STEP OFF: Iconic Dance Week Has Come and Gone; DANCING as Loud, Overdone as Always

There are some nights when DANCING WITH THE STARS is just completely overdone. When it traipses from Drag-Cher glam to distracting. This was the case with tonight's episode of DANCING WITH THE STARS: ALL STARS. Sometimes it just makes you wonder if, when it comes to costuming and scripting and effects and adjectives, the cast threw a wine, craft, and vodka day at the studio.

Tonight, the "All Stars" were forced to honor past DANCING routines for Iconic Dance Week. There were some definite high-points that make even a skeptic DANCING viewer smirk (Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough) - and some low (everything Carrie Ann said.) The scores were, all in all, on the higher edge of the spectrum.

Here's how the score board broke down:
Drew Lachey and Anna Trebunskaya: Cha Cha, 24/30
Gilles Marini and Peta Murgatroyd: Tango, 25/30
Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani: Samba, 27/30
Apolo Anton Ohno and Karina Smirnoff: Foxtrot, 25.5/30
Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerkovskiy: Paso Doble, 27/30
Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: Cha Cha, 24/30
Sabrina Bryan and Louis Van Amstel: Paso Doble, 25.5/30
Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke: Paso Doble, 25/30
Helio Castroneves and Chelsie Hightower: Quick Step, 25.5/30
Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas: Paso Doble, 22.5/30
Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough: Quick Step, 26.5/30

What do you guys think of DANCING WITH THE STARS so far this season? Do you think it's as overblown as ever? That the unchanging formula is just a rusty hook to keep audiences watching just to leave them with a mean case of mental tetanus?

Regardless, it's probably fruitless to try to analyze the merits of DANCING WITH THE STARS. It's core, to any particular viewer, tends to be one of two things: either the glitzy, mirrorball abode serving as a home to Honey Boo Boo-ized culture, or just rotten throughout. 

Be sure to check back tomorrow with BroadwayWorld to find out which two All-Stars were sent capering back to the career retirement center.

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