With crotchety Len Goodman absent, the scores were startlingly high in the second week. Guest judge Baz Luhrmann, the auteur behind "Moulin Rouge," is a generous man. Two teams scored straight 9's: Aaron Carter's and Mya's. Did they deserve it?

In Carter's case, it's hard to say. There were just too many distractions during his quickstep to the "Muppet Show" theme. No, that wasn't a misprint. Both Gonzo and Animal made appearances, and partner Karina Smirnoff got some of that attention she craves in a sequined bra and voluminous feather skirt. I won't even get into the green tuxedo. Judge Bruno Tonioli called Carter a "mini Fred Astaire." Their score: 27 out of 30.

Pop star Mya was electric with a jazzy jive, pushing around partner Dmitry Chaplin with authority. It was another score of 27, with Tonioli gushing, "It was like seeing Josephine Baker and Clark Kent."

Luhrmann was an entertaining addition, at one point noting Michael Irvin's impressive tonguework. But once again, Tom DeLay stole the show. He nearly dropped partner Cheryl Burke at the end because he wasn't using his "gut," according to Carrie Ann Inaba.

"You gotta squeeze 'em together, sir," she advised. Tom Bergeron noted, "I don't think historically that's been his problem."