DwtS 6, Week 7: Performances

This week, each couple performed two dances, but an injury to one of the stars overshadowed all the performances.

Ballroom Round

Marissa Jaret Winokur & Tony Dovolani -- Tango
Nice, traditional choreography showed off what a competent dancer Marissa has become.

Len Goodman said, "Three words: your best dance." Bruno Tonioli complimented Marissa for her "drama, passion, and I liked the hint of disdain." Carrie Ann Inaba told Marissa, "That was such a wonderful performance and shows a completely new side of you."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...9, Bruno...9 = 27/30

Cristian de la Fuente & Cheryl Burke -- Viennese Waltz
The highlight of this routine the way Cristian pulled Cheryl out of a death spiral.

Bruno called Cristian "South America's Clark Gable." Carrie Ann like Cristian's "new fluidity." Len said, "It was very nice to watch, but I would've liked to have seen a bit more of a traditional Viennese Waltz."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...9 = 25/30

Kristi Yamaguchi & Mark Ballas -- Viennese Waltz
The leaders of the pack used an umbrella as a prop, and Kristi did a million turns in a row. I counted.

Carrie Ann said, "That was so emotional," but she noted that Kristi's turns were "a hair off." Len didn't like "all that mincing around. The umbrella -- you don't need props." When Bruno objected, Len blamed global warming on Bruno's "hot air." Bruno told Kristi, "It's good to see you acting the part."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...8, Bruno...9 = 26/30

Mario & Karina Smirnoff -- Fox Trot
Mario's "brain is fried" after learning a routine for a music video in addition to his two dances for DwtS. But it certainly looked like he remembered all of his moves.

Len told Mario, "You're not the most elegant of dancers, unfortunately." Bruno said, "You bring so much youthful vitality to everything you do." Carrie Ann said, "You do very ambitious and difficult routines, and you don't miss a step. In these type of dances...we just need you to be a little stiffer."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...8 = 24/30

Shannon Elizabeth & Derek Hough -- Tango
Shannon channeled all of her frustrations from last week into the Tango; you could see the fire in her eyes.

Bruno said, "The Tango really is a bitch of a dance to master, and I'm happy to say, this one fascinated." Carrie Ann told Shannon, "Your best dance yet. By far. I can tell you really worked hard on your lines, and it paid off on the dance floor." Len said, "I thought you did a terrific job. Well done."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...9, Bruno...9 = 27/30

Jason Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska -- Quickstep
The routine was pretty straight, until Jason stole the papers from the judges' table and tossed them into the air. He picked them up after the performance.

Carrie Ann said, "That was great. It was larger than life." Len told Jason, "With performances like that, you're in the final." Bruno said, "The performance of the night, I think."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...10, Len...9, Bruno...10 = 29/30

Latin Round

Marissa & Tony -- Rumba
The routine was nice, although the most memorable part of it was the strangely-styled costumes.

Bruno said, "It was very romantic. You could've pushed a little bit more on the sex, but it was nice." Carrie Ann enthused, "I thought it was GREAT!" Len said, "There wasn't much hip action for me, and it was all a tad careful throughout."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...8, Bruno...8 = 25/30

Cristian & Cheryl -- Samba
Cristian was happily shaking his bum. Then, halfway though the routine, he pulled a muscle in his arm. He struggled to finish the routine, and wound up dropping Cheryl in their final move. Tom Bergeron sent the show to commercial before the judges gave their scores, so that Cristian could get some medical treatment.

When the show returned, Tom said the initial diagnosis was a severe muscle cramp. Then he asked the judges, "Do you judge up to the point that the injury occurred?" Carrie Ann answered, "Yes," and proceeded to give Cheryl and a noticeably pained Cristian their comments.

Carrie Ann said, "I really appreciate that you went the whole round, and you were there for Cheryl." Len said, "I think you were brave." Bruno said, "I hope you're coming back because you're a great performer."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...7, Len...7, Bruno...7 = 21/30

Kristi & Mark -- Cha Cha Cha
This performance gave the show a jolt of energy when it was most needed. Too bad you couldn't hear the bass in the song.

Len didn't like the "boogaloo hip-hop dancing." Bruno called it "a fantastic Cha Cha Cha, very inventive." Carrie Ann told Kristi, "Girlfriend, two snaps up."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...10, Len...8, Bruno...10 = 28/30

Mario & Karina -- Mambo
Mario wore some high-waisted white pants worthy of a Florida retirement village. They definitely captured the spirit of the dance.

Bruno told Mario, "This is your comfort zone. You're great in the Latin dances." Carrie Ann -- "You guys set this place on fire." Len said the performance was "Wild. Wacky. Wonderful."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...9, Bruno...9 = 27/30

Shannon & Derek -- Mambo
Shannon started the routine by shaking her bum in front of the judges' table, later revealing that she was wearing pads on her butt to accentuate her derriere.

Carrie Ann said, "The attack was fantastic. Some of your lines are still awkward." Len said, "I thought, for a moment, I'd died and gone to heaven," thanks to Shannon's "bionic bum." Bruno told Shannon, ''You really were working your tushy like a wild woman."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...8 = 24/30

Jason & Edyta -- Paso Doble
Jason & Edyta danced to the Monday Night Football anthem and wore Miami Dolphins colors. Does it even really matter how they danced? Probably.

Len told Jason, "A bit too much posing going on, but when you've got a body like yours and mine, we like to pose." Bruno inexplicably compared Jason to the aircraft carrier the USS Nimitz. Carrie Ann said, "The thing that kills me...your foot came off the ground, Edyta. Why? Why? Why? Why?"

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...8, Bruno...9 = 26/30

Judges' Leaderboard (Scores out of 60):
55 -- Jason & Edyta
54 -- Kristi & Mark
52 -- Marissa & Tony
51 -- Mario & Karina, Shannon & Derek
46 -- Cristian & Cheryl

I'm splitting my votes between the top two couples, Jason & Edyta and Kristi & Mark. Cristian will probably get some sympathy votes, and he and Cheryl should qualify to dance next week as long as Cristian is able. But if his injury is more serious than a muscle cramp, it may not be wise for him to continue.

If Cristian & Cheryl do stick around, then Mario & Karina and Shannon & Derek are in the most danger. And if there's any fall out from last week's blow up, Shannon & Derek may be asked to hit the road.