Each week, Olympian and season eight "Dancing With the Stars" champ Shawn Johnson will be sharing her experiences on "All-Stars" with The Clicker! Look for Q&As, exclusive photos and more from the gold medalist throughout the season as she competes to win her second mirror ball trophy, this time alongside pro Derek Hough.
You can follow us on Twitter @TODAY_Clicker to get all the latest updates on Shawn's quest for ballroom glory. Shawn is also on Twitter @ShawnJohnson.
The Clicker: How do you feel the first week went?
Shawn: First week was so much fun. Great way to start off the season but it was definitely a humbling experience as well. Getting back into all of this feels like déjà vu. It all sure doesn't come back like riding a bike, and with the intensity having been raised so much (with this) being an all-star season, the pressure is on! So this first week really was just a sneak peak as to what the whole season is going to bring!
The Clicker: You mentioned being sexy isn't really you, but you added the perfect amount of sexiness to your first dance. What did you do differently this time to steam up the dance floor a little more?
Shawn: A lot of it had to do with Derek. Getting me to come out of my shell and show emotion is difficult for me, and he's really been working on that since day one. He's been telling me over and over to just let go and have fun. Technique aside it's about the showmanship and connection between him and I. He's a great teacher and partner, and I can't wait to see what he pushes me to do next week!
The Clicker: When judge Len Goodman gave you a 6.5 for your foxtrot, your jaw dropped. Did you think the score was a bit harsh?
Shawn: Haha! I think my jaw dropped just in reaction to the audience more than anything. I understood where he was coming from and respect that the judges are definitely going to he more critical this season! All I can do is take his criticism and work on it for next week.
I don't think it was harsh at all. It's the 'All-Star' season. The critiques and scores have to be harsher because the bar has (been) raised so much and the playing field is so even! If anything I love the criticism because it fires me up to do even better the next time and prove them wrong!
The Clicker: Do you feel an extra rivalry with Gilles? He was on your heels last time you competed against each other, and Monday, he outscored you.
Shawn: I really don't think it's about comparing scores during a show. It's about the audience and your interpretation of the dance. Gilles had a great night but I did my best and I was extremely proud! I just hope the audience liked mine, maybe, a little bit more than his! I mean, I didn't let him beat me the first time so I can't let it happen this time either. Hahaha!
The Clicker: Pam Anderson didn't have a great week, but showed in the past she can have the moves. How does her elimination make you feel?
Shawn: It was definitely sad to see her go week one, but it really made this whole thing real again. None of us are safe and we really have to bring everything we've got every week! Being the "All-Star" season, we can't take it easy. It's about being the best dancer overall every week and that means not taking a single day off.
The Clicker: What do you have planned for next week?
Shawn: Next week we have the jive and I can already see that Derek has crazy things planned. He saw the competition on Monday and instantly had a fire lit in him. We are going for another very high-energy fun dance and hopefully one that stands out on top!
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