'Dancing' up a storm

I'll say this for the "Dancing With the Stars" contestants: They always look like they're having a more fun than the "American Idol" contenders. True, the pressure is off, since this is a mid-to-late career lark, not a potential career-maker. And big smiles are only so bearable; I always find "Dancing" easier to watch when we're down to the final three or four. The early weeks feel a little too frenetic, like spending all day at a summer camp for hyperactive kids. (The judges don't help. Bruno gives me a low-grade headache.)

But what I've always appreciated about this show is how shamelessly cheesy it is, and how fearless these demi-celebrities become as they get used to sequins and satin. In the early weeks, I seem to remember Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor looking a little bit sheepish about the jazz-hands thing. Now, in the final three, he's all shimmy and grin. Even the too-cool musical guests have no choice but to give in. Take the results show a couple of weeks ago, when Def Leppard sang "Pour Some Sugar On Me" as professional dancers twirled around in pleather. It was like something out of another dimension -- weird, but undeniably entertaining.

As for tonight's penultimate show, I have to say, I was impressed with Kristi. Is she a ringer? Kinda. She certainly knows how to spin. But unlike Jason and Christian, she can't take her shirt off to appeal to female voters, so I guess things are even.