They are giving the stars creative control of the dances this week.

Keep all discussion of this fresh hell on this thread until the West Coast uses the last of their brain bleach.

• Intro,Snidget, 08:03 PM, 10-08-12
• Drew and Anna,Snidget, 08:06 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Drew and Anna,Snidget, 08:09 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Drew and Anna,zookeepertx, 08:19 PM, 10-08-12
• Giles and Peta,Snidget, 08:17 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Giles and Peta,Snidget, 08:20 PM, 10-08-12
    • RE: Giles and Peta,Sagebrush Dan, 02:54 AM, 10-09-12
  • RE: Giles and Peta,zookeepertx, 08:20 PM, 10-08-12
    • RE: Giles and Peta,millie, 01:02 AM, 10-09-12
• Melissa and Tony,Snidget, 08:28 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Melissa and Tony,Snidget, 08:34 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Melissa and Tony,zookeepertx, 08:36 PM, 10-08-12
• Apolo and Karina,Snidget, 08:38 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Apolo and Karina,Snidget, 08:42 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Apolo and Karina,zookeepertx, 08:48 PM, 10-08-12
• Kelly and Val,Snidget, 08:50 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Kelly and Val,Snidget, 08:53 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Kelly and Val,zookeepertx, 08:54 PM, 10-08-12
    • RE: Kelly and Val,millie, 01:07 AM, 10-09-12
• Kirsty and Max,Snidget, 09:00 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Kirsty and Max,Snidget, 09:04 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Kirsty and Max,zookeepertx, 09:07 PM, 10-08-12
• Sabirina and Louis,Snidget, 09:07 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Sabirina and Louis,zookeepertx, 09:13 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Sabirina and Louis,Snidget, 09:15 PM, 10-08-12
    • RE: Sabirina and Louis,Sagebrush Dan, 02:51 AM, 10-09-12
      • RE: Sabirina and Louis,Round Robin, 09:39 AM, 10-09-12
• Emmitt and Cheryl and Equus a. asinus,Snidget, 09:21 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Emmitt and Cheryl and Equus a. asinus,Snidget, 09:24 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Emmitt and Cheryl and Equus a. asinus,zookeepertx, 09:28 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Emmitt and Cheryl and Equus a. asinus,Sagebrush Dan, 02:52 AM, 10-09-12
    • RE: Emmitt and Cheryl and Equus a. asinus,Round Robin, 09:36 AM, 10-09-12
• Helio and Chelsie,Snidget, 09:32 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Helio and Chelsie,Snidget, 09:34 PM, 10-08-12
    • RE: Helio and Chelsie,zookeepertx, 09:40 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Helio and Chelsie,Belle Book, 12:14 PM, 10-09-12
  • I called it.,qwertypie, 05:56 PM, 10-09-12
• Bristol and Mark,Snidget, 09:38 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Bristol and Mark,zookeepertx, 09:41 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Bristol and Mark,Snidget, 09:46 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Bristol and Mark,zookeepertx, 09:48 PM, 10-08-12
• Shawn and Derek,Snidget, 09:54 PM, 10-08-12
  • RE: Shawn and Derek,Snidget, 09:59 PM, 10-08-12
    • RE: Shawn and Derek,Belle Book, 12:17 PM, 10-09-12
  • RE: Shawn and Derek,zookeepertx, 09:59 PM, 10-08-12
    • RE: Shawn and Derek,millie, 01:09 AM, 10-09-12

LAST EDITED ON 10-08-12 AT 08:03 PM (EST)

Tom's talking to the disembodied british voice over guy, and Brooke is promising bomb shells.

Fumes from the AI cup vat across the hall?

What did Kirsty do to Maks!

Redoing Iconic dances from seasons past, and with livestock.

Joey and Ashley's Cha Cha to Crazy in Love.

Doing it like a concert, with pyrotechnics, or something. Yikes!

He wants her to unleash her inner stripper, with B-boy moves in the Cha Cha.

They are trying to kill Len.

Very high energy.

Len. Not an easy dance, you got that balance, like the concept and content, overall terrific.

Bruno. The good girl goes Magic Mike. The power drill.

Carrie Ann. Creative direction was move, loved the sexy Anna, good cha cha moves tight and precise.

Scores 8 - 8 - 8 24/30

Loved that! Very fun & energetic!

Harnessed up and hanging in mid air for the video package.

Giles decides to be respectful and not take anyone who is on the show's dance. Erin and Maks' Tango.

Sweet Dreams
Eurythmics.

LAST EDITED ON 10-08-12 AT 08:25 PM (EST)

one of the few time I was really sure the male star was leading the pro. Had a lot of intensity to it.

*spreads extra pillows*

Bruno. Can fly in and out of any bed you chose. 50 shades of Giles, lost footing a couple of times but great.

Carrie Ann. If Peter Pan had looked that good. Dramatic nuances were amazing. Out of sync, hold in a little tighter.

Len. Hold could have been tighter, I liked the menace throughout. Got a little bit cranky.

Scores when we come back.

8.5 - 8.5 - 8.5 25.5/3

I'm a hardcore Gilles fan, but that was sorta meh. Lacked his usual dark intensity.

Wow, that really underwhelmed me. Too slow & not very sharp. Snoozefest!

Okay, didn't care for this dance

JR's Samba to Conga

Keeping in a trick as it is All Stars, can't stay safe.

LAST EDITED ON 10-08-12 AT 08:36 PM (EST)

Confetti everywhere.

Carrie Ann. That was fantastic, the salsa drops, samba rolls, scared on the chacada's alone.

Len. That is what I am talking about, like a can of cola. This is knock out.

Bruno. Shake me take me anyway you want me. And you did it like a star.

9 - 9 - 9 27/30

I really didn't think it was worth 9's.

Don't know the names for any of the elements, but that was awesome!

Using a couple of the troupe in the dance. Made up like statues.

Giles' Foxtrot to Fever.

Len: Great musicality, all the accents, little cleaner placement of feet, a bit more in hold.

Bruno. The muse brought back to life, classic, you tense slightly you hands on the long glide.

Carrie Ann. Memorable dances, stunning. How the whole number came together. Beautiful arms. The way you were leading, all right there.

3 stars chose other star's dances. Apolo says wanted to get to his inner sexy. Wanted to try something slower, most going high energy.

9 - 8 - 8.5 25.5/30

YAY! Love me some Apolo!

She had the week off. So had full time to work on this.

Paso Doble. Maks and Laila's.

"Les Toreadors"—Georges Bizet

Bruno. Defining performance, dancer and actress. He's tingling.

Carrie Ann. Val and Kelly you are the couple to watch. Magical chemistry. Smacked its booty.

Len. The focus you had. Your arms have to be as expressive as your face, beautiful musicality. Where have you been?

9 - 9 - 9 27/30

I thought that was the best of the night, so far! Turning out to be a great show tonight!

Kelly and VAL! Loved their dance. VAL really out did his older brother in this dance tonight.

Bomb Shell 1.

Guest Judge next week. Paula Abdul

Tom says Rambo the Musical.

Carson's Move Like Jagger Cha Cha

She tells him how tight his pants will be and he is worried about Standards and Practices.

Mini cooper on stage. I didn't know anyone could make Maks look like a girl, but Kirsty's done it.

Carrie Ann. Thank you, that was the most fun. Cha Cha your best dance.

Len. I want the celebs in charge of the choreography every week. It was the whole package.

Bruno. Fully loaded, nearly busted a gut. Extra from Boogie Nights. Most fun.

Maks. Mom I'm sorry.

8 - 8 - 8 24/30

Maks sure played his part to the hilt, didn't he? LOL!

Maks and Mel B's Paso to Free Your Mind, it was dedicated to her.

She doesn't want to break the rules.

Performing after the break.

Sabrina's dress gives her a massive uni-boob!

The cut out with the illusion on her body suit is distracting.

Len. Full of risk. Full of great technique. Twist Turns beautiful.

Bruno. Maximum....like you were leading Louie.

Carrie. This week all about the creative concept, felt like we've seen you do this many time. Need an element of surprise. Outstanding dancing.

Len. I didn't expect anything like this, they have wowed us. People it's brilliant.

8.5 - 8.5 - 8.5 25.5/30

I understand the judges' frustration that she wasn't "creative" enough, but those low scores are disgusting. Rip off!

Len expected too damn much. Sabrina is a singer and a dancer, not a creator.

Mario and Karina

"Cancion Del Mariachi"—Desperado Los Lobos & A Banderas

LAST EDITED ON 10-08-12 AT 09:28 PM (EST)

I guess the Donkey was only for the promo.

Bruno. The raging bull was back. The fight, so tough, snarling. Like a demon. Watch your shoulders they do go up. Back into the game.

Carrie. Emmitt is back in the house, human torpedo man. Lines nice, a little far back. Nice job.

Len. Scared the life out of me. You have presence, dominate the floor. Tad more finesse. Caught up in the whole atmosphere of the attack.

Scores after the break.

Donkey didn't like the crowd.

8.5 - 8 - 8.5 25/30

Glad they didn't actually use the donkey during the dance; would have terrified the poor critter!
That said - GO Emmitt! That was great! A lot better than Gilles' was.

I respect those who love Emmitt's style, but I just don't get it. Never have. Dull and paint-by-numbers. Oh well.

Dan, the simple fact is that Emmitt is not now, and was not on the season he won, the best dancer in the competition. But the judges like him, and a lot of viewers like him. So he gets overscored, and he gets overvoted. He and Cheryl understand his popularity, and they do what they have to do to make the most of it. He will last several more weeks.

Quickstep by Apolo season 4.

Apolo stops by. Says he is honored.

Mr. Pinstripe Suit"—Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

LAST EDITED ON 10-08-12 AT 09:35 PM (EST)

That was fun. Other than that bobble with steping over her.

Carrie Ann. So good. The Quick Step King. All the joy you are comes out. Got caught in the dress.

Len. This dance deserves to be back next week. So good.

Bruno. Started with a blast. After the slip of the dress, we have to see it agin.

They will be picking dance styles for other couples. Some of the lesser known styles may be in the mix.

Scores 8.5 - 8.5 - 8.5 25.5/30

It was good, but nowhere near the quality of Apolo's routine from his season. Nobody's ever come close to those "running leaps" they did!

I liked the song because Carly Patterson did her floor routine to that song when she won the all-around gold in Athens, but I felt sorry for Helio and Chelsie when they had that bobble. Sadly, I didn't feel sorry enough to vote for them.

I knew as soon as I saw them practice and then saw her dress that it was much too long for the routine. I wonder who had final say on the costumes.

Mark bummed and energy low. And he says her energy is off, and she thinks that he is bummed to have her. Guess he missed a rehearsal, and she thinks he wants to go home. She walks out.

Perform after the break.

Awww, crap. WTH, Bristol? Don't make me bail on you completely! That conversation was just stupid!

LAST EDITED ON 10-08-12 AT 09:47 PM (EST)

Paso Doble. On a Chessboard

If they praise this I am going to get all stabby.

Len. Plenty of attack, more content than any dance you have done.

Bruno. The ice queen with a killer streak. Look better than ever.

Carrie Ann. Proving yourself a worthy competitor. More dimension in your expression.

*cue Psycho Shower Music*

stabby stabby stab stab.

7.5 - 7.5 - 7.5 22.5/30

Maybe they should fight before every dance! That was the best she's ever done. Weird! (Although I wouldn't go so far as to say she "proved herself a worthy competitor")

Helio's Quickstep

"Hey Pachuco"—from The Mask (film)

do you think they killed any of the band when they fell into the pit at the end?

Bruno. The incredibles, unforgettable. The best dance in 15 seasons. Broke the rules, but I'm never going to forget this.

Carrie Ann. You gave me happy feet. I do have to slam you for the breakage of the ruleage.

Len. Your ability to interpret music into movement. I appreciate how fantastic, we had to drop a point to Bristol, have to do the same.

BOOOOOS

I never enjoyed a routine more. You can do what you like, I have to be honest.

ATT Spotlight performance and double elimination, dance pickage tomorrow.

9 - 8 - 9.5 26.5/30

Well, at least Len enjoyed the routine. That said, I wanted to give him a major thumbs-down -- and did! I called in all my votes for Shawn & Derek -- and used 4 of my online votes for them (the other 7 I gave to Gilles & Peta, who are my second favorite couple).

Man, that was AWESOME!! I don't think they can call anything they did lifts, because I'll bet you money that Shawn could do any of those moves without Derek, LOL! She looked like she was having SO much fun!

Shawn and Derek! Their dance was great!