Dancing with the Stars Season 30 WEEK 9!! LIVE BLOG!!

Wow! I can’t believe we’re at the semi-finals already! And I believe one of the celebs or pros said that tonight is another double elimination, which will very likely suck.  If I were in charge, my final four would be Jojo, Iman, Melora and Suni.  And JoJo/Iman would be the top 2.  But that’s just me and it’s based mainly on my feelings when watching them dance. MY final two make me happy. Suni really improved last week. Melora I just like better than either Amanda or Cody.

I doubt I’ll get my way. 🙂 I know a few people have complained about people with dance experience, but back when this show was in it’s heyday, I would regularly point out that LOTS of people have extreme advantages that have nothing to do with dance. Examples:

1. Donny Osmond – he has a massive, passionate fanbase who ARE the DWTS demographic. Was he the best dancer that season? No.
2. Bobby Bones – see number one and he was a horrible dancer.
3. Most Olympians – have massive fanbases and often their sport lends itself to dancing (see Meryl Davis, Shawn Johnson, Nastia Luikin, Charlie White). Suni is actually an exception to the rule – I don’t think she’s well known and she’s taken a while to cut loose.

There are many more examples. You going to tell me that those folks are less egregious than someone who has dance experience but has to fight for every vote? Not in my world. There are all kinds of “ringers” besides those with dance experience. Amanda is one I think of who has the dance advantage, but I’m not sure if she’s getting votes or not.

T-minus 1 hour….

Hehe…almost missed the opening. Glad I didn’t. 🙂

I see the camera work is still crap…but it was just Tyra, so that’s okay. 😉

Cody is up first in the redemption round, redoing his salsa with help from Bruno. Or is that Cha Cha?? Had it right the first time.

Still putting in that extra little step. Every week.  He’s just weird as a dancer. I can’t put my finger on it.  He’s thinking too hard there towards the end.

Bruno goes first and he’s raving, but he did advise them. Hips were better?? Not IMO. Points out that he messed up a couple passes. CAI is raving – but wasn’t his last time really bad? Len says it was action packed and full on. Says he was a bit flat footed. Derek says there was a few arm misses etc. but it generally positive.

Scores: 9, 9, 8, 8 for a total of 35.  I agree with Derek.  I’d have only given him ONE 9.

Melora is up next with her rumba as a redemption – and she gets Len. “Yum Yum Pig’s Bum.”  Okay. 🙂

Those shoes aren’t going to help. Half a beat behind Artem there for a moment. And she got Amanda’s thrown away leg in one spot. But overall she’s doing a lovely job.

Len says Mission Accomplished. And another rhyme. He loves it. Derek talks about how hard rumba is – refreshing to see a pure rumba. Bruno says she got the right motion. They’re going to give her a high score, but they aren’t screaming like they are likely to do with people they want to save. CAI calls out a lift – and she’s right, I saw the lift as well, It was pretty obvious.

Melora really needs to STOP TALKING ALL THE TIME.  Jaysus.

Score: 8, 10, 9, 9 for a total of 36.  That’s about right actually – CAI and Len were both ridiculous but together they average out. 🙂

Suni is up next! CAI is their judge and her redemption dance is the foxtrot. Will be interesting to see her redo this one.

Oh boy….this is Nicole and Derek’s foxtrot song and my favorite dance of all time. I’ll be biased. Suni is doing a beautiful job. And Sasha doing that exact run that Derek put in his dance. Exactly, only not as well performed.  Great job, over all.

CAI talks about her growth – I agree. Len loved it as well, but comments on the footwork. Derek is loving Suni 2.0 – notes the frame was dropping a bit. Bruno being Bruno and raving, but also notes the frame.  They comment on the speed – go watch Nicole and Derek’s foxtrot to that song. Perfection.

Scores: 10, 9, 9, 9 for a total of 37.  That’s about right.

JoJo is up next with an AT redemption – I thought it was great the first time. Len is their coach. Forgot Derek was in Vegas all week so he might not have a couple.

Another thing I say every week is how incredibly in sync these two are. The lifts are more effortless than they have been before. This was a fantastic dance. Excellent. I loved the first one and I didn’t think I would like this one even more.

Len says that was bloody brilliant. Derek loves seeing the two women dancing it. Very clean, very strong. Beautiful. Bruno’s fuses are blown. As per usual.  Outstanding. CAI – so much passion, like one being.  Agreed.

Scores: 10, 10, 10, 10 – perfect score! Well done. Agreed.

Iman is up next with Derek – which must have happened early on tuesday since Vegas. The Michael Jordan of ballroom. Iman, you are now my favorite. And this coaching is why Derek has 6 mirrorball and three emmys.

Daniella is so stunning. Very hot opening. I did see his shoulder creep up. Damn, I love watching him dance. He’s not perfect, but he’s a complete novice, he tries extremely hard and he’s entertaining to watch.

Derek is raving about the frame, fantastic. Notes that no other b-baller has come as far. Bruno loves the top line as well, but says to be careful about squatting. CAI raves for the frame. Len says there’s been a vast improvement from week three, brilliant.

Scores: 9, 9, 10, 9 for a 37 out of 40. I ain’t mad at it. 🙂

Numbers Update: There isn’t much to say at this point other than Melora and Cody are the low people on the totem pole, but with a second dance coming up everything could change.  Melora needs to hope she got a voting bump from being in the bottom last week, and even then it might not be enough.

Amanda dancing last and she, too, has Len as the judge-coach. She’s also doing a tango, which I”m not sure is good for her considering how many tango/ATs we have tonight.

She’s got the little extra stutter in her step that Cody usually does. Only saw it once but dang. And damn there she goes with that non-pointed foot. It’s glaring. Other that those two issues, that was a pretty damn good dance.

Len says she got the body contact, raves. Derek says she’s most consistent. Bruno says she’s platinum, very polished. CAI calls her a boss, but she had a lift. They were going to give her an undeserved perfect score so I’m glad for CAI doing her lift police routine.

Scores: 9, 10, 10 10 for a 39.  Yeah, considering she’s a pro, that is overscored. I can’t believe they keep ignoring her foot every week. No way is she only a point behind Jojo. And frankly, I think Suni danced better than her and is two points lower.

I missed the opening of this pro dance – is this Lin Manuel’s Encanto??  No, Sing 2?? The hell?

Melora’s second dance is contemporary – figures she gets the no rules dance to get into the finale. Melora seems like a wonderful woman, even though she’s not my favorite dancer.

Most of the time, I hate how the pros do contemporary on this show. It’s usually contemporary by the numbers. This dance is no different, but she’s dancing it very well.  She seems like she got tired at the end and it started to show. That last lift was a bit messy.

Len like how they mirrored the music. Derek says you can see and feel her love of dance…oooo, that sounded like a goodbye. Bruno’s waving his arms he loved it. CAI says she’s very lyrical and she left it all on the floor.

OMG she’s still talking.

Scores: 9, 9, 9, 9 for a 36. Total of 72 for the night.

Cody is up next and they’re doing AT.

Beautiful and dramatic opening pose.  Again with the stutter – he always does it right at the beginning of the dance. And his legs are weird. Lot of movement from Cheryl, not so much fro Cody. Nice ending.

Derek loved the opening image, also noted Cheryl doing a lot of the work. Bruno says it was red hot (really??). CAI says he brought the drama – and she notes something happened at the beginning (finally). Len says he’s come so far.

Scores: 9, 9, 9, 9 for a total of 36. Eh, all right.  Seems a tad high, but okay.

Suni up next. Ugh another contemporary. Sorry, Derek, Lindsay, Witney and Jenna are really the only pros who can do an interesting contemporary on this show. Oh, if they put that double jump in there that would be good.

Typical overwrought opening and she stumbled a bit. Yep, that double jump was good. Relying on her gymnastics. A lot. but she’s doing a beautiful job. That spin looks dangerous and it went on too long. You’ll note most of my comments are on choreography, not how she’s moving.

Bruno says Gravity doesn’t apply, she’s weightless. He loved it. CAI says she only gives tens unless there is something extraordinary. Len says it was dramatic and pasionate – but it got a bit samey (agreed). Derek loves that she had a realization and she stopped seeking outward validation.  I think she’s really come a long way – my only critiques are on the choreography.

Scores: 10, 9, 10, 9 for a total of 38.  That works for me I guess.

Tyra’s outfit is actually flattering.

JoJo and Jenna up next – also dancing contemporary. Come on, Jenna – I just called you out as one of the only pros who can do a good contemporary on this show. Don’t let me down. JoJo’s grandma is so cute. 🙂

Love the opening. That floor move was brilliant. There was a bunch of really interesting stuff in there. A little flailing but I loved it.

CAI loved it, perfection, in sync. Len says she mixes artistry with athleticism. Talks about his underpants. Derek loves grandma. Says that was the best contemporary ever on the show (except his own 🙂 ). Bruno says it was perfection, two angels out there.

Scores: 10, 10, 10, 10 for a total of 40.  As it should be. She better be safe tonight.

Iman ALSO doing a contemporary…..did I miss an announcement? Oh sorry – JAZZ.

Jazz which is really contemporary. 🙂 Lord Daniella is so freakin’ brave – that lift/carry was amazing.  Now it’s looking a bit more jazzy. Holy shit, throwing her around like it’s nothing. He is performing the hell out of this. Fantastic. Amazing.

Len – more lifts than Uber. It was lyrical. Derek – plank queen, amazing lifts, great choreography. Bruno has body envy. Thrilling the lifts were heart stopping. Bruno also noted a tiny stumble. I missed it – I think they don’t want to give him a 40.  CAI – what you bring is spectacular and raves.

Scores: 10, 9, 10, 9 for a total of 38.  He should be safe, I’m thinking.

Amanda up next.

Numbers Update: Here’s the leaderboard sans Amanda:

Assuming Amanda gets another 39 or 40, I’m thinking Melora and Cody in the bottom but we could get a surprise Suni or Amanda – I don’t think Iman will be there but you never know at this stage when we’re getting to the end.

And she’s doing a contemporary. 🙂 She’s dancing to Nick’s song – that will be a tear jerker. I just hope that Alan can handle the choreography. He starred in one of my favorite musicals – Waitress. See it, if you have the chance.

She’s already crying. Okay, this is good choreography – it conveys coma very well. Sometimes simple is best. Nice lift. That was beautiful.

Derek says there are moments when you do things for you. Bruno was mesmerized, he lived it. CAI says something happened halfway through and she went into the dance. Len says she did two different dances, but both fantastic. Weird comment. I feel for her.  Her story was so shocking at the time because of how young he was.

Scores: 10, 10, 10, 10 – I thought that was well deserved. She’s not my pick to win, but she should certainly go on to next week.

I think it should be Cody and Melora – any other result will just piss me off. Well not really, because that would mean that I care more than I actually do….but you know what I mean. 🙂

SAFE: JoJo and Jenna

SAFE: Iman and Daniella

SAFE: Cody and Cheryl

Lowest combined total is….Melora and Artem.

Amanda should be safe – but it sucks that Cody is. Damn. Sucks.

CAI saves Amanda

Derek saves Amanda

Bruno saves Amanda

Suni is eliminated. Len also would have saved Amanda. That’s the right call from these last two, but my preference would have been Cody being eliminated. But my top two are there so I’m not too mad.  ATTENTION: Derek is dancing next week. 🙂