'Dancing': Sugar and 'Spice' and Ditching the Nice

So last night was the semifinals. Which meant that everyone brought their "A" game:

Marie's got no shimmy in her shake and she's still cheesy, cheesy, cheesy, but she worked with what she had: continuing in her quest to get acquainted with her hips, losing bits and pieces of her costume along the way. You go, Marie! Shed that obnoxiously squeaky-clean Osmond image!

Jennie discovered her inner sex kitten and kicked those (seemingly manufactured) self-esteem issues to the curb, scoring her first-ever perfect 30. Maybe it was her trip to Disneyland and the pas de deux with Mickey Mouse that did the trick. (Is there nothing these folks won't do to grab votes?) And both Mel B and Helio continued to dominate, both scoring two perfect scores each for the night.

Nobody dances better than Mel B -- did you check out those walking splits in her Viennese waltz? -- but Scary Spice is seriously sartorially challenged. What was up with that burgundy lace-up catsuit with the long, chiffon train? Just typing that description makes me shiver. The horror.

The newly reunited Spice Girls show up to promote their upcoming tour. I mean, to show up and show support for Mel B. As she said, "My schedule continues to be cuh-ray-zee." But all her Spice Girls are watching the show. They're very "very suh-poor-tiive." Gotta love that Leeds accent.

Helio's cute, Helio's charming, Helio -- if we are to believe the folks voting on AOL.com -- is going to win the big one. But Helio's got it easier than the others. Part of this is just the nature of ballroom dancing, where the woman is showcased while the man plays a supporting role. And in Julianne, he's got a spectacularly showy partner. Which means that while she's twirling and grand battement-ing and grand jete-ing, he does a chasse' or two, just spins her around, shakes his hips a bit, cocks those dimples and fires. Standing Os all around, the judges lay on the praise, and Helio takes home yet another perfect 10. It doesn't seem fair. And I like Helio.

-- TERESA WILTZ

By Teresa Wiltz |  November 20, 2007; 12:06 PM ET Dancing With the Stars
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