AZ-News USA: March 2016

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Ted Cruz condemns Nathan Deal's veto of 'religious liberty' bill

Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz-R-Texas addresses the crowd during a campaign stop Monday in Rothschild, Wisc. AP/Charles Rex Arbogast

Gov. Nathan Deal and his advisers must be thinking it’s a good thing they didn’t endorse Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in this month’s primary. The Republican presidential candidate, who has made advocating for “religious liberty” measures a staple of his platform, criticized Deal for his decision to reject Georgia’s latest version of the legislation. From the Washington Examiner:

“I thought that was very disappointing to see Gov. Deal of Georgia side with leftist activists and side against religious liberty,” Cruz said. “It used to be, political parties, we would argue about marginal tax rates and you could have disagreements about what the level of taxation should be. But on religious liberty, on protecting the rights of every American to practice, live according to our faith, live according to our conscience, we all came together. That ought to be a bipartisan commitment and I was disappointed not to see Governor Deal not defend religious liberty.”

Cruz’ remarks shouldn’t be a surprise. Backers of what became House Bill 757 and the Cruz campaign created something of a symbiotic relationship with each other, hoping that each would get the other across the finish line. Cruz ended up finishing third in the March 1 GOP presidential primary in Georgia, though he finished second in delegates.

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Retired neurosurgeon and former Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson also expressed his dismay, quoting the New Testament in a Facebook post:

The @RealBenCarson chides Georgia Gov. Deal for "religious liberty" bill veto. #gapol pic.twitter.com/uQW8mEfcvQ

— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) March 29, 2016

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A group of “religious liberty” proponents will assemble at the state Capitol this morning for a press conference – presumably to push the call for a special session to override Gov. Nathan Deal’s veto of HB 757. A three-fifths vote by each chamber would be required for the General Assembly to call itself into session.

But at least until May 3, it may be tough to find lawmakers willing to jump up and support an override session. That’s because the governor of Georgia has the line-item veto and can pencil out specific funding projects in the districts of rebellious members of the House and Senate.

State Sen. Josh McKoon (right), with Rep. Barry Fleming, R-Harlem. AJC file/Bob Andres, bandres@ajc.com

An early example of this hammer appears today, courtesy of Chuck Williams and the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer:

Columbus State University and the National Infantry Museum lost funding in the most recent state budget because of the divisive actions of Republican Sen. Josh McKoon, according to a senior member of the local General Assembly delegation.

“You can only stick a stick in somebody’s eye so long before enough is enough,” Rep. Richard Smith said late Monday afternoon. “They are going to give it to somebody who has been supportive.”

McKoon just finished his sixth year in the General Assembly. He has been at odds this session with Republican Speaker of House David Ralston and Gov. Nathan Deal. At one point, McKoon introduced legislation to limit the term of the speaker but pulled it when the Senate leadership asked. For the last three sessions, McKoon has been pushing religious liberty legislation. A compromised version of that effort passed the House and the Senate in the session that ended last week. Deal vetoed that bill Monday.

Well, that was fast. Gov. Nathan Deal announced his intention to veto HB 757, the “religious liberty” bill, shortly after 10 a.m. Monday. By 5 p.m., Republican congressional candidate and state Sen. Mike Crane, R-Newnan, was already fundraising off his call for a special legislative session to overturn the governor’s decision. From the email:

We cannot follow the same script as other states. The Liberal Hollywood elites are taking advantage of Georgia’s hospitality and are now trying to impose their ideology onto our residents.

I’m calling for a special session because our fight isn’t over – we have to override this veto and stand up for and fight for our Constitution.

I will not stand for liberal elites trying to hold our Christian views hostage.

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Coweta County resident Burl Finkelstein was front and center in a lengthy New York Times story Monday illustrating how Republican elites lost many of their party’s voters to presidential front-runner Donald Trump. It started with Finkelstein’s disenchantment with U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson:

“As the luncheon wound down, Mr. Isakson found himself facing a man from Coweta County. The man, Burl Finkelstein, said trade policies with Mexico and China were strangling the family-owned kitchen-parts company he helped manage, and imperiling the jobs it provided. Mr. Isakson politely brushed him off, Mr. Finkelstein recalled, as he had many times before.

So when the Georgia primary rolled around this month, Mr. Finkelstein, along with many others in his town, pulled the lever for Donald J. Trump, who made him feel that someone had finally started listening. “He gets it,” Mr. Finkelstein said in a recent interview. “We’ve sold ourselves out.”

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We suppose this could be used as an argument both for and against From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

The Ohio National Guardsmen who fired on students and antiwar protesters at Kent State University on May 4, 1970 were given an order to prepare to shoot, according to a new analysis of a 40-year-old audio tape of the event.

“Guard!” says a male voice on the recording, which two forensic audio experts enhanced and evaluated at the request of The Plain Dealer. Several seconds pass. Then, “All right, prepare to fire!”

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Todd Rehm of GeorgiaPundit.com pointed us to this over-the-top YouTube campaign pitch for Ron Daniels, who’s running for secretary of the Young Lawyers Division of the Georgia State Bar. The man’s got a future. Enjoy:

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Gainesville Republican Doug Collins announced four debates ahead of the contentious May 24 primary for the 9th District congressional seat he currently occupies, but not before taking yet another shot at challenger Paul Broun’s residency.

“I know these counties are a long ways away for Oconee County, but I would encourage former Congressman Paul Broun to make the drive,” Collins said in a statement.

Broun, who has decried Collin’s “personal attacks,” was quick to counter.

The following line was included at the bottom of a press release this morning announcing endorsements from several conservative groups:

“Dr. Paul Broun and his wife, Niki, live in Clarkesville, Georgia.”

Broun previously said he’s put his Watkinsville home, which is not located within the district’s boundaries, on the market and is looking to buy in Habersham County.

“My daddy told me a half truth is a whole lie. And the whole truth is he’s desperate to distract you from his record,” Broun said about Collins in his first radio ad, which began airing last week.

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Ever wonder what it’s like to live a day in the life of a high-powered Georgia lobbyist? Neither have we. But Atlanta magazine’s Max Blau did, and he documented Wayne Garner and Charlie Watts as they roamed the Gold Dome’s halls. Read his story here. You’ll be happy you did.

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Nathan Deal gets back-up on ‘religious liberty’ veto from unlikely source: Georgia Democrats

Someone tell the president that’s not the name of Atlanta’s airport

Nathan Deal's Craven Capitulation on Georgia's Religious-Liberty Bill By David ...

When Disney says “Jump,” Georgia governor Nathan Deal doesn’t just ask “How high?” He insults anyone who asks him to stand his ground. Today, Deal joined the GOP governors’ hall of shame — currently populated by Indiana governor Mike Pence and Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson — by bowing to corporate pressure and pledging to veto an extraordinarily narrow religious-liberty bill. Deal, in fact, makes both Pence and Hutchinson look like profiles in courage. They, after all, at least had enough conviction to sign modified, watered-down religious-freedom legislation. Deal couldn’t muster the backbone to sign even a bill that the legislature had already gutted in response to threatened corporate boycotts.

'Trailer Park Boys' Season 10 Now Streaming on Netflix

The thing with kids and growings and getting learnings and stuff is that… You can't lie to them. Basically, if you wanna tell the children they can't do something they're gonna want to do it more. When I was young I did all kinds of crazy shit and I ...

50 Best Comedy TV Shows on Netflix: Trailer Park Boys Season 10

Updated list of the 50 best comedy TV shows on Netflix to Trailer Park Boys Season 10 which was added to Netflix on March 28.

The Trailer Park Boys are back with Season 10 now on Netflix!

The series was created by Mike Clattenburg and released in 2001 and has spawned a few movies to give fans more of this criminal trio from the Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Nova Scotia. Thanks to Netflix, the series was able to reach a tenth season after they reached a deal to stream the eighth seasons and beyond exclusively on the streaming service.

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Starring in Trailer Park Boys are John Paul Tremblay, Robb Wells, Mike Smith, John Dunsworth, Patrick Roach, Tyrone Parsons, Jeanna Harrison, Sarah Dunsworth and Lucy Decoutere. Season 10 sees some special guest stars as well, including Snoop Dogg, Tom Arnold and Doug Benson, among others.

Canada’s favorite petty criminals have six new episodes in Season 10 as we pick up the new season after Ricky and Julian served an 18-month jail sentence. They’re headed back to the trailer park but a bully has taken control of the park.

Seeking a change Julian decides he’s going to enroll in community college to make a positive change in his life for once. Meanwhile, Bubbles and Ricky decide they’re going to star in J-Roc’s porno film, but when Ricky chickens out that leaves Bubbles to man up and stand in for one particularly intimate scene.

If that hasn’t teased you enough to binge-watch the new season tonight, then I don’t know what will. And this is the type of show that makes for a great binge-watch because the 23-minute episodes are so funny and move so fast that you can watch an entire season in less time than it takes to watch some movies.

More Netflix Life: 50 Best TV Comedy Shows on Netflix

So check out Trailer Park Boys Season 10 now and see where the series ranks on our list of the 50 best comedy TV shows on Netflix and see what other shows rank on the list. Do you think Trailer Park Boys should be ranked higher? Let us know in the comments section with your reasons.

Clevelanders celebrate Dyngus Day 2016 with pierogi, paczki, polka and Tyskie ...

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cold weather and rain didn't stop Clevelanders from chowing down on pierogi and chugging Polish beer on Dyngus Day.

This was the sixth and largest Cleveland celebration of Dyngus Day, the Polish holiday that marks Easter Monday and the end of Lent.

Thousands of people partied in Ohio City, Tremont, Hingetown and Gordon Square. There was polka music, along with dozens of vendors and a parade.

People munched on paczki, the Polish doughnuts stuffed with a flavored filling and covered in powdered sugar, and washed them down with Tyskie beer.

Women carried twigs and men had squirt guns, channeling the holiday's old traditions in which women whacked men with sticks and men drenched women with water as signs of affection.

Those traditions might seem a little odd now, but the twigs and water date back to the holiday's pagan roots of purification and fertility.

Krampus, the half-demon goat, was spotted around Cleveland, likely on the hunt for bad kids.

For those of you who don't know the tale, the demon follows Saint Nicholas around. While Nick gives presents to good children on Christmas, Krampus takes the naughty ones and punishes them – in ways much more terrifying than bestowing a lump of coal.

Sokolowski's University Inn was a hot spot in Tremont on Monday. The cafeteria-style restaurant was packed as soon as its doors opened at 11 a.m.

Sokolowski's, the oldest family-owned restaurant in Cleveland, was honored on Dyngus Day when Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman renamed West 13th Place as Sokolowski Way.

Check out this Snapchat video for a glimpse of some of the fun.

Dyngus Day 2016 Clevelanders celebrated Dyngus Day, a Polish holiday on Easter Monday, with big parties, a parade and tons of delicious food.

Scroll down for more Dyngus Day pictures and videos.

Buffalo Embraces the Quirky Traditions of Dyngus Day

BUFFALO, NY -- Dyngus Day in Buffalo, Perhaps in no place embraces the quirky holiday quite like the queen city. At the core of that celebration is the annual Dyngus Day parade, now in its tenth year.

“We come down here ever year. We missed a couple of people this year, Bobby D. and his wife are not here today, but we’re down here every year for Dyngus Day.”

And while the low temperatures may have kept a few spectators away, the Broadway-Fillmore area was it’s typical crowded, noisy, and energetic self for the yearly event. Parade goes had plenty to talk about:

“It’s the first day I’ve ever celebrated it and I’ve got to say that Polish people are pretty fun, pretty crazy.”

“Especially right here we’ve got a lot of Polish people around here, we’ve got Sobieski, the Broadway Market, everything else. It’s tradition.”

Tradition, just like pussy willows and squirt guns. At Polish Falcons Nest 6 in Cheektowaga where the party rolls on into the night, music, food, and plenty of krupnik flows freely despite a shortage of the beverage that put a scare into the celebrating populace. The main reason Dyngus Day brings out scores of Buffalonians and Western New Yorkers every year seems to be something a little more universal: each other.

“Dyngas Day in Buffalo is all the Polish people, all the friends, all the neighbors," says Gary Sieczkarek, who runs Nest 6. "It’s like having an Easter dinner or an Easter breakfast that you have on Easter. The whole family gets together.”

“It’s everybody getting together. Friends, family," Tami Kries added.

And yes, a little mischievousness.

“In Poland, it’s more of a kids holiday so I guess in a way it brings out the kid in all of us.”

Mets now admit just how terrified Matt Harvey had them

PORT ST. LUCIE — Matt Harvey is so relieved and so are the Mets.

With word Tuesday morning that Harvey’s bladder problems have passed and he will make the Opening Night start against the Royals on Sunday, the Mets can get down to serious business.

Just in time.

This has been a disjointed spring training, but the bottom line is the Mets will come out of it with their monster rotation intact and healthy and that is most important.

There was genuine concern for Harvey in the clubhouse.

“I’m so pumped,’’ catcher Travis d’Arnaud told The Post on Tuesday at Tradition Field. “To know Matt is pitching Sunday means so much. He’s such a great person and such a great teammate and such a great friend. There are so many things that he is on and off the field. He means so much to this team.

“I was very concerned. That situation had never come up with me before where someone came up with a non-baseball injury. I was pretty scared. Fortunately, it was just him having to take a couple of more pees.’’

Harvey with Travis d’Arnaud last season Photo: Charles Wenzelberg

Yes, there is a whole new meaning to being a No. 1 starter now and when d’Arnaud puts down one finger for the Harvey fastball.

“It started with a urine infection and it created a blood clot in the bladder,’’ Harvey explained to reporters in the third-base dugout. “I guess the main issue is I hold my urine in for too long instead of peeing regularly.’’

There you go.

“I’m expecting big things from Matt,’’ d’Arnaud said. “And now we don’t have to make any crazy adjustments in the rotation.’’

Harvey admitted he was scared.

“I didn’t really know what was going on,’’ Harvey said. “Just trying to figure out what was going on and obviously people didn’t know what was going on, so, reading some pretty nasty things about what might it might be, isn’t very nice, but I’m glad we figured it out.’’

Harvey celebrated his 27th birthday Sunday. It wasn’t a great celebration.

“I was having trouble using the restroom, and any time there is discoloration in your urine, it’s not a great feeling, so I didn’t know what was going on with my stomach,” Harvey said. “It was pretty painful. Everything feels great now, I feel relieved that everything is good to go. I’m just happy to be looking up on my 27th birthday.’’

Now, the Mets don’t have to figure out a new rotation plan. Pitching coach Dan Warthen does not have to go to Plan B.

“All our pitchers are leaving here healthy,’’ Warthen said. “Sometimes you have a little scare and you re-evaluate everything and say, ‘I’ve got a lot of living to do and I have to do it right.’ ’’

Harvey needs to be strong right from the start this season. One of manager Terry Collins’ greatest concerns is getting off to a good start like the Mets did in 2015. That created some breathing room. The Mets will go as far as this monster rotation takes them.

David Wright kept close tabs on Harvey the last few days.

“The most important thing on a friendship level is that you want to make sure the person is OK. If he’s OK, you move on to baseball,’’ Wright told The Post. “You can’t just treat this game as a business. People’s health is the No. 1 thing. What kept me going last year was when I was away from the team so long, guys were checking in on me, that kept me motivated. I think there is a lot to be said for the care and the relationships side of it.

“When you have the type of relationships that we have in here, you are a lot more willing to go out there and play unselfish baseball. If you are invested emotionally in the person to your left and to your right, you are going to play a little differently over the course of the season.’’

Harvey is ready. We will soon see if the Mets are ready to follow their pitching leader. All systems go.

Mets' Matt Harvey Is Treated for Blood Clot in Bladder

Matt Harvey, who last pitched Thursday against the Astros, will not start Tuesday’s game. Credit Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Pitcher Matt Harvey walked into the Mets’ clubhouse here Tuesday morning, his head held high, as if nothing were wrong. The Mets had announced the day before that he was dealing with an unspecified, non-baseball-related ailment, and now the only physical sign that something had been amiss was the red hospital band around his wrist.

Harvey met with the news media and explained that he had had a blood clot in his bladder, that he passed it Monday and that he had undergone a minor procedure Tuesday to check out the bladder just in case. “I’m cleared to go,” he said.

The plan now, Harvey said, was to do light activity Tuesday and throw a few innings Wednesday, setting him up to make the Mets’ opening day start Sunday at Kansas City.

A few days ago, Harvey’s making that start seemed to be in doubt, when he noticed discoloration in his urine. “I didn’t really know what was going on,” he said. “I was having trouble using the restroom. Obviously any time there is, you know, discoloration in your urine, it’s not a great feeling. I didn’t know what was going on with my stomach.”

Doctors told him he had developed a bladder infection, which led to the clot.

“I guess the main issue is I hold my urine in for too long, instead of peeing regularly,” Harvey said, drawing laughter from reporters. “I have to retrain my bladder to use the restroom a little bit more, instead of holding it in. That’s what caused the bladder infection.”

Because the Mets had been so vague about Harvey’s condition, fans on social media in the last day or so had made crude remarks, trying to speculate what his ailment might be. Harvey scrolled through the notes, presumably out of curiosity. “Reading some pretty nasty thing about what might it be wasn’t very nice,” he said. “But I’m glad we figured it out.”

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'Dancing With the Stars' Season 22, Episode 2 Recap: President Geraldo Trump?

Lisa Reynolds

Mar 28, 2016 11:01 pm ET

0 COMMENTS

Journalist Geraldo Rivera’s next assignment? Searching for some dance skills.

The Fox News reporter showed zero rhythm and movement in last week’s cha-cha – even he admitted his dance “sucked” – and so he and partner Edyta Sliwinska became the first couple eliminated on the 22^nd season of “Dancing with the Stars.” Geraldo and Edyta were at the bottom of the leaderboard after a dance that was so bad, the judges broke out the rarely seen 4 paddles. So much for Edyta’s return to “DWTS” for the first time since season 10.

Joining Geraldo and Edyta in awaiting their fate until the end were Mischa Barton and Artem Chigvintsev and Doug Flutie and Karina Smirnoff.

Oh, yes, it’s Latin Night, and the feeling’s right – or at least the couples hope the feeling’s right as they paso, cha-cha, salsa and rumba on this week’s edition of “DWTS.” The second week often is a more-telling indicator of a star’s trajectory because first-week jitters disappear … but so does extensive rehearsal time. Who’s a flash in the pan, and who has the right stuff to go the distance?

Jodie Sweetin and Keo Motsepe, samba, “Bun Up the Dance”

Jodie is first to dance and first to discuss the pressure of learning a routine in only four days. She emerges from flames and plays to the camera more naturally than she did last week. She’s surrounded by female Troupe members in what resembles a Mandy Moore-choreographed show opener. Where is her partner? Ah, Keo: He’s flashy and fast, which pulls focus from Jodie. She can’t keep up, especially when they’re next to each other. Still, Jodie’s moving those hips and feet nonstop. Len Goodman likes the recognizable steps. Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba see Jodie still tensing up. Score: 21 (7s from each judge).

Marla Maples and Tony Dovolani, Argentine tango, “Don’t”

“Marla leads a very healthy, spiritual life,” Tony says during the rehearsal package, which focuses on her clean diet, meditation and yoga. She demonstrates the flexibility yoga provides with some amazing lunges and lines that give the Argentine tango a sultry, moody vibe. Marla and Tony handle the lifts with the ease of a couple who has danced together for months instead of weeks. They seem to stay close to the chair, though; it would have been nice to see them use the floor more. Bruno swoons but demonstrates how he also wants Marla to be down and dirty. “He wants us on cable,” host Tom Bergeron says. Carrie Ann disagrees, applauding the different, elegant take on the dance. Len needs more intimacy. Score: 20 (7/6/7).

Geraldo Rivera and Edyta Sliwinska, salsa, “Ran Kan Kan”

In a parody of a President Trump, Marla’s ex-husband, as played by Geraldo, interrupts a call with Vladimir Putin to salsa with Melania (Edyta). While he’s dancing a little more than last week, “little” is a relative term. He turns here and there, and he shuffles his hips from side to side when he’s next to Edyta. She covers for him a lot, especially when the camera pulls in on them. In the skybox, Marla is golf-clapping and looking away. Carrie Ann says Geraldo didn’t make dance great again, but he did make her laugh. Len sends us to the dictionary with the term “trumpery.” (It means showy but worthless.) Bruno: “impressive, for all the wrong reasons.” Score: 13 (5/4/4).

Paige Van Zant and Mark Ballas Alan Bersten, salsa, “Danza Kurdodo”

A back injury at Sunday’s camera blocking left Mark on the sidelines for Monday’s show, so Troupe member Alan replaces him. Paige and Alan look as if they’re running in place sometimes. They’re frantic and excited and energetic, and in her enthusiasm, she occasionally gets ahead of the music. Bruno and Carrie Ann spot it, too. The dance ends with a lift that skates this side of raunchy but still looks strong. Paige and Alan came together on two hours’ notice, Tom reveals. Amazing: You’d never know Alan and Paige don’t dance together regularly. Len declares it the best dance of the season thus far. Backstage, Mark tells co-host Erin Andrews he’s had an MRI and has a bone scan and CT scan Tuesday. Score: 24 (3 8s).

Antonio Brown and Sharna Burgess, rumba, “Adorn”

Sharna coaches Antonio to invade her personal space even though they’ve known each other for just a couple of weeks. Ew, “DWTS,” please don’t go showmance here – but given the talk of chemistry, it seems we are. Antonio strokes and rubs and touches his partner, but the dancing content itself is lacking. He needs to move nonstop and to lead Sharna, which he isn’t doing. Grinning and gazing aren’t enough. Is there a lift? (Yes, Lift Officer Carrie Ann confirms.) The judges want to see more technique and fluidity next week. Score: 19 (6/6/7).

Kim Fields and Sasha Farber, salsa, “Conga”

Kim cries when Sasha says she can’t get the turns right. She’s back to last week’s giddiness, though, when her inspiration, Gloria Estefan, Skypes with her. Kim and Sasha are really working together on these turns and the footwork. Kim represents what “DWTS” is about, a burgeoning celebrity dancer who needs refinement. She practically flops to the floor for the final move – ah, because her foot got stuck. Len sees great promise despite the mistake, especially for week 2. Carrie Ann praises Kim’s “Tina Turner legs, with Beyonce on top.” Score: 19 (7/6/6). Ooh, Kim teases next week’s most-memorable-year tribute to “The Facts of Life.”

Nyle DiMarco and Peta Murgatroyd, rumba, “Stole the Show”

Last week’s Internet sensation – the deaf model was trending on Twitter, and his cha-cha had 2.2 million views on the “DWTS” Facebook page as of this afternoon – is being pushed to new levels now that people see he can dance. This is such a contrast with the Antonio/Sharna rumba because Nyle flows and stretches throughout, dancing with Peta instead of pawing at her. However, it would be OK to slow down a little. Nyle and Peta end oddly, after the music – did he miss a cue? Grumpy Len spots a “massive” lift and says the dance has too much attack. Bruno needs Nyle to finish his moves so his lines don’t stop at the hand. Score: 20 (7/6/7).

Mischa Barton and Artem Chigvintsev, cha-cha, “Pata Pata”

Mischa lacks confidence after last week’s Len takedown, and she’s testy all week with Artem. This is one unflattering package, featuring a distracted, disengaged celebrity. When it counts, Mischa smiles and attempts to get into character, an improvement from last week. Artem is smart to keep the choreography simple, with a lot of basic steps. She makes tight, tiny movements that often are off time. Mischa tells Tom and Erin she was thrown off with the live band. Bruno says the cha-cha didn’t fit with the music. Carrie Ann and Erin are playing life coach again to a woman who, frankly, needs an attitude adjustment more than gentle uplifting. Score: 15 (3 5s).

Von Miller and Witney Carson, cha-cha, “Ain’t Too Cool”

“Barbie Drill Sergeant” Witney charges Von $100 for every minute he’s late to rehearsal and then $100 more for other infractions. (The money goes to a good cause, the Skin Cancer Foundation.) The height discrepancy isn’t as bothersome this week because they don’t have to be in hold. The dancing is just OK: It has its moments, but Von looks too casual. He doesn’t nail his moves, practically shrugging in spots. Bruno thinks Von’s personality is taking over, and the cha-cha content is missing. Score: 20 (7/6/7).

Wanya Morris and Lindsay Arnold, salsa, “Echa Pa’lla”

Wanya balances Boyz II Men touring with salsa rehearsal around the country. “I’m going to bring my A game. I’m going to bring the whole alphabet.” Wanya may be our quip man of the season. He also may be one of our finalists: This is the most fun, content-filled number of the night. As with last week’s cha-cha, he’s remarkably light on feet. He’s really leading Lindsay and throwing her around, and she doesn’t use a crowd scene as an excuse to go light on content as other pros have done. Wanya’s solo shimmy toward the end evokes a music-video move from the 1990s, “Go for it, man!” Bruno yells. Score: 24 (8/8/8).

Doug Flutie and Karina Smirnoff, paso doble, “Buster Voodoo”

Once again, Doug and Karina play on his underdog, fighter persona. His dancer daughter stops by rehearsal, as does his son, who is fighting against autism. Doug rages and battles in this dance. He makes an impressive, almost balletic leap, and his arms are defined and strong. It’s recognizable, basic paso done well. Gone is the happy-go-lucky guy from last week. He has stompy moments, but in all, this is a huge improvement. The judges say the same and appreciate the attempts at more-complicated moves. Score: 20 (7/6/7).

Ginger Zee and Val Chmerkovskiy, samba, “Sorry”

Ginger giggles at the idea of sexy and swag and “getting her flirt on” now that she’s married and a new mom. Ginger and Val take a while to get into the samba, play-acting on a bench. The whole dance feels solid but choppy, which is a criticism of Val’s choreography. It has spins and pretty side-by-side moves, and it’s a sweet little number. Samba shouldn’t be sweet, though. It also features a mid-dance slip-up when Ginger gets tangled in her feet, which she covers nicely. Bruno says she brings on the feel-good factor. Score: 21 (three 7s).

Readers, were you surprised by this week’s elimination? Are you interested in any of the footballers? (I’m bored.) Whose storyline will choke you up the most next week? Leave your thoughts on these and other matters below.

Finally, this marks my last “DWTS” recap for Speakeasy, as family matters require more of my time. It’s been a joy to write about judging, dancing, pros (sigh, Tristan!) and celebrities for the past four and a half years. Thank you so much for reading. We’ll be back in May for a finale live blog. Do stop by then!

Week 2 of 'Dancing with the Stars' brings Season 22's first elimination

kabc

By George Pennacchio and Cari Skillman

Tuesday, March 29, 2016 04:11AM

LOS ANGELES --

It's a night of fiery performances with the rumba, samba, salsa and more: Season 22's 12 couples Cha-Cha into Latin Night on "Dancing with the Stars." Two stars tie for first place; one dancer is placed on the disabled list for the time being; and head judge Len Goodman schools us on a new word! Get out your dictionary and let's dance!

Here's a recap of round two from highest to lowest score:

Paige VanZant- 24 out of 30
Mark Ballas gets through several days of rehearsals with Paige and she is nervous about the lifts that he's put into their salsa. He promises her he's never dropped a partner. Maybe he jinxed things? He didn't drop her in Sunday's rehearsal, but now he's the one down for the count. Slipped disc? Pinched nerve? Either way a big ouch! Troupe member Alan bravely steps in on only a few hours' notice and proves to be a perfect pinch hitter. And there was no trouble with the lifts! Len praised Mark's choreography and applauded Alan for being a team player; he also said this was the best dance he's seen this season. (OK we're only two weeks in!) Bruno Tonioli thought the dance was filled with power and energy, but also had an ease of moment; Carrie Ann Inaba said they destroyed the number and it made her want to get up and dance!

Wanya Morris- 24 out of 30
The Boyz II Men singer takes Lindsay Arnold out on the road on tour and they seem to rehearse all across the country. But this is one determined guy! He said he set the bar high and he plans to not just bring his "A" game, he plans to bring the whole alphabet! Their salsa is fantastic, with Len praising their energy, excitement, and rhythm. Bruno encouraged Wanya to continue to "go for it" and Carrie Ann called him the king of the ballroom!

Jodie Sweetin- 21 out of 30
Jodie was "full" of disappointment after receiving a 6 score from Len during week one. She's putting a lot of pressure on herself for the samba. Rehearsal footage showed her really getting into the theme and character, then covering her eyes and feeling shy and awkward. Jodie had a little meltdown, and apologized to partner Keo Motsepe for her tears and frustration. He wisely told her it's just a waste of energy. She seemed much more focused for the performance, with both Bruno and Carrie Ann advising her to not overthink things and enjoy dancing in the moment. Len commended Keo for his well-rounded choreography.

Ginger Zee- 21 out of 30
Ginger's used to live television as she does it every morning! But the Good Morning America meteorologist was surprised how much she felt at home on the stage during week one. Her pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy has a mission this week: help the cute and sweet Ginger find her inner "swag" so she can pull off a sexy salsa. She knows it's in her somewhere, she's just been a working wife and now mother and said she "buried" her flirtation factor. Carrie Ann applauded her for owning her own unique beauty; Bruno thought the dance had great content, but was hindered by a couple of foot faults, and Len was happy to see his own personal "demand" to put real recognizable steps into the routine was met with plenty of "supply" by Val's choreography.

Nyle DiMarco- 20 out of 30
Nyle wants to prove his first dance wasn't a fluke and he's in it to win it. He called week one's live performance the most memorable experience of his life. Nyle wants to keep up the momentum, keep working hard, and lets us know he won't be playing the sympathy card. Peta Murgatroyd sees his potential and says she will help push him as much as she can with her choreography. In a sweet moment at rehearsal, his mom, who is also deaf, gives her seal of approval for their rumba. However, the judges were all a bit disappointed. There was a lift, and both Len and Carrie Ann called them out on it. Len also told him to calm down! Host Tom Bergeron asked the question we all want to know: How they do this when Nyle is completely deaf? Peta revealed she has some tricks that include a scratch on the back or a squeeze of the hand.

Marla Maples- 20 out of 30
The seduction and sexiness of the Argentine tango comes to the ballroom via Marla and Tony Dovolani. She said it's pushing her out of her comfort zone, but in a good way. There's a bit of comic relief in rehearsals as Tony introduces us to Marla's super healthy (or according to Tony, hippie) ways. Whatever it is, it's working. Bruno tells her he likes what he's seeing, but feels she's holding back just a bit. He said if you've got it, flaunt it!

Von Miller- 20 out of 30
The skin cancer foundation is thrilled with Von's schedule. He promised Witney Carson that he'd give her $100 for every minute he was late to rehearsal. She's also fining him for some other rather inappropriate behavior during rehearsal. (Alright he farts a lot.) Carrie Ann wants the big man to own the dance floor; she thinks he's dancing too small; and Bruno thought the Cha Cha was lost in translation; he drowned it with his personality.

Doug Flutie- 20 out of 30
Most improved player of the week easily goes to Doug. Karina Smirnoff choreographed a fairly straight forward pasodoble and he attacked it. His daughter, who is a dancer, stopped by rehearsal and gave her father some encouraging words. The judges were thrilled with his progress.

PHOTOS: Celebs heat up ballroom floor during Latin Night on "Dancing With The Stars"

Kim Fields- 19 out of 30
Kim's overjoyed that her salsa will be done to a Gloria Estefan song because she's a huge fan. Just like Jodie, Kim hit the level of frustration tears during rehearsal. So to make her feel a little better, Sasha Farber got Gloria on the computer for a little Skype motivational session. It worked! Kim lost her footing just a bit in the dance, but the judges praised her ability to let us know she's having a good time. Carrie Ann told Kim she has Tina Turner's legs and Beyonce's energy!

Antonio Brown - 19 out of 30
We're sure the football star's never had a coach teach him the kind of things Sharna Burgess did this week. The dance pro told him he needed to invade her personal space and "be all up in it" to do the proper rumba. He was a little embarrassed, as the two have only known each other for about two weeks. But AB also had a big smile on his face during most of rehearsal and then again in the performance. All three judges feel Antonio has what it takes to be a dancer, he just needs to commit.

Mischa Barton- 15 out of 30
She needs to shake that chip off her shoulder from Len's comment during week one. He said she was walking, not dancing. Yes, a little harsh, but you've got to move on! Her partner Artem looks frustrated with her lack of commitment and says he can't make her want to do it. All three judges appreciated the fact that she tried (a little) and did improve from week one. Bruno thought there was some Cha Cha in the routine, it just wasn't to the music. And Carrie Ann tried to keep things positive by telling Mischa everyone just wants to lift her up.

Geraldo Rivera- 13 out of 30
The Fox newsman and his partner Edyta Sliwinska came into this week in last place with the judges so they knew they needed to do something. Geraldo can't dance. So they went for some laughs, and he channeled Donald Trump, bad wig and all, while fumbling through the salsa. Carrie Ann said there wasn't much of a dance, but it did entertain and make her laugh; Bruno praised his bravado, but questioned whether or not there was any content in the routine; and Len introduced us to the word "trumpery." Of course we Googled it. It means "attractive article of little value or use" or "showy but worthless." Ouch.

*SPOILER ALERT*
When it came time for the first elimination, Tom and Erin Andrews let us know that there were three couples in jeopardy: Doug and Karina, Mischa and Artem, Geraldo and Edyta.

And the unlucky first-to-be voted off for season 22: Geraldo and Edyta.

Eleven couples return next week to tell us about "their favorite year."

Related Topics:
entertainment dancing with the stars dance ballroom dancing ABC reality television television

The 5 most adorable moments in the 'Supergirl'/'Flash' crossover episode

Who wins in a race between the Woman of Steel and the Fastest Man Alive? Every single one of us.

When we heard that Barry Allen/The Flash (Grant Gustin) would be speeding his way to National City for a crossover episode with Supergirl, we were overjoyed. But nothing could quite prepare us for the fantastic and endlessly enjoyable "World's Finest," the big episode that aired on CBS Monday night (THIS is why we love multiple superheroes together, kids).

In an episode that was making us squeal nearly the entire time, we picked out the five most adorable moments. You're welcome.

1. Everything Kara and Barry

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Melissa Benoist is Supergirl and Grant Gustin guest-stars as the Flash in an exclusive clip from the March 28 episode of CBS' "Supergirl." Warner Bros. TV

Gustin is a charming actor, and he has really great chemistry with the other characters on The Flash and on Arrow when those two shows crossover. But there is no denying that there is something positively electric about seeing Gustin and Melissa Benoist (Kara/Supergirl) sharing a screen. They need only to shake hands or to smile at each other for the sparks to fly. When they actually started flirting our hearts could barely take it.

2. The ice cream

This. Gif. Is. Perfect. Kara's reaction to getting surprise super-speed ice cream is the stuff that dreams are made of.

3. The in-jokes

A joke about the attractive casts of CW shows? Name drops of Green Arrow and Black Canary? Meta-jokes about meta-humans? It was so refreshing that the episode had a little fun with itself.

4. James Olsen, jealous-type

Who knew James Olsen had this much of a jealous streak? When Barry speeds into town and basically sweeps Kara up off her super-powered feet, the photographer just couldn't quite handle it. Mehcad Brooks was making some devastating facial expressions throughout the episode, only endearing us to their coupling even more. Barry's visit was all worth it, since it led up to his and Kara's big kiss. Unfortunately, there's some mind control getting in between the two of them (again!). Sigh.

5. The race

This is what we were all waiting for, right? The Fastest Man Alive versus the Woman of Steel? And unlike a certain DC Comics movie featuring two superheroes in a versus situation that will remain nameless, the race was entirely fun and games.

The only thing that was missing from the episode? A musical number! These two are both Glee alums, we'll remind you. Oh well, we'll just save for next time.

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's ... Supergirl and The Flash on the same show! Fans are getting a special treat when Grant Gustin brings his speedster to an episode of 'Supergirl' on March 28 to hang with Melissa Benoist. Scroll through these first-look photos at the episode to tide yourselves over. CBS

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CBS says that Barry is visiting National City from a different universe (as happens in comic books shows). But clearly these two are getting along right away. CBS

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