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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Survivor, Ep. 31.6

Ta Keo Camp
It's night time and we aren't seeing Bayon after their Tribal. This isn't good. Probst is coming on a boat in the dark. This isn't good. Please don't be there for Joe. Please don't be there for Joe. Please don't be there for Joe.

Probst wakes up Terry and takes him to the beach to talk to him. Probst tells him that his son is in the hospital and the doctor and his wife think it's serious enough that he should come home. Oh, poor Terry!!! He says his goodbyes, and everyone is just shocked. Kass was visibly upset because she is also a parent. How awful to have to go out like that on his second chance at the game. I really wanted to see how far he could go. Keith said they should bring it home for Terry.

Tribe Swap
Probst fills the other tribes in on Terry's absence. A lot of talk about famly and the parental instinct. Their thoughts are all with Terry, but they all know there is a game to play. With that, Probst says, "drop your buffs...again!" We're going into 2 tribes again, and Angkor is no more.

New Ta Keo: Spencer, Woo, Savage, Abi, Ciera, Kass, Kelly Wiglesworth
New Bayon: Jeremy, Kelley Wentworth, Keith, Kimmi, Fishbach, Tasha, Joe

Ta Keo -- Kass is already worried about being with Spencer and calls him out in front of the group. Woo is so glad to be with Savage because of all of his tribe, he wanted to be with Woo. He said the magic death words of "I'm not going anywhere" because he thinks he is with Woo and Abi, and he could reconnect with his old tribemates (Kass and Ciera) and he should be good.

Bayon -- Fishbach is worried to be with a bunch of big guys again.

Reward Challenge

The Voice, Ep. 9.11

The Knockouts, part 2

Team Adam

Dustin vs. Keith

Dustin - Zac Brown Band's "Free"
Boring. I think he could have done this so much better. He didn't seem to really be trying...it was kind of lackadaisical. That seemed like a very safe performance. I liked him early on is this competition, but this just didn't do it for me at all. He seemed to strain on the higher notes and it just didn't seem effortless. This is all great news because I love Keith and I really, really, really want him to be the winner. So, I should be saying "thank you, Dustin". I agree with Pharrell, it didn't seem like he was fighting to win.

Keith - Foreigner's "I Want to Know What Love Is"
He could not have chosen a more perfect song. Love, love, love. He is going to rock this. I love the advice that Rihanna gave to him. She seemed to really get him, and what she suggested made so much sense. This is so interesting, I just remembered that Terry McDermott sang this song on Season 3. This song must be popular amongst the Irish. So, do I even need to say how much I love Keith and loved this performance? His vocal was flawless. The tone of his voice is just magical. I love what he did with the end of the song as he kind of ad-libbed it a little bit, and then threw in some amazing high notes. Come on, Adam, I know you had to feel how amazing that was and realize that he is the only choice for the winner.

WINNER: Keith! Woohoo! You did it again Adam! Absolutely the right choice!

Team Gwen

Korin vs. Summer

Korin - Kodaline's "All I Want"
I love this song, great choice! Her voice was so beautiful and effortless. I got goosebumps all over on this one. She was quiet and tender when she needed to be, and she was big and strong when she needed to be. I love the gentle vibrato in her voice and the little trills she threw in. Beautiful! She reminds me so much of Lennon Stella, one of the amazing Stella sisters who are on the show Nashville. She looks a lot like her and there are some similarities in their voices, too. If you don't know who they are, do yourself a favor and look up some of their performances on YouTube...you will be blown away.

Summer - Little Big Town's "Little White Church"
She sounded great on this song. She had a great presence on stage. She really rocked it out, country style. She was good, but there are so many singers exactly like her. I would go with Korin.

WINNER: Korin

Team Pharrell

Darius vs. Morgan

Darius - George Benson's "On Broadway"
Seriously? Can't stand this song. I was on the fence of liking this guy, and that song choice is not going to make me #TeamDarius. His overdone vibratos are really annoying. He does way too many runs. It feels like he's trying too hard and just showing off. We get it...you can sing. Show me you can actually connect to what you're singing. There was no need to be so over-dramatic on a song about Broadway, where you simply repeat the phrase "on Broadway" over and over again.

Morgan - Eli Young Band's "Even if it Breaks Your Heart"
She sang this song so beautifully. Not much else to say about it. I would like to see her win, but I have a feeling Pharrell will give it to Darius, just because he probably thinks he can work with him better.

WINNER: Darius
STEAL: Blake pushes to steal Morgan, and she ends up where she started out

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The Voice, Ep. 9.10

The Knockouts begin! Rihanna joins all the coaches as an advisor.

Team Adam

Blaine vs. Andi & Alex
Blaine - James Bay's "Hold Back the River"
I'm so worried for him because Adam is completely enamored with the girls. I just love his voice. He is so talented and I would hate to lose him this early in the competition. I just hope if Adam doesn't keep him that someone steals him! I didn't really care for the song choice, but he rocked it and gave a really strong performance. The fact that he had to sing first didn't help him, either.

Andi & Alex - Keith Urban's "Stupid Boy"
I'm sorry, but no one can do this song as well as Cassadee Pope did on Season 3. They shouldn't even try. Their uniqueness is starting to get lost on me. I actually thought their voices were clashing tonight. Individually they were OK, but I didn't care for their harmonies tonight. Because they're twins, I can't tell them apart...I'm not sure which one it is, but I don't care for her voice as much...it's kind of childish in a way. I don't know...I was not feeling this. I feel like we were so blown away by their original version of Dido's "Thank You" that we think everything they do is incredible. However, if you actually listen to them, I really don't think it was that good. I think the choice here is very clear, but I don't know that Adam can let them go.

WINNER: Blaine! Woohoo! Absolutely the right choice Adam! That was so the right choice!

Jordan vs. Viktor

Dancing with the Stars, Ep. 21.8

Theme: Halloween! Always one of the most fun nights of the season! We also have the team dances!!

Nick & Sharna - Argentine Tango
Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein to Evanescence's "Bring Me to Life"
Could this be a more perfect combination? I love te Argentine tango, I love the song. I just hate that the band did not do it justice! The lifts are stellar! Ooh, I got chills! The only thing other than the botched music job was that it was way too short! I wanted to see more! I do agree with the judges that it did feel kind of more like a paso doble than an Argentine tango.
Score: 24

Hayes & Emma - Waltz
Werewolf
You almost can't recognize him with all that facial hair! I think this dance really suited him. His long arms create really beautiful lines. He worked the facial expressions and nailed the signature raised chin. He was elegant and manly at the same time. It was a really nice performance.
Score: 26

Alexa & Mark - Paso Doble
Edward Scissorhands!
Oh my, Mark has done it again with the costume and theme! He transforms totally into these different characters every week. He looks so much like Edward it's scary!! And how is he going to dance with her with those scissors on his hands?! I think it might be hard for her to stand out in this dance when clearly he is the focal character. I love that the shrubs all came to life...that was cool! This was a great paso. I won't say it's my favorite of all time, but Mark was completely entertaining, and she did a good job.
Score: 27

Tamar & Val - Foxtrot
Freaky Funhouse
Val looks amazing! But so does she! She is gorgeous and that purple is a great color on her. I didn't see this as a foxtrot at all. I'm not sure what it looked like, but I didn't get a foxtrot vibe at all. I don't know if it was because of the costumes and the theme or what. The theme was a bit disjointed and wasn't really carried through the whole performance. However, the dancing was stellar as always.
Score: 24

Andy & Allison - Paso Doble
Vampires - Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People"
Oh, I seriously can't wait to see this! His eyes are so creepy good! He's shown us the darker side he has with his Argentine tango, but this is at a whole 'nother level! He is so freaking strong in this! That leather look looks amazing on him! The choreography with him out in front of the group was awesome! I hope the judges are loving this as much as I am! I think he rocked this and totally nailed it! And those eyes are freaky! Love it!
Score: 26

Bindi & Derek - Argentine Tango
Vampire queen (Lost Boys)
Look at her rocking the fangs and being all tough! Clearly she struggled in rehearsals with being tough and scary, but she's always been able to capture the character of the dance and her face is always so expressive. She kind of looked more like she was in pain than being vicious, but the dancing speaks for itself. She is a superstar. Derek's choreography was amazing as usual. There were lifts and there were neck bites and neck breaks...this dance had it all! And we can't end this recap without saying how hot Derek looked as well.
Score: 30

Alek & Lindsay - Viennese Waltz
Woman in Vienna
I have to say I'm not loving Alek's attitude in the last couple weeks and I didn't care for it in his rehearsals this week. I'm glad Artem was able to give him some honest criticism and specific things to work on. I have to say I'm not sure exactly what this theme is exactly and other than the smoke, what it has to do with Halloween? I think I'm so over him at this point that I can't even enjoy the dance. It seemed pretty blah to me. His death spin was a bit clunky and didn't look very smooth. This was just OK for me.
Score: 25

Carlos & Witney - Paso Doble
O Fortuna from Carmina Burana (no clue what that is)
His outfit is really interesting. He's got a mask kind of like the Phantom of the Opera. The music is very familiar...just had no idea that's what it was called. It's so smoky it's hard to see their dancing. I'm not quite sure what makes this fit the Halloween theme other than the smoke. He gave a great performance though. He rocked the emotion even though most of his face was covered. He was definitely a powerful matador in this. He did a great job with the cape.
Score: 28

Team Freestyles
It's worth noting again, that Derek has NEVER LOST a group dance! So, my money is going on Team Who You Gonna Call. However, this year's groups are probably more evenly matched than ever before. There is no weak link on either team. These are 8 truly amazing dancers. This should be good!

Team Nightmare - Nightmare Before Christmas
Nick & Sharna (captain), Tamar & Val, Andy & Allison, Hayes & Emma
Love the outfits! I love the work around the table...so clever! And then the tables come apart! Whoa, I love Nick & Sharna's solo! That was freaky and awesome how they started all intertwined! Everyone held up their part with their solos. The partnering and group work was all on point and really creative! They've got a great shot to win with this one! Too bad they had to go first!
Score: 30

Team Who Ya Gonna Call - Ghostbusters

Bindi & Derek (captain), Alexa & Mark, Carlos & Witney, Alek & Witney

The guys are obviously the ghostbusters, and the girls are the ghosts. Alek's solo was great, and that lift was so strong. Carlos and Lindsay did their solo on hoverboards! Wow...just wow! To even attempt that is so brave! I loved the tutting on Bindi and Derek's solo. It was cool how the ghostbusters picked up and carried their ghost off the floor when their solo was done. You could tell they were really trying to go full-out because of the other team's performance. They nailed the flip of Alexa at the end. This routine had a little bit of everything. It was so much fun! The judges picked up on them not being quite in sync, so that might just be enough to end Derek's perfect run. And Bindi is the one who said she took the blame for being out of sync.
Score: 28 ...and Derek has been dethroned!

Week 7 Standings

Bindi & Derek - 30 + 28 = 58
Carlos & Witney - 28 + 28 = 56
Andy & Allison - 26 + 30 = 56
Hayes & Emma - 26 + 30 = 56
Alexa & Mark - 27 + 28 = 55
Nick & Sharna - 24 + 30 = 54
Tamar & Val - 24 + 30 = 54
Alek & Lindsay - 25 + 28 = 53

The Results

In Jeopardy: Hayes & Emma, Tamar & Val, Alexa & Mark
Going Home: Hayes & Emma :(

Let's face it, whoever was going home tonight was going to be a shock. Anyone who leaves from this point on will be sad and shocking as well. They are all so good at this point. Hayes had a great night and he has grown so much. It was fun to watch him on his journey this season. He came in as a basic unknown celebrity (even though he had a lot of followers). I knew his time would probably be limited. I'm proud of how well he did and how long he lasted.

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Survivor, Ep. 31.5

Angkor Camp
Woo is hoping that they can postpone another trip to Tribal now that they have a strong team. Um...Woo...you still aren't that strong. And did someone just say Varner was "in a better place"? Wait...did he die? Did someone kill him? What an odd thing to say.

Abi hopes she didn't make a mistake by keeping Woo over Savage. She said if he writes her name down, "he's dead to me". Classic Abi.

Woo shared a very emotional story about his mom. He is playing the game for her because she got a second chance at life with a heart transplant. This story of course, annoys Abi. She thinks he was using the story to get sympathy from everyone. Abi said she had a tendon transplant in her knee, so maybe she should share that. Wow...yeah, that's totally the same. Abi whines to Tasha about Woo's story. Tasha went along with what she was saying, but inside it was so hard for her to keep her cool. She said it is hard work to deal with Abi all the time. Everything always has to be about her.

Bayon Camp

The Voice, Ep. 9.8 & 9.9

The Battle Round: Parts 3 & 4
Next week: The Knockouts

Team Adam

Cassaundra Robertson vs. Victor Kiraly
The Tony Rich Project's "Nobody Knows"
I so love this song, and boy does this take me back to junior high! I actually got goosebumps from their rehearsal, whoa! There is no question that I love Victor more than Cassaundra. She falls into the trap of "been there, heard that". She sounds like so many other singers who have come and gone...she's a great singer, but I'm not wowed by her in the least. I could listen to him sing all day. He has such a beautiful and soothing voice. This is a deep and sad song, and she just put way too much vibrato in it...it was just so over the top. You could hear the pain in Victor's voice, and it was just plain awesome! She was singing just way too loud and way too many runs. His performance was much more sincere. There were times that they blended beautifully, but he stole the show for me. Just wow!
WINNER: VICTOR (Whew! I am so glad Adam heard and appreciated the same thing I did! Way to go Adam!)

Andi & Alex vs. Chance Peña
The Calling's "Wherever You Will Go
What an interesting song choice, but I love it for them! It will be interesting to hear this song as a duet/trio. I just love the harmony of these girls. But I also really love Chance's voice. He has such great control, and his voice is just so smooth (something Pharrell also commented on). They sounded great as a trio. The girls didn't totally overpower Chance. He held his own, and it was really beautiful. I really don't know who I would pick here. I think I would take Chance and let Blake have the girls -- they belong on Team Blake, not Team Adam. 
WINNER: ANDI & ALEX
STEAL: Blake steals Chance (OK, so I had it backwards)

Amanda Ayala vs. Shelby Brown
Stevie Nicks's "Edge of Seventeen"
They started out really strong in unison. I loved their harmony. This was a really great song choice for them (and the fact that they are both 17 is pretty cool, too). They definitely rocked it out! They were so evenly matched...I have no idea who Adam is going to pick. That whole performance was amazing!
WINNER: SHELBY

Team Blake

Blaine Mitchell vs. Blind Joe
Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock n' Roll"
I like Blind Joes' voice more here than I did in his audition. But, there's something about Blaine that I really love. He's got a great voice, and he's not too bad to look at either. He's got a great range and a great stage presence. Blind Joe did great too, but I think Blaine's voice is more versatile. That was a rockin' performance, for sure.
WINNER: BLIND JOE
STEAL: Adam steals Blaine! Woohoo! I was waiting for it! Adam got another good one!!!

Emily Ann Roberts vs. Morgan Frazier
Patty Lovelace's "I'm That Kind of Girl"
You can't get much more country than these two girls. What gave it away? Well, their thick country accents was kind of a dead giveaway. They're both just so cute! And I don't even mind the thick country accents. They really do have great voices. This was a great battle, and another one that is evenly matched. I don't think either one "won"...it was a tie for me. Vocally and performance-wise...they were just dead even.
WINNER: EMILY ANN
STEAL: Pharrell steals Morgan

Cole Criske vs. Nadjah Nicole
WINNER: NADJAH
Team Gwen

Dancing with the Stars, Ep. 21.7

Theme: famous dances
Guest Judge: Olivia Newton-John

Hayes & Emma - Jazz
Grease - "You're the One That I Want"

I can't wait for this! They've got the guys and some pink ladies, and of course the tight black pants! They even have part of the fun house, with that shake shack thing! How tough to be doing this in front of the person who played Sandy...and in front of Julianne is going to be playing Sandy in the live action show coming up on Fox! For not having ever heard of or seen Grease, I'd say he did a pretty good job! Really cool flip at the end! That was fun!
Score: 32

Andy & Allison - Jazz
Singin' in the Rain - "Good Morning"

I can see him doing really well in this. They're incorporating the couch, the coats, the steps...oh my! There was a lot of side-by-side work and he was right in sync with her the whole way. His musicality is getting better...at least I hope they think so. The stairs part was really cool! The couch part went off without a hitch...I was a little nervous because it looked like the couch slid a little bit when they stepped on the top, but they didn't lose balance and it still ended with a bang. I'm so glad the judges like him again this week! And I'm glad they are finally acknowledging that he is getting better every week. I just hope he doesn't get eliminated tonight! Can I just say again how much I love him? He is such a down-to-earth guy...he's just so cute and sweet. Love, love, love him more every week!
Score: 40!!!! I am so ecstatic that he got a perfect 40!!!!!!!

Alexa & Mark - Cha Cha
Britney Spears's dance at the Video Music Awards - "I'm a Slave 4 U" (I'm really hoping they don't use the big yellow snake)

Whoa, look at Mark's hair! That is some crazy, animal-like hair he's got going on there! I can't believe they are going to actually do the snake! Yuck! She handled it like a complete pro. And she is still holding it after the dance...I would be like "get this thing off of me!" Scratch that...I would never go through with it to begin with! Snake aside, it seemed like this dance was really short and I don't really remember any of it other than the snake. I didn't think there was really a lot of cha cha. This dance would have been perfect for...you guessed it...Bindi!
Score: 30

Bindi & Derek - Rumba
Dirty Dancing - "Time of Your Life"

I love that they practiced the iconic lift in the water just like in the movie. That was hilarious to watch. "No one puts Bindi in the corner" lol! She looks gorgeous! Derek looks smokin' in all black! This dance was so cool! I'm not sure but she seemed a little unsure of herself in the part where they were dancing in front of the big crowd...she seemed to be a little behind . And then came the iconic lift -- nailed it! And boy did Derek hold her up there for what seemed like forever! And he said he's not much of a lifter and this made him more nervous than he's ever been..yikes! But it turned out amazing...was there any doubt?!
Score: 40

Paula & Louis - Jazz
Madonna's "Vogue" from the MTV Music Awards

Now I've seen it all...Paula Deen as Madonna...holy crap. Oh Louis, those short-shorts! Well, she's got the arm movements down pat. Other than that, Louis is back to his old tricks of making it look like she's doing more than she really is. He is spinning her round  little bit, but they are walking from place to place...this is not hard choreography people. The costumes made it look visually entertaining, but let's be honest...there was hardly any dancing in this.
Score: 24

Carlos & Witney - Rumba
Magic Mike - Ginuwine's "Pony"

This is going to be so hard to make into a rumba! He's in a tough spot because being this overtly sexual goes against his faith. It will be interesting to see how they pull it off. His solo at the beginning was excellent! Got to hand it to Witney, she made it into a great rumba! I loved the part with them on the chairs. Ooh...and then the ripped shirts! He nailed the classic body roll that Channing Tatum does so flawlessly. He looked really amazing...in more ways than one (sorry Alexa!). He pulled it off (literally) and he looked amazing doing it -- those abs! He was so confident and composed through the whole thing, even though it made him really uncomfortable. That was until Olivia said he missed his calling...he was so embarrassed!
Score: 38

Nick & Sharna - Samba
Saturday Night Fever - Bee Gee's "You Should Be Dancing"

This is going to be cool! They started it the same way as in the movie with him on the street...that was a cool touch. Boy, he was nailing those hip moves! He did great on his solo parts! He looked like he was having a blast! There were some touch moves and it was so fast! This was just so much fun to watch! The only thing that would have made this more like the original would have been some jet black hair! Sharna did a great job working the choreography to seamlessly weave the samba into the disco. I sure hope the scores are good on this one!
Score: 39 (boo for Carrie Ann deducting for going "out of character"...I didn't see that, and neither did the other 3 judges)

Alek & Lindsay - Jive
Elvis's "Jailhouse Rock"

He was getting so into character in rehearsal! That was hilarious! It was nice to see him having fun again. To me, this didn't really look like a jive. It seemed more jazzy than anything. There weren't really any side-by-side kicks and flicks. It was still fun, but I didn't like it as good as some of his others. I think Bruno was right, he was just holding back too much and didn't go for it 100%.
Score: 30

Tamar & Val - Jazz
Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation"

Poor girl. She got way low scores last week that were undeserved. Then she gets sick and she literally had no voice, so they missed several days of rehearsal. It's cool that they showed it in all black and white like the original. Tamar really looked like Janet. The precision was amazing...especially having only a couple days to learn and perfect the dance. This choreography was very different for Val. I don't think I've ever seen him do something like this before.
Score: 40


Week 6 Standings

Andy & Allison - 40
Bindi & Derek - 40
Tamar & Val - 40
Nick & Sharna - 39
Carlos & Witney - 38
Hayes & Emma - 32
Alek & Lindsay - 30
Alexa & Mark - 30
Paula & Louis - 24

The Results

In Jeopardy: Paula & Louis, Alexa & Mark
Going Home: Paula & Louis

Thank you America!!!! You got it right! Thank you for realizing the talent of the other dancers and not just keeping Paula around for her outrageous and unexplainable soundbites. She was fun for awhile, but it was time to go. There was obviously no other dancer who deserved to go home before her. I am so happy with these results! I was worried for Andy and Carlos because they have been in jeopardy before, simply because they don't have the fan base. I would have been truly shocked if Alexa had gone home after her perfect 40 performance last week.

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Survivor, Ep. 31.4

Hoping for a good week for Joe and Spencer...but not feeling too good about it. The previews for the challenge look brutal...I sure hope no one gets hurt too badly.

Angkor Camp
Varner can't believe he dodged a bullet...and neither can I! How did he not get a single vote?! He said he is loyal to the group and he will do whatever it takes. Tasha says Peih-Gee shouldn't have gone home, it should have been Varner for what he did. They were in control, so why didn't they make that happen? It's not looking good for Varner if they lose. Abi tells Tasha that she has a problem with what just happened (Tasha talking to Woo). She said he voted for her and she doesn't like that she pulled him aside. Tasha wanted to talk in private, but Abi didn't. Woo said he was sorry he wrote her name down. She said she felt like it was personal because he's voted for her twice. She thinks he should be the next one to go.

After the shock at Tribal, they are left to wallow in the nothingness that is their camp. They have little food and not much of a shelter. There is a little bit of hope when they get Treemail because it sounds like the winners could get a feast. But...they don't know if they are strong enough to get a win.

Bayon Camp
Jeremy is feeling good about snagging the idol at the last challenge. Fishbach asked Jeremy if he had any luck looking for the idol. He said he didn't. He threw him off the trail by telling him that they have to look for it and they have to find it for the good of their alliance. He wants to gain his trust so that if his name comes up, Fishbach will let him know and then he has his "get out of jail free" card to play. He wants to be Fishbach's "JT".

Reward Challenge
Challenge: race into the water to get sand bags, then launch sand bags into a net - first to get all 3 win a barbecue set and all the fixin's, the second to finish get the same, but smaller.

Twist: hero challenge -- they have to select 1 person to run the entire challenge for them! Whoa!

Ta Keo - Terry
Bayon - Jeremy
Angkor - Savage

This is brutal to make the entire challenge fall on one person's shoulders! But this should be a great match!

After the first leg, they all try to conserve some energy. They all get to the launch at about the same time. Terry is first and gets it the first time and he is out in the water again.

Savage launches way long. Jeremy gets it on the 2nd try. Savage keeps missing but finally gets it.

Terry has a lead and is moving kind of slow. His 2nd bag launched way long as Jeremy is coming back. Terry forgot what he did to get it the first time. Savage caught up and passed them all by getting his 2nd bag on the 1st try.

Terry and then Jeremy get theirs and are trying to catch Savage. This would truly be a heroic win for Savage and Angkor if he can pull this off.

Savage and Terry are neck and neck at the launch. Terry missed, but Savage got it and Savage wins!

Terry tries again as Jeremy is coming back. Jeremy misses, but Terry gets it, so Terry gets reward for Ta Keo.

That win is HUGE for Angkor! They needed food so badly, and Savage provided! You have to feel good about that for them!

Angkor Camp
Tribe morale is at an all-time high right now. Strangely, it's dark when they get back to camp to grill up their food. Savage is happy that he gave his tribe hope. By him winning, they can now believe in themselves that they can actually win an immunity challenge against the stronger tribes.

Ta Keo Camp
Kass thinks about what she can do differently with her game this time around since she lost last time. She thinks her game was good last time, but her fault was her social game. She decided to collect some things around camp and she is making some sort of necklace or bracelet. Kelley sees her and wonders what she's doing. She thinks she's making a fake idol, so she approaches her, but Kass tells her to go away. She was actually making something for Kelley for her birthday. Awe! She said she hopes it is a good luck charm. Wow, Kass actually made that look believable.

Bayon Camp
Spencer has some work to do being down 4-2. He knows Kelly voted for him on their old tribe. He thinks he has to throw her under the bus. Monica doesn't think he is being completely truthful about her having a lot of connections on the other side. He said she will always be someone he can't fully trust. Monica makes a fake alliance with Spencer, but really she is holding out hope for an all-girl alliance and wants to keep the guy numbers down.

Immunity Challenge

The Voice, Ep. 9.7

The Battle Rounds, part 2

Team Adam w/ John Fogerty

Keith Semple vs. Manny Cabo
The Who's "Baba O'Riley"
Oh dear, I'm in trouble because I love both of these guys! I don't want to lose either one of them. Their auditions were two of the best, seriously. There best be a steal for one of these guys, or it will be a tragedy. This song is perfect for them. I love Keith's personality and I love the way he started with the little mic toss. Vocally, these two are just amazing and so pitch-perfect. Going into this I kind of thought I liked Manny's voice better, but now I'm thinking I like Keith's better. I don't know, such a tough call. I think Keith really performed the heck out of the song, and I think Manny was a little bit more reserved, which kind of surprised me because I think their auditions were the opposite. The end of the song was absolutely incredible. They harmonized and sang the heck out of it with those high notes. Wow! And again, it's so nice to see a great comradery between them.
WINNER: KEITH
Side note: I just heard Adam he can't wait for Keith to sing some Muse! That makes me super excited! I love Muse and right from his audition, I thought that he looks so much like Muse's lead singer.

Team Blake w/ Brad Paisley

Chris Crump vs. Krista Hughes
Brad Paisley & Dolly Parton's "When I Get Where I'm Going"
I'm not overly excited for this battle. I don't really remember either of them from their audition, and I can't get excited for a Brad Paisley song. Chris starts out with kind of a weird, soft whisper. I'm not sure if he just couldn't find the notes or what...it was just kind of weird. It was like the notes were too low and he was trying to do it falsetto or something. When they both came in on the chorus, it was much better. I do like Chris's voice a lot. However, I'm afraid he's being overshadowed by Krista. He had a nice solo moment toward the end of the song. I think at the end of this Blake is only going to remember her performance, so she will probably be the winner...or not...since the judges all pointed out pitch problems with Krista that I didn't really hear, and 2 of the judges said they would pick Chris.
WINNER: CHRIS

Team Gwen w/ Selena Gomez

Kota Wade vs. Alex Kandel
No Doubt's "It's My Life"
WINNER: KOTA

Noah Jackson vs. Jeffery Austin
The Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face"
WINNER: JEFFREY

Team Pharrell w/ Missy Elliott

Ivonne Acero vs. Siahna Im
The Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin On"
These two appear to be two meek and mild teenagers, but if you remember their auditions, you remember that they both have big, bold voices. Siahna continues to shock me even though I've heard her sing before. Where does that big, deep voice come from? She's such a tiny little girl! Another very evenly matched battle. There is no clear winner here. They are both exceptional singers for their age...or any age for that matter. They had an incredible harmony and these two could seriously form a duet because they are just that good. I think Siahna might have had a slightly better performance and might have a little bit more personality.
WINNER: SIAHNA
STEAL: Gwen and Blake both push to steal, and she chooses Team Blake (shocker!)

Sydney Rhame vs. Madi Davis
Vance Joy's "Riptide"
WINNER: MADI

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The Voice, Ep. 9.6

The Battle Rounds Begin! And let's just get this out of the way right now. Adam: NO!!!! Adam: WHY??? Bald is NOT a good look for Adam! He's a gorgeous man, but man, he REALLY needs hair! I thought the blonde look wasn't the greatest, but this is much worse. I'm hoping his hair grows fast!

Team Adam w/ John Fogerty

Jordan Smith vs. Regina Love
Sam Smith's "Like I Can"
I know this song pretty well, but the way they started it, it sounded so different. Regina's voice is just too deep for me. There was one part that the low notes were pretty wavering and she didn't quite nail them. I don't know, I just love Jordan's voice. They kind of switched gender roles in this song. She was deep, and he was the higher voice. Interesting. They blended well. I just really hope Jordan wins. I don't know how you can't reward him for that performance. She was good, but there is something so special and incredible about Jordan. I don't think this competition would be the same without him. We've seen plenty of singers like Regina in the past, but there hasn't ever been anyone like Jordan. If by some disaster Jordan doesn't win, he BETTER get stolen!
WINNER: JORDAN
STEAL: Gwen stole Regina (sorry, but that was a wasted steal...way too many good singers to come)

Dustin Monk vs. James Dupre
Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son"
I liked both of these guys in their audition. I love the rapport they have with each other. It's clear that they both want each other to do well. James started out strong, and then Dustin came in just as strong. Oh man, this is going to be so tough! Their voices are actually very, very similar. If I close my eyes, I can't tell which one is singing! They are so similar and are completely neck-and-neck in this one. I have no idea what Adam is going to do. Both of these guys deserve to be in the competition, but with so many steals already, I'm afraid we're going to lose one of them.
WINNER: JAMES

Team Blake w/ Brad Paisley

Tyler Dickerson vs. Zach Seabaugh
Travis Tritt's "I'm Gonna Be Somebody"
I love them both, so this is going to be a tough one for me. I just love both of their voices, even though they are doing a country song. I had a little bit of a hard time understanding what Tyler was singing, but his voice sounded great. I think I like Zach's voice a little bit better, and I think he could be very versatile, and sing things other than country. Zach had a really nice moment where his voice really shined. I think Tyler's experience showed in his stage presence a little more than Zach. Zach had one moment where he really tried to force the notes a little too much and his voice cracked a little bit. All in all, they blended beautifully ad had a really good harmony at the end. This is a tough one. I'm not sure who is going to take this one.
WINNER: ZACH

Barrett Baber vs. Dustin Christensen
Mark Cohen's "Walking in Memphis"
Another pretty even match-up. I don't really have a favorite between these two. After hearing them sing together, I still don't know who I like better. They are both good and both sound good together. I wouldn't say I'm blown away by either of them. They both have a very big range for country singers. It was kind of like a battle of the dueling vocal ranges. I think maybe Barrett won me over a little more than Dustin at the end, but it's going to be a very close one.
WINNER: BARRETT
STEAL: Adam and Gwen pushed to steal, and he chose to join Team Adam (womp womp...another wasted steal...I was really hoping he would pick Gwen because again, there are too many good singers yet to come!)

Team Gwen w/ Selena Gomez

Ellie Lawrence vs. Tim Atlas
The Neighbourhood's "Sweater Weather"
I didn't go into this performance with strong feelings for either of these 2. I was really impressed with this performance, though! I wasn't sure how they would do together, but their voices sounded amazing together. I liked Ellie's quirky voice on this song. Tim did a really great job as well. I'm torn on this one as well. I'm not sure who it's going to be. If I had to guess, I would say Ellie because she's a little bit more unique.
WINNER: ELLIE
STEAL: Pharrell stole Tim (another wasted steal...too many way good singers who aren't going to be able to be stolen because they have wasted some steals on people who were not as good)

Team Pharrell w/ Missy Elliott

Celeste Betton vs. Mark Hood
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
Don't love this song choice...let's do something current, OK, Pharrell? I don't care for Celeste. I do love Mark's voice, though. They did a good job together, but I would definitely pick Mark. His range is crazy!
WINNER: MARK

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Dancing with the Stars, Ep. 21.6

Theme: Switch-up -- each celebrity is paired up with a different pro, as voted on by the public

Plus! Maks is back, but this time, he's joining the judging panel! That means there will be a total of 40 points available this week.

Also worth noting: no one is being eliminated tonight. Their scores and votes from last week are combined with this week's to determine who will be eliminated next week.

Tamar & Louis - Samba
I'm sure Louis is loving having someone to actually "dance" with. Tamar rocked this just like she has every other dance. Lots of classic samba moves and they nailed every beat.
Score: 29

Hayes & Allison - Viennese Waltz
He's so cute! His partner is changing this week, and...so is his voice! Because, in his words, "puberty". Awe! He looks so grown up this week! Allison did a great job with him. That suit with the tails is a nice touch. As much as I know about ballroom, I think he did a great job. It looked like he had some really nice lines with his arms really extended. I didn't realize his arms were so long! They seemed to go on for miles! He floated and was so graceful. Very nice job! He is getting better every week. He was good to start out with, and he just keeps improving.
Score: 31

Paula & Mark - Jive
I'm still baffled by this pairing. I don't know who in their right mind would have voted for this pairing. I think this was rigged. I love that she is scared of him because he is too edgy. She told him he would have to be patient, and he said he even has that tattooed on his arm. She thinks he needs to get it on the other arm too. Surprisingly in rehearsal, these 2 were actually meant to be together! They have the same sense of humor...it's hilarious! Oh my goodness...his little milkman intro was hilarious! So, there's a lot of bouncing, but not really on time. She's actually getting a little hip action going. Oh no! She just lifted her skirt! Yikes! She has no shame, clearly. I like the little butt bump that sent Mark flying at the end...that was pretty funny. OK, so I didn't see ANY kicks and flicks. This looked a little more like a lindy hop or something. There was no like, side-by-side kicks and flicks.
Side note: funniest line of the night goes to Julianne: "Mark brought the milk and you brought the cookies!" and then Paula shouted "Did anything fall on the floor?!" LOL! I agree with Maks. I think she actually could do more and is playing it safe. I think Louis could be giving her more to work with and I think Mark could have as well. At least show us she's trying to do steps, because it's a lot of all standing in the same place.
Score: 26

Alek & Emma - Rumba
Poor Alek! The hits keep coming...literally! Last week, the Oregon shooting at his college. Earlier this week, his friend (who also helped subdue the terrorist on the train with him) was stabbed! And now, Emma whacks him in the nose in rehearsal and breaks his nose! I sure hope he can catch a break soon!

Emma said she's never done a rumba on the show before. She said her other partners have either been "too ripe or not ripe enough"...oh Emma! I think he has a little crush! And I think she sort of does too,! He said he couldn't concentrate because she was too pretty. Awe! He didn't seem himself last week (understandably), and I thought he might still be off his game a little bit with everything else that's happened. But, he did so well on this dance! I love seeing him let go and show his feelings. Even though he was kind of embarrassed at the end. They connected as partners so well! They have a very natural chemistry and it showed, even after only working together a week. I kind of wish they were paired from this start because they are so hot together! Holy crap, that was just magical to watch! Wow...just...wow!!! I loved that dance and you could just feel the steamy, sexy, energy that radiated from them. And it looks like they are going on a date after this! Yay!
Score: 29 (Seriously? What were they thinking with those scores? They had really positive things to say, so why so low?)

Bindi & Val - Cha Cha
Great...Val said this is the toughest cha cha he's ever done on the show. I think she is up to the challenge. So, Bindi brings in a huge snake, and that is just so gross! It just sits there and slithers while they are rehearsing...yuck! Look at her in that bright yellow...she just radiates...even more than she normally does. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. There were so many steps and she just nailed them with so much confidence. I love the way she just feels every beat and emotion and it all just shows on her face. What a cute routine, and they worked so well together! I'm so happy for her! And they had such a cute moment after the dance. It looks like she has had the same effect on Val in one week just as she has on Derek. That girl is just so special and such a bright and joyful light in this world. To be half the person she is would be incredible. There are not enough positive and amazing words to describe this girl.
Score: 37 (10 from Maks!!)

Carlos & Lindsay - Quickstep
From one best friend to the other. He should not have too much of a hard time transitioning to work with her. He said he would like to fuse them together into Windsay. Ha! I can tell right away that this is going to be an extremely fast and crazy quickstep! I would think this one might be a hard one to jump into with a new partner because there is a lot of trust involved in making all those quick steps in sync. I think they did a great job. This dance was crazy and there were so many steps! She didn't hold back at all, and I think that's a good thing, because he's right, he does have something to prove. He's been in the middle of the pack and he was in jeopardy last week.
Score: 39 (3 10s! Wow!)

Alexa & Derek - Tango
I LOVE their outfits! Derek's hair also looks amazing! I love the song that danced to "Bastille"...even if it wasn't the original track. The band didn't butcher it like they do most other songs. She looked great and she had the character nailed. I love the 6-person walking high kick thing they did. Really good dance! This switch-up was good for her. It was another really good match-up. Just like the rest of the couples so far, they didn't seem to have any trouble learning from a new partner.
Score: 40 (Whoa!!! First perfect score of the season, and she beat her husband by 1 point!)

Andy & Sharna - Argentine Tango
He actually canceled a show to have more rehearsal time. You can't say he doesn't want to be there and isn't giving it his all. I hope this is his breakout week! He needs this! I love that they are dancing to The Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face"...I love this song! He looks so hot this week! The visual effects are really great and add a lot to the feel of the dance. He is really connecting with Sharna! I don't know what it is about these switch-ups...but EVERYONE is doing better with a different partner! This is crazy! Oh my gosh. So um....I just got goosebumps and my jaw dropped...this dance was beyond incredible. His face sold the entire performance. This was SO SEXY! I loved Andy before, but I am IN LOVE WITH HIM RIGHT NOW! That was like one of the sexiest dances I have ever seen! He was so comfortable with her..I can't believe what I just watched! And that lift?! He swung her around his neck with her legs! I can't believe he pulled that off! And the chills I got when he ran his hand up her leg...holy crap! I just can't say enough about this dance, and I am SO GLAD that he judges finally gave him some positive critiques!!!!!! It's about darn time! I cannot wait to watch this dance again! And then the reveal that the origin of his sexy face came from Sharna telling him to look like he smelled a fart...keeping it classy folks! Like Maks said...whatever works! And this worked like a dream. Take notes for next week Allison! I'm so incredibly happy for him, you have no idea!
Score: 36

Nick & Witney - Paso Doble
That's so funny that he is leading the rehearsal and telling her when he was off. LOVE their outfits. LOVE her hair! He looks so hot (doesn't take much). How interesting...they had like a ramp over the steps that they had to travel up...never seen that before. I was a little worried because his movements weren't super powerful at the beginning, but once they got to the top of the stage, he kicked it into another gear! He was nailing those arm movements and foot stomps. Overall, it was a really good performance as usual. He might not have benefitted as much from the switch-up as some of the others, but he still did amazing.
Score: 35

Week 5 Standings
Alexa & Derek - 40
Carlos & Lindsay - 39
Bindi & Val - 37
Andy & Sharna - 36
Nick & Witney - 35
Hayes & Allison - 31
Alek & Emma - 29
Tamar & Louis - 29
Paula & Mark - 26

Week 4 & 5 Combined Standings
Bindi & Derek - 65
Carlos & Witney - 64
Nick & Sharna - 62
Alexa & Mark - 61
Andy & Allison - 59
Hayes & Emma - 58
Tamar & Val - 56
Alek & Lindsay - 53
Paula & Louis - 44

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Survivor, Ep. 31.3

Drop Your Buffs! 2 Becomes 3
Terry is feeling on top of the world. He feels like he went from the bottom to the top without any fear of going home. They have Spencer to go next if they have to go to Tribal. The tribe as a whole feels like their team morale is at an all-time high.

That all comes crashing down when Probst says "Drop your buffs!". And they aren't just switching tribes, there will now be 3 tribes of 6 each. The 3rd tribe will have to start from scratch building a shelter and a camp. They will have supplies like they did at the beginning of the game, but the rest is a big do-over.

New Bayon - pink
Jeremy, Spencer, Stephen, Monica, Kelly Wigglesworth, Kimmi

4 Bayon: Jeremy, Stephen, Monica, Kimmi
2 former Ta Keo: Kelley, Spencer

New Ta Keo - green
Joe, Terry, Keith, Kass, Ciera, Kelley Wentworth

4 former Bayon: Keith, Joe, Kass, Ciera
2 Ta Keo: Terry, Kelley

New Angkor - yellow
Woo, Varner, Savage, Abi, Peih-Gee, Tasha

4 former Ta Keo: Woo, Varner, Abi, Peih-Gee
2 former Bayon members: Savage, Tasha

Angkor Camp

The Voice, Ep. 9.5

Blind Auditions: Part 5

Tonight's show will complete our 4 teams.

Team Adam

Dustin Monk, 27
Ooh, I really love his voice! Perfect tone, great range. He had a great growl, and power without screaming. He is really talented! Loved this performance.
Chair Turns: 2 (Adam and Blake)

Shelby Brown, 16
She looks like a young Adele. I can't think who her voice reminds me of. I can't believe she is only 16! What a big, booming voice! She had so much power, but she didn't yell or screech...so I'm a fan! She had great control and great range. She also gave a great visual performance. She seems like she's been doing this for years. Wow...really impressed!
Chair Turns: 4

Let me just say...Adam is back on his game this season! Plenty of 4-chair wins, and he got some of the absolute best talent this season! Last season, he got the shaft and all the good singers chose Pharrell over him...not this season! The montage of all his singers gave me goosebumps!

Team Blake

Dustin Christensen, 35
We haven't heard too many guys like him this season. He's got a very mature voice with some grit and growl to it. He had a really great performance.
Chair Turns: 4

Blaine Mitchell, 24
So, he's from Texas and loves country, so I didn't expect him to sing Train's "Drops of Jupiter"! It had a slight country flair to it, which was kind of cool. I really liked his performance a lot. His last high notes were incredible! He held them for so long, and they were so on-pitch! Loved this performance! I was getting so nervous because no one was turning around!
Chair Turns: 2 (Blake and Gwen; Adam couldn't turn)

I forgot how many good singers Blake ended up with. 

Team Gwen

Chase Kerby, 30
"The Scientist" by Coldplay is one of my all-time favorite songs. This was a beautiful rendition of the song. He is gorgeous to look at, but his voice is just as beautiful. I got some major goosebumps on that one! Wow...the richness of his tone was so perfect, but it was so light and golden at the same time. I wanted to hear so much more than that! I can't believe Gwen is the only one to turn around! I think if he auditioned earlier they would have all turned, but since they all only have 1 or 2 spots, they were being really picky,
Chair Turns: 1

Summer Schappell, 21
I do not care for the pukey color of purple or gray hair she has. And we have another country singer, believe it or not. She does have a really pretty voice.
Chair Turns: 2 (Gwen and Pharrell; Adam and Blake couldn't turn)

How interesting, when they showed Gwen's montage of singers, she has 2 girls with very odd colored purple hair. She has quite a few good singers, but she has a lot of girls with quirky, odd voices that I think will get annoying pretty quickly.

Team Pharrell

Amy Vachal, 26
Hate the song choice, and it didn't make me love her voice. I think on another song, I might like her. Her performance was a little sleepy to me.
Chair Turns: 3 (Blake, Gwen, Pharrell; Adam couldn't turn)

Sydney Rhame, 16
That is not what I would have expected. She has a very, very deep voice. Usually I don't care for girls with a deep voice like that, but she's really good! And she does have a range, and she didn't live in her bottom register for the whole song, which I really liked. She did a great job on that Ed Sheeran song. Beautiful! I love that Blake, Adam, and Gwen (whose teams were full) sat on the back of their chairs and peeked around the corner just to get a glimpse of her performance! I don't think that's ever been done before!
Chair Turns: 1 (Adam, Blake, and Gwen couldn't turn)

Pharrell has a very unique and ecclectic team.

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Dancing with the Stars, Ep. 21.5

Theme: Most Memorable Year

As if the stories of the night aren't emotional enough, there were 2 big announcements: Allison is 4 months pregnant and Witney just got engaged! Add to that that Tom is taking the night off to be with his ailing father, so Alfonso Ribeiro is filling in. Wow.

Alexa & Mark - Foxtrot
Year: 2000 - she booked the movie Spy Kids

I love the visual affects of rain...I don't know how they do that! It was nice to see her doing a ballroom dance, because we haven't really seen that from her yet. She did a great job, and she was so cute with her little glasses! It seemed maybe a little more bouncy than foxtrots normally are, so it will be interesting to see what the judges say. It kind of reminded me of Singing in the Rain.
Score: 21

Gary & Anna - Jazz
Year: 1979 - starred in Buddy Holly Story

Well...let's just say...he doesn't look too much like Buddy Holly anymore. The black hair was way fake! This was just kind of all over the place. He was shaking all over the place...I couldn't tell if that was part of the dance or not. Yikes...that was just weird. Even weirder than the Adamms family last week.
Score: 16

Tamar & Val - Rumba
Year: 2012 - her husband almost died

What a beautiful, moving dance. She is dancing to her own single, so that makes this even more emotional. She really brought out the emotion for this dance. Val does such a good job with this style (OK, who are we kidding...he's good at all styles, but I always feel something special and emotional with his rumbas). The song was beautiful, she was beautiful, her dress was beautiful, their connection was beautiful. The whole thing was just lovely.
Score: 27