'Dancing With the Stars': Soaring Without Double Axels
Can you imagine Kristi Yamaguchi growing up with these judges? Control your arms! Learn how to use your legs! Pay attention to your posture!
Oh, wait. She did -- only far more intense. (Trust me, I've covered figure-skating coaches up close and personal.)
Shannon Elizabeth dances with Derek Hough. (Kelsey McNeal - ABC)
So really, is it any surprise that Kristi proved she is about 19 steps ahead of the rest of the competition in her very first dance? She's not just a classically trained figure skater; she's an Olympic-gold-medalist figure skater.
(First of two disclosures here: One, I hate figure skating. Go ahead, start flinging the "it really is a sport" yada yada at me -- hey, I never said it wasn't a "sport." It's just not my toast. I can, however, claim the credentials of someone who has seen figure skating live at Olympics and other world-class events, watched endless practices and am well aware of how much body control and grace and power is needed to excel.)
That said, if Kristi did not show fantabulous upper-body control, I would have been stunned. Thank heavens for the other contestants that no lifts are allowed in the competition. If not, this case would be closed. Double axel in a dress and heels, anyone?
(Full disclosure No. 2: I adore Monica Seles. I covered some of Seles's Grand Slam victories, when she was a spectacularly talented giggle-fest, a girl who couldn't contain her joy when Bloomies closed down the store early so she could shop longer in the accessories area. Seeing her 10 ages later was stunning -- oh, to age as well as she did.)
Seles hates the pink confection of a dress they put her in, and she must admit her lowest-score-of-the-night is deserved. But couldn't they have paired her with a taller partner? Is it just me or is she wearing very low heels in order not to overpower Jonathan?
Favorite part of the night: the judges' remarks to Shannon "American Pie" Elizabeth. Bruno calls her a "sexy minx." And the really good part: Len tells her that if she's gonna wear that short short short a skirt (basically, she wore bloomers and fringe), then her "legs have to be exactly right." Which, they all concurred, they were not. (Not the legs, of course, but the turn of them).
As for the the others, enthusiastic, talented Marissa Jaret Winokur ("Hairspray") lit up the stage with the enthusiasm win of the night, but got the kiss of death from Carrie Ann, who referred to her as having "sass." Priscilla Presley set up a virtual dance-off with Jane Seymour (of Season 5) for the whole how-hot-and-fabulous-you-can-be-after-50. Only, yowser, Priscilla is going to turn 63 while this show is on, so, well, how can anyone compete with that?
Then there's Marlee Matlin, who proves to any (idiotic) disbelievers that her deafness won't be a factor. Someone should have better scripted the judges' introductory comments to her first post-dance analysis, though, because it was unsettling to hear them all make some sort of "wow-you-can-do-this-you-are-an-inspiration!" comment, all of which came off as condescending. Oh, and Marlee is paired with the new guy, Fabian Sanchez -- who seems great and all, but really, is there any replacement for Maksim?
On to the results:
Kristi Yamaguchi: 27
Priscilla Presley: 24
Marlee Matlin: 22
Shannon Elizabeth: 21
Marissa Jaret Winokur: 18
Monica Seles: 15
-- JENNIFER FREY
By Jennifer Frey |
March 19, 2008; 9:01 AM ET
Dancing With the Stars
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Posted by: Minnie | March 19, 2008 10:00 AM
I think this season looks really great. I was surprised at how well Priscilla danced but I'm not sure I can stand to look at her face much longer. It doesn't move! It's like a mask! Why do women think plastic surgery is better than aging gracefully!
Posted by: a fan | March 19, 2008 10:32 AM
I, too, am a HUGE Seles fan but I wonder if she has enough of a fan base to compensate for the low scores she got. I really don't think her dance was as bad as Adam Corrolla's--I think the judges were too harsh on her. Maybe they're punishing Jonathan for that doll dance w/ Marie.
I'm not sure what to make of Jaret Winokur, either. I expected better of her. Maybe it was a combination of her over-exuberance and Tony's odd choreography, tho. (Seriously, the judges don't seem to like Tony much, do they?)
Either way, I expect one of these two ladies isn't going to be around too long into the competition.
Posted by: | March 19, 2008 01:13 PM
Kristi also skated pairs before going solely "solo" (and then winning the gold). And she still skates the occasional ice show now (she's married to a hockey player and they have a couple of kids).
Posted by: WDC 21113 | March 19, 2008 01:47 PM
That's right--she skated w/ Rudy Galindo. I'd forgotten that!
Posted by: | March 20, 2008 01:35 PM
I love Fabian, but it is just unreasonable for anyone to think of him as a replacement for Maks. I dearly miss him on this season of DWTS, but hope he will be back next time around. No one has as much talent or charisma as Maks!
Posted by: elle | March 30, 2008 02:23 AM
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I think Monica wore low heels (she might as well have worn flats) because she could not walk in heels, let alone dance!