The Final 3 Celebrities on Dancing With The Stars

We're five days away from announcing the winner of Dancing With The Stars season 8. In my first analysis of this season, I predicted Shawn and Mark would win the competition. But since that first night my top two have shifted to Melissa and Gilles, with Gilles winning the competition.

Don't get me wrong, I think Shawn is a lovely dancer, but she doesn't have the great performance quality found in Melissa and Gilles. She also is less graceful in her movement, which is understandable considering her gymnastics training. 

So why Melissa? Despite the fact that Tony dilutes his choreography with the same front leg extension in every piece, he mostly creates fine pieces that work well to Melissa's strength. He showcases her fearlessness when it comes to tricks, her fluidity, flexibility and strong turns. She also was taught, presumably in her Dallas Cowboys cheerleader training, how to maintain an engaging face throughout a performance, which helps makes the pieces exciting to watch. 

So why will Gilles beat Melissa? Well, because he has had no previous dance training, unlike Melissa, and yet he can do everything that she can do. He also has Cheryl as a partner and their chemistry is a step above any other couple in the competition. The fact that he's gorgeous, French and a family man might also help boost his voting base. 

But we'll all have to stay tuned to ABC on Monday and Tuesday to see if my guesses are correct. So, enjoy next week. I'll be with you flipping between DWTS and American Idol on Tuesday night. 

(photo from AP Photos/Getty Images, found at ABCNews)

Gilles Goes for the Kill on Dancing With The Stars

Just like on this season's American Idol with Adam Lambert, Dancing With The Stars has developed a winner early on.

Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke just can't go wrong.



Do they really have any competition? I doubt any of the couples, even our beloved Melissa, can beat him. The only thing he has to work on our his hands. He has to bring the powerful quality of movement he uses so well with his lower extremities to his upper body. But, when you have performance quality like he does, who even cares!

Live Blogging, No Inhibitions: Dancing With the Stars, Season 8, Day 1

I'm excited to see our poor jilted bachelorette on the show. Kick it Melissa! You deserve so much better than the bachelor...like the Dancing With The Stars shiny trophy!  

Kim and Derek: She looks good, nice legs and nice performance quality. I found that rather impressive for the first go. Refinement is key here, she needs to overcome the tough, rap quality and soften throughout her body. I can not believe she's promoting her time spent at the detention center by dedicating her performance to the girls there. She needs a new image and publicist. 

BRUNO! I've miss you. So happy to see the judges looking healthy and happy.

Lets see what Belinda has to offer.  She looks refined, even though a little awkward. Not light on her feet at all. Ohhh very strange front arabesque promenade....oh my. Jonathan put in too many turns for her this time. You could tell she was nervous, and it had to do with the choreography. Yes, Bruno's right, very heavy footwork. 

Lawrence...don't feel uncoordinated. Take some ballet like other football players. All people who play sports should take ballet. Aww...what a cutie. He needs to loosen up and stop looking down, but definitely has potential. Unfortunately, most of it looked like Edyta was simply dancing around him...we've all seen that before. 

Steve-O time. Perfect pair. Talk about redefining your image in front of the world. Jackass to gentlemen...lets see. So mechanical in his movement. Worse so far. Its too bad Lacey won't be on the show for too long because she's great. Okay...he's gone just b/c of his line..."Wants to put my foot in the waltzes butt." Blah. bye bye Steve-O. 

Gilles...I already love you. Adorable. Please be able to dance! He's got the performance quality down. Nice. Love the faces he makes. Oh man he's a natural...smooth. Love it! My favorite...and it's not just because he's hot! :~) YEAH

It's cute that they paired Julianne with Chuck (girlfriend/boyfriend)...but I hope this doesn't hurt their relationship in the long run. It's difficult working with your partner. What a cheesy smile he gave while he dipped her! But he looks light on his feet and rather graceful. Awww. She looks like Grace Kelly--gorgeous.  I think we'll see more of them.

Holly and Dmitry. She's definitely winging it. This is beyond awkward. She's more walking than dancing. I feel bad she only had five days to practice, but there's just no initial dancing talent there. 

YEAH! GO MELISSA GO!!! I really, truly want her to succeed at this!

Okay, but we must watch Ty first. How cute, it's Chelsie! I had no idea she would be on this show.  It's my So You Think You Can Dance chica with her cute cowboy. Go cowboy go! He looks nervous, but he's grooving. Loosen up cowboy and you'd get it. He'll be here for another week, despite the hands mess up. 

Okay, here is who I expect to win...it's Shawn. Emotion is weakness? Really, that's what they teach in gymnastics? Come on Shawn. You can tell she has grace but does hit the hand movements like a gymnast...a little too hard. I Can't wait to see more from her! Love the pairing between her and Mark. 

Its the Apple dude, Steve. You can tell from the video he's going to need a lot of work. Nerds Can Dance? Maybe. Oh a pink boa. Yikes. This is how you dance around someone.  As Bruno said, "It was like watching a Teletubby going mad." But he stays positive, good attitude Steve. 

Next...David Alan Grier--"Fightin' Dirty" with a waltz. He's rather graceful. Too stiff in the arms, but pleasant to watch. Opps stumble, spoke too soon. It went worse at the end, but he did a decent job. The judges are right...the faces need to be tamed. 

Has Glen seemed more forgiving with his scores than normal? I think so. 

Max and Denise. He's just pulling her around the floor, which is a lot better to watch then when she's on her own. Unfortunately, she has no sense of rhythm. Carry Anne is right...she did look scared. I would be too with a tough guy as a partner. 

Alright, Melissa I'm ready, please be able to dance! THAT"S RIGHT "Two Words Jason, People Skills." Ahh she's good, very graceful. Lovely attitude turn. I knew it Melissa, the cheerleader can turn dancer. You can tell she's good by her arms.  Hurray!

My 1st Week Guesses:

-Who Will Win: Shawn

-Who Will Go Home: Steve-O

Dancing With The Stars Week 6, watching/writing live

Yes, group routine. Oh and no Glen tonight either, Michael Flatley has decided to join us instead. I used to watch a tape of "Lord of the Dance" over and over. I always wanted to be that evil girl in the red dress, she danced to the cooler music. :~)

Oh no, Cherly has her worked cut out for her with Maurice tonight, at least from the video. Okay here comes their waltz. He definitely doesn't have the fluidity, but he looks like he's enjoying himself. Humm...lets see what the judges think. I agree with what Carrie Ann said about their lack of chemistry, they have none. I think Maurice still lacks confidence on stage, he needs to start having fun out there. 

Love seeing Lance in his old studio. I was such a big Nsync fan back in the day. Oh they are good. Happy feet. Fun outfits too. Thank you Lacey for letting Lance show off a little. Oh and he put in that slide move where he fell last time...good for him. I still don't know if he will be able to beat Brooke. 

Susan, I really don't know if you're going to make it much farther than this. Please, oh please put on some personality tonight! Hopefully that outfit puts her in the mood. Yikes, the movement looks way too fast for her. Nope, didn't break out of her shell tonight either. I completely disagree with the judges, she didn't bring any attitude to that piece at all. 

Can I just say that Michael could say anything with that Irish accent, even something horrible, and it would sound delightful.

Poor Brooke, her foot must be pretty painful. Hopefully she can dance through the pain. Rumba time. She can act sexy, that's for sure. Now these two have chemistry. As much as Derek irritates me, he has worked well with Brooke. Yes, I do agree with the judges, she looked a tad off, especially during the turns. Good for Brooke for staying so positive though. WOW and a 10 from Michael! HA! I guess he hasn't watched Brooke dance before to see what she can really do. 

This hip hop routine looks ridiculous on the video. I'm ready for the silliness to begin. 

It's Cloris time, in a bright, sassy, yellow outfit. Vintage cha cha cha. Oh, now that she's moving she looks good, even when its fast movement. OOOO my...a death spin...ha! Wait a go Cloris! And she can't stop laughing. Love her. Oh please Carrie Ann, Toni was nonsense compared to Cloris who at least knows how to put on a show. Many of the people commenting on the Dancing With the Stars live blog agree with Carrie Ann. One irritated viewer said, "This is a DANCING contest, not a popularity content." Actually, 2/3 of dance is performance-based, it's not about technique. So, especially when you are putting a celebrities on the dance floor, 2/3 is a popularity contest. 

Warren has such grace. Unfortunately, he basically walked around the entire routine. 

Awesome hip hop routine ahead. This is where Cloris can bust a move! Ohhh Cloris I love the orange leggings. Poor Susan, she looks so out of it. I'm not sure what that was, but at least it was fun. 

Another week of celebrity dance complete. 

 

Dancing With The Stars Season 7, Week 2

My thoughts as I watch and chat on the Dancing With The Star's live blog:

Maurice and Cheryl started the night with a sexy samba to some disco. She's my favorite professional, with a big personality, just like her hair this week. As for her partner, I agree with Glen, he needs some refinement in his movements.

Cody stumbled a tad during this one, but gave a solid performance.

Many people online really like Toni. I'm just not convinced. She stumbled a few times during this performance. Also, she looked down and dropped character when she wasn't being sultry.

I commend Cloris for trying hard this week. She looked very sophisticated and young. Her turns were great and extending her leg that high, wow! She's such a delight. Maybe she will be in the competition longer.

Poor Rocco, his movements are just so awkward not matter what he does. But at least this week he was really having fun. Unfortunately, gimmicks like removing clothing won't get you far in this competition. That plus no musicality = gone tomorrow.

I love that Susan got Tony on "All My Children"--hysterical. Unfortunately, her attempt to get Erica Caine into her performance didn't come across through her face at all. But, the rigidness of the tango suited her well. Although, the fast-pace of the music did them a disservice by making their movement appear very slow.

Brooke shook it tonight. I love that song and the characterization throughout. This was the first time I was really impressed with her. Even her face was into it. Wonderful. I can't believe Glen didn't like the story incorporated into the dance. It complemented the music's story, Glen, come on.

Ha...anyone else see Lacey looking ticked off behind Brooke and Derek when they were talking? What an irritated expression. Do I sense some jealousy?

Woo creepy costumes and makeup Lacey and Lance, nice halloween feel. Very sharp and clean. Thank goodness Carrie Ann agrees. Sir Lancelot..wow it's the first time Glen actually liked it. See Lacey, nothing to be jealous about.

Yes, Capoeira...I love that they're showing all these styles on TV. That's one class I didn't get a chance to take at the American College Dance Festival, but I would have loved to try.

Warren...oh have more fun with it. There you go. He looked pretty distracted tonight and not fulling into the piece. I agree with the lack of content in the piece that the judges were disappointed in.

Pretty varied show tonight, with some really fun pieces.