He’s baaackkk!
After weeks in the middle of the pack, Grammy winner Jason Mraz got a perfect 40 for his Argentine tango during “A Celebration of Taylor Swift.”
It couldn’t have happened at a better time. Easily one of the best during the first few weeks of “Dancing with the Stars,” Mraz looked like he might slide off the leaderboard. But those “grounded and epic” moves gave him a foothold.
Xochitl Gomez still looms as a threat (she got a 38) and Charity Lawson and Ariana Madix make the field crowded.
Heading into the semi-finals, those four are the ones to beat.
Even though a head-to-head competition gave extra points to several stars, it was merely filler, designed to make the show two hours long.
The worst of the lot: Harry Jowsey, who still played the “social media” card to get votes. He had improved, but not enough to belong in the semi-finals, and Alyson Hannigan, who pulled a 29 for her cha cha. (You know it’s bad when the judges say she dances with “joy.”) When the votes were tallied, he was the one to go home and, joy aside, it was time.
Choreographer Mandy Moore, who has worked with Taylor Swift, provided good insight into the singer’s vibe. She teased with all the celebs and provided the kind of professionalism that didn’t require standing or shaking when she delivered her critiques. She also had great paddle technique and wouldn’t be a bad addition, if that’s in the cards.
Now, if Mraz is able to keep bringing in the perfect scores, he’ll be the target. If he wins the trophy, he’ll be a good addition to the list of winners. Too many are reality-based.
Early call: Mraz, Gomez, Madix, Lawson.
