The wounded-Iraq-veteran-turned-soap-star twisted his ankle at this week’s rehearsals, leading to some serious problems during his paso doble routine with partner Karina Smirnoff. Martinez looked like he was in serious pain throughout the dance…and, hobbled on one foot during his critiques.
Dancing judge Len Goodman didn’t take it easy on the 28-year-old El Salvadoran-American’s dance, despite the injury.
“I know you suffered an injury,” he told Martinez after his precarious performance. “But we can only call it as we see it.”
Martinez managed to score better in his remaining dances, scoring a 27/30 on his Argentine tango performance and 6/10 for his third place finish in the cha cha relay.
Despite ending the night with a disappointing 56 points, Martinez didn’t end up at the bottom of the leaderboard. He ended up in third place, seven points away from last place finisher Hope Solo. Meanwhile, Ricki Lake and Rob Kardashian ended up tied at the top of the leaderboard with a total of 67 points each.
Tune in to tonight’s results show to see which couple won’t be making it to the finals.
J.R. Martinez may have received lower-than-normal scores during last week’s Halloween-themed episode of Dancing with the Stars, but he was back with a vengeance during this week’s show.
The 28-year-old wounded-Iraq-veteran-turned-actor and his dancing partner Karina Smirnoff shook off last week’s poor showing to land atop the leader board with two perfect scores on a night of strong performances by the remaining five contestants.
Striving to receive Season 13’s first perfect score, Martinez and Smirnoff performed a picture perfect waltz to “What the World Needs Now Is Love”
“You were getting a standing ovation during the dance,” stated Dancing host Tom Bergeron.
After earning 10s from the judges—including Len Goodman’s first 10 of the season—for a perfect 30, J.R. exclaimed, “Justin Bieber, I will never say never!”
But Martinez and Smirnoff didn’t stop there…
After performing their second dance—an instant-jive number to “Tutti Frutti,” where the team only had 20 minutes to prepare—the judges award the couple another 30, giving the recent People magazine cover star and Smirnoff a perfect 60 for the night and putting them eight points ahead of the next best teams.
So it looks like Martinez has cemented his status as the frontrunner after this week’s episode.
Could that coveted mirror ball trophy be within his grasp?
The former “All My Children” star will lead the procession of floats on January 2, 2012, as well as toss the coin before kickoff at the 98th Rose Bowl game in honor of all wounded military personnel.
The Tournament of Roses Association says Martinez is a perfect fit for the “Just Imagine …” parade theme because of his courage and dedication to helping all Americans facing challenges.
The El Salvadoran-American Martinez says he’s grateful for the opportunity to share his message of hope and possibility.
Before the start of “Dancing with the Stars” this season, J.R. Martinez may have been a relative unknown to most Americans. But now he’s gracing the cover of Peoplemagazine, after winning the hearts of millions in two short months on ABC’s hit celebrity ballroom dancing competition.
“I’m being blessed in so many ways, and it’s because of the energy I’m putting out in the world,” says the wounded-war-veteran-turned-soap-star, who survived an explosion in Iraq while serving in the U.S. Army in 2003.
In People’s latest cover story, the 28-year-old “All My Children” actor says he considers himself blessed to have experienced the trauma. If he hadn’t driven his Humvee over that land mine, “My life would not be what it is today: full of joy, happiness and positivity,” says the El Salvadoran-American war hero.
The blast may have burned more than 40-percent of his body and required more than 30 cosmetic and skin graft surgeries, but it also taught him to embrace life to the fullest. Martinez’s positive attitude and killer ballroom dancing skills have led him to the top of the leaderboard on “Dancing with the Stars” and straight into America’s hearts.
“When you show people who you really are and you’re genuine, you don’t have to force positivity,” says Martinez, who is confident with the man he’s become. “I’m not your typical person walking down the street. I’m cool with being different.”
For the complete story on this inspiring hero, make sure to pick up this week’s issue of People.
Hey may say he doesn’t know how to be sexy, but former “All My Children” star J.R. Martinez does know how to shake his bon-bon…
Performing a sizzling samba and even playing the drums to Gloria Estefan‘s “Conga” on Monday night’s ‘80s-themed “Dancing With the Stars” performance show, the 28-year-old wounded-Iraq-veteran-turned-actor showed just why he’s a frontrunner.
Martinez and his dancing partner Karina Smirnoff received a total of 28 points from the judges, including the pair’s first 10, to earn the highest score of the night.
Martinez tapped into his Latin roots to get “inspired” and perfect the complicated Brazilian dance.
“One of the advantages that I think I have in the Samba this week is the fact that I am Latin,” said Martinez in the pre-dance clip. “Being raised by a single mother, I was always dancing with my mother and I think that will help me do well with the samba.”
Meanwhile, Smirnoff pushed him hard to help Martinez capture the dance’s sexual energy.
“It’s funny, she kept telling me, ‘Be sexy here! Be masculine!’ and I would do something and she’s like, ‘That’s not sexy! That’s not masculine!’” said Martinez after the dance. “And I was like, ‘I don’t know how to be sexy!’ I really don’t. It’s not my thing. I don’t think I’m a sexy and masculine type of guy, but tonight, it was fun.”
Boy, did the judges respond to the pair’s high energy dance!
“You were like a loin-shattering sex machine,” said Bruno Tonioli. “You had so much fire down below, it was like a volcano!”
Meanwhile, Carrie Ann Inaba told Martinez just how hot she thinks he is: “Hey papi, muy caliente!” she said. “That is the way to dance that samba.”
If the dancing pair survive tonight’s elimination round, Smirnoff says they’ll tackkle a quick step for next week’s Broadway-themed performance show.
“Dancing with the Stars” contestant-to-watchJ.R. Martinez received one of the longest standing ovations in the show’s history during Monday night’s episode after discussing the life-altering injuries he suffered while serving in Iraq.
During “Personal Story Week,” the war-vet-turned-soap-star discussed how he sustained burns to 40% of his body when the Humvee he was traveling in hit a landmine while serving in the Army back in 2003. The 28-year-old El Salvadoran-American followed up his poignant story with an emotional moving rumba to Tim McGraw’s “If You’re Reading This,” a song about soldiers killed in action.
Martinez and dancing partner Karina Smirnoff received 26 out of 30 points. The pair tied for second place with Chynna Phillips and Tony Dovolani, only one point behind Ricki Lake and Derek Hough, who earned 27 points.
“It was a touchy night,” says Martinez. “It was really emotional. Karina was telling me in order to get to really that place that we wanted to get to and pay the tribute and honor the men and women and their families the way [we wanted to], I needed to be an open book tonight. I needed to be willing to go to that place and tap into that time in my life when it wasn’t all pictures and fame and everyone caring, and I felt so alone.”
As for the audience response, “it was really moving,” he admitted. “I’ve never cried in front of that many people before. I can honestly say it’s the biggest stage I’ve ever cried on. I think the clear message behind that is that people really appreciate our men and women in the military.”
So what’s next for Martinez after such an emotional week?
“Something completely fun,” he says of his plans to dance a fox trot during next week’s “Movie Week.”
Soap opera star J.R. Martinez may soon be hoisting the mirror ball trophy over his head on “Dancing with the Stars.”
During last night’s premiere of ABC’s hit reality series, the 28-year-old wounded Iraq veteran-turned actor and his dancing partner Karina Smirnoff waltzed their way to the top of the leader board. The show’s judges awarded the El Salvadoran-American Martinez and Smirnoff with 22 points out of a possible 30, enough to tie former Wilson Phillips singer Chynna Phillips and her dancing partner Tony Dovalani for first place.
Earlier this month, Martinez reported that he’s been having a blast working with Smirnoff during their two-week training period.
“I’ve learned so much,” professes Martinez. “Karina is an amazing talent. She has shown me that it’s all posture, and framing and being elegant. It’s all about fingers and toes. Being a guy, I tend to move all over the place.”
Whether Martinez moves well enough to win the top prize, his participation on the show could make a difference to soldiers, war veterans and burn victims alike.
Martinez suffered burns to more than 40% of his body, including his face, after his Humvee hit a land mine while deployed with the Army in Iraq in 2003. He’s since undergone more than 30 cosmetic and skin graft surgeries.
“Yes, I cried at night,” Martinez has said of sustaining his life-changing injuries. “Girls would hardly talk to me because I wasn’t the most attractive guy in the bar. I had to grieve the loss of the old J.R.”
During his recovery, a nurse asked Martinez to speak to another burn patient who had become withdrawn after seeing his body for the first time. After his visit, the patient opened the curtain letting light into his room. Martinez knew then the impact he had on the patient and decided to share his story to help others. Since then, J.R. has become a highly sought-after motivational speaker who travels the country to spread his message of resilience and optimism.
Martinez says he jumped at the chance to compete on “Dancing with the Stars” as a way to get his message out further. He’s hoping viewers will be reminded of the troops still serving overseas when they see him, and that he’ll inspire military members to push themselves into new challenges.
“This is outside of my comfort zone,” confesses Martinez. “It’s a personal challenge for myself. I’ve got a little rhythm in me, and Karina is trying to get that out. That’s the biggest challenge right now.”
After last night’s premiere, it appears Martinez has found his groove. And he could go all the way to the finale!
