Dancing with the Stars Elimination Night Recap: Week Four

Because we aren’t already battling major voter fatigue, throughout last night’s show election style mud-slinging promos randomly aired. The whole “I’m Toni Braxton and I approved this message” thing was cute but we need a break from campaigning, not a running gag about it.

After weeks of being either bashed or maligned by the judges, Lance and Lacey are chosen to encore their Gothic punk tango. We love the encores because the performers are so much more relaxed and L & L demolish the dance floor once again!

Los Vivancos, a heptagon of fiery flamenco dancers are the evening’s first performers, busting out a Spanish Lord of the Dance meets Bring da Noise, Bring da Funk. At first we’re a little bored but then they rip their velvet jackets off and it become Lord of the Dance meets Chippendales and we’re sucked right back in. Who wouldn’t be? They’re “seven guys with six packs,” as Tom Bergeron says. Sold American!

Next are the first of the ballroom dancing kids, a part of the show we hate. We get it, the kids are cute but the whole thing has an embarrassing Star Search cheesiness that we can’t get behind. Plus, watching their little dreams get crushed on national television is just painful. We take an extended bathroom break to avoid the cringing.

Luckily, Ne-Yo takes the stage next. While he’s a little off key, the hip hop gone ballroom performance is fun but it’s time to get down to the business end of elimination.

The first safe couples, in order of announcement, are: Lance and Lacey, Susan and Tony, Brooke and Derek, Cody and Julianne, Toni and Alec, Warren and Kym and Maurice and Cheryl, leaving Cloris and Corky and Rocco and Karina in the bottom.

In the end, Rocco and Karina are sent home.

While it’s not surprising (Rocco really sucked), it is a sad moment. We’re starting to get really attached to each of these couples and it’s only going to be more and more difficult to watch them go.

Next week, four new dances, never before seen on DWTS will be unveilied; The Hustle, Jitterbug, Salsa and West Coast Swing. We can’t wait to see Derek Hough do The Hustle!

Until next week.