Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains - Russell still rules (spoiler alert)

(Parvati Shallow and Amanda Kimmel in a CBS photo) 

So much for the theory that it was time for the women to turn the tables in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.

Crafty Russell Hantz was still calling the shots when Thursday's episode ended, having recruited the vulnerable Candice to the Villains' side, which was enough leverage to get Sandra to abandon her plan to take revenge on Russell. With Candice's help, Russell's alliance voted out Amanda.

And what looked like a schism between "King" Russell and his queen, Parvati, when it was teased last week, turned out to be just a lovers' spat.

Sure, Russell was angry that Parvati had hidden an immunity idol from him.

"You didn't tell me anything about it when I saved your ass," he fumed.

"Oh, chill out," retorted Parvati.

Later, she told the camera: "Russell wants to be in control because he thinks he's the godfather of this game. Having me have an idol he didn't know about makes him feel like he's not in control and scared a little bit, but that's kind of what I wanted anyway."

Russell didn't waste too much time brooding over Parvati and her idols, however, but got down to business grooming Candice, who was tripping over herself to compliment him and the Villains on their tribal council blindside, when Parvati's playing of two hidden immunity idols led to J.T.'s ouster.

"That was a good one. I'm impressed," she enthused.

"Right now the ship is sinking and you know that. Somebody, one person has to jump and that one person is going to be very crucial to what happens later on in the game," coaxed Russell.

Ammunition for his campaign was provided by Danielle after the reward challenge.

In a game of shuffleboard, the blue team of Danielle, Amanda and Colby won the reward: a night in Robert Louis Stevenson's former mansion (the author is buried in Samoa, host Jeff Probst told them).

There, in a bedroom of the stately home, where the trio ate popcorn and watched a DVD of Treasure Island, we had a mini-Survivor girl fight after Danielle found a clue to a hidden immunity idol in a bowl of popcorn and a suspicious Amanda scooped it from where Danielle had dropped it next to the bed.

Colby, looking annoyed that his movie-watching had been interrupted by Danielle chasing Amanda around the bed and trying to wrestle the clue away from her, didn't have the gumption to back his former Hero tribemate, telling Amanda to give the clue back to Danielle.

Danielle shared it with Russell and Parvati back at camp and, in a bit of payback, Russell got to the idol before Danielle did and concealed it from her and Parvati.

He used it to seal the deal with Candice, showing it to her to gain her trust.

"I'm not sure that I trust Russell 100 per cent, but it's a big thing that he showed me the hidden immunity idol," Candice told the camera.

Meanwhile, the former Heroes, unaware of Candice's treachery or that Russell had an immunity idol, were plotting with Sandra to get rid of him.

Rupert declared Russell "a piece of garbage" while Sandra was out for revenge. "This is for Courtney, Boston Rob and even Coach, who I don't care about, but I'll stick him in there, too," she said.

Of course, Candice tattled to Russell that the Heroes were after him and ratted out Sandra, as well.

But even after Sandra delivered that news, the gullible Heroes refused to concede that Candice had turned on them.

They did at least one thing right: assuming that Russell would get possession of the immunity idol, they switched their vote to Parvati just before tribal council, too late for Candice to warn the Villains.

But it was all for naught. Even had Sandra stuck to her guns and stuck with the Heroes, Candice's vote combined with those of Russell, Parvati, Danielle and Jerri had them outnumbered. And it was clear to Sandra after she made a last-ditch attempt to sway Candice before the vote which way the wind was blowing (or should we say rain, since there was an awful lot of it this episode).

But Russell was still uncertain enough to play the immunity idol, needlessly as it turned out (Parvati rolled her eyes and mouthed the words "You wasted one"). The Heroes at least had the satisfaction of seeing Russell and Parvati rattled at her name being written down, but it was Amanda whose torch got snuffed.

"Okay Jeff, I know you've been waiting forever to do this," Amanda laughed, walking off without any farewells to her tribemates. 

Afterwards, she repented not keeping the clue to the idol that she'd swiped from Danielle but confided, "I think the rest of the game is going to be absolutely crazy and I'm kind of glad I'm not a part of it, to be honest."

Next week, according to the promos, we're in for more tension between Russell and Parvati. The show airs Thursday at 8 p.m. on Global.

American Idol: Siobhan's heart rests well

Siobhan Magnus, triple threat?   

Why not? The 19-year-old from Cape Cod, Mass., who was voted off American Idol Wednesday night, told the media during a conference call Thursday she'd like to make a record, do Broadway-style musical theatre and also appear in a film, preferably "a wicked, gory kind of horror film with all the (props) and the special effects makeup I'm so fascinated by."

Leave it to Siobhan to aspire to something beyond the usual making-a-CD goal of Idol cast-offs.

The wise-beyond-her-years thoughtfulness and independence that Siobhan displayed on the show were in evidence during the conference call. She gave lengthy, detailed answers to most questions.

Like why she enjoys her job as an apprentice glassblower (Reader's Digest version: "You learn so much every day. It's all chemistry, it's all science, but it's happening in your hands") or where her famed high note came from ("I'm pretty sure I figured out how to do that in the shower in high school one night. I'm an avid shower singer much to the dismay of my family and my neighbours").

All you really need to know is that Siobhan is by no means done making an impression on America.

"This is the end of one thing and the beginning of a new thing," she said. "I have so many big ideas and things I hope to come in the future that I probably wouldn't have had the chance to do without this experience."

Like the aforementioned horror film appearance and musical theatre.

"I've had a lot of experience in different kinds of theatre, musicals and Shakespeare, and I love acting. I do aspire someday to be in something like Phantom of the Opera or Jesus Christ Superstar, like any kind of opera or Broadway-type musical because I love acting and singing, and the two of them together is just so much fun." 

Siobhan would also like to collaborate on a project with her brothers and sisters, who she said are all very artistic. She said her oldest brother, Rory, is an extremely talented filmmaker and she'd love to be in one of his films.

"We could all come together and create a Magnus work of art."

Beyond her own career dreams, Siobhan would also like to be a role model to younger girls.

"I've always been an independent person and a different kind of person, very stubborn and strong-willed, and it's important to me to get that across, that I'm not going to change to please other people," she said. "I do what I do because it rests well on my heart and who I am....

"I couldn't ask for anything better than receiving letters from young girls who said to me, 'You know, I get made fun of at school because I'm different, but watching you has helped me accept the fact that it's okay and it's a good thing to be who I am and not back down just because other people intimidate me.' ...

"I've achieved something that has been goal of mine, to be able to influence the lives, especially of young girls, in a positive way and just to show them that who you are on the inside is a beautiful thing and you shouldn't let anyone take that away from you."

And speaking of role models, Siobhan expanded on her opinion of Adam Lambert, the Season 8 contestant who she's been compared to and who mentored the Season 9 Idols earlier this season.

"It was wicked flattering being compared to him," she said. "I just respect him so much for his individuality and his confidence, and his stage presence is just tremendous. It's undeniable that he was born to do what he's doing."

The fact Adam had been a contestant enhanced his mentoring, she added. "The things he said were so dead on. I just tried to absorb every single thing he said, every moment that I had with him ... and he was such a kind person that he made it that much easier and less scary."

Siobhan had good things to say about her fellow contestants, too. She mentioned the struggles of Crystal Bowersox and Michael Lynche being away from their children; her respect for Aaron Kelly enduring the Idol experience at his young age and for Casey James "not putting down his guitar because that's who is"; and she praised Lee DeWyze, who she's particularly close to, as a brilliant musician.

"They're all just so ambitious and strong and intelligent, and I adore them all."

Siobhan also thanked her fans, all the "Siobhan-bons" and "Siobhan-bies," and even the naysayers for making her fight harder to get as far as she did on Idol. 

"It's been a wild ride and it's not over; it's just a new chapter.

"I hope to take this as an opportunity to think about what's next for me, which hopefully is going to be an array of things, from theatre to film to recording, to performing all over the place for whoever wants to hear me scream."

(Tune in next week and watch the top five perform Tuesday at 8 p.m. on CTV. Then check here for the recap, and comment, comment, comment.)

Glee soundtrack tops album chart

(The girls of Glee perform "Express Yourself" on "The Power of Madonna" episode/Fox photo by Michael Yarish) 

Billboard says the soundtrack of last week's Madonna episode of Glee was No. 1 on the U.S. album chart on Wednesday. 

This is the third album from the series but only the first to hit No. 1. Glee Season One: The Music Volume 1 peaked at No. 4 last November while Volume 2 peaked at No. 3 the following month.

The Power of Madonna CD contains the seven songs sung by the cast on the episode and is the first TV soundtrack to grab top spot since High School Musical 2 in September 2007, Billboard says.

Katie Holmes as Jackie Kennedy

Note to readers: The Star is undergoing a big newsroom reorganization right now, involving not only a new computer system but changing jobs and the way people do those jobs. The only reason I'm telling you this is because Hot Box, a column of TV news items that usually appears in the Entertainment section Monday to Friday, is currently on hiatus. In an effort to fill the gap, I will be posting items here that have nothing to do with reality TV but which are things I think readers should know about, like this: 

Casting has been announced for The Kennedys, an eight-part series that is being co-produced by Canada's own History Television along with AETN and History in the U.S.   

And yes, you read that right: Katie Holmes, the former Dawson's Creek star who is better known these days as Mrs. Tom Cruise, will play first lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

Also starring: Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine) as John F. Kennedy, Canadian actor Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan) as Robert Kennedy and British actor Tom Wilkinson (The Full Monty, John Adams on TV and tons of other stuff) as Joe Kennedy Sr.

History Television says shooting will begin in June around the Greater Toronto Area and continue until September.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains - J.T. holds his head up

 (J.T. gets his torch snuffed on Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains/CBS photo)

It's a move that some have called one of the dumbest in Survivor history, but James "J.T." Thomas isn't apologizing.

"I'm not really disappointed. I made a big move and I hoped it would get me to the end of the game," he said on the phone this week about giving a hidden immunity idol to Russell Hantz.

And despite footage that made it look like J.T. had swallowed Russell's fish tale hook, line and sinker, "We knew Russell wasn't with us after spending the first night of the merge with him," J.T. said.

"We tried to switch it up and try to use him."

J.T. says there's no way the Villains could have known the Heroes were going to vote for Jerri. And he also doesn't believe that Parvati pulled off her double blindside without some inside information.

"There's no way she's gonna be able to do that. All the conversations between her and Amanda were very odd."

As far as Russell goes, J.T. says there are no hard feelings.

"Russell's getting played as bad as anybody out there right now by Parvati," he said. "She's got him wrapped around her finger."

To J.T., it looks like that women's alliance -- the one he believed endangered Russell on the Villains tribe, leading him to hand off his idol -- is finally taking hold on the merged Yin Yang tribe.

"Parvati probably has all intention of playing a women's game into the merge."

When it comes right down to it, J.T. figures the odds were against him lasting more than a few days on Heroes vs. Villains after winning Survivor: Tocantins.

"I was very popular for being a nice guy. I assumed there would be people coming after me from Day 1. To be there 29 days and never have my name written down until 29 days into my second season, I think I did okay." (Actually, it was only 26 or 27, but same difference.)

J.T. says the physical part of this game was much easier than last time, "more of a breeze," but the mental part was harder.

The constant strategizing reduced the tribe mates' boredom, but it also made it impossible to relax.

"There's so much negative stuff going on at all times, which is tough," he said. "This one, everybody is so cutthroat. You don't have anyone you can count on."

Not that J.T. doesn't love the game as much as ever. 

Bear in mind, the Alabama cattle rancher, who turns 26 in June, has been a fan of Survivor since it went on the air 10 years ago. He only missed two seasons due to college and playing sports.

He was excited to get to meet players like Tom, James, Rupert and Colby after watching them TV. And he was dying to meet Boston Rob but never got the chance. "He was one of my favourites of all time, him and Tom."

One player who didn't live up to his expectations was Rupert. 

"Rupert disappointed me as far as coolness and thoughtfulness," J.T. said.

For the first 25 days, all Rupert talked about was "stories and things of how Rupert was so great ... We kind of lost our faith in Rupert," he said, which explains why his Hero tribe mates were reluctant to trust Rupert when he delivered Sandra's warning about Russell.

But you won't catch J.T. letting his Survivor experience go to his head.

He says he loves what he does, which is managing a Black Angus cattle ranch in Mobile, Alabama.

"My day's feeding cows, get on a horse ... it's a guy's dream."

He makes a decent living and the money he won in Tocantins helped set him up for retirement, he says, while the confidence he gained playing the game helped him with his business goals.

It also "really made me realize how fortunate I am to have a good family and remain close to them. The time away from them was really tough."

He just wishes he hadn't disappointed some of his hometown fans.

"A lot of people around here just wanted me to win. That's all they had in mind. I feel like I let some people down," he said.

"Those people don't understand: I'd never seen Russell play." 

(You can watch Russell and everybody else play tonight at 8 on Global TV.)

American Idol: Exit quirk stage left (spoiler alert)

I think it's time to declare the Year of the Girl on American Idol a bust.

Sure, Crystal Bowersox still stands an excellent chance of winning the competition, but she's now the last woman standing with the departure of Siobhan Magnus on Wednesday night.

Siobhan's ouster also signals that we're in for an utterly predictable run-up to the finale, I suspect.   

I'm guessing either Casey or Mike is done for next week and eventually we'll end up with the Lee-Crystal faceoff that Simon Cowell was predicting several weeks ago.

Is that an awful thing? Well, no, but it doesn't have me tingling with anticipation.

My fellow blogger Michael Slezak at EW.com predicted viewers would want to hurl objects at the TV Wednesday night, given the likelihood, with only six contestants remaining, their favourites would end up in the bottom three.

 I wasn't moved to violence, but I was mystified that Aaron Kelly wasn't in danger.

Big Mike was no surprise; he sang quite well Tuesday, but I sense some fatigue with his self-aggrandizing persona. Casey surprised me a little since he'd pulled his socks up with this week's performance, but I sure didn't see Siobhan coming.

Perhaps viewers really were tired of the screaming; perhaps she suffered from not being a cute 17-year-old boy; perhaps her defiance in the face of criticism rubbed people the wrong way. I really have no idea.

I have been disappointed with some of Siobhan's choices over the last few weeks, but I thought Tuesday's performance and a solid fan base would be enough to keep her out of jeopardy.

I am sorry to see her go. I'd rather see her sprouting butterflies from her shoulder and belting out one of her really big notes than listen to yet another earnest ballad from Aaron. I will miss her quirk.

"Independent spirit, laser focus, incredible work eithic," said host Ryan Seacrest, describing Siobhan after delivering the blow. "You were always true to yourself."

Judge Randy Jackson told her to keep being herself. "You learned how to be an artist on this show. I think you have an amazing career in front of you."

Siobhan, who's just 19, closed with the song that first convinced me she'd be in it for the long haul: Aretha Franklin's "Think." It was a little rougher than the first time around, but a dry-eyed Siobhan made the most of it, venturing onto the catwalk behind the judges to play to the audience and looking like she was genuinely enjoying herself.

Next week, the top five tackle the songs of Frank Sinatra with mentor Harry Connick Jr. You can watch Tuesday at 8 on CTV.

I'm scheduled to take part in a conference call with Siobhan tomorrow afternoon. So watch this space for her comments.

(The Fox photo of Siobhan is by Frank Micelotta.)

American Idol finalist plays Toronto

Kellie Pickler from Season 5 of Idol is touring with Rascal Flatts this summer and there's a Toronto date: Sept. 5 at the Molson Amphitheatre. I know nothing about tickets, but you can check at www.ticketmaster.ca.

Canwest launches reality TV channel

So do you like reality TV? Do you really, really like it?

It sounds like Canwest has a new TV channel for you. It's launching the Global Reality Channel, described as "Canada's first and only destination for hit reality programming 24/7," on Thursday, July 1.

Series already confirmed include new seasons of Big Brother and Apprentice UK, and repeats of past seasons of Survivor, The Apprentice, Project Runway Canada, X-Weighted, Fear Factor, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and Deal Or No Deal Canada.

The specialty channel will initially be available as part of the Rogers VIP package, although Canwest says negotiating with other TV providers.

American Idol: Man, feels like a contest

Ryan Seacrest is right about one thing: it's going to be a really tough vote to call Wednesday on American Idol.

In fact, I've spent the past half hour or so replaying all of the performances in a vain attempt to decide which was my favourite.   

At first, I thought Michael Lynche, but Siobhan Magnus and Casey James also laid claim to my favour with repeated listenings. So I'm going to wuss out and say that four of the top six stepped up their games Tuesday night, one maintained the status quo and one, front-runner Crystal Bowersox, had an off night. 

Although I'm not a particular fan of her music, I enjoyed Shania Twain as a mentor. She was cheerful and constructive and, as Crystal pointed out, seemed to bring positive energy to the proceedings. Her songs also seemed to bring out the best in several of the contestants.

Take Big Mike, for example. Sure, there were a couple of places near the beginning of "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing" where he tried to wring emotion out of the lyrics instead of letting it come naturally, but there were enough sweet spots to make up for his melodramatic tendencies, particularly the falsetto at the end. And it was a song that gave him space to show off his voice, unlike last week's "Hero."

Ellen DeGeneres compared his performance to Luther Vandross; Randy Jackson said Mike was in the zone and Kara DioGuardi said he put his mark on the song, although Simon Cowell thought it was "a little bit wet, like you were in a musical acting out the words" (a remark that drew puzzlement from the other judges and a lame joke about the weather in London from Ryan).

Shania sure liked it. "I'm still teary," she told Ryan. "He really got me."

Unfortunately, Mike had to ruin the moment with one of his hokey gestures for the camera.

But, if Mike is still having trouble repressing his showboat tendencies, Casey seems to have learned lessons from last Wednesday's near death experience of finding himself in the bottom three.

"I went back and watched all my performances and I realized I really didn't give anybody anything new in that performance," Casey told Ryan about his poorly received version of "Don't Stop."

Shania suggested Casey was missing inner confidence. "Your true confidence is going to come out in the way you tell the story, so bring it inside and and let it come out through your voice."

Casey did a respectable job of that. I was particularly enamoured of the first part of "Don't," which exposed the vulnerability that he first revealed on "Jealous Guy."

He still has a tendency to sound bleaty in places but, as Kara pointed out, he didn't cover up raw parts of the song with guitar licks. 

"Casey, I think last week was a much needed wakeup call for you because you weren't, for me, taking part in the competition," Simon said. "I think this is probably your best performance."

Simon also suggested Casey give Shania "a kiss on the lips," although he settled for a hug (gotta be careful after all that earlier cougar nonsense with Kara; Shania is 44, after all).

I was relieved to see Siobhan in much better form than the last few weeks.

Mind you, my first thought after the first few notes of "Any Man of Mine" was, "Oh no." Shania had urged Siobhan to give the song some attitude -- "It's about a woman who knows what she wants" -- but those opening bars seemed way too subdued.

Luckily, it improved and Siobhan began belting it with more conviction, although the scream towards the end went on too long and was a bit too been there, done that.

I'm not sure, given the look on her face and the subdued clapping, that Shania was convinced, but the judges bought it.

"All right, guess who's back," declared Kara, while Simon, Ellen and Randy all praised the perfomance (although Simon said the scream had sounded "almost as if you were giving birth up there").

Another contestant who showed marked improvement -- and I can barely believe I'm writing this -- was Aaron Kelly. Sure, it's a little bit precious that the 17-year-old was singing Shania's "You've Got a Way" about his mom, but at least he was performing the lyrics like he meant them. And the emotion gave a nice raspy edge to his voice in places.

"I think in the last two or three weeks you've really struggled," Simon told Aaron. "However, tonight, you were like a different artist ... For the first time in weeks it actually felt sincere, it felt believable."

The two contestants who impressed me least were the designated front-runners: Lee Dewyze and Crystal.

My problem with Lee is that he always sounds the same. He's got that growly voice, which is pleasant enough on certain songs but never really takes them to another level, at least not for me.

Nor has he solved his pitch problems after weeks in the competition.

Shania was beaming at Lee from the audience; Randy declared he'd found his "sweet spot"; Kara said his voice made "You're Still the One" sound "relevant" (whatever that means) and Simon called it a perfect song choice.

Personally, I'm becoming less of a fan as the finale draws near. I don't think Lee proved he's a front-runner on Tuesday, but I don't think he lost votes either.

I also doubt Crystal will lose votes from Tuesday's performance. I think she's too firmly ensconced as the contestant to beat for that to happen. But I found her rendition of "No One Needs to Know" uneventful.

Given that she told Ryan she was using the song to drop hints to her boyfriend, presumably in pursuit of a marriage proposal, she could have put more urgency into it, particularly since the poor guy was sitting in the audience.

The song was pleasant enough but more like background music than something that makes you want to sit up and take notice.

"Shocker, we don't like Crystal this week, that's the real story," Simon said after the other judges blunted their critiques with praise for how "amazing" Crystal is.

"I thought it was limp ... I didn't feel any conviction from you," he said.

There you go, Crystal, maybe that's why he hasn't proposed yet.

****

Watch the results show Wednesday at 9 at CTV, then check here for the recap and don't forget to comment. The photo of Siobhan performing on Tuesday is by Michael Becker for Fox.

Dancing With the Stars: Now, there's more time for Vienna (spoiler alert)

It would have been nice if no one had to leave Dancing With the Stars this week, as far as I'm concerned. But someone did have to go and I'm sorry it was Bachelor star Jake Pavelka.

I'll admit it: although I sometimes found Jake a little sanctimonious on The Bachelor, I was really enjoying him on DWTS. I liked the way he threw himself so intensely into every dance. He didn't play for laughs as broadly as Niecy Nash, but he was willing to take the mickey out of himself, which was so much more palatable than the faux solemnity of The Bachelor.

Apparently I'm not the only one who felt that way, since Jake twice referred to his Canadian fans on Tuesday's show. He told AOL Television earlier this month that he could see via Twitter that a lot of his support was coming from Texas and Canada. Not enough, alas, to keep him dancing.

Given my druthers, I would rather have seen comedian Niecy or football player Chad Ochocinco go home. They didn't dance worse than Jake this week -- in fact, they both did quite well with their tangos -- but I have nothing invested in either emotionally. And Niecy's constant food and fat jokes, and Chad's innuendos about partner Cheryl Burke, do get a wee bit tiresome.

Niecy and partner Louis van Amstel were in the bottom two with Jake and Chelsie Hightower, but Chad was this week's golden boy. He was selected by the judges to repeat his Argentine tango with Cheryl (I liked it better the second time around) and was name-checked by judge Len Goodman.

"Okey dokey Ochocinco, you came out and nailed that tango," said Len during his commentary on the previous night's performances, calling Chad and sportcaster Erin Andrews the "breakthrough pair of the night."

Chad, ever humble (not), told co-host Brooke Burke, "It's about time we get some love from (the judges)."

Viewers were treated to the usual assortment of time wasters Tuesday on what could easily be a half-hour show: two performances by Melissa Etheridge; guitarist Benise and his salsa dancers; tape of the contestants commenting on being at the halfway point in the competition and John Brenkus from Fox's Sport Science show comparing pro dancers Edyta Sliwinska and Dmitry Chaplin to elite athletes.

Fun facts we learned: Dmitry's split jump used 1,800 pounds of force and was a vertical leap of 38 inches, as high as basketballer Kobe Bryant's; Edyta's spin rate of 800 degrees per second was faster than the pedals on champion cyclist Lance Armstrong's bike; and the pair were able to stay in sync within two milliseconds, "a sliver of time six times smaller than the single flap of a hummingbird's wing. These dancers are world class athletes," Brenkus concluded.

As for the dancers who aren't quite world class athletes, the celebrities, there was lots of talk of how humbling it was to be on the show, how physically and mentally taxing the competition is, how nobody wants to go home at this point and how nerve-wracking results night is: "Elimination is the time when you actually throw up in your mouth a little bit," Niecy said. Thanks, nice visual.

After he got the bad news, Jake declared, "This is the best season of Dancing With the Stars I've ever seen. I was so honoured to be here."

He got teary-eyed when it was time to thank Chelsie, whom he called "one of my best friends."

"I have loved every second of this. I love you. Thank you for being so great to my beautiful fiancee, Vienna," Jake said.

He also thanked fans of the Dallas Mavericks and from his home state of Texas for their support, as well as fans from Canada, which brings me to my next point or rather question.

Did Canadian votes keep B.C.-born Pamela Anderson out of the bottom two this week? I have no idea, but it's a plausible theory.

Next week's performance show features the remaining six couples doing their thing plus a cha cha challenge. You can tune in at 8 p.m. Monday on A. Don't forget to read the recap here and to comment. Anybody else sad to see Jake go home?

(The ABC photo of Jake and Chelsie doing the samba is by Adam Larkey.)