‘Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars’ recap: Triple the pleasure

We’re one week away from the “Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars” semifinals, and the stakes are higher than ever. This week, each of the remaining seven couples had to perform two whole dances: an individual ballroom dance with a military theme in honor of Veterans Day and a Latin trio performance with another professional or troupe member added to their group. If that wasn’t pressure enough, all the stars knew they were facing a double elimination this week.

Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani have had their best two weeks ever. They were the big swing dance marathon winners and scoreboard leaders last week. And then they added two perfect scores to the mix! And to think: Melissa was afraid that the only place to go after being in first place is down. Their quickstep, set to the Andrews Sisters’ fun, upbeat “Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy” was a great big burst of patriotism set to song. Loved their sailor outfits and how Melissa woke a sleeping Tony with a bugle.

“That was the bees’ knees,” Len proclaimed. Bruno likened it to “watching Ann Miller and Gene Kelly in ‘On the Town.’” “I salute you guys!” Carrie Ann exclaimed. “You’re on fire!”

PHOTOS: ‘DWTS: All-Stars’: Who’s been booted?

There was no waning of that fire in the trio dance, when Melissa and Tony invited troupe dancer and choreographer Henry Byalikov to their paso doble party. Melissa doesn’t usually take charge, but the paso needed her to nail the dominatrix role, and she did with great gusto (the driving beat of Adele’s “Rumour Has It” no doubt helped), even screaming out in the middle of the routine like a champ.

Len said Melissa transitioned seamlessly between Tony and Henry: “You were like a Frisbee being passed from one to another,” and said of all the celebrities, “you impress me most.” Bruno called her a “jaw-dropping whip-cracking queen bee … the passing from boy to boy was a thing of beauty.” Carrie Ann simply said, “I love seeing you so in control out there. You owned that paso.” And that second perfect 30 sent Tony off into paroxysms of delight. “I’m having the best time of my life right now,” the Albanian stallion roared. Go Tony. You deserve it. Total for last week and this week: 99 out of 100.

Shawn Johnson was still having partner issues. Sure, the Olympic gymnast was coming off a perfect 30 last week – except it was with her old partner, Mark Ballas, and not her current partner, Derek Hough. Derek’s neck injury has recovered enough so he could dance again, and he insisted he wouldn’t mind if they didn’t get a perfect 30 this week, so long as they honored the troops.

They did come close: Shawn and Derek’s lovely, lilting Viennese waltz showed a lot of emotion, with Shawn ably playing an “Angel” who helps lead hopeless soldier Derek back into the light. “Sometimes a whisper is louder than a shout,” said Len. And while the head judge wanted a little more in hold, “it was poignant, it was gentle, it was fabulous.” Bruno called it “heavenly perfection … the shapes and figures were absolutely exquisite.” Carrie Ann praised Shawn for turning into a “beautiful, rich, in-depth performer.”

Ooh, but their samba trio with Mark Ballas had the judges singing a different tune. Derek and Mark were really intent on pushing boundaries even though they knew that the tribal elements were going to put them at risk. What they accomplished was pretty awesome: There was great precision and sync and mood.

Tom knew that the trio was “taking a real risk on that one,” and the look of Len biting on his pencil said it all. “The problem was, I thought the two of you were very self-indulgent. … There was very little samba content,” the head judge complained. “Shawn, if you go home tomorrow, don’t blame me, blame these two.” “Even I have to admit it wasn’t a samba,” Bruno said. Though he did say that “as art, it was completely fantastic” and “I have jungle fever.” Carrie Ann disagreed with the two of them, saying the (small amount of) samba that was there was “executed with perfection.” “Sometimes you have to take a risk,” she defended. Shawn and Derek received a 29.5 for their Viennese waltz and a 26 for their samba trio with Mark (brought down by a ridiculously low 7 from Len). Two-week total: 93.5

It’s another week, which means another heart to heart between Kelly Monaco and Valentin Chmerkovskiy. This time, Kelly’s been frustrated and getting down on herself in rehearsal. But Val turned on the encouragement and the charm and they Viennese waltzed it out (beautifully) to Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be” in a swath of yellow and fog. Val was dashing, Kelly’s dress flowed nicely. There was a nice turn and collapse on the floor under the stars at the end.

Len, however, thought “it was a bit sharp on occasion,” and when Carrie Ann protested, he huffed at her, “I have my standards, and she has none.” Bruno called Kelly “a twinkling twirler” with “wonderful drive.” Carrie Ann said she loved the “commitment to movement.”

Kelly and Val then invited Louis Van Amstel to their fortress of solitude for their jive trio. While Val and Kelly might know each other ”deeper,” Louis said he and Kelly have known each other “longer.” But Kelly spent equal amounts of her jive with both partners, generously offering kisses to both Val and Louis … and also to head judge Len at the end. “Well, I like the end,” Len said. As for the dance, it had the “F” factor: fun, fast, flamboyant. Bruno called Kelly a “swinger” who held it together. Carrie Ann thought the transitions were “seamless” and “amazing.” Kelly and Val received a 28 for their Viennese waltz and a 28.5 for their jive trio. Two-week total: 92.5

Emmitt Smith had to work a little more on his upper body and posture for his Viennese waltz. And after the critical drubbing he got last week, he went to fellow Dallas Cowboy and good pal Daryl “Moose” Johnston for a pep talk. Basically, Moose told Emmitt to get in touch with his competitive nature and make history. “Somebody’s got to do it, right?” Emmitt said, smiling. “Why not me?” And his waltz with Cheryl Burke was very dapper, yet sweet, with a letter projected onto the floor to go along with “Love Letters Straight From Your Heart.”

Carrie Ann thought it was “very smooth, very festive,” but she pointed out a slip, “I want to see you push yourself – I want to see more impact from you,” she challenged. Len said Emmitt “puts the ‘oo’ in ‘smooth. … I like the balance in hold and out of hold.” Bruno pointed out the light stumble, but “overall, it was very very nice,” he said. “You interpret it in a very classy way.” Total: 28.

Emmitt and Cheryl took it to the next level with their trio salsa, featuring fellow Mirrorball winner Kym Johnson. Whereas the salsa with Gilles is like a ménage a trois, a salsa with Emmitt was one big party, with a lot of hip shaking, booty smacking and a twirl of girls at the end. “Last time you were sort of in a comfort zone,” Carrie Ann began. “This time you were in a red hot jalapeno spicy salsa zone! … Boy can, you handle your women!” Bruno credited Emmitt for conquering salsa’s “constant flow of sensuality” so naturally. Len said Emmitt was “like working two yo-yos at the same time … great rhythm and musicality.” Emmitt and Cheryl received a perfect 30 for their spicy salsa, made doubly worth it when Kym and Cheryl jumped up and down with such unfettered joy. Two-week total: 92.5.

Gilles Marini is feeling his ranking slip, so he and Peta Murgatroyd are taking the highway to the “Danger Zone” for their quickstep. Gilles really is a maverick who wants that the perfect score. Peta wants the beautiful big wingspan and technical prowess. Gilles is even willing to have his head taped to his arms to find that technical perfection. Gilles and Peta looked Top Gun cool in their black flight suits (though, true to form, Peta had the back cut out in hers). And they were cool under fire for what might have been the quickest quickstep in that ballroom. “Talk about quickstep!” crowed Bruno. “You crammed so many steps in such a short time. Definitely Top Gun!” Carrie Ann thought it was almost Top Gun, but not quite. “There were a few little slips in his feet,” she complained. “This wasn’t cupcakes and ice cream — this was thunder and lightning!” Len boomed. Len also threw down a 10.

Gilles wanted to create a lot of friction for his and Peta’s salsa, so they invited fellow hot tamale Chelsie Hightower to join in their ménage a trois (he’s French, you see). Chelsie and Peta were like twin blonds with flowers in their hair fighting over the affections of a bare-chested, hip-swiveling Gilles. Bruno admired Gilles’ intention to take care of the ladies, “but you lost timing a couple times.” Carrie Ann agreed. “Your musicality was a little off,” she pooh-poohed. Though “I love how you came out and took control of the dance floor.” Len ventured into dangerous double entendre territory with his comments. “I thought you exposed yourself. … You weren’t hiding behind these two, you were out there doing it,” the head judge said. “It was full on, right there. Well done.” Gilles and Peta received a 29.5 for their quickstep, and a 29 for their salsa trio with Chelsie Hightower. Two-week total: 92.

“Oh, sweet Moses!” Apolo Anton Ohno and Karina Smirnoff are through playing it safe, and Apolo has decided to conquer his fear of heights and zip line from the skybox to the other side of the dance floor in an effort to be footloose and fancy free. And that little push of momentum was just what the dance doctor ordered, because Apolo powered through that tango, set to Bonnie Tyler’s “I Need a Hero,” with hair slicked back and guns a blazing.

“Our first ever zip line entrance,” Tom proclaimed. Bruno called it “a daredeveil of a tango … those guns are fully loaded for maximum firepower.” Carrie Ann also loved it. “Your lines were ridiculous,” she said. “You were attacking her, you were saving her, I wanted to be Karina.” Len said Apolo was “my hero … you came out and danced with verve and passion,” though he said the hold was a bit wonky at times. Apolo’s treating every single week like it’s their last.

Apolo and Karina took a risk with their second dance, employing troupe member Sasha Farber instead of a female pro for their jive trio. Bruno said it was a real risk, because Apolo had to mirror a pro throughout the entire dance. But Apolo was very much up for the challenge. And really, didn’t it seem like the Olympic champ came into his own during this program? It was like all the elements fused together so he could finally put his hat into the competition.

“You conquered this brilliantly! It was like watching twins!” Bruno said. Carrie Ann called it “your most vibrant performance.” “It was fast, it was sharp, it was tight, and it was together,” Len said. “That’s what you want in a jive.” Apolo and Karina received a 29.5 for their tango, and a 29 for their jive trio. Two-week total: 91.5

Sure, last week’s quickstep/samba breakdown wasn’t their greatest moment, but Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy aren’t quitters. Kirstie still has a glimmer of hope that she can win (“I’m not here to lose”) and Maks likened them to “that little engine that could.”

Kirstie really got into her Viennese waltz this week: “It’s an emotional dance that depicts reverence to our military,” she said. “That’s why I like it.” Set to Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and displaying great movement across the floor, the judges proclaimed it her best of the season. “I thought the musical interpretation was beautiful, your line are gorgeous,” said Carrie Ann. Bruno thought it was very “stylish” and “elegant.” “Hallelujah!” Len proclaimed.

Kirstie sure knows how to choose ‘em, doesn’t she? She selected “perfect little Irish angel” Tristan MacManus for the third in hers and Maks’ paso doble trio, set to Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life.” They all showed up in wings. And it was how Tristan said: Kirstie and Maks are “not the most by the book, but it’s ‘foon.” Sure, Carrie Ann thought it was “a little sloppy.” Len said it “lacked a bit of finesse here and there,” and Bruno said “it was a bit like watching ‘Valley of the Dolls.’” But Kirstie got to dance in a gorgeous man sandwich, and she who laughs last, laughs best (even though it prompted Tom to re-dub the series “Delirium With the Stars.”). She wins. Kirstie and Maks received a 27 for their Viennese waltz and a 24 for their paso doble trio with Tristan. Two-week total: 79.

Alas, which puts Kirstie very much in danger of being one of two couples eliminated on Tuesday.

What do you think, ballroom fans? Think Shawn was judged too harshly by Len for that tribal samba? Is Melissa in danger of following Sabrina’s shocking elimination? Which couples do you want to see make it to the semifinals?

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