Dancing with the Stars 3, October 31: Scary Sambas and Tango Terrors

Welcome to Dancing with the Stars! Last week –

Thump. Thump. Thump.

What the heck was that? It’s Halloween after all and I’m a bit on edge. The goblins and witches are active, but I’ll try to put all of that spooky stuff out of my mind as we enjoy tonight’s dancing!

Last week, Kym Johnson and Jerry Springer were eliminated from the program. Tonight, our dancers will once again perform two routines. Let’s see if they’re full of tricks or treats.

Before we jump into the action, I want to remind you of the Dancing with the Stars tour. Beginning on December 19, some of our favorite celebrities and professional dancers will take their shimmies and shakes on the road:

• Joey McIntyre (season one) will dance with Kym Johnson.
• Lisa Rinna (season two) will be partnered with MY Louis Van Amstel again.
• Drew Lachey (season two champion) will again dance with Cheryl Burke.
• Willa Ford (season three) will dance with Maksim Chmerkovskiy again.
• Harry Hamlin (season three) will again be coupled with Ashly DelGrosso.
• Joey Lawrence (season three) will dance with his current partner Edyta Sliwinska.

As always, for more information on the tour, go to www.abc.com. Now back to the show.

Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris welcome us, and introduce the couples. Tom and Samantha go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Ah, Len Goodman has grown fangs. So have some of the dancers. Samantha is now speaking in a ghoulish voice. No, this isn’t going to get old.

Up first this evening are Edyta Sliwinska and Joey Lawrence. Edyta tells Joey that he has to keep his hips forward for the paso doble. Joey’s brothers stop by during practice and Edyta gives them lessons. They are thrilled, to say the least.

Edyta and Joey are performing the tango to “The Addams Family.” Despite the fun theme, their moves are serious and quick. Edyta also displays a lot of lines with her body. She whips her head around quite a bit during the routine; I’m not sure what that is about. Technically, the dance is great; it just doesn’t appeal to me.

Len says a lot and eventually tells Joey that the routine was fantastic. Bruno Tonioli gives the dance a “well done.” Carrie Ann Inaba calls the tango “amazing.”

Carrie gives the couple a goober. Len and Bruno give it a nine. Edyta and Joey have 28 points so far this week.

Next, Karina Smirnoff and Mario Lopez are ready to perform. Mario tells us that he and Karina are dancing the waltz and samba tonight. Karina explains that her biggest frustration is his frame. Mine is the parallelogram. Karina and Mario argue. I’m sure those crazy kids will be just fine.

They’re starting off with the waltz. While everyone else is dressed in dark colors, Karina wears white. It matches the mood of the dance, which is about love and loss. Mario does some impressive spins during the routine. The dance is very dreamy and beautiful in a sad way. This is probably one of my favorite performances from the couple. I’m so into it that I completely miss the song that they dance to.

Bruno refers to the dance as a true fairytale waltz. Carrie Ann agrees with Bruno and says that she was moved by the performance. Len explains that he never knew Mario was capable of this type of dance.

Carrie Ann and Len award the performance a nine while Bruno awards it a goober. Karina and Mario have 28 points out of 30.

Monique Coleman and Louis Van Amstel are ready. Kenny Ortega, who is an award-winning choreographer, stops by Monique and Louis’ practice. Monique then visits with children and shows her softer side. Louis wants the judges to reward her for the difficult moves she performs. She states that she wants a goober only when she deserves it.

They are entertaining us by doing the tango to “Somebody’s Watching Me.” The routine is very fast-paced and at times, Monique seems to have trouble keeping up with Louis. They do some incredible spins and moves though with their feet. The routine ends with Louis pretending to bite her neck. She doesn’t seem to enjoy it. I know quite a few readers (and writers) of RNO who would gladly switch places with her.

Carrie Ann says that Monique took on too much tonight. Len gives the couple props for doing a difficult routine. Bruno explains that less is more. That was rough. Personally, I think that Monique is getting heat for a routine that Louis choreographed. But given Louis’ background, I’m not surprised that he pushes her to do more week after week.

All three judges give Monique and Louis an eight for a total of 24 points. Samantha talks to the couple backstage. Louis tells Monique that he is proud of her and what she has done.

Next up are Cheryl Burke and Emmitt Smith. Emmitt goes home with Cheryl to meet her family. He points out that she has a ballroom in her house. Emmitt has a chance to visit with his friend Jerry Rice. Seeing the two of them together makes my pulse race and my head hurt. Prrrrrrrrrrrr!

They are doing the foxtrot to “Witchcraft.” Cheryl is an excellent teacher; she always brings the best out in her partners and tonight’s routine proves that she has done that again with Emmitt. The routine is beautifully choreographed and executed well. Both Cheryl and Emmitt look like they are having a great time. Emmitt is smooth and charming. What do the judges think?

Len says that Emmitt is delightful, but he doesn’t feel that the dance was a foxtrot. Bruno disagrees and says that it was a creative interpretation of the foxtrot. Carrie Ann has to break up the argument. She then gives Emmitt some advice and says that he needs to pop some of his moves more. I need to floss.

Carrie Ann and Len give Cheryl and Emmitt an eight; Bruno gives them a nine. They have 25 points.