happy if I don't have to watch him cavort around out there again after tonight. How could this guy be sweating so much after just one dance in so little clothing?
Len – lacked Cha-cha content and his footwork was atrocias; Bruno – Needs to work on technique; Carrie Ann – Thought it was sexy, but wrong for technical reasons. 5+4+5 = 14, which is pretty good for that sad performance.
Rob Kardashian & Cheryl Burke – Viennese Waltz
A nice looking young man who seems bent on proving that he is his own person despite the shadow placed over him by the Kardashian name. Can he outdance sister Kim from season 7? I'm not sure this seeming “power trip” he’s on is the way to go. Hopefully, that was just a bit of teasing. This was a horrible dance for someone who's never danced before to start off with. Rob is extremely stiff in the legs although his timing is fairly good and he used his arms nicely a timer or two. I can’t really see Cheryl getting that mirror ball this season with this bucaroo, but who knows?
Bruno – Needs to take control and feel the music; Carrie Ann – Sees potential, but needs to get rid of rigidity; Len – Not impressed, but not depressed. It was too careful. 6+5+5 = 16. Well, the judges are not being very generous on this season!
Kristin Cavallari & Mark Ballas – Cha Cha
Mark could surely find some nicer clothes to wear as a professional dance instructor, don’t ya think? Kristin definitely shows potential: A great smile, decent timing and willing to work the body. I'm not into all the head/hair flipping, but it was rhythmic. I think Mark went a bit over the top with some of his own moves, which - for me - highlights Kristin's lack of skill and proficiency and adds nothing to the overall performance.
Carrie Ann – Has a great body for dancing. Sees her potential; Len – Had a lot going on, but was a bit disappointed with the performance; Bruno – Gave a whole lesson instead of useful comments. 7+6+6 = 19
Chynna Phillips & Tony Dovolani – Viennese Waltz
This lady definitely has potential. She can create some beautiful positions, such as that pretty standing attitude/Tornillo turn. She wasn't always steady on her feet, but displayed some nice arm styling and a lovely back with upright posture. Overall, a solid and enjoyable performance which gave me a pleasant surprise.
Len – A very good first performance; Bruno – Raved a lot, but went on too much about her slight errors; Carrie Ann – Raved about perfection? There was no perfection there, but it was a very solid first performance. 8+7+7 = 22
Nancy Grace & Tristan McMannus – Cha Cha
What do you say about that performance? It was another one that I could have done without watching. She gave it a good go, but her timing was off, she wasn’t grounded to the floor, her moves flailed around a bit, and well, it made me nervous to watch.
Bruno – Has to moves? Is he blind? Carrie Ann – thinks she’s cute, has spunk and sass, but noted that she lost the choreography; Len – Said it in a nutshell – it was underwhelming. 5+5+6 = 16 The scores given by Carrie Ann and Bruno did not match their overly effusive comments.
Note: I am always surprised by certain individuals that the judges seem to favor, such as that Joey Lawrence when he was on the show. What Bruno and Carrie Ann see in Nancy Grace escapes me.
David Arquette & Kym Johnson – Viennese Waltz
He sounded drunk, really nervous and/or afflicted in some way when he spoke. David did some challenging choreography to some really fast music. He managed to keep his posture reasonably well and only looked stiff in places. Considering the choreography, the speed of the music and his inexperience. I think David did very well. I think he has potential and I’m really impressed that he could keep up with that music.
Carrie Ann – Liked the dance, but he needs to relax; Len – Was very impressed; Bruno – As often happens, Bruno got too involved in the “role” David should put forward and provided no useful comments. 6+6+6 = 18
Elizabetta Canalis & Val Chmerkofskiy – Cha Cha
Starting out in a bed? I guess it goes with the music, but it seemed like a waste. Elizabetta did reasonably in a couple of places - mostly when in contact with Val, but she's rather lacking in grace for a model. Val seemed to try to make up for it by over dancing. I'm not really impressed and will be happy to see her gone in the first 2-3 weeks.
Len – didn’t like the bed. Once they got going, he didn’t mind it too much. Noted it was weak; Bruno – Not enough confidence and it fell apart when she was on her own; Carrie Ann – Looked good with Val, but not on her own. 5+5+5 = 15 (Why did the audience boo those rather accurate scores???)
Hope Solo & Maks Chmerkovskiy – Viennese Waltz
They are already having to “bleep” language??? The music was fast, but that girl was faster. She looked elegant when they started, but her neck and shoulders got a bit scrunched up and she had trouble maintaining the timing and her balance was not good, but she does have some potential...
Bruno – feels she has potential. Too much attack and not enough control; Carrie Ann – Was impressed by body contact. Be aware of muscles; Len – good hold, good posture, good movement. Needs more softness. (I think they saw a lot more potential than I did) 7+7+7 = 21.
Note: I am nearly non-plused over Hope's scores. What’s up with that?
Carson Kressley & Anna Trebunskaya – Viennese Waltz
He was right about looking as if he were having seizures. Reasonably good timing, but no real dance ability. He did have fun and it was extremely entertaining. As Michael Schedler noted – it was like watching a bad Mick Jagger. Maybe he will develop some hidden talent??? I’m just hoping they paid Anna extra.
Carrie Ann – It was her favorite dance of the eveing, but it did lack technique; Len – Hopes Carson is not first to get cut because it was lots of fun; Bruno – I think he liked it! 6+5+6 = 17
J.R Martinez & Karina Smirnoff – Viennese Waltz
He is an amazing person with such spirit. He also has talent. He put feeling and style into every move. That performance was lyrical, emotional and beautiful. WOW! I am so impressed!
Len – The best performance of the night; Bruno – Could not believe the quality; Carrie Ann – Was impressed with the overall package. (I love his sense of humor) 8+7+7 = 22
Note: When I think of what this young man has overcome to get where he is today, I am just so incredibly impressed and profoundly moved that I see him as an inspiration for a lot of people. The courage it must have taken for him to go into a carreer as an actor and now to dance on this show is just amazing. I see lots of potential in him as a dancer and hope that he will be able to improve every week until he is the one holding that mirror ball at the end of this season.
Ricki Lake & Derek Hugh – Viennese Waltz
Good timing. A nice feel for the music and a lovely smile. She also uses her arms reasonably well. Definitely a contender.
Bruno – Great job; Carrie Ann – liked the fluidity; Len – didn’t like her footwork, but did enjoy the performance. 7+6+7 = 20
Chaz Bono & Lacey Schwimmer – Cha Cha
Chaz had better timing than I expected from watching the rehearsal film footage. Pretty bad footwork and certainly lacked hip action. It was good, just not fantastic. Still, here is another person who displays a certain level of personal courage in order to just participate in a show of this nature that puts one in a position of scrutiny. I think Chaz will last at least a few weeks if the technical aspects improve.
Carrie Ann – Sharp and precise, lights up the room; Len – Came out with the right attitude. Good footwork??? Bruno – Great debut? Hmmm. 6+5+6 = 17
Season 13, Week 1 Results
We lost Ron Artest, which was no loss. Maybe Elizabetta will be next to go?
