On the Scene: Will Florence Henderson Dance to the 'Brady Bunch' Theme on 'DWTS'?
More about this week's performance show of 'Dancing With the Stars' in a bit, but here's a great reason to already get excited about next week's performances: The stars and their dancing pro partners will be performing routines to hit TV show theme songs. A few couples revealed what song they'll be dancing to on the post-show press line, but it's up in the air if the most natural choice, Florence Henderson and Corky Ballas twirling to the theme song from 'The Brady Bunch,' is going to happen. First, the duo has to survive tonight's elimination show. Second, the song needs to go through certain legal clearances so it can be used on the show.
Henderson told TV Squad, "We're hoping [we dance to 'The Brady Bunch' theme]. I can't imagine that they would not [clear it.]" Of course, as her partner, Ballas, pointed out, "But first, we have to get saved."
Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer tipped that they'll be dancing to the 'Charlie's Angels' theme next week -- if they make it through -- but don't expect any of the trademark 'Angels' pistol-holding poses in their routine. "We can't do guns," Massey said. "ABC -- you're not allowed do guns," Schwimmer confirmed. "You can't mimic guns. We can wear see-through clothing, but we can't mimic guns."
Maksim Chmerkovskiy said that his partner, Brandy Norwood, had never heard their song -- the iconic theme to 'Friends.' "I know 'Friends,'" Norwood clarified. "But I've just never seen it." The singer is a big fan of one the series' stars, however. "Jennifer Aniston and I have the same birthday. I've seen five or six of her movies. I wasn't even watching myself [on TV when 'Friends' was on]."
"I have no idea what our song is because I was born in the '80s," Cheryl Burke quipped. Her star partner, Rick Fox, is familiar with it, though. "It has a ton of seasons," he teased, but wouldn't reveal the name.
Scores went way up on 'DWTS' in week 4 (frontrunners Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough reclaimed the lead with a combined total of 56 out of 60), but that's because judges gave two sets of scores -- one for technique and another for performance. The breakdown was mostly appreciated by the dancers and their celebrity partners because it forced the judges to explain why they voted the way they did.
"I kind of like it," Burke said. "Technique is hard to judge. You really have to know what you're talking about. You never know what the judges are really judging. [Last night], they had to judge on both."
"I liked it," Fox concurred. "It tells you where you are as a dancer."
"This forced the judges to actually talk about the performance and the technique so you could take constructive criticism," said dancing pro Tony Dovolani. "The only problem is that this type of scoring creates a really big difference between the top and the bottom. It's scary for people who have low scores and it's scary if you have a higher one because [your fans] will think you're safe [and they might not vote.]"
"I think they got it somewhat right this time," said Chmerkovskiy about the judges giving two sets of scores. "[Judges have said], 'I was moved by your performance. Here's a 7 because the footwork wasn't there.' The fact that they broke down two scores separated the [contestants] who are throwing dust in your eyes and the ones who are really learning the steps."
And what did judge Len Goodman mean when he talked about Maks doing a "fan" and a "hockey stick" in his dance with Brandy? "They're terms for steps in the rumba," Maks explained.
Kurt Warner's pro partner, Anna Trebunskaya, said the football player will celebrate his 13th wedding anniversary in a special way: "He is going to do our routine over again, only he'll do it with [his wife]."
Alas, teen activist Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas have less to celebrate, since they were among the lower-scoring couples. "It sucks to get low scores," Palin said. "But I'm having fun. Mark knows I'm improving. I feel confident."
"I thought she did great," Ballas said. "She danced beautifully. Bristol's never performed [professionally] in her life."
As for the were reports last week that 'DWTS' producers were interested in Palin's father, Todd, before they extended an offer to her, "I remember when they asked him to do it," she said. "I said, 'Yeah, Dad, do it!' But he was right in the middle of a snow-machine race and couldn't take three months off from work. It opened the door for me."

13 Comments