Julianne back for tough night of dances on 'DWTS'

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

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dancing with the stars, tv listings

Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness News

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Julianne Hough was back on "Dancing with the Stars", but it was for one night only! She served as a guest judge. I would just like to add, that I thought it was awkward the way they showed the contestants standing there smiling as the pros did their opening number. However, then they did a judge's intro which revealed Julianne as a guest judge, and her serving alongside Bruno and Carrie Ann only. I wonder where Len is?

Jack and Cheryl were up first with their Quick Step. Jack was very light on his feet and had a lot of speed which was great! I think he may be able to hold his arms a bit stronger in his frame. He did a great job overall I thought and seemed to have some fun with it. Julianne said that it was a big improvement over last week, but that he needs to seem like he's having more fun because he seemed too focused. Bruno said the footwork was incredible and he kept up the pace, but Bruno noticed a gap in his frame. Carrie Ann said that actually she liked his frame and thought that he seemed more animated this week than last week so she didn't really agree with either of the other judges.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann 8, Julianne 8, and Bruno 8, for a total of 24 out of 30.

Elizabeth and Val were up next with the very exciting Argentine Tango. Elizabeth is so intense! I love the character she brought to this dance. Their turns were so quick and yet fluid at the same time. This dance was amazing to watch, and I think they're going to get some very high scores! Bruno said that she's "done it!" He added that she did it right and she should be proud of herself. Carrie Ann said that she loved what she did with the story and it was so powerful and every movement has meaning. She loved the sharpness she added as well. Julianne said that she's one of her favorites from day one and she got chills immediately.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Julianne 9, and Bruno 9, for a total of 27 out of 30. I would have given it a 10!

Grant and Peta had the Salsa complete with lifts! Woo hoo! I love when the dances have lifts! Grant suffered a tear in his shoulder from an accident a few years ago and was having major troubles with the lifts during rehearsals. Shake it Grant! He came out shaking his hips! Just when you think it couldn't get any better, he took off his shirt! Some of the passes were a little awkward, but the dance was very, very fast and extremely high energy. Carrie Ann said that she thought the lifts were fantastic. However, she said that when you take off your shirt, it's very revealing and she could she he was moving his arms kind of the wrong way when he was Salsa dancing. Julianne said it was awesome when he took off his shirt and she threw it out there that she's single now, but that she agrees with Carrie Ann. She wanted to see the dance tighter and with less sloppy feet. Bruno said that he's a brazen party animal, but he agreed it was lacking some control.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann 7, Julianne 7, and Bruno 7, for a total of 21 out of 30. I think that's a wee bit low!

Valerie and Tristan hoped to improve off their pretty terrible score from last week. This week they danced the Viennese Waltz. It started off very graceful and she looked lovely in her gold gown. But then, she lost her place! I think she may be freaking out about her mistakes from the other week and just wants to do so well that she might be pressuring herself a little too much. She also nearly slipped but Tristan had her back along the whole way. I think she'll probably get more 5's or possibly a 6 or so from the judges. Julianne said that the lines were great and it was stunning, and that when they are together they are a team and when they are alone, there's vulnerability. Bruno said that there were some really beautiful poses but he noticed her slip and she should just act it and not show the mistakes so much. Carrie Ann said that watching her touches her heart but that she agreed with Bruno.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann 6, Julianne 6, and Bruno 6, for a total of 18 out of 30.

Leah and Tony followed with their Cha Cha Cha. I felt like the dance had a bit of a slow start but then they turned it up once they got down the stairs and hit the actual dance floor. She didn't seem as confident this week as she did last week. It's almost as if she needed more rehearsal time or something. Not totally sure. But she looked really great and it was a fun dance! Bruno said that she has it but she needs to stretch through the ball of her foot to get more of sharpness. Carrie Ann said that she was in the zone but she needs to make the movements a little stronger. Julianne said that she had strong footwork but said that maybe the shoes made her feet appear to be not as flexible. She also agreed with Carrie Ann that there's a disconnect between her face and her body.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann 8, Julianne 8, and Bruno 8, for a total of 24 out of 30.

Get ready for perfection. Corbin and Karina were up with their Paso Doble. He showed an immediate strength in his arms and he had very sharp movements that conveyed his intensity. Then his shirt came off! It's no shirts night! That dance was amazing! Carrie Ann said that she loved it (as the crowd screamed and cheered) and that he was so perfect but that his arms were just a little low and he needed a little more openness. Julianne said that she is glad he didn't do any gimmicks because he was perfect without them, but that his hips needed to be under more. Bruno said it was the clear essence of Paso Doble, but that the Spanish lines come from under the hips. He added that it was an incredibly powerful performance.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Julianne 9, and Bruno 9, for a 27 out of 30. Darn, should have been 10's!

Snooki and Sasha danced the Jive as cheerleaders. It had a lot of bounce and the cheerleader theme really worked with the dance, they even did matching backflips. She did seem to get slightly behind Sasha at one point in the dance but kept it going and didn't show that she was having any trouble. It was a good dance! I'm thinking 8's. Julianne said it was so "you" and that she is performing now but the flicks and kicks needed to be sharper. Bruno said that her performance level has grown beyond recognition, but that it reminded him a bit of a lindy hop. Carrie Ann said that she had little T-Rex arms at one point, but they went away so it was great overall.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann 8, Julianne 8, and Bruno 8, for a total of 24 out of 30.

Cristina and Mark danced their first ballroom dance, the Foxtrot! They were totally in synch and looked very glamorous. She looked like a Hollywood starlet. It was very steamy for a Foxtrot! I thought it was very good though! Bruno said that she was very strong and it was fantastic but that she needs more control in her holds. Carrie Ann said that in general she needs to work on her shoulders riding up, but she performs the heck out of these numbers. Julianne said that she was hoping for more of a softer side rather than the sexy side, but she would like to see another side of her. Their Scores: Carrie Ann 8, Julianne 8, and Bruno 8, for a total of 24 out of 30.

Amber and Derek danced the Tango. I love their style, they were made to dance together! I loved the passion, but could totally see Derek counting or telling her dance steps as they went along. It was actually a little distracting to me, but as for the dancing, it was near perfect! Carrie Ann said that she was in fine form and that they were connected and like one person out there. She said that she noticed her work that she did on her footwork. Julianne said that she was hoping something would go wrong so she could give him a bad score but honestly she was questioning if their pizazz would work and it was like a tight little explosion! Bruno said that it was pure, classic, amazing tango and that she's a magnificent dancer.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Julianne 9, and Bruno 9, for a total of 27 out of 30.

Finally, Bill and Emma danced the Samba. I love how into the dances he gets. It's so fun to see him just let go! He even had a little slink throughout his body. He's really improving week by week and I hope we get to see it continue! Julianne said that the audience really loves him and that he is the heart of the show. He has a quality about him like a dad and her favorite person to dance with is her dad. Bruno said "shake your maracas" and that it had everything you could wish for in a Samba except timing and rhythm. The audience booed that one! Carrie Ann said that she wasn't sure what kind of Samba it was it had a strange bounce but that everyone loved it anyway.

Their Scores: Carrie Ann 7, Julianne 7, and Bruno 7, for a total of 21 out of 30. Not as impressive as their triple 8's last week. Fortunately, they were safe to go through to next week, so that was a nice surprise for them!

In the end, it was between Grant and Valerie, and sadly it was Valerie Harper and Tristan McManus that got eliminated. Valerie did the very best that she could and it was amazing and still better than I can dance, but it wasn't enough to keep up with the amazing dancers this season has to offer. Tristan was so sweet and said that his life is better since meeting Valerie.