downtoearth

sorry to jump in couldnt resist agree have stayed. Kelly, I htink has always had trouble keeping weight. Rumor has it , her and Val are an item. I saw Tom Bergeron speak at my D's college. some asked him if Kelly and Val were ,,,, It. and he said "lets just say they have great chemistry" he was quite entertaining, BTW as expected.

Consolation

I'd say that the producers want a Shawn (of course....) and Emmit final. With Derek Hough as her partner, she is virtually assured the win. He's the best choreographer, and he knows how to use what she can do to the max. And even I have to admit that she has grown significantly as a dancer, and no longer depends entirely on tricks. If she wins this time--why am I even saying "if" --she will deserve it.

Gilles should not have been eliminated. I'm not really surprised, though, because you could see his scores being edged down just a tiny bit: enough to get him eliminated but not enough to make it obvious that he was being deliberately underscored. (No way did Tony and Melissa OR Emmit deserve 10s...) I love Kirstie, but it was past time for her to go.

Val and Kelly are either a couple or great actors. I agree, Youdon'tsay: I want Kelly's body.

ellemenope

I was surprised to see Gilles go. But his momentum has been fading, just as Melissa's has been going up. Would rather have seen Emmit or Apolo go...I really thought he'd be in the final.

So the finals will have four couples instead of the usual three? We have Kelly, Melissa, Apolo, Emmit and Shawn in the semis...

soozievt

I would rather have had Emmit go than Gilles. I think Gilles is a better dancer than Emmit. Emmit is a very likable guy. He moves well, particularly his torso, but otherwise is not that much of a dancer. I guess this show rests a lot on fan bases.

ellemenope

Definitely fan bases are key this season. There isn't a lot of difference in the judges scores between the top and bottom of the leader board (once Kirstie goes).

Youdon'tsay

Elle, another double elimination this week.

ellemenope

Eek, another 2 to go? That is going to hurt!

Youdon'tsay

Bumping for commentary ...

Agree with Carrie Ann that Melissa's tango was better than Shawn's and am glad she identified for me what bugs me about Shawn, which is a lack of connection with the dance and music.

limabeans

My favorite couple is Apollo and Melissa. Can't stand Kelley and Val. They're just too lovey-dovey, which I find very distracting to watch. Not a fan of Shawn either. Sure she has great moves, but she lacks elegance. I feel almost badly for Emmit, like it's ostracized somehow. Plus, he always seem to have the same moves for every dance. I miss Gilles.

missypie

I love Apolo but thought he was overscored on the last dance where he did a lot of standing and walking.

LOVED Shawn's first dance. Limabeans, as for lacking elegance....that's probably why her body type is not the idea body type for a dancer. I think "long and lean" is perceived as more elegant than short and stocky. I also thought the second costume was embarassingly revealing. But still love her.

abasket

Yes, Shawn's second outfit - seemed that one side was held together by a thread!!!

Carrie Ann seemed ornery tonight - something tells me she huffed off that stage afterwards away from her fellow judges (she is not a favorite of mine...)

Apolo being my favorite, I cross fingers for him to make it to the final, but know things could go anyway.....if not Apolo, I will root for Melissa - she is the package deal - great attitude, skills, and presentation. Shawn is good no doubt, but her personality and confidence is starting to wear on me.

ellemenope

Oh Shawn's second outfit--eeek! I think Shawn has made miles of improvement since her first time on the show, when her bounciness and tricks worked magic. The person I've become impressed with was Melissa! She was good before, but she seems to have turned on the afterjets about half way through this season.

I found it interesting how affected Shawn was by her "failed comeback." I also wonder what she is going to do with her life (after DWTS). College? Gymnastic coach? Something completely different?

momof2kids

I thought Shawn's outfit was too revealing too and I am sick of Val and Kelly's lovefest. I also agree that Apolo was overscored. I think Emmit and Kelly will go home tonight. I hope Melissa wins. Shawn is really good, but I think Carrie was right about being all technique and not music connection. Apolo and Emmit do a lot of standing while the pros dance incredibly around them. When this show first started, I thought it would never survive the first season. I was so wrong! That Tom Bergeron is a great host.

ellemenope

Tom Bergeron is a definite 10!

missypie

I think Carrie Ann is sick of being interrupted and contradicted by Bruno.

The critiques at this stage are interesting. On So You Think You Can Dance, the contestants want to be professional dancers; on American Idol, they want to be professional singers. Thus, one hopes that the judges will make serious critiques that might help the contestants actually improve. But at the semifinals stage of Dancing with the Stars, constructive criticism tends to just sound like justification for a lower score. Apolo and Emett are doubtless already far better dancers than their fellow speedskaters and retired football players...are they really going to internalize the advice?

I also wonder what Shawn is going to do. (By the way, Carly Patterson was recently married. Celebrity Weddings: Olympic Gymnast Carly Patterson is Married! At 24, she's about to finish her associate's degree at a local community college.)