Dancing with the Stars Recap: Week Nine

With only one week until the semi-finals, last night’s show started with the final four in foul form.

Brooke and Derek opened the show with the Jive. For the first time, Brooke looked lost. She pulled Susan Lucci at the start of the dance and never fully recovered. She just couldn’t pull it all the way together or let it rip completely. “This close to the semi-finals, you come out and dance that. There were so many mistakes,” Len scolded. “Usually you’re so precise, I am totally shocked,” Bruno said. Carrie Ann slammed them too. “Oh Brooke, what bothers me the most is you went for a blatant, illegal lift…I find that a bit disrespectful. You are by far our most naturally gifted dancers but it makes me upset you made that choice.” Ouch! With three sevens, the 21 they receive is the lowest score they’ve ever gotten.

Cody and Julianne, finally back from having her appendix removed, are up next dancing the Paso Doble. Julianne is incredible and leads Cody the whole time but he just can’t get it up to deliver the machismo needed to crush a Paso. It’s a valiant, if unsatisfying effort. Bruno hated it and spat out, “This is not good enough.” “For your determination, it’s a 10,” Carrie Ann offered, “but smooth it out.” “I’m afraid you’re going to get your marching orders,” Len said. “That was not good.” With a 22, this week is proving difficult for all the dancers.

Warren and Kym take on the Mambo next. They unnecessarily start out in the audience. Warren is already a man of the people, what he needs to be is a man of the dance floor. Did they put something in the DWTS water? Everyone is cracking under the semifinal pressure. Kym is fantastic but it’s Dancing WITH the Stars, not FOR the stars. And we’re just not won over by what they deliver. “I think you’ve got to up the game, it was a little lackluster,” Carrie Ann offered. “You know how to perform,” Len said. “You don’t know technique or form but you show us great personality.” “You are such a super sized sense of fun, you get away with murder,” Bruno chided. Three eights land them a 24.

Lance and Lacey are last in the rotation dancing the Mambo. We thought for sure this would be Lance’s last week but, where the other Stars are crumbling, he flourishes, delivering the first FANTASTIC dance of the night. Bringing the pain! “That’s the best dance so far,” Len proclaimed. Bruno was equally excited. “THIS is semi-final material! Finally!” “That was a showstopper,” Carrie Ann gushed. “By FAR the best dance so far.” Their 28, including their first 10 of the season from Carrie Ann, is the high water mark of the first round.

Kicking off the second round, Brooke and Derek dancing Salsa, out for redemeption. You can tell Brooke is incredibly nervous after their scathing review on the first dance but that doesn’t stop her from busting out flying splits through the air. “Brooke is BACK,” exclaims Bruno “THANK YOU! Welcome back to the competition.” “No one wants to see someone fall from grace like you just did but a champion is someone who comes right back and that’s what you did.” “Crisp, clean technique,” Len said, oozing with admiration. Len gives them a ten, Carrie and Bruno give two nines, for a 28, bringing their final score to 49 out of 60.

Cody and Julianne, also dancing Salsa have to fight the demon that is Cody’s white boy dancing. His hips were just not made for rollin’, but he throws his heart and soul into the dance. Awwww. Carrie Ann said, “It was really fun. I love watching you dance.” “I thought you came out with rhythm,” Len offered, “Well done.” “You went for it, you had fun with it. Great fun,” Bruno commended. They receive three eights for a total of 24, a 46 overall. Rut roh. Cody’s Hannah Montana fans better vote their butts off or this kid is heading home.

Warren and Kym’s Jitterbug has a whole plot and storyline but Warren looks a little like a bumbling fool. Not that that isn’t charming but perhaps we expected more…we don’t know…dancing? “You are truly a joyful person to watch. You come out, 100% and sell it. Well done,” Len praised. “You always make an impact,” Bruno said. “I loved it. Very nice,” Carrie Ann offered succinctly. One nine and two eights earn them a 25, a 49 overall, tying them with Brooke and Derek.

Lance and Lacey go for the sympathy votes by busting out Lance’s grandpappy who they dance their Jitterbug for. Sweet, but underhanded! The truth is, they don’t need the help. Their performance is charming, tight and strong, even though Lance dances it with only one shoe when his other sneaker flies off at the start of their number. “Shoes off or shoes on, that was brilliant. A joy! A real joy,” Bruno explodes. “Once in a while, magic happens on the dance floor. That was magic,” Carrie Ann agreed. “You’ve done two fabulous dances,” Len said in a salute. They killed it! They get two tens from Carrie and Bruno, one nine from Bruno for a score of 29, bringing their total to 57 out of 60.

At the end of the night, Lance and Lacey top the leader board with 57 points, Cody and Julianne languish at the bottom with 46.

Until tomorrow when we see who comes up just shy of the semi-finals.