After leading the pack in the first week’s round of this season’s “Dancing With The Stars”, both my top “favorites” Ralph Macchio and Kirstie Alley did not fare so well in the following week. Well, “Karate Kid” Ralph Macchio is still going on strong but he and his partner did not lead this time round. “Cheers” Kirstie Alley also fell a few points down but I must say that both of them did extremely well “in my book”, enough for me to still root for them all the way to the Finals.

On this second week of dance competition, the contestants had to prove that other than being able to master the footwork to either the “Jive” or the “Quick Step”, they also had to be quick on their feet. I personally feel that these two dance genres either make a dancer look “pretty good” if he/she manages the intricate steps with enough “pomp and splendour” or end up looking “pretty silly”, like a penguin hopping about chest-forward.

I’ve also come to the conclusion that having an acting background doesn’t quite hurt the performances of either Ralph Macchio or Kirstie Alley. In fact, it would be an added advantage to both their dance routines.

Ralph Macchio’s footwork gained speed when he launched into a “Jive” to the tune of “Nobody But Me” and he certainly had “loosened up” since last week (he must have caught the “critique” in my last article, lol!!). In fact, you might say that it’s like the last scene from the first “Karate Kid” movie when he threw caution to the wind except this time round, we’re talking “dance” not “karate”. Yup! He was raring to go and go he did all the way ‘til the music stopped. Though his pace was quick enough for this dance genre and his overall performance looked quite “polished”, the judges were not too kind with their score and both he and his partner Karina Smirnoff only obtained a mere 21 points.

Kirstie Alley on the other hand, was injecting a little acting “humour” into her “Quick
Step” while “Black Horse And The Cherry Tree” was playing in the background. Looking all “pretty in pink”, the comical aspect she subtly incorporated into her dance routine was timed impeccably well. Unfortunately, she did look like she lost some steam as the dance progressed. That’s probably why she and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy scored less points when compared to the week before – a mediocre score of only 20. But I’m confident that in the following weeks, she would undoubtedly overcome this problem and prove to us viewers that she could muster enough stamina to see her way to the Finals.

Yes! I have that much faith in this woman (cum celebrated actress). Look at her fine acting history. Although she’s not “up there” with the “A-listers”, she certainly left behind a legacy of “memorable” and “unforgettable” television and movie characters. This woman is much “bigger” than her persona (no pun intended). When any of her past “characters” speak, you listen. And when she talks on an interview show (think Oprah), you listen. What more can I say. Let her feet and the rest of her body do the talking on this show, I say. Go Kirstie, go!!!

After performing the two weeks’ dance routines, all 11 celebrities and their professional partners were scored by the judges. One couple will be eliminated after the home viewer votes come in and all points tallied.

Well, before I could get my article submitted, the results came in and the verdict was out. “Psycho” Mike Catherwood and his partner Lacey Schwimmer were the first couple to be eliminated this season on “Dancing With The Stars”. Both of my top “favorites” are still in the running. So, let’s look forward to more “creative” dancing on their part.

In the meantime, enjoy the following videoclips of Ralph Macchio and Kirstie Alley during their second week’s stint in “Dancing With The Stars”.