Hayes Grier gives cartoonish performance on ‘DWTS’
Halloween came early for “Dancing With the Stars” and Hayes Grier on Monday night, when the teenage social media star from Mooresville put on a “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” costume and danced a jive – with mixed results.
On the one hand, Grier’s routine with professional partner Emma Slater came across as peppy and infectiously fun, even if the “TMNT” theme ranks as one of the most annoying songs a person can have stuck in a loop going through their head.
On the other hand ... well, the kid was wearing a “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” costume, and therefore looked rather ridiculous (as would pretty much anyone caught in public wearing a red eye mask, a yellow chest plate and an oversized green shell on their back).
In his intro package, Grier said he was excited because “TMNT” was “one of my favorite cartoons growing up,” an ironic comment not because it’s such an old-school choice for a 15-year-old, but because at 15, he’s still growing up.
And after two straight weeks of improvement, Grier seems to have plateaued, at least for the moment. The judges’ scores were good but not great – 7s from Carrie Ann Inaba and Julianne Hough, 8s from Bruno Tonioli and guest judge Alfonso Ribeiro, “DWTS’ ” fall winner last year – and the panel wasn’t as enthusiastic as it was after his first three dances.
Tonioli: “You’re mutating into a fully grown and effective performer. You’re so focused, and you have bucketloads of star quality. ... There’s one thing, though, you (Slater) have got to tell him: kicks and flicks, point your feet. We’re gonna spot that.”
Inaba: “I lost a little something with the mask. I felt that you looked out of breath. ... You kind of came out already at like mid-show energy, and then you kind of petered downwards. It wasn’t your best performance.”
Ribeiro agreed with Inaba; Hough tried to put a positive spin on things, but offered that “You guys were a little bit off.”
Grier and Slater’s total of 30 out of a possible 40 points put them in seventh place out of 10 couples, the lowest they’ve ranked so far this season.
They danced last, and with time running short were not given a post-routine interview with co-host Erin Andrews – which feels just a hair unfair considering the fact that viewers cast votes based on a variety of factors, including responses to post-routine interviews.
But with terrible dancers like celebrity chef Paula Deen and celebrity trainwreck Gary Busey still in the mix, Grier is without question safe for at least two more weeks, even if he comes back next Monday dressed like a Care Bear.
Who’s out?
Reality television star Kim Zolciak was eliminated from “Dancing With the Stars” on Monday; she was unable to compete with professional partner Tony Dovolani due to her recent hospitalization for a mini stroke.
This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 11:56 PM with the headline "Hayes Grier gives cartoonish performance on ‘DWTS’."