Two weeks into the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars, two candidates have already emerged as heavy favorites.

Melanie Brown & Maksim Chmerkovskiy — Quickstep
Mel B wanted to change "from Scary Spice to Lady Spice" for the Quickstep, and her pretty, conservative pink dress went a long way toward being ladylike. Her posture, speed, and big smile were totally appropriate for the Quickstep; their song — A-Ha’s "Take On Me" — was not.

Len said, "Mel B. I know what the B stands for: Ballroom." Bruno told Melanie, "You had the classy look of Lena Horne and the great twinkletoes of Ginger Rogers." Carrie Ann said, "Your posture was beautiful. Just watch your shoulders a hair."

When encouraging fans to vote, Drew riffed on a Spice Girls’ song: "Give her what she wants, what she really really wants." And then Mel choked him.

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…7, Len…8, Bruno…8 = 23/30

Mark Cuban & Kym Johnson — Mambo
Mark was better this week, committing to the moves and looking very tall and slim. But Mark suffered from some serious White Man Dancing Face, making awkward facial expressions that were almost as unappealing as Kym’s cover-of-Penthouse outfit.

Carrie Ann told Mark, "Your face was dancing twice as hard as your body was. I’m not quite sure it was quite the proper Mambo I was looking for. But I love your exuberance." Len said the performance "was like a match: It was hot at the top, it was a little bit wooden down below." Bruno’s description was just as colorful: "It was like watching a bulldog chasing a squirrel. As much as you try, there were technical shortcomings."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…6, Len…6, Bruno…6 = 18/30

Wayne Newton & Cheryl Burke — Quickstep
As Wayne danced stiffly to "Viva La Vegas," it was hard not to be reminded that the song has been repurposed in commercials as "Viva Viagra." His moves were slow, his hopping was awkward, and as he tossed Cheryl at the end, I feared he’d thrown his back out. Cheryl would be wise to start working some gimmicks into their routines.

Bruno said, "It wasn’t quick enough for a Quickstep. You’ve gotta work on your technique." Carrie Ann agreed: "It wasn’t quite there, but I love what you brought tonight, cause you definitely showed us that you are The Showman." Len said, "Week 2, you have to start to improve how you dance. For me, this was not an improvement over last week."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…5, Len…5, Bruno…5 = 15/30

Marie Osmond & Jonathan Roberts — Mambo
Marie wins the Most Improved award for this week. Jonathan found the right way to use her goofy energy, and her technique wasn’t bad, either. They executed a lot of tricks that required Marie to put all of her faith in Jonathan, and he didn’t let her down.

Len said the performance was "absolutely great." Bruno told Marie, "You can perform. Great actress. Rita Moreno in West Side Story." Carrie called Marie "one hot cougar. The trust that you have with your partner is incredible. You could’ve hurt yourself, and you went for it." Tom Bergeron chimed in, "He drops people a lot, you know."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…8, Len…8, Bruno…8 = 24/30

Albert Reed & Anna Trebunskaya — Quickstep
Albert made a grand entrance by sliding down the banister. His footwork was off throughout much of the routine — which wasn’t entirely his fault, considering he had to Quickstep to the song "99 Red Balloons." But he’s certainly got more charisma than I expected him to have.

Carrie Ann told Albert to "keep all that joy going." Len called Albert "the dark horse of the season," but warned him to stop skipping. Bruno added, "Your energy kind of faltered in the middle. Your posture is good. Apply yourself, and I’m sure you’ll be as good in Ballroom as you are in Latin."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…7, Len…7, Bruno…7 = 21/30

Helio Castroneves & Julianne Hough — Mambo
The pressure was on Brazilian Helio to perform a killer Mambo, and he didn’t disappoint. Their routine had tricks and challenging turns, and it was definitely the night’s most energetic Mambo. Helio is so light and quick when he moves, he’s positively sprightly.

Bruno said, "You leave me tongue tied." Carrie Ann told Helio, "You’re, like, the real deal. You’re suave, debonair. The choreography was very, very difficult." Len agreed: "For Week 2, to see a guy come out and perform like that…very, very well done."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…9, Len…9, Bruno…9 = 27/30

Jennie Garth & Derek Hough — Quickstep
Jennie gave a nice performance that was going pretty well — until Derek slipped on her dress and fell at the end. But, in their rehearsal footage, Jennie highlighted something that could be a big problem as the weeks progress. She can’t fake the attraction to Derek that’s needed to make their performances believable. She has to get over her habit of giggling when she looks in Derek’s eyes, before they have to dance something really romantic, like the Rumba.

Len stuck to advice: "I think Ballroom’s really gonna suit you, but you’ve gotta just work on your posture a bit." Bruno said, "It was like Leo and Kate in Titanic. It started off very well, but we found a few icebergs along the way." Carrie Ann told Jennie, "Great dancing is a lot like great acting. You don’t act. You just be in that moment 100%."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…7, Len…7, Bruno…7 = 21/30

Cameron Mathison & Edyta Sliwinska — Mambo
In their rehearsal footage, Cameron broke down; he’s already overwhelmed by the difficulty of the dancing and his busy schedule. He regrouped enough to give a good performance, although the only thing I remember about it is Edyta’s Polish Pocahontas outfit.

Carrie Ann told Cameron, "You look great. You hit some really, really nice lines. You have to work on your musicality." Len agreed, and added, "As you got into the dance, you started to get a little more rhythmic." Bruno told Cameron, "You look like Superman, and sometimes you dance like Clark Kent. Just relax, get on with it."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…7, Len…7, Bruno…7 = 21/30

Floyd Mayweather & Karina Smirnoff — Quickstep
Karina went all Yoda on Floyd and told him, "Don’t try. Just do." He did, but he’s still got a long way to go before he’ll be a threat in this competition. Floyd’s shoulders were down, but he doesn’t yet look like he’s leading Karina.

Bruno said, "You’ve taken on the Quickstep, and you nearly won. The footwork was good. Work a little bit more on the posture." Carrie Ann said, "That was a huge improvement on the way you were handling Karina last week." Len said of the dance, "It was very light. It was very fluffy. What you’ve gotta do is get this hold. It was like you were guarding against a left hook."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…7, Len…7, Bruno…7 = 21/30

Jane Seymour & Tony Dovolani — Mambo
Jane wore a skimpy outfit from the Stacy Keibler collection, and she looked smashing in it. What their Mambo lacked in speed, it made up for in technical execution. It was refreshing to see such attention to detail, instead of just getting from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible.

Len wanted more raunch: "It was an English Mambo. I wanted a South American Mambo." Bruno agreed, "It a bit like a Mambo of a tea party at Wimbledon." Carrie Ann defended Jane: "I actually think the elegance worked in your behalf. That’s what we want to see from you."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…7, Len…7, Bruno…7 = 21/30

Sabrina Bryan & Mark Ballas — Quickstep
Sabrina delivered hip-hop-free Quickstep, full of great technique, cheekiness, and personality. And all that while fighting a dress that kept snagging on her heel. Undoubtedly, it was the best Quickstep of the night.

Carrie Ann told Sabrina, "You didn’t miss a beat." Len said, "I’ve gotta say that dance is about light and shade. You want speed, but you want slow." Bruno tried to interrupt as Len requested more contrast in the dancing, prompting Len to snap, "Bruno, don’t start being a smart ass with me." Bruno ended the commentary, "That was a blistering performance. You looked like a professional."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…9, Len…8, Bruno…9 = 26/30

Leaderboard:
27 — Helio & Julianne
26 — Sabrina & Mark
24 — Marie & Jonathan
23 — Melanie & Maksim
21 — Albert & Anna, Jennie & Derek, Cameron & Edyta, Floyd & Karina, Jane & Tony
18 — Mark & Kym
15 — Wayne & Cheryl

My favorite performances of the night were by Helio & Julianne and Sabrina & Mark, although Marie earned herself a few votes as the evening’s most pleasant surprise. Mark & Kym are the couple in the greatest danger, although I’m not sure who’ll wind up at the bottom with them. Wayne & Cheryl might deserve it the most based on their performance, but I think it’s more likely to be Jennie & Derek or Floyd & Karina.

Ahead of tonight’s Dancing with the Stars Performance Show, Cheryl Burke posted a note at her website. Mark Cuban posted at his blog as well. If you’re not so keen on Mark, his cute story about cheering up his sick daughter might change your mind about him.

You’ve got one more day to bid on items from the Teen Choice Awards at charity website Clothes Off Our Backs.

Or, if you’ve got $419,000, you can buy a 30-second ad spot during Grey’s Anatomy.

ESPN viewers’ ombudsman Le Anne Schreiber has a cool job: she gets to watch ESPN and then write about what they did wrong at ESPN.com. If only every employer paid someone to do that. Here’s an archive of Schreiber’s monthly posts.

Finally, Chicago has Top Chef fever. Season 4 just started filming here, and local boy Dale will find out if he won Season 3 in a live broadcast from Chicago on Wednesday night. Metromix interviewed Dale — who currently waits tables at Sola — about his newfound celebrity, including an appearance in a dunk tank at a Chicago neighborhood festival.

There’s never an end to news about Dancing with the Stars. Victoria Beckham was going to be fellow Spice Girl Melanie Brown’s personal costume designer for DwtS, but those plans may be put on hold since Posh’s father-in-law suffered a heart attack on Thursday.

To wrap up the first week of DwtS, here’s a clip from Entertainment Tonight following Tuesday night’s Performance Show, and video of Josie Maran on Jimmy Kimmel Live after she’d been eliminated from DwtS. Josie sounds a little flaky — she gave birth to her kid in her backyard on purpose — but she is launching a line of earth-friendly cosmetics, so she’s cool in my book.

If you wondered what Tom Bergeron was talking about when he mentioning a new DwtS book, he was referring to Dancing with the Stars: Jive, Samba, and Tango Your Way Into the Best Shape of Your Life. Fans can have copies of the book signed by Joey Lawrence and Elena Grinenko at the Borders in Torrence, CA on October 2 at 7 p.m. — which is a horrible time for a book signing, since the Results Show airs at 8.

I’m glad I stopped watching Kid Nation, so that I didn’t have to endure graphic footage of the kids killing chickens on the most recent episode.

NBC’s plan to combine ratings from two airings of the Heroes season premiere has forced Nielsen to review that ratings loophole.

I caught a rerun of the series premiere of Reaper on the CW last night, and I loved it. Plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and a great supporting cast made of veterans of other nerdy shows, including Missy Peregrym (Heroes), Ray Wise (Twin Peaks), and Tyler Labine (Invasion), who should get a Best Supporting Actor Emmy nomination for his work in the premiere.

If only the CW would reschedule Reaper so it didn’t have to go up against House and the DwtS Results Show.

Tonight, I’ll be watching one of the strangest collections of shows imaginable: Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Moonlight, The Soup, and Bill Moyers Journal.

I’m excited for the debut of Moonlight because I know one of the staff writers (it’s her first, but long overdue, Hollywood gig), and because it marks the return of Jason Dohring, aka Logan from Veronica Mars. Further, the show’s star, Alex O’Loughlin, confirmed that Moonlight only deals with vampires, and not the rest of supernatural pantheon. That should serve to separate it from other otherworldly series like Supernatural and Blood Ties.

On this week’s Survivor, the Zhan Hu tribe lost one more member — and all of its lip rings.

Dave’s offer to take charge of the listless Zhan Hu tribe turned out to be a mixed blessing. Sure, he helped them build a fire pit and gather firewood, but he was a total jerk about it. Or, as his tribemate Ashley put it, Dave was a "tool."

His efforts didn’t help the team win challenges either, as he took so long crafting his dream barbecue that he wouldn’t let his tribemates build a cooking fire until after the Immunity Challenge. The team wanted to go into challenges hungry — just not that kind of hungry.

As for the challenges, this week’s Reward Challenge would be a big hit if CBS chose to release a Survivor China: Uncensored DVD. Three members of each tribe faced off against one another trying to 1) roll a huge ball across a mud pit and into their team’s goal, and 2) stop the other team from doing the same.

In order to keep their only sets of clothes clean, most of the Survivors competed in their underwear. And as they wrestled in the mud — wouldn’t you know it — most of their underwear came off. Amanda rolled a ball into Fei Long’s goal as her teammates cheered, "Put your top back on!"

Amanda covered her chest and said, "My mom’s going to kill me!"

The challenge was a best of three. In round two, James was able to seal the victory for Fei Long pretty quickly. The tribe was rewarded with fishing gear and the opportunity to kidnap a member of the other tribe until the next Immunity Challenge. They nabbed Zhan Hu’s only upbeat member, Jaime.

On the way to her temporary camp, Jeff Probst handed Jaime a special package to be opened in secret. A note inside instructed Jamie to give a sealed clue to the whereabouts of a Hidden Immunity Idol to a member of the Fei Long tribe.

She made the shrewd decision to give the clue to Fei Long’s weakest player, Christian radio host Leslie, in the hopes that she would stick around at the expense of someone stronger. Leslie accepted the clue as a gift from God, as opposed to from Jaime.

Leslie then made as stupid a move as Jaime’s was smart. She shared the clue with Todd, in the hopes that they could find the Immunity Idol together and then share it. Todd was evidently so crafty that he’d been able to convince Leslie that he was trustworthy, while simultaneously forming an alliance with Amanda and using Aaron as his puppet dictator.

Needless to say, as soon as Todd heard the clue from Leslie, he started planning on how to get rid of her and keep the Idol for himself.

He wouldn’t have that chance, though, as Zhan Hu lost the Immunity Challenge and headed back to Tribal Council again. After three days of constant bickering between Ashley and Dave, it was clear that one of them needed to go.

Everyone on Zhan Hu seemed to like Ashley better, but they feared losing Dave’s strength. So they took the opportunity at Tribal Council to tell Dave that he was patronizing and rude, and gave him one more chance to straighten up.

They gave Ashley the hook instead, and as she left, she pointed at Dave and said, "I’ll see you soon."

She’s probably right, because next week Dave becomes even more frustrated with his lazy tribemates. Something tells me that Dave, who rolls his eyes as naturally as he breathes, won’t be able to keep his frustrations to himself.

TV Guide’s backstage report from last night’s Dancing with the Stars Results Show features a reminder of why Dolly Parton is so cool. While filming her performances, a fan in the balcony yelled out, "I love you, Dolly!" Dolly replied, "I told you to wait in the truck!"

People also filed their own behind-the-scenes reports from Monday’s premiere, Tuesday’s Performance Show, and last night’s Results Show, which won the night with 16.62 million viewers.

Dance fever seems to have taken over the networks, as both ABC and NBC are planning scripted series about young New Yorkers trying to make it in the performing arts.

I’m not sure NBC will be as lucky with two other shows it’s working on. First is a reality competition show called Phenomenon, in which illusionists perform live tricks that are judged by the Mindfreak, Criss Angel. And the second is a remake of Knight Rider. As if you can improve on the original.

Speaking of things as stupid as a show about a talking car, the contestants on America’s Next Top Model didn’t get the eco-friendly message that producers tried to impress upon them — although one of the models did try to make sense of it: "It really is important to just be aware of what keeps our earth good."

In other modeling-related news, Project Runway 4 premieres on Wednesday, November 14.

Finally, farmer Steve "Chicken" Morris gave an interview to TV Guide after becoming the first contestant eliminated from Survivor: China. Even though he didn’t last long in the game, the Survivor experience gave Chicken the travel bug: "…when a neighbor or friend used to say, ‘Hey, I’m going to Scotland next week,’ it kind of went in one ear and out the other. After you’ve traveled one time and you hear people tell about their trip, now I’ve got my ear cocked: I want to hear about it." Happy travels, Chicken.

The fans agreed with the judges, and the couple with the lowest score became the first couple eliminated from Dancing with the Stars 5.

This season’s first results show got underway with the traditional judges’ encore. Sabrina & Mark took the honors for their high-scoring Cha Cha.

After the encore, Dolly Parton performed her classic country hit, "9 to 5," as professional dancers Cheryl, Derek, Julianne, and Mark took to the floor.

Then, fans who’d been in the studio audience for this week’s two Performance Shows gave their opinions of the dancers. The other members of the Cheetah Girls said they wished they looked as good as Jane Seymour does now. Chris Harrison, host of The Bachelor, could only mutter, "Josie’s pretty." And a female fan said of Cameron, "I wanted to skinny dip in his eyes."

Then it was time for Drew Lachey to chat backstage with the first four couples who were announced as safe for this week: Sabrina & Mark, Jennie & Derek, Helio & Julianne, and Albert & Anna. Drew noted that Sabrina had tied Mario Lopez for the highest first week score in DwtS history, although that didn’t wind up helping Mario at the end.

And Albert revealed that he and Anna have a plan to win: "We’re gonna keep it fun — keep it sassy."

Drew deadpanned, "Gonna keep it sassy. I can hardly wait."

New this season was corporate sponsorship for the guest dancers who perform at the Results Shows. Tonight, "Stars of Dance, sponsored by Macy’s" presented a performance by tap dancer Savion Glover.

The tap dance was followed by another song by Dolly Parton, who sang "Better Get to Livin’," from her upcoming album.

Kenny Mayne stole the show with his comedic look at "The Origins of Dance." He strolled along the beach in a sparkly ballroom shirt, examining cave drawings in the caves of "Africa, which looks amazingly like Malibu, California." Mayne ultimately determined that dance originated on British TV with Len Goodman. Then it came to America, where fans tuned in to see if George Hamilton is still alive.

Finally, it was revealed which couples received the lowest number of votes on Monday and Tuesday nights: Josie & Alec and Mark & Kym.

Ultimately, Josie & Alec were unable to counter their low scores with audience votes, and they were sent home. Tom Bergeron pointed at the judges and asked Josie if she’d like to say anything to anyone. She looked at the judges’ table and said, "Thanks for your… honesty?"

After Josie thanked Alec, he urged everyone who had voted for them to shift all of their future votes to his wife Edyta — and Cameron. And then Alec and Josie danced to The Cars’ incredibly melancholy "Drive."

Season 5 of Dancing with the Stars is off and running. After two nights of surprisingly competent performances, it’s clear that the ladies have blasted out of the starting gate, while the men, with the exception of Helio, are still finishing their warm-up laps. Here’s my take on this season’s field of celebrity dance teams.

TURBOCHARGED

Sabrina & Mark
This Cheetah Girl totally delivered the fresh edge that she promised, courtesy of a dynamic and explosive Cha Cha Cha routine. This number was the hands-down best performance of both nights. Sabrina exuded confidence and high energy with her sharp crisp actions, strong hip movement, and precision footwork. Her partner, Mark, was no slouch either. Their great synchronization and infectious smiles captivated the in-house audience and earned them a well-deserved standing ovation.

Mark’s decision to incorporate hip-hop into the routine’s demanding choreography was a resounding success and certainly added to this duo’s appeal. In fact, their fierce performance likely won them a whole bunch of brand new cheetahlicious fans. Clearly this pair has already gelled and is well positioned to go the distance, leaving many of their competitors in the dust!

Jane & Tony
Dr. Quinn’s prescription for a Foxtrot that embodied the English Rose was beautifully filled by Tony’s charming routine. Jane was elegance personified, as she effortlessly floated across the dance floor. Her lovely arm extensions and delicate yet expressive hand movements showcased this pair’s enchanting performance.

Tony’s superb choreography incorporated a wonderful balance of steps in hold and steps apart. Their well-rehearsed delivery and graceful synchronization secured them a first place position for the Foxtrot. This is another well-matched team that is likely to qualify in a number of heats before the quarterfinals.

Helio & Julianne
This charismatic Indy champion reaffirmed his racing expertise with a bewitching Foxtrot performance. Helio was the only male celebrity to deliver convincingly on the dance floor. He was surprisingly relaxed and smooth, not to mention personable.

Once again, Julianne’s choreography shone through. The chemistry between this pair was tangible, and their performance contained just the right mixture of playfulness and elegance. Even their facial expressions deserve accolades, right down to Julianne’s nose twitching at the end of their "Bewitched By You" dance number. As Len proclaimed, Helio is firing on all four cylinders. And, based on his racing history, this challenger is determined to claim the checkered flag.

Mel B & Maksim
Scary Spice flaunted her feline prowess with both a leopard print dress and a feisty Cha Cha Cha number. Mel B’s energetic delivery included all the key fundamentals characteristic of this Latin dance: crisp movements, good hip action, smooth turns, and cheeky interplay. Mel displayed a strong sense of rhythm and movements that were well synchronized with her partner. This Spice Girl’s entertainment background gave her an experienced edge that promoted a relaxed and confident performance.

My only negative observation pertains to the choreography. Too much of this pair’s routine was reminiscent of Maks’ partnership with Laila. Even though the steps were competently performed, the number came off, for many returning viewers, as somewhat stale. Still, this duo certainly has the horsepower to maintain a leading position.

ON CRUISE CONTROL

Jennie & Derek
This "Yummy Mummy" delivered a pleasing and competent Cha Cha Cha routine that was overshadowed by the outstanding performances of Sabrina and Mel. Jennie’s rendition of this dance was what viewers typically expect on the first night of the season. Her hip action was adept, her turns relatively smooth, her synchronization fairly solid, her footwork slightly unsteady, and her arm placement proficient.

Despite being the first competitor on the floor, Jennie managed to control her nervousness and appeared relaxed and comfortable. Consequently, Derek’s choreography, while somewhat complicated, was well executed and produced an overall good performance. Jennie’s partnership with Derek, though not as stable as some of the leading couples, showed promising potential. Even though she’s not one of my favoured contenders, I expect Jennie will last a few more laps before exiting the field.

Marie & Jonathan
This Osmond entertainer who was "a little bit country" has definitely moved uptown! Marie’s performance of the Foxtrot was classy, playful and elegant. She moved confidently around the ballroom, demonstrating mastery of the basic steps, with beautiful lines and nice arm extensions.

Jonathan, of all the male pros, consistently does a superb job choreographing numbers that showcase his partners. His efforts with Marie produced a smooth and pleasing routine that created a beautiful story on the dance floor. In addition, Marie’s infectious smile, charming wit, and natural rapport positively enhance her popularity. Hopefully, this duo will garner enough votes to keep them in the race for a few more heats.

Cameron & Edyta
This All My Children heartthrob lived up to his charismatic reputation by delivering a competent first performance. Canadian cutie Cameron danced a Foxtrot that rated midway between a Rolls Royce and a Volkswagen. The number included a mostly pleasing combination of hits and misses. For the most part, his posture was good but not perfect, his foot placement was adequate, his arm extensions were commendable, his floor coverage was satisfactory, and his execution was relatively smooth and relaxed. Cameron’s first night routine was another performance that fulfilled typical audience expectations.

Cameron and Edyta are an enjoyable pair to watch on the dance floor. They have lots of potential, providing Cameron’s shooting schedule does not significantly interfere with their practice time. So far this duo can safely cruise along in the middle of the pack.

Mark & Kym
This bionic billionaire was another competitor who successfully embraced his inner dance essence. Mark’s Foxtrot was amusing and relaxed, and displayed a good sense of musicality. Although not one of my favourite off-the-dance-floor celebrities, Mark executed an unexpectedly enjoyable routine that featured more showmanship than anticipated. While Mark’s posture may have been a bit lacking, his footwork slightly off, and his lip-syncing annoyingly distracting, overall he was smooth and light on his feet.

Mark still needs to tone down his overly exaggerated facial expressions and work on his technique. But for a first-time performance, Mark definitely earned a passing grade. The Kym and Mark partnership forms another team that can coast around the track for a couple more laps.

Albert & Anna
Did this Abercrombie & Fitch model get lost on his way to a Chippendale audition? Albert’s pulsating, gyrating, and hip grinding movements were more characteristic of a stripper’s routine than a classic Cha Cha Cha. But whatever the explanation, Anna’s choreography certainly captivated the audience. This entertaining and amusing number was a real crowd pleaser and one of the more memorable entries of the night.

Technically, however, there were a number of flaws. The transitioning sequences were weak, the movements were jerky and the Cha Cha Cha elements were few and far between. Still, the performance was energetic and Albert was totally committed to its delivery. Perhaps some tweaking under this car’s hood will diminish the high-octane output that rendered Carrie Ann practically speechless.

STUCK IN FIRST GEAR

Josie & Alec
This "deceptively unfit" supermodel looks fantastic on the dance floor…until she starts dancing! To put it kindly, Josie is not the most coordinated of competitors. Her rendition of the Foxtrot was jerky, tight, and lacked control. Alec attempted to conceal his partner’s weak dancing skills by performing most of the routine in hold but was quickly called out by Len.

Despite Josie’s shortcomings, she appeared relaxed and animated throughout her performance. The pair looked good together and displayed some lovely lines. On an optimistic note, Josie comes across as quite witty and personable. Here’s hoping that Alec’s Boot Camp produces some rapid results, otherwise this entry may be deemed no longer roadworthy and quickly put up on blocks!

Wayne & Cheryl
Mr. Las Vegas may be a singing icon but his dancing abilities fall more in the Average Joe category. While Wayne’s enthusiasm and work ethic are commendable, his Cha Cha Cha routine lacked flow, commitment, and overall appeal. Wayne’s movements were tight, his hip action was lacking, and his foot placement was weak. Furthermore, Wayne lacked the confidence and aggression exhibited by several of the other celebrities.

Unfortunately for Cheryl, injecting a flirty flavour into this dance was difficult and, for the most part, unconvincing, given the age gap between the two. Also, Wayne’s physical condition appears questionable. Judging from his sweat-soaked workout clothes, it seems that Wayne’s chassis is in need of a major overhaul. I don’t expect that this competitor packs enough under the hood to carry him very far in the race.

Floyd & Karina
The World’s Best Boxer faces a steep uphill climb in his pursuit of this season’s coveted trophy. Floyd’s performance of the Cha Cha Cha was not nearly strong enough to position him anywhere near the winner’s circle. His posture was all over the place, his synchronization was more off than on, and his partnership with Karina lacked chemistry and visual appeal. Although Floyd delivered in the energy and rhythm departments, his aggressive performance did little to complement his partner’s efforts.

Given Floyd’s demanding off-the-dance-floor commitments and Karina’s rather abrasive attitude, I have serious reservations about this competitor’s longevity. Retiring this entry from the field might be the most realistic and compassionate step.

TV Guide’s backstage report from last night’s Dancing with the Stars Performance Show — which was watched by 18.34 million people — reveals that Monday night’s strong showing by the women sent many of the men scurrying back to the rehearsal studio for extra practice. It gave Mark Cuban time to perfect challenging moves like Churn the Butter and The Sprinkler.

Here’s an interview with Ashley DeForest, 23-year-old tap dancer from the Chicago suburbs who’ll be performing with Savion Glover during tonight’s DwtS Results Show.

Fox’s scripted reality show Nashville became the first show of the 2007-2008 season to be canceled, although it will return sometime later in October.

E! is adding to its own stable of scripted reality shows with Tales From the Hoff, a fictionalized version of David Hasselhoff’s life starring the man himself. As if laying on the floor shirtless while eating a cheeseburger isn’t entertaining enough.

NBC is planning to exploit a new Nielsen rule by reairing the premiere of Heroes on Saturday night with all of the same commercials that aired on Monday, allowing them to add their Saturday ratings to the Monday ratings and boost the premiere’s numbers. Nielsen needs to close that loophole before their ratings system loses even more credibility.

Mark Burnett would like to disabuse children of their belief that their dad is the best dad in the world by forcing fathers to compete against one another on an NBC game show called My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad.

And Katie Couric says that she was pressured by NBC not to ask politicians tough questions in the runup to the Iraq War. So, now that she’s the primary news anchor at another network, what’s she going to do? Pretty much the same thing she did at NBC: "Is it my job to go to Iraq and say this war is terrible and we should pull out? I don’t think that’s the case." You’re a real champion for truth, Katie.

Based on Tuesday’s DwtS performance show, there’s a clear frontrunner among the men, and five other guys who should be worried about tomorrow night’s elimination.

After a recap of the ladies’ performances, Len Goodman gave his assessment of the dances. He said the judges agreed that the ladies set an unbelievably high standard, and he was hoping their performances would stick, so it would be "bye-bye" to one of the boys.

Cameron Mathison & Edyta Sliwinska — Fox Trot
Cameron’s work schedule is tight, and so are his hips. But it didn’t show too much in this smooth performance. Besides, Edyta’s more than flexible enough to make up for Cameron. Overall, it was a charming first effort from the soap star.

Len joked, "Cameron, you remind me so much of myself: tall, good looking, muscular body. But enough about me. I thought it was a really good job first time out." Bruno said, "You have very good arm lines for a man. Not quite a Rolls Royce yet, but not a Buick either." Carrie Ann told Cameron, "I think you made a lot of women happy watching you."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…7, Len…7, Bruno…7 = 21/30

Floyd Mayweather & Karina Smirnoff — Cha Cha Cha
On the first day of rehearsal, Floyd gave Karina attitude and she walked out. But they came together to develop a routine with which they could both be happy. However, there were even more hip-hop moves in this routine than in Sabrina’s dance last night. If they want to stick around, Floyd’s going to need to fix his awkward posture and soften up a bit.

Bruno told Floyd. "If you channel that energy and you focus on technique, you could be an amazing dancer." Len advised Floyd, "It was good; it wasn’t a great first round." Then he pointed at Karina and said, "Trust this girl. She’s a great trainer." Carrie Ann wanted more "finesse" from Floyd: "You have to treat Karina with a little more tenderness."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…6, Len…6, Bruno…6 = 18/30

Helio Castroneves & Julianne Hough — Fox Trot
Helio was all smiles during his classy debut performance, complete with Julianne sporting a neat pants outfit. It’s very hard not to like a guy who lets his partner dip him at the end of their routine.

Carrie Ann told Helio, "You are a natural." Bruno said, "The King of Speed has become the King of Charm. I have to praise the choreography and the chemistry between you two." Len said, "That. Was. Great. It was like you were on cruise control."

As they waited for their scores, Drew Lachey asked Helio, "When I was doing this show, I didn’t smile until Week 6. You haven’t stopped smiling. Are you just that happy?" Helio smiled and replied, "I guess I had more fun than you."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…8, Len…9, Bruno…8 = 25/30

Albert Reed & Anna Trebunskaya — Cha Cha Cha
The routine began with Albert posing and Anna ripping off his jacket, in a nod to his modeling career. Albert’s first performance was uneven: some cool moves mixed in with some not-so-cool moves. But he’s got real potential, if he can learn to tone down his exaggerated facial expressions.

Len enthused, "You gyrated, you rotated, and you pulsated. It was like watching a stripper!" Bruno said, "The crotch action was like a warp drive. I got a hernia just watching it! Great, great fun!" Carrie Ann gave more modest praise: "It was more other stuff than it was Cha Cha, but it was a lot of fun."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…7, Len…7, Bruno…7 = 21/30

Mark Cuban & Kym Johnson — Fox Trot
Mark was surprisingly loose for a guy with a new hip, and he was very light on his feet. He looked like he had a good time singing along with the music, although he needs to look at Kym more. It was a good first effort with room to grow.

Bruno called Mark the "bouncing, bionic billionaire. If you keep working the technique, you can do well." Carrie Ann said, "You’re more of a showman than I expected you to be. Just watch the tongue motions a little. Keep it in the mouth." Len "It wasn’t exactly a dance floor disaster. It wasn’t exactly ballroom bliss. It was somewhere in between."

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…7, Len…7, Bruno…7 = 21/30

Wayne Newton & Cheryl Burke — Cha Cha Cha
Wayne stays fit by water skiing, playing tennis, and practicing karate, so he had no trouble keeping his feet moving. The performance was all the more charming because, based on the way Wayne looked at Cheryl, you can tell how fond he is of her. And for a guy in his sixties, he wasn’t any stiffer than most of the younger guys he was competing against.

Carrie Ann told Wayne, "You were so charming up there. I wanna see you open up your hips a little bit more. I think you’ve got more hip action waiting in your hips." Len said, "You came out and showed a lot of great basic moves. Well done to you, Cheryl." Bruno added, "It’s a great honor having you here, and hopefully you’ll stay with us for a long time.’

When Drew asked Cheryl what it’s like coaching someone 20 years older than any of her previous partners (himself included), she replied, "You know, I’ve been thinking about that, and, after all the seasons I’ve done, Wayne might just be the best partner I’ve had." As Drew gave the couple’s voting phone number, he said, "If you want Mr. Las Vegas to have another roll of the dice — not so much his partner, maybe — but Wayne…"

Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann…6, Len…7, Bruno…6 = 19/30

Leaderboard:
25 — Helio & Julianne
21 — Cameron & Edyta, Albert & Anna, Mark & Kym
19 — Wayne & Cheryl
18 — Floyd & Karina

While tonight’s scoring was pretty tight — apart from Helio’s clear victory — I think there may have been more difference in the performances. My ranking for the remaining five dancers is Albert, Cameron, Mark, Wayne, and then Floyd.

Since each phone number and email address get six votes tonight, I’d give three of mine to Helio and one each to Albert, Cameron, and Mark. Wayne and Floyd are on their own, although I’m sure Wayne is safe.

At Wednesday night’s Results Show, Dolly Parton and tap dancer Savion Glover perform. And Kenny Mayne returns, although no word on if he’ll be bringing "Dance Center" back. I hope so.

TV Guide has a behind-the-scenes report from last night’s Dancing with the Stars premiere, and inside the ballroom, Sabrina Bryan was the evening’s clear winner. And the DwtS 5 premiere dominated last night’s ratings with 21.2 million viewers.

Also premiering last night were the reedited episodes of Discovery’s Man vs. Wild in which host Bear Grylls discloses which portions of the show were faked.

NBC is bringing The Biggest Loser back as a midseason replacement.

Chris Lowell — better known as Piz on Veronica Mars — gave a charming interview to TV Guide about his new gig on ABC’s Private Practice.

Wired uses its vast amount of geek experience to critique this season’s geeky TV offerings, including shows like Chuck and The Big Bang Theory.

Finally, Variety’s Brian Lowry has an insightful editorial piece about the tribalism of TV audiences, and the lack of a common scripted series that everyone watches. These days, reality shows like American Idol and Dancing with the Stars are the closest things we’ve got to universal hits.