Dancing with the Stars - Live!

Posted Jan 24, 2007 by Chris Kuhn

Updated Jan 24, 2007 at 11:28 AM

So were you out in the crowds enjoying last night’s live Dancing with the Stars: The Tour appearance at the Forum? I was the one clapping really, really loudly for Drew Lachey. If I weren’t sitting next to my parents who I invited to join me, I probably would have let out a few hoots and hollers, too, but I had to behave myself a little, you know?

Last night’s show, which I like to affectionately call the Buy Joey McIntyre’s CD Plug-a-thon, was energetic and pulsating. They definitely put on a spectacular show for the crowds. The evening started with a 30-minute local Slim-Fast Dance Challenge during which first season pro dancer Alex Mazzo (that’s right Kelly Monaco’s partner) selected the two finalists from a sea of 10 bright-eyed couples from everywhere but here - there was just one Tampa student in the bunch. (Later, during the regular show, they crowned a local champion - well, make that two, since human audience clap-o-meters Drew Lachey, Joey Lawrence and Joey McIntyre could not decide on a winner - so both pairs won!) But Dancing Stars, that’s what we want to see and by 8 p.m., the main event was finally ready to begin.

Every pair got its chance to thank the audience for their votes and perform twice during the night, among many group performances. My favorite moments were opportunities to see two of my favorite Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke performances (their paso doble set to Thriller and their championship freestyle country-fried dance) and husband and wife Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna dance the waltz together after a touching look at their wedding. She dazzled me during season two but anyone who chatted with me during season three knows I wasn’t too knocked out by Mr. Hamlin’s moves. Together, they were heavenly on the dancefloor, and she really brought out the best in him.

The crowds made it very obvious that their favorite performers were Drew Lachey and Joey Lawrence. But award for the most enthusiastically self-serving goes to Joey McIntyre. He sang three of his own songs from his new standards CD which he proceeded to hawk on more than occasion, even advertising that he’d be signing CDs after the show. I was especially amused at posted flyers on the ladies bathroom walls promoting this exclusive autograph-signing event.

The performers gave us two full hours of dancing excitement, charming banter and sultry moves. The show’s musicians and singers showed their range beautifully, and the show’s lighting and sound fit the sizzling, sparkling evening perfectly. Only during Mr. McIntyre’s performances did there seem to be some audio difficulties, or maybe Joey just couldn’t hit the low notes. I’m not sure which.

Overall, it was a very entertaining showcase of some of the best celebrity talent so far. I did miss Willa Ford and her partner Maxsim who pulled out recently and had just learned that pro dancer Kim Johnson would not be present since she injured her wrist recently, but they had an engaging company dancer as her replacement. And obviously, I would have loved it if Mario and Karina were dancing together and Harry had been joined by one of my pro favorites, Ashley DelGrosso, but no Mario or Ashley in this celebration.

I still cannot believe they’re planning on bringing the show back in March. I think they should leave the show as a Fall fan favorite just as Idol is our Spring sweeps delight. But I will say that last night’s show reminded me just how much fun it is to watch these celebrity performers transform themselves over a season. And soon, a new batch of victims – er, performers will dazzle us.