LI's Macchio wows 'em on 'Dancing'
Huntington's Ralph Macchio, "The Karate Kid" star, appeared opposite Karina Smirnoff on "Dancing with the Stars" season 12 in 2011. Credit: ABC
Here's the wrap (and rap) on the Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio, on his first night on "Dancing With the Stars" . . . On second thought, forget the rap: This was a solid clean start -- the fox-trot -- with plenty of elegance, good lines, and he got the crowd into the routine with those big exaggerated cycling arm movements so characteristic of this dance form.
The fox-trot has four basic elements -- the Walk, Three Step, Natural Turn and Reverse Turn -- and Macchio looked like he nailed them all. There was a little hesitation and unsteadiness at times, but nothing remotely disastrous.
The bottom line: Long Island's own is suddenly the dancer to beat on the 12th season of "Dancing."
The judges pretty much labeled him the best of the night ("great potential," per Len Goodman) and gave him the scores to prove it: 24 out of 30, the highest score of the night.
In his little prologue, Macchio -- all smiles and charm -- joked about his "49-year-old body," and how he's not ready "to be carried out in a stretcher yet."
Oh, brother. This showman knows a trick or two.
