How can you not give Donny points for putting on that mullet – and those sideburns? If Prince and Michael Jackson had the same dad, he’d look just like that – from the hair to the makeup to the jacket! Was that get up (and his dancing, of course) enough to get Donny to the semi-finals? Find out after the jump!

The judges listened to Tom and chose a repeat of Joanna and Derek’s futuristic paso doble to start the show. It was just as good as the first performance!

Holy Hugh Hefner! Why was the ultimate Playboy in the audience with his bunnies? Oh, I can only dream that Hef will be a contestant on the show some day!!

Here’s the leaderboard:

1. Mya & Dmitry – 59 points

2. Joanna & Derek – 52 points

3. Kelly & Louis – 51 points

4. Donny & Kym – 50 points

4. Aaron & Karina – 50 points

The first couple moving on to the semi-finals: Joanna & Derek.

First time filler of the night: yet another recap of Monday’s performances. Um, I watched the show so I’m FFing through this.

Michael Buble performed “Haven’t Met You Yet.”

The next couple safe: Mya & Dmitry.

“Dance Center” is back. Kenny Mayne, Len Goodman, Jerry Rice and Stacy Keibler talk about the top five.

Joanna:

Len said you don’t get them hotter than Joanna.

He said she needs to work on polish – work on footwork, arms, chemistry.

Kenny pointed out her laugh. Jerry said she reminds him of a seal.

Donny:

Len said Donny is second to none as a showman and performer.

Kenny asked how old Donny is because he acts like a three-year-old on sugar.

Jerry said he hopes to have that much energy when he’s 82.

Kenny brought up the Donny/Bruno kiss. Len said he’s lovable and kissable and doesn’t know why he wasn’t chosen for a smooch.

Stacy asked Donny what’s going on with him and Bruno. Donny says they have a platonic celebrity/judge relationship. Then, Bruno was there telling Donny what a good performance he had.

Aaron:

Len said Aaron started strong, his confidence has grown, he’s the first dancer Len gave a 10 to.

Kenny brought up Aaron’s crying incident. Jerry said there’s no crying in ballroom. Len tried to defend him. Then, they showed Aaron crying out in pain during training. Jerry called him fragile “like a snowflake resting on a lily.”

That Macy’s “Design a Dance” is back. Sabrina Bryan was chosen to dance with Mark Ballas. They performed a paso doble to “Eye of the Tiger.” The tops of their costumes looked like tigers. Seeing these two dance together again was pure magic. I still don’t understand why Sabrina was eliminated from the competition. That girl can DANCE!

Michael Buble performed “Feeling Good.”

The next couple safe: Donny & Kym.

That leaves Aaron & Karina and Kelly & Louis in jeopardy.

Susan Boyle made her US television debut to perform “I Dream A Dream.” She has a lovely voice. Can’t watch her though. Makes me uncomfortable.

More “Dance Center.”

Kelly:

Len said Kelly is an enigma. She performs fantastic sometimes, then can dance without energy.

Kenny pointed out Kelly swears like a trucker, then they showed bleeped clips to prove it. Len said she’s lovely. Then Len was bleeped.

Mya:

Kenny wanted to talk about Dmitry. He thought he was on a soap.

Jerry said she was hot.

Len said Mya is an accomplished dancer. He said Mya keeps doing gimmicks (dusting the judge’s desk, for example). Jerry said Mya can dust at his house any time.

Kenny said Mya has anger issues, then showed clips of her hitting Dmitry.

Len said all five dancers has the potential to win. Kenny said it’s because there are five left. Len said Kenny has the hair and attitude of a hooligan.

Then, a strange little game to “predict the winner.” Kenny rattled the board and said Mya would win. We’ll see…

One last elimination. The couple who will not dance in the semi-finals: Aaron & Karina. Wow! Split screen showed two completely different couples – with Karina looking not at all surprised and Aaron looking disappointed, then Kelly & Louis super happy.

Len said the dedication Aaron showed week after week was fantastic. He called Aaron an inspiration to young people that anything was possible. He said if Aaron was his son, he’d be so proud of him. But more important, he said Aaron should be proud of himself because he’s been great.

If my recap wasn’t enough for you, watch the show online right here.

Next week, the couples will perform three routines for a shot at the finals. See you then!

By Brian Alonzo

Winter officially is right around the corner and the State of Texas along with the National Weather Service and us here at KSAT-12 want you to be prepared and safe should the weather pose a threat.November 10, 2009 has been designated as Texas Winter Weather Awareness Day by the Governors Division of Emergency Management. In this blog we’ll give you a heads up of what we expect this winter and how you can prepare for any winter storm.

We are in an El Nino weather pattern which means we can expect a wetter/cooler winter. El Nino is the warming of the Pacific Ocean waters off the coast of South America. Does this mean snow for San Antonio? Not necessarily. Remember the big snowfall in 1985? That happened during a La Nina cycle. However, winter precipitation is a possibility this year if we can get colder temperatures to mix with some precipitation.

Here are some Winter Weather Defintions courtesy the National Weather Service in New Braunfels:

A WINTER STORM IS AN EVENT CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATION OF ICE OR SNOW. A SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATION WOULD BE 4 INCHES OR MORE IN 12 HOURS OR 6 INCHES OR MORE IN 24 HOURS.

A QUARTER-INCH OR MORE OF ICE OR SLEET WOULD BE CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT. THESE CAN PRODUCE DANGEROUS TRAVEL PROBLEMS AND MAY POSE A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY. LOW WIND CHILL INDICES AND LOW VISIBILITIES MAY ALSO ACCOMPANY WINTER STORMS.

WINTER STORM WATCHES ARE ISSUED BETWEEN 24 AND 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF AN EXPECTED WINTER STORM. THE WATCH WILL DESCRIBE THE KIND OF WINTER WEATHER EXPECTED…SNOW AND OR SLEET AND OR ICE…AND THE EXPECTED ACCUMULATION. WHEN A WATCH IS ISSUED…RESIDENTS SHOULD TAKE CAUTION…BEGIN TO PREPARE…AND KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS.

WINTER STORM WARNINGS ARE ISSUED WHEN A WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED WITHIN 24 HOURS. AT THIS TIME…PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE COMPLETED. SEVERE WINTER STORMS BRING PROLONGED POWER OUTAGES AND VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE ISSUED WHEN LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW…FREEZING RAIN…FREEZING DRIZZLE…OR SLEET ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR BUT CAUSE ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE TO MOTORISTS AND RESIDENTS.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED FALL TO ZERO OR BELOW. REMEMBER…WIND CHILL IS WHAT THE ACTUAL AIR TEMPERATURE FEELS LIKE WITH THE WIND FACTORED INTO IT. RESIDENTS SHOULD LIMIT OUTDOOR EXPOSURE AND OR PROTECT EXPOSED SKIN DURING LOW WIND CHILL READINGS.

Some things to have ready at home:

A flashlight with extra batteries.  AM/FM  and NOAA weather radio for emergency information. Extra food and water. Supplies for First Aid. Don’t forget about your pets.

If you’re traveling:  Check ahead with the weather conditions. Make sure your vehicle is winterized and have the following in your car:

Blankets, Sleeping Bags, First Aid Kit, Flashlight with batteries, Knife, Food, Extra clothing, Windshield scraper and brush, tool kit, booster cables, compass and road maps.

Keep It Tuned to KSAT-12, KSAT.com, JustWeather.com and on Twitter @ksatweather

Aaron is still in this competition – but Mark isn’t? What’s wrong with America? We’re getting down to business now. For the first time this season, the couples have to perform two individual dances – one ballroom and one latin. Aaron (and the other four stars) have to step it up this week if they want to make it to the finale for the chance to win that big, silly looking disco ball trophy. Find out who was good enough after the jump!

Want to know how a network turns an hour-long show into two hours? Check the start of this show. Instead of jumping right into the dancing, the show started with a taped piece of the judges saying what they’re expecting from the stars in the ballroom round. Aren’t we going to get these comments after the performances? I hit FF on my remote.

Once the ballroom round was finished, the professionals performed latin dances. AHEM, TIME FILLER! Way to make the stars feel good about their chances in the next round! Then, the judges talked about what they expect from the stars.

Couple: Mya & Dmitry

Dance: Quick Step

Once these two got into hold, this dance took off! I didn’t see Mya out of step once. She looked lovely and not for one second did she look like she was out of breath with this high-speed dance. If she doesn’t make it to the finale, I just might cry!

Len said his priority is how she danced and her priority is the wow in the dance. Len said there is a disappointment because he couldn’t find anything to criticize. Big, mean judge trick! Bruno said this quick step was like really fresh champagne: light, sparkling, full of flavor, after you taste it, nothing else will do. Carrie Ann said Mya made something so difficult and very intricate look like it just flowed out of her body with ease and grace.

SCORE: 29 (Carrie Ann was the only judge who did not give them a “10″)

Dance: 70s Samba

Disclosure: I love disco. Did not love Dmitry’s mustache. Did not love the super slow version of Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls.” The dancing, however, loved it! So much fun to watch! The audience loved it, too!

Carrie Ann believes Mya wants to win the competition. She said it was beyond belief. Len said Mya is absolutely on fire. He called her hips hypnotic. He said her two dances were of the highest standard with no gimmicks. Bruno said Mya is unbelievable. He said he loves bad girls and she’s the baddest of them all. Bruno broke into “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” I think my ears bled a little.

SCORE: 30 (first perfect score of the season)

TOTAL SCORE: 59

Couple: Aaron & Karina

Dance: Fox Trot

Karina is the latest dancer to get sick but she refused to sit out the dance. I don’t believe Aaron is that good of an actor, so I’m going to say there’s a little romance brewing between these two. This dance was nice. I thought it was a little odd to see Karina singing along with the music in some parts. And did her foot come off the floor? Other than that, liked it.

Bruno said he could see how much work went into the performance. But he felt it was tense. He said it didn’t have the ease of flow necessary to sell the fox trot. Carrie Ann said Karina’s foot came off the floor. She said she saw Aaron’s effort, but there was a loss of fluidity. Len said watching Aaron is like watching his son in a toy shop – so many emotions. He’s proud of Aaron because he’s worked hard and tried his best. He said for a young man, Aaron danced very well.

SCORE: 23

Dance: 90s Samba

Apparently Aaron had a hit song in the 90s. He used that experience to teach Karina a few dance moves. I smell disaster. This was really fast. Why does Aaron look angry? This was not a disaster. I find if I stop watching Aaron’s facial expressions, and just focus on the footwork, the dancing isn’t so bad. The audience liked it.

Len said it was tough to follow Mya’s perfect samba. He said Aaron performed it, sold it and worked his socks off. Bruno said all the energy has made good. Bruno got up and danced. He said the marriage of the 90s and the samba was a success. Carrie Ann said Aaron is a great performer. She thought he was hitting it. Aaron did confess he almost threw up at the end.

SCORE: 27

TOTAL SCORE: 50

Couple: Joanna & Derek

Dance: Quick Step

I kind of hate that the ladies wear such long dresses during this dance. It makes it hard for me to keep an eye on their feet. This was just as quick as Mya’s dance. Good thing Joanna watched tape of Mya’s past performances. She did a great job of making this dance look easy and fun. The audience gave it a standing ovation.

Carrie Ann said Joanna had a few out of sync moments. She had great frame and character, but she sometimes forgot to point her toes. Len said there was a lot of running about, it lacked body contact and it was not the standard for the quarter-final. Bruno said it looked like Joanna was running from the scene of the crime. He said she had a few issues downstairs (I think he was talking about her feet). He said it was not one of her best performances.

SCORE: 23

Dance: Paso Doble From The Future

I’m a little confused by their futuristic costumes and makeup. This started out more robot than paso. Then, it looked like some robots decided to get their latin groove on. I liked it! The audience was on their feet.

Bruno said it was a masterful reinvention of a classic. He called Derek a genius. Carrie Ann said the execution of the theme was outstanding. She said Joanna did not miss a step. She said there was a little back kick that was off. She said it was wonderful. Len said it was genius. He said he didn’t know how they were going to do that, but not only was the theme of the dance great, but the content of paso doble was great.

SCORE: 29 (Carrie Ann was the non-10 paddler)

TOTAL SCORE: 52

Couple: Kelly & Louis

Dance: Fox Trot

OMG – that blue dress made me think of Dolly Parton! I quickly got past that and focused on the dancing. Kelly is blowing my mind! She is just gliding across the floor like she’s been doing this for years! She looks so light on her feet! And the confidence she’s showing – wow! This might be her best dance yet! The audience was on their feet!

Len said he forgot how much grace and elegance Kelly brings to the dance floor. He liked her posture and the routine, her footwork – not so much. Bruno said Kelly was weightless. He said she sustained the performance. Carrie Ann said Kelly has a secret weapon: the moment she has a breakthrough, the audience goes crazy for it. She said Kelly needs to work on her spot and turns and her range of motion.

SCORE: 25

Dance: 60s Jive

Kelly did some 60s dancing in her first music video. I’m so hoping this helps her pull off the dance! This started with Louis taking away Kelly’s doll. She looked a little out of step at the very beginning. Her feet looked a little heavy at times. Louis gave Kelly some tough steps. This was fun to watch.

Len said Kelly has been an absolute revelation. He thought the work, the pressure would get to her, but she comes in week after week stronger and stronger. Bruno said it was groovy, baby! Then, Kelly sat on his lap. He said it was very 60s and always a jive. He told her to go for it even more. Carrie Ann said it was one of her best performances. She said Kelly is letting go. There were a few problems (turns, the doll went on too long).

SCORE: 26

TOTAL SCORE: 51

Couple: Donny & Kym

Dance: Viennese Waltz

I had no doubt Donny could pull this off. Really. This is the dance for him. He looks so comfortable gliding across the floor, going through every turn, guiding Kym around. Really good! Standing ovation from the audience.

Bruno said Donny can play it. He said it was like watching a Lifetime movie – romantic, emotional, drama, technique (and Bruno came close to kissing Len). Carrie Ann said it was mesmerizing. Len said there was improvement in Donny’s posture. He said it was a bit “arty farty.” Donny said it was cool going from “airy fairy” to “arty farty.”

SCORE: 26

Dance: 80s Paso Doble

Donny had a mullet in the 80s, so he wore a mullet in this dance. Wow. Their costumes, like, totally scream 80s. Donny’s mullet was quite Michael Jackson or Prince-like. Wow – great use of a fan in this dance. This was retro-tastic! That’s right, I’m making up words now. That’s how fun this dance was. Donny fumbled the last move, but it was good.

Tom requested this be the encore dance so Donny could get into the costume again. Len said it was a cross between Adam Ant and Adam Carrolla. He liked it. Bruno said it had more camp in it than a drag queen’s convention. He said it was like watching Donny doing Marie doing Donny. Carrie Ann thought it was hysterical. She thought they did a great job of bringing the era back. She said it was a little odd. She thought the costumes cut some of their lines.

SCORE: 24

TOTAL SCORE: 50

Susan Boyle and Michael Buble will perform on the show Tuesday. I don’t think they’re singing together (though that could be fun). Also, one couple will be sent home.

This week, I’ve found a few freebies for everyone, but some just for veterans. Start saving after the jump.From My Inbox: Mark your calendar for Tuesday, Nov. 10th! Whataburger is hosting “Orange Night Out” from 5-8pm. Show up wearing the burger chain’s signature orange color and get a free Whataburger for dine-in service. You must wear orange clothing (so don’t just show up with an orange scarf or hat expecting a free burger). Go here for locations.

Head to a National Park Wednesday and get special treat: no admission fee! The government is waiving fees for Veterans Day. To find a park, go here.

Veterans and active military can eat free at Applebees on Veterans Day.

Golden Corral is serving veterans and active military members a free meal Monday night.

Veterans and active military members can go here for more Veterans Day specials.

This blog has found a super cool site: find coupons you can use in your neighborhood with this cool map.

Book lovers might want to join Harper Collins’ Book Army. List the books you’ve liked, connect with authors and even get a chance to get free books before they’re released.

From My Inbox: Every time the Spurs win a game, and no Mexican free-tail Bats are caught by Manu Ginobili, Freetail Brewing Company will buy everyone at the brewery a beer and donate $1 on their behalf to Bat Conservation International. Go here for more information. UPDATE: The TABC took the free beer away.

A website catering to Moms (though there’s advice Dads could use, too) will answer all kinds of questions – by Moms, of course! Tips include ways to stretch your budget and more. If you don’t find your question there, ask it and a Mom will come to the rescue!

With the holidays fast approaching, I’m going to choose a local charity that needs help. This week, I’m focusing on the San Antonio Food Bank. Click here to see events they have coming up this month so you can help a hungry family. You can even make a virtual donation – choosing how you want your donation to be spent.

That’s it for this week. If you want to share a tip, send an email to nperez@ksat.com with “Friday Freebies” in the subject line.

OK. This is Edyta in a crazy move from a dance she and Alec performed while Colbie Caillat sang Tuesday night. I don’t even know how that happens! Now to the business at hand: two couples go home. Get the recap after the jump!

I am so happy the judges brought back Team Tango! They were so good!

Then a look back at Monday’s performances. Bruno’s comments are even crazier the second time you hear them.

Now, the first couple safe is: Kelly & Louis.

The first couple in the bottom three: Mark & Lacey.

Colbie Caillat performed “Falling For You.” This is where that picture came from.

The next couple safe: Donny & Kym.

The next couple in the bottom three: Michael & Anna.

Ballas Hough performed “Move.” I thought these guys were rockers? I guess they’re doing dance music. Um, I think I’d rather watch them dance.

Next up, another time filler taped piece of the players talking about the rules of ballroom. Rules 1 & 2: don’t talk about the trophy. Rule 3: trust your partner. Rule 4: no risk, no reward. Rule 5: leave it all on the dance floor. Rule 6: winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing. Wow. Those rules should be on motivational posters or something.

Another tense moment… Mya & Dmitry are safe. Joanna & Derek are safe. Aaron & Karina are in the bottom three.

Rod Stewart performed “It’s The Same Old Song.”

OOOOH! Time filler/taped piece with the couples talking about having to dance on elimination night to stay in the competition. Summary: no one lines doing this.

Back to the elimination… Michael & Anna wound up with the lowest judge’s score and votes. Aaron & Karina and Mark & Lacey have to dance for their lives.

Couple: Mark & Lacey

Dance: Cha Cha Cha

When they actually danced together, this was good. But Mark ’s gymnastics were on display for much of this brief dance. I wanted more dancing, less tumbling. Lacey lost some of her hair piece at the end.

Len said Mark was back in his comfort zone with Lacey. He said it was clean and rhythmic. Bruno said Mark can turn more tricks than Heidi Fleiss. He said the little dance that was there was good. Carrie Ann said she was glad Mark was back. She welcomed Lacey back. She said Mark’s movement from trick to dance was effortless.

Couple: Aaron & Karina

Dance: Jive

This was perhaps one of the best dances Aaron has done yet. It’s like he knew he was dancing for survival on this show. THAT’S how you do it.

Bruno was surprised to see Aaron in the bottom three. He said this dance was as good as Monday’s. Carrie Ann said this was better than Monday’s. She said he’s perfectly suited for the jive. Len said Aaron is the comeback kid. Three weeks ago he gave him sixes, Monday, he gave Aaron his first 10 of the season. He said Aaron was right on the money.

Now, the judges have to decide who’s going to stick around. They are unanimous. They saved Aaron & Karina.

It’s not the easiest site to use, but ABC does have its music lounge, where you can (maybe) find songs performed on its shows. Good luck with that. If my recap wasn’t enough for you, go here to watch the show online.

Wow. Michael is still on this show. Dancing. What is wrong with America? This week, the couples perform one dance on their own, then take on a group dance. Who’s sick/injured this week? And which two couples are likely to face elimination? Find out after the jump.The show started with the professionals showing how a team dance is supposed to look. Ooh! I’d like to see the stars dance like this! I never would have thought “Shut Up & Let Me Go” by The Ting Tings for the paso doble and Blondie’s “Call Me” for the Argentine tango would be used in dances like this. What do I know?

Check out the costumes – designed by the stars. Oh, I feel sorry for the pros. None of these stars are designers. Len warned the couples they’re not looking for good dancers. They’re looking for great dancers. OOOH – they better step it up (literally)!

Couple: Michael & Anna

Dance: Fox Trot

Michael’s nickname: The Play Maker. He’d better make one heckuva play here. I’ve discovered if you watch Michael from the waist up, he’s good. So I’m focusing on his feet. Save this post. I’m actually impressed. He’s making me reconsider my thoughts about sending him home.

Len said the first couple of weeks, he would have been happy to see the back of Michael. But he said Michael’s waltz was fantastic and his fox trot was well done. Bruno said Michael’s musicality has improved. He said it was light and looked like Michael enjoyed himself, but his bum still stuck out. He said it was an improvement. Carrie Ann said she does not know how Michael does this. She said it was gracious and fluid and had great content. She also complimented Michael on his costume design. Is that part of the score?

SCORE: 23 (Michael’s highest score of the season)

Couple: Donny & Kym

Dance: Quick Step

You know what impresses me about this? The fact that Donny, the oldest guy in the competition can keep up with Kym! The first 30 seconds had me reaching for my water, yet Donny kept dancing and even sang along while dancing with a smile. Talk about multitasking! WOW! I’m not a quick step fan, but I really enjoyed this. The audience gave it a standing ovation.

Bruno said as a performer, Donny is solid as a rock. He said nobody could cover up all the mistakes as well as Donny did. He said it was a great performance. Carrie Ann liked the hold and Donny was light on his feet. She said he went wrong a few times. She said it was good but not Donny’s best. Len said Donny came out with a full-on quick step. He said there were mistakes, but Donny attacked the dance. He said it was great.

SCORE: 24

Couple: Mark & Lacey

Dance: Samba

Lacey has the flu. Is there no hand washing/anti-bacterial gel around that place? Tony Dovoloni helped Mark learn the steps. Then, Anna Trebunskaya stepped in. Interesting that Mark chose to wear a see-through shirt. I don’t understand why Mark did some break dancing at the beginning. This took a while to turn into a samba. I didn’t love this. It was just OK. It felt a little off. The audience was on its feet at the end. Guess they saw something I didn’t.

Carrie Ann said he had a rough week to work with another partner. She said it was a mess. She said it was disjointed, there was no flow. She said he had a lot of nervous energy. Len said Mark had a tough week and a difficult dance – a terrible combination. He said it was not Mark’s best dance. Under the circumstances, he said Mark coped very well. Bruno said it was like watching “Kung Fu Panda” does the samba on the “Planet of the Apes.”

SCORE: 19

Couple: Mya & Dmitry

Dance: Fox Trot

Cloris Leachman showed up to give Mya some performance pointers. Really. Mya looked lovely. Len probably won’t like the separation at the beginning. Her dancing, as usual, was good. Not sure why she took a ride on Dmitry’s back while he crawled on all fours. Aside from that, I really liked it. So did the audience.

Len said he liked the parts that were in hold. He said there were too many gimmicks. Bruno said it perfectly captured the glamorous aura of Hollywood’s golden age. He said her timing was fantastic. He said she looked like a dream and danced like an angel. Carrie Ann said Len is smoking crack. Bruno said she got Len confused with Andre Agassi. Carrie Ann said Mya is an excellent costume designer. She loved the dance. She said it was dynamic, fluid and graceful.

SCORE: 25

Couple: Aaron & Karina

Dance: Jive

There’s something about Aaron’s facial expressions that had me singing along with the music (“We’re Not Gonna Take It”). I focused on his feet. They were moving fast. I didn’t notice him losing pace with Karina. It was good. The audience gave it a standing ovation.

Bruno said Aaron kicks fast. He said it had unstoppable momentum. He called it Aaron’s best performance. Carrie Ann said Aaron was like a little road runner. She said it had high energy with a weird thing in the middle. Tom said, “We call that Len.” Len said it was wild but it was clean, it was fast but had control, it was fun but wasn’t slapstick. He said he was tempted to dust off his ten paddle.

SCORE: 29 (Len & Bruno each gave it a 10)

Couple: Kelly & Louis

Dance: Salsa

Wow. Kelly put Louis in fringe pants. Looks like he’s wearing a muppet. OK. He lost the fringe pants – Louis got plain black pants on. I went back and watched the dance again, no longer distracted by the fringe. I really wanted Kelly to get into this. It looked a little like she was holding back. It was fun. The audience liked it.

Carrie Ann had Kelly come over and she gave her a hug. She said it was brilliant. She said Kelly was unafraid of the dance. Len stood up and said Kelly controlled her nerves. She said all aspects of her dancing need to come up another level. Bruno stood up on the desk and danced. There was a whole lot of hip shaking going on. Louis through Bruno the fringe pants. He said once Kelly finds the character, she lets it out. There was a bit of stumble. Kelly thanked Bruno for calling her beige last week.

SCORE: 24

Couple: Joanna & Derek

Dance: Rumba

This was amazing! They moved as one at times. Joanna had a little trouble towards the end – like her foot got stuck/slipped. Other than that – perfection!

Len said it was well done. Bruno said Joanna is a love goddess. He called it a high-definition feast for the eyes. Carrie Anna said Joanna dances at the edge, but she didn’t do that tonight. She pointed out Joanna getting caught in her costume.

SCORE: 27

Team Paso

Mark & Anna, Aaron & Karina, Mya & Dmitry and Michael & Anna

During rehearsal, there was tension from the pros as they tried to choreograph the dance. Michael brought them together as a team. Loved the costumes! Individually, they were good. When they performed as a group, you could see they were off just a bit. Aaron & Karina’s solo was good – great flips at the end. Michael & Anna were next. Michael killed this. He looked like he was going to toss Anna right off the floor. Mark & Anna were good. Mya & Dmitry closed it out. Mya lost an earring, but did not lose her performance. Then, they came back together at the end. So good. Mark and Aaron did flips at the end.

Bruno said they had strength and drama and lost a bit of strength. He said Mya & Dmitry stood out. Carrie Ann loved the intensity. She said sometimes the choreography went out of step. She said Mark redeemed himself. Len said it was a full-on attack and got better as it went along.

SCORE: 24 (this is added to the couples’ score for final ranking)

Team Tango

Joanna & Derek, Kelly & Louis and Donny & Kym

Maybe it’s because there are just three couples, but the rehearsal was not as tense as it was for the other team. Donny says he feels like he’s getting the flu and is having a hard time remembering the steps. Seriously, soap/anti-bacterial gel – use ‘em! There were a few moments where they seemed out of step. Kelly & Joanna ripped Donny’s sleeves off his arms. They got it together and were in near perfect step after that. Kelly & Louis were first. Kelly totally redeemed herself for her previous tango. She was perfection! Donny & Kym were next. They did not take it easy. Their solo was really good! Joanna & Derek closed it out. They used the whole stage like it was theirs. Then, the ending, the couples lined up and danced in near perfect step. This was so much better than that team paso! Loved every bit of it!

Carrie Ann ran downed and gave everybody high fives. She spanked the boys because of the lift. She said it was awesome. Len said it is easier to dance tango because they’re in hold more than the paso. However, he said this was a superior performance. Bruno said they were excellent as individuals and superb as  a team. He called Joanna a love goddess. He said Donny was dark. He said Kelly found her mojo.

SCORE: 28 (Bruno gave it a 10)

Tuesday, Rod Stewart, Colbie Caillat and Derek & Mark will perform their new song. And two couples will go home (after the two couples dance for their lives again).

I have more treats than tricks in this week’s roundup! One of them expires in just a few hours – so what are you waiting for? Start saving after the jump!

Sorry for the short notice, but you have just a few hours left to take advantage of this coupon from Payless ShoeSource. It’s only good through close of business TODAY.

Taco Bell is giving away a treat on Halloween: show up between 6pm and midnight and get a free Black Jack Taco.

From my inbox: Any child “a dozen” years old or younger who visits Krispy Kreme in costume on Oct. 31st will receive a free Halloween doughnut of their choice. Go here for locations.

Keep the kids busy before the trick-or-treating with these free coloring pages.

If you don’t want your kids to eat all that candy, you might consider selling your candy. Go here for more information and to find someone who’ll buy your candy. See? I’m not trying to kill you with those free/discounted Halloween treats!

From my inbox: Test out your Halloween costume tonight. The San Antonio Rampage will let fans into the game for free (as long as you’re under the age of 12 and in full costume). The puck drops at 7pm at the AT&T Center. There’s also a costume contest for the adults and kids with prizes.

San Marcos residents can get discounts on their prescription medications. The City has teamed up with the National League of Cities. Residents can sign up for discount cards (no restriction on age, income or existing health coverage) at City Hall, Library, Grant Harris, Jr. Building, Electric Utility, Women Infants and Children, Activity Center and Public Service Buildings. For more information, call 1-888-620-1749 or visit this website.

Some might call this freebie is a time waster, but I call it free entertainment. It’s a site that streams live music. It’s even available as an application for iPhones. [via Mental_Floss]

If you or someone you know is getting married (or you are in the mood for a little romance), download this wedding music mix for free.

That’s it for this week. If you want to share a tip, send an email to nperez@ksat.com with “Friday Freebies” in the subject line.

Here’s a look at the remaining issues on the November 3rd ballot.

Proposition 4

The constitutional amendment establishing the national research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve national prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund.

If passed, the following universities would get funding to further research programs: Texas Tech University, University of Texas-Arlington, University of Texas-Dallas, University of Texas-El Paso, University of Texas-San Antonio, University of Houston and University of North Texas.

For:

Austin Chronicle: “A valiant attempt to provide potential research funding to institutions other than the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M, in the hopes of eventually expanding the number of major research universities statewide. Good luck, since we don’t fund the ones we have.”

Houston Chronicle: “Every year Texas loses thousands more freshmen to out-of-state top-tier universities than it attracts. We can’t afford that brain drain.But we can afford Prop. 4, even during this miserable recession. That’s because the $500 million would come from a defunct education fund that Texas scraped together years ago. That means no new taxes.”

Austin American-Statesman: “Having more tier-one research schools would relieve enrollment pressure on UT-Austin and boost the state’s economy.”

Against:

Well, I had a hard time finding someone who’s against this. So if you have a reason, drop it in the comments section.

Proposition 9

The constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico.

This would make the 1959 Open Beaches Act part of the state’s constitution.

For:

Corpus Christi Caller-Times: “It allows the Legislature to enact laws to further protect the public’s right to access the beach, and protect the public easement from interference and encroachments.”

Houston Chronicle: “As Texas Gulf Coast residents know all too well, Mother Nature can change the landscape of beaches abruptly. That is one of the acknowledged risks of building a vacation home on the sand. Granting a permanent public easement onto our beaches seems likely to avoid confrontation and confusion while ensuring the broadest possible access.”

Against:

El Paso Times: “This proposition involves public access to beaches and doesn’t need to be in the Constitution. The Legislature should handle this. Also, opponents say it could restrict the rights of private-property owners.”

Proposition 10

The constitutional amendment to provide that elected members of the governing boards of emergency service districts may serve terms not to exceed four years.

This might be the most simply worded amendment on the ballot.

For:

Dallas Morning News: “These emergency services commissioners should serve four-year terms so they can gain valuable experience and be more effective at a crucial job that directly affects people’s lives and property.”

San Antonio Express-News: “Elections cost time and money. Extending the term of office for these public servants makes fiscal sense for taxpayers.”

Against:

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “Prop 10 would allow the elected board members in some of those districts in and around Houston to serve terms of four years rather than two.This is goofy. There’s no good reason why board members of obscure districts in Harris County should have longer terms than members of the Texas House.”

The Texas League of Women Voters has put together this helpful brochure in English and Spanish.

For more politics news, follow us on Twitter.

The November 3rd ballot has three issues of interest to veterans or current service members. Here’s a look at those issues.

Proposition 6

The constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans’ Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized.

If passed, more funding would be made available to the VLB which would in turn be able to provide Texas veterans with mortgages to buy homes or land.

For:

Houston Chronicle: “This amendment would eliminate the requirement for the Veterans’ Land Board to return to the Legislature every four years for bonding authority. Since the VLB was approved by constitutional amendment in 1946, bonds for the Veterans Housing Assistance Program and Veterans Land Program have helped thousands of Texas veterans.”

Dallas Morning News: “This would allow the state to increase its debt load to help veterans and the land board to avoid having to seek new authority every four years to issue bonds for what few would dispute is a good cause.”

Against:

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “Prop 6 bundles all of the bond authorizations from voters since 1946 — a total of $4 billion, including $2 billion that has been paid off and the bonds retired — to create a revolving fund for loans. When a set of bonds is paid off, the VLB could reissue that amount rather than come back to voters for approval.That eliminates the need for periodic elections, but $4 billion would be far more than the VLB has had available at any one time in the past. The most recent voter-approved bond authorizations were $500 million in 1995 and another $500 million in 2001.Is $4 billion too much? Is it enough? Voters can’t tell, and they shouldn’t have to guess.”

Proposition 7

The constitutional amendment to allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices.

If passed, this would change existing law which prohibits civil officials from joining the Texas State Guard – or other Texas military forces. State employees can currently hold office in most branches of the military.

For:

San Antonio Express-News: “There already are several civil officials who are allowed to hold more than one civil office. Approval of Proposition 7 would add members of the Texas State Guard to the list, which already includes members of the National Guard and Reserves.”

Houston Chronicle: “This amendment brings members of the Texas State Guard into the broader class of military personnel who have been made eligible to hold public office over the years, correcting what was apparently an oversight.”

Against:

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “A Fort Worth City Council member can’t join the Texas State Guard, but a Tarrant County commissioner can. Honest, that’s the way it is under the Texas Constitution.That council member could join the National Guard or any U.S. military reserve outfit. But not the Texas State Guard. The state constitution says no one can hold more than one civic office for which they get paid.Prop 7 would change that by adding the Texas State Guard to a list of dual-office positions excepted from the constitutional rule. A better way to do this, rather than holding an election every time some exception seems like a good idea, is to scrap the list and give the Legislature the authority to make exceptions by statute. Voters could hold the Legislature responsible for bad decisions.”

Proposition 8

The constitutional amendment authorizing the state to contribute money, property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of veterans’ hospitals in this state.

As it stands now, Texas cannot contribute to a veterans’ hospital run by the federal government. This would allow the State to build more hospitals for veterans.

For:

Austin American-Statesman: “Lawmakers this year directed state agencies to work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a hospital in the Rio Grande Valley.”

Corpus Christi Caller-Times: “There is presently no clear prohibition against using state resources to help the federal government build a Veterans Administration hospital, but backers of the proposition say its passage would make it clear that such state help can be used.”

Against:

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “The Legislature also passed a law to do the same thing whether Prop 8 is approved or not. Doesn’t that make Prop 8 unnecessary?”

The Texas League of Women Voters has put together this helpful brochure in English and Spanish.

For more politics news, follow us on Twitter.

Since Joanna and Derek took the mambo competition last night, I think they’ve shown they’re in this to win. But it’s not all in their hands, is it? Tuesday, the lowest vote getter was sent home. Then, the second and third lowest vote getters had to take part in a dance-off, leaving their fates in the hands of the judges. So who were the unlucky three couples? And which two had to hang up their dancing shoes? Find out after the jump!

The show jumped right into things, but not with dancing. Taylor Swift performed “Jump Then Fall.”

A brief recap of Monday night’s performances. Then, it’s on to the first elimination. The first two couples who are safe: Joanna & Derek and Mark & Lacey.

The couples talked about the double elimination. Just about every couple was worried about going home (except Louie – he seemed confident they’d stay).

The next two couples safe are: Donny & Kym and Aaron & Karina.

Tiempo Libre performed “Tu Conga Bach.”

Time waster: the stars design the costumes. Really, it’s the costume designers guiding the stars. Let’s face it, these pros just need a spray tan and some sparkles.

The next couples safe are: Mya & Dmitry and Kelly & Louie (now that’s a birthday present, Kelly).

Louie & Chelsie, Michael & Anna and Melissa & Mark are in the bottom three.

Taylor Swift returned to sing “Love Story.”

Time waster: Olympic champions and sports champions talk about getting that elusive, perfect “10″ score.

The couple going home (AKA the lowest vote getter): Melissa & Mark. Louie & Chelsie and Michael & Anna have to take part in the dance-off, performing a dance they’ve never done on the show.

Michael & Anna are up first. They chose the samba. Michael seemed at ease, singing as he danced. His performance was actually pretty good. I’m surprised. Len said Michael has come alive the last couple of weeks. He thought it had a lot of the basic steps, but overall it was enjoyable. Bruno said it started classically and then Michael let it all hang out in the end. Carrie Ann said Michael did well on the personality part but the technique wasn’t quite there.

Louie & Chelsie chose the jive. I couldn’t tell if Louie was trying to sing along with the music or if he was counting steps. This was kind of wild. It looked like Louie lost his place a few times. Bruno said he was impressed by the amount of content the dance had. Carrie Ann said it was good, but Louie had a bit of trouble with musicality in the beginning. She wanted more content. Len said it was sharp, fast and clean. He said overall it was very well done.

Now, the judges choose who stays in the competition:

Bruno’s pick: Louie & Chelsie

Len’s pick: Michael & Anna

Carrie Ann’s pick: Michael & Anna

Next week, two more couples will be eliminated. The team dance will return and the couples will perform a new dance. See you next week!