Dancing With the Stars 14, April 3: Seal of Disapproval

Brooke Chat! Brooke has William, Jaleel, and Gladys and their respective pro partners up in the skybox, talking about the upcoming “Rock Week” theme. Next week, William (if it he makes it) will be doing the jive; is he concerned about keeping up his quality? He says it’s completely unknown to him; he even thought it was called the “drive.” Heh. Hey, the Bee Gees never sang about “drive talking,” William. Jaleel will be tangoing to the Rolling Stones next week. He says he’s portrayed Bruce Lee and Elivis in his past, so he’ll have to be the “black man’s Mick Jagger.” Heh. Can classy, elegant Gladys rock out? She says she does, and will channel her inner Tina Turner.

Cue the Quipmaster: “Tina Turner, Bruce Lee, and Elvis – all on one Rock Week!” Now that would put the “stars” in Dancing With the Stars!

Last season we used the results shows to shine the “spotlight” on a series of young dancers who have had to overcome some challenge to follow their dream of dancing and we’re doing so again this season. Jack’s partner Anna and her husband Jonathan Roberts (a former pro on this show) are doing a routine in honor of their friend Julia Ivleva. Julia is a prominent ballroom dancer herself, – Jonathan describes her as “powerful” and “dominant on the dance floor” – but then Julia herself tells us that only a year ago, she was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. She says it was shocking, as she always tried to live a healthy lifestyle.

Julia’s husband, Igor, calls it the “scariest thing we can face.” Julia says most people with this diagnosis don’t have long to live, and Julia doesn’t know how much time she has left, but she’ll stay positive and live life to the fullest. Jonathan says that Julia has continued to travel with Igor and show up at dance competitions, but she’s too frail to dance herself. So Jonathan and Anna have choreographed a dance in Julia’s honor. Anna says that being married to her dance partner, she and Jonathan can relate to what Julia and Igor must be going through, and are inspired by Julia’s example, seeking to share that inspiration with everybody. Oh god, this is going to have us all blubbering, isn’t it?

Yep. It is. With very dim, bluish lighting and smoke covering the ground, Jonathan and Anna start off on the floor, kneeling in embrace. He picks her up and twirls her around the starlit floor, bathed in spotlight, as the studio becomes a night sky filled with stars, a giant moon lurking behind the staircase. A violin (several, actually) softly plays, accompanied by a mournful piano, as the couple moves gracefully about the floor, their movements fluid and romantic. It’s got this very ethereal feel to it, and knowing the story behind the dance, it’s pretty heartbreaking. It ends with Anna on the floor, Jonathan over top of her, and hey, there’s Julia in the crowd! Anna and Jonathan share big hugs with her and Igor

More backstage clips: Gladys wants to show the judges that she knows how to hold a frame. As she walks through the prop door (door “frame” – get it?) at the beginning of the dance, Tristan greets her with a, “Hey, howahyeh?” At the end, Gladys pops her head back through the door and playfully jokes with Tristan, “I see you!” Gladys can’t believe how well things went. “I just don’t know what to do with myself right now,” she says, clearly at a loss for words.

Jaleel says the night’s task is to be passionate and smooth, and that comes easily to him and Kym. He gives her a peck on the lips before they go out. Usually, it’s the pro giving encouragement during the dance but here, Jaleel seems to take control, telling Kym at one point, “Let’s go.” Steve Urkel – the most confident man on the dance floor. Of course, here he channeled Stefan Urquelle instead, and he says this was important to him because he doesn’t touch his old characters; he leaves them in a vault. This is the first tribute of any kind he’s done for anything relating to Family Matters. He wanted it to go perfectly, and it was close enough to celebrate.

William says something that I can’t understand, but it doesn’t matter – none of his female fans are listening to what comes out of his mouth anyway – not when they can focus on what a pretty, pretty man he is. Bruno liked the performance so much that a) he gave it a 10, and b) I think he needs a tissue now. Cheryl tells us that she almost fell on her butt, but William, her “rock,” helped her get back up. William says something unintelligible, starting off slowly, then does what he did last week, getting up and hopping around the confessional booth, yelling excitedly. You can get away with that when you’re a pretty, pretty man.

Results, please! We have some technical difficulties with the suspenseful music, so Tom tells us that we can hum our own theme at home. Heh. Coming back next week are …

William & Cheryl! Women everywhere celebrate.

Gladys & Tristan … are in jeopardy. Booooo.

Jeleel & Kym … are safe. Yay!

Brooke tells us that the Macy’s Stars of Dance bit this week features some of the most in-demand dancers of the day. We meet choreographer/dancers Travis Wall, Twitch, Misha Gabriel, Nick Bass, and Kenny Wormald. Kenny, star of the Footloose remake, says, “This crew is solid.” Gee, ya think?

Brooke Chat! Is Jack nervous about tonight’s elimination. Not necessarily nervous, he says, but he’s just grateful to be a part of the big, emotional night. Anna? She admits to being nervous. How much of a relief was it for Donald to get high scores? A great relief, he says … but he thinks he’s always going to be nervous. Sherri says she’s so dehydrated from crying that she won’t shed another tear. Heh. She’s ready to headbang on Rock Week. Brooke wants to see more of Sherri’s “Holy Ghost” celebration dance from last week. Melissa talks about Monday being a great, freeing experience, and says some other less-than-memorable things as well.

Brooke says that the first time ever, the judges have handed her an envelope – oops, she means the producers – and inside is the name of one of the safe couples. And that would be …