After last week's four exciting new dances, complete with a ban on the Lift Ban, things are getting back to normal on Dancing with the Stars as the Top 10 couples face the Paso Doble and the Argentine Tango, as well as a group Hustle.  But things aren't all normal.  Derek Hough is out sick, so Joanna Krupa will get a special guest partner in the form of her Superstars co-star Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Will the new partnership work out for the best?  And will Tom Bergeron continue to make more wildly inappropriate sexual references?  I'll be here for two full hours with my analysis.  Live, from Hollywood, it's Dancing with the Stars!


It's introduction time, which means Costume Criticism.  Aaron Carter looks like a Young Republican while Alec Mazo and Natalie Coughlin look like the Fonz and Wonder Woman.


Natalie Coughlin and Alec Mazo - Paso Doble

Alec wants to bringout Natalie's inner beast, which seems rather easy.  Their dance is very hard-hitting and mean, but I'm confused because Natalie is oh-so-fine.  She has a red, white and blue skirt with a sports bra.  It's very unsettling and doesn't quite connect.  Bruno Tonioli agrees with me that her Wonder Woman dance lacked some wonder, though I'm guessing all the wonder is in the bra.  Carrie Ann Inaba calls them out for a Lift, because she's the Lift Nazi.

Natalie and Alec's Score: 7+8+7=22


Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff - Argentine Tango

After being in the Bottom 2, has Aaron learned his lesson?  Not really.  He wants to transform from a boy into a man with a more adult dance, but he giggles during the rehearsal.  Bruno compares it to Robert Pattinson dancing in Twilight, but that doesn't seem very adult to me.  Sorry fans, but Robert Pattinson is a pretty boy who's youthful, and he's not the epitome of masculine power.  Still, the judges adore it, but I still don't find it that mature.

Aaron and Karina's Score: 8+8+8=24


Michael Irvin and Anna Demidova - Paso Doble

For the Paso, Michael needs to keep his butt cheeks clenched, so he takes Anna's advice and literally puts a nickel in there to keep his posture.  That alone should be enough to save him for another week.  Also, he actually dances this week, and it's kind of entertaining in an utterly unexpected way.  The judges love it, and Bruno urges him to keep his butt nickle, but Michael decides to give it to Bruno as a trophy.

Michael and Anna's Score: 7+7+7=21 


Mya and Dmitry Chaplin - Argentine Tango

They have a huge advantage since Dmitry was an Emmy nomination for choreographing this dance, but Mya tries her best to even it out by kicking him during rehearsals.  They also get the week's charity spot by building a house with Habitat for Humanity.  As always, it's sexy, intricate and perfect.  I just want to watch these two dance all night long.  The judges point out some criticism for the emotional distance.  So much for my prediction that they would be guaranteed a 30.

Mya and Dmitry's Score: 9+9+9=27


Mark Dacascos and Lacey Schwimmer - Paso Doble

Surprisingly, martial arts Mark has trouble channeling the masculine energy required.  I'm surprised by how generally bored I am with this performance.  Technically it's fine and strong, but I want more.  Maybe I just wish Mark would grab a bell pepper, take a giant bite, then smile sinisterly at the camera.  Lacey's hair designer is the Bride of Frankenstein.

Mark and Lacey's Score: 9+9+8=26


Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson - Argentine Tango

Donny has to deal with two dances and his Las Vegas show four nights a week.  Wow, someone is trying to earn the now open title of Hardest Working Man in Show Biz.  The performance is fascinating as always, because Donny is such a compelling guy.  I hate to admit it, but he's actually a pretty talented actor to be able to pull off these different characters in his dances.

Donny and Kym's Scores: 10+9+10=29

HOLY CRAP, that's the highest score of the season!  Donny is giving Mya a run for her money.


Louie Vito and Chelsie Hightower - Argentine Tango

The short, shaggy-haired snowboarder plans on steaming up the ballroom for his tango.  As adorable as he is, even he cannot get away with calling himself "Vito Loco."  Louie still isn't a particularly great dancer, but he's damn fine and sexy smooth.  Len Goodman's low expectations were exceeded, which is...a compliment?  The judges are as positive as they can be with a guy who just kind of walks around and doesn't dance that much.

Louie and Chelsie's Scores: 7+8+7=22


Melissa Joan Hart and Mark Ballas - Argentine Tango

Much like Derek Hough, Mark Ballas got sick with the flu in the last week.  That's what happens when you play in a band together, or whatever mutual activity caused them to be the only two to get sick.  Proving that Steve Guttenberg isn't the only one who can do same-sex ballroom, Anna Trebunskaya fills in for a sick Mark during one rehearsal.  It's just average, but I'm still stuck with the image that Melissa is like my aunt if she were on this show.

Melissa and Mark's Scores: 8+8+7=23 


Kelly Osbourne and Louis van Amstel - Paso Doble

In their dance, Kelly is playing the role of the cape.  If that isn't hard enough, they're also dancing to Ozzy's classic song "Crazy Train."  It's surreal and bad-ass and awesome, and Louis is giving her some fantastic choreography that's sure to win over voters, which is very smart.

Kelly and Louis' Scores: 8+8+8=24  


Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough Maksim Chmerkovskiy - Argentine Tango

Joanna's adorable tiny blonde partner is out sick with the flu, so he's replaced by a giant manly man.  Physically, I imagine dancing with Derek is a completely different experience from dancing with Maksim.  Joanna started with Derek on Wednesday, Maks filled in on Thursday, and they learned on Friday Derek would be out, so they started from scratch.  Their dance is very strong and solid through almost the entire dance, but there's one awkward stumble that kind of mars the whole thing.

Joanna and Maksim's Scores: 8+8+8=24


Group Dance - The Hustle

For the first time, everyone gets to dance together, and the routine is choreographed by the one and only Corky Ballas!  Sadly, Donny Osmond is the only one who remembers the '70s.  The best moment from the rehearsal is when Aaron Carter bets Louie Vito that he can do a better flip.  This is followed by Louie doing a corkscrew backflip and making Aaron shriek like a little girl.  The group dance itself is odd and ridiculous, with a ton of polyester, bad wigs, and a moment when I was certain Michael Irvin was going to drop Anna Demidova on her head, but thankfully, everyone is fine.


Tune in tomorrow night at 9pm for the elimination, and to see the pros perform a special tribute to Michael Jackson.  Tomorrow could go any way, but I'll say right now that Louie, Melissa or Natalie will go home. 


Who do you think will be in the Dancing with the Stars finale?



-John Kubicek, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image courtesy of ABC)