'Dancing With the Stars' Recap: Nobody Puts Michael in a Corner

 

Usually the results show is, well, skippable. You watch on Monday and maybe you just go online to see who got kicked off Wednesday morning, right? This week there was enough drama to make it absolute must-see TV.

 

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It didn't take long for it to become clear that this would be no ordinary elimination show. There was high drama at the judges' table early on when Bruno and Len got into an argument about Bruno's controversial comments to Michael Bolton Monday night. Bruno called Michael's jive "the worst jive in eleven seasons" and then gave the routine a 3. It was a little unsettling to see Len arguing against a low score and Bruno holding his ground. If anyone's a soft judge, it's Bruno.

 

The 3 is actually the lowest judges' score we've seen since Steve Wozniak’s Season 8 samba. Yes, that was the routine where he was injured. And did The Worm. Kinda. To be fair, Michael's jive wasn't great: I saw his feet slip at least twice during the routine and he looked visibly out of breath by the end. And Bruno apologized for his harsh critique.

 

Michael got the last word -- pre-elimination! -- when he told Brooke Burke he found Bruno's comments "inappropriate and disrespectful." Bruno ... stared at an imaginary watch and made rude hand gestures. So much for that apology, eh?

Even though Michael Bolton won't be getting back on his feet again, I don't think we've heard the last about this mess. But maybe you wanted to read about dancing, not celebrity feuds? Then here's how the remaining stars did this week:

 

Kyle Massey

The Disney star turned in another fabulous performance with this week's quickstep, which was the judges' choice for the encore. His footwork is good, his rhythm is perfect and his energy is limitless. If he keeps it up he could knock Jennifer out of first place.

 

Florence Henderson
Her quickstep was a downright coup for a 76 year old woman. Her footwork wasn't perfect, but her lines were incredibly elegant and her rhythm was flawless. The judges' scores were on the low side, but Florence clearly has a lot of fans in her corner.

 

Bristol Palin

Her footwork and carriage were good, and she has a lot of grace. If she can conquer her nerves, she’ll be one to watch. Of course, votes matter too.

 

Audrina Patridge

Her quickstep was a breath of fresh air: great footwork and even better energy. Audrina has really stepped up to the plate. Tony Dovolani, her partner, definitely believes in her. He told Audrina he would wax his legs if the routine didn't get three 8s.

 

Jennifer Grey

Two weeks in a row "Baby" has topped the leaderboard. Her jive was nothing short of a revelation: She matched Derek step for step, kick for kick and turn for turn. She's a great dancer and she also has the presence necessary to captivate the whole room. Jennifer Grey will be tough to beat.

 

Rick Fox

The NBA champ turned in a loose, punchy jive; his posture was great, his rhythm was fantastic, and he had a lot of enthusiasm. Rick is definitely a contender.

 

Kurt Warner

He and Anna danced a "Top Gun"-inspired jive, a quick, loose routine that really suited him. Kurt is remarkable supple for a football player, and it works to his advantage out on the floor. If we buy Bruno’s Rick vs. Kurt rivalry theory, I'd put my money on Kurt.

 

Margaret Cho

Her jive was better than her Viennese waltz last week, but anything would have been, at least if you ask the judges. Her footwork was quite good, but her rhythm was off and there were a couple of spots in the routine where she seemed to forget to move her arms. She's going to have to get her act together if she wants to stay in this thing.

 

Brandy

The pop star's jive featured some tricky footwork as well as a short solo. Her rhythm and energy were perfect, but she forgot to point her toes. The judges expect a lot from her, so here’s to hoping Brandy delivers the goods next week.

 

The Situation

The Situation ... is a bit out of control. For the first half of this week's routine his eyes were fixed on Karina's. The quickstep is a demanding dance, but the routine wasn't especially complex. It seems like The Situation is in over his head.

 

Who won the week? Jennifer, Audrina and Kyle

Who needs to step it up? The Situation, Margaret, and Florence