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I have slept through a tornado and an earthquake, but I think I would wake up when the plane came to a halt... I wish I had thought of this...

A rousing opening with all the stars returning and all but Chad Ochocincom who was injured, participating with the pros in a dance to the song “I’m So Excited”. Apparently, Kate STILL can’t move.  First the dancers will perform their favorite dances from the season.

Nicole and Derek did their Argentine Tango from earlier in the season. It looked like perfection to me!  The audience went wild. The judges were full of praise and admiration and awe.  Evan and Anna reprised their Argentine Tango.  Hot as can be, but I saw on eittle stumble on Evan’s part. The audience loved it.  The judges thought it was beyond perfection.  Erin and Maks also performed their Argentine Tango.  THe fantastic jump from the stage was fantastic once again. And again the judges loved it.  

The judges will rank them and the lowest will be eliminated. 3rd place-Erin and Maks, 2nd-Evan and Anna, 1st place-Nicole and Derek.  Now they have to factor in the public’s votes.  Now we have dancers from the season return with their pros  Shannen Doherty, Aiden Turner and Buzz Aldrin performed as well as they could and it was sometimes painful to see.  Next we get Bachelor Jake and his pro AND his fiance from the Bachelor - the hated Vienna.  ENOUGH of them already.  So who is eliminated, or I prefer to say, the couple who won 3rd place is.....  Erin and Maks.  And they ended with a Cha Cha.

Now we have the dance teams from a few shows ago.  I take a break and get a snack. I come back to see Kate Gosselin and her dance partner Tony.  She plugs her new shows, we see clips. She whines and whines and then we see them dance to Lady Gaga.  It is still so unGodly horrible to see.  But then we get Pamela Anderson and Niecy Nash.  Pamela crawled over bodies and Niecy danced to Bootylicious!  

Next we have out two finalists in their Knock Out Dances.  Nicole and Derek do a Jive to Rollin’ on the River.  To use an over worked phrase, it was AMAZING!! And the judges agreed.  Scores for this are 10-10-10=30 fpr this but a total of 115 for the 2 nights.  Then last up are Evan and Anna doing a Quick Step.  It was fun and quick and graceful and precise, but it can’t be put in the same category as the previous dance.  The judges said lovely things.  Scores: 10-9-9=28 and that gives them a total of 108 for the 2 nights.  When combined with the people’s votes the winners of the mirror ball trophy are... NICOLE AND DEREK!!!  AMEN!!

Three couples left and this is the first of a two-night extravaganza!  We are down to Erin Andrews and Maks, Evan Lysacek and Anna, and Nicole Scherzinger and Derek.  The first dance will be a ‘redemption dance’ that the judges think could have been better.  The second is the all important free-style that can sometimes determine the winner.

After a visit and some helpful hints from Bruno during rehearsal, Erin and Maks perform a Samba.  It was sharp and fun and both looked like they were enjoying it.  The judges thought there was a tremendous over their first shot at the Samba.  Scores: 10-10-9=29.

After a visit from Len to help improve the chemistry between them, Evan and Anna do a Viennese Waltz.  It was done to Billy Joel’s Piano Man which was interesting and the dance was really really good.  The judges liked the connection and Evan’s improvement.  Scores: 10-9-9=28.

Carrie Ann visited with hints about keeping an emotional quality to the dance (huh?), Nicole and Derek performed a Rumba.  I still don’t get this dance - it is a series of poses as far as I can see.  But it was beautiful and very hot!  Carrie Ann saw a lift, Len saw problems.  Derek said he timed it so the lift happened after the music stopped, but Carrie Ann said noooooo.  Scores: 9-9-10=28.

And now the Freestyle dances - NO RULES!!

Erin and Maks have decided to go out on a limb and NOT do the fast dance people expect.  They did something more lyrical and modern.  The major prop was a mattress, so I guess that answers the dating rumors!!  Len liked it but didn’t love it, Bruno thought some of the steps were incredible, and Carrie Ann loved the risk on Maks’ part..  Scores: 9-8-9=26.

Evan and Anna had trouble agreeing on what they should do for this dance to make it the best it could be.  Anna brought in a choreographer who helped them mesh their strengths.  In a great Footloose routine they did a GREAT job.  I was exhausted when it was over.  The judges didn’t think it was precise enough and that it looked like two different dances. Scores: 8-8-8=24.

Last up, Nicole and Derek went for “non-stop, high-octane”.  It was a quick-step, jive-y, lindy-hoppy creative FANTASTIC routine with one last slip during a lift but it was, to quote Bruno, A-MA-ZING.  Scores: 9-9-9=27.

Tomorrow night - TWO HOURS!

Right off the bat we learn that the first couple who is safe is...Evan Lysacek and Anna.  Len then reviews the previous night. The Encore Dance from last night was Evan and Anna’s terrific Paso Doble.  

Next was a great piece of tape about Maksim Chmerkovskiy which told us about his start in Ukraine and how he started his career.  It was really interesting - a nice change.  Then Sarah McLachlan sang and , surprise! - dancers danced. Cheryl Burke’s story of how she became a ballroom superstar was  next.  Again, interesting.

Melissa Rycroft and Joey Fatone, she of The Bachelor and he of the boy band, ‘Nsync, did a funky tango to a song chosen by viewers. Apparently I zoned out on that option. It got us to almost the halfway point. The Rutgers University dance team performed a Cha Cha.  They’re a new team and the judges were encouraging. Scores: 7-7-7=21. Utah Valley University performed a Cha Cha next. From the first second, this was a team of great imagination and precision. The judges love it - 10-9-10=29!

The story of Anna Trebunskaya was next. She grew up in Russia, came to the US at a young age and is married to another professional dancer. And THEN we get Miley Cyrus singing one of her hits.  Now I know I’m old because I just don’t care. Derek Hough’s story is next. He was born in Utah and moved to London to train with another dancing family.  

So who else is safe? Finally we learn that next week we will see Nicole Scherzinger and Derek! So we have Chad Ochocinco and Cheryl, Erin Andrews and Maks.  Who goes?  The drumbeat.... Chad and Cheryl.  He enjoyed his journey and meeting Cheryl.

Four stars, two dances each.  A ballroom dance and a Latin dance that involves the star doing a solo part. They all start with a clean slate - nothing from the previous shows matters.  Hmmm.

Erin Andrews and Maks do a Viennese Waltz. Lots of spins and I think she got a little dizzy for just a second.  It was so pretty though.  The judges liked it, told her she had grown tremendously.  Scores: 9-9-9=27 (but Bruno accidentally held up a 10 paddle!).

Nicole Scherzinger and Derek - the Argentine Tango. This looked so perfect to me that I had to rewind it and watch it 2 more times.  WOW  it got better each time.  Every move was like a perfect picture. Bruno was his overly effusive self, Carrie Ann was moved to tears and Len said it was better than his mother’s apple pie. Scores: 10-10-10=30.

Chad Ochocinco and Cheryl - Viennese Waltz.  It was SO pretty. He looked to me like he did a really good job.  You know, in this dance it’s the woman who does all the pretty stuff, so I guess the man just has to keep time and not fall down.  The judges admired that, since he came with absolutely NO dance experience, he has come so far.  Scores: 9-9-9=27.

Evan Lysacek and Anna perform a Fox Trot.  What a fun, smooth dance it was!  Len saw a little something wrong but they all loved it.  Scores: 10-9-10=29.

Latin Round.  Erin and Maks did the Paso Doble. It was a little more modern than most and really good.  Bruno and Carrie Ann liked it, Len didn’t so much.  Score: 10-9-10=29.

Nicole and Derek - the Cha Cha Cha danced to Prince! It was funky and fun and interesting.  I wonder what Len the traditionalist will say?  He liked ti!  Scores: 10-9-10=29.

Chad and Cheryl - the Samba.  Quick on his feel, hips looked good, shirt was open and then it was gone for his solo. WHAT A BODY! Len isn’t going to be happy. Len can not understand why shirts disappear but thinks he did a great job.  8-8-9=25.

Evan and Anna - the Paso Doble.  His solo was spectacularly ice-skatery-perfect.  The dance was so sharp and so crisp.  It was great. As Bruno said, strong yet artistic. Carrie Ann loved it. And Len liked it!  Scores: 10-10-10=30.  

Great night, great dancing.  The fans’ votes will tell the tale!