Halloween Night: Week 7
Tricks and treats are ahead this week on “Dancing with the Stars.”It’s Week 7, and I’ll let actor and Army veteran J.R. Martinez explain what this means: “The pressure is on!” He says there’s a lot of stress and this week, he’s really feeling it.Part of the reason they’re feeling it is because they are not only doing a solo Halloween-themed dance, but they are also doing a group dance. And this group dance gets a score that’s added to the individual score. But more on that later.And yes, because it is Halloween, Brooke Burke and judge Carrie Ann Inaba are both in costume – Inaba as a cat. The band and singers are also in costume. I was disappointed that judge Len Goodman didn't dress up.This week, Martinez and his professional partner, Karina Smirnoff, danced to “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr. It’s from the movie of the same name. They were the second couple to perform. Martinez was a ghostbuster in a gray jumpsuit, and Smirnoff was a ghost in white. They did the tango, which Smirnoff pointed out in the practice clip before the dance is a very serious dance, and quite the opposite of the fun “Ghostbusters.”The performance is OK. It doesn’t seem to have the same joy that his previous performances have. It might be because, as Bruno Tonioli pointed out later, Martinez missed some steps.From the judgesBruno Tonioli: “Bewitched, conquered and swept away by ghostly beauty,” he said about the performance, but noted that Martinez lost his timing a few times. His score: 8.Carrie Ann Inaba: “I think you captured the tone of this piece perfectly. … You were very precise and sharp without being overbearing.” Her score: 9.Len Goodman: “For me, this was substandard to what I expect from you. … You forgot to work on your feet.” His score: 8Total score: 25.Martinez told Burke after that: “Everyone here deserves to be here. It’s tough now. The competition, you have to step up. To do a tango is not easy; you have to push yourself.”Martinez was the captain of Team Tango, the group dance. The team also included David Arquette and Nancy Grace and their partners. I don't really understand the purpose of the group dance. I thought the point of the competition was that each star was judged on his or her own performance.Team Tango performed to “Disturbia” by Rihanna. This was a lot more fun than his original performance. The judges didn't agree.From the judgesGoodman: “Each one of the individual dances was a disaster.” 7Tonioli: “I had to agree with Len.” 8Inaba: “It’s true… [but] overall it was very nice.” 8This score, 23, was added to Team Martinoff’s earlier performance, bringing them to a score of 38.The other team is Team Paso Doble. Team Paso – Ricki Lake (captain), Hope Solo and Rob Kardashian – got a score of 26.While Martinez was tied for second with Rob Kardashian, before the group dance, he's in fourth when that score was added together. (As a side note, Kourtney Kardashian, with boyfriend Scott Disick and their son Mason, was the only Kardashian in the audience Monday night.)
Update: Week 7
"Dancing with the Stars" competitor J.R. Martinez made it through another elimination. He admitted, though, it was a tough performance, saying, "Ghosts busted me."Martinez's Team Tango teammate David Arquette was eliminated from the show.There are three more weeks of the season; the finale is Nov. 22 in the U.S.On Tuesday, Martinez was named Grand Marshal of the 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade. It will be in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 2 and is televised. He will ride in the parade and toss the coin before the Rose Bowl Game.“When I was first asked to be Grand Marshal of the Tournament of Roses festivities by President [Rick] Jackson, I was speechless,” Martinez said in a press release. “To be able to participate in this iconic American tradition on New Year’s Day is something I could only imagine. I believe everything happens for a reason, and I’m grateful the events of my life have provided me with the opportunity to share my message of hope and possibility on New Year’s Day.”
Follow Martinez on Twitter @knowjr. Follow Danielle L. Kiracofe on Twitter @dorogaya26 and e-mail her at kiracofed@stripes.osd.mil
