With his and Amber Roses elimination behind him, Maks brings us into season 23, episode 8.
On Monday nights performances
James and Sharna/Jenna:
I think James is the best.
Last night was an important night in terms separating our front-runners from the rest of the competition.
Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin
He, to me, had the best dance of the night.
James is really improving week after week, and keeps getting better and better.
He was smooth, and comfortable.
James just impressed the s out of me.
I think next week will be a big deal week for Calvin.
Hes come very far and has kind of plateaued at his dance level.
I also didnt think last nights performance was a 30.
Where his abilities showed even more was when Calvin and Lindsey had the dance off with Laurie and Val.
Sasha and Terra:
When their dance started, I thought Great!
Finally were seeing something more than the same set of movements from them.
Of course we understand that she has limitations, but I had been hoping to see more from her.
As a fellow dancer I get it: its week 8, were exhausted.
But it wasnt really a full minute of Cha-Cha and that was a downfall to me.
Their scores (all 9s) seemed a little inflated, but it is what it is.
Jana and Gleb:
It seems like were missing her and Im not sure why.
For a while there, she was improving and getting better and better every week.
But I dont know if thats something that Jana can afford given the level of competition left.
This next week might be their do or die.
We always see similarities from season to season all of us pros recycle stuff.
Having several years ofDWTSexperience, we know there are weeks that are easier than others.
Im not saying this in a bad way at all its just the way it is.
But I think maybe Derek is attempting this and its not working.
Marilu is a different person than other people hes worked with.
She needs something that needs to be styled for her, so Dereks signature fast footwork doesnt really work.
She needs to be a little bit smoother, and maybe slower action, or different song styles.
And Derek just doesnt seem supportive enough.
You change your approach, and sometimes change your own personal style for the benefit of your partner.
But I feel like Ive come back and adjusted my approach and made the best of a situation.
Ryan and Cheryl:
I really liked Ryans last dance, I thought they would stay!
Theyre very fun to watch, and hes actually improved from the beginning.
I would say yesterdays Tango was not that bad, and probably deserved to stay in the competition.
Now, I am not Ryans fan, at all.
But it was clean, and it seemed like they were having a good time.
Perhaps it was due to Cheryls House of Pain.
My predictions for the finals at this point are: Laurie, James, and Calvin.
On Val getting emotional
As his brother, Im like, Bro, whats wrong with you?
How are you gonna be crying on national television?
Come on, bro.
Probably 100 of our friends and family were watching going REALLY?
Whatre you doing?!
Listen, if he had an older sister, this conversation might have been different.
But he has an older brother, who was also his coach.
I mean, Ive had to carry him off the floor before!
Weve both done things before that are extremely painful… and we didnt cry.
So this was bulls.
And hey, maybe this was a sign of him growing up!
Maybe hes grown now; grown men cry you know.
Ive never known Val to be very emotional.
Usually hes very much like heres what we have to do, now do it.
But I guess maybe this was him becoming an adult.
Tears aside, it was cute for TV.
Im sure he did get emotional for real, but my reaction is, Cmon, bro!
But were both working hard to see to it our children will have a different life than we had.
Just like onDWTS, without them wed be nothing.
Halloween has really grown on me, after being in the U.S. for 23 years.
In the beginning we couldnt understand what the hell it is, or what were celebrating.
