Kayla and Max Top Our Unofficial Mary Murphy Leaderboard

“You nailed it,” judge Mary Murphy playfully screamed to dancers Kayla and Max after their Week Two performance. “You are still on the hot tamale train. Yes, you are.”

As the only couple of the evening garnering the high praise of being placed on Murphy’s imaginary “Hot Tamale Train,” Kayla and Max are for the second time crowned as king and queen atop of our unofficial Mary Murphy (Scream) Meterboard.

Judge Nigel Lythgoe echoed Murphy’s compliments -- telling Kayla that she is a front runner and complimenting that Max was actually able to keep up with Kayla. And third judge Lil C said that the pair’s (Brian Friedman choreographed) quirky pop/vibe to “Hot Like Wow” – “did very good for me.”

While Murphy placed no other couple aboard the “Hot Tamale Train,” she came very close when she gave disco dancing Janette and Brandon her trademark scream and a standing ovation. “Holy Toledo,” Murphy enthused, “This was just crazy. I have never seen disco that fast. Unbelievable.”

And the only other couples drawing Murphy screams were Melissa and Ade for a jazz dance, and Karla and Jonathan for a contemporary routine.

However, slower melodies and slower dancing styles can bring compliments, but seldom Murphy’s high-power screams. And a perfect example of a couple capturing Murphy’s adoration for a slower number were Asuka and Vitolio who performed an elegant waltz choreographed by Louis van Amstel. Murphy was nearly in tears when she said, “This was the most honest that I have seen you dance – so many unbelievable things that just blew me away.”

And Karla and Jonathan’s pensive contemporary dance had Murphy saying “something that I have never said in five seasons. Jonathan, you did that style better than your own (Latin ballroom). Amazing. I am dizzy right now.”

Couples seemingly lower on the Murphy Meter included Randi and Evan whose routine the judges liked, but did not love (Mary alluded to Evan’s sloppy feet), and Caitlin and Jason who were described as “not in sync … The chemistry did not work.”

Also in that group were Jeanine and Phillip, who garnered from Murphy, “I am going to give you an A for attitude, but your technique was more like C-.” And, finally, Ashley and Kupoto performed a hip-hop routine that Murphy termed “not memorable to me.”