Adam Taylor / ABC
Gilles Marini and pro partner Peta Murgatroyd perform their part of the "Gangnam Style" team dance.
By Ree Hines, TODAY contributor
Oppa ballroom style! During a rare prerecorded installment of "Dancing With the Stars," several all-stars put fun way above form and delivered pure entertainment with possibly the best "Gangnam Style" tribute -- and certainly the best team dance -- to date.
OK, sure, technically speaking, Tuesday night's team dance didn't exactly represent the finer points of ballroom (or any other kind) of dance. But anyone who watched it would be hard pressed to deny that the freestyle put on by Gilles Marini, Kirstie Alley, Kelly Monaco, Emmitt Smith and their respective partners was exactly what the competition needed.
Rather than simply staging yet another team routine that highlights a few strong moves and almost as many out-of-sync steps, Team Gangnam decided to turn the spotlight on a series of ridiculous moments from the viralest of viral videos with fast, chaotic (and sometimes sexy) abandon. From upside-down Kirstie to crouching-elevator Emmitt to seductive Kelly to barely-towel-clad Gilles, the dance had it all. And it had the audience out of their seats cheering.
Host Tom Bergeron called it the "the most fun (he's) had in 15 seasons" of the show, and he wasn't the only one raving.
"It wasn't tight, it wasn't together, but ... it was fun!" said head judge Len Goodman, who usually prefers his routines gag-free.
Fellow panelist Bruno Tonioli could barely contain himself. "Gilles, give me that towel," he begged. "I'm wetting myself!"
Gilles, ever the trouper when it comes to Bruno's requests, handed it over.
Carrie Ann Inaba dubbed it a "hot mess," but "crazy, fun insanity" too.
The effort earned the group a matching set of 9s, which will be added to their scores from the night before.
Speaking of the night before, the all-stars who gave it their all in Monday night's "Call Me Maybe" team routine performed their guilty-pleasure dances on Tuesday.
The high-scorer of the night was Sabrina Bryan. The Disney Channel star channeled her inner Disney princess in a Cinderella waltz set to her guilty pleasure song, "So This Is Love."
Before the routine, Sabrina said she hoped the dance would be her breakthrough effort of the season. But moments into the by-the-book routine, a bit of flawed footwork and a lack of content seemed sure to dash that dream.
That is until the judges chimed in. It seems Len and the gang just loved it. They couldn't get enough of the story, the moves and what Bruno called the "cartoonish and delicious" quality of it. Sabrina waltzed away with a near-perfect 29 points.
As for the others, they each trailed the former "Cheetah Girl" with 27 points for their routines.
Shawn Johnson took that score for a rumba that saw her break out of the high-energy, athletic routines she's performed so often this season. The "Titanic"-themed dance, aptly choreographed to "My Heart Will Go On," wasn't Shawn's best dance so far, but it was a refreshing change that highlighted her range. It also gave Carrie Ann a chance to nitpick a lift -- or a catch, depending on who you ask.
The score also fit Apolo Anton Ohno, who put on a hip-thrusting (too thrusting, according to Len) samba to "Give It to Me Baby." Most of the panel loved it, but Carrie Ann complained that "something is not quite right" with the "bright, shining star."
And Melissa Rycroft nabbed her 27 for a tango that lacked perfect posture, strong arm lines and the neck snap of a traditional take on the dance. The latter point isn't exactly a surprise. After all, Melissa suffered a herniated disc two days ago.
Still, Len didn't give her a break and felt he had to mention the lack of snap. That's when Tom reminded the resident grump that Melissa recently took a ride in an ambulance.
"You keep your witty comments to yourself," Len shot back.
Tom didn't contain his quick wit for long, adding, "That was more of a factual comment in an attempt to find your beating heart."
Snap!
Now that's one performance that deserved a perfect score.
Whose guilty-pleasure performance was the best of the night? Take our poll below and then share your thoughts about all of the dances -- including your team dance pick -- on our Facebook page.
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