On May 2nd episode of Dancing with the Stars, Ralph Macchio and partner Karina Smirnoff danced the Quickstep to Paolo Nutini’s Pencil Full of Lead and wanted the Quickstep to be their come-back dance.  Though Ralph seemed to be getting the steps in rehearsal, he called the Quickstep a “torture chamber.” Karina said the QT is brutal and hoped her 49-year old partner’s body does not break down from it. 

Their dance was charming, playful, crisp, sharp, fast, and oh so much fun to watch! They were certainly back in top form. AND, I swear Ralph looked younger than ever, and certainly as young as he did in the first Karate Kid all the sudden. Karina was right when she told me recently, “Ralph is my very own Benjamin Button!” [Click here to read that story!]

Here is what the judges thought:

Donnie (10): “Last week, you were my hero for how you pulled through. Your footwork and the way you articulated your feet in this Quickstep was fabulous this week. I thought you two rocked.”

Len (8): “I liked your energy. You had great movement. Your footwork was very, very good. It was clear and it was crisp. You upper body is a little bit loose and you need to get more stable, but overall you did a great job with a very hard dance and I am very pleased.” [LEN! An 8???? YOU SUCK! JK, but seriously, take it easy big guy!]

Bruno (9): “For me it was more than a Quickstep. It was how to grab a quick one at the Speakeasy… And you got it! That was so vivid, so vibrant. You sell it like no one else can. Really really good.”

Carrie Ann (9): “BOOYAH! You’re back. I’m so proud of you, Ralph. You had some really rough weeks. Full exuberance, passion and fun.”