Dancing With The Stars: Melissa Keeps On Chugging Along - Here's The Rankings Rankings and Commentary by RTVC Senior Staff Writer Joseph Braverman
May 7, 2012
William Levy and Cheryl Burke Current Ranking: 1 Previous Ranking: 1
I wasn’t particularly fond of Cheryl’s Viennese Waltz choreography, but her ballroom routines never especially get to me. I felt like William was a little trapped with this routine, and you could tell he was begging to stretch his performance skills out. Just because the Viennese Waltz is an intimate and vulnerable dance doesn’t mean it has to be so closed-off to the point of absenting passion and emotion. This was not my favorite routine of William or Cheryl’s, but this Latin lover hasn’t made any serious mistakes to jeopardize the security of his first place ranking. This is still William’s to lose, but I do hope he and Cheryl avoid going the boring route next time.
Katharine Jenkins and Mark Ballas Current Ranking: 2 Previous Ranking: 2
I still love Katherine as a dancer, and as a person, but I grow less and less invested in her as a contestant who I want to win. Yes, her technique is spot on and pretty much flawless, but there is something lacking when the pair perform. Whether it’s their lack of chemistry or lack of passion on stage, there is definitely some form of disconnect I’m having as a viewer with this couple. So long as Katherine continues to showcase fine technique, her scores will always keep her away from certain doom. I just wish I felt the same feelings I first had when Katherine made her introduction so many weeks back. There was something fresh and joyful about her and the way she danced, but now I look at the pair and feel as if they are a beautifully moving wall of ice. Katherine has the potential to get back in my good graces, but Katherine may need to sacrifice precision and technique in order to get there. Nobody likes a stiff.
Maria Menounos and Derek Hough Current Ranking: 3 Previous Ranking: 4
Maria, boy do I love this woman. I wasn’t paying much attention to her in the beginning, focusing instead of Katherine, but now Maria is the one I want to win. After so much hard work, especially not being a trained or natural dancer, she is doing amazingly. This week’s dance fully deserved a perfect score, and I hope the perfect thirty signals to all the other competitors that Maria is no slouch. She has the talent, drive, and passion to win this whole thing. Yes, Derek is a fantastic choreographer, but his routines would not look quite as beautiful and dynamic without a partner who could cope with such intricate choreography. Being a television host/reporter, I’ll always worry about Maria’s fan base, but she’s certainly a better dancer than Erin Andrews, and has the charisma to make it all the way. I even have come around to her annoying laugh. Maria, you have my vote.
Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd Current Ranking: 4 Previous Ranking: 3
I wasn’t quite as enthused with Donald this week as the judges were – he’s been so much stronger in previous weeks. His footwork was sloppy, his turns were messy, and his facial expressions contradicted the tone of the music. Donald always gives a great effort, and he should continue to remain in the final four. It just frustrates me seeing him take a step back, because I have seen him dance nearly as strong as William and Roshon in the past. Donald just didn’t do it this week, but with the judges and fans behind him, his momentum is not stopping anytime soon.
Roshon Fegan and Chelsie Hightower Current Ranking: 5 Previous Ranking: 5
I’ll give credit where credit is due. Apparently, ABC has been talking to Roshon about his annoying on-camera antics and told him to calm down, because how else do you explain his sudden inability to squeal like a four year old kid on Christmas? While Roshon finally got his cloying personality under control, his Argentine Tango was one of his weakest dances yet. I did not understand what Carrie saw. All I was able to make out was some fancy lifts, some awkwardly placed feet, and a strange interpretation of the classical music. I won’t fault the pair for having to dance to a classical version of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.,” but I just was expecting to see a lot more from Roshon. After so many trips in the bottom two, I cannot imagine he’ll be safe next week during the double elimination.
Melissa Gilbert and Maksim Chmierkovsky Current Ranking: 6 Previous Ranking: 7
Melissa is a fighter, but now with the competition winding down the way it has; it’s very hard to overlook Melissa’s flaws. In fact, her imperfections have become even more noticeable each week. Or is it that she’s just running out of steam and performing to a lesser quality than we’ve come to expect? Whatever the reason, there is no way Melissa deserves to break up that strong foursome. They have worked their butt off, and haven’t been carried along by the popularity of one major show in the lives of many American television viewers. Look, Melissa is sweet and has a tenacity few see these days, but enough is enough. She is the weakest dancer and performer, and so it would be truly a crime for Melissa to go any deeper in the show. She’s made it further than any imagined, and now it’s time to hang up the ballroom shoes for the season. Melissa is a fantastic person with an amazing outlook on life, but her greatness as a person should not supersede stronger dancers who have proven their worth.
Jaleel White and Kym Johnson
Finished 7th
And that is all for the week seven rankings of DWTS Season 14. Tune in next week to see which celebrity jumps ahead of the pack, which one surprises, and which one tanks enough to make us shake our heads in utter embarrassment. I cannot wait. Can you?
As always, follow me on Twitter @JBAwardsCircuit, and feel free to email me at jbravj@gmail.com or Joseph@realitytvcalendar.com. Please as well check the site I work on, www.awardscircuit.com. I want to know everyone’s favorites and if I’m totally off-base or spot-on with my rankings!
Gladys Knight and Tristan MacManus
Finished 8th
Gavin DeGraw and Karina Smirnoff Finished 9th
Sherri Shepard and Val Chmierkovsky Finished 10th
Jack Wagner and Anna Trebunskaya Finished 11th
Martina Navratilova and Tony Dovolani Finished 12th
Joseph Braverman is a 22 year old graduate with a Bachelors of Arts in Film and Digital Media from the University of Santa Cruz, California. Aside from being a Reality TV junky, he loves reading, watching films, and spending time with friends and family. You can contact him at jbravj@gmail.com or at Joseph@RealityTVCalendar.com.
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