FLASH SPECIAL: DANCING WITH THE STARS Quicksteps & Cha-Chas Into Broadway Week

While GLEE is on hiatus until its long-awaited return on November 1 and X-FACTOR was pre-empted and moved around as a result of the World Series games, DANCING WITH THE STARS has kept up the Broadway quotient on prime time TV in the interim in a major way thanks to this week's two-night Great White Way salute featuring Tony-winner and Emmy-winner Kristin Chenoweth. Fan favorites J.R. Martinez and his partner Karina Smirnoff made their mark with CHICAGO'S sizzling "Hot Honey Rag" and this week's InDepth InterView participant Ricki Lake - along with her partner, show favorite Derek Hough - made a splash with a rollicking "The Lady Is A Tramp" from Frank Loesser's classic score for GUYS & DOLLS, and even Nancy Grace got into the snazzy act with a spirited and jolly "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" from SPAMALOT with her partner Tristan MacManus. Yet, some groups fared less well - Chaz Bono and Lacey Schwimmer failed to find the music or the magic of the night with "The Phantom Of The Opera" and they were sent home on Wednesday as a result (penguin critiques and Cher tweets notwithstanding). And, so, too, did Hope Solo and show-standout Maksim Chmerkovskiy falter with their less than impassioned performance of an outright odd head-scratcher of a quickstep song selection, RENT's "Seasons Of Love". Yet, on the ever-improving side of things reside Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke, who managed to bring some JERSEY BOYS-esque swagger to The Four Seasons smash "Walk Like A Man" from the Tony-winning musical revue. Additionally, David Arquette and Kym Johnson ended up somewhere in the middle, with a somewhat tentative treatment of the GREASE warhorse "We Go Together", which still managed to minisculely evoke John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the movie. While some stars certainly shone much brighter than others - J.R. and Ricki undoubtedly seem to be battling it out for top honors - Broadway Week on DANCING WITH THE STARS was generally a resounding success for many concerned. And, that's not even mentioning the spectacular group performance mash-up of "Hey, Big Spender" from SWEET CHARITY and "Money, Money" from CABARET (choreographed by Kevin Maher); Kenny Ortega's specialty number encompassing three famous theatrical standards, specially designed for HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL and IN THE HEIGHTS star Corbin Bleu; or - most of all - Kristin Chenoweth's two stupendous star turns; first, singing a song she made famous for a whole new generation alongside Lea Michele on GLEE - the classic Kander & Ebb CABARET's "Maybe This Time"; which was followed by MY FAIR LADY's "I Could Have Danced All Night" - and, on the second night, performing the title track from her new solo album, SOME LESSONS LEARNED. Broadway stars to dancing stars to reality stars and beyond, Broadway Week on DANCING WITH THE STARS managed to sparkle and shine with panache.

And What Was Just A Dance Is A Star, Tonight

While every viewer eventually decides their personal favorites on any reality competition show based on any number of factors - whether it be AMERICAN IDOL, X-FACTOR, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE?, AMERICA'S GOT TALENT or any of its ilk - it is the unique entertainment entity known as DANCING WITH THE STARS that compounds that already relatively complex equation with the addition of a celebrity component - and does so in a liberal, generous and big way. Sure, you may love Maks and want him to go all the way - but, can you really even imagine that happening when he is lumped with a stick-in-the-mud, lead-footed partner such as Olympian Hope Solo (who doesn't seem to even want be there in the first place)? The reverse goes for Chaz Bono, who seems to have been kept in the competition all these many weeks largely out of support and sympathy votes since he clearly cannot move on the dance floor in a convincing or, even, a spontaneously, intermittently entertaining way - despite the best efforts of Lacey Schwimmer. Then, there are the celebrity contestants on the show who are constantly, consistently improving, but still obviously reveal that they lack the true chops to really make a go of their newfound dancing fame - Nancy Grace, Rob Kardashian and David Arquette certainly fit this bill; though they all are showing stronger technique week-by-week (but, to what end?). Yes, indeed, more than many a season of DANCING WITH THE STARS - and there have been 13 up until this point, with the next cast for Season 14 just announced - there are two clear-cut winners who will be battling it out for the top spot if this reality competition still has anything to do with actual reality or actual competition: J.R. and Ricki. But, who will win out - the veteran who can cut up a carpet like nobody's business or the talk-show queen who has proven she is still pretty much all-dancing/all-singing/all-fabulous Tracy Turnblad still, now more than twenty years on past the original HAIRSPRAY film made her famous? Time will tell, but this year's Broadway Week on DANCING WITH THE STARS certainly had more than its fair share of drama, comedy, tragedy and surprises to keep any attentive Broadway baby more than merely entertained.

So, let's start off by taking a look at the top individual performances that undoubtedly won the star-filled night.

First up, Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke tackle the swingin' 60s anthem "Walk Like A Man" from JERSEY BOYS. As Carrie Ann paraphrased from the Bob Gaudio lyric, Rob is cha-cha-cha-ing from boy dancing neophyte to a suave Astaire man right before our very eyes!

Check out Nancy Grace and Tristan MacManus taking on "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" from the Tony-winning Best Musical, Monty Python's SPAMALOT. Who knew prosecution lawyers could move like this outside of CHICAGO?

https://www.youtube.com/embed?feature=player_detailpage&v=gu2pl-eZCaY

Most importantly, with the two top-scorers of this week - both earning 29s from the judges - here we have the two acts poised to take it to the Top 2 of DANCING WITH THE STARS Season 13: J.R. Martinez and Ricki Lake!

J.R. Martinez & Karina Smirnoff - "Hot Honey Rag" from CHICAGO

Ricki Lake & Derek Hough - "The Lady Is A Tramp" from GUYS & DOLLS

Now, check out the highly impressive group dance featuring all of the current stars and their dance partners performing a medley of songs from SWEET CHARITY and CHICAGO.

Next, check out Kenny Ortega's simply sensational "Streets Of Broadway" solo spotlight (with back-up dancers, natch) for HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL star Corbin Bleu with this sleek and stylish production number - ending with a song Bleu himself sang on Broadway in the Tony-winning hip-hop musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the title song from IN THE HEIGHTS.

Last - and certainly of most interest to the GLEEks and Broadway babies among us - here are the two show-stopping performances by Broadway star and GLEE favorite Kristin Chenoweth! Enjoy!

"Maybe This Time" & "I Could Have Danced All Night" (from MY FAIR LADY)

"Some Lessons Learned"

So, who won Broadway Week in your estimation? Who do you think will ultimately win the competition? What songs and shows would you like to see featured on the next Broadway Week on DANCING WITH THE STARS? Check back during Season 14 in early 2012 to find out!