In the oft-repeated word of judge Len Goldman, last night's semi-final performances on Dancing With the Stars were "fantastic." Five of the eight received perfect 30 scores, leaving Helio Castroneves and Mel B in a 60-60 tie. Despite effusive praise from all three judges, Marie Osmond wound up at the back of the pack with a score of 56, trailing Jennie Garth who was awarded a total of 58 points. As usual, the songs were often at odds with the rhythms of their dances, which the contestants were allowed to choose. Crossing national boundaries with aplomb, Mel B did a Vienesse waltz to Queen's "Somebody to Love," which judge Carrie Ann Inaba called "all that and then some." In the Latin round, wearing a skintight purple catsuit that made her chest look like a bolster, she and Maksim Chmerkovskiy did the pasa doble to The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction." Both dances delighted the judges and brought the duo a pair of perfect scores.
Helio and Julianne Hough, both dressed in green, did the foxtrot to Dean Martin's "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" and then closed the show -- in red this time -- with a kitschy cha cha cha to the tune of The Ohio Players' "Lover Rollercoaster." They also received 30s for both turns on the floor.
Marie Osmond got a standing ovation for her show-opening quickstep and giddy praise for her clothes-shedding mambo, but her scores toted up to a less-than-perfect 56. And while Jennie Garth got 30 from the judges for a cha cha cha to the tune of Wilson Pickett's "Mustang Sally," her tango earlier in the show got only a 28.
Tonight's show will reveal which of the couples will be sent packing to leave the final three who will compete in the finals. Scheduled guests on tonight's show are rocker Avril Lavigne and "Lord of the Dance" Michael Flatley...by Ira Robbins
