Dancing with the Stars: Four celebrities' career jeopardized

Dancing with the Stars: Four celebrities' career jeopardized

The second half of the "Dancing with the Stars" season is starting with 9 celebrities still in the running. However they will vanish in a hurry with two straight double eliminations. On Monday night the remaining couples danced their individual dances, either the jitterbug or the waltz, and then participated in a group mambo.

First up with the jitterbug were Mya and her partner Dmitry Chaplin. Mya's jitterbug was speedy and light-footed, and most important, it looked effortless.
Also Melissa Joan Hart has been uneven so far. In the waltz, she struggled with her posture so much that partner Mark Ballas actually brought in his mom, dancer Shirley Ballas, to help. Their waltz was not entirely convincing, but it was pretty. So far as judges are concerned, Bruno Tonioli trashed just about everything about the performance, and Carrie Ann agreed, but Len was significantly kinder, and Melissa managed 20 points.

The uneven journey of the capable but sometimes unexciting Mark Dacascos and his partner Lacey Schwimmer continued with their jitterbug, where his physical skills came into play. The crowd got going, and the judges bought it, and Mark and Lacey scored 26 points.

Next the turn was Aaron Carter, who has been flailing for a couple of weeks. The technical aspects of his waltz with Karina Smirnoff were strong, but Aaron continues to be visibly acting. The dancing couple grabs 25 points, one fewer than Mark and Lacey.

Michael Irvin has received the harshest criticism from the judges for a couple of weeks now, but he and his partner, Anna Demidova, have stayed in by the grace of the viewers. It was easy to predict that Michael would not be the most graceful of waltzers, and he wasn't, but he moved gamely on his toes for a guy with a football background. On their bag a total of 20 points — including an 8 from Len was given.

Kelly Osbourne was up for the jitterbug, despite hurting her foot last week. The performance is likely to please Kelly's fans enough that her 20 points may not be a problem.

Louie Vito has not been a judges' favorite, and he and Chelsie Hightower have hung on by their fingernails to stay out of the bottom two. Still, Louie and Chelsie finished with a respectable 21 points, avoiding the 20-point rut that had swallowed Melissa, Michael and Kelly.

Derek Hough returned as Joanna Krupa's partner after his flu episode last week. It was a fine waltz, and Joanna finished with 26 points — tied with Mark Dacascos for the top score of the night.

Last but not the least Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson, whose Argentine tango was the top-scored dance last week finished with 24 points, tying with Mya, two points off the lead.

The night ended with a group mambo in which couples were "tapped out" one at a time, with the first out earning 2 points, up to the final dancer standing, who would receive 10. First out was Michael, followed by Louie, Melissa, Kelly, Mark, Donny, Aaron, and Mya, leaving the 10-point prize to Joanna and Derek, who had a very good night overall and finished at the top of the board.


The celebrities in jeopardy on Tuesday night would seem to be Louie, Michael, Melissa, and possibly Kelly. A six-point gap divides that group from the other five teams. Needless to say, the lowest (after counting audience votes) will go home. However the next two will participate in a dance-off that will be at the mercy of the judges only.