Dancing with the Stars 4, April 16: Raise Your Game or Face Your Shame!

Carrie Ann gives them a seven, and Len and Bruno do the same, for a total of 21. Samantha (darn, I thought we were going to be spared one of these interviews) says that Clyde is not the only international traveler this week, Heather & Jonathan are about to get on a plane for England. If they make it to next week they are going to be traveling and dealing with jet lag every week, and trying to learn two dances. Heather says if Virgin Airways would let them dance in the aisles it would be a big help and they’d spend more time rehearsing.

Joey & Kym are up next. Last week, Joey scored the first 10 by keeping his butt tucked in. Joey says they are going to keep looking forward. They are dancing the rumba and it’s the first romantic dance they’ve done. Joey is a clown during rehearsal, so Kym has Lance Bass and Alfonso Ribeiro come in to offer him some advice. Lance tells him to keep a straight face because the judges will be looking for the story in his face. Alfonso gives him basically the same advice. They all dance until Joey tells them they have to leave so he and Kym can rehearse. Ha! Kym says it was fun and they really helped a lot.

Joey & Kym start out flanking Lance in the audience. They are dancing to “Besame Mucho,” thankfully not the Sanjaya version. Their dance is hot from the get-go. I swear if Joey doesn’t win this competition it will be a crime. And I used to be a Public Defender, I know crime! Their footwork and movements are very fluid and the performance gives me chills! Ally has taken notice of the performance for the first time tonight! They end back in the audience as Kym puts her arm around Lance. Cute!

Len is going to rename Joey “Have a Go Joe,” because he always comes out and really has a go. Unfortunately he was a bit feminine during this dance, but during the rumba he’s supposed to be a really masculine guy. Lance laughs as Bruno loudly and vehemently disagrees. Wow, Bruno even attacks Len! Bruno says Len has it totally wrong, Joey was strong and soft at the same time and there was no doubt about it. Carrie Ann says he was a little feminine and he overperformed it. Joey says he was trying to show his soft side.

Tom once again plugs the results show (and Samantha’s pregnancy) as Samantha says Joey & Kym have taken the top spot the last three weeks. But it’s only halfway through the competition, are they afraid they peaked too soon? Short answer: Kym is a great teacher, and they are going to keep stepping it up.

Carrie Ann gives them an eight. Len gives them an eight. Bruno gives them a nine. Joey & Kym have a total of 25.

Our next couple is John & Edyta, who will dance the samba. John is having some trouble telling his feet what to do during rehearsal. He shows up in a kilt with his drum. Elena dresses him up in some bizarre costume and they rehearse.

For tonight’s performance they are dressed in normal dance clothes and the drum is once again there. Once John steps out from behind the drum, it’s an interesting performance. At times his footwork seems really good, at other times, not so much. He gives it a great effort though, and ends with Elena laying atop the drum as John beats on her tummy. It was a lot of fun!

Bruno says he messed up the footwork and it was one of the best worst sambas he’s ever seen. Carrie Ann says she doesn’t know how long he’s going to last in the competition, but she gives him a standing ovation. She loves that he finally had fun and that he brought something different to his performance tonight. Len says he captured the carnivale spirit.

Next week, Tom tells us, our remaining couples will learn their own dance and a “swinging group number.” We’ll get to see them dance side-by-side for the first time. I think Tom gets paid for every time he mentions a future show.

Samantha says John & Edyta were having fun and asks if having a great time is part of their strategy. John says it is, and adds that he made up some steps while he was out there. Edyta says it didn’t throw anything off. Carrie Ann gives them a six, as does Len, and Bruno follows suit. They have a total of 18. John says he felt like he was 18 out there.

Next up we have Laila & Maks. Laila wants the judges to feel her energy. She’s used to being number one and that’s where she wants to be. Laila plans to make the rumba her own. She and Make practice some sexy moves and she lets her hair down. Curtis Conway, Laila’s fiancé, comes to rehearsal so he can see what kind of moves they are doing and won’t be surprised during their performance.

Maks explains that the rumba is all about passion and sexiness. Curtis doesn’t look happy so Maks tells him it’s all business. As they rehearse, Maks places his hands on Laila’s hips, but Curtis moves them to her waist. Heh! More shots of Laila & Maks getting close, and Curtis looking on disapprovingly.

Laila & Maks look awesome together and their moves are HOT. Their footwork is very crisp and clean and when they get close the practically set the stage on fire. If Laila wasn’t engaged to someone else I’d think there was something going on here!

Carrie Ann says the rumba is a tough dance for the woman because all the focus is on her and tonight Laila is the comeback kid. Len says he is a fan of her dancing and he gets so disappointed when she doesn’t live up to her expectations, but tonight was her best performance. Bruno calls her “Luscious Laila” and says it was smoldering and so sexy.

Tom reminds us that there is a results show tomorrow night, which will feature Macy Gray, Jimmy Kimmel, and one of our former stars returning with an exclusive preview of a Broadway routine.

Samantha says Laila brought so much passion and energy to the dance. Did she need the harsh words from the judges last week to kick it up a notch. Samantha asks if Maks is afraid to face Curtis and Maks says he had Laila sign a waiver saying that no Maks’s would be hurt in the making of this dance. Ha! Curtis sneaks up behind him and they hug. Curtis kisses Laila and says he is very happy.

Carrie Ann gives them a nine, Len gives them a 10, and Bruno gives them a nine. Laila & Maks have a total of 28!<.p>

Apolo & Julianne are dancing the samba tonight. They’re shooting for 10s this week. Julianne loves the samba and rehearsal is hard on Apolo because she pushes him for perfection. He’s seven years older than him but she yells at him to be a man, to be sexy, and to be the tiger. She’s really hung up on this tiger thing. Apolo says they are going for a hot, sexy samba, so they will no longer be known as the “cute couple.”