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Katherine Jenkins holds on to her lead with a nearly perfect waltz
It was an emotional week as the stars danced routines to commemorate the most memorable year of their lives. Most of them cried at some point during the show, which was honestly kind of weird. That said, all of the stars danced well, and it was a good show. Katherine's waltz was the standout performance. It was beautiful, moving and deceptively simple looking. Roshon's Michael Jackson-inspired samba brought the crowd to its feet and Maria's sexy rumba was a nice surprise.
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This could be a tough elimination week as absolutely no one turned in a bad performance and we've got a five-way tie for last on the judges' leaderboard. I hope you all voted!
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Here's a quick look at how the stars did this week:
Jack Wagner
Jack's happy-go-lucky samba was a bit more toned down than last week's jive, and that was a good thing. He and Anna moved beautifully together and Jack really had the choreography down pat. His knees were a bit stiff during some of his spins, but his hip work was great. Len praised Anna's choreography and called the routine Jack's best. Bruno praised his rhythm and Carrie Ann called the routine "effervescent." After a tough second week, Jack is back in the game.
Score: 24/30
Maria Menounos
Maria's sexy rumba was full of tricky spins and dips, as well as a maybe kiss? Derek really put his all into choreographing this one. Maria did an amazing job both keeping up with him and selling the emotion of the dance. Bruno compared Maria to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and praised her for dancing to a very difficult song. (A breathy slow-jams cover of Madonna's "Material Girl.") Carrie Ann praised Maria's flow from step to step, and Len called the routine fabulous. This was easily Maria's best performance.
Score: 27/30
Gladys Knight
Gladys' foxtrot was stately and elegant, if a bit simple. Her stage presence continues to impress, and her footwork was clean and precise. As always, Gladys' rhythm was perfect. Carrie Ann praised the improvement to Gladys' frame that was evident in this routine. Len was quick to point out that he and Gladys are the same age, which seemed like a precursor to some nasty criticism. Turns out he just wants to be a Pip. Gladys really showed us what she's made of this week -- let's hope she can keep it up.
Score: 24/30
Roshon Fegan
Roshon's samba was nonstop fun. He brought a ton of swagger and style and honestly looked like he was having the time of his life. His hips were open, his knees were loose, and his spins were right-on. Honestly, I can't think of anything bad to say about the routine. The judges weren't much help there, either. Len grumbled a bit about a lack of "traditional samba content," but you could tell by the glint in his eye he loved it. Carrie Ann did feel there were some timing issues with the routine -- and got booed when she said so. Roshon really knocked it out of the park with this one.
Score: 25/30
Gavin DeGraw
Gavin's rumba was slow and sensual, but still a bit clunkier than a rumba ought to be. His hip work was excellent, though he had some trouble with transitions. He totally sold the dance emotionally, which is key with the rumba. Bruno pointed out that Gavin had a bit of an issue with some of his pivots, but the other judges were quite positive about the routine. Carrie Ann praised his attention to detail and saw a sensual tenderness in the routine. Len praised his hipwork and musicality and noted that Gavin has improved every week. One more good dance could make his disastrous Week 1 foxtrot fade from our collective memory.
Score: 24/30
Katherine Jenkins
Katherine's emotional waltz was close to flawless. She was completely caught up in the music and turned in a performance worthy of one of the pros. Her elegant carriage and gorgeous footwork were classic waltz, though there were a lot of fancy spins that set Len off. His criticism was all for Mark, though. He found no flaws in Katherine's performance. Carrie Ann was moved to tears by the routine and Bruno called the routine sensational. This was the best dance of the season so far.
Score: 29/30
Sherri Shepherd
Sherri's rumba was absolutely beautiful. It was an open question whether a slow dance would suit energetic, wacky Sherri. Well, it did! She moved beautifully and turned in some downright gorgeous legwork. Len praised the routine's triple spins and added a very emphatic "Well done!" Bruno praised Sherri's commitment to the routine and the emotional resonance of her performance. This was a truly moving dance.
Score: 24/30
Melissa Gilbert
The jive is a tough dance, but Melissa really put her mind to it and turned in amazing performance. Maks' routine was supercharged with tricky spins and kicks, but she mostly held her own. Her posture left a bit to be desired and she lost the thread of the song for a few beats in the middle. Bruno praised her mastery of the tricky opening sequence Maks crafted, and Len declared her a contender. This is definitely a comeback for Melissa -- but has it come too late?
Score: 24/30
Jaleel White
Jaleel's suave rumba was a breath of fresh air during a round of intense emotional routines. He played it cool, but there were some tough spins and lunges in there. Carrie Ann declared Jaleel "back in the game," and praised his gliding steps. Len thought he was a bit stiff in the arms, but the crowd did not agree. Bruno seconded Len, though, and told Jaleel to work on his upper body movements. All in all, a good performance for Jaleel following last week's so-so jive.
Score: 25/30
William Levy
William's open-shirted salsa was absolutely electric. His energy was incredible, and his feet were flying. The choreography was very intricate – so much so that William actually grazed the top of Cheryl's head with his thigh during a tricky spin – and never let up for a second. Len called him "William the Conqueror," and Bruno simply shook his hand and told William he hated him. Carrie Ann called the routine "ridiculously hot," and who am I to argue? This was a coup for William!
Score: 28/30
Donald Driver
Donald's elegantly brooding rumba really showed us his emotional side. His knees were a tiny bit stiff, but his hip work was excellent and his movements flowed well. Carrie Ann called the routine mesmerizing, though she pointed out that there were "a few little lifts" thrown into the choreography. Bruno praised Donald for pushing himself to the limit, and commented on his excellent control and precision throughout the dance. Donald has been steadily climbing the leaderboard, so look out above.
Score: 26/30
Who won over the judges: Katherine, William and Maria
Who won over the crowd: William, Katherine and Roshon
Who needs to step it up: No one at this point!
"Dancing With the Stars" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT and Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
Oscar-winning actress first former contestant to land the job
Jennifer Hudson is coming back to "American Idol."
The Oscar-winning actress and one-time contestant will be a judge when the beloved singing competition returns for Season 13, E! Online reports.
Bing: More on 'American Idol' | Jennifer Hudson
As reported earlier this week, FOX and the producers behind "American Idol" are hoping to recruit more past winners and competitors as judges. Other candidates include Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert and Clay Aiken. But Clarkson's camp told THR the "Stronger" singer will have no part on the judge's panel next season.
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"American Idol" is in need of new judge blood and bringing back former competitors could do the trick. Season 12 lost 33 percent of its viewers from last year and 10 million from 2011, due in part to the success of NBC's "The Voice." According to The Wrap, all four judges from Season 12 -- Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban -- and even producer Nigel Lythgoe are getting the boot. But so far, Jackson has been the only one to officially bow out.
"American Idol" Season 13 returns to FOX in 2014.
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'X Factor' head doesn't rule out working with original 'American Idol' judges in the future
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"X Factor" honcho Simon Cowell is open to reconstructing the original "American Idol" judges panel with Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul sometime in the future. For now, Cowell is slated to judge alongside Demi Lovato and new additions Kelly Rowland and Paula Rubio on "The X Factor" next season. But one day he could see himself reuniting with the team of judges that made "American Idol" a global sensation when it began in 2002.
He told "Extra," "I wouldn’t rule it out. I don't know on what show, but I think we've probably all got a desire to do something together again." As for his current trio of females, Cowell thinks their chemistry -- or perhaps lack of chemistry --- will only intensify the drama. He explained, "Putting a load of girls into one situation and seeing how they get on, I like that. I think it's fun."
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Rep for the Season 1 champ confirms she'll play no part on the show next season
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"American Idol" champ Kelly Clarkson won't join the FOX singing competition show as a judge for Season 13. The "Stronger" singer's rep confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter she will have no part on the panel of the show next season. Clarkson was at the center of rumors suggesting show producers were eyeing an all-alumni judging panel, with Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson and Adam Lambert also reported to have been contacted.
Bing: More about 'American Idol'
FOX network bosses are scrambling to find a fix for the TV contest after the Season 12 finale saw a 33 percent drop in viewers compared to last year. Longtime judge Randy Jackson has jumped ship. Reports suggest that Nicki Minaj won't be returning. The futures of Mariah Carey and Keith Urban uncertain.
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Nick Carter developing series with fiancée, A.J. McLean looking to go 'Dancing'
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Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter is developing his own reality TV series. His untitled series, which will center on the pop star and his fiancée Lauren Kitt as they plan their upcoming wedding, is winning over executives at several cable networks, according to reports. Carter tells blogger Perez Hilton, "It will also be about the growing-up phase of my life."
He isn't the only member of the grown-up boy band with his sights set on reality TV. A.J. McLean is desperate to show off his dancefloor skills on "Dancing With the Stars." Bandmate Howie Dorough explains, "The same year that Nick's brother (Aaron Carter) did it ("Dancing With the Stars"), I was approached about doing it but obviously couldn't do it because of the fact we were embarking on a new record and touring. I know A.J. has always said he's wanted to do it, for sure. He has almost begged to be on the show."
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'The Clintons' will showcase ongoing copyright battle on 'Osbournes'-like series
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Funk icon George Clinton has vowed to use his new reality TV show to highlight his various legal battles over the copyrights to his songs. The Funkadelic legend is embroiled in numerous ongoing lawsuits over the use of his back catalog, and in January he was ordered to hand over the rights to four of his classic tracks to pay off a $1.5 million debt to his former lawyers. Earlier this year he announced he'd be following in the footsteps of rockers Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne by launching his own family-based reality show, called "The Clintons." Now the star has revealed his legal battles will be at the core of the program.
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Clinton tells Uncut magazine, "I'm doing a reality show with my family, with my son Tracy, my six grandkids, Scott Thompson, Brandi ... It's a big family thing. A bit like ("The Osbournes"). But most of them are, like, musicians, rappers and everything ... We got to come up with new ways to get the music across, so we're doing this reality show, so we can expose all the noses out there, stealing the copyrights and taking people's music and money. This is all gonna be part of the reality show, the copyright fight."
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Amy's Baking Company adds immigration proceeding to public relations quagmire
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Amy's Baking Company restaurateur Samy Bouzaglo, made infamous for his stint on Gordon Ramsay's show "Kitchen Nightmares," is facing deportation for withholding information about his criminal past. The Moroccan-born Israeli citizen was apparently less than forthcoming with immigration officials about drug distribution and extortion charges that landed him in prison before he came to the United States 13 years ago.
Bing: More about Amy's Baking Company
Bouzaglo is now mired in ongoing immigration court proceedings that could result in his expulsion from the country, AZ Central reports. His attorney, David Asser, says the matter began two years ago and is unrelated to his unflattering portrayal on FOX's "Kitchen Nightmares." His residency was the subject of a removal hearing on Monday in Arizona. Samy tells the Arizona Republic, "The FBI knows all about me ... The IRS knows. I want people to know about me. But not today, not tomorrow. I have nothing to hide."
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'Starting Strong' to chronicle what it means to live, eat and breathe Army life
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Actor Ricky Schroder and his production company have joined forces with the U.S. Army to produce an unscripted series that will shed light on the different aspects of Army life. "Starting Strong," which is directed, narrated and produced by Schroder, aims to educate Americans about daily life in the Army and potential careers within the organization. Viewers will be introduced to more than 150 military occupational specialties by Army prospects who will share their personal on-the-job experiences. Schroder tells the Hollywood Reporter, "This is sort of new for the Army to give this behind-the-scenes, open-door look at what it means to live, eat and breathe Army life. Viewers are going to see real young men and women getting real experience in living, eating and breathing Army culture and jobs."
Bing: More about Ricky Schroder
One focus for the series will center around the expectations of military candidates and how they match up with reality. The series will follow trainees through the challenges of their chosen profession until they ultimately decide to join the Army or return to civilian life. Schroder explains, "Sometimes what the families want the young man or woman to do is different than what they end up doing. And the Army's standards are higher than ever. So, in some cases, the Army may not want you because you are just not up to standards. You will see some of that, but it will be handled in a very delicate and gentle way." The 10-week chronicle is set to debut on FOX stations on June 2, with four additional episodes available online.
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'Who Do You Think You Are?' to return in July on TLC
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Lisa Kudrow's family tree-themed "Who Do You Think You Are?" has taken root at a new network after bosses at NBC axed it last year. Sarah Jessica Parker, Susan Sarandon and Lionel Richie were among the celebrities who investigated their ancestral history on the series, which ran for three seasons and was executive produced by former "Friends" star Kudrow. NBC executives decided to cancel "Who Do You Think You Are?" last May, but it has now been picked up by TLC.
A statement from Kudrow reads, "I've never stopped hearing about how much people love 'Who Do You Think You Are?,' and I've always known that we've had more great stories to share. TLC is a great home for the series, and we join our excited celebrity participants as we unearth some amazing background and surprising histories." The new eight-part reality series will kick off on July 23.
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Entertainment journalist Deanna "TVDeeva" Barnert visits sets, interviews industry players and critiques the final product. Buzz's daytime TV queen covers it all for MSN TV, but loves her sitcoms, soaps and any juicy drama that doesn't call itself Reality TV.
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