Lynne Sherwin and I talk about Natalie, the wacky judges and other topics ….

You can read about a new documentary on the Ghoulardi era in Cleveland TV here.

The latest mailbag is here.

By the way, I have been busy with some personal projects and so have not had the time to post much. No crisis, just time-consuming activities. And they will continue for the next few days, so posts will be erratic at best during that time.

Here's a new video of me and Lynne Sherwin talking about "DWTS."

Can't argue with tonight's elimination of Jeffrey Ross. He was arguably among the worst dancers on Monday night. Not that I agreed with the judges on everything. And I have to wonder if we're witnessing at least a little bit of a battle for "DWTS" soul, between the more or less classic ballroom dancing it embraces and the less traditional moves that would appeal to fans of "So You Think You Can Dance." This seems most evident in Len's hostility toward Lance Bass's routines — since his partner comes from the "SYTYCD" school, but not just there. Something to watch for as the show goes on. That, and how long the Cloris Leachman nightmare continues.

All right, so Cloris Leachman hijacked the entirety of "Dancing With the Stars" for an extended period, but "DWTS" has a tradition of wacky contestants. I want to make note of Lacey Schwimmer, above, …

… who is Lance Bass's partner. Not only have she and Bass given the best performance so far (even if they made Len's fuddiness boil over) but she brings a "So You Think You Can Dance" pedigree to "DWTS," which should make things a bit livelier. Tonight she and Bass were, and that was a nice contrast to disappointments like Rocco DiSpirito and Ted McGinley. And Jeffrey Ross! Oh, my goodness. Even comic relief has its limits. Speaking of ballroom, indeed.

At least Ross's 12 was not the worst score ever in "DWTS" history. Master P had an 8. Yes, total. A 4 and 2 2's.

Does anyone want to ponder why Kim Kardashian has "terrible balance"? Hmm? Susan Lucci, bleh. Pretty minimal movement, and I don't like her.

On the plus side, Tom Bergeron is once again demonstrating how good he is. Should have gotten that reality-host Emmy.

Horrible makeup on Misty May-Treanor. Her face looked better when she was playing beach volleyball. And my hope that she would be a good dancer appears to have been misplaced.

Holy crap, Warren Sapp! Very impressive start. I still think Lance Bass was best of the night, but Sapp is definitely a contender.

Well, I was going to do a summary when the show was over, and then I thought I'd just post that note about Lacey Schwimmer, and next thing I knew, this was an ongoing post. I guess the new season is really back on us.

To deal with dancers from before I started posting in earnest: Toni Braxton was OK but I thought the judges overpraised her. Brooke Burke also get better marks from the judges than I would have given, mainly because Derek did most of the work. Maurice Greene was OK. Cody Linley had possibilities. Cloris Leachman had no business on the floor; she was there for the laughs afterward.

Notes after the jump. …

(Show's over. Kristi/Mark win, first woman celeb to win since Kelly Monaco in season one. Jason/Edyta second. Cristian/Cheryl finish third. I have no complaints. It was clear even before the season began that Kristi was the favorite, since her skating background should have prepared her well for dancing. But, as Lynne Sherwin mentioned in last week's podcast, that may be why she was chosen for the show — so, after four straight seasons of men winning, a woman could get the top prize again.

I understand all the talk around shows like this about the journey — about audiences wanting to support people who don't bring a great set of skills to the table but who show considerable improvement over the series. But that kind of thinking has in the past done harm to at least one very good dancer — Sabrina Bryan — who was voted off far too early. Yes, Jason Taylor was surprisingly good. Yes, Cristian de la Fuente kept going even after an injury. But that injury hampered his ability to dance well. And as good as Jason was, Kristi was simply better, week in and week out. She made it almost impossible for the judges to find a reason to mark her down, aside from vague gestures of dislike.

Beyond that, should this have been the final three? Not sure. Would have liked to see Mario keep going longer than he did, for one thing, and will wonder if Cristian would have gotten such high marks from viewers and judges if he had not gotten hurt; the judges certainly saw more fire in his performances after the injury. But in the end, the right dancer won.

And now my notes made while watching the show…)

If I had to guess, it would be that Kristi wins and Jason finishes third. And I am so delighted that I have to spend two hours finding out if I am right.

Recap. Good time to fast-forward. Chatter with the remaining contestants. Cristian drops another "journey." Leaderboard revisited. Bergeron notes that only once before has the leader with the judges gone on to take the trophy.

Usher performs, days after also doing "Saturday Night Live." This is the world of Having A New CD Out. Nice moves, but it looks like a total lip-synch. And is it just me, or does some of this look like elves dancing in the forest?

Stars from previous seasons predict who will win, suitably balanced among all three sets of contestants.

First results: Couple in third place is … Cristian and Cheryl. Well, I guessed wrong, but I am not displeased. I thought he had gone a long way on the whole journey thing, and was cut tremendous slack because of the injury. (See my previous posts.)

Cristian's video recap.

Cristian and Cheryl's final dance is the paso doble. And they're going through the motions a lot. This doesn't have any of the intensity they brought when competing.

Season recap. Penn Jillette dances again. Monica Seles dances again. Don't you love being reminded how bad some of the competitors were?

The Gute. Bergeron begs him to describe his least favorite moment. Gute says he doesn't have one. Bergeron is exasperated but moves on.

Carolla reprises the unicycle bit.

Time drags on. Winner of kiddie competition: The tallest kids, Brandon and Britney. And they were good. Prize is presented by Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, granting a wish of Brandon. Bergeron says Brandon "just grew up a little more." Uh-huh.

More recap. Priscilla dances. Tape about the friendship between Jason and Cristian. Marlee Matlin dances. Shannon Elizabeth dances.

Mario, who was dogged repeatedly by the judges — and yes, I'm still bitter — dances. Marissa Jaret Winokur dances.

Taped setup for the final two dances. At least I don't see any boxing footage. Got enough of that on "American Idol."

Usher. Impressive.

And there's "Rocky" music. I guess it was too much to hope for no boxing references.

Finally, Kristi and Mark perform. The jive. Not her best, but her precision is still terrific. Unbelievable spins and drops. Len calls her the most consistent dancer of any season and "fantastic" — aside from one awkward moment, and even then she recovered without disrupting the routine. Bruno says she didn't miss a beat. Carrie Ann says Kristi also grew throughout. Scores: Straight 10s.

Jason and Edyta. Quickstep. Nice job. Lots of flair. Bruno says they move like angels and this was their best performance. CA says it's definitely a showdown tonight and they are untouchable as far as grace goes. Len says Kristi may be the judges' champion but Jason is the people's champion. Is Kristi thinking, "Uh-oh"? Scores: Straight 10s also.

And the winners are Kristi and Mark.

In progress notes after the jump. ….

Cha cha — all to the same song — and freestyle night. As Tom and Samantha talk, Jason and Cristian urge the crowd to greater frenzy. Drawing for order. Cristian first, Jason second, Kristi third. Practice videos, including group rehearsal where they can see each other's routines.

Cristian and Cheryl. Very disco. "Dancing on the Ceiling." Good steps and Cheryl is working it. But Cristian still favors the arm. Enter Jason and Edyta. Slinky. A little more formal than Cristian and Cheryl, more guarded in the movements — until Jason leapfrogs Edyta. Still not as good as C/C. And now Kristi and Mark. There's no contest. K&M are killing. Group reforms, ending with Jason and Cristian lifting Kristi over their heads, which is where she belongs.

Len praises everyone, but doesn't feel that Latin is Jason's thing — and Kristi is "the complete package." Bruno says they all did well; praises Cristian's improvement (uh oh, the journey!), a little iffy about Jason, Kristi "in a class of your own." Carrie Ann says back to back you get to see who's best — thought Cristian's injury affects his posture, gentle praise for Jason and Kristi "won that hands down."

Scores for Cristian/Cheryl: 8 from CA, 9 from Len and Bruno. 26. Then a break.

Jason/Edyta: Straight 8s. 24.

Kristi/Mark: Straight 10s. 30. Kaboom.

More footage of Kristi and Mark. Mention of his dislocated shoulder from last season, risks with jumps, Julianne Hough stops by. Repeated references to men having won the last four seasons. And here we go. Nice moves, including moonwalk. Little slow on the lifts and flips. Cha cha was better. Bruno says it was demanding and difficult and they made it look easy. CA says she was a big crowd pleaser. Len says it held his attention from start to finish and "I absolutely loved it." Scores: More straight 10s. A perfect 60 total.

Jason and Edyta. With a very big beach ball. And "Miami" as the song. Some good moves but I keep thinking he's lost something along the way. A little too studied at times; a lot was said early with Kristi about having fun and emotion, and she found it. Not sure Jason has. But no one is going to beat him at lifts. And the shirt removal at the end probably got some major votes. CA calls it fantastic and "funky." Len also praises the lifts. Bruno said it was like watching centerfolds, plenty of fun and "great lifts." Scores: After all that verbal love, straight 9s. Total: 51.

Cristian/Cheryl. Lively, big spins but one-armed. I figured he would be better than Jason but I don't think he pulled it off. Lots more shaking than dancing. Len liked the flavor but notes that the others did better lifts — has to consider that regardless of the reason. (Interesting that he's being strict after being so lenient with Marissa Jaret Winokur based on difficulty of her routines.) Bruno praises his Latin fire. CA says it's a time to judge who's going to win it; he's a winner in a lot of ways but not as good as Kristi. Scores: 9s from CA and Bruno, 8 from Len. 52 total. Not a commanding lead over Jason/Edyta but I suspect Cristian has a passionate voting base.

And on we go to tomorrow night.

In-progress notes apres the jump.

(Marissa and Tony are out. Kristi and Mark, Jason and Edyta, and Crisitian and Cheryl are in the finals.)

Recap. Long recap. Commercials. Leaderboard. Encore dance: The tango by Kristi and Mark. Kiddie dancers. Chatter. More waiting. Cristian actually says "it's about the journey." Omarion and dancers in tribute to Michael Jackson and "Thriller." The high point is the entrance of bankers threatening to sell Neverland. I know, he avoided the foreclosure sale. But I'm really bored.

More kiddie dancers. Stop the madness! Well, it is kind of funny to hear these kids mouth reality-show cliches like "my life has definitely changed." And that they're dancing to a They Might Be Giants song ("Istanbul"). More kids. How about some "Birdhouse in Your Soul"? No? Oh,well. Good couple, better than a lot of the grownups on the show.

Still more filler with the kids. Video of the adults in the final four, attempting to build the drama that has been squashed by the stuff we've been sitting through for 49 minutes.

Results at last. Kristi and Mark are in the finals.

More results: Jason and Edyta are also in.

Finally: Marissa and Tony out, Cristian and Cheryl move on.

It's been a day off for the most part, and I've occupied myself in family business and books (a couple of Kathy Reichs's Temperance Brennan novels). Am trying to get back into viewing, with some in-progress notes about "Dancing With the Stars" after the jump.

Jason Taylor and Edyta lead off. Foxtrot. Very solid, good posture, elegant. But that's just me. Len says that he glides across the dance floor "like a dolphin glides through the sea." (Get it, football fans?) Bruno says he's lucky to have Edyta driving him so hard — and praises the dance. Carrie Ann calls it "really truly beautiful." Scores: 9s from Bruno and CA, 10 from Len. Kind of low considering the gushy comments.

Marissa Jaret Winokur and Tony. Quick step. Cute, and she has gotten considerably better over the course of the competition. But even if she has a good fan base, I don't think she's in a league with Kristi and Jason. In some ways she's this year's Marie Osmond, gritty but getting by more on popularity than ability. Bruno says she missed a jete. CA says she's "the unlikely contender" and she did a great classic quick step. Len says she has a tougher dance than some of the others; since when did that matter — unless you're trying to rationalize a better score? 9s from Len and CA, 8 from Bruno.

Cristian and Cheryl, who got a free ride last week. One of his dances will be the samba, the dance that led to his injury. But first, a Viennese waltz. There's a fair amount of one-arming but he seems to have much more mobility than a week ago, when the judges refused to acknowledge that he had some limitations. OK dance, nothing to write home about. CA he looks nervous at first but finds his way. Len says he was better than last week and predicts "better marks." Bruno talks about a "wow factor." Scores: Straight 9s.

Kristi and Mark. Tango. Once again, at the start, nobody in this competition moves as deftly and quickly as these two. But I don't feel the heat. Still, great technicians. Len says the drama was back, great moves but it was "hectic." Bruno pitches a fit, praises them with fist pounding. CA stands and cheers. Scores: 10s from CA and Bruno, 9 from Len.

So after round one it's Kristi, 29; Jason, 28; Cristian, 27; Marissa, 26. How conveniently close.

Len offers advice to contestants at practice.

Jason and Edyta. Paso doble. He's a little flatfooted. And his height may be making him more awkward this time. Intense face turns into scary face. Bruno compares him to Iron Man and "a true matador." CA says "way more choreography" than he has had in the past. Len also impressed. Says that like gas prices, Jason is going up. In the post-interview, Jason promises to lower gas prices. Scores: Straight 9s. Total for two rounds: 55.

Marissa and Tony. Rumba. Nice emotional connection but the dance isn't all that smooth, lots of start and stop, poses. Their costumes get tangled at the end. CA wasn't excited and that wasn't a semifinal dance. Len says the rumba is a precise dance, and they were very, very good; again, making apologies for them. Bruno thought it was sexy; CA begins arguing with Bruno. Scores: CA, 8; Bruno and Len, 9. Total: 52.

Cristian and Cheryl. Samba. Favoring and protecting the arm some. Letting Cheryl do a lot of the flashy work. Nor is his open shirt doing much. Fair. Len calls it "hotter than a chili pepper," and the arm has made him more focused; still found it a little flat-footed. Bruno says he made the samba exciting and fun. CA says she was reminded of Emmitt Smith. Scores: 10s from CA and Bruno (nonsense!) and 9 from Len. Total: 56.

Kristi and Mark. Jive. Does she have a piece of hair caught in her mouth? Such precision otherwise. They should have been declared the winners weeks ago. But let's see if the judges dog them (again) to keep things closer. Bruno calls it "a sweet, sweet, delicious jive." CA calls it extremely difficult — going at Len's defenses of Marissa — but has some criticism. Len thought it had a lovely balance but it was just a little stiff. Yes, the dogs are out. Scores: 9s from CA and Len, 10 from Bruno. Total for the night: 57, first by one point.

Final ranking: Kristi, 57; Cristian, 56; Jason, 55; Marissa, 52.

Recap. Leaderboard. And out.

I've recorded the first hour of the 100th-show celebration but am skipping it tonight to focus on results in the second hour. Notes after the jump. …

(Results: Mario is out. It's really a shame. He has gotten an unnecessarily hard time from the judges — especially Len — and didn't seem to get that strong a fan base either. I would have kept him around and let Marissa Jaret Winokur or Cristian de la Fuente go. But, as I said in last night's post, the show has embraced de la Fuente beyond all dancing reason because his injury makes him a compelling story. Marissa, I guess, is attracting votes from people who admire her improvement and her personality, even though I find the latter very annoying. And no way was she a better dancer than Mario on Monday night.

(And now to my in-progress notes during tonight's show. …)

Intro of second hour, pro dancers perform to "Hard to Handle," recap. (My thoughts: Marissa is best bet to go home but Mario could be in trouble. I was nowhere near as impressed by Cristian as the judges, but his score was so high I will be surprised if he gets the boot.) Interesting that Rascal Flatts is supposedly performing live, since they were just in the audience at "Idol."

Introduction of 100 "special fans," two from each state. Samantha chats with the final five. Rascal Flatts performs. Could it be a technological miracle? Apolo and Julianne dance. The Rascal Flatts Web site mentions the "DWTS" appearance but not the drop-in at "Idol."

"Sex and the City" trailer. I'll see it, but I'm still not enthusiastic.

Chatter with former cast members. Leaderboard recap. Bergeron asks Len who will go home; he says the people in the bottom three — which would be Mario, Jason or Marissa.

More memorable moment stuff. Stars of Dance performance: Mario Lopez and the cast of "A Chorus Line." Quite a few cast members still there from when the bride, Target Demo and I saw it in NYC last fall.

Rascal Flatts again. I have long liked "Life is a Highway," but not their version. Mel and Maks dance. So good. Samantha chats with Kelly Monaco, Apolo Anton Ohno and Drew Lachey about possible winners this season. Two for Kristi, one for Cristian. Rumor has it they'll announce some results after the break.

Current contestants talk about what they learned from former contestants. Kristi cites Joey Fatone. Marissa cites Mel B. Mario talks up Mario Lopez. Jason mentions Emmitt Smith. Cristian goes with Helio Castroneves. So only Jason and Cristian mention actual winners.

Actual results: Marissa is safe. Kristi is safe. Chatter with Marissa and Kristi.

Interesting that in "shocking moments" they're now talking about the Sabrina Bryan ouster. Could Jason be going home?

More result: Cristian is safe. Well, heck, the fix was in for that.

Mario is out. But the show has been careful not to say that Jason was in the bottom two.

Had an out-of-the-house commitment, so I'll save most of my Monday viewing notes for tomorrow. Well, most of them. Watched "Dancing With the Stars" and was stunned (again) by judges' comments and scores. The free pass one contestant got — oh, my goodness. …. Yes, I think I will rant some now. …

Cristian and Cheryl in first place. What a big steaming crock that is. The suggestion that anyone couldn't tell he had a problem with one arm is ludicrous. The dogging of Kristi (whom I thought was a little off on her first dance) continues to be outrageous. I also thought Jason Taylor was better than the judges indicated. And if Carrie Ann faults Marissa for failing to do something that, in CA's opinion, Kristi nailed — then how did CA give CA and Marissa the same score? Shouldn't Marissa have been lower.

What we got tonight was talent show's obsession with the journey. It wasn't just about keeping Kristi and Jason from running away with the competition. It was about celebrating Cristian's grit and triumph over adversity, about telling a story more than judging a dance. And it was utter nonsense.

A little late, I know. It was recorded on Wednesday. Circumstances beyond my control. And there won't be an "American Idol" podcast this week, as I was fighting off some illness.

Goodbye, Shannon and Derek. A Monday/Tuesday wrap-up after the jump.

I skipped most of Tuesday's show, just checking the results. Seems about right, although I think Shannon and Derek would have gone home even with better judges' scores. I mean, they lost to a couple that couldn't even finish the second dance!
The replays of The Meltdown and the numerous apologies made clear that they had mightily displeased fans. And it looks as if Marissa Jaret Winokur has one more week before she's gone.

As for Monday's performances, I only saw bits and pieces during Monday's show, while I was fighting to get online. So I've stepped into the Wayback Machine for these notes on replay…

First up: Marissa and Tony. Tango. Good start. Lots of precision in her movements. But no passion. Judges give straight 9s, which seems high. Tony has caught Marissa's frenetic fever.

Cristian and Cheryl. Viennese waltz. He probably got a zillion votes with that wink at the beginning. You know, I haven't said much about song butchery in some time, but the abrupt transition on "I'll Make Love to You" is sure a reason to gripe. Elegant dance, although Cristian at times seems too stiff, but they play well with each other. Scores: 8s from Len and Carrie Ann, 9 from Bruno. What's this Samantha comment about Cristian and Bruno having a "special relationship"?

Kristi and Mark. Another Viennese waltz. With umbrella and Mark in a military uniform. I half expect the song to be "Up Where We Belong." They are so fiercely good. If MJW deserved straight 9s, this should get some 11s.

Insert "Spinal Tap" reference of your choice here.

CA says her turns were off. Len didn't like "all that mincing around" at the start. Bruno begins to argue. But it seems they're trying to slow down a Kristi runaway. Scores: 9s from Bruno and CA, 8 from Len. Nonsense. Samantha notes this is their first score below 9. Also brings up that this was the point where Mark and seeming favorite Sabrina Bryan were eliminated. She's quite the interrogator these days, isn't she?

Mario and Karina. Fox trot. His arms look awkward as he starts. But once he and Karina are in contact, things get much better. Still, some missteps and he can't keep his back straight. Scores: Straight 8s. Now, I like Mario, but how does Len give both this and Kristi the same score.

Doug and Wendy Whiner. That is, Derek and Shannon. Replay of their complaints. Shannon again apologizes. Tango. They seem off-synch. Some clumsy footwork by Shannon. Judges' comments have a certain chill. The rant a week ago is obviously not forgotten. Straight 9s.

Jason and Edyta. Quick step. Great jump to start. Nice upper-body work, with some flat-footedness. Good finish. CA declares it entirely fantastic. Scores: 10s from CA and Bruno, 9 from Len.

Second dance. Marissa and Tony. Rumba. Kind of low-key. One point where she drops before he's ready. Pleasant but not all that good. Scores: 9 from CA, 8s from Len and Bruno. 52 total.

Cristian and Cheryl. Samba. I know what's coming, so I think I'll just let any judgment of the dance go. Although it does start very well. He's very flat-footed though, and the spins aren't always smooth. Not sure, but it seems in retrospect that he's not moving his arm well early in the dance, as if the pain came on gradually. Then he's clearly in trouble while Cheryl keeps dancing. Standing, flexing his arm, trying to get back in the dance, obviously in difficulty. Says he pulled a muscle. Bergeron legitimately concerned. They go to a break. About five minutes of commercials ensue. Bergeron says an EMT called it a severe muscle cramp.* Then asks judges about how you mark this; the answer is that you judge up until the injury occurred. Judges make "how brave" noises, then pop him with straight 7s — very low if they're judging what he did before getting hurt. Total: 46.

Kristi and Mark. Cha cha. Not her best at first but a monster middle and finish. Bergeron says, "Whatever you're eating, I want some." Len immediately starts dogging them, Bruno argues, Len insists he's "not a fan of that boogaloo/hip-hop." Bruno says kids are going to love it. Scores: CA and Bruno go 10, Len goes 8. I'm not a fan of that boogaloo score. Total: 54.

Mario and Karina. Mambo. Very slick, although a lot of the time Mario seems so focused on his movement that there's not a sense of a personal connection to Karina. Scores: Straight 9s. Total of 51. (And Len's 8 for Kristi seems even more suspect.)

Shannon and Derek. Mambo. Much booty-shaking in front of the judges. But when they get on the floor, a lot of it looks clumsy, with some jumpiness. This is where you see how gawky Shannon can be, a victim of her long and thin-looking body. With this makeup, there's a touch of Olive Oyl to her. CA is not sure what to say, then says some of the lines are awkward. And so on. Shannon later admits she has a fake butt and "fake everywhere." Scores: Straight 8s. 51 total. Again, if that's an 8 for Len, why was Kristi an 8?

I know, I'm being redundant.

Jason and Edyta. Paso doble. In Dolphins colors, to the "Monday Night Football" theme. Corporate synergy! This doesn't seem as assured as their first dance, and there are more rough spots. Scores: 9s from CA and Bruno, 8 from Len. Total is 55, tops for the night.

*The Tuesday diagnosis is a ruptured tendon needing surgery, but Cristian said he plans to keep trying.

Click To Play

A little glitchy, but here it is. By the way, Extra! passed along this info from last night's "Dancing":

Cheryl Burke revealed that the new object of her affection is "300" star Gerard Butler, thanks to DWTS partner Cristián de la Fuente. Burke confirmed, “He [Fuente] introduced me, trying to be all matchmaker. We went to dinner one night.” As for a second date with the sexy actor, she exclaimed, “Possibly, maybe in the future. I don’t know!”

Amidst the countless romance rumors during this season’s DWTS, judge Carrie Ann Inaba offers her own advice to the contestants. “This isn’t real life, so they should take things slowly because you don’t know what’s going to happen when you go back to your real lives.”
By the way, Malcolm X Abram and I recorded an "American Idol" podcast last week but I am not sure what became of it. If I ever find out, I will post it. And we expect to record a new one this week re the Andrew Lloyd Webber episode and results.

In-progress notes after the jump. …

(Marlee Matlin is out.)

Opening. Everyone's in the western gear again. Recap. Reprise of the western dance. Much sloppier than last night.

Hype for the 100th-episode celebration in two weeks. Ashlee Simpson sings. I suppose I should look for a baby bump but that would require me to sit here and watch her. Taking a break instead.

OK, I'm back. Could hear her from the other room anyway. Didn't feel as if I was missing anything. Get Samantha over there to grill her the way Samantha grilled Shannon and Derek.
No? Oh, well.

Scoring recap. Results. Shannon and Derek are safe. Marlee and Fabian are in the bottom two.

Interviews. Shannon apologizes for a tantrum she had in the confessional after getting results.

Riverdance performs.

Young dancers, this time from the 13 and under category. Oh, I am so snoring. Not that the dancers are bad. Just that I don't care. I want some results, and to move on.

More results. Marissa and Tony are safe. Bleh. Cristian and Cheryl are safe.

Could Jason be bottom two? He led off last night and was not impressive.

Kristi and Mark safe.

Jason and Edyta safe. Mario and Karina in bottom two. If Marlee doesn't go home at this point, it will be bad.

Marlee's out. She had some really good weeks in the early going, but the last couple have not been strong. Oh, well.

In-progress notes after the jump, including a surprisingly pushy inquiry into the Shannon Elizabeth/Derek Hough romance issue. ….

Samantha says it's the most intense night of dancing the stars have ever attempted. Introduction of the performers. Marlee Matlin appears to have been dipped in tanning lotion. Each has to do a dance style each has not yet tried. And a group dance — country style. Yee haw.

Jason and Edyta to start. Cha cha. Two big JT leaps, then some walking into a dance step. He's dancing more but there are still awkward spots, and Edyta is getting the flashy stuff. Len says there was lots of content (unlike last week) but also notes that he saw JT counting, and he went off time a little bit, but still marvelous. Bruno talks about him being "a little bit chicky" (I think he meant cheeky) but also notes some errors. Carrie Ann says no one can touch him when he hits his lines but his arms don't quite look as if they know where they want to go — and he's dancing "smaller." Needs to let it go. Scores: Straight 8s.

Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough, alleged lovebirds. They're putting some distance between each other before the dance. But DH brings her flowers in the rehearsal video. Rumba. Lots of huggy in the studio, and then beach shots which appear to be from the time when the kissing photos were taken. SE talks about it being a romantic place. Dance routine also plays into the romance speculation. But as a dance it's just OK. Bruno says the romantic interplay was there, but faults her footwork. CA says she has great potential, but at week six she has to go beyond potential. Len says they were all over each other "like a rash" and overall he was very please with the performance. Samantha brings up the "great chemistry," but SE talks about how great it has been to work together. Samantha asks if it's just a "show-mance," pushes them on the romance question; they duck, except for DH saying they got into the part on the beach. Scores: Straight 8s.

Samantha has pushed so hard, Bergeron says she'll be grilling prisoners at Gitmo. (But let the record show that they never flat-out denied a romance.)

Marlee and Fabian. Mambo. Fabian was the world mambo champion in 2006. Marlee gets a pep talk from Henry Winkler. The dance: Lots of spins. Fabian seems to be maintaining far more touch-contact with MM, as if to control the dance moves more. Still she looks a little clunky in spots. This is not a great night so far. Carrie Ann says MM looks amazing. (Uh-oh, a Paula move?) CA thought they were forcing and struggling. Len calls her inspiring but that it looked uncomfortable. Bruno notes mambo is fast and timing is crucial, and that she had problems. Scores: Straight 7s.

Cristian and Cheryl. Fox trot. He starts with a bannister slide. His steps are fair but he constantly looks as if he is calculating every move — not comfortable or particularly graceful. Len says that, if C&C are in the bottom two tomorrow, "I'll show my bum in the supermarket." Bruno calls it "Cristian at his dashing best" and calls his footwork "excellent." CA — not sure, since it seems as if the video skipped.

And, just to continue my obsession with Cristian's resemblance to Fry on "Futurama," here's a picture of Fry for comparison:

And here's Cristian:

Scores for C&C: Straight 9s. Absolute malarkey.

Marissa and Tony. Viennese waltz. Pleasant, I suppose, but I'm still not dazzled. Bruno calls her all light and frothy and "you kept your head." CA approves. Len says she was "like a true princess." Bah. We're obviously in one of those weeks where they're trying to make the competition seem close. Scores: 9s from Bruno and CA, 8 from Len. Marissa has a psychotic episode to show her delight.

Kristi and Mark. They dance at a Tiger Woods fund-raiser. Then rehearse for jive. Kristi was born with club feet. The dance: oh, good grief, could we just declare her the winner now? I could use a free 90 minutes of viewing time for the next several weeks. Nobody so far is in her class tonight. CA says "hell, yeah," and calls it her favorite dance of the season. Len calls it "a smorgasbord of dance" and loved it. Bruno says it's "high-definition entertainment" and also says it's his favorite dance to date. Scores have to be triple 10s. And … they are.

Mario and Karina to close with a rumba.

Paula Abdul in the audience. Maybe that's why CA did the amazing-looks line to MM.

Mario and Karina. Mario's shirt unbuttoned, song's "Let's Get It On," and the steam is rising. I said steam. Solid performance. Second best dance of the night. Len says Mario did a good job but — and is interrupted by Bruno claiming Len is getting "crusty and stiffy." Len complains that they did "the story of a strumpet and a gigolo" and "too raunchy" and saw a list. Bruno liked it a bunch. CA says "that was better than good sex." But she also notes the lift. Lift shmift. Still second best of the night. Scores: 9s from CA and Len, "a smoking 10" from Bruno.

Prep footage from the group dance. Sheriffs and outlaws. Kristi named leader of sheriffs, Jason of the outlaws. Gee, no suggestion to the audience there. And finally, the dance. (No judge scores, but voters can factor it in.) I think DH almost kicked SE in the face. Judges' comments are general except for Len saying he liked the lifts by JT and Mario.

Recap. Leaderboard. (Kristi top, Marlee lowest.) And I'm done.

Includes attempts to replicate Priscilla Presley's face, and a discussion of dancing vs. swaying. (Also, see my Priscilla query in the post before this.)

Priscilla Presley is out at "DWTS" and you will hear no complaints here. Bad dancing, creepy face. But here's the morning's question: What sort of Elvis-related comment would be the best to cover her departure?

ABC's Web said that Priscilla "has left the building." I'm betting you can come up with something much more clever.

"Dancing" leaves Priscilla all shook up?

Priscilla returned to sender?

As I said, I know you guys can do better.

On another point, shouldn't someone who has been in show business, as Presley has, be better at talking in sound bites? Amazing to watch how much Bergeron and Harris had to steamroll her last night when the show was running out of time.

Had some family business last night so I didn't get to all the viewing had hoped. Played catch-up this morning. A few notes on various topics after the jump.

– Bad night on "Dancing With the Stars." I speed-watched, and may go back for another look, but here are my quick impressions: Mario got things off to a good start but some dancers who have impressed me in the past were subpar. Marlee Matlin and Shannon Elizabeth in particular disappointed. Priscilla Presley did not disappoint because I expect little from her, and that's what I got. Kristi Yamaguchi looked great and revealed considerable passion, but I didn't see much in the way of dancing that wowed me. Jason Taylor was fine but not especially memorable. Cristian de la Fuente really did not seem in synch with his partner, and he looked sloppy. Marissa Jaret Winokur was OK, I guess; she still always looks as if she's about to go insane.

– Very glad to have "Bones" back. Good interplay among the characters, and decent laughs, especially on the double date. (Nice guest-starring turn by Senta Moses, whom I will long remember for her work on "My So-Called Life." Wish they could figure out a way to bring her back to "Bones.") So-so mystery, but the cases are often the least important reason for watching the show.

– Good work on "Two and a Half Men." Shotgun for eternity, the chain/circle of screaming, Lily's needs, the crowding into Ted's car, different characters standing in for Marshall. But I expected a bigger finish, and the ending joke about the car — painstakingly set up — was too much of a throwaway.

– Also expected a bigger finish on "Two and a Half Men," although it, too, had me laughing. I'm wondering if one of the problems facing shows that have rushed back into production post-strike is that they can think of plots and gags, but they haven't had enough time to think them all the way through. (Over at "My Name Is Earl," the coma/sitcom bits have been terribly flat.) And am now thinking that the chain/circle of screaming on "HIMYM" was a commentary on post-strike writing — sure could be read that way.

(Afternoon adds)
– Because of the people/gossip column I compile four times a week, I'm a regular reader of the often-timely gossip over at TMZ.com. But an item today about Disneyland's It's A Small World ride had cobwebs and mold over it. The idea that the ride was suffering from too many fat people was reported more than five months ago, including here and here

– My column about Gene Wilder and the "Role Model" special airing on TCM can be found here.

The official word from ABC:

After tallying the judges’ and viewers’ votes from a night of Samba and Rumba, the fifth couple to be eliminated from the competition is revealed on “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show,” TUESDAY, APRIL 15 (9:00-10:02 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Musical guest James Blunt takes the stage to perform “Carry You Home” from his latest album, “All the Lost Souls,” in stores now. He will be accompanied by two-time World Cabaret Champions and two-time U.S. National Cabaret Champions Eric Luna and Georgia Ambarian.

For the second week in a row, kids will shake and shimmy their way into America’s hearts in a live ballroom dancing competition. Judges Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman and Carrie Ann Inaba will select their favorite team of the night. That team will then return later in the season for another performance. This week two teams, ten years-old and under, will compete.

Short notes after the jump. …

(Summary: Adam Carolla is out.)

Fast-forwarding through Sheryl Crow and the recaps. Intro of the judges. Len says each wanted a different couple for the replay dance — but for sheer entertainment, they all agreed on Carolla. The show is working so hard at keeping him around. Fast-forwarding through that, and more stuff.

Leaderboard. The first two couples safe in no particular order: Jason/Edyta and Kristi/Mark. Well, they were the dominant teams.

Kiddie competition. 9 and under. First couple. If nothing else, they're better than Carolla. Bergeron gets on his knees to talk to them. The judges, needless to say, are kind. Then another couple. I am taking a break.

I am back and the judges are going to say one set of kids is better than another. But first, the kids get a big peek at Samantha's cleavage as she goes down on her knees to talk to them, too. One set of kids wins. I don't care.

Sheryl Crow performs again. With dancers. Clip reel about the fabulousness of the pro dancers.

And another safe couple: Marlee and Fabian. As well they should be.

Chatter with Kristi and Jason and partners.

More safe couples: Cristian/Cheryl and Mario/Karina.

More: Priscilla/Louis are bottom two. Shannon/Derek safe. Adam/Julianne are bottom two. So Marissa/Tony are safe.

Len says it would be terrible if Adam went because he is so entertaining. Bruno wants to keep Priscilla because of her Hollywood glamour. Carrie Anne says Priscilla is the better dancer than Adam.

But Adam is out. Yay! In spite of the show's attempt to buttress him, enough's enough.

And I am out, too.

In-progress notes after the jump. …

Kristi and Mark lead off. Paso doble. Kristi vows "no more prim and proper." Not prim and proper, but not exactly passionate either. But she is so good at the precision side of the dance, who cannot be impressed? Len says she has great technique but that every dance has a slight sameness in the drama of it. Bruno says she really unleashed the harlot. Carrie Ann says they set the standard for everyone else. Samantha tells them they are the highest overall scorers ever at this point in a competition, and have never gotten less than a 9. Scores: 10s from CA and Bruno, 9 from Len. Now they just have to worry about whether that will keep people from voting for them. Going first is no favor.

Priscilla and Louis, second in judges' scores last week (which was excessively high). Viennese waltz. Well, crap. That's a gimme for her, since the judges can praise her elegance and class — the Jane Seymour cop-out. Well, I've seen worse from her, but she's better at swaying than actually dancing. Bruno calls it a great interpretation but she has to watch her shoulder and neckline. CA says she creates such drama with her facial expressions (WHAT?) but thought she detected a lift and some other problems, but still called it fantastic. Len thought it has to look easy and it didn't — and also noted a lift. (And wasn't it Jane Seymour who was also tagged for a lift?) Samantha says the judges were harsh to Priscilla — I thought they were trying to be gentle. Scores: 7s from CA and Len, 8 from Bruno.

Adam and Julianne. Bergeron underscores Adam's ability to offend. Julianne also hopes that he focuses on the dancing and stops offending people. Paso doble. Carolla with fake mustache. Julianne solo in the middle of the floor, then he enters in a mask and on a unicycle. Which he rides competently. But his footwork in the dance is some of the worst I have seen — flat and stompy — and I rarely even notice the feet. Bergeron notes he has been up early. CA says he was fantastic — "and then you got off the unicycle." Praises his creativity. Len calls him "a lovable character" but not much of a dancer. Adam says he's dressed like a silent porn star. Bruno says "the genius and insanity go hand in hand" — but the insanity takes over when he dances. Scores: 6s from CA and Bruno, 7 from Len. But the show is really pushing him as comic relief, and laughing at some of his lamest jokes.

Marlee and Fabian, who got dogged by the judges a week ago. Viennese waltz. She is having problems with balance. The judges talk about Priscilla's drama, but Marlee's Oscar was no accident — and she brings some real passion to the opening of the number. Some difficulty with steps — the bride thought she spotted a lift, and I thought one break from Fabian looked a little awkward — but she's still good. And second best of the night so far.
Len calls it very good and "poignant" but her posture could be better. Bruno says she is always totally immersed in the role but seconds Len on the posture issue. CA says "you made me cry. … and for that I am grateful." I hope that they give her scores to make up for the shabby treatment they gave Marlee on the scorecards a week ago. Scores: Straight 8s. What does she have to do, give CA a coronary?

Mario and Karina. He says he slipped up last week but will show he deserves to be in the competition. Paso doble. Lots of cap action. Great steps for the most part, lots of intensity but his transitions are sometimes hesitant. Still pretty hot. Bruno calls him "Mario the Conqueror." CA says it was much better than last week but at times his movements were a little awkward. Len admires his spirit but again brought up the one-style issue, and called Mario's "sort of wild." Said he likes Mario but he needs to work on the styling more. Scores: 8 from CA, 7 from Len, 9 from Bruno. Second week that Mario has gotten three different scores — the judges are rather divided about him. And I have to think that Bruno gave him a 9 because he figured Len was going to lowball.

Akron's own Jason Taylor and Edyta. Viennese waltz. Not sure about the swinging arms. But after that, he seemed very much in command. CA says it was beautiful, and seductive, and forgives a stumble. Len calls it a wow. Bruno says they made it sexy and erotic — swans in a mating ritual. In the post interview, Edyta gets tense when he jokes about the stumble — wants to emphasize that he is trying to do it right. Scores: CA and Bruno with 10s, Len with a 9. It was good, but I don't think it was quite that good. CA did mention a stumble, didn't she? She could forgive but she shouldn't forget.

Cristian and Cheryl. Lots of bickering in rehearsal. Paso doble. Major skin from Cheryl. Major skin from Cristian, too. But as they dance, he has more and more trouble keeping up with her and seems to be gasping for breath at the end. Too much yelling. Len liked the passion and drama but didn't think they conquered the music. Bruno says he had the pride and power of the biggest bull in the arena. CA disagrees with Len and says they were good with the music, but notes that Cristian's eyes glaze over at times.

Bergeron promises that next week offers "the best of the little tiny costumes." In other words, Latin night.

C/C's scores: 9's from CA and Bruno, 8 from Len.

The Derek Hough neck injury recap — after the break.

Shannon and Derek. Video of the pain, then back in a neck brace. Jonathan takes over the dance rehearsals, with Derek kibitzing. Then Derek for the performance. Viennese waltz. I see no indication of him having trouble, and the dance itself is quite beautiful. She is a very serious contender. Bruno calls her a class act. CA thinks she's quite organic. Len calls it the best dance of the night. I wouldn't go that far. Scores: 9s from CA and Bruno, 10 from Len. Interesting since Len was the contrarian when CA and Bruno went double 10s on Kristi and on Jason.

Marissa and Tony to close. She better not stink. The closing spot is a terrible place to do that — so is she good, or are the producers ready to send her home before Carolla? I am tired of her — but even more weary of Adam. Tony says he is giving her steps that are normally reserved for the pros. Paso doble. She looks miserable at first — although some viewers may have been impressed by the way her hand slid across the front of Tony's pants. Very awkward overall. I'm not impressed. CA thought it was fantastic and says it was what she has been waiting for. Len says "at last, the true Marissa is coming out." Bruno says "that's the way to go." This all feels like the judges trying to convince the audience that things didn't end on a down note. Scores: Straight 8's, so they didn't think it was quite as good as they made it sound.

Recap. Kristi/Jason tied at the top, Adam at the bottom. And I am out of here.

Here I am again (and the "American Idol" podcasts will continue as well). New topic, new co-chatter, same old hair bump.

I took a look at who was bumped from "Dancing With the Stars." Will post that with a brief comment or two after the jump. But first, here's why I was close to a coronary tonight.

The bride and I went up to Cleveland for a screening of "Leatherheads," the new George Clooney movie. Preceded by a trailer for "Baby Mama." The trailer's not right –it's off kilter onscreen so the tops of people's heads are missing. Annoying but not unbearable. Then "Leatherheads" starts. The image is still off. There's a wide black band at the bottom of the screen, and the top of the frame is missing.

I am panicked. There's a publicist sitting behind me, but I don't know if I'm supposed to say anything. But I am also asking myself if I can review a movie where I can't stop thinking about the way people are missing the tops of their heads. As I waffle and a minute or two tick by, another critic comes to the publicist and tells her they need to fix the image. I second his comments. She leaves the theater. Soon enough, the image is in the frame. Clooney's hair is now fully visible. The movie goes on. Next time I will speak.

As for "Dancing" …

OK, so the Gute is gone. I can live with that. He was not a good dancer. But I would not have been offended had Adam Carolla, Marissa Jaret Winokur or Priscilla Presley had gone instead.

Was bothered that Mario had to wait with the Gute, but the show is nasty about final pairings like this; Bergeron made clear that Mario "is not necessarily in the bottom two." Come on, let's just show the bottom two and not play that game.

I am attending a screening of "Leatherheads" tonight so it will probably be late tonight or early tomorrow before I post about the "Dancing with the Stars" results and what madness ensues when "American Idol" meets Dolly Parton. Talk among yourselves, and I will be back when possible.

Notes after the jump …

Going to avoid some of the boilerplate between the dancers, like the blah blah that has led us to the first performer.

Marlee Matlin and Fabian the new guy (Sanchez) lead off. She's going to do the jive this week. Joking around in studio, Marlee with her feet on Fabian's. She calls it the hardest dance she has done, "no more fun and games." Dance begins. Song: "You May Be Right." She's very good on the spins. I've seen a lot of non-deaf dancers on this show who weren't as good. Len says she never ceases to amaze him and calls it a great job. Bruno says she seems to have the ability to connect to everybody; notes some things like the underarm passes needing to be smoother but a good job. Carrie Ann says she needs to keep her hands from being "pancakey." Scores: Straight 7s. I think the judges are worried about giving her too much credit for being deaf, and are giving her lower scores than they would have if she could hear.

The Gute and Anna Trebunskaya. Tango this week, and he vows to be more serious. Jonathan Roberts shows up to help when Anna (his wife) is not feeling well. Man on man tango, eh? Would that be the mango? (Chris Kattan, where are you?) His attempts at seriousness are still comical — too much face scrunching — and his moves seem too stiff. Gotta do something about his jaw-jutting. He then "prepares" for the judges with goggles and a metal bowl on his head. Carrie Ann then calls it his best dance so far. Len calls the footwork "fantastic." Bruno declares it manly. Scores: Straight 7s. If he was 7s, they were definitely dogging Marlee Matlin.

Cristian de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke. Jive. Cristian worries. Cheryl is firm. They talk to a seal at Sea World. We used to have a Sea World. Sigh. Dancing very energetically to a bad cover of Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now." Good times, but he's flatfooted in spots. Bruno calls it CdlF's best dance yet. Len says he could have been sharper and his free arm was hanging too loose, but it was his best dance so far. CA likes the energy but also brings up the arm; much talking over. Scores: 8s from CA and Len, 9 from Bruno. If that's a 9 … oh, I don't know why I bother. But doesn't Cristian have "Futurama" hair?

Mario and Karina Smirnoff. On the road with Mario as he tours — rehearsing here and there, including an airport. He worries about running on empty. Tango. "Roxanne." (Younger son informs me that this is the "Moulin Rouge" arrangement.) Mario seems to be having trouble with his shoulders, and his attempt at facial intensity is a bit odd. Len says it had flair but was a mess; didn't like his posture or his hold. CA says Len is right, that Mario has style and the judges have high expectations — but there were missteps. "It wasn't you. You're better than that." Bruno calls him charismatic, notes a mistake but says it wasn't "that bad." Mario is not pleased. Scores: 7 from CA, 6 from Len, 8 from Bruno. Nonsense. Mario vows that he will focus more.

Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough. Jive. She worries that her long legs will make her mess up more. Learns via kickboxing. "Goody Two Shoes." She's pretty good but the fringe on her costume is very distracting. And some of the changes between moves have the slightest overlong pause, taking away from the smoothness. Bruno loves that she "goes all the way." But she needs to work on her finish and her precision. Len says it was really good. CA says she's always surprising, and "so much fun to watch." Scores: Straight 8s.

Adam Carolla and Julianne Hough. He says Julianne deserves a better partner. She still wants funny Adam. Tango. JH in a strange wig. What is this, tribute to Louise Brooks week? Carolla is such a klutz, and really letting her do most of the work. When they're done, Carolla mocks her outift. CA says Carolla was "quite sexy out there." What? Bruno says he's not a master technician but is getting better. Len says Julianne made Adam look like a dancer. Looked more like a stander to me. Scores: Straight 7s. OH COME ON!!!!! Carolla makes a joke about Mormons. Julianne smiles but is obviously uneasy. Carolla tries to recover, finally says, "I love the Mormons!"

Marissa Jaret Winokur and Tony Dovolani. Tony likes to tell jokes. But does it badly. Jive. "Girlfriend" as if done by the Angels, and without a certain word Avril Lavigne used. Sloppy. Judges rip her. CA calls her boring. Bruno tells her to live up to the talent she has. MJW fights tears. In the post-performance chat, she seems so young — especially when you remember that she's in her thirties. Scores: 6 from CA and Bruno, 7 from Len.

Priscilla Presley and Louis Van Amstel. Tango. She wants to look as if she has been doing it all her life. Song: Allan Sherman's "Kiss of Meyer." (Well, that's how I think of it anyway. "What does he need it? He'd never use it. To him the late late show is YOU." And now back to our dance.) Competent but not exactly hot. Bruno calls it hot and "beautifully acted." Len praises "passion, drama, fire and ice." CA calls the tango "the actors' dance" and praises Presley. I am unmoved. Scores: 9s from Len and Bruno, 8 from CA. Puhleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez! By that standard, Kristi Yamaguchi should get 11s without even dancing. (Yes, 11. Insert "Spinal Tap" joke here.)

Jason Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska. Jive. He had no idea it would be so tough and worries that he will look fat and uncoordinated. "I Got a Woman." Very polished. But he still seems a little too organized — not quite charismatic enough. CA likes him but thought he was dancing a little small in his upper body. Bruno thought it was a "cool" jive — restrained but powerful. Len said the lines were good and he liked the tricks but thought the kicks were sloppy; "one week you're a rooster, the next you're a feather duster." Scores: 8s from CA and Bruno, 7 from Len. They thought that was worse than Priscilla Presley?

Bergeron feigns a cough; Jeff Probst does the tease into the commercial. Probst? Was he on that list of reality shows ABC announced for this summer? (See below.)

Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas to close. Tango. Isn't she about due for a 10? But admits she has trouble being as expressive as the tango requires. She does get very tango hair. "Rio." Great movement, but Ballas's face looks as if he is trying to catch flies as they pass. Len liked it very much especially the "no messing about" but her head went a little bit forward. CA says her technique can't be faulted, but her anger was one-dimensional; "I don't feel much when you dance." Bruno calls it sharp, clean, clear but he wants lust; "I want you to be a dirty girl." No 10s then? KY gives Mark a little bit of dirty-girl leg to the groin. Scores: Straight 9s. Tops for the night but the judges didn't let them run away with it.

Recaps, hype for tomorrow night, and I am out.

Notes after the jump …

Am catching the end first, since it's late. Bergeron says Penn Jillette is already out. I liked him, although I suspect the backtalk to the judges didn't help him. And that means we have to deal with more of Adam Carolla's smarm. Agh. The women are down to Monica Seles and Marissa Jaret Winokur. It's seemed pretty evident that Monica Seles has been on the fast track out of here. And so she is. I'll catch the rest of the show another time.

Notes from my recording, as it proceeds, after the jump. …

It's women's night. (I will be skipping through some things to focus on dances, judges, scores.) Introductions of all cast members. Recap of previous night. Chat with judges. No Carolla apology so far.

Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough to start. Cha cha. Song: "Shut Up and Drive." She does well on some things but has spaghetti arms. And she doesn't dance as much as sway and pose, and do some impressive spins. Len calls it "a great start to this evening" but says she has to have her legs exactly right, and she didn't straighten her legs. Bruno calls her "a sexy minx" with great natural extension. Carrie Ann says she has great energy and confidence. SE admits afterward that she "messed up a ton." Scores: Straight 7's.

Monica Seles and Jonathan Roberts. Incredibly pessimistic rehearsal video. Fox trot. Song: "Bubbly." She does the acting at the beginning reasonably well but looks stiff and uneasy when she has to dance, and Roberts is doing most of the big stunts. Bruno liked the big romantic tone at the beginning but that it wasn't good as it went along. Len liked the "elegant and gorgeous" opening but also saw later struggles. CA thought "you went for it" and saw "a beautiful delicateness." Scores: Straight 5's.

Marissa Jaret Winokur and Tony Dovolani. She's playing the size card. Fox trot. Song: beats me. ("Dance Floor"?) I am so not contemporary. She has a flashy personality but the dancing didn't seem like much. CA wowed by her personality but didn't see much cha cha. Bruno makes the same complaint, I think. Len was bewitched by the performance, bothered by too much hip-hop and bewildered that she didn't have more to do. Scores: Straight 6's.

Tom chats with the guys. Still no Carolla apology, so I'll stop looking.

Priscilla "Direct From the Wax Museum" Presley. With Louis van Amstel. Fox trot. "Feelin' Good." What is this, an "American Idol" audition? I've seen worse, but her body language was odd in places. Hunchy shoulders, unnecessary steps. Len liked it was "no gimmicks, no props." Bruno calls it "uncompromising, smoking hot" but she needs to work with her shoulders. CA says it proves "age is just a number." Presley smiles briefly before her entire face melts off. All right, that part wasn't true. This time. Scores: Straight 8's.

Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas. Fox trot. "The More I See You." Oh, she's going to kill. One glance at her feet, but I can imagine the other women going, "Oh, crap." Bruno says it's "absolutely wicked," one of the best performances ever in a first round. CA says it looked as if she has been doing it her whole life. Len says "the ice maiden has just melted my heart." Samantha raises the issue of whether figure skating gave her an advantage; Kristi tries to play it down, but the knife is in. Scores: Straight 9's.

Marlee Matlin to close, with new guy Fabian Sanchez. Her interpreter is in rehearsal with her; she reads lips but says she gets tired. Does speak some. Rehearsal test of how much she can hear; she can hear the beat occasionally but insists she is "profoundly deaf." Different interpreter at one point?

Cha cha. "Get on Your Feet." She's making sure to keep close eye contact with Fabian, but she's not bad. Some hesitation. But not the worst of the night. CA calls it "almost unbelievable" and "so inspiring," likes the fluidity and makes clear she's not giving MM a free pass. Len also liked but says she has to watch her arms. Bruno calls it "life affirming." But scores are little tepid: 7's from Len and CA, 8 from Bruno.

Recap. Scoring capsule. And good night.

A few notes after the jump …

I'm not too interested in the background stuff, but thought I'd post a few notes about the performances as they roll out. Tonight, the men perform; tomorrow, the women. First ouster isn't until next week.

First up: Penn Jillette, Kym Johnson. Cha cha. I like Penn. (I've met him. I've even talked, and listened to, Teller.) He's not a great dancer, and the judges were right to fault his footwork. But he brings joy to his performances, and had a good song in "A Fool in Love." Scores: 5 from Carrie Ann, 6 from Len, 5 from Bruno. Brutal, brutal scores considering some of what I've seen contestants get in the past. But the judges are leaving themselves lots of room for higher scores.

Jason Taylor. University of Akron's own. With Edyta Sliwinska. Fox trot. Song: "Pride and Joy." You can see him getting up on his toes, but his body language is stiff, too formal. Not a lot of grace in his movement. Len says JT is "a good-looking guy" with "great posture." But he needs to act the dance. Carrie Ann expected him to be rougher but found him coordinated, with good hands. Bruno loved the lines he hit but he needs more drive. He also considers JT "gorgeous." Scores: CA, 7; Len, 8; Bruno, 7.

Bergeron says next week will have a double elimination — lowest scoring man and lowest scoring woman.

Cristian de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke. Cha cha. Song: "Bang Bang." He's playing to the crowd, which is probably paying more attention to her backless dress. He's graceful at times, very awkward at others. But she's still a stunning dancer. (When the pros did the show's opening number, it was a reminder of how good real dancers are, and how amateurish the celebs can be.) CA says "season six has got some sexy guys on it." Says they're well-suited to the cha cha but he has to watch how much he hunches his shoulders. Bruno says it looked as if he was riding a bike, then drops a bunch of double entendres. Len says something or other. Scores: CA, 7; Len, 7; Bruno, 7. It has just occurred to me that de la Fuente looks like the guy on "Futurama," especially in the hair.

Adam Carolla. With Julianne Hough. This indicates that the show does not want Hough to be part of the winning team again. What's with her goggles in rehearsal footage? And I am not a Carolla fan. Fox trot. Song: "Mellow Yellow." He's slow in spots, then rushes through some of the quick moves like a character in a Warner Bros. cartoon. Looks on the verge of falling over a couple of times. Worst so far tonight. If fox trot was an actor, Bruno says, this was Will Ferrell with some John Cleese. Len says Julianne has her work cut out. Praises AC's footwork but not much more. Carolla banters too much. CA thought it was uneven; "keep working." Scores: CA, 5; Len, 5; Bruno, 5. Carolla says "bitch" when CA's score comes up.

Mario and Karina Smirnoff. Cha cha. Song: "Hey DJ." They're very good. Best of the night so far. CA is all atwitter. "Dang, you can dance." Len calls it a great job, but with poor footwork. Bruno asks if Karina has a monopoly on "hot Marios." Scores: CA, 8; Len, 8; Bruno, 8.

Steve "The Gute" Guttenberg and Anna Trebunskaya. Fox trot. "Lazy River." Oh, dear. Awkward posture, iffy movement and Penn has already staked claim to the likable-goof vote. Not the worst of the night — that's probably Carolloa — but close. Bruno wants him to add more drive. CA says there's something very charming about him but he needs to watch his musicality. Len said he's the first one to look as if he is enjoying himself. That's rubbish. Scores: CA, 6; Len, 6; Bruno, 6. The Gute plays the "this is a dream" card — and that he's doing it in honor of his parents' 50th wedding anniversary.

Teaser for tomorrow night. (Interesting that Marlee Matlin's clips have her signing with someone else's voiceover. She can talk, for goodness sake.) Extremely unflattering makeup on most of them. Bergeron chats with the women. Recap. And I'm out.

The pro football player and University of Akron was in the announcement for the sixth-season cast tonight. Full press release after the jump. …

Press release below. Here's the order in which they were announced during "Dance War":

First group: Marlee Matlin, Penn Jillette and Marissa Jaret Winokur.

Next batch: Adam Carolla, Kristi Yamaguchi, Cristian de la Fuente.

Then: Monica Seles, Mario, Steve Guttenberg.

And the final three: Jason Taylor (University of Akron!), Shannon Elizabeth, Priscilla Presley.

The ABC announcement:

Twelve celebrities – six men and six women — attempt to outshine one another on a sixth season of the hit series “Dancing with the Stars,” which returns MONDAY, MARCH 17 (8:00-9:30 p.m., ET) on ABC. The Season Six cast includes some of our most lauded stars yet: an Academy Award winner, a Tony Award winner, an Olympic Gold medalist, a nine-time Grand Slam tennis champion and the NFL’s current Man of the Year.

In the first late-night talk show interview with a member of the Season Six cast, Jimmy Kimmel welcomes Marissa Jaret Winokur, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21 on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (12:05-1:05 a.m., ET).