DANCING WITH THE STARS Season 13 Recap: Hope goes Solo landing in 4th place

By PAMELA HARLAND / Contributing Editor

Posted: November 16th, 2011 / 08:33 AM

Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Hope Solo on DANCING WITH THE STARS - Season 13 - Week 9 | ©2011 ABC/Adam Taylor

Stars: Rob Kardashian, Ricki Lake, J.R. Martinez, Hope Solo
Network: ABC, airs Mondays, Tuesdays
Original Telecast: Nov. 15^th, 2011

No one was surprised tonight when high scores deprived struggling couple Hope Solo & Maksim Chmerkovskiy were booted off DANCING WITH THE STARS during Week 9 of Season 13. The judges had let them know with their low scores that they wanted them to go next and well, Solo and Chmerkovskiy “very” vocally acknowledged that this week. Chmerkovskiy’s angry words to and about the judges a couple of weeks ago pretty much sealed their fate. Plus, let’s face it, Solo was the weakest of the four remaining celebrity dancers. It was only fair – which isn’t always the case on DWTS, but this time it was.

Newly minted finalist Rob Kardashian & Cheryl Burke opened the show with the encore performance. Cobra Starship rocked the house with a little dance assist from Tristan Macmanus, Kym Johnson and others. Early on, Solo was put in the jeopardy category, clearly foretelling what was to come. In a funny aside Carson Kressley did a little video snippet of him visiting, where else, the wardrobe department and helping the four remaining couples pick out their costumes. I am telling you, he’ll be back for sure on future seasons. I have no doubt!

The Macy’s Stars of Dance performance was the seasonal “Design a Dance.” This time around Derek Hough and Anna Trebunskaya were hand picked by fans to do their thing. And wow! They didn’t disappoint.

The AT&T Spotlight performance featured four young male dancers discussing what it what like growing up and being teased for being a male dancer. Then, the quartet got to boogie with four DWTS pro dancers. Nicely done, boys!

In an ABC (i.e. Disney) self promotional moment The Muppets gave a song and dance – literally – to spotlight a new number from their film THE MUPPETS coming out next week.

Next safe was the couple presently in first place – Ricki Lake & Derek Hough. Still awaiting their fate were J. R. Martinez & Karina Smirnoff, who were left standing with the other “in jeopardy” couple Solo & Chmerkovskiy. And so it goes, Solo leaves in fourth place. Yes, Chmerkovskiy and Solo had a rough time with the judges. And yes, he may have said things he shouldn’t have, but let’s face it, so have the judges. Their slates are not clean.

Carrie Ann Inaba chastised Chmerkovskiy for smirking last night while she critiqued them. Inaba was clearly being a little dramatic. I never saw any such “smile” as she called it. Calm down everybody! It’s a show! Relax! Yes, it’s hard to take a criticism when you’ve worked your butt off all week. And yes Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Inaba sometimes are less than tactful in their declarations, but it’s not worth heated words being exchanged. Enjoy the show. It’s a DANCE show for crying out loud! Now, that that’s been said, onto the finals for Kardashian & Burke, Lake & Hough and Martinez & Smirnoff! Stay tuned!

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