Dancing with the Stars Recap: Week 4

Once again, there was a mild surprise in this week's elimination. Michael Irvin, the NFL Hall of Famer, had the low scores of the week and seemed destined to be voted off this week. However, early in the results show, host Tom Bergeron let us know that Michael was safe. Who, then, would be eliminated? My immediate guess was UFC fighter Chuck Liddell, who has been entertaining, but stiff and rigid, throughout the competition. Liddell was announced to be in the bottom two of the voting along with...surprise...Aaron Carter. Yes, the guy who had a score of 27 (out of 30) just two weeks ago is now battling to fend off elimination. His lame act of crying, complaining, and seeming not to have an ounce of fun seems to be catching up with him. I'm sure he'll make it another round or two due to the fact that he's not the worst dancer on the show, but I don't expect him to make it to the final six. So, what's up with the remaining couples? Glad you asked:

Mya and Dmitry Chaplin - Another week, another blistering performance. Dancing a lambada, these two put up two 10s on the board, as well as an 8 from crotchety judge Len Goodman. The total of 28 was tied for the highest score this week, and their dances continue to be among the most watchable of the season. They are constantly in synch incorporate smooth moves into every routine. If they get voted off at any point, it won't be because of a poor effort on the dance floor, that's for sure.

Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff - Like I said earlier, this guy is flaming out (yes, I used that phrase on purpose) and may not last very much longer. The fans seem to be growing tired of his attitude and lack of enjoyment in the competition. He annoys me and I'm really hoping he'll get voted off this week although I know better. Grow up, Aaron.

Natalie Coughlin and Alec Mazo - This is a sneaky good duo. Natalie has put her initial nerves behind her and has put together some great dances lately. Her bolero with Alec wasn't showstopping, but it certainly was consistent and had no major flaws. Her trio of 8s were a score indicative of the performance. Nothing flashy, but getting the job done at a high level. She seems to be a crowd favorite as well (duh, she's won a bunch of gold medals for Uncle Sam; who doesn't respect that?), so I expect her to hang around awhile.

Mark Dacascos and Lacey Schwimmer - I'm still not a fan of his, but I have to admit that buddy did his thing this week. Dancing the country two-step, he seemed more relaxed and actually put together a solid performance. That, and his beautiful young daughter told him that she loved him in one of the pre-dance video snippets. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff, people. Sue me. Anyway, after Michael gets eliminated this week (predicted alert!!), I believe Mark will be the next to go. And rightfully so.

Melissa Joan Hart and Mark Ballas - I'm happy for Melissa, I really am. She's still not the best dancer out there, but she's progressing and has gotten better every week. The pinnacle of her progress occurred this week when she and Mark absolutely killed the Charleston. She put on a remarkable performance and got two well-deserved 9s and a 10 as her scores. The fans love her (myself included) and as long as she continues to get better and better on the floor, she will be around awhile. Do your thing, girl.

Michael Irvin and Anna Demidova - Mike, I love you, dude. You're entertaining and have a great personality on the dance floor, but the dancing technique just isn't there. You're too stiff, you don't have any fluidity to your movements at all, and you seem entirely too reliant on Anna to compensate for your shortcomings. Sadly, I think we've reached the end of the road for you in the coming week, but I have said that before...

Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough - Remember last week, when I said that these two were going to set the floor on fire with their lambada? Yeah, it just about happened. Though no tangible flames were present (except for Aaron Carter), the dance was terrific and really set the tone for the evening. These two have great chemistry and better clear their schedules for the next few weeks; they're going to be busy dancing all the way to the end.

Kelly Osbourne and Louis van Amstel - Don't look now, but Kelly's getting good. She and Louis did the Charleston this week, and I must admit that I was surprised by how well she performed. Her confidence seems to be there and her motions are surprisingly fluid. Everybody likes and underdog, and as long as she can continue to maintain solid showings (like this week's 23), the fan votes will keep pouring in.

Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson - After Donny's dance this week, I texted Baseball Mom and said, "Unbelievable. That guy is just a pro." He danced the Charleston with Kym and provided a high-energy routine that belied his 51 year age. He continues to show up week in and week out with strong performances that show you why the guy has been revered in the business for so many years. He's older than everyone on the show, yet he consistently outshines them all (except for Mya, of course). Nice work, Donny; Baseball Mom and I continue to be amazed (well, I'm amazed, she's just smitten).

Louie Vito and Chelsie Hightower - My favorite couple didn't have a very good week. They attempted to do the country two-step, but neither of them seemed very comfortable doing it. Louie just kinda stood around while Chelsie looked incredible dancing around him. The judges weren't impressed, and Louie ended up with a score of 16, the same as Michael Irvin. When your scores are in Michael range, that's not the best of signs. Luckily, the fans pushed him through to next week and we'll see if he can rebound...and keep Chelsie on the show for another week. Love her.

~~ Lank