'DWTS' Recap: A Model Performance

By Kate Mulcrone

Special to MSN TV

All of our stars danced either a jitterbug or waltz Monday night, and then took part in a mambo "dance marathon" to score some extra points with the judges. This is a double elimination week on "Dancing With the Stars," so the pressure was really on! (Although Mark, at least, said he was too breathless from his routine to even worry about going home.)

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Unfortunately, the scores were low across the board, so we're probably in for a tense Tuesday night. Michael is currently in last place, but Louie, Kelly and Melissa are not far behind.

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Joanna came out on top after a lovely waltz and a sizzling performance in the mambo relay. Mark has also emerged as something of a dark horse. His fun, acrobatic jitterbug was certainly the surprise of the night!

Here's the lowdown on Monday night's performances:

Mya

Even though she was awfully sore during rehearsals this week, Mya was all smiles onstage. She and Dmitry turned in a whimsical jitterbug that was a lot more Minnie Mouse than Mya's usual fare. Len came down hard on her for relying on "gimmicks and props." She did pretty well in the mambo marathon, coming in second to Joanna.

Jitterbug: 24/30

Marathon: 9/10

Total: 33/40

Melissa Joan Hart

Her waltz was elegant and beautifully choreographed, but Melissa was obviously nervous. She warmed up about halfway through the routine, but neither her footwork nor her posture were up to scratch. Bruno and Carrie Ann could scarcely find a kind word for Melissa, but Bruno praised her musicality and elegance. (He does love waltzes!) She and Mark were the second couple tapped out during the mambo waltz. Better luck next week … if there is a next week.

Waltz: 20/30

Marathon: 4/10

Total: 24/40

 Mark Dacascos

Lacey wanted Mark to loosen up for the jitterbug, and she got her wish. For the second week in a row, Mark made good use of his martial arts training and got some flips in. Their routine was like chocolate-covered espresso beans: sweet, delicious and a total energy kick.  Mark and Lacey were the fourth couple cut in the relay. Not bad!

Jitterbug: 26/30

Marathon: 6/10

Total: 32/40

Aaron Carter
Pretty boy Aaron turned in a waltz that was smooth and technically accomplished, but -- for me at least -- oddly lacking in spirit. Len praised Aaron for his maturity but Bruno quibbled with some of his footwork. Aaron has danced well throughout the competition, but that hasn't mattered much to the viewers. Will he smirk his last this week?

Waltz: 25/30

Marathon: 8/10

Total: 33/40

Michael Irvin

This was a lovely waltz. Michael brings such a freshness to any dance he does. Hey, he's got a commanding presence. Although the waltz was beautiful to watch, it was also pretty basic. Both Carrie Ann and Bruno took Michael to task. Len, on the other hand, loved it. Michael and Anna were tapped out first during the mambo relay. Is this a sign of things to come? Well, Michael has been at the bottom of the scoreboard for four weeks running, but he's still here. Of course, there is a dance-off tomorrow night, and votes won't help him then if he's in the bottom two.

Waltz: 20/30

Marathon: 2/10

Total: 22/40

Kelly Osbourne

Okay, she stumbled a little bit, but she was having so much fun that the audience barely noticed. Kelly's jitterbug was fast, fun and frenetic! Unfortunately, the judges didn't love it as much as the crowd did. Poor Kelly looks so terrified when the judges -- especially Bruno -- lay into her. Ouch. Kelly and Louis were the third to go in the mambo relay. Could be worse, right?

Jitterbug: 20/30

Marathon: 5/10

Total: 25/40

Louie Vito

He's definitely trying harder, but boy, does Louie have a lot to make up for! He and Chelsie danced a frolicking, high-kicking and -- OK -- stumbling jitterbug. (And for the second time this season, we watched one of our male celebrities cast off his sleeves mid-routine.) The judges praised Louie's energy … but had to dock him for his technique. It was, admittedly, a bit lacking. Has Louie's luck run out?

Jitterbug: 21/30

Marathon: 3/10

Total: 24/40

Joanna Krupa 

After last week's tragic waltz slip-up, I think we all wanted to see Joanna do well this week. She is extremely agile and graceful. She moves her entire body in an impossibly elegant way … well, to us mere mortals. Footwork, however, is not her strength. Only Len commented on that, though. Bruno was in love with the whole routine, and Carrie Ann only quibbled with Joanna's "hesitation." Happily, Joanna came back to win it all in the mambo relay.

Waltz: 26/30

Marathon: 10/10

Total: 36/40

Donny Osmond

I defy anyone not to like Donny's clowning, spry, delightful jitterbug. Even if he did slip a little on the stairs. Hey, it happens to everyone. The routine was a lot of fun, and the audience absolutely loved it, even if the judges were rather critical. Donny didn't do too badly in the mambo marathon, coming in fourth.

Jitterbug: 24/30

Marathon: 7/10

Total: 31/40

The Scorecard

Who won the judges: Joanna Krupa, Mya and Aaron Carter
Who won the audience: Mark Dacascos and Donny Osmond

Who didn't cut it:  Michael Irvin and Louie Vito

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"Dancing With the Stars" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT and Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.