last night. Without the pressure of scoring upon them Jason and Edyta Sliwinska (pictured below) could be even lighter on their feet and Jason had a smile a mile wide. Across the aisle from me was Paula Newsome, my favorite character in Women’s Murder Club (which, oh, so coincidentally returned to ABC Tuesday night.) Beautiful in an olive strapless dress with hot pink heels, Newsome was there to promote the show. Unfortunately, she didn’t know whether it looked good for pick up this fall. Seems the network is looking for younger demographics. All around me were Mario supporters; his body guard, his manager (Julius Erving, Dr. J’s son), a friend from Atlanta. Not until Mario was deemed safe could my row breathe easy.

There was lots of drama all day about Cristian’s arm injury, which turned out to be a ruptured tendon that requires surgery, and for most of the day it looked like they would just have to announce that Cristian and Cheryl would not be coming back to the show (which would have meant no other eliminations). But literally five minutes before the end of the show Cristian got the all clear from his doctor. He was a trouper talking to the press – though he has more consultations with doctors tomorrow – and he was effusive in his thanks to the fans, who kept him in the competition. “We’re here because of the people,” Cristian said, and told me that it has been his dream to go all the way in the competition along with his friend Jason Taylor.

I don’t know whether that will happen but it’s possible. If Kristi Yamaguchi and Jason Taylor are favorites to win, there’s one more spot in the finale that, as of tonight, is up for grabs and all of them really want it now.
Mario and his partner Karina Smirnoff were so relieved at living to dance another week that they are allowing themselves to think about the coveted mirror ball trophy. “I look forward to going to practice every week, nobody wants this to end,” Mario, the youngest competitor, said.  And he’s not intimidated by the competition, knowing full well how good they are.  Mario and Karina have been dealing with rumors of a romantic relationship also but they say it’s not so. Mario told me that “of course” people think there’s more than dancing between some of the couples “it comes with the territory.” He says they need the “steamy chemistry” on the dance floor, but for now he’s claiming that’s it.

Tony Dovolani says partner Marissa Jaret Winokur is “transforming into a dancer AND a daredevil.” Tony was heading home tonight to put on his iPod nano and dance around his living room. That’s the way he choreographs and by tomorrow morning he’ll have new dances worked out.  Kristi’s partner Mark Ballas does it a little differently. Sometimes he listens to the music in his car and writes steps in a little black book. Kristi says she doesn’t witness the process but trusts in the steps.

If I’ve heard anything from these dancers in the last week of talking with so many it is that trust is crucial to their success. The celebrities have to trust the pros to give them dances they can do, the pros have to trust the stars to give it the time and effort it deserves, the dancers have to trust the costume department to bring their visions to life.

(photos copyright © 2007 ABC, Inc. / Kelsey McNeal)