Anyone catch the show tonight? Seems Janel Parish and her partner Val ran into some legal issues with WSS who ordered the show to change their choreography. They performed to "America" so I assume they incorporated original choreography?
According to numerous DWTS websites, their original song was I Feel Pretty. And, yes, the issue appears to have been one of copying original choreography.
They danced well but I think the judges sympathized with them over the last minute legalities and all gave them a 10. I didn't think the number deserved 10s.
Any thoughts on why they were allowed to do "America" but not "I Feel Pretty"? Because of the film, I'm assuming the video rights are held by some large corporation and not by the authors or their estates.
I don't think it was the exact song that was the problem. The dancers were just told that they could not use any West Side Story choreography for copyright reasons and had to change their dance. Perhaps the celeb dancer who was choreographing the number felt he could not come up with original successful choreography using the original song. But he was able to do it with America...so they could still use their costumes, theme, etc.