Dancing with One Less Star

Okay, I know that most of you don't do ballroom dancing (your loss), and that few of you follow the TV show Dancing with the Stars (Strictly Come Dancing in the UK). Just bear with me for a few minutes, for I feel a rant coming on that joins these two topics...

For those of you unfamiliar with the Dancing with the Stars concept, the basic idea is this: a group of professional ballroom dancers is matched up with a group of B-list stars, and the couples compete against each other throughout the season in the various ballroom and Latin dances. Each week, the scores of the three judges are combined with the votes phoned, e-mailed, or texted in by fans, and the lowest-scoring couple is eliminated. The last couple standing at the end of the season takes home the cheesy mirror ball trophy.

Got that?

Okay. Here's my question: What are you people thinking???

Last night, with the competition down to five couples and the semifinals looming next week, rapper Lil' Kim and her professional partner Derek Hough were eliminated.

I was positive that champion cowboy Ty Murray and his partner Chelsie Hightower would be eliminated.

Now, don't get me wrong. I think Ty Murray is clearly the most-improved celebrity on the show. He's done a fabulous job is an arena that is way outside his comfort zone. But there's just no way he should have beaten out Lil' Kim this week (or any week, for that matter). I don't see how the energetic and hyper-talented Lil' Kim could have lost out to the hard-working but wooden Ty Murray.

Sigh.

The competition this season is unusually fierce. All of the couples are doing fantastic jobs, and the four couples who enter the semifinals next week are each deserving of their position and fully capable of winning the competition. I think the finals will pit Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani

against Cheryl Burke and Gilles Marini

And I also predict that Tony and Melissa will take home the trophy.

Of course, I predicted Ty Murray would go home last night, so why should you listen to me?

So...

No deep thoughts this morning...just the excitement of watching some really, really good dancing.

And being disappointed at some of the results.

Maybe they'll call Agnes and I for next season...


Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo