This was the week when Carrie Ann, Len, and Bruno took back a little more power from the people on Dancing With the Stars. (Given what happened on The Voice this week, apparently mistrusting the will of your audience is a hot TV trend for 2012!)
Yes, instead of the couple with the lowest combined total of judges’ scores and viewer votes getting eliminated, Week 5 of DWTS‘ 14th season found the Bottom 2 couples engaged in a results-show dance-off.
Here’s how things played out:
Bottom Two Couples
Jaleel White and Kym Johnson
Gavin DeGraw and Karina Smirnoff
Cha Cha Dance-Off!
Jaleel & Kym: “There’s no way I’m going home,” said Jaleel in his pre-recorded package, and he reiterated that belief by delivering the opening line of the Dreamgirls‘ anthem “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” when asked if he’d expected to wind up in the bottom two. “And if it was a singing competition, that might help,” joshed the quick-witted Tom Bergeron. To sum up the couple’s Cha Cha in 10 words or less: Loose and limber. That “through the legs” maneuver sealed the deal.
Gavin & Karina: “Jaleel’s more talented than I am,” admitted Gavin when Tom probed the rock star’s pre-dance-off psyche. “I bet you’re wishing this was a singing competition!” said Tom, who really needs an Emmy. To sum up the couple’s Cha Cha in 10 words or less: The knee-walk was cute, but geriatric. What’s under the hat, sir? Adieu!
And then it was unanimous: The judges voted 3-0 to save Jaleel and Kym.
Gavin, for his part, never stopped smiling, praising his pro partner and noting the DWTS experience brought him closer to his family. “This gave us something to talk about,” he said with his trademark enthusiasm. You can’t say he’s not a class act.
What did you think? Did Gavin and Karina deserve to get booted? If not, who should have been eliminated? Sound off in the comments!
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