Whilst I agree Rob was over marked (but then pretty much everyone is) he really stepped up his game and deserves a place in the final.

Hope deserves to go, her Cha Cha Cha and Paso prove she has improved very little throughout the series. I enjoyed her Argentine Tango but that was more so to do with the innovative choreography, the basic steps showed she isn't up to the level of the others.

Watching it right now; still in the first round, with Rob having danced the samba. I think me and the judges watched different dances. They saw a 10 and two 9's. I saw Rob walking around wiggling his hips at random and looking to his partner to see what happened next. I really enjoyed Rikki's first dance, but again it wasn't a 30.

Argentine tango; Have to admit Hope wasn't graceful on those lifts. JR was very graceful despite a ropey ankle. Rob performed more walking with a random lunge here and there, was a bit pigeon toed, constantly shifting his feet and half the dance I couldn't see due to black pants and a dark dance floor. Rikki was good, and she's looking pretty sleek these days.

Judges were outrageous with their tactical voting. And plainly just out to get Maks out, nice to see Hope stick up for him.

The Cha-cha; I actually agreed with those marks It's the only dance I actually saw Rob do anything other than shuffle around, he did rather well!

Overmarked or not, I thought Rob had his best week and deserves a place over Hope in the final. Just after I thought Hope was okay, her comments this week about the judges put me right off her.

I thought Ricki was fantastic and really upped her game to peak just at the right time to compete for that glitterball with JR. I just hope his ankle heals enough for him to dance at his best in the final because after all his hard work and fantastic performances, it would be awful for an injury to be the decider.

It's going to be a close run thing between Ricki and JR now and I can't separate them right now!

Maks and Hope have really ruined this season for me. The show should be a bit of fun but they continue to leave a bad taste in the mouth. Hope comes across like an abused wife these days, desperate to please her man and avoid his temper. Perhaps Rob was over marked but for me, Hope was shocking tonight. Her argentine tango in particular...if she wasn't butchering yet another vulgar and ugly lift, she was being dragged around by Maks like a prop.
I also didn't like how miserable JR looked. Sure, his uncle was hurting but it looked more due to his poor performances. Which is fine, to a point - it's natural to want to do your best. But have some fun with it, it's just DWTS...

Hope and J.R. in bottom 2. Hope out.

The 3 couples going to the final are paying a visit to Jimmy Kimmel, so I will post tomorrow.

JR won't have liked being in the bottom two

Hardly a surprising result considering the judging decisions. Would have preferred Hope in the final to Rob aka Carrie-Anns crush,I still find him very lacking and flat footed. A little annoyed they were prepared to sacrifice JR to try and get Hope out too. Hoping JR has a great week next week and takes it with Rikki in second.

Been a really good season my only problem with it has been the judges but thats been a small thing really.

He wasn't necessarily the one with the second lowest votes though. They always get the couple who's going to be eliminated and one other who isn't necessarily in the bottom two vote-wise - so nobody ever knows who is in the bottom two as far as the audience are concerned. I quite like that actually - it doesn't depress the celebs like Anita was last Sunday, knowing that the public hadn't been voting for her.

Vids are up on the Blue Room.

Cheers

Finally caught up with the performances. How the hell did Ricki score 30 for that samba?. There was no hip action, she stumbled at one point and it was quite lacklustre.

Rob didn't have the correct hip action so shouldn't have got a 10. The rest of his footwork was good though and it was nice to see him genuinely enjoy the dance.

Thought it was really odd when Carrie-Ann snapped at Maks for smiling during her critique of the AT.

ETA- whoevers designing Rickis dresses needs talking to. She's lost loads of weight but the strapless dresses make her top half look too large. Also I think that Karina must have upset someone in wardrobe... the AT outfit was hideous.

I actually thought the relay was scored fairly. Rob really tried hard and I thought JR was quite poor. Hope was rubbish.

I agree

J.R., Rob and Ricki on Jimmy Kimmel.

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd7JQJBmn2g

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSFKftqVQ-Q

Just watched Maks and Hope in semi final and their interview after dancing etc on E News. That Maks guy surely has to be dropped after this season - his attitude stinks in my opinion and he cannot accept any criticism. Wasn't there a problem with him last year when they showed him during a training session with his partner and Len pulled him up on it? Really obnoxious guy.!

mak's quote on twitter an hour ago - says it all really -

Another 'lifetime lived'... Now on to the next one... Starting by doing something I haven't done in a while.....
Teaching an amazing, young pro couple! Such a feeling seeing someone LOVE dance like I love it....for all the right reasons!

so who do you think will win then !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think JR will win even being in the bottom 2 - its kind of set up for him to be the winner plus he's good!

Just caught up with the results show, but not watched any of the after show videos, but listening to Hope this week left a bad taste in my mouth. Talk about sour grapes.

Of the final four, I'm glad Hope and Maks didn't make it to the final. At least we can enjoy it now without wondering if Hope or Maks would spoil it for everyone.

I can't decide who will win out of JR and Ricki. JR has been the best dancer for most of the series, but Ricki does seem to be peaking at the right time. I'd hate JR to lose because of an injury, but Derek does such a fantastic job with the freestyle.

Hope and Maks were pretty bad this week. It's as if they mentally already left the show and were there because they had to, meanwhile taking the opportunity to show their worst side. Hope has let herself get sucked in by Maks negativity.
Apparently not a difficult thing to do for Maks, because Hope has shown in the past that she cannot handle criticism very well. Hope and Maks are very much alike in that respect.
I don't think we will see Maks again next season. Stirring up controversy is good for DWTS business, but enough is enough.

This happened almost every year that Maks was on the show. Last year Kirstie Alley, who was more than a match for him, threatened to quit on him. Something that also has happened almost every year.
Time for him to go.

Kirstie Alley never threatened to quit. Kirstie Alley and Maksim are still friends.

I would have preferred Hope to get through mainly because I dislike the Kardashians and think Rob has been heavily overmarked all season(particularly by the lusting Carrie -Ann). I do not particularly like Hope,I think she brought the worst out in Maks,she didn't finish her lines properly and her attitude in general left a lot to be desired.

I still like Maks though and remember the great partnerships he had with Mel B,Erin,Brandy and Kirstie (and the fact that he is still friends with them and Tia,Denise and Debi)rather than letting one season colour my views of him and his dancing.

I really would like to see JR lift the trophy because I think over the season he has deserved it most and also Karina is the only pro out of those three not to have won.

So long as rob doesn't win I really don't mind - I dislike everything about that car-cash-Ian family!