Battle of the Blades
If I've learned anything from this show so far, it's that figure-skating hockey players are good for lifts - or in Stephane Richer's case this week, doing reps with their partner hoisted above their head like a barbell. What they're not so good for is finding smooth movements to go with Latin music - especially Rico Suave, in Tie Domi's case. Man, if it weren't for his partner Tuffy's abs, he'd be in trouble.
The Amazing Race 15
I'm not sure how the Racers fared after going from fetching water in +50 C desert heat to finding snowmen in -2 C artificially simulated cold in Dubai this week - but my mom would so not have approved of those tasks (you could catch a cold that way, you know). While Meghan and Cheyne fast-forwarded to the pit stop, the "directionally challenged" Lance and Keri lagged the whole way. And you know where that got them.
Battle of the Blades
Ron Duguay's unbuttoned Studio 54 shirts could no longer distract everyone from the fact that his skating moves were not quite as dazzling - and he and partner Barb Underhill were ejected. On an unrelated note, did anyone else notice how seriously George Stroumboulopoulos took his guest-judging duties?
Dancing With the Stars
Oh, Donny Osmond! You're still sooooo dreamy! That Argentine tango of his is the stuff fortysomething women's - and Bruno Tunioli's - fantasies are made of, and it got him a near-perfect 29. That's a lot more than I can say for Kelly Osbourne dancing to Crazy Train (gimmick!), swimmer girl Natalie's angry paso doble and that gawdawfully cornball disco group dance. Clearly some Hollywood store was having a sale on faux facial hair.
Dancing With the Stars
The highly anticipated Michael Jackson tribute was every bit as thrilling as everyone hoped. Olympic gold medal swimmer Natalie Coughlin couldn't have asked for a better night to get booted. She was still clearly upset, but why would she want to kitsch up her trophy case with that ugly disco ball, anyway?
So You Think You Can Dance Canada
Lap dances, cabaret, strong solos, indecisive judges - 120 minutes flies when you're having fun. After Tuesday's final performance episode, Jayme Rae, Tara-Jean, Everett and Vincent lived up to their rep as the best Top 4 ever. It's anybody's guess who's going to get the incredibly coveted title of Canada's Favourite Dancer on tomorrow's finale. But my fingers are crossed for TJ.
The Biggest Loser
Operation Send Tracey Home has yet to succeed - and didn't stand a chance this week when her blue team won the weigh-in. After spending the week at home, the black team had no hope of putting up big numbers (though I'm still dumbfounded by Danny's 15-pound lost). I'm just grateful they let poor Daniel - who gained one pound - stay instead of Dina. As long as she keeps using her son as a dumbbell, she'll be all right.
So You Think You Can Dance Canada
They announced the Top 20 and, seriously folks, what's not to get excited about? The judges totally went out of their comfort zones and chose not one but THREE tap dancers, along with the competition's first krumper (Russell) and b-boy Legacy. Hard to believe, but myself and my remote's fast-forward button aren't even dreading the upcoming onslaught of two-hour performance episodes.
America's Next Top Model
Holy celebrities! The Insider's Lara Spencer, 90210's Jessica Lowndes, Kim Kardashian and Kim Kardashian's rear end all made cameos - the former two ladies helped the girls hone their interviewing skills (which they're sure to need as models, right?) and the latter two critiqued their CoverGirl commercial as guest judges (OK, so Kim's butt isn't technically a guest judge). Erin bombed the shoot by crying so much, makeup had to touch her up four times, but The Tyra ditched Rae because she was too blah. Reason enough, I suppose.
Survivor: Samoa
Holy health scare! Even Jeff Probst admits Russell S's mid-reward-challenge blackouts (yes, there were two) were the scariest moments he's ever witnessed in Survivor's 19-season history. And that's sayin' something. Needless to say, all rules were nixed this week - meaning the challenge was called off, and no one was eliminated at tribal council. I figure Russell's sudden illness (and consequent removal from the game) and the torrential rain that plagued both camps for five straight days was enough punishment for one week.
TOP-RATED REALITY SHOWS IN CANADA (millions of viewers)
Survivor: Samoa (Global, Thursday) 2.8
Amazing Race 15 (CTV, Sunday) 2.4
TOP-RATED REALITY SHOWS IN THE U.S. (millions of viewers)
Dancing with the Stars (ABC) 16.8
Dancing With the Stars results (ABC) 14.0
Survivor: Samoa (CBS) 11.8
Amazing Race 15 (CBS) 10.9
