Las Vegas Weekly

September 28, 2010 · 10:55 AM

DWTS photos: Grey, Patridge, Massey and Palin(!) lead Week 2

By Don Chareunsy

Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovolani on ABC's Dancing With the Stars on Sept. 27, 2010.

Photo: Adam Larkey/ABC TV

By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor

It’s Week 2 on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, America’s most-watched TV show, and David Hasselhoff has left the building. The 11 remaining couples perform either a quickstep or a jive, and judge Bruno Tonioli deems one of the contestant’s jives the worst he has seen in all 11 seasons of the competition.

Ouch. Even worse than Kate Gosselin?!

NBA legend Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke’s jive to ZZ Top’s “Tush” receives 21 out of 30 from the judges, with Len Goodman and Carrie Ann Inaba labeling Fox a “contender.” The score is all the more amazing considering Fox’s career-ending foot injury and two big mistakes in the routine, with Burke covering up nicely for the duo. Fox’s actress girlfriend Eliza Dushku is cheering him on again in the studio.

TV icon Florence Henderson, the most senior contestant at age 76, and Corky Ballas’ quickstep to K.T. Tunstall’s “Suddenly I See” nets 19/30. The judges call her lovely and light on her feet, and she hugs each one of them. Singer Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s jive to BoB and Rivers Cuomo’s “Magic” receives 21/30, and the judges describe the singer as sloppy, taking a step back and able to do better. Brandy throws her pro partner under the bus, and her attitude toward Chmerkovskiy in rehearsal to the live show is less than endearing.

In the evening’s most painful moment, singer Michael Bolton and Chelsie Hightower’s jive to Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” earns a paltry 12/30. They, too, fight in rehearsal. Bolton is not a naturally gifted dancer, and even the normally forgiving audience is lukewarm. Tonioli barks softly, “I think this is probably the worst jive in 11 seasons,” prompting boos from the audience and a strong objection from Goodman. The celebs and dancers boo the scores, which include a 3 from Tonioli.

Reality TV star Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovolani’s quickstep to Girls Aloud’s “Love Machine” earns 23/30, with Inaba calling it fantastic and Goodman deeming it the best of the night so far. For whatever reason, Dovolani said in rehearsal that he’ll wax his legs if the routine doesn’t receive all 8’s. Tonioli gives the couple a 7.

Actress Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough’s high-energy jive to Metro Station’s “Shake It” receives 24/30. Inaba calls Grey a “sexy, hot, energizing bunny,” and Tonioli calls it “wicked.” Hough and Grey understandably collapse in exhaustion after the dance, and Grey looks like she’s in pain during the scoring. Oddly, there’s booing right after the scores are presented, then host Tom Bergeron chats with former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has praise for everyone, including daughter “Bristol the Pistol.” (Methinks the audience was booing Palin, as there is no applause after Palin is done talking.)

Comedian Margaret Cho and Louis Van Amstel’s jive to Blondie’s “Dreaming” earns 18/30. Her adorable parents are overjoyed with her performance. Cho tells Goodman, “I gave this everything I have.” All three judges hand out 6’s, but Cho deserves a 10 for effort and her positive attitude. Disney Channel star Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer’s quickstep to Weezer’s “I Want You To” receives 22/30. They are this season’s youngest couple. Tonioli tells Massey, “As a performer, you are a powerhouse of boundless energy.” “Welcome to the new school of quickstep. You were on fire!” Inaba exclaims. “It lacked any style, but I liked it,” Goodman sums up.

NFL legend Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya’s jive to Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” scores 21/30. After calling him the crazy uncle at the wedding who’s had a little too much to drink, Inaba offers a compliment, telling Warner that he has great musicality. “Last week it was the outhouse, this week it’s the penthouse,” Goodman says. “This is a cool guy who does a cool jive,” Tonioli says.

Reality TV star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Karina Smirnoff’s quickstep to Brian Setzer’s “We No Speak Americano” earns 18/30. Goodman starts out the critique with, “It was a series of unfortunate events,” and ends with, “You did a good job -- better than last week, so well done.” The Situation is taking a lot of drubbings, but he’s handling the, ahem, situation with a surprising amount of humility.

In the final dance of the night, Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas’ quickstep to The Supremes’ “You Can’t Hurry Love” receives 22/30, the biggest improvement among the competitors from last week. Inaba compares Palin to one of her favorite dancers, Kelly Osbourne, and says she has a “vulnerable, endearing spirit.” Their high scores surprise them. I’m surprised, too; she was worse than Cho and The Situation.

Prediction: Unless TV viewers feel really sorry for him (and weirder things have happened), Bolton will have to bolt.

Check back right here at Vegas DeLuxe tomorrow for Mr. Vegas DeLuxe Robin Leach’s recap of tonight’s results show, which features performances by Seal and Janelle Monae, and a new photo gallery.

P.S. Bergeron announced during the show that Brad Womack, who is in the audience, is returning to The Bachelor for another attempt at finding love. And here are the latest odds by Johnny Avello, Wynn director of race & sports book operations, after last night’s episode, for entertainment purposes only:

Grey and Hough, 3 to 1; Fox and Burke, 4 to 1; Patridge and Dovolani, 6 to 1; Warner and Trebunskaya, 7 to 1; Massey and Schwimmer, 8 to 1; Brandy and Chmerkovskiy, 12 to 1; Palin and Mark Ballas, 14 to 1; Henderson and Corky Ballas, 25 to 1; Cho and Van Amstel, 30 to 1; The Situation and Smirnoff, 35 to 1; and Bolton and Hightower, 125 to 1.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

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