DANCING WITH THE STARS Showdown: The Semi-Finalists Compete!

This Week's Judges' Scores:

Ralph: 25, 23 [Total: 48]
Kirstie: 27, 27 [Total: 54]
Chelsea: 28, 30 (+15) [Total: 73]
Hines: 30, 30 [Total: 60]

It's getting close to the end of the season on DANCING WITH THE STARS, and with the increased pressure, better performances from the couples are not only applauded - they're expected. With only four celebrities remaining (actress Kirstie Alley, actor Ralph Macchio, football player Hines Ward, and Disney star Chelsea Kane), the pressure is on. Who rose to the challenge? Let's find out!

First up for the tough three rounds of competition - two routines plus a competitive cha-cha where the winner receives an extra fifteen points - is Ralph. He's overcoming an injury this week, and partner Karina is pushing him not only to go beyond that, but to go beyond it as well. Though he doesn't necessarily impress the judges with his emotion, he does well technically and earns 25 points.

Kirstie takes on the waltz next. As usual, the tension between Kirstie and Maks becomes obvious during their rehearsal session, but they come together for their performance. The waltz is definitely Kirstie's dance; the judges award her 9s across the board.

Chelsea's advice from Mark is to "get pissed," and while she seems to be physically incapable of taking that to heart, she brings out a lot of incredibly flexible moves that the other contestants might not have been able to. Although the judges fault her leg movements for not being sharp enough, they still give her 28 points.

Hines and Kym complete the first round, and in their rehearsal Kym suffers a neck injury. She's taken to the hospital, but she returns in time for tonight's competition as good as ever. Both of them are emotional at the close of their dance - a routine filled with strong lifts and kicks - and receive perfect 10s!

At the start of Round 2, we learn about the stars' driving forces. Ralph, who started off as a child star in The Karate Kid, talks about not getting work after he was no longer a teenager and how his family helped him through it. For the performance, Ralph is wearing a padded butt as per Karina's suggestion...an addition that doesn't seem altogether necessary. Still, he gives an energetic performance, earning 23 points while the judges fault him for being too "messy."

Kirstie discusses her small town upbringing, cocaine addiction in her early 20s, and her ups and downs since then. She gives an intense performance clad in all black, and while it doesn't quite have the grace of her waltz, it makes up for it in power and she receives 27 points.

Chelsea's experience that she shares was her first in LA - about a man who attempted to scam her family out of fees by setting up a phony audition. As she takes the stage, she she apparently takes the judges' advice for her last number to heart and follows through on her movements; they take notice, and she joins Hines in receiving three perfect 10s!

The last regular routine of the night belongs to Hines and Kym. Hines talks about being biracial, and the sacrifices that his mother took to give him a good upbringing in the United States. Kym's dress is, um, bright red and yellow and very puffy. All costume choices aside, though, the duo once again performs strongly and garners another perfect score.

Now all that's left is the winner takes all cha-cha, which could provide a significant edge to the winning couple. Here's how it works: the four couples face off in groups of two, and the respective winners of those two dances also face off. The winner of the second face-off receives fifteen additional judges' points.

First to face off are Hines and Kym versus Ralph and Karina. Although Ralph is a fairly strong dancer who consistently gives a good effort, he doesn't have anything on Hines's athletic edge. With all three of the judges' votes, Hines and Kym take the round.

Then it's Chelsea and Mark versus Kirstie and Maks, and while Kirstie is as always giving a full hundred and ten percent, the cha-cha is as far from being her forte as anything she's ever danced on the show. Once again with all three votes, it's Chelsea and Mark who proceed to the final showdown.

After a brief confusion over the coin toss the couples compete; first Hines, then Chelsea. Both have evolved into competent dancers, and take on Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" with gusto, but of course there can only be one winner of the "Winner Takes All Cha-Cha".

The winners of the extra points (and the pair now most likely to be safe from tomorrow's elimination) are Chelsea and Mark. That's not to say Hines won't be safe - he most likely will, as he's a powerful dancer as well as an audience favorite - but anything can happen, so tune in tomorrow to find out who makes it to the finals!

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"Dancing with the Stars" is the U.S. version of the international smash hit series, "Strictly Come Dancing." This version is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Conrad Green serves as executive producer and Rob Wade is co-executive producer. Alex Rudzinski directs. "Dancing with the Stars" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

 

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