Is ABC making a contrived effort to boost ratings among African American viewers by presenting performances by some of hip-hop’s and R&B’s best and brightest on its reality dance competition? Tonight (May 3), the reigning queen of hip-hop, Nicki Minaj, will take the stage to perform her hit “Moments 4 Life.”
Previously, hip-hop prince Chris Brown and illustrious R&B diva Jennifer Hudson have made appearances in what appears to be win-win performances for both “DWTS” and the entertainers.
Also on tonight’s results show, the “DWTS” professional dance team will pay tribute to legendary
“Godfather of Soul” James Brown, who passed away on Christmas Day 2006. Brown was known for 
his funky onstage dance antics. A group of ballroom dancers hitting moves by James Brown? That should be interesting.
What also should be interesting is to watch ballroom dancers perform to Nicki Minaj. What will she wear? Will she stay true-to-form and don pink hair and lipstick and sparkly blush? Maybe coochie cutters and ballroom dance shoes? Or, will she transform her look into a sophisticated stage diva and look “normal?” We shall see.
This week’s show doesn’t have a theme, per se. The top scorers were allowed to pick teammates to form dance groups with three pairs in each. Each group’s total score is added to the contestants’ individual scores for the night. On last night’s performance show, Ward stayed on top while Romeo slipped downward on the scoreboard.
–arnell pharr
