(S09E07) With the return of Len Goodman, a thirteen-point difference separated all the contestants on Dancing with the Stars. Even with two bum feet, Tom DeLay managed to beat Michael Irwin's score. As the credits roll, I think the opening sequence needs to take a hint from Survivor and make edited versions where eliminated contestants are removed from the opening every week.

The big drama tonight was whether or not there would be a single elimination or a double. We get a recap of last night: kissing, Paula Abdul, and dancing. The judges made a very interesting choice for an encore.

People Magazine has gotten the news that Tom DeLay will officially be dropping out of Dancing with the Stars tonight. His double stress fractures were finally too much to bear. I have sneaking suspicion that Tom got enough votes to survive into next week and was strongly advised to quit.

Quitting is the classiest thing for Tom DeLay to do at the moment. He probably wouldn't survive another week and Cheryl would have to tip-toe around choreography next week. This also gives yet another a second chance for Debi Mazar and Michael Irvin to prove themselves.

(S9E06) I welcomed the return of Len Goodman on Dancing with the Stars because he separated the scores of the dances, by giving good performances two points less than they actually deserved. This week was a full Latin night with the Samba and Rumba.

When Chuck walked down the stairs I couldn't help but laugh at his arm frill, but Cheryl and Tom DeLay walked down as the American flag. I was laughing so hard that I didn't even notice that Debi's outfit killed all of Aaron Carter's Muppets.

There has been some drama with Tom DeLay's feet. Find out after the jump what happened to him.

(S09E04) We had three dances on Dancing with the Stars: Jive, Tango, and Quickstep. It's a good change from having two dances back to back to having three different styles. The dancers had about 57 seconds to impress the judges and America. If anyone counted, we had less than 14 minutes of dance for a two hour show (about 80 minutes without commercials).

To soften the harshness of week two, Baz Lurhmann replaced Len Goodman, giving Len time from traveling between this show and British counterpart Strictly Come Dancing. He mostly used the term "Uncle Len" and graded dancers with sevens. Still, he was better than Michael Flatley.

I think we can all agree, no matter what your politics, seeing Tom Delay dancing to "Wild Thing" on Dancing with the Stars was rather...surreal. Last night, Stephen Colbert talked about it.

I never want to hear the phrase "knee slide into a fist munch" again.

(S09E01) We begin the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars with a men's professional routine. As good as all the men are, it's just not as compelling as women's flowing (or non-existent) dresses. Tom and Samantha welcome us to the show and reminds us that there are minor twists, including extra double eliminations. Our first twist is the Relay: basically a rehashed group dance.

We welcome our dancers for the first time down the stairs. While the women aren't performing tonight, they descend and sit in the audience. Macy Gray wanders down the stairs totally confused to as where she is.

ABC announced the new Dancing with the Stars cast today. If you've been living under a rock the past few years, the announcement of the new DWTS cast is now given all of the gravitas as the naming of a new Pope.

Here we go:

Aaron Carter
Ashley Hamilton
Chuck Liddell

The future of America hinges on whether a Democrat or a Republican wins Dancing with the Stars! At least, that's what Tom DeLay will have his supporters believe. The Texas Congressman is actually on a mission to sway the vote in favor of one particular Dancing with the Stars contestant. According to this blogger, he sent a letter to his supporters encouraging them to call in and vote for country singer Sara Evans. Evidently she leans a little to the right. In his letter to supporters, DeLay said Evans "represents American values in the media." He also calls out fellow contestant Jerry Springer, calling him an "ultra liberal talk show host". So... what does it mean if Joey Lawrence wins?

Dancing with the Stars premieres on Tuesday, September 12th.

[Via TV Tattle]

Sarcasm is lost on some people. The people who run the Defend DeLay website and legal defense fund have featured an interview from The Colbert Report with Robert Greenwald, the director of the new documentary called The Big Buy: How Tom DeLay Stole Congress. In a recent e-mail posted on ThinkProgress.com, the Defend DeLay folks directed supporters to watch a clip of The Colbert Report, saying "Colbert Cracks the Story on Real Motivations Behind Movie." The clip is of Colbert interviewing Greenwald in Colbert's typical in-your-face fashion, asking him questions like, "Who hates America more: you or Michael Moore?"

Apparently these guys didn't see his roast of President Bush.