Mbeaker

It's not, which is why I'm surprised at the reaction on here. Carlos and Witney's Charleston trio (featuring Karina) was initially a Samba until it got switched out, presumably because Samba was too difficult for Carlos. There have been more examples in the past, but I'm blanking on names. If able-bodied contestants receive such allowances, though I don't think they should, I have no problem when someone like Victoria gets a pass.

Vinyasa, the cameras are with the couples during every minute of their rehearsals. As widely told by the celebs throughout the seasons. Speed skating has squat to do with dancing. And it would behoove the judges to not make sweeping "the best ever" statements every season. It just makes them sound ridiculous. Count me as someone who has been unimpressed with Val's choreography this season. Each week I expect to be blown away by Laurie's dance, and each week... I'm not. She's obviously good, but I expected more. Still, I'll be shocked if she doesn't win. Maureen or Ryan can go next, and I wouldn't miss either of them.

Mileage varies because Helio's Quickstep being held up as a great has little to do with his technique for me. It was incredibly sloppy. His technique was never better than it was in his Foxtrot... and that was in week 1. And, again, Helio isn't the only example for me. You may have seen improvement in some of those others, I did not. Edited to add: apologies to the mods for steering off this episode and onto past seasons. I will cut it out now.

Even if that is your criteria, I don't agree that every other winner showed improvement. I found several of them to have had plateaued or regressed.

Eh, when we've gotten Helio over Mel B, Donald over Katherine, Melissa over Shawn/Apolo/Gilles in the All-Star season, Donny over Mya, and so many more, I can't say that Nyle's win gets an asterisk. This show has never been about the best dancer winning. And how could it be when the result is based not only on scores but audience votes. People at home vote for all sorts of reasons. And I'm fine with that. My voting criteria are not somehow better than someone else's. And while good dancing is high up on my list, there are several proficient dancers that have left me cold over the seasons. Why would I vote for someone that doesn't make me feel something when they dance, no matter how good? Furthermore, DWTS would be a pretty boring and predictable show if the best technical dancer always won.

I do think Erin could have been more careful on-set, where open mics abound, but I agree. However unfortunate, I wouldn't call it tacky. She didn't set out to ruin their announcement. If anyone is tacky here, it's the person(s) who leaked Erin's "Oopsie" to TMZ.

truthaboutluv, Shirley Ballas brought into question Keo's own technique on AfterBuzz last night. And therein lies another problem I have with Keo on this show; not only do I find his choreography underwhelming, and his teaching abilities suspect, but I also don't see his quality of movement matching the likes of Val, Mark, etc.

Shirley Ballas was a guest on AfterBuzz, and she offered up some criticism of Keo and Witney.

Interesting that both Tony & Karina, who were co-hosting All-Access, thought the women won the team dance when the prevailing sentiment online is the opposite. I'll have to watch the two dances again because, while Team Beyoncé had the more complex choreography, I didn't enjoy it much upon first viewing.

Correct. Antonio has been habitually late, and yet they made Sharna out to be the bad guy. That's rich. Uke, Tom was crediting Adam Shankman as the choreographer of Hairspray, the movie, not Kim's routine.

This is not the first time someone has danced to Hey! Pachuco, so this is not exactly a valid argument for why Len disliked Nyle's dance. Len has gone on record as saying his favorite Quickstep on DWTS is Helio and Julianne's from season 5 to the same song/theme - right down to the same "banana suit."

Prince songs are notoriously hard to clear, but a slight correction - in addition to Nicole, Erin & Maks ("You've Got the Look") and Alfonso & Witney ("Trust") also danced to his songs.

Throw that shade, Karina. Karina was asked about Maks' judging: http://www.accesshollywood.com/videos/does-karina-smirnoff-have-any-hard-feelings-about-ex-fiance-maksim-chmerkovskiy/

Their song is Jai ho, and while I've never seen the movie, I'm familiar with the song and Gilles' Bollywood routine to it in the All-Star season. And, well, I'm having a hard time picturing anything but a disaster for Doug and Karina tho I would like to be wrong.

So, as if Switch-Up wasn't enough of a cluster, next is Famous Dances Week?! That did not go over well last season. I remember only one dance adhering to the assigned style. Nick and Sharna's Samba. These no-content dances will be getting 10s, and just off of a week where judges were harping on content. Yeah, no hypocrisy there. I'm dreading this - as are probably Doug & Karina who, according to the DancingABC Instagram page, have Bollywood. The least talented dancer left gets a style most ringers probably couldn't do justice. Cringe.