Survivor, Ep. 31.11

Orkun Camp
Lots of shocked reactions all around! Fishbach of course is over the moon! This was the ray of sunshine that he was looking for. He told Jeremy that he has his back. That's exactly what Jeremy wanted to hear. Jeremy told Spencer that he is fine and he doesn't want him to worry. He said he would have done the same thing for him. Spencer is pretty sure that he's being lied to. He thinks it might be time to jump ship.

I think, if after that bold move behind everyone's backs, if everyone doesn't sit back and think about seriously considering going after Jeremy, they will regret it. If this move goes "unnoticed" and they don't "deal with it", I think they are just handing the game over to him. They should be really scared right now.

Fishbach is annoyed at himself for being so out of the loop and totally not seeing that coming. He is shocked how blindsided he was. He thinks he knows the game so well and he had no idea what was going on for the first time in either season. His feet are beginning to get more infected and they look really, really horrible. They are swelling and he can't walk at all.

Reward Challenge...AT NIGHT!

Survivor, Ep. 31.10

Starting this recap off a little different tonight. I just had to share the screen capture below in preparation for tonight's 2 episodes!!!

Each week there is a Survivor Power Ranking in which former Survivors (different each season) and Gordon Holmes rank the remaining players in order of how safe they think they are for the upcoming episode. The person at the bottom is most likely to go home. Points are awarded for who goes home and what place each person has them in. So, this week, for the first time, EVERYONE has put our Joe in the bottom. (And rightly so, if we're being honest. I mean, 4 individual immunity challenge wins in a row would be epic.) I found the comments this week interesting (especially Mike's warning) and really funny.

Column one is Jenn Brown; middle column is Max Dawson (who included comments from last season's winner, Mike Holloway, and also Kelly Remington and Sierra Dawn Thomas, both also from last season); and finally the last column is the blog writer, Gordon Holmes. Click here to see the entire ranking.

Here's to hoping they are all wrong! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving (and also my birthday), and I'm hoping that one of the things that I will be able to be thankful for is Joe making it past 2 more episodes! Wishful thinking, I know, but a girl can dream. P,S. if you're thinking of getting a last minute birthday gift for me, a new heart might be in order, because I'm sure tonight's 2 episodes are going to give mine a major workout, and if Joe goes home, it could end up a little broken,

And now, on to the recap!

Orkun Camp
Jeremy thinks he, Spencer and Fishbach can come back to their "power group" to take out someone like Ciera. He has some damage control to do with Tasha - whom he didn't tell he was flipping. She said they get one time of keeping her out of the loop, and that was their one time. Joe is kind of mellow (maybe just tired and not fully comprehending what just happened)...but really pissed and trying not to lose his cool. The 3 guys confess to Joe and Tasha that they flipped.

Again, the camp life is yucky because of non-stop rain. They look so miserable! Keith cracks me up - he said he woulds stay out there 50 days to win a million dollars. He said it was NOT fun, but going on a cruise is fun! Fishing is fun! lol Keith..the comic relief!

Reward Challenge

Dancing with the Stars, Ep. 21.12 & 21.13: Finale

The Finals!
I literally am so scared to find out who goes tonight! I am worried for Nick since he was in jeopardy last week, and then had the night's lowest scores on top of that. I hope that people are voting for him and not just expecting him to be safe. I hope him being in jeopardy was enough to scare people to get off their butts and vote! It needs to be Nick and Bindi as the Final 2! With that said, Carlos better be #3, and Alek better be going home. I'm sorry the "hero" vote has got to end and we need to be putting the best dancers in the final 3.

Round 1: Judges' Picks

Carlos & Witney - Foxtrot
Mentor: Bruno
He looks so dapper! I love his connection with Witney during the dance. There seemed to be lot of different dance styles incorporated into this foxtrot. It had so much sexiness that it felt like a rumba or an Argentine tango. I really enjoyed it, but I hope the judges saw enough foxtrot.
Score: 30 (his 1st perfect score!)

Alek & Lindsay - Rumba
Mentor: Carrie Ann
He was still too stiff at times, but I think he did loosen up some from what he usually does. He was right, he just can't get into that romantic place with Lindsay. He nailed that the week he did the rumba with Emma, but the connection could have been so much stronger. It was really nice, but I think the choreography was way too easy for this stage of the competition. I hope the judges score him appropriately.
Score: 27

Nick & Sharna - Jive
Mentor: Julianne
I'm so excited to his him tackle the jive again! He had a slip-up the first time and the timing was off...I KNOW he can do it so much better this time (as long as he doesn't let his head get in his way the way it did last week). His speed is so much more on-point than it was in week 2 when he did this last. He was in his L"Nick" groove and he was feeling it! I sure hope the judges don't see anything wrong with this, because I think it's flawless! He is hitting absolutely every beat! He even had a great jump off his back on the floor! He was on fire..as red-hot as Sharna's hair! And then he ran so fast up the stairs that he left Sharna behind! How in the world did he have that much energy left!
Score: 30

Bindi & Derek - Quickstep
Mentor: Carrie Ann
Poor Derek...now he's so sick! Can he ever be 100% healthy? Look at Miss Bindi as a headliner! I didn't think they could do a quickstep any quicker than the first time they did it, but I should never say "never" with Derek! This thing was insanely fast! What a fun, jam-packed routine! She is simply amazing. And she always has so much fun and you can see it all over her face. I don't know how she can have so much fun, bubbly energy and not show exhaustion, at al! She's just such a joy. Flawless! She sparkles even more than her dress!
Score: 30

Round 2: Freestyle

The Voice, Ep. 9.18 & 9.19

Top 11

Team Adam

Shelby Brown
"You and I" by Lady Gaga
Interesting choice, but a good one (finally!). She did a really good job with this song. Her big notes on "you and I" were done really well and were really strong. She held out the notes beautifully with just the right about of vibrato. She was mostly in tune with the exception of the end of the song, which is an unfortunate place to be off.
My Score: A-

Amy Vachal
"Blank Space" by Taylor Swift
OK, another really interesting song choice. And I'm so glad that it's another current song. This one is more upbeat and poppy, which I love...it keeps her from being so snoozeworthy. Dare I say, I actually liked this performance? Never thought I would say it! I won't say that I'm blown away, but I like that she brings something new to songs like this that we've heard so much and done in the same way. I wish she would be just a little less breathy and a have a little more oomph behind what she's singing.
My Score: B+

Jordan Smith
"Who You Are" by Jessie J
This is going to be a little different than what we've heard from him, but he's going to rock it. It's another song that really has a deep meaning for him. He just doesn't hit a bad note, does he?! Those high notes are just incredible. He's so powerful, so emotional, so pitch-perfect. Again, nothing bad to say about it. Total goosebumps again, as usual.
My Score: A+

Team Blake

Survivor, Ep. 31.9

Each episode that passes, the probability of Joe going home dramatically increases. He's already won 2 immunity challenges in a row. How many more can he win? Yikes! Here we go!

Orkun Camp
Everyone congratulates Wentworth on her big move. Everyone wondered where she found her idol, but smartly, she kept her lips completely sealed.

Kimmi tells Joe that one of the 3 girls must go next - they are the 3 witches...haha! She said they can't let them get close to Jeremy and Tasha because that wouldn't be good.

Jeremy, Fishbach and Keith wonder how Wentworth found her idol. They know she must have found a clue. Jeremy has an idol, but he knows he needs to find the rehidden one to be in control.

Joe knows he has to find the idol in order to have any chance of staying. Honestly, he doesn't seem to be looking as hard as he should be. Abi creeps up on him and said she had to go to the bathroom where he was looking and she asked him to give her 10 minutes. Really?! So lame, Abi! But Joe, why did you give in to her?! That is not the way you're going to find this thing. Oh, how I would love to see Abi go home tonight!

Reward Challenge

The Voice, Ep. 9.16 & 9.17

Live Playoffs, Week 2

This was a rough week...there were not too many performances that I actually enjoyed. There were more painful performances than ones that gave me goosebumps. I really missed a few really good singers that we lost...*cough* Blaine, *cough* Keith, *cough* Viktor...I could substitute any one of those 3 in place of people like Amy, Evan, Mark, Madi, Barrett...

Team Adam

Amy Vachal

“Hotline Bling” by Drake

OK, put this in the column of songs I wouldn't even consider for Amy. Nice to see her trying something different and she's even playing the electric guitar. Wow, so interesting. I am so glad to see her trying something current rather than something very outdated, even though I hate the song. I have to say her version of the song is actually much better than the original. This was a very interesting performance, and much better than anything we've seen from her so far. But...I'm still not a fan.

My Score: B+

Shelby Brown

"In Color" by Jamey Johnson

This was a good performance, but I wasn't blown away. She seemed to be singing off of the beat, which was kind of weird at the end. It felt like she was really over-singing and forcing it at the end. I didn't care for the very last line of the song where she sang it really high...just didn't work.

My Score: B

Jordan Smith

"Great is Thy Faithfulness" 

Whoa...did NOT expect him to sing a hymn like this! His connection to the song almost brought me to tears! It was just him on the stage, and it was so powerful. He started out a cappella and it was amazing. There are really no words to do this performance justice. And then a hug from Adam at the end just sealed the deal. Can we just crown him the winner already? After losing 2 people who could have potentially won this thing (also from Team Adam: Blaine and Keith), there isn't anyone except for maybe Jeffrey, who has a chance of beating him.

My Score: A+

Team Blake

Dancing with the Stars, Ep. 21.11

Cast Update: Unfortunately, Tamar's illness was much worse than they originally thought. Last week, she was admitted to the hospital before the show, and managed to make it back for her second dance. After the show, she went back to the hospital for more tests. They found blood clots in both of her lungs. The seriousness of this forced her to withdraw from the competition. Therefore, no one else will be eliminated this week, and the remaining 4 pairs will move on to the finale next week. 

Round 1

Bindi & Derek – Salsa

Bright pink! You sure can't miss them! Such fast moves and fast lifts. She looked like she was having a blast. She ended by crowd surfing...what fun! Great routine! I think she has gotten so much more flexible than when she started. She is really becoming quite the dancer and it is so much fun to watch.

Score: 27

Alek & Lindsay – Waltz

Her dress is gorgeous! This dance really suits his rather stiff style. He's got great lines and dances in hold very well. Nothing outstanding about this dance, but it was nice.

Score: 30

Carlos & Witney – Contemporary

Yes, shirtless Carlos! Interesting hanging rope prop in the middle of the floor. He is really bringing the drama and facial expressions in this dance. I've noticed a lot of improvement with this in recent weeks. He's really going for it and not holding anything back. I love the aerial work and him spinning on the rope at the end! That was insane! He was spinning so fast!!! We've never seen anything like that on this show before, except for maybe in a finale freestyle event. That was so cool! I loved everything about this performance! I can't believe Carrie Ann didn't get it and thought that he overacted it. What?!

Score: 28

Nik & Sharna – Tango

He looks so hot in all black! Love Sharna's dress! There was a weird section at the middle where they just stopped and mouthed the words of the song to each other and Sharna appeared to be giving him a little pep talk. I don't think that was planned. Not quite sure what that was all about. I feel like the beginning his feet were getting away from him. I hope the judges like this because I think he messed up. I wanted to love this, but I'm afraid it kind of went wrong. He will come back from it, I know he will. That's a shame. Come on Nick, you can do it!

Score: 24

Round 2: Dance-Off

The Voice, Ep. 9.15

Live Playoffs: Top 12
24 singers are cut down to 12 - 3 singers cut from each team (2 voted in by America and 1 chosen by the coach)

Team Adam
Just so you know, this is going to be a killer for me. Like an absolute killer. Adam put together another extremely amazing team this year. Can we please keep 5 and get rid of a bunch of Blake's or Pharrell's? I will be devastated if Jordan, Blaine, and Keith don't make it! I have to go with those 3 because I love them so much, but it will be hard to lose Shelby and Chance as well. I can definitely do without Amy. Please, oh please don't let me down America, and Adam! I'm so sorry I couldn't vote for these 3! That will make me even sadder if any of those 3 go, since I missed the show and couldn't vote :(

Voted Through: Jordan and Shelby
Saved by Adam: Amy

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!!!!!!!! There are not enough "no"s for me to scream at my TV right now! Please tell me we did not just lose BOTH Keith AND Blaine?! And for a singer that can put an insomniac to sleep?! I am beyond disgusted right now. Like, you don't even know. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? It was simple, 3 incredible guys to pick from out of 4 and you choose the ONE you shouldn't?! Seriously?! Adam, I usually stand by your choices, but this was so wrong! And now I feel so terrible, because I missed Monday night's show and missed the window to vote for the 2 guys that I had a feeling might be in jeopardy. We all knew Jordan was going to make it...I wasn't worried about him at all. Ugh! OK, rant over....just know I'm going to be pretty upset about this one for awhile.

Team Blake

Voted Through: Barrett and Zach
Saved by Blake: Emily Ann

Wow, that was a tough one! 4 girls left, and all 4 were good. I think even as good as Nadjah was, it came down to Emily Ann and Ivonne. And yes, Emily Ann is the country one, so really not that difficult to guess. I guess I'm just surprised that the 2 guys were the ones who America voted through.

Team Gwen

Voted Through: Jeffery and Braiden
Saved by Gwen: Korin

Wow! I really expected her to save Regina. I wish she would have saved Viktor, but I'm OK with Korin. I'm so glad to finally be rid of Regina. Sorry, she's good, but I'm over her screaming.

Team Pharrell

Voted Through: Madi and Evan
Saved by Pharrell: Mark

Woohoo! I was so hoping he would save either Mark or Riley. I really didn't want Darius or Celeste moving on. He dragged it on for what seemed like forever, but he he made a good choice.

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Survivor, Ep. 31.8

Orkun Camp
Savage is on a mission. He wants to get the Ciera's and Abi's out of the game. He thinks they are planning a big move and he wants to offset whatever they're planning. Good luck with that.

Ciera realizes she is on the bottom of the totem pole. She is hoping Fishbach will work with her because he also wants to make big moves. She wants to convince him that now is the right time. We all know he is out for Joe. Ciera brings this up to him. Crap.

Reward Challenge
Challenge: divide in 2 teams - paddle to crates and put in boat; stack crates so no repeating colors on any side
Reward: trip to a cafe for caffeine and sugar treats
Flashback: this challenge was lost by Wiglesworth who "lost to the guy who couldn't swim", which was Gervase

Green: Wentworth, Joe, Keith, Kimmi, Ciera, Wiglesworth

Purple: Tasha, Savage, Spencer, Jeremy, Fishbach, Abi

Wiglesworth's boat is having problems just like last time. Joe pushes the other team way off course, as they have to criss-cross to get to their crates!

Spencer falls in after getting a crate! Oh no! Joe and Keith working well on the other side.

Spencer's boat is floating away and he has to really swim to get it there. Meanwhile green has all 4 crates and are at the beach.

Joe takes a crate all by himself! The others double up to carry the crates. Kimmi tries to roll one but doesn't get it very far.

Green has a big lead, but it's all about getting the puzzle now. Joe is a beast lifting those crates!

Jeremy, like Joe muscles a crate all by himself for purple.

Spencer thinks he's on to something...they had repeating red on one side!

Green thinks they have it and they do!

Reward

The Voice, Ep. 9.14

The Live Playoffs, Night 2

After all the performances are done, I realize that EVERY single singer that I'm super excited about and love..are ALL on either Adam's team or Gwen's team. There are a few people on Blake's and Pharrell's teams that I really like, but the ones I love and would want to vote for are on Adam's and Gwen's teams. Interesting.

Team Blake

Ivonne Acero
"One of Us" by Joan Osborne
This is a great song choice for her. Overall, it was a really good performance. It kind of bothers me how she pronounces some of her words, but vocally, she did great. She had some amazing notes at the end.
My Score: A-

Morgan Frazier
"Lips of an Angel" by Jack Ingram
So, I don't know the country version of this song, but I do not the rock version by Hinder. I like this song, so I'm interested to hear what she does with it as a female singer, singing it as a country song. After hearing it, I'm not really sure that this works as a country song. I'm not really buying what she's trying to sell. I hear some nervousness in her voice and some shaky notes. I think she has a good voice, but this was not her best performance.
My Score: B-

Zach Seabaugh
"Brand New Girlfriend" by Steve Holy
He is just so gosh darn cute! I don't care for the song, but he did an amazing job with it. His voice is really great...even if he is country. He is a great performer and really connects with the crowd.
My Score: A-

Nadjah Nicole - BLAKE'S COMEBACK PICK
"Upside Down" by Diana Ross
Really, he picked her? I really 100% expected him to bring back Blind Joe. We already have Regina, and Celeste, who Pharrell brought back...we don't need her now, too. Gee, I wonder if she's wearing hair extensions? Seeing as in her rehearsals she had like no hair, and now she has hair that goes all the way down her back? Yeah...kind of obvious. I will say that I think it improved her looks though, so there is that. Vocally, I actually liked this performance a lot more than I thought I would. I would say between her, Regina and Celeste, she would be my favorite. This performance wasn't expected, and she did the opposite of what drives me nuts about people like Regina and Celeste. So, way to go Nadjah! I guess Blake made a good decision.
My Score: A

Emily Ann Roberts
"In the Garden" by Charles A. Miles
Not only is she beautiful, but she has the most beautiful voice. I always enjoy her performances. This was an incredible performance. One of the best of the night, for sure.
My Score: A+

Barrett Baber
"I Drive Your Truck" by Lee Brice
I am not a fan of country songs like this. He did a good job with the song, and he's got a great country voice. I'm not blown away, but it was a good performance.
My Score: A-

Team Pharrell

Darius Scott
"Love Lock Down" by Kanye West
Interesting song choice. I think this could be good for him. I like his version, but what I DON'T LIKE is the ridiculously stupid accompanying music! That is usually not a factor in a performance, but the random piano notes that sounded like a 5-year-old just hitting random keys, and at a much too high volume were so distracting! Vocally, he was giving a really good performance. He toned down some of his usually over-the-top runs and saved them for the end this time so they weren't so annoying. Very interesting. I wouldn't say I loved it, or that I was blown away, but I give him props for rearranging the song a bit.
My Score: B+

Evan McKeel
"Overjoyed" by Stevie Wonder
Not a fan of the song. This song is well-suited for his voice, but I'm just not crazy about it at all. Pretty much a snoozefest going on He hit all the notes, and vocally sounded great, but the song needed to be something...anything else. Unfortunaely, I just couldn't wait for the song to end.
My Score: B

Madi Davis
"Songbird" by Fleetwood Mac
I didn't love this song choice. I think it was an OK performance, but not one of my favorites for her. She has some weird pronunciation things with her voice kind of like Ivonne. Vocally, I think she sang well, but I didn't love the performance.
My Score: B+

Celeste Betton- PHARRELL'S COMEBACK PICK
"Something in the Water" by Carrie Underwood
Really, he picked to bring back her? I guess I should have expected that from him. I was really hoping he would bring back little Siahna. I didn't care for Celeste's performance. I didn't see anything great or unique about her performance. She sang loud, but we already have Regina in the competition for that. I don't really see anything different between them. I actually found the loud parts of her performance hard to listen to...kind of made my ears hurt. I had to turn the volume down on my TV.
My Score: B-

Riley Biederer
"Should Have Been Us" by Tori Kelly
I really like her voice. I always enjoy her performances. There really isn't anyone like her in the competition right now. She has a unique sound. She can do so many cool things with her voice.
My Score: A

Mark Hood
"What Do You Mean" by Justin Bieber
This could be interesting. Out of all of Justin Bieber's songs, this is one I actually don't care for. He made it his own and he performed the heck out of it. It's not my favorite performance of his, but vocally, he was still really good. I like the risk he took, and I think singing a current song can only help him. I think his one really high note was not on pitch, but other than that, it was a good performance.
My Score: B+

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The Voice, Ep. 9.13

Live Playoffs begin! Adam's and Pharrell's teams go head-to-head first.

First things first - who else is ecstatic that Adam's hair is back?! Woohoo! PLEASE, Adam - please don't ever shave your head again? I'm not sure how it's possible, but I think his hair looks better than it ever has! Thank you, Adam!

A first for the show - the Coach Comeback! Each coach gets to bring back one of their eliminated singers. Each team has 5 singers, and with one coming back that makes 6. On Wednesday night, we will be finding the Top 12 -- which means that the teams will all be cut in 1/2! 3 will make it, 3 will not! Yikes!

I'm so bummed to be watching this episode a day late, and therefore I can't vote! Yikes! There are definitely some people that I want to move on, and definitely some people that I don't. And I don't even have a say!

Team Adam

Blaine Mitchell
"Never Tear Us Apart" by INXS
PERFECT song! Love, love, love this song and I know he is going to perform the heck out of it! I got goosebumps in the first 15 seconds! Great performance! He's such a great performance, and that voice! Great last note.
My Score: A

Keith Semple
"To Be With You" by Mr. Big
Such an iconic song! Another great song choice, Adam! That song really takes me back! I love that he's playing guitar. I love when he sings the higher notes. Just love his voice so much! And like Blaine, he's such a great performer.
My Score: A

Shelby Brown
"You're No Good" by Linda Ronstadt
She is really proving that she can sing more than just country. She's really good at many genres. I'm glad Adam has helped her see her potential. Regina should really take some notes from her. She is so good at bringing the power but not screaming it in our ears the whole song. Another great performance from Shelby. It is so hard to stay on pitch when you really belt out those loud, high notes, but she does it so well.
My Score: A

Amy Vachal
"The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra
No, no, no. This song is on my all-time most hated songs. Of course it's perfect for her voice, but man, I would love to hear her sing something current. This is just another in a long list of "sleepy" songs she's done. This type of song just puts me to sleep. I like her voice, I just wish she would sing better songs. My score is going to be based on the song more than her voice. Her voice is decent, but performance-wise, I just can't listen to anymore without wanting to rip my ears off. Adam's team is so stacked with talent, and she is easily at the bottom of his team in my eyes.
My Score: C-

Chance Peña - ADAM'S COMEBACK PICK
"Barton Hollow" by the Civil Wars
I'm glad to see Chance back! I was sad to see him go. He's another just young, talented kid this season! I can't say that I've ever heard this song before, but I was digging it. His voice was well-suited for it. I think he did an amazing job. Some of the parts were a little bit low, but he fought through it without losing the pitch. Great performance!
My Score: A-

Jordan Smith
"Halo" by Beyonce
Yes! Another great song choice, Adam! I got goosebumps during his rehearsals! I think this is the lowest we've heard him. This song is so hard to sing at the beginning, just because it's so low. The goosebumps just shot up and down my back and arm when he hit "grace". This guy is just freakin' amazing! Those "ooh"s were so flawless. He might have had a couple notes out of pitch for like the first time ever, but you know what, the rest of it was just so good that it doesn't even matter.
My Score: A

Team Gwen

Regina Love
"Hello" by Adele
Oh no, please don't overdo this song. I am glad that Gwen gave her a current song. This will test whether or not she can actually control herself and be powerful but in a subdued way, without all the screaming. I have to say I like how she started. She started just the way Adele did. One thing it did was point out that her voice is not that great or outstanding when you strip away the loud scream. When it came to the chorus, she belted it out, as per usual. To me, she sounded really flat. Even her loud screams were not that great if we're being honest here. She tried to be emotional with the song, and the last sob at the end was just low and painful. Ouch. I'm sure they must be hearing something different in the studio than how it's coming across on the TV. That song should make you feel something, and I just didn't feel anything from that.
My Score: B-

Korin Bukowski
"Adia" by Sarah McLachlan
Beautiful, just beautiful! The high notes weren't as on-pitch as they could have been. I still really like her voice. I'm so glad Gwen has convinced her to drop the glasses. She looks so much better without them and you can really feel her emotions because we can see her eyes!
My Score: B+

Ellie Lawrence -- GWEN'S COMEBACK PICK
"X's and Oh's" by Elle King
This is a great song, but this could be interesting for her...I'm not sure she can pull it off. Her voice is similar to Elle King, so that helps. I feel like the music is louder than her and we can't really hear her vocals that well. I'm not sure how I feel about this performance. I think her stage presence is better than what I remember. I think there were some pitch issues. Her voice sounded way more gravely on some of the chorus, and it sounded like her vocal chords were scuffed up with sandpaper. It was a bit more grit than what I like.
My Score: B

Jeffery Austin 
"Say You Love Me" by Jessie Ware
I've never heard this song before. Another great performance. I don't know that it was his best ever, but it was still really good. His vocals still blow me away every time. He really got into it at the end.
My Score: A-

Braiden Sunshine
"Everything I Own" by Bread
Sorry, this will always be an *NSync song in my eyes - I don't care if it was done by some group called Bread before *NSync did it. I'm so glad we got the straight hair/ no glasses Braiden again. Oh my this was so good! I still can't believe that a voice like that is coming out of such a young kid! How does he blow my mind...every...single...time! Another totally awesome performance! I was about to say that Jeffrey was by far the best singer on Gwen's team, but I keep forgetting that Braiden is on her team! As good as Jeffrey is, I think Braiden wins that award. Wow...speechless!
My Score: A+

Viktor Kiraly
"All Around the World" by Lisa Stansfield
I forgot about Viktor being on Gwen's team now, too! Oh boy. So it's pretty obvious that Gwen's guys are all 10x better than her girls. I can't say that I love this song choice for him. I don't think it showcases his amazing voice. I'm disappointed that this is what Gwen came up with for him. This was not my favorite performance of his. I blame the song for that. Such a shame because he deserves to be here, but songs like this aren't going to keep him around.
My Score: B+

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Dancing with the Stars, Ep. 21.10

Big News: during the dress rehearsal, Tamar was rushed to the ER!

Alek & Lindsay - Salsa
He really went all out for this dance...he let Lindsay and a bunch of girls wax his chest! I have a feeling this is not going to be his best dance. He just doesn't seem like a Salsa guy. He's got the lifts down, that's for sure. Not seeing a whole lot of hip action going on. His steps seem to be really slow and you can tell he's really trying to concentrate on the steps. It wasn't horrible, but it definitely wasn't great. He was very off-time when moving with the group of girls.
Score: 24

Alexa & Mark - Contemporary
Oh man, I love this song! I'm so glad they are doing the Ed Sheeran version. The story behind this dance is that Alexa struggled with an eating disorder. Mark is kind of playing that disorder as she is trying to battle it. This is like something that Travis Wall or Sonya Tayeh would come up with on So You Think You Can Dance. This was just incredible! So powerful and moving! She killed it. You could feel every emotion. Mark was also really great being so dark and the choreography was brilliant. Wow...just wow. It was interesting that Julianne said that Mark being dressed in black, you really only saw Alexa, which was so true! It really added to the darkness of "the disease".
Score: 30

Carlos & Witney - Argentine Tango
I liked the prop of the door and them dancing on either side. I think there was a part that they weren't quite in sync. There seemed to be a lot going on in this dance. I think they did a great job. The lifts were cool.
Score: 27

Bindi & Derek - Viennese Waltz
Derek can really be hard on himself and his abilities as a choreographer, but he ALWAYS manages to come up with something extraordinary. This dance was no exception/ It was so beautiful! It was stunning and elegant, and it was really moving. Absolutely incredible. I don't think I've ever been so moved by a Viennese Waltz.
UPDATE: I just read that Derek had been battling strep throat all week. He had been getting IVs and everything! Bindi said he turned ghost-white and she could tell he wasn't well, but he just kept going. He was so bad that his dad had to drive him home after the show because he wasn't well enough. Wow! He didn't look sick AT ALL!
Score: 30

Tamar & Val - Contemporary
Tamar had so many things going on in the week and they had very little rehearsal time. They have not said exactly what was wrong with her or why she had to go to the ER. Because she wasn't back for the performance, the judges are going to score her dress rehearsal performance. After the dance, Val said she was battling pneumonia and she shouldn't have even been there, but she wanted to be there for him.

This was a very different side of her, and it was really nice to see. I think she did a good job, but she did look really tired, which is understandable. It really is unfortunate because she would have really brought it in the live performance.
Score: 22

Nick & Sharna - Quickstep
I don't like seeing him in pain! He's having a lot of pain in his hip during rehearsals. He's not showing it in the performance, though, thank goodness! I love the theme this week as him being a "cool cat". Sharna did not take it easy on him with the choreography, that's for sure! It was fast and tons of steps. I loved his facial expressions throughout - he really brought the character to the dance. That was really good! I love that all the guys are there for him this week in the audience!
Score: 28

Showstopper Team-Up Challenge
Tonight each pair will team up with another pair for a dance based on a Broadway number. The celebrities have to dance 30 seconds on their own together, without their pro partners.

Carlos & Witney and Alek & Lindsay - Paso Doble
They are dancing to "We Will Rock You". The rehearsals were hilarious! They went on Anthem of the Seas cruise ship to watch the cast of "We Will Rock You" the Broadway show. Let's just say they were just boys being boys, wanting to do bumper cars and surfing and everything else fun. Ha!

Carlos and Alek danced really well together. I didn't realize just how similar they are. Alek did a nice flip of Carlos over his head! They seemed to be pretty much in sync the whole time. I loved the Blue Man Group-esque drum painting at the end! That was really cool! They now glow in the dark like the girls' makeup! That was a really cool performance! It could have been a little bit more powerful for a Paso Doble.
Score: 24

Alexa & Mark and Bindi & Derek - Charleston
Their theme is "Chicago" the musical.

The set and shadows look amazing. You know you're going to get a great performance when you've got both Derek and Mark choreographing. Their side-by-side dance was really in sync. They even did one of those cool cartwheel flips. That was so good!
Score: 30

Tamar & Val and Nick & Sharna - Rumba
During the other performances, they let us know that Tamar was en route and was trying to get there in time to dance. She literally arrived right before they were supposed to go on. They are dancing to "Hey Jude" from the "Beatles Love" Cirque du Soleil show.

They started out with their solo part and it was beautiful. I got goosebumps when the aerialist came out! This dance came off incredibly! I loved the part with the umbrellas and the confetti! It was all just so cool! Nick killed it, of course. And Tamar! That girl! What a fighter! She somehow managed to get through the entire thing, and if you didn't know that she had just come from the hospital, you would never know it! Like, seriously! She's amazing! And then Tom let us know that had she not shown up, because of the rules of the show, had she not shown up, she would have been going home. She is visibly drained as she's leaning on Nick even sitting down after the performance. I hope she can get better for next week.
Score: 27 (for not having anything critical or negative to say about the performance, I'm not sure how they didn't get all 10s)

Week 9 Standings

Alexa & Mark - 30 + 30 = 60
Bindi & Derek - 30 + 30 = 60
Nick & Sharna - 28 +27 = 56
Carlos & Witney - 27 +24 = 51
Tamar & Val - 22 + 27 = 49
Alek & Lindsay - 24 + 24 = 48

The Results

In Jeopardy: Alexa & Mark, Carlos & Witney (how awful to put them in the bottom together; we still don't know if the "in jeopardy" people are actually the bottom vote-getters...they used to say one way or another if they were or not...I'm not convinced they are, and if that's true, that's just so mean to have them both be there together)
Going Home: Alexa & Mark (that's such a shame since she had perfect scores tonight)

Awe! Carlos was so sad for her!

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Survivor, Ep. 31.7

Ta Keo Camp
Poor Savage, he was just as blindsided as Woo was by Kass's vote switch. He can't believe what liars the other group is. He actually showed some anger there. He pleaded with Spencer, Kass, Ciera, and Abi to take him to the merge and use him. He told Spencer that he would never write his name down again. Spencer knows he needs to make peace and continue to keep making relationships because that's what's saving him time after time. He's even willing to work with Kass.

They get treemail telling them to gather their things and follow the map to their new home. Tasha knows she will now be joining Spencer and Kass, whom she knows from her season. They have history and have worked together before, so she's feeling good. Savage is hoping that this will help turn things around for him.

Bayon Camp
They get treemail that they are going to be getting visitors. They think it's too early for a merge, but what else could it be?

Merge!
Kass: "To the 13 best losers ever!"

The Voice, Ep. 9.12

The Knockouts, part 3

Team Adam

Shelby vs. James

Shelby - Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel"
It's hard to beat Carrie Underwood. She did a good job, but I wasn't super blown away. This isn't anything we haven't heard before. It did get a little better and a little more of her personality started to show at the end.

James - Blake Shelton's "Sure Be Cool if You Did"
I don't know what it is about this guy, but I'm never excited to see him. I don't think it's just because he's country. I don't know, just looking at him I get bored. I think part of the problem is his styling, and the fact that I see Joel Osteen when I look at him. This was a nice performance, but man, it was boring! This seemed like such a safe choice and there wasn't any part of this that looked like he was in a competition fighting for a chance to stay alive. I would go with Shelby, because I think there's more to be done with her than with James.

WINNER: SHELBY

Team Blake

Emily Ann vs. Nadjah

Emily Ann - Dixie Chicks' "Cowboy Take Me Away"
I love this song...I know, right?! Yes, I happen to love the Dixie Chicks! She has such a beautiful, effortless quality to her voice. For a female country singer, she actually has a unique tone that doesn't sound like everyone else. I feel like I would be able to tell her apart from others. The more she sings, the more I really love her voice! She had perfect pitch, which I was a little worried about after hearing her rehearsal. This was so good! Definitely hoping she wins!

Nadjah - Alicia Keys' "A Woman's Worth"
Not a fan of this song, but she sang it well. There really isn't anyone else like her in the competition this season. There have been many like her in other seasons, but she is pretty much the only female R&B singer this season. Her performance was good, but I really like Emily Ann a lot better.

WINNER: EMILY ANN

Zach vs. Chris
WINNER: Zach

Team Gwen

Jeffery vs. Kota

Jeffrey - Adele's "Turning Tables"
This is a big undertaking. He always sounds better than what I remember. He really sounded amazing and did the song justice. He had the right amount of emotion. I liked the way he faded in and out of his falsetto and back to his full voice. He really knows what he's doing with his voice. That was haunting and beautiful.

Kota - Heart's "Barracuda"
OK, so I don't remember this girl at all, so that probably doesn't bode well for her chances. Especially with Jeffrey doing Adele. She definitely was able to belt out the big notes. Her problem was pitch when she wasn't singing the big notes. I would definitely go with Jeffrey.

WINNER: JEFFREY

Riley vs. Regina

Riley - Beyonce - XO
This girl is the real deal. She has an amazing voice. I love her tone. I'm not a fan of the song, but she did a great job. I like her way more than Regina, so I'm really hoping she can pull out the win! This might be the only knockout of the night that doesn't go my way. The good news is that Pharrell still has a steal, and this is the last knockout performance of the season, so we know one of these 2 will be on his team. The bad news is that if Riley wins, that means we still aren't rid of Regina.

Regina - Gladys Knight and the Pips' "Midnight Train to Georgia"
So I was wrong about there being no other female R&B singers this season. I guess I was just hoping that Regina wasn't still around. She should have been gone, but Gwen just had to use her save on her. Oh, how I hate this song! Like I've said before, she sounds just like so many other singers. There isn't anything that she does differently. She sings loud with a lot of vibrato. She also borderline screams, which is one of my all-time biggest pet peeves. I guess maybe I just don't get the point of the song, but why does it need to be screamed? Is it that big of deal to put THAT much emotion into it? I don't get it. We get it...you can sing/scream loud...what else can you do?

WINNER: REGINA
STEAL: Pharrell steals Riley

Team Pharrell

Mark vs. Siahna

Mark - Benny King's "Stand By Me"
Why not something current? This song has been done so many times. However, I really love his voice, so that kind of makes up for the so-so song choice. He really made some nice and unexpected ad-libs that made the song kind of fresh. I really enjoyed his performance. Vocally it was stellar, and he even threw in some dance moves. Unlike Darius, who is also on Team Pharrell, he actually has so much control over his voice and doesn't overdo the vibrato and the runs. He's way more tasteful than Darius is. I wish Pharrell would have put them head-to-head because I would love to see Mark just take out Darius.

Siahna - Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black"
Yes, yes, yes! Love this song, and this little firecracker should be able to really belt this out and do it justice. She is so brave to tackle this song, and I love that about her. I still can't get over her voice every time I hear her. Because you hear her talk like a little squeaky voice, and then she belts out like a diva. As strong as her performance was, I think I could hear a little bit of nerves, as her voice maybe had a little bit of a tremble. That's the first time I've heard that from her. I really wish Adam hadn't stupidly used his save earlier, because I would like him to get either of these 2. I think Mark was a little more polished, so I think he will go with Mark, unless he wants to continue to mold this young, tremendous talent. This is a tough one! I think Blake has a steal, but will he use it on either of them? Siahna, maybe, but probably not on Mark.

WINNER: MARK
That is such a shame to lose someone as talented as Siahna

Evan vs. Tim

Evan - Switchfoot's "Dare You To Move"
Love this song! I'm excited to hear him do this song, and I think it's a great fit for him. He has a great voice and he really made this song come to life. He really belted out the chorus at the end, and it was really impressive. That last note was killer!

Tim - Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn"
Whoa, this is a very, very interesting song choice. I've never heard a guy sing this song before. Earlier in the competition, I kind of liked his interesting voice. However, I am not digging him on this song. He sounds like he's sick because his voice has a lot more rasp than normal, and he almost sounds like he's hoarse. I am not loving this performance at all. I don't know if it is all the song, or what. This was disappointing because I did kind of like him before. I like Evan much, much better.

WINNER: EVAN

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Dancing with the Stars, Ep. 21.9

Theme: honoring inspirational icons in their lives
Competition: highest scoring couple gets immunity, the rest compete in an America's choice dance-off; they have to prepare for 3 dances and they won't know what they are dancing until they do it, side-by-side with another couple; America votes live

Carlos & Witney - Salsa
Inspiration; his friend, Marc Anthony

Love the pink outfits! It's always good when we get to see a little bit of Carlos's chest :) He was so worried about this dance because he's Latin and he's never salsaed before. He looked so natural! The over-the-head lift was insane!!!! The last spin lift was really cool too and landed right at the last beat of the song, right on time. That routine had so much and that was really not easy choreography at all! He did great!
Score: 27

Alek & Lindsay - Contemporary
Inspiration: Chris Kyle, American sniper

Theis dance was just beautiful! The set, the song, Lindsay's dress...everything. Lifts have really become one of Alek's strengths (pun intended, and yes, I typed it before Julianne said it!). He does them with such grace and such ease. What a beautiful tribute to his hero.
Score: 25

Andy & Allison - Viennese Waltz
Inspiration: Stevie Wonder; he's doing the dance as if the song was written from him to his mom

Oh, the emotion in rehearsals! I'm in tears just listening to him talk about his mom. I'm not much of a Stevie Wonder fan (his music), so I was actually glad that the house band did their own version of "Isn't She Lovely". Andy did a great job, and he was just so cute with Allison. His face was so expressive this week. He's really come into his own and has become such a great dancer and performer. I just can't get enough of him. Awe...and he's in tears...and I'm in tears! So beautiful! I hate that their comments are back to negative comments...I'm no expert, but it looked good to me!
Score: 22

Alexa & Mark - Argentine Tango
Inspiration: David from David and Goliath (very interesting choice)

Mark's idea to use a sheet and have his shadow be huge like a giant was brilliant! The set looked amazing for this! The costumes were really cool, and I love Coldplay's "Viva La Vida"! Everything really came together, and this was just so cool! To me, it looked like she might have missed a couple steps, but the overall performance was really good. And she slit Goliath's throat at the end and was carried off like a warrior princess...so powerful!
Score: 25

Nick & Sharna - Contemporary
Inspiration: his wife Lauren

Seeing him talk about his wife, and them having a baby was just so sweet! Another really beautiful contemporary tonight! The story, the song, the costumes...just beautiful! Just like Alek's dance, beautiful lifts and emotion. I love seeing him like this! Such a beautiful performance! And I love that she had it end with him putting his arms around her with his hands on her tummy...so symbolic and beautiful. The choreography was beautiful and he nailed every step and he was so graceful. This better be a perfect score! And to add to all the emotion, there was a gender reveal, and they didn't know until they opened the big box and little blue balloons came out! Awe!
Score: 30

Bindi & Derek - Foxtrot
Inspiration: Grace Kelly

How in the world is she dancing with those bruised knees and blisters...those look so painful! Poor girl! I love that they are dancing to Mika's "Grace Kelly"...I love that song! What a fun dance! Foxtrots are not normally so much fun! This was cute annd cheeky. I loved the part with the hats and the other dancers. And how cool was that ending! The curtain comes down on her, with Derek going behind and then she gets pulled under. I loved everything about this!!! She made a great Grace Kelly!Well, look out Nick, because Bindi's gonna get a 30 with this. Ooh, but the judges are being very nit-picky about her shoulders, so he might just keep the 30 all to himself!
Score: 28

Tamar & Val - Paso Doble
Inspiration: her sister, Toni

This was an interesting song for a paso doble. She looked stunning in that red. I didn't care for the big ruffle down the center though. I knew she would rock a paso because she is so powerful. It was a good performance, but I wasn't blown away. I couldn't get past the weird song choice that didn't seem to fit the dance style. Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" fit her inspiration, but something just seemed weird, even though she danced it well. It wasn't my favorite.
Score: 28

Dance-Off
The highest scoring pair picks their challenger, and the challenger picks the dance style.

Bindi & Derek vs. Carlos & Witney - Jive
I think it's clear who America is going to vote for this one. The meter is consistently overwhelmingly for Bindi. I think Bindi had quite a bit more content. I felt like I  wanted to watch Carlos, but I was drawn back over to Bindi's side of the floor because what they were doing was more dynamic and entertaining. I like that Carlos had her come over at the end and he did a spin lift with her.
Winner: Carlos & Witney (3-0)
America: Bindi & Derek (64%)

Tamar & Val vs. Alexa & Mark - Cha Cha
Alexa & Mark seem to be moving faster and doing more intricate moves. I loved Tamar's moves right to the music at the hook. Alexa looks more comfortable with the style, but they were both good. America loved Alexa a lot more.
Winner: Tamar & Val (2-1)
America: Alexa & Mark (76%)

Alek & Lindsay vs. Andy & Allison- Samba
These 2 went balls to the walls! Andy did a flip, and then the worm and then a spin on the floor! That was sick! Alek had a nice lift-spin. I think that was one of the more entertaining battles! I'm hoping for an Andy win because he needs those points!!!
Winner: Andy & Allison (3-0)
America: Andy & Allison (54%)

Week 8 Standings

Nick & Sharna - 30 + 3 = 33
Tamar & Val - 28 + 2 = 30
Bindi & Derek - 28
Alexa & Mark - 25
Carlos & Witney - 27 +2 = 29
Alek & Lindsay - 25
Andy & Allison - 22 +2 = 24

The Results

In Jeopardy: Carlos & Witney, Andy & Allison
Going Home: Andy & Allison

Nooooooooo! Say it isn't so!!!!! I'm so sad!!!!!! I didn't want to lose either of them in the bottom. I was so ready for Alek to go and he wasn't even in the bottom :( I'm not ready for him to go. I just can't believe with his infectious, positive personality that he didn't get more votes. That's just sad. I know at this point they are all so good, so it's almost all on personality. I really thought the negative attitude that Alek showed last week might hurt him...I guess not.

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