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- Five couples compete for a chance at winning the coveted "Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy"; the finalists perform a redemption dance and an unforgettable freestyle routine.
- 2005– 1h 57mTV-PG9.1 (36)TV EpisodeThe contestants perform emotional routines that represent the most impactful years of their lives.
- The 11 celebrity and pro-dancer couples take on performances inspired by "Grease"; Frankie Avalon performs; a surprise appearance by an original Pink Lady herself, Didi Conn, who played Frenchie in the film.
- 2005– TV-PG8.7 (25)TV EpisodeParticipants stroll down memory lane and dance to celebrate a special time or experience in their lives; one couple is sent home.
- 2005– 1h 58mTV-PG8.6 (31)TV EpisodeThe two-night event continues as 11 remaining couples perform to hits from their high school proms.
- Cher joins the show as a guest performer and judge in Len's absence as the contestants dance to Cher hits. In addition to their individual routines contestants have to prepare for any of three styles in a head-to-head dance-off.
- On Vegas night, the couples dance to some of the most iconic songs from hit Las Vegas shows; one couple will be eliminated; Julianne and Derek Hough perform a number from their upcoming tour.
- The remaining 13 celebrity and pro-dancer couples transform into iconic Disney characters; the couples participate in the Mickey Dance Challenge where they will be tasked with incorporating steps from Mickey Mouse into their routine.
- An opening number featuring "Nasty" by Janet Jackson; the eight remaining couples battle it out to make it into the semifinals; a double elimination.
- The 10 remaining couples take a moment to reminisce as they perform dances inspired by a pivotal year that held great significance in their lives.
- Each of the five couples take the stage to showcase two all-new performances as they fight for a spot in the finale.
- The seven remaining couples perform dances that capture the spirit of diverse movie genres; stars from "Descendants 2" perform; guest judge Mandy Moore.
- The nine remaining couples take on performances inspired by rock band Queen.
- The seven remaining couples dance to hit songs from one of the bestselling music artists of all time, Whitney Houston; guest judge Billy Porter.
- 2005– 1h 25mTV-PG8.4 (36)TV EpisodeThe six remaining couples dance to the music of Taylor Swift; guest judge Mandy Moore.
- The judges are impressed with the caliber of contestants this year. The competition is tough as many of the contestants have some experience and can dance right out of the chute.
- The nine remaining celebrities put on their Mickey ears and transform into some of their favorite Disney characters to celebrate the magnificence of "Disney Night."
- The celebrities repeat a style of dance they struggled with earlier in the season, then they perform a style they haven't done before.
- It was getting down to crunch time as "Dancing with the Stars" celebrated its 100th episode and one of the final five remaining couples would have to pack their bags. It was a night of looking back, but four couples would leave looking ahead to the remaining couple of weeks that will determine who wins the ugliest trophy in television history. The night kicked off with a rousing performance from 12 dancing pros, past and present, who shook and shimmied to "Hard to Handle." To the recap: R&B singer Mario was loving ballroom dancing after the judges' first round of comments, but got some words on his second dance that weren't so pleasant. Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur said her Monday performance "really felt like Broadway," but that might not be what the judges are looking for. Olympian Kristi Yamagucho was again looking unstoppable after her first dance Monday, but felt some rare criticism after her second dance. NFL star Jason Taylor failed to seize a chance to top the pack. Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente was still beaming after his best night ever. Oh my, Ohno! Rascal Flatts came out to perform their newest single, "Everyday," and Apolo Anton Ohno and pro Julianne Hough seemed to rekindle some old flames with a smokin' hot performance. "Dancing" alum Mario Lopez followed it up 'by leading a number from "A Chorus Line," which he's joined on Broadway. Rascal Flatts performed "Life Is a Highway" with Mel B. and Maksim Chmerkovskiy taking the dance floor. To the results: The first couple moving on to the semifinals was Marissa and Tony. Marissa squealed with joy and sheer shock. The next guaranteed spot in the semifinals went to Kristi and Mark. The third couple safe was Cristian and Cheryl, leaving Mario and Karina, and Jason and Edyta to await the final word. The couple home was ... Mario and Karina.
- The remaining couples transform into Disney characters.
- Season 31 kicks off with a star-studded cast of 16 celebrities performing live for the first time.
- The 10 couples dance to Michael Bublé songs. Michael Bublé joins as a guest judge and performer.
- The mirrorball competition heats up as the six remaining couples perform for a spot in the finale.
- After Shawn and Derek reprise last night's dance at the the judges request the previously eliminated couples return to reprise their favorite or most memorable dances from season 15. Then the judges select a dance style for couples to perform in their final dance of the season; the instant dance. Dance Center provides commentary throughout the show.
- The remaining couples advance to the final stage, where they must fuse two contrasting dance styles; Hailee Steinfeld performs; OneRepublic performs.
- Three stars, one really ugly trophy. That's what it came down to as the remaining trio of celebrities went into a dragged out, two-hour finale that would determine which of them walked away with the sixth season title on "Dancing with the Stars." To the recap: NFL star Jason Taylor said that going head to head with Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi was "like going the wrong way on the highway. It's an accident waiting to happen." Host Tom Bergeron reminded viewers that only once in five season has the judges' runaway high scorer actually walked away with the trophy. A noteworthy bit of history, or just a little something to keep folks tuned in for the two-hour drama? Usher in the show: Usher came on to (apparently, allegedly) lip-synch his new single, "Love in This Club." He'd return later to do his best known hit, "Yeah." Historical perspective: Several stars from seasons past, including Drew Lachey, Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna, and that guy who used to play Kojak -- oh wait, that was Joey Lawrence -- put in their two cents. First out: Just 15 minutes into the finale, the first result was announced and it meant that it was time for Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente and his partner Cheryl Burke to claim third place. Cristian waved to the crowd with his good arm. He said he was glad he made the decision to stay in the competition after his injury. Bergeron told Cristian that when he decided to stay in the competition, he thought Cristian was nuts. A crying Cheryl told Cristian, "I love you, and I'll miss you and your family so much." Cristian offered up one last paso doble for the road. Down memory lane: Magician Penn Jillette and his partner Kym Johnson, who were one of the first two eliminated couples, came back to dance again. And Penn again jokingly tripped as he walked backstage. Next up were tennis champ Monica Seles and her partner Jonathan Roberts, and Seles looked just as awkward as ever (but in a good way). The Gute, Steve Guttenberg, danced next with his partner Anna Trebunskaya, and Gute continued to play the eternal optimist as he was unable to think of his "least favorite" moment on the show. Comedian Adam Carolla and his partner Julianne Hough brought back the unicycle for their dramatic paso doble. To the kids: The winners of the first Ballroom Juniors competition were Brandon and Brittany. Unfortunately, they didn't reprise their last performance, which was truly remarkable, regardless of age. Back to memory lane: Actress and legendary wife Priscilla Presley returned with her partner Louis van Amstel to perform the tango. Oscar winning actress Marlee Matlin and her partner Fabian Sanchez returned to the dance floor, followed by actress Shannon Elizabeth and her partner Derek Hough. Shannon took a moment to thank the judges, which she said she hadn't done before. R&B singer Mario returned with his partner Karina Smirnoff to dance the mambo. Tony Award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur and her partner Tony Dovolani returned to performance the paso doble and Marissa reiterated that she's never felt sexier than she has on the show. The main event: Kristi and her partner Mark Ballas Jr. busted out their jive for their final performance in front of the judges. Kristi got her skirt caught on her heel for a moment, but handled it like a pro. Judge Len Goodman said she was the most consistent dancer of any season. Judge Bruno Tonioli praised her for not missing a beat, even despite the hiccup with the skirt. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said she was "so proud" of Kristi and thanked her for representing the ladies so well. Bergeron reminded viewers than the judges' scores would count for half of their total, combined with the viewers' votes from Monday night's performance. Scores:10, 10 and 10. That makes a perfect 90 out of 90, when totaled with Monday's two dances. Jason and his partner Edyta Sliwinska brought back their quickstep for the final performance. Bruno said the term heavenly bodies was invented for them and he told the couple it was their best performance of the season. Carrie Ann said Jason and Edyta's elegance shine through when they dance "and you are untouchable as far as grace goes." Len said that every season someone "unexpected" comes along. He said Kristi may be the judges' champion, but you're the people's champion. Jason's BFF, Cristian, gave a loud, "Woo!" in the audience. Scores: 10, 10 and 10. That's a total of 81 out of 90, combined with Monday night's scores. And the winner is...: Kristi was the highest scorer in the history of the show, but Jason was a big fan favorite. The winners of "Dancing with the Stars" were ... Kristi and Mark! Kristi became the first woman to win the competition since "General Hospital" star Kelly Monaco won it in Season 1. The rest of the dancers swarmed the new champs as Jason and Cristian lifted Kristi up onto their shoulders, and Derek Hough propped Mark onto his shoulders and paraded them around as confetti fell onto the floor.
- The 14 celebrity and pro-dancer couples return to the ballroom.
- It's rock week on "Dancing with the Stars." But there are still two hours to fill, so we get to see the Top 10 performances of all-time on the show, as voted by fans on abc.com. The countdown: Number 10 was a freestyle from Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas. Number 9, an Argentine tango by Donnie Osmond and Kym Johnson. Number 8, a quickstep by Helio Castroneves & Julianne Hough. Number 7, a freestyle by Apolo Anton Ohno & Julianne Hough. Number 6, Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough's "futuristic" paso doble. Number 5, Mel B & Maksim Chmerkovskiy's paso doble. Number 4, Nicole Scherzinger & Derek Hough's paso doble. Number 3, Apolo Anton Ohno & Julianne Hough reappear with their samba. Number 2, Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke's Argentine tango. Number 1, Drew Lachey & Cheryl Burke's "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" freestyle. Finally, with 30 minutes burned, it's time to get to get to some dancing. Audrina & Tony: After getting some grief from Bruo last week, Audrina is focusing on not over-thinking her routine. Tony takes her to a martial arts class to tap into the aggression of the paso doble. Len Goodman says she's getting on his nerves because she's got the potential to wow them every week, but "every week it lacks the character of the dance." Bruno agrees, telling her to imagine Latin firecrackers like Eva Longoria and Eva Mendes. Carrie Ann Inaba also agrees on the character point, but says she has improved tremendously. She tells her to learn the intention behind the movements in each dance. Scores: 8, 8, 8. Total: 24 Kyle & Lacey: After getting on Len's bad list last week, Kyle is back and so ready to prove himself that he practices his dance moves with his brother at home. They dance a tango. The audience loves it, and so does Bruno. His comments can't even be heard over the crowd at first, but he tells Kyle his footwork is better and ends with, "way to go." Carrie Ann says she loves "the Kyle style" and that his carriage was amazing. Len says he enjoyed it and says Kyle again found a balance between performance technique. Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total: 23 Jennifer & Derek: After stumbling a little last week, Jennifer is ready to bounce back after what wasn't much of a fun week of rehearsal. She and Derek look to put the week behind them and put all that energy into the paso doble. The crowd loves it, but Carrie Ann silences them quickly by telling Jennifer she needs to calm down and stay within her limits. Len says she got "the attack, the aggression, the attitude," but she lost a bit of control. Bruno added to it, saying she looked like "a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown." Scores: 6, 7, 7. Total: 20 Rick & Cheryl: Looking to break his streak of being told he needs more heat and passion in his dances, Rick has the tango. He worries about whether it could be three weeks in a row. Cheryl is concerned that he's overanalyzing every step in the routine. Len says he did an excellent job. Bruno says it was "like a mohican on the war path." Carrie Ann says it was amazing and had nice balance. She noted that Rick sometimes gets so stern his face loses personality. Scores: 8, 8, 8. Total: 24 Bristol & Mark: Bristol admits to Mark that part of the reason she lost her steps last week was because she wasn't going all out in rehearsal. He asks her to go ahead and give it all in rehearsal. They practice an air guitar portion that Mark is afraid will get them in trouble with Len, but Bristol pushes for it to enhance the performance. The crowd cheers and Bruno says it was her best performance of the season. Carrie Ann says it was "ridiculously amazing." Len references last week's monkey costumes, saying, "Last week a chimp, this week, nearly a champ." He does note that he's docking a point because they broke their hold to do their air guitar thing. Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total: 23 Kurt & Anna: Coming off of his best week, Kurt struggles to tap into his inner-rocker. Anna brings Bret Michaels into rehearsal to teach Kurt about bring a rocker (and because Bret Michaels is contractually obligated to appear on at least 25 reality shows each year). Carrie Ann shuts down the crowd's enthusiasm again,saying the dance "didn't really have a lot of polish." She says Kurt didn't seem comfortable. Len agrees that "it just didn't come off. You looked awkward doing it, I felt awkward watching it." Bruno says Kurt looks like he was doing karate instead of a Spanish dance. "You looked like Jackie Chan, we want Banderas," Bruno adds. Scores: 6, 6, 6. Total: 18 Brandy & Maks: Brandy says she feels like she's under a lot of pressure, and she cried and walked out of practice. She came back and the dancing was more intense than ever. Len called Maks his hero and said it was, without a doubt, the best dance of the night. Bruno went off, comparing Brandy to Tina Turner in "Mad Max." Carrie Ann says she had goosebumps watching it because it looked like someone who'd gone through a hard time and finally hit their stride. Scores: 8, 9, 9. Total: 26 Marathon Dance: Everyone is worried they won't make it through the dance marathon, especially Jennifer Grey, who nearly passed out after 90 seconds of dancing earlier in the season. Couples earn points based on how long they stay in. The first couple tapped out is Kurt & Anna, followed by Bristol & Mark. Rick & Cheryl go next. Kyle & Lacey go next, followed by Audrina & Derek. That leaves Jennifer & Derek and Brandy & Maks, and Brandy & Maks eventually take the win. LEADER BOARD (with dance marathon scores added): Brandy & Maks: 26 + 10 = 36 Audrina & Tony: 24 + 8 = 32 Rick & Cheryl: 24 + 6 = 30 Kyle & Lacey: 23 + 7 = 30 Jennifer & Derek: 20 + 9 = 29 Bristol & Mark: 23 + 5 = 28 Kurt & Anna: 18 + 4 = 22
- 2005– TV-PG8.2 (16)TV Episode
- Couples open the show with the Judges Pick round. Then the pros have the cuffs removed as they choreograph their free style dances. Finally we say goodbye to one of the finalists.
- 2005– TV-PG8.2 (16)TV Episode
- The competition continues as the celebrities get another chance to impress the judges with a new style of dance.
- The judges each pair up with a couple and assign the couple a specific challenge; Cheryl Burke returns to the dance floor for a special performance; Calum Scott performs.
- The three finalists each perform a redemption style dance and a freestyle dance.
- 2005– TV-PG8.2 (22)TV EpisodeAll 13 couples return for the opening number; the three remaining contestants perform two dances; musical performances from Kelsea Ballerini, Lindsey Stirling, Becky G, and Jordan Fisher and Debbie Gibson; the champion is named.
- It was time on Tuesday to eliminate one more couple on "Dancing with the Stars," but the night started with the couple least likely to go: Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani, who performed an encore of the samba that earned them a perfect 30. Be our guest: Contemporary crooner Jamie Cullum stopped by to perform Frank Sinatra's standard, "I Get a Kick Out of You." Dance Center! Kenny Mayne and Jerry Rice were back for another edition of "Dance Center." First round highlights: "Lil' Kim's height: Lil'. Weight: Lil'. Shoe size: Lil'." "Back in college they used to call me Lil' Jerry," Jerry Rice said. "Which part of your anatomy were they referring to?" Len asked. Shawn Johnson's size: "Liller than Lil' Kim." To the results: Before getting to the first results of the night, a quick check of the leader board based on the judges' scores on Monday (combining ballroom dance and Latin dance for the total): Melissa & Tony: 27 + 30 = 57 Gilles & Cheryl: 29 + 27 = 56 Shawn & Mark: 27 + 29 = 56 Lil' Kim & Derek: 25 + 27 = 52 Ty & Chelsie: 25 + 21 = 46 In no particular order, the first couple who secured a spot in next week's semifinals was Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke. Back to 'Dance Center': Second-round highlights: Video footage of Tony Dovolani laughing while Melissa hurt her ribs. "What have the French ever done for us, anyway?" Kenny Mayne said, talking about Gilles. "He is prostituting himself with his good looks." (Cut to Kenny, Jerry and Len, shirtless). Pro Dancer Competition: Each of the three remaining pro dancer hopefuls were assigned a former "star" to teach, to see how they'd handle the real assignment of the show. First up was Afton DelGrosso, who was assigned Cody Linley. They danced a samba. Len said Afton did a very good job teaching Cody, who is a little bit wooden and stiff. Bruno said Afton made Cody sell himself. Carrie Ann said Afton's skills really came to life and that she'd bring a "nice, beautiful energy" if she made the show. Back to the results: In no particular order, the next couple to move into the semifinals was Melissa & Tony. Pro Dancer Competition, Part 2: Mayo Alanen was paired with Lisa Rinna, and they danced a quickstep. Bruno thanked Mayo for taking advantage of Lisa's assets. Carrie Ann said it got a little out of control at times. Len said it was about pushing boundaries and Mayo did a good job. Anna Demidova was paired with Maurice Greene, who picked the tango, which he'd never done before. He wanted to see how she taught him something he'd never done. Carrie Ann said "with a performance like that, you two could be heading to the semifinals." Len said without a doubt, Anna pulled the most out of her celebrity. Bruno said she was more than a dancer, she was "a miracle worker." He said Maurice never looked better. Back to the results: The next couple safe for another week was Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas. That left Lil' Kim & Derek Hough and Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower in the bottom two. Len said Ty could possibly go on, but Lil' Kim has been one of the best dancers and we'd miss the bionic booty. Tom finally announced that the couple leaving the show was ... Lil' Kim & Derek.
- The 15 celebrity and professional dancer couples are back in the ballroom for a second week with the first elimination of the 2021 season; host Tyra Banks performs a song to start the night.
- Six couples battle it out in two rounds; two couples are eliminated.
- Four celebrity and pro-dancer couples dance and compete to win the coveted mirrorball trophy.
- A new cast of celebrities and their pro partners hit the dance floor for the first time to perform a Cha Cha, Foxtrot, Jive, Salsa or Tango; featuring a dazzling opening number to "Levitating" by Dua Lipa.
- The magic of Disney+ comes to life with performances inspired by Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and more.
- The eight couples hit rewind with 90s-inspired performances, and special guest artists perform live.
- Another quest for the mirror ball is underway, and in grand fashion the new cast is announced for the 14th season. And now, with their last names included for the first and last time all season... TV host Maria Menounos and Derek Hough Actor and singer Jack Wagner and Anna Trebunskaya Football player Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd Singer Gavin DeGraw and Karina Smirnoff Actor Roshon Fegan and Chelsie Hightower Actress and TV host Sherri Shepherd and Val Chmerkovskiy Actress Melissa Gilbert and Maks Chmerkovskiy Actor William Levy and Cheryl Burke Tennis legend Martina Navratilova and Tony Dovolani Classical singer Katherine Jenkins and Mark Ballas Singer Gladys Knighta and Tristan McManus TV star Jaleel White and Kym Johnson Maria & Derek: The Extra co-host is used to awkward situations and so shes open to the competition. Derek says he wants as many mirror ball trophies as he has chest hairs -- which is four. First thing we notice in rehearsal is Marias undescribable laugh, as Derek puts it. They get to the sexy stuff right away, with the cha cha. Head judge Len Goodman starts the season by saying Maria coped very, very well for the first dance and suggested a little more hip action. Bruno Tonioli says Maria is so curvasciously delicious, and agrees with Len that Maria has to open up the sex pot, by gyrating her hips. He urges her to think about Sofia Vergara. Carrie Ann Inaba says it was a strong, solid cha cha, but tells Maria to work on moving confidently more from one move to the next. Scores: 7, 7, 7. Total: 21 Jack & Anna: Jack is ready to add dancer to his list of entertainment qualifications. Anna, the Russian redhead, is ready to push Jack harder whenever hes doubting himself. Their first dance is the fox trot and its testing his insecurities. Bruno says it was beautifully acted, beautifully danced. He loves the way Jack extends his moves, and wonders what hes going to do in Week 2. Carrie Ann says Jack just took her to a happy place. Len liked the feel of the dance, but says Jacks technique is poor and his footwork is a hazard. Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total: 23 Donald & Peta: Donald says that of all the balls hes caught, hes never caught a mirror ball and he wants one. Peta is ready for redemption after being ousted one week into her DWTS debut last season. In rehearsal, Peta takes note of Donalds super-skinny legs. The crowd goes nuts for Donald and his groove, and even Tom says, That didnt feel like Week 1. Carrie Ann says Donald is nothing but charisma and charm for days. She says it was a crowd-pleaser and she cant wait to see him come back next week and do a quickstep. Len says Donalds flair was great, but he got a little over-excited at times. Hes also looking forward to Donalds quickstep, which will require more control and form. Bruno says Donald is a diamond in the rough, but agrees Donald got a little excited -- he was like a rooster chasing a hen. Scores: 7, 7, 7. Total: 21 Gavin & Karina: The singer says hes been trying to get out from behind his piano in concerts, and hes feeling more vulnerable. Karina is ready to defend her DWTS title, which she won last season. They dance a fox trot. Len says Gavin coped well with a difficult dance, but he was a little stiff in what should have been a fluid and romantic dance. He thinks the jive will suit Gavin more. Bruno says Gavin had a great charm, but needs to learn to link the moves and not stiffen up at the wrong places. Gavin adds that he sometimes stiffen(s) up at the wrong times, too. Carrie Ann says Gavin brought the story together well, but what she thinks hes hyper-extending his arm movements. Scores: 7, 6, 7. Total: 20 Roshon & Chelsie: This years Disney Channel star says he isnt intimidated. Chelsie says Roshon, a hip hop dancer, should have been good at the cha cha, but he looks like a lost puppy on the dance floor. The crowd goes wild and Bruno is smiling. Bruno says Roshon can go on and on and on. He says Roshons feet were laser sharp and he was unbelievable. Carrie Ann says Roshon did the coolest spin shes seen on a cha cha in all 14 seasons. She compares him to Michael Jackson. Len says theres no question Roshon can dance, but the technically, it wasnt great. He wants to see more cha cha and less hip hop. Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total: 23 Sherri & Val: Sherri reminds us shes an actress and comedian, and shes about to laugh her way to a mirror ball. Val refers to himself as Maks younger, better-looking brother. Sherris working on her elegance. They dance a fox trot, appropriately enough, to Frankie Vallis Sherry. Carrie Ann calls Sherri the happiest contestant theyve had in all 14 seasons, and she did a nice job. Len says Sherri brought the joy of dance into the ball room and sums his comments up in three words: Fun, fun, fun. Bruno says shes light on her feet, her timing was good, and shes lights up the room. Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total: 23 Melissa & Maks: After her marriage fell apart and her back broke, Melissa says shes ready to turn in her pig tails and prairie dress for sequins and high heels. She was happy to be paired with Maks because she loves to be challenged. Len says he would have liked to have seen more hip action and shape in her free arm. He says some of the lines she created were great. Bruno echos Lens comments about Melissas free hand. Carrie Ann says she sees great potential, but thinks Melissa was a bit nervous and her shoulders were held higher (in a tense way) during the dance. Scores: 7, 6, 7. Total: 20 William & Cheryl: William, who Tom says is known as the Mexican Brad Pitt, which is odd because hes from Cuba, is a theater actor and is known for his roles on telenovelas. Cheryl is taken by how good looking he is, and they started a week later than everyone else. They dance a cha cha. Bruno is on the edge of his seat, and stands up to declare William and Cheryl the hottest package of the season! He tells William hes overdressed. Carrie Ann thanks ABC for her job. She says she liked Williams partnering, and control of Cheryl. Len says William was right on the edge throughout, but kept it under control, good job. Scores: 8, 8, 8. Total: 24 Martina & Tony: Martina says she decided after surviving breast cancer, she decided theres nothing to be afraid of, so shes taking on DWTS. She says she hasnt worn a dress in 20 years, so were all about to see a different side of her. Carrie Anns breath is taken away by Martinas beauty on the dance floor. She tells her to work on her turns and spots for future weeks. Len says it was close, but it wasnt quite there, saying it was a little too careful. He says she has to come out and wow it a little more. Bruno tells Martina shes never looked better and she looks stunning. He tells her to learn to extend her moves through her arms to give a greater sense of fluidity, but she did very well. Scores: 7, 6, 7. Total: 20 Katherine & Mark: Katherine sang on Season 12 of DWTS, but this time shes on the dance floor. She says its exciting that no one knows her in America and it makes it a whole new experience. Shes hoping people will want to support her after she throws herself into her fox trot. The performance prompts Tom to say this is his favorite premiere since the show started. Len says he liked the musicality and the details. He says she should life her rib cage when shes in hold a bit more. Bruno says it was exquisite. He says her style and quality of movement were great. Carrie Ann says she and the crowd got quiet because they felt like they were watching two pros dancing together. Scores: 9, 8, 9. Total: 26 Gladys & Tristan: Gladys says the Pips never let her dance in rehearsals, and now shes going to make like a Pip. Tristan says hes the hot one from DWTS. Gladys gets a massive standing ovation after the performance, including from Bruno, who says she has got the moves. He calls her a real star. Carrie Ann says Gladys made her want to get up and dance, and she says shes so honored that Gladys is on their dance floor and shaking (her) tail feather like nobodys business. Len says theres a naturalness about Gladys dancing and it oozes rhythm. Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total: 23 Jaleel & Kym: Jaleel knows Americas is just waiting for him to fall and says, Did I do that? in classic Urkel style, so hes going to have to make sure he doesnt do that. Kym says shes ready to take back the mirror ball after Karina took it last season. She says Jaleel is a natural. They start their fox trot with an impressive synchronized spinning jump, and the smooth moves continue through the big finish that earns big cheers from the crowd. Carrie Ann says Jaleel was the icing on the cake at the end of a great night. Len loved the way he got into hold and out with elegance and sophistication, and adds that, without a doubt, this is the best first show of any season. Bruno says he thought he was watching the great Gregory Hines, and as a compliment it couldnt get better. Scores: 9, 8, 9. Total: 26 LEADER BOARD: Katherine & Mark: 26 Jaleel & Kym: 26 William & Cheryl: 24 Jack & Anna: 23 Roshon & Chelsie: 23 Sherri & Val: 23 Gladys & Tristan: 23 Maria & Derek: 21 Donald & Peta: 21 Gavin & Karina: 20 Melissa & Maks: 20 Martina & Tony: 20
- For the finals the couples perform a classic ballroom dance, a cha cha relay and a free style. Tom paused to acknowledge the people effected by the day's Oklahoma tornadoes and to recognize the first responders.
- The 11 remaining couples celebrate Disney's 100th anniversary with performances to songs from soundtracks of the company's most cherished films.
- It's Hollywood night and the couples are dancing movie themed performances. But injuries are already causing consternation.
- The celebrities dance with the judges; each couple performs a tango, cha cha, salsa, Viennese waltz and quickstep.
- The remaining 10 celebrities transform into characters -- and dance to music -- from their favorite Disney films.
- A Halloween-themed night with scary and chilling performances.
- Four celebrity and pro-dancer couples return to the ballroom to compete and win the Mirrorball trophy.
- "Tonight we begin our 200th episode celebration," host Tom Bergeron announces on "Dancing with the Stars." In other words, get ready for a whole lot of filler. It starts with the show's pros doing a big group dance to Beyonce's "Crazy," which was the first song ever danced to on the show's first season. The performance show will include a team competition, with the dancers split into two teams, captained by former "Dancing" champions Kristi Yamaguchi and Apolo Anton Ohno. Kristi's team is Rick & Cheryl, Bristol & Mark, and Kyle & Lacey. Apolo's team is Kurt & Anna, Jennifer & Derek, and Brandy & Maks. Team Kristi: Kristi's three couples perform the cha cha cha. The crowd loves it. Len Goodman says he thought they'd be the underdogs, but they proved him wrong. Bruno praises them all, but points out Rick Fox. He also says Bristol missed a step. Carrie Ann says they showed off that they worked well as a group. Scores: 8, 8, 8. Total: 24 Team Apolo: Apolo's team also performs the cha cha cha, incorporating the patty-cake move he did in his version of it a few seasons back. Bruno loves it, pointing out good moves by Kurt, Brandy and Jennifer. Carrie Ann says she liked that everyone was at their best and nothing was "dumbed down" for the benefit of anyone. Len says they all upped their game. Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Kyle & Lacey: With the added challenge of reinterpreting an iconic dance from a past season, Kyle & Lacey landed the paso doble made famous by Mel B. & Maks. Len says Kyle upped his game. Mel B, who is judging on this dance, says Kyle blew her away and was "very sexy." Bruno says Kyle had the attack and energy "of an untamed young bull," but points out Kyle's lines on his arms. Carrie Ann says Kyle did a good job channeling his power and strength, as Mel did. Scores: 10 (Mel B.), 9, 8, 8. Total: 35 Kurt & Anna: Kurt drew Emmitt Smith's iconic tango, noting that Emmitt is the only football player to have ever won the competition. Kurt gets annoyed when Anna says the dance moves are "fairly easy," so he takes her out to Arizona Cardinals football practice to show her how football moves he's done all his life are easy to him, but difficult for her. Bruno says Kurt was much improved from last week, but points out something with Kurt's posture. Carrie Ann says Emmitt brought his character to life and Kurt did a good job of doing the same. Emmitt compliments Kurt on his suit and says he saw something "that was very special." Len praises Kurt for coming back strong after getting criticized last week. He says it was sharp and had drama. Scores: 10 (Emmitt), 8, 8, 8. Total: 34 Bristol & Mark: Kelly Osbourne's iconic Viennese waltz was the order of the day for Bristol & Mark. Coming off her best scores of the season, Bristol is primed to keep her momentum. Carrie Ann says there's something poetic about Bristol when she moves, but there's still something missing. Kelly says Bristol stole her heart and that "there's something so beautiful about what you do." Len says he enjoyed it very much, but that Bristol and Mark still lack a little bit of chemistry. Bruno says she could still "ignite a little more," but that Bristol generally did a good job with it. Scores: 9 (Kelly), 8, 8, 8. Total: 33 Rick & Cheryl: Rick is looking to tap into the fun that Helio Castroneves was having when he performed his iconic quickstep a few seasons ago. He brought his girlfriend Eliza Dushku to rehearsal because she knows the fun and crazy side of him. Len says Rick thoroughly enjoyed himself, which made the judges enjoy themselves. He says it was good. Bruno says Rick gave his best performance and had "more faces than Jim Carrey." Helio says Cheryl included a lot of the original dance to their benefit. Carrie Ann says it was "by far" Rick's best dance. Scores: 10 (Helio), 9, 9, 9. Total: 37 Brandy & Maks: After leading the pack for two weeks straight, Brandy says she wants to win even more. They pulled Gilles Marini's iconic foxtrot, which was all about character. Bruno says "that was a foxtrot," and adds that it was "sizzling with sex." Still, he points out a mistake. Gilles says he had goosebumps and says the performance was "unreal." Carrie Ann says Brandy attacked the sensuality and went into "elegant and beautiful" in hold. Len says he's surprised "at these people being so pedantic about a slight mistake when we've just witnessed the most fantastic foxtrot..." and the crowd's cheers drown him out, but he clearly liked it. Scores: 9 (Gilles), 9, 10, 9. Total: 37 Jennifer & Derek: After a couple of weeks of struggling, Jennifer pulled Drew Lachey's iconic tango. Her body is feeling the effects of weeks of hard work, and she got emotional in rehearsal when realizing that her 50-year-old body couldn't do what she was asking it to do. Carrie Ann says people love nothing more than to see someone bounce back and blow the doors off like she did. Len says Jennifer put all her frustration into the passion of the dance. Drew says Jennifer's musicality was amazing, and says she's "got a real shot" at winning the whole thing. Bruno says she was like a phoenix rising from the ashes, and tells her she can go "all the way." Scores: 10 (Drew), 9, 9, 9. Total: 37 + 27 = 64 LEADER BOARD with team score included: Brandy & Maks: 37 + 27: 64 Jennifer & Derek: 37 + 27 = 64 Rick & Cheryl: 37 + 24 = 61 Kurt & Anna: 34 + 27 = 61 Kyle & Lacey: 35 + 24 = 59 Bristol & Mark: 33 + 24 = 57
- A nation divided awaits the results. The experts have given their opinions. The votes have been cast. All that remains is to learn the outcome. Hanging in the balance: the future of the 11th season of "Dancing with the Stars." There is, however, another voting process to sort through as the 2010 midterm elections are underway across the nation. Host Tom Bergeron kicks it to ABC News affiliates for the first update on election returns. When we return, head judge Len Goodman asks for Team Apolo to do an encore performance. To the results: Brandy & Maks and Bristol & Mark are called to the stage. During the recap of Monday's events, we see that Bristol became emotional about missing home and her son. The first couple safe is Brandy & Maks, but Bristol & Mark are still in jeopardy. 'Dancing with the Stars' Awards: The first of the time-chewing awards presented throughout the evening is the "Most Dramatic Moment." The nominees are Christian de la Fuente's arm injury; Tony & Kate Gosselin's fight; Misty May Traynor's torn Achille's; Marie Osmond's fainting; and Kelly Monaco's wardrobe malfunction. And the winner is ... Marie Osmond, who accepted from her show in Las Vegas. Later, the nominees for "Worst Dancer" are Kenny Mayne, Master P, Kate Gosselin, Steve Wozniak, and Billy Ray Cyrus. And the winner is ... Kenny Mayne. He says that like the music Michael J. Fox played in "Back to the Future," he was 30 years ahead of his time and we'll all come to understand his dance moves in the future. The "Bigger Dancer Transformation" nominees are Derek Hough, Tony Dovolani, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Mark Ballas, Louis Van Amstel. And the winner is ... Louis Van Amstel, who earns high marks for having removed the pony tail he had when he began on the show. The "Best Judges' Moments" were a mere collection of bizarre moments from each of the judges, including Carrie Ann's wild squeals, dancing and crying; Len Goodman's best insults, best rhymes, and best similies; Bruno's shouts, gyrations, and sexual innuendos. There was no real award. Apparently, they all won. Be our guest: The cast of "Mary Poppins" (the musical) pay a visit to perform. Taylor Swift later performs her new single, "Mine." She later performed her hit, "White Horse." Further into the show, Rod Stewart takes the stage to perform "I Get a Kick Out of You." Back to the results: Rick & Cheryl and Jennifer & Derek are called to the stage next. We see that Jennifer was in such pain Monday night she thought she might have to quit the whole contest. The next couple safe for another week is Jennifer & Derek. Rick & Cheryl are still in jeopardy. Kyle & Lacey and Kurt & Anna come to the stage next. We see that Kurt is still struggling with the difference between bent knees and flexed knees. The next couple safe is Kurt & Anna. Kyle & Lacey are still in jeopardy. With the three "still in jeopardy" couples awaiting word, we learn that Bristol & Mark are safe. That leaves Kyle & Lacey and Rick & Cheryl. After a promo for "Skating with the Stars" that seems like something straight out of the mind of Jack Donaghy, and some more election results, we get back to the "Dancing" verdict. The couple leaving is Rick & Cheryl, meaning Kyle & Lacey are safe for another week.
- Dancing with the Stars welcomes 12 new stars and 3 new pros with a new dance style, contemporary, that has even the pros wondering. There is no elimination in round one but with scores ranging from 12 to 24 a few couples will have to work extra hard next week to stay in the competition.
- It's a night of fast feet with couples dancing the quick step, jive and jazz dance. For this first elimination round viewers have more votes and more ways to vote for their favorites.
- A special monster-themed Halloween episode.
- Couples dance to the themes and in costumes reminiscent of the stars' favorite movies. Kevin Hart fills in for Len as guest judge. One couple is eliminated.
- The pro in each couple chooses the dance style and song; the couples perform in a trio round in which the judges have chosen the partners.
- Each couple must perform a regular dance and a reinterpretation of an iconic dance from past seasons; a couple is eliminated.
- 2005– TV-PG8.0 (23)TV EpisodeThe finalists each perform two dances; guest judge Julianne Hough; musical performances from Pitbull and Fifth Harmony, and Alexander Jean.
- Celebrities repeat a dance style they struggled with earlier in the season; couples perform another style of dance as they try to make it into the semi-finals.
- The semifinal round of "Dancing with the Stars" Season 10 kicked off Monday night with Chad Ochocinco, Erin Andrews, Evan Lysacek and Nicole Scherzinger vying for the mirror ball trophy. Host Tom Bergeron interrupted co-host Brooke Burke with some insight into the voting from this season. He said that, in recent weeks, every one of the remaining four couples has led in the popular vote, so it really is a clean slate as the four couple vie for a shot at the title. Erin & Maks: Erin was happy that Maks was so excited for her recent success. Maks said that in his eight seasons on the show, he hasn't felt as good about his chances and he does with Erin, so he was going to push her even harder. They first danced the Viennese waltz. Head judge Len Goodman said Erin "made a giant step through the door" to the finals. Bruno Tonioli said it was "like a symphony in blue" (they were wearing blue). He pointed out a minuscule stumble, but loved it. Carrie Ann Inaba said Erin was doing "wonderfully," even though she could sense some nerves. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27 Nicole & Derek: Looking to keep her incredible momentum, Nicole came to rehearsal to find an upsetting surprise: Derek's neck was injured. He was feeling pain all the way down his back, which was limiting his range of motion. Derek was worried about his ability to perform, but he took to the floor for an Argentine tango. Derek seemed to feel no ill effects. Bruno got all dramatic, saying he was slayed by Nicole and "enchanted by the dance." Carrie Ann said she was brought to tears by Nicole's riveting performance and said "what you're doing is incredible." Len gave Nicole the best compliment he ever could: "It was more delicious than my grandmother's apple pie." Scores: 10, 10 and 10. Total: 30 Chad & Cheryl: Chad landed in the bottom two last week for the first time all season, and he said he felt like he let his partner Cheryl down. In a moment of frustration, Chad told Cheryl he hoped she could get "an advanced partner next time" so she would be so stressed out. Then he added, "Be like Derek, for a change." Cheryl piped in with, "That's not what the show's about." They danced the waltz. Carrie Ann said Chad just "nailed the waltz" and wondered where he came from with his new posture and fluidity. Len noted that Chad was the only one with absolutely no dance experience in the semifinal, and said for him to come out and produce a waltz like that: "fantastic." Bruno said Chad showed that he was a star. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27 Evan & Anna: Evan has been getting high marks, but the judges still wanted to see him let go. He'd get his chance this week with the paso doble and the foxtrot. His partner Anna tried to tap into anything she could to get some personality out of Evan during his performance. They first danced the foxtrot. Len said he enjoyed seeing the "happy go lucky, fun side" of Evan. Bruno said he hadn't seen something like that since Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. Carrie Ann said she completely felt the connection Evan had with the dance this time and thanked him for listening to her notes. Scores: 10, 9, and 10. Total: 29 Erin & Maks: Before her second dance, there was a bio package on Erin that included her dance lessons as a child and the stalker and video scandal that thrust her into the spotlight last year. She next danced the paso doble, which included a solo. There was hitch in their big finish, but Brino still called her "a hot chick with an attitude." Carrie Ann called it "amazing" and said Erin was in her power. Len said he didn't know what to make of it, calling it a non-traditional paso. He didn't like the solo because it wasn't in line with the paso. Scores: 10, 9, and 10. Total: 29 Nicole & Derek: Nicole's bio package talked about her upbringing in Hawaii, where she lived with her grandparents and learned music. She moved to Kentucky when her mom met and married a new man. Nicole said the greatest thing she's been able to do is buy her mother a home in Hawaii. They did a cha cha to the music of Prince's "Kiss." Carrie Ann congratulated Nicole on making it look so easy. Len said Nicole had to be in the final. Bruno said Nicole was "the sexi-licious purle queen of the cha cha cha." Scores: 10, 9 and 10. Total: 29 Chad & Cheryl: Chad talked about how he grew up in a rough area of Miami with drugs and crime around and teachers telling him he wouldn't amount to anything. He made his way through the college ranks and got to the NFL after realizing sports was going to be his way out. He and Cheryl danced the samba. Len remarked on Chad removing his shirt for his solo, saying his torso was a bit like his, but Len said he had more tattoos. In seriousness, though, Len said Chad had the toughest of the Latin dances and "did a great job." Bruno said he was "torn between admiration and bitter envy," adding he would never take his clothes off again. Bruno loved it. Carrie Ann said that while Chad's technique wasn't as great as the others, his dancing made everyone smile. Scores: 8, 8, and 9. Total: 25 Evan & Anna: Evan's bio talked about his early love of figure skating, his awkward growth spurt at 14, and his shyness. He danced the paso doble. Bruno said it was "strong but artistic" and said it was the best paso doble he's seen this season. Carrie Ann said Evan's movements were big and powerful and guttural. Len said Evan dominated Anna, as the dance calls for, and said it was "fantastic." Scores: 10, 10, and 10. Total: 30 LEADER BOARD: Nicole & Derek: 30 + 29 = 59 Evan & Anna: 29 + 30 = 59 Erin & Maks: 27 + 29 = 56 Chad & Cheryl: 27 + 25 = 52
- With five couples left, one more has to leave on Tuesday night's "Dancing with the Stars" results show. Here's a quick look at the leader board as it stood at the end of Monday night's episode: Brandy & Maks: 29 +28 = 57 Jennifer & Derek: 27 + 30 = 57 Kyle & Lacey: 27 + 29 = 56 Kurt & Anna: 24 + 24 = 48 Bristol & Mark: 24 +23 = 47 Play it again: Head judge Len Goodman got right to the encore, asking Kyle & Lacey to perform their uptempo, instant jive to "Good Golly Miss Molly." To the results: Kyle & Lacey are called to the stage first, all by themselves. They're safe. Dance Center: Kenny Mayne, Jerry Rice and Len Goodman are back with another edition of "Dance Center." Some highlights: On Kyle's stat sheet, under "Dislikes" Kenny listed, "Anything physical." Kenny notes that Bristol Palin was named after the Bristol Inn, where her mom worked when Bristol was born. "Good thing she didn't work at a place called Barf," Kenny quips. In the second part of "Dance Center," Kenny and Jerry stage an intervention because of Len's obsession with Brandy. Kenny asks Len to explain an oddity: "This show's getting weirder every season," he says after a string of clips in which Derek is slowing rocking Jennifer in his arms. "Derek could be her son. She's, like, 50 years old. Her name's baby and he's rocking her. Make sense of that, old man." Be our guest: Singer Taio Cruz dropped by to perform his single, "Dynamite." Later, John Legend and The Roots performed their new song, "Wake Up Everybody." Later, John Legend and The Roots return to perform Legend's Grammy-winning hit, "Ordinary People." Back to the results: Jennifer & Derek and Kurt & Anna are called to the stage next. Jennifer & Derek are safe and Kurt & Anna area still in jeopardy. Later, Brandy & Maks and Bristol & Mark come to the stage for results. The next couple safe is Bristol & Mark, leaving Brandy & Maks in jeopardy. Maks vs. Carrie Ann: The argument between Maks and Carrie Ann on Monday resurfaces a few times Tuesday. Brooke Burke asks Brandy backstage if she understood Carrie Ann's criticism and Brandy says she did. Asked what she was thinking during the verbal tussle, Brandy said, "Stay out of it." Later, Brooke asks Maks if he has anything to say about it, and he apologizes "to the fans" because that's not the kind of drama they want to see. He says he'll "go back to being cool." Asked if he has anything to say to Carrie Ann, he says, "Let's just do our jobs." Tom notes that Maks' return to "being cool lasted all of 12 seconds." The final result: Brandy & Maks and Kurt & Anna's fates hang in the balance -- though they aren't necessarily the bottom two. Tom finally reveals that the couple going home is ... well, not yet. Bruno says the competition would lose "a real gentleman" if Kurt goes home. Carrie Ann reiterates that she expects to see Brandy in the final. She tells Maks she's "always respected" all of the pros, "so I hope that you will let it go." Now, the couple with the lowest combined total and leaving this week is ... Kurt & Anna. The crowd cheers "MVP! MVP!" as Kurt does his final dance.
- On this Veteran's Day, contestants dedicate their dances to America's veterans with an appropriate theme. Then it's time for this year's dance trios. But will two choreographers spoil the dance?
- Julienne Hough returns as a guest judge in Len's absence. Injuries continue to impact the competition as three contestants perform with injured knees, one with a injured shoulder, one with a virus and two narrowly avoid concussions.
- For the semifinals the six couples perform two dances to two different versions of the same song in an evening heavy with tangos. Maks returns as a guest judge.
- Kellie Pickler returns as a quest performer. Contestants perform a ballroom dance that they previously struggled with, a samba relay with TLC performing their music and the no-holds-barred freestyle. Couples choose the fusion dances for the season finale. One couple is eliminated.
- Robin Roberts joins the judges panel for this week's competition as couples perform dances inspired by the stars most memorable years. Injuries claim their first victim as Billy Dee Williams is unable to perform and is disqualified.
- The couples celebrate memorable experiences by dancing to a song of the celebrity partner's choosing.
- The nine remaining couples perform to songs from Disney films; Alfonso Ribeiro, Auli'i Cravalho; Donny Osmond and ZZ Ward perform.
- Each of the remaining 12 celebrities perform a samba, rumba, cha cha, Paso Doblé, Argentine Tango, or salsa dance; an elimination.
- 2005– 1h 26mTV-PG7.9 (34)TV EpisodeThe eleven couples perform dances which celebrate the contestants' most memorable years, with one couple eliminated.
- The nine couples perform Halloween-themed dances, with guest performers including JabbaWockeez, Allison Holker and Stephen Boss; one couple is eliminated.
- 2005– 1h 26mTV-PG7.8 (26)TV EpisodeA medley of songs from some of the most popular boy bands and girl groups in history; the six remaining couples compete; guest judges Emma Bunton and Joey Fatone.
- Host Tom Bergeron amped up the drama by reminded viewers that in eight seasons, "Dancing with the Stars" has never seen anything like this. Coming on the heels of wild injuries, bizarre moves and the most shocking elimination escape, perhaps, in the show's history comes a double elimination as two couples would go home Tuesday. On Monday, it was time to perform a pair of new dances, The Lindy Hop and the Argentine Tango. Judge Len Goodman explained that the Argentine Tango is less strict than the ballroom tango normally seen on the show, which is a ballroom tango in which the dancers stay cheek to cheek. He said The Lindy Hop is fun with lifts and throws, similar to the Jitterbug. David & Kym: A week after impressing the judges with his Fox Trot, David Alan Grier and his partner Kym Johnson were the first to take on The Lindy Hope. They went to a local club where people were doing the dance so that David could see how it was done. He was excited about the possibilities. They gave a high-energy performance complete with all the tosses and throws you could imagine, including a cartwheel by both dancers. Len said "not your best, but by no means, not your worst." Bruno Tonioli said that they lost the timing and footwork at times. Carrie Ann Inaba praised David for hanging in there even though he wasn't the youngest cookie in the competition. Scores: 8, 7, and 7. Total: 22. Lil Kim & Derek: Lil Kim was set to bring her "bionic booty," in Len's words, to the Argentine Tango. In rehearsal, Lil Kim's partner Derek Hough tried, with varying results, to keep the serious intensity that the dance required. Derek also struggled teach the dance because he didn't really know it. The couple received a standing ovation for a captivating performance. Bruno stood up to give his comments with enthusiasm, calling it "a terrific tango with terrific choreography. Wow." Carrie Ann called Lil Kim "the real deal" and said they did a great job. Len said he was "knocked out" with the choreography, but wasn't so impressed with the sensuality of the dance. Scores: 9, 8, and 10 -- the first "10" of the season. Total: 27. Chuck & Julianne: Country singer Chuck Wicks was trying to prove that Carrien Ann was right last week when she called him a contender. His partner Julianne Hough tried to get him to do a backflip over her during their Lindy Hop, but she scrapped it from the routine because he had a fear of landing on his head. Carrie Ann said it was good, but she wanted to see Chuck "go for it" just a little more. Len said it was "competent," but that would only get him so far in the competition. Bruno said it had to be more crisp. Scores: 8, 7, and 7. Total: 22. Lawrence & Edyta: NFL legend Lawrence Taylor was wondering what he had to do to get an 8 after what he thought was his best performance and still falling short of higher marks from the judges. His partner Edyta Sliwinska stressed the seductive nature of the Argentine Tango. "I'll still be married after this dance, right?" Lawrence asked her. "We'll see," she said. Edyta's husband, Alex Mazo, came in to show him how it was done. Lawrence said it was a big help. Len said they did a good job but said it was heavy, lacked passion and Lawrence looked uncomfortable. Bruno totally disagreed, saying Lawrence was menacing, intense and portrayed danger. He did agree that Lawrence was walking more than gliding at times. Carrie Ann said Lawrence exuded power but said they were lacking a bit of chemistry. Scores: 7, 5, and 7. Total: 19. Ty & Chelsie: Rodeo champ Ty Murray saved his partner Chelsie Hightower last week when she slipped on her dress. She apologized to him in rehearsal and he said she should get a shorter dress. She had him practice by himself because there would be times when they wouldn't be together on the dance floor. They tried some big lifts and throws, one of which landed Chelsie flat on her back and she asked Ty why he was trying to get her out of the competition. Bruno said Ty was jumping and kicking with the mentality of a young stallion. He said Ty was still a bit rough around the edges, but was coming up by leaps and bounds. Carrie Ann said, "Ty Murray is a dancer!" She praised Chelsie for being a special teacher. Len was ecstatic and remembered he gave Ty a "4" in the first week and said it was a "great wonder" overall. Scores: 9, 8, and 8. Total: 25. Steve & Karina: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak realized he had to work harder after coming dangerously close to elimination last week. His partner Karina Smirnoff promised to show the viewers something they wouldn't expect. After Steve promised that "the geeks shall inherit the Earth," he and Karina did their Argentine Tango. Carrie Ann said she loved what Steve represented, calling him the ultimate underdog. She said there wasn't much going on with the routine. "I'm trying to find something to say, and I'm still searching," Carrie Ann said. Len congratulated Steve for coming out and trying a proper tango and said there was an improvement from last week, although "almost anything that happened would be an improvement." Bruno said, "We all know that the tango originated in the ghettos of Buenos Aires, but the only right thing you picked up from that is the stench, because that really stunk." Steve replied with three words, "I'm still standing." Scores: 4, 4, and 4. Total: 12. Melissa & Tony: A week after landing in a three-way tie for first place, "Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft said there was a new kind of pressure. She and partner Tony Dovolani had a good time practicing the Lindy Hop, even though one of their moves ended up with Melissa's face in Tony's crotch. Would it translate to as much fun on the dance floor? It was packed with wild flips and throws and they nailed every one. Len said Melissa had the potential to go all the way. Bruno said it was "truly, truly eye-popping and bursting with excitement." Carrie Ann gave them both high-fives and said, "Now I'm in impressed," and said it was the best choreography she'd ever seen from Tony. Scores: 10, 9, and 10. Total: 29. Holly & Dmitry: A week after surviving a brush with elimination, former "Girl Next Door" Holly Madison had to pull out all the stops for the Argentine Tango. She injured her ribs during last week's performance and it threatened to stop her in practice. She visited the doctor, who told her she'd strained the muscles around her ribs. He said she wouldn't do further damage by continuing to dance, but would be sore. She pushed through and did the Argentine Tango with partner Dmitry Chaplin. Bruno said it was a bad start and kept getting worse. Carrie Ann said Holly hung in there, but said Holly needed to build some strength. Len said the routine was fantastic and he could tell the early slip-up at the start threw her off for the whole thing. Scores: 5, 6, and 5. Total: 16. Steve-O & Lacey: "Jackass" star Steve-O forgot his steps last week, after getting hurt the week before, but thought he could redeem himself with the Lindy Hop. He was stressed in practice, so his partner Lacey Schwimmer brought him a clown suit to help him lighten up. Steve-O explained that he got his start in entertainment as a clown act and it helped him tap into that sense of free-wheeling fun needed for the Lindy Hop. Carrie Ann was thankful Steve-O got through his routine but said he was still following Lacey and she wanted him to be a leader. Len agreed that timing was the big issue. Bruno said Steve-O was overthinking his routines, which puts a barrier between him and the audience. Scores: 5, 5, and 5. Total: 15. Gilles & Cheryl: Actor Gilles Marini was coming off a huge week, and hoped to keep it going with an Argentine Tango. His partner Cheryl Burke said he was putting too much pressure on himself, which was making him mess up the steps. Cheryl tried to get him to take advantage of his acting skills during the dance, which requires lots of drama. He tapped into something that brought the crowd to its feet for an extended standing ovation. Carrie Ann fanned herself with a notepad. Len said "it was another fantastic performance," and said Gilles showed every element of a dance that has several. Bruno said "what you have here is the quintessential Latin lover." Carrie Ann said she couldn't feel her face and said, "the honest truth is in that number, I could not tell who was the professional and who wasn't." Scores: 10, 10, and 10. Total: 30 -- the first of the season. Shawn & Mark: Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson got a chance to work her gymnastics skills into the routine. She took her partner Mark Ballas to the gym to show him where she gets to have fun. She said the Lindy Hop was her dance. Was she right? Bruno said it was a spectacular feast of tricks and gymnastics, but told her to remember she's also a good dancer so she should do more dancing. Carrie Ann said the tricks and flips were great, but the footwork was a bit heavy. Len said there were too many tricks and said there was a little bit more dancing needed. Scores: 8, 8, and 9. Total: 25. LEADERBOARD: Gilles & Cheryl: 30 Melissa & Tony: 29 Lil Kim & Derek: 27 Ty & Chelsie: 25 Shawn & Mark: 25 David & Kym: 22 Chuck & Julianne: 22 Lawrence & Edyta: 19 Holly & Dmitry: 16 Steve-O & Lacey: 15 Steve & Karina: 12
- The remaining couples perform dances inspired by horror movies and television shows.
- Hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke wasted no time getting to the results Tuesday night on "Dancing with the Stars," calling Kyle & Lacey and Brandy & Maks to the stage before the audience's initial applause had faded. Kyle & Lacey were safe, but Brandy & Maks were still in jeopardy. Tom quickly went into Bruno's comments on Michael Bolton, saying he was a little hard on him. But Bruno didn't back down, saying he thought Rin Tin Tin could have danced a better jive. Bruno said his job is to critique, but Len shot back that the judges' job is to educate and encourage the dancers, and he felt Bruno was "too harsh." Len said the judges, despite disagreeing on some things, all agreed on the encore. They asked Kyle & Lacey to dance their quickstep again. Be our guest: Singer Janelle Monae paid a visit to perform her song, "Tightrope." Later, some dancers choreographed by "Rich & Tone" gave a pretty tremendous performance. Even later, Seal hit the stage to perform his new song, "The Weight of My Mistakes." Backstage, Brooke asked Florence about her earlier comment that if she made it to Week 3, she'd "lock lips" with Len. She wanted to know what Florence would do if she made it to Week 4. Her response: "I will lock hips with him." She also took an opportunity to try to clear up the question of whether Sarah Palin had been booed. They showed a clip of footage from the judges' camera, which appeared to show that fans in the audience were booing the 8s that the judges gave to Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough. Tom then cracked a joke about how Palin herself told him later that she didn't know what the controversy was about because she, too, was booing the judges. Back to the results: Florence & Corky, "The Situation" & Karina, and Bristol & Mark were the next three couples called to the stage. The first of the three couples safe to dance another week was Florence & Corky. Also joining them were Bristol & Mark. "The Situation" & Karina were still in jeopardy. Next up were Audrina & Tony and Jennifer & Derek. Both were safe. After a featurette about how much each couple wants to win, four more couples were called to the stage: Michael & Chelsie, Kurt & Anna, Rick & Cheryl, and Margaret & Louis. The next safe couple was Kurt & Anna, joined by Margaret & Louis. The other two couples would have to wait a little longer to learn their fates. Backstage, Michael took an opportunity to say he thought Bruno was "inappropriate and disrespectful." Bruno responded by giving himself a slap on the hand. The next couple safe was Rick & Cheryl. That left three couples, including "The Situation" & Karina, Brandy & Maks, and Michael & Chelsie. After a break, Tom announced that the next couple safe was Brandy & Maks, leaving "The Situation" & Karina and Michael & Chelsie. Finally, Tom said the couple with the lowest combined total was ... Michael & Chelsie. Michael said he was surprised and disappointed to get kicked off.
- Hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke waste no time getting to the results after a fiery night of competition. The three top scorers are called to the stage first. To the results: Audrina & Tony, Brandy & Maks, and Jennifer & Derek come out to learn their fates. Even Tom can't squeeze much drama out of the moment, quickly telling all three couples they're safe. Play it again...: Not much of a surprise as Len asks for Jennifer & Derek to reprise the Argentine tango that on Monday night earned the first 10s of the season. Be our guests: We're magically whisked away to 1998 as Goo Goo Dolls take the "Dancing" stage to perform "Iris" and their new single, "Notbroken." Later, the cast of Forever Tango paid a visit and showed some mad dance skills. After that, Florence and the Machine performed "Dog Days Are Over." Unfinished business: Addressing something Len mentioned Monday night about how he doesn't go around ripping his shirt off, Tom asked for the director to roll a clip of a "Dance Center" segment with Kenny Mayne and Jerry Rice in which Len, in fact, appeared shirtless behind the desk. Back to the results: Bristol & Mark and Kyle & Lacey are called to the stage next. Kyle & Lacey are safe. That leaves Bristol & Mark in jeopardy. Rick & Cheryl and Kurt & Anna came out next. The next couple definitely coming back next week is Rick & Cheryl. Kurt & Anna, meanwhile, are still in jeopardy. In his testimonials after being scored by the judges, "The Situation" was upset that the judges didn't acknowledge the progress he's made in the competition. He got up and stormed away, saying, "I'm done with it." "The Situation" & Karina join Florence & Corky on stage for the next set of results. Sure enough, Florence & Corky are safe, while "The Situation" & Karina are still in jeopardy. Finally, the second-to-last couple safe is revealed to be Kurt & Anna. Down to Bristol & Mark and "The Situation" & Karina, the couple leaving the competition is "The Situation" & Karina. In a bit of an extended exit interview, "The Situation" gets a chance to express how committed he's become to the show and the competition, but if the fourth round is his time to go, "It is what it is."
- With the leader board just about as close as it's ever been, the suspense builds as Tuesday's "Dancing with the Stars" results show kicks off with some quick results. To the results: The top three couples from Monday night are called out first. Chelsea & Mark learn their still in jeopardy while Hines & Kym and Ralph & Karina learn they are safe. Play it again...: Moments after getting the dreaded red light of doom cast upon them, head judge Len Goodman asks Chelsea & Mark to do an encore performance of their routine -- despite the fact that Len didn't think it honored the 300-year-old history of the Viennese waltz. Be our guest: After Len puts on some Patton-themed call to arms (or legs?) as a militaristic general of dance in an odd featurette, Oscar and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson hits the stage -- and just about every other corner of the studio -- to perform her new song, "Don't Look Down." She later returned to do a snazzy rendition of "Feeling Good" that gave her a chance to show off her chops and show off that massive 46-piece orchestra the show hired for Classical Week. A notable Macy's Stars of Dance performance this week called upon the classic "Swan Lake." Back to the results: Chris & Cheryl are the next couple to learn they're safe, followed by Romeo & Chelsie. Petra & Dmitry, however, are still in jeopardy. In one bit of notable backstage commentary, Kendra blames her lackluster performance Monday night on "hormones," which at least helps explain why she clearly didn't seem to care and landed on the bottom of the leader board. Later, we see Louis telling Kendra she embarrassed him by saying she doesn't care about elegance. She cries. FInally, the next couple safe is Kirstie & Maks. Also safe are Kendra & Louis, leaving Sugar Ray & Anna in danger of a knockout. With the final three jeopardized couples in place, we learn that Petra & Dmitry are safe. Now it's down to Chelsea & Mark, who topped the leader board Monday night, and Sugar Ray & Anna, who were second from the bottom. The third couple going home is ... Sugar Ray & Anna.
- The theme's Bond - James Bond. The 14 remaining couples take on Week Three of the competition.
- The ballroom has tricks and treats. The couples perform haunting routines and take on a team dance.
- Dancing with the Stars nostalgic prom night turns out to be a challenge for several of the stars who, surprisingly didn't attend their proms.
- Tonight's elimination includes the home audience votes from week one and the judges scores from weeks one and two. But with most of the couples dancing like it's week five and the weaker dancers being popular with the audience it's anyone's guess who's going home.
- Couple perform dances inspired by famous couples vying for immunity from elimination and to avoid a dance off.
- DWTS contestants of season 21 dance to famous Halloween songs, while also peforming a team dance to get extra good scores.
- 3 contestants are left on season 21 of DWTS. Each will perform another dance and 1 will be crowned champion of this season of DWTS. Bindi Irwin paired with Derek Hough won this season.
- Each couple performs one of the following: tango, quickstep, foxtrot, or Viennese waltz; the first elimination of the season.
- "Dancing with the Stars" host Tom Bergeron promised at the start of the episode that "double the dancing means double the pressure," and that's a big statement in what has already been a tension-packed season. The stress reached a climax last week with dancing pro Derek Hough knocked the rest of the dancers for their "heel leads" and "the horrific, demented lines" after taking some criticism from the judges. Hough and his partner Shannon Elizabeth apologized to the rest of the dancers, but did the tirade signal their end? It was getting heated as the dancers took on two individual routines for the first time this season, a traditional ballroom dance and a Latin dance. Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur was coming off her best score of the season and said she couldn't believe she was still in the competition. Marissa and her partner Tony Davolani first took on the tango. It was a passionate, dramatic rendition. Judge Len Goodman said the first couple of weeks he thought the first couple of weeks, Marissa was not so good, then flattened out the past few weeks. But he wrapped up to say, "three words: your best dance." Bruno Tonioli said "great job." Carrie Ann Inaba said she's pushing herself and called the performance "fantastic." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Cristian & Cheryl: Actor Cristian de la Fuente saved folks from seeing Len's bare bottom in a supermarket. Cristian and his partner Cheryl Burke first danced the Viennese waltz to Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You," which was a little awkward because his background video said he was going to dance as if he was dancing with his daughter. Bruno said the interplay between the dancers was brilliant and called it "a pleasure to watch." Carrie Ann criticized, "just a hair," a slight lack of energy, but enjoyed it. Len said it had a bit of romance about it, but there wasn't enough Viennese waltz and would have preferred a more traditional version of the dance. Scores: 8, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Kristi & Mark: Olympian Kristi Yamaguchiand her partner Mark Ballas Jr. were coming off the first perfect score of the season, but seemed to have some trouble in rehearsal with two dances (so, what, they'll only score 29?). Kristi said she felt the rest of the pack breathing down her neck, "but I kinda like it." She used a sparkly umbrella as a prop as they danced the Viennese waltz to Avril Lavigne's "I'm With You." An open umbrella indoors after a perfect 30? Sounds like bad luck to me. It didn't seem quite as fluid and graceful as their past performances, but let's see what the judges thought. Carrie Ann said they took a risk with the prop, but it worked. She said that technically the turns were a little off. Len said some moves were impressive, but the start was a little long and said "you don't need props." Bruno said it worked and it was good to see Kristi acting the part. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Mario & Karina: Mario needs to do something to impress the viewers more as his highest score of the season still landed him in the bottom two. In addition to the two dances for the show this week, Mario had to learn the choreography for his new music video. Would it hurt him? Mario and his partner Karina Smirnoff danced the foxtrot. Len said Mario is a real role model for other 21-year-olds, but said Mario is not the most elegant of dancers, but said "well done and a good job." Bruno said the foxtrot requires a lot of control and sometimes Mario is "not quite there." Carrie Ann complimented him on taking on very ambitious and difficult routines and said he needs to be a little stiffer on the more traditional ballroom dances. Scores: 8, 8 and 8. Shannon & Derek: After an emotional outburst last week, actress Shannon Elizabeth and her partner Derek Hough had to wonder if their comments about the judges were going to hurt them. Derek told Shannon in rehearsal that they had no time to worry about the judges. Derek was bring a strict teacher in rehearsal and an annoyed Shannon threatened that he could be "going home alone tonight." Guess that clears things up, huh? Shannon and Derek sought to channel their aggression into the passionate tango. They both looked a little distracted as they seemed to miss a fair amount of moves, and it looked like she missed taking Derek's hat off toward the end of the routine. Bruno said the tango is "a bitch of a dance to master" but that the performance was "fascinating." Carrie Ann said it was their "best dance yet." Len thought they did "a terrific job." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Jason & Edyta: After finishing second to last, NFL star Jason Taylor realized that he and partner Edyta Sliwinska had their backs to the wall for the first time. Jason and Edyta danced the quickstep and Jason ran to the judges' table and tossed a stack of paper in the air. Carrie Ann said it was all fantastic. Len said that "with performances like that, you're in the final." Bruno said "that wasn't the quickstep, it was quick lightning!" He finished by calling it "the performance of the night." Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Scoreboard check: After the first round of dances, a check of the scoreboard showed Jason & Edyta in the lead with 29; Marissa & Tony and Shannon & Derek tied for second with 27; Kristi & Mark in fourth with 26; Cristian & Cheryl in fifth with 25; and Mario & Karina in last with 24 points. Marissa & Tony: Marissa and Tony followed up their 27-point tango with a sultry rumba. It was graceful and romantic. Bruno said they could have pushed a little more on the sex, "but it was nice." Carrie Ann disagreed and said she thought it was beautiful. She said everything was fluid and said it was great. Len praised Marissa for acting the part, but said there wasn't enough hip action and it was "all a tad careful." Scores: 9, 8 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Combined score: 52. Cristian & Cheryl: Cristian and Cheryl went from the Viennese waltz to the saucy samba, but it turned somewhat disastrous when Cristian apparently pulled a muscle in his arm. He stopped dancing at one point and, at the end, fell over Cheryl as she dropped herself into his arms and fell to the floor. He wanted to continue to the judges' scores, but Bergeron took the show to a break so he could get checked. Carrie Ann said it was difficult to comment but said the dance is judged up to the point when the injury occurred. She said she was sorry she didn't get to see the whole dance and appreciated that he tried to pull through and was there for Cheryl. Len also praised Cristian for his bravery in carrying on and continuing. Bruno said the judges would have to judge on what they saw, but that he hoped Cristian would come back. Medics said Cristian suffered severe cramping in his arm. Scores: 7, 7 and 7. Combined score: 46. Update: Bergeron later told viewers that Cristian had gone to the hospital to get his arm checked and that he wouldn't be around for the end of the show. Kristi & Mark: Kristi and Mark danced the cha cha cha to Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music." The high energy, upbeat performance was a welcome relief after Cristian's awkward finish. Len went on a tirade about "boogaloo hip hop dancing." He didn't like the choreography. Bruno told him to "get rid of the cobwebs." Bruno said it was a fantastic cha cha cha, "kids are gonna love it and I'm gonna love it!" Carrie Ann, the former "In Living Color" Fly Girl, gave her "two snaps up." Scores: 10, 8 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Combined score: 54. Mario & Karina: Entering the second half of the night with the lowest first-round score, Mario and Karina danced the mambo. Bruno called it "fast, furious and dangerous" and called the Latin dances Mario's comfort zone. Carrie Ann said the couple "set this place on fire." Len called it "wild, wacky, wonderful." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Combined score: 51. Shannon & Derek: After landing in a tie for second place after the first round, Shannon and Derek danced the mambo, with Shannon starting and ending with moves aimed directly at Len. Carrie Ann told Shannon she wasn't trying to be cruel but some of her lines still look a bit awkward. She told Shannon that because she has long limbs, it takes a lot more work for her than someone like Kristi to get those lines to look right. Len said he thought he'd died and gone to heaven. Len agreed that her movements are sometimes a bit gawky. Bruno said that sometimes she has to watch the gangliness in her moves. Scores: 8, 8 and 8. Combined score: 51 Jason & Edyta:After a near-perfect first dance, Jason and Edyta returned with a dramatic paso doble to the "Monday Night Football" theme song, with Jason wearing eye black on his face and his Miami Dolphins colored sweatpants and Edyta in a Dolphins' color schemed outfit. Len praised Jason's attack, but said there was a bit too much posing going on, "but when you've got a body like yours and mine, we like to pose." Bruno seemed to like it. Carrie Ann called it an unconventional paso doble that she enjoyed, but called out Edyta on lifting her foot at one point. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Combined score: 55. Scoreboard: Jason & Edyta: 55 Kristi & Mark: 54 Marissa & Tony: 52 Shannon & Derek: 51 Mario & Karina: 51 Cristian & Cheryl: 46
- The dancers' spirits were lifted as, with just five couples remaining, the judges decided to allow them to do a lift in their routines, which is usually a no-no that results in being penalized one point. NFL star Jason Taylor crept into the top spot a week earlier by finally bumped Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi down a notch, but all eyes this week would be on Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente, who is continuing through the competition despite the ruptured tendons in his left arm. Kristi & Mark: Kristi was coping with not being the leader for the first time. Kristi's partner Mark Ballas Jr. opted not to do a lift in the samba because it didn't fit with the character of the dance. First up, though, was their quickstep, which they finished was the lift. Judge Len Goodman said he's been fed up all day, but Kristi's dance made him feel better. Bruno Tonioli said it was beautifully moved around the floor. Carrie Ann said Kristi and Mark just got a little out of sync, but "I still think you're fantastic." Scores: 9, 10 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Mario & Karina: R&B star Mario was still reeling from being called "not the most elegant dancer," and sought to prove that he's more than just a Latin dancer. Mario and Karina first danced the Viennese waltz. They incorporated a sweeping lift in the middle of the routine. Bruno called Mario "Prince Mario," and said "everything we've asked you to do, you've done it." Carrie Ann said Mario's posture was the best she's seen from him and she thought the lift was great. Len said it was the most elegant he'd seen Mario dance. Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur got her best scores of the season last week, but still landed in the bottom two. Marissa's partner Tony Dovolani said he decided to put a lift into their dance to show her that he really believes in her. Marissa and Tony danced the foxtrot to "New York, New York." The couple worked a lift into the final move. Carrie Ann said she loved it and said that Marissa brought the most joy out there. Len said Marissa looks great when she's in holds. Bruno said some of the couples' movements weren't quite appropriate for a dance in the quarterfinals. Scores: 9, 8 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Jason & Edyta: Now in the top spot, Jason said he'd have to pull out all of the stops to continue to impress the judges. Jason and Edyta seemed a little overzealous about their lifts in rehearsal. Would that come cross the in the performance? They did a total of about three lifts. Len said it was more like an Argentine tango than a ballroom tango. Bruno said it was stunning. Carrie Ann thought they brought a whole new dynamic. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Cristian & Cheryl: Cristian was working on a dance that would disguise or avoid his injury. Playing up the one-armed situation with a Michael Jackson-inspired single glove on his good hand as he and partner Cheryl Burke danced the tango to "Beat It." Bruno said there was absolutely no way that one could see any problems with this. Carrie Ann agreed, saying she was looking for what could go wrong and found nothing. Len appreciated the performance and complimented Cheryl on the choreography. Scores: 10, 9 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Scoreboard (after the ballroom round): Jason & Edyta: 29 Kristi & Mark: 29 Cristian & Cheryl: 28 Mario & Karina: 27 Marissa & Tony: 25 Kristi & Mark: Kristi and Mark followed up their quickstep with a samba that didn't include a lift. Carrie Ann look perplexed and said she couldn't believe she was going to say it, but, she "didn't care for it" and said it felt a little bit out of control. Len said that the dance lost something. Bruno defended Kristi and Mark, saying that of course the routines are difficult. Scores: 8, 9 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Mario & Karina: For their second dance of the night, Mario and Karina danced the jive, starting with Mario doing a cartwheel over a seated Karina Smirnoff. They ended their dance with a complicated run of lifts and throws that nearly saw Mario drop Karina. But they pulled through. Len said the whole thing had a roughness about it. Bruno said it was the spirit of what the jive should Carrie Ann said they brought a whole new flavor to the jive and she loved it. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Marissa & Tony: Marissa and Tony danced the mambo for the Latin round and Marissa appeared to forget a step early on. The whole thing had a choppiness to it that made it tough to get excited about. Bruno said he wanted more of that. Carrie Ann said, "I love the way you go for it." Len said it was "just a little bit careful." Scores 8, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Jason & Edyta: Jason tried to tap into his flamboyant side for a turn at the samba. It included a huge lift at the end, where Edyta swung her legs straight up, doing almost a handstand in Jason's arms. Carrie Ann said Jason's attempt at flamboyance didn't work out and said it proved that the samba is a difficult dance. Len said it was "alright," but said that nearing the semi-finals, "I don't alright is good enough." Bruno said that after a series of blockbusters, Jason "got a turkey tonight." Scores: 8, 7 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Cristian & Cheryl: Coming off a 28 in the first round, Cristian and Cheryl went for the mambo. Cristian was working the heck out of his one good arm, finishing the dance with a one-armed lift where he held Cheryl in the air over his hip. Len said it was full of energy and that he was surprised at how many under-arm turns they could do with just one arm. Bruno said it had more energy than a volcano in the Andes. Carrie Ann said they were definitely on fire. When the scores were read, Cristian pumped his good fist in the air and received congratulations from the rest of the dancer. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Scoreboard: Cristian & Cheryl: 57 Kristi & Mark: 55 Mario & Karina: 53 Jason & Edyta: 52 Marissa & Tony: 50
- With just five couples left, the couples finally had to take on two individual performances for the first time this season. They'd be traveling through the decades and into the future with their dances this week. The night began with the pros breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of their competitors, but it was soon on to the dancing. Chad & Cheryl: Chad was getting focused in rehearsal and that meant he was getting quiet, which Cheryl didn't like. He said it was time to get serious, and they went out and performed the tango. Head judge Len Goodman said that learning two dances in a week puts the spotlight on any imperfections, and that's what he thought happened with Chad. Bruno Tonioli agreed and said the dance had to be "slicker," but his emotion was good. Carrie Ann Inaba also agreed and also remarked on Chad's lack of posture. Scores: 7, 7, and 7. Total: 21 Niecy & Louis: Coming off her best dance of the season -- despite still landing at the bottom of the leader board -- comedian Niecy Nash knew she had something the other dancers didn't. "I don't know what it is yet," she admitted, but she was going to find it. She was tired after long days of working a couple of different jobs, but Niecy took to her Viennese waltz like a pro. Bruno said it was very pretty at the beginning, but that at times she looked a little out of control. Still, he thought it was "a good performance." Carrie Ann said Niecy's transitions weren't quite there. Len said he was "pleasantly surprised." Scores: 7, 8, and 8. Total: 23 Erin & Maks: ESPN reporter Erin Andrews had some trouble listening to her partner again as he tried to get her to practice a jump off the stage during rehearsals. They danced their Argentine tango and she pulled off the jump and the rest of the routine to near perfection. Carrie Ann kissed Len on the cheek to express how great, "fantastic" and "truly beautiful" she thought it was. Len called Erin a "dirty, dirty girl" and said he "absolutely loved it." Bruno agreed with the other judges and said Erin was "on fire." Scores: 9, 10 and 9. Total: 28 Evan & Anna: After making it back from his worst performance of the season and providing the season's best performance overall, figure skater Evan Lysacek took his partner Anna to an ice rink to celebrate. He spun her around a few times. In rehearsal, Anna urged Evan not to come off as "cold" during their waltz. Len said he genuinely wasn't sure whether he liked it or not. Bruno said Evan's "top half" was "something to behold." Carrie Ann agreed that Evan's lines were impeccable, but she encouraged him to lose himself in the moment. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27 Nicole & Derek: A week after being told she was the best dancer the show has ever seen, Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger has a minor breakdown as she talked about the expectations laid on her. They danced the foxtrot. Bruno called it "one and a half minutes of pure dancing joy." Carrie Ann was glad to see Nicole smiling and said Nicole was "dazzling and just defying my imagination." Len jumped on board and said she turned the dance into a beautiful love story. Scores: 10, 9, and 10. Total: 29 Dances from the future: To demonstrate what it meant to translate a dance into a specific decade, or even the future, pros Garry and Rita Gekhman performed a robotic dance that got them disqualified from the 2006 World Championships for being "too edgy." Chad & Cheryl: For their decade-centric Latin dance, Chad drew a jive from the 1960s. Len said it was high-energy, fun and entertaining. He said he was glad there weren't more kicks, "because the few kicks you did do you were terrible." Bruno enjoyed it and said it was good to see Chad smile again. Carrie Ann thought it was great and even the wild energy suited the dance. Scores: 8, 8, and 8. Total: 24 Niecy & Louis: Niecy drew a paso doble from the '90s, "the era of the divas," as Louis said. He thought it was perfect for Niecy. Bruno said Niecy threw herself into it, but like an avalanche. He said she looked unsteady a lot of the time. Carrie Ann said it was Niecy's most ambitious dance, so far, but agreed that it was a bit out of control. Len said the paso just didn't suit Niecy's personality. Scores: 7, 6, and 7. Total: 20 Erin & Maks: Erin got a 1980s rumba, but Maks decided they weren't going to dance it in a 1980s way, because he didn't know how to do that. Carrie Ann told Erin she needed to believe in herself as a contender. Len said the whole thing had some "jerky" action to it. Bruno said Erin and Maks made "great music together" and said they should be in the finals. Scores: 8, 8, and 9. Total: 25 Evan & Anna: Evan got a cha cha from the future, and while the dance was normally flirty, but with the futuristic vibe it might take on a different form. Len said Evan got lucky because his Latin dances normally lack rhythm, and he said Evan again confused him. Bruno said it was "Mr. Spock meet Barbarella in 'Cha Cha Trek' in 3-D!" Carrie Ann liked that Evan was more committed to his character. She agreed it was lucky that Evan pulled a futuristic cha cha, but said she liked it more than Len did. Scores: 9, 8, and 9. Total: 26 Nicole & Derek: Derek was thrown off at the thought of what a 1950s paso doble would look like, but that was their task. Bruno loved it, saying it was "full of color" and adding, "the flavor of Spain has never tasted so good." Carrie Ann was speechless, calling Derek's choreography "brilliant" and he matched the era to the dance. Len said it wasn't in his nature to be nice about two dances from one couple in the same night. He said he was disappointed, because there was nothing he could see to criticize. Scores: 10, 10 and 10. Total: 30 LEADER BOARD: Nicole & Derek: 29 + 30 = 59 Erin & Maks: 28 + 25 = 53 Evan & Anna: 27 + 26 = 53 Chad & Cheryl: 21 + 24 = 45 Niecy & Louis: 23 + 20 = 43
- Whose "Dancing with the Stars" run is going to get canceled on TV theme week? We're about to find out. To the results: Kyle & Lacey and Bristol & Mark, the lowest-scoring couples of the night, are the first called to stage. Host Tom Bergeron announces that the first couple safe was Kyle & Lacey. Bristol & Mark, in a stunner, are also safe. Play it again...: Head judge Len Goodman asks to see Brandy & Maks' quickstep a second time, noting that Bruno loved it for the performance, Carrie Ann loved it for the artistry and Len loved it for the technique. Be our guest: Jason Derulo pays a visit to perform his hit single, "In My Head." Later, Shakira hits the stage to perform her latest single, "Loca." Jason returns later to perform his rendition of "Georgia on My Mind." Back to the results: Jennifer & Derek and Brandy & Maks, the highest-scoring couples of the week, were the next called to the stage. The next couple safe is Brandy & Maks. Jennifer & Derek are in jeopardy. Surprise!: A different type of segment tells us about a family from the Congo, with five sons who have colluded with the show to perform for their mother, who is in the audience with them. She loves the show and her kids say it would be a dream for her to watch them perform on it. To the results, once more: Next, Rick & Cheryl and Kurt & Anna, came to the stage. The first couple safe is Kurt & Anna. That means Rick & Cheryl are in jeopardy with Jennifer & Derek. Later, Florence & Corky and Audrina & Tony come out to learn their fates. In the highlight reel from the night before, a replay clearly shows there was a lift in Audrina & Tony's routine, despite Tony's objections and his conspiracy theory that Carrie Ann is out to get him. Florence & Corky are still in jeopardy. The three couples still in jeopardy take the stage once more -- one of them for the last time. The first couple safe is ... Jennifer & Derek. That leaves Florence & Corky and Rick & Cheryl. The couple leaving this week is ... Florence & Corky. Florence says that in her 50-year career in television, "this is one of the best produced shows I've ever been on." She says she hopes she's inspired people to get off their butts "and move and dance" and enjoy life.
- Rock week on "Dancing with the Stars" caused a shakeup on the leader board, especially after the scores for the dance marathon were factored in. Here's a quick reminder: LEADER BOARD (with dance marathon scores added): Brandy & Maks: 26 + 10 = 36 Audrina & Tony: 24 + 8 = 32 Rick & Cheryl: 24 + 6 = 30 Kyle & Lacey: 23 + 7 = 30 Jennifer & Derek: 20 + 9 = 29 Bristol & Mark: 23 + 5 = 28 Kurt & Anna: 18 + 4 = 22 Hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke waste no time getting to the results, calling out the bottom three couples on the leader board: Bristol & Mark, Kurt & Anna, and Jennifer & Derek. The first couple safe is ... Kurt & Anna. Also safe to dance again next week, Tom announces, are Bristol & Mark. That leaves Jennifer & Derek, who Brooke says are still in jeopardy. Play it again...: Len Goodman says he wants to see a couple that "had a real breakthrough," and that was Bristol & Mark. Be our guest: Legendary rockers Heart seal rock week on "Dancing with the Stars" with a bang, blasting their hit, "Barracuda." Later, a group of dancers choreographed by Travis Wall (of "So You Think You Can Dance" fame) and a high school show choir performed to "School's Out" and "We Will Rock You." Back to the results: Kyle & Lacey and Rick & Cheryl, the couples who tied in the middle of the pack with 30 points, are called to the stage. The next couple safe is Rick & Cheryl. Kyle & Lacey are still in jeopardy. Finally, Brandy & Maks and Audrina & Tony came out to the stage. Following a feature about how each remaining couple really wants to win, Brandy & Maks. Audrina & Tony are still in jeopardy. Down to three couples, the next one safe is Kyle & Lacey, leaving Audrina & Tony and Jennifer & Derek -- two couples that have been on top of the leader board four out of the last six weeks. Bruno says he's very surprised to see the bottom two (even though they aren't necessarily the actual bottom two). Carrie Ann says it would "hurt" and "really be a shame" if Jennifer & Derek go home. Len says it's "ludicrous" and "nonsense" that one of these two couples is going home. He says everyone loves and underdog, but we like justice more, and this is an injustice. The couple out is ... Audrina & Tony. Audrina is stunned, but says she's learned a lot and will be coming back to visit.
- It could be instant catastrophe on "Dancing with the Stars" as the celebrities face two dances: a classic ballroom routine and an "instant" dance -- in which they'll know the style of dance in advance, but won't know the song to which they'll be performing until minutes before they take the floor. First, the traditional dances: Kyle & Lacey: A week after impressing the judges with his fiery paso doble, Kyle gets the Viennese waltz. Lacey is tough on Kyle in rehearsal, in hopes of making his footwork perfect for the judges. Len Goodman was caught smiling and goes on to praise Kyle for his improvements. "Last week, I saw, like, a little bud. This week, a gorgeous orchid." Bruno Tonioli says they're all charmed by Kyle and that he keeps taking the judges' comments to heart. Carrie Ann Inaba says her crush on Kyle is back, and it was "like watching a fairy tale come to life." Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Jennifer & Derek: After reclaiming her spot at the top, Jennifer draws the quickstep, which will again test her endurance, and her knee starts acting up during rehearsal. A doctor tells her she has some partial tearing of a tendon in her knee. He says she's at the point of making a tough decision, and she gets a visit from her dad. She says "the show must go on." Bruno says it was like watching a classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers quickstep. Carrie Ann says it was "amazing" and agrees with Bruno on one note about a slight misstep. Len praises her for, borrowing from the lyric of the song she danced to, facing the music and dancing. Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Kurt & Anna: His tango scored him some points last week, and Kurt draws the waltz this week, challenging his ability to pay attention the details and long, smooth movements. Carrie Ann, barely audible over the crowd, says that she wants a Ken doll that looks like Kurt and would like the doll to ballroom dance the way Kurt does. She says that while he's not on the same level as the others, it's nice to see him working hard. Len says there are technical things he could improve, but overall the feel of the dance was good. Bruno says he could really see Kurt is trying do it, adding, "Obviously, there are people that are better than you, but you've come a long way." Scores: 8, 8, 8. Total: 24 Bristol & Mark: Bristol cried last week despite getting getting her highest scores of the season. She sets out to see her family and gives us another chance to see Sarah Palin on TV in advance of her reality show premiering on Nov. 14. They dance the Argentine tango. Len says the lifts were good and it was well rehearsed, but it "lacked a bit of intensity." Bruno says Bristol sometimes loses the expression on her face, but she did well. Still, he wants more fire when she dances again. Carrie Ann says it was the most intense she's seen her, but she wants to see more energy in Bristol's legs. Scores: 8, 8, 8. Total: 24 Brandy & Maks: After maintaining her spot at the top of the leader board, Brandy is worried about whether she'll actually be safe despite high scores. They drew the waltz. She's glad that she and Maks have become "true partners" after butting heads earlier in the season. Bruno says she was totally immersed in her character and "danced absolutely beautifully." Carrie Ann says the emotional quality of her dance is riveting. She advises Brandy to watch her neck, literally. She suggests that she elongate her neck in the future. Len says only a nit-picky judge would point out her neck, saying he was overwhelmed by the entire performance. Scores: 9, 10, 10. Total: 29 Kyle & Lacey: Kyle & Lacey rehearsed their jive throughout the week, despite not knowing what their song would be. To help in the process, Lacey brought in her former partner, Steve-O, to try to distract Kyle as he learned his steps. First, he blew an airhorn in Kyle's ear before blowing bubbles in Kyle's face and eventually just walking into the rehearsal space naked. Kyle vowed he would not be distracted. The crowd goes insane for their high-intensity jive to "Good Golly Miss Molly." Len says he would've liked a little more finesse here and there, but he "really enjoyed it." Bruno stands up and shouts it was great entertainment and creativity. He says their timing was unbelievable and they looked like they were rehearsing together for months. Carrie Ann says it's the most fun she's had as a viewer and a judge in the whole contest. Scores: 10, 9, 10. Total: 29 Jennifer & Derek: Having drawn the rumba to Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You," Derek hoped they could rely on their chemistry to get them through. Bruno says this challenge is bringing out the best in people and calls it "absolutely superb" and "flawless." Carrie Ann points out that one balancing move Jennifer did was great. She says there's nothing more beautiful than watching someone reclaiming their power. Len says it highlighted what he likes in dancing, the differences between the big, small, soft and hard sequences. Scores: 10, 10, 10. Total: 30 Kurt & Anna: Drawing the cha cha cha to No Doubt's "Hella Good," Anna says she had to try to teach Kurt the moves by counting rather than with the aid of the music, which was difficult for him. His kids showed up at rehearsal to help him through it. Carrie Ann says musicality has never been Kurt's strong suit, but he nailed every single beat. She says she's never seen him dance with that kind of charisma and says there was a newfound sex appeal. Len says Kurt was fully focused. Bruno says Kurt had fun and went for it, but there were footwork problems. Still, the performance was good. Scores: 8, 8, 8. Total: 24 Bristol & Mark: Drawing the samba, Mark explains to Bristol in rehearsal that in pro competitions, the dancers don't know the music they're getting until the competition begins. She worries about getting off beat. Len says the samba is the most difficult of all the Latin dances because of its many rhythm changes, but she held her own. Bruno says she can "shake it," but sometimes she completely lost it. Mark tries to take the blame. Carrie Ann says this is the true test of musicality, but it didn't work for Bristol. Scores: 7, 8, 8. Total: 23 Brandy & Maks: Brandy gets the cha cha cha to Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" and acknowledges that her musical background will help her adjust to the music that comes her way. Bruno says it was a fantastic performance to end a truly fantastic night. Carrie Ann says she was shocked at how long it took them to get into the routine because the whole thing was a test of musicality. Maks and Carrie Ann proceed to get into a shouting match over it as Maks tells her to "relax" and "don't worry about it," then tells her that if she doesn't like it she should give them a 7 and he'll take the blame. She says, "Good, I'm glad you do." Len says the cha cha cha was so different from the waltz and it was "full of flair, full of performance." Len says he agrees with Carrie Ann about the quicker start. In the interview with Brook, Maks says he was so emotional in his response to Carrie Ann because he thinks the pros' hard work is "kind of being overlooked" by the judges, and he invites Carrie Ann to come watch them rehearse. Scores: 9, 9, 10. Total: 28 LEADER BOARD (both dances combined): Brandy & Maks: 29 +28 = 57 Jennifer & Derek: 27 + 30 = 57 Kyle & Lacey: 27 + 29 = 56 Kurt & Anna: 24 + 24 = 48 Bristol & Mark: 24 +23 = 47
- Tom briefs us, telling us we get to see all the performances again. Then Santana, Indie.Arie and Daughtry will perform. First Audrina and Tony and Len saying she danced with confidence. Backstage, Audraina says going first was scary, but she tried to stay calm. Then Kurt Warner and Anna performed a Viennese Waltz. Bruno says Kurt has a natural stage craft and sees great potential. Backstage, Kurt feels good, saying Anna had stressed trying to connect. Then Kyle Masey and Lacey did their nerd-hot girl cha-cha and Carrie Ann announced she had a crush on him. Rick Fox and Cheryl performed a Viennese Waltz and Len says Rick had great posture and danced with elegance. Backstage, Rick and Cheryl joke about getting Carrie Ann a "Fox-C" shirt for their team name. Then, Margaret Cho and Louis did their waltz with her giant dress wings and Bruno didn't like her goofing around. Backstage, Margaret says she had to goof off because she's a comedian. Then Brandy and Maksim waltzed and Carrie Ann told her to be a little smoother. Backstage, Brandy promises to work her tail off to win. (She enjoys the way Maks says her name.) Bristol Palin and Mark were next and Bruno actually uses the phrase "virgin territory" when giving feedback. Later, Bristol resolves to loosen up more. Florence Henderson and Corky cha-cha'd next and Bruno called her a spunky lady. Backstage, Florence and Corky smooch and Mark, his son, declares it weird. Michael Bolton and Chelsie are next (not dancing to his song). Carrie Ann knocks him for not leading or smiling enough. Backstage, Michael says he was a "bundle of nerves" but he can depend on Chelsie. "The Situation" and Karina cha-cha'd next. He gets slammed for his 80s moves. Then Jennifer Grey and Derek waltzed to "These Arms of Mine" and made half the room cry, thinking of Patrick Swayze. Carrie Ann is moved to tears, calling it "profound." Backstage, Jennifer says the evening was a release and she let people see something about her she's never let people see before. They lead the night with 24. David Hasselhoff and Kym were next. Len says he has to work on his technique and posture. Backstage, Kym tells the Hoff she was proud of him. He says if they go out, they're going out in a blaze of glory and they're already wearing black for their funeral. Then it's on to the live results show. (Tom points out his tie has changed, so you know it's live.) Tom says "the identity of the star who's going to be eliminated surprised even our producers." We see a little pre-show prep as the pros take the stage to dance to Santana, who trots out "Oye Como Va". Then it's time for a recap of the standings. 10th is a three way tie at 15 points with Hoff & Kym, Margaret & Louis, and The Situation & Karina. 9th is Michael & Chelsie. 7th is a tie with Bristol & Mark ("I feel good, I feel strong. I feel confident from going out there and shaking my hips," Bristol says.) and Florence and Corky. 5th is a tie between Audrina & Tony and Kurt & Anna. 4th are Rick & Cheryl. 2nd is shared between Kyle & Lacey and Brandy & Maks. Jennifer and Derek scored first place. The four lowest scoring couples are on stage. The first couple who is safe is: Michael & Chelsie. (He looks genuinely surprised.) The second couple is: Margaret & Louis. (Upset alert!) That leaves The Situation & Karina and The Hoff & Kym. "We'll tell you your fate later, 'cause we have an hour to fill," Tom says. And now it's time for a taped segment with Adam Corolla, for the "tour de dance." He tells us about the jive, which had many names, all of which were from Hasselhoff haircuts in the 80s. (Including the Texas swing and The Carolina Shag.) He tells us about the Cuban rumba, which is described as "making love on the dancefloor." He takes that moment to apologize to everyone at the Goldfarb bar mitzvah. For the samba in Brasil, which leads to some fun with ladies from the carnival (instead of carnival). In London, we find the quickstep, a combination of the Charleston, the Fox Trot and "constantly being bombed by Germans." Then it's time for Daughtry performing "September" from their new album. (Chris just can't get away from reality TV, can he?) Brooke chats up the high scorers of the night. Brandy admits to being nervous. Kyle pleads for the votes. Jennifer promises to work day and night if she makes it. Rick says he's wearing more make-up than last night. Tom gives Len props for his line of the night to The Hoff, "It's never too early to panic." Len says it might be the best first week ever. Time for more results. Next safe is: Jennifer & Derek. Also Rick & Cheryl. Kyle & Lacey and Brandy & Maks have to sweat it out. Santana comes back to play "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" with India Arie as Karina and Louis dance. Backstage, Florence raves about her time on the show. We some footage of the cast arriving on the first day and Hollywood air kissing. Audrina loved meeting Jennifer, who loved meeting Margaret, who thought Rick looked like he is made of "some sort of delicious toffee." The Hoff and Kurt Warner talk football and Kurt humors him by throwing a gentle pass in the parking lot. Kyle says he and The Situation are the "most random" cast members. Florence asks Mike to see his "situation." He flashes her the abs. Bristol was excited to meet Florence. Rick digs that Bristol drove a truck down from Alaska. It's news to the Situation that there are roads that do that. More results. Safe: Audrina & Tony and Florence & Corky. Kurt & Anna and Bristol & Mark have to sweat it out. The six on the block wait, but first a duet with Santana and Chris Daughtry. Later, Chris gives a shout out to Michael Bolton for dancing to his song. Santana takes Kurt Warner. Louis reflects on being cut in the first show of the first season. Kym, who got cut with Penn Jillette, says it hurts your pride. Maks says if he goes home first, he'll take full responsibility if he goes first. They describe the terror of waiting under the red lights. Brooke talks to the six still on the chopping block. David says he felt bad for Kym because she tried her best to train him. He calls it "America's Got Talent" payback. Brandy quivers and says she feels like she's about to have a heart attack. The Hoff puts an arm around her and tells her not to worry, he's a life guard. Tom teases that there might be a shocker in our future as the six in jeopardy take the stage with their partners. The next couple returning is Brandy & Maks, also Bristol & Mark. After a commercial break and even more recapping, we learn The Situation and Karina are returning. That leaves the Hoff and Kyle. Tom turns briefly to the families in the audience. The Hoff and Kym are out. He hugs her and says "baby, we tried." Tom tells him this is the biggest first round surprise of all the seasons. And they end, naturally, by dancing.
- The results episode of "Dancing with the Stars" on Tuesday night started with a surprise announcement from head judge Len Goodman that the encore performance would come from "Situation" (as he put it) and Karina, who performed their futuristic foxtrot again. The worst part, though, was that we had to suffer through listening to the show's lounge-style singers give their interpretation of the Black Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow" for a second time. To the results: Hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke got to some results in short order, calling Audrina & Tony, Kyle & Lacey and Kurt & Anna to the stage -- but, at least on the east coast, the recap package for Brandy & Maks, Jennifer & Derek, and Rick & Cheryl was run. Nonetheless, the results were announced for the first bunch, and Audrina & Tony were the first couple safe. They were followed by Kurt & Anna, but Kyle & Lacey were still in jeopardy. Be Our Guest: Ne-Yo paid a visit to the ballroom to perform, for the first time on television, his new single, "One in a Million." Later, Mark Ballas and Val Chmerkovskiy (Maks' brother) took their long-standing ballroom rivalry to another level in a bizarre "strings duel," with Mark playing guitar and Val playing the violin, in between dancing with partners. No winner was announced. Filling in for Susan Boyle, booted star Michael Bolton returned to the ballroom to sing "Hallelujah." There was no mention of the clash between Michael and Bruno, although the cameras were firmly aimed at Bruno after Michael sang, and Bruno clapped and smiled. Back to the results: Brandy & Maks, Jennifer & Derek, and Rick & Cheryl were called to the stage next, and to ensure equality all around (again, at least on the east coast), they aired the recap package for the first group, Audrina & Tony, Lacey & Kyle, and Kurt & Anna. The next couple safe was Jennifer & Derek. The next couple in jeopardy, though, was Rick & Cheryl. They celebrated, not having heard Brooke's announcement clearly. Then Cheryl put on a sad face when the news was clarified. Brandy & Maks were safe. Finally, the last four couples learned their fates. The first of the bunch declared safe for at least another week was "The Situation" and Karina. The next couple in jeopardy was Bristol & Mark. The next couple definitely returning next week was Florence & Corky, and Florence let out a huge yelp. Margaret & Louis were still in jeopardy. Finally, the couples in jeopardy learned their fates. The first couple safe was Kyle & Lacey. The next couple safe was Rick & Cheryl. That left it down to Bristol & Mark and Margaret & Louis, and the couple that went home was Margaret & Louis.
- It's semifinals week on "Dancing with the Stars." Only four couples remain, and in one week they'll battle for the title. The dancers are required to include a solo in their performances. Brandy & Maks: A week after Maks' dramatic confrontation with Carrie Ann, Brandy says she would have done the same for him. Brandy says she's not sure how she's going to keep up with Jennifer Grey, but she'll do everything she can. They dance the paso doble. Len Goodman says they came out "100 percent" and says it was a "great start to the show." Bruno says they "released all the aggression." He says they lost some finesse in some of the more intense parts. Carrie Ann calls it "amazingly passionate" and Maks smiled widely as Carrie Ann praises Brandy for her upper-body carriage. Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Jennifer & Derek: Jennifer is pumped. After a bit of a rough ride in the physical front, she's ready to take on all challenges, saying, "Bring it on." Bruno gets up and shouts, calling it a luminous and vibrant. Carrie Ann says she's been waiting all season to see Jennifer to a cha cha cha on her own and she was not disappointed. Len says she combined good technique with performance and made it fun and entertaining. Scores: 10, 10, 10. Total: 30 Bristol & Mark: Bristol has been kept alive on several occasions by America's vote, saying she's used to being at the bottom of the leader board. Mark says in rehearsal that Bristol is getting votes because of her mom's influence. She says people relate to her because she's "not typical Hollywood." She's lacking confidence, especially when it comes to her solo. They dance the paso doble. Carrie Ann calls Bristol over for a hug and says she was "on fire." She says Bristol nailed it. Len says she's shown quite a bit of determination and was "all guns blazing," calling it her best dance. Bruno says she's "turning into a tigress." He says she did her lines very well. Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Kyle & Lacey: Lacey tells Kyle he's the "last man-child standing." He agrees he's "a kid-tender." He says that even though he laughs and plays around, he's taking the competition very seriously and wants to give it everything he has. They dance the samba. Len says Kyle has a "bionic bum," saying he had "more bounce to the ounce than anyone this season." Bruno calls Kyle a "bouncing bundle of joy." Carrie Ann says she's never seen as much "pelvic action, ever." She says it was the proper bouncing. Scores: 10, 9, 10. Total: 29 Brandy & Maks: Looking into Brandy's past, she talks about how her debut album at 15 was overnight success followed by a couple of consecutive failures. She says the most difficult time in her life was when she was involved in a fatal car accident. She was depressed and emotional and despite the fact that the accident was ruled not her fault, she was called a murdered and killer. She says being on the show is "a rebirth." They dance the Argentine tango. Len says everything looked easy and fantastic, and that he enjoyed the atmosphere she created. Bruno tosses out a string of adjectives to say how great it was and calls it "stunning." Carrie Ann says there was a little bit of trouble in the first dance, "but the trouble is gone." Scores: 10, 10, 10. Total: 30 Jennifer & Derek: Growing up with a dad on Broadway, Jennifer always wanted to be a performer. Before "Dirty Dancing" even opened, Jennifer was in a fatal car accident with her boyfriend Matthew Broderick, in which the couple in the other car was killed. The crash left her with a delicate neck, which we've seen impact her. They dance a waltz. Bruno calls it "a gem of a waltz" and says she is "a great dancer." Carrie Ann says she could see Jennifer's soul and "it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen." Len simply says, "Be still my beating heart." He calls it quiet, delicate, poignant and adds, "If I'm dreaming, don't wake me up, because that was fabulous." Scores: 10, 10, 10. Total: 30 Bristol & Mark: Bristol wanted to play football in junior high. She says she was "the golden child" and never had any problems until she met Levi. Her mother says their little world froze when Bristol announced she was pregnant. She then decided to go around the country talking about abstinence. They dance a waltz. Carrie Ann says there were moments where she felt like Bristol drifted out of her performance and that she lost her expression at times. Len says he loves the vulnerability about Bristol's dancing and that he thought it was beautiful. Bruno says he thought Bristol did well and that she's had a true journey this season. Scores: 8, 9, 9. Total: 26 Kyle & Lacey: Kyle grew up in Atlanta and his mother moved the family to L.A. to see if the child acting gig could work. Just when it seemed like they should pack it all up and move back to Atlanta, he landed a role on "That's So Raven." The rest is Disney Channel history as he scored a spinoff and is now proving himself on his own. They dance a paso doble. Len says Kyle is "a star" and adds that in 11 seasons no one has ever performed with so much attack as Kyle. Bruno says he loves when Kyle can move in and out of fun and dramatic. Carrie Ann says Kyle reminds her of Emmitt Smith, who went on a hot streak right at the end of the season and rode it to a championship. Scores: 10, 9, 10. Total: 29 LEADER BOARD: Jennifer & Derek: 30 + 30 = 60 Kyle & Lacey: 29 + 29 = 58 Brandy & Maks: 27 + 30 = 57 Bristol & Mark: 27 + 26 = 53
- With one elimination out of the way, the competition is in full swing and the couples are put to a new challenge this week: To take a song with which they have an emotional attachment and to translate that into a dance. After a couple of examples of how this is done from the "DWTS Troupe," Wendy Williams kicks things off. Wendy & Tony: Wendy wants her dance to reflect how she got started in radio in Washington, D.C., and New York. She said she lived in rest stops in between getting fired from her first few jobs because she didn't want to have to explain every time what had happened. She got emotional telling the story. She dances the foxtrot. Head judge Len Goodman explains that it's difficult to express emotion through a dance and he'll be overjoyed if anyone achieves it tonight. He says Wendy's performance "was a struggle" and adds, "it's a dance more suited to the radio." Bruno Tonioli agrees, saying the foxtrot has to be long and fluid and has to glide, but she didn't deliver it. Carrie Ann Inaba, newly engaged, shares a message about following your dreams and then tells Wendy she took a step backward and she wants to see more come out of Wendy. Scores: 5, 5, 5. Total: 15 Chelsea & Mark: A week after going off the rails with her non-traditional jive, Chelsea vowed to go more traditional. Mark was bummed in rehearsal, but agreed to do it. Chelsea picked a song about her that was written by her "first love." She struggled "with the hip and butt action" in rehearsal. She dances the cha cha cha and gets a rousing standing ovation that gets Bruno out of his seat, saying, "Chelsea, Chelsea, sexy, sexy." He says he could feel the excitement coming out of her. Carrie Ann says she's "a big fan of that cha cha." She says Chelsea looks like "a little baby Julianne," but tells her to work on her hip action. Len says his first love didn't look like Chelsea, but enough about him... "that's your best dance -- well done." Scores: 7, 8, 8. Total: 23 Chris & Cheryl: Chris is excited after a quickstep that turned him into a contender. He decided to dance to "Let It Be," which reminds him of his mother. She was in an accident shortly after he finished wrestling training. He wanted to give it up, but she wouldn't let him and she passed away in 2005. Chris says this performance will be the first time he shows himself as Chris Irvine, his real name, with no wall or character. They dance a soulful and less sexy rumba. Carrie Ann is choked up as she tells Chris it was "such a beautiful tribute" to his mom, even though his hip action was "a little strange." Len says choreography can cover up a lot of issues and Chris didn't use his arms much. But he says his poses were excellent. Bruno says Chris made it work, but Len was right about some of the technique being wrong. Scores: 7, 7, 7. Total: 21 Kendra & Louis: Kendra wants higher scores than she grabbed last week and chose a song that reminds her of her husband Hank Baskett and the backlash she felt when they announced they were together. She says Hank's hometown turned against him. She dances the rumba. Len says he wasn't "keen on the unnecessary girating" that went on. He points out that her legs, which were a problem in the past, were great and she had beautiful feet. Bruno tells Kendra "there is nothing wrong with a good stripper" and says her dance was "hot and arousing" and reinforces that she did a "very good job." Carrie Ann confirms "that was hot, hot, hot." Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total: 23 Romeo & Chelsie: Romeo is feeling confident and wants to get to the next level. He chooses to do a soulful rumba to the song "I'll Be There," in memory of his two of his cousins, Lance and Fred, who he lost at a very young age. He hopes they'll be looking down on him, and probably laughing at the heeled shoes Chelsie is forcing him to wear. Bruno says Romeo really put his heart and soul into it, and sometimes when you put so much of yourself into it, other things go astray and this time it was his foot placement, but he still believes in Romeo's ability. Carrie Ann says Romeo kept something special throughout the dance and that he did work on some things she pointed out last week. Len simply says that last week Romeo took a step forward and this week he took a step back. Scores: 7, 6, 7. 20 Hines & Kym: Hines moved into contention last week and his personal song is one of his mother's favorites by Earth, Wind & Fire. He's dedicating his celebratory samba to his mother, who worked three or four jobs in order to provide for him after she divorced his father. Carrie Ann calls out, "Boo-yah! Baby's got bounce!" She says Hines looks like he's been dancing the samba his whole life. Len says everyone is proud of Hines, and he is, too. Bruno says the samba was like an appreciation of happiness and says it was "happy hour!" Scores: 9, 8, 8. Total: 25 Petra & Dmitry: After a tough week on the dance floor, Petra decides to dance to a song that she heard when she toured Thailand after a tsunami wiped it out. The song inspired her to start a foundation for relief. In rehearsals, she struggled with the fluidity of the waltz. She gets a standing ovation and Len says, "It had grace, it had elegance, it had fluid movement." He tells her, "For me, at this moment, you're the one." Bruno says she's "like a vision from heaven" and she danced like an angel. He tells her that her beauty is great, but her heart is even more beautiful. Carrie Ann tells her she's "gone from supermodel to super-graceful dancer." Scores: 8, 9, 8. Total: 25 Sugar Ray & Anna: After taking a bit of a blow last week when the judges told him his performance needs more punch. Sugar Ray is determined to bring more punch and he doesn't want to be on the brink of elimination again. He says the song he's chosen is about beating the odds. It's "My Prerogative" by Bobby Brown. He dances the paso doble. Bruno says the raging bull fighting spirit got him "back in business." Carrie Ann says she thinks she saw "a lot of improvement." She says he took control of the stage. Len says the competition is like Sugar Ray's fight. Other dances have dominated him, but this week he came back stronger and dominated the dance. Scores: 7, 6, 7. Total: 20 Kirstie & Maks: Kirstie says she almost died doing the quickstep last week and is thrilled to be dancing the rumba. She decided to dance to "Over the Rainbow," which brought her hope after the despair of losing her mother and nearly losing her father in a car accident in 1980, just as she was about to get her first break in acting in "Star Trek II." In rehearsal, she struggles with being sexy, but Maks is looking to bring some of her soul into it. She hopes that people will understand "the agony and the ecstasy of what happened in my life, and maybe they'll understand me better." Shortly into the dance, Maks falls awkwardly and appears to be hurt, but keeps powering through. He makes it through the dance. Maks tells Tom that his thigh just gave out. Carrie Ann says "sometimes tragedy leads to magical moments." She says something special happened after the slip-up. She says they did a "wonderful job." Len says dancing is about overcoming adversities, and they got through it. "Well done," he says. Bruno says, "You can't keep good talent down" and adds that once Maks got up it was "better than ever." Scores: 7, 7, 7. Total: 21 Ralph & Karina: After a great start, Ralph stumbled a bit with a "frenzied" jive. He's going to dance the rumba to "Stay Gold," a song from his movie, "The Outsiders," which was his first break in acting. It was also the song he and his wife danced to at their wedding 24 years ago. Len says the routine was crisp and clear, "but it needs a tad of refinement." He says Ralph needs to work on his feet and hip action, but "the overall look was very appealing." Bruno says the execution needs help and he's still not using his hands correctly. Carrie Ann says it was "a very sweet rumba" and proceeds to argue with Len, who insists it was "manic." She tells Ralph to work on his core strength. Scores: 7, 7, 7. Total: 21 LEADER BOARD: Hines & Kym: 25 Petra & Dmitry: 25 Chelsea & Mark: 23 Kendra & Louis: 23 Chris & Cheryl: 21 Kirstie & Maks: 21 Ralph & Karina: 21 Romeo & Chelsie: 20 Sugar Ray & Anna: 20 Wendy & Tony: 15
- A night after the dancers put their hearts and souls on the floor with dances to songs that were personally meaningful to them, it was time to send one couple packing. Here's a look back at the leader board as it stood after Monday's performances: Hines & Kym: 25 Petra & Dmitry: 25 Chelsea & Mark: 23 Kendra & Louis: 23 Chris & Cheryl: 21 Kirstie & Maks: 21 Ralph & Karina: 21 Romeo & Chelsie: 20 Sugar Ray & Anna: 20 Wendy & Tony: 15 Play it again...: Head judge Len Goodman asked to see Hines & Kym's celebratory samba, which Hines dedicated to his mother, for the encore. But before they took to the floor, host Tom Bergeron broke the good news that they're safe. To the results: Sugar Ray & Anna and Romeo & Chelsie are the next pair to learn their fates. Sugar Ray was proud of his comeback performance and Romeo took a step back, in Len's opinion. The first couple safe is Sugar Ray & Anna. Romeo & Chelsie are also safe. Be our guest: Grammy nominees One Republic pay a visit to perform their new single, "Good Life." Later, Selena Gomez performs her song, "Who Says?" Finally, One Republic returns later in the show to do their song, "All the Right Moves." Stumblegate: Brooke Burke grills Kirstie and Maks backstage about what happened the night before when Maks took a tumble during their performance. The questioning comes complete with subtitled footage of what they said to each other as Maks momentary injury occurred, but they didn't want to talk about it much, instead laughing it off. Back to the results: Petra & Dmitry and Wendy & Tony are the next to learn where they stand. The next couple safe is Petra & Dmitry. Wendy & Tony, who were at the bottom of the leader board, are in jeopardy. We next get a feature in which the dancers took video cameras with them to share more of their lives when they aren't on the show. We learn that the ones with kids like to take video of their kids, and Chris Jericho has to wake up at 4:30 a.m., for unknown reasons. After the behind-the-scenes videos, Chelsea & Mark and Kendra & Louis learn where they stand. Kendra got emotional after her dance because of the frustration over the amount of smoke coming out of the fog machine that made her lose her way at the start of her routine. Tom reports that the smoke machine "is now doing regional theater." The next couple safe is Chelsea & Mark. Kendra & Louis are still in jeopardy. Chris & Cheryl, Ralph & Karina and Kirstie & Maks get their news next. We get more reaction from Kirstie & Maks after their fall, and they laughed it off Monday night, as well, with Maks joking that he intentionally pulled her down with him. The next couple safe is Ralph & Karina. Kirstie & Maks are also safe. Chris & Cheryl are still in jeopardy. Wendy & Tony, Kendra & Louis, and Chris & Cheryl await their fates. The first of the three couples safe is Kendra & Tony. That leaves Wendy & Tony and Chris & Cheryl, though they aren't necessarily the bottom two. Len says he's enjoyed Wendy's story of how far she's come and that Chris has great potential. Finally, the couple with the lowest vote and score total and leaving in Week 2 is Wendy & Tony.
- The top scorer from last week was at the bottom and Ralph is back in the running as the final six couples on "Dancing with the Stars" await the results on Tuesday night. Play it again: First, though, head judge Len Goodman asks Team Chelsea for an encore performance of their cha cha. To the results: The first two couples to learn their results are Hines & Kym and Kirstie & Maks. Backstage on Monday, Kirstie was upset with herself for having over-acted during her performance. The first couple definitely safe is Hines & Kym, and Kirstie & Maks are still in jeopardy. Be our guest: Nicki Minaj is the first of tonight's guest performances, singing her single "Moment 4 Life." This is followed by a short featurette on a 17-year-old girl named Patricia Zhou, who is the newest member of The Royal Ballet of London. Her parents didn't want her to dance, but she kept at it and eventually won her mother's support. She performs to the music of Priscilla Ann, who sings her song, "Dream." Later, Wayne Brady sings and dances in a tribute to James Brown. Finally, James Blunt sings his new song, "I'll Be Your Man." Back to the results: Chelsea & Mark and Ralph & Karina are up next. Mark is frustrated, saying he doesn't know how to please Len. There's a little controversy over Len's scores and Len explains that he didn't give anything higher than an 8, and Chelsea & Mark got one of those, "so i don't know what he's going on about." The next couple safe is Ralph & Karina. Chelsea & Mark are still in jeopardy. Backstage, Romeo finds another creative way to weave a plug in for his upcoming movie. In overly dramatic, face-to-face meetings the stars and pros have conversations about what they can and should be doing better. Some highlights: Chelsie tells Romeo to work harder and make this his top priority; Kirstie asks Maks to validate her when she does things well, and he can't fully commit to that; Kendra asks Louis to challenge her even more; and Kym tells Hines she knows he doesn't like her much on Wednesdays (when she introduces new choreography), and he says, "or on Thursdays." Romeo & Chelsie and Kendra & Louis are up next. The couple safe is Romeo & Chelsie. Kendra & Louis are still in jeopardy. Down to the three couples in jeopardy, Tom asks Len for his thoughts. He tells Kirstie to be more consistent. He tells Kendra she's been a late-blossoming girl and she's really come on in the last few weeks. He says he'll be "really shocked" if Chelsea is not back. The next couple safe is Kirstie & Maks. Down to Chelsea & Mark and Kendra & Louis, who aren't necessarily the bottom two, the couple going home this week is ... Kendra & Louis.
- The semifinals are upon us and Tom Bergeron says this was the most dramatic week of rehearsals ever. Tom says Kym was injured in rehearsal and promises we'll hear more about it later. Ralph & Karina: A week after nearly falling out of the competition because of a leg injury and hitting last place on the leader board, Ralph is determined to make good on the fans' faith in him. First up is the Argentine tango. He wears some "butt-booster" underpants to accentuate his rear. Head judge Len Goodman says it lacked a bit of emotion throughout, but he liked the set-up and says it was sharp. Bruno Tonioli agrees there was a stern, slight detachment from Ralph and it was "too flat." Carrie Ann Inaba is glad to see Ralph is dancing better, but agrees with Bruno that Ralph has to connect with the character throughout his body, down to his feet. Scores: 8, 9, 8. Total: 25 Kirstie & Maks: After getting her first 10 of the season, Kirstie is getting healthy again and eating enough to get through all the dances this week requires. She and Maks have their typical turmoil during rehearsal. They dance a Viennese waltz. They get a standing ovation from the crowd and Bruno rises to his feet to say that Kirstie was "literally on the crest of a wave" and adds that it was "well done." Carrie Ann says Kirstie brings the audience into the full performance. Len says Kirstie had beautiful posture and nice, sweeping movement. Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Chelsea & Mark: Mark says there is no time for joking now that the semifinals are here and Chelsea is looking to protect her position at the top of the leader board. Chelsea realized during rehearsal that the competition requires a much greater amount of work than she expected. They dance a tango. Carrie Ann says she's going to be picky because it's the semifinals, and says the dance was not up to par. She says her legs weren't strong. Len agrees, but adds that it was clean and precise and she produced a first-class performance. Bruno boils over and stands up to tell Chelsea that the other judges "didn't get it," but he got it. Scores: 9, 9, 10. Total: 28 Hines & Kym: Tom tells us Kym was rushed to the hospital on Friday with a neck injury and warns us that we're going to see what happened. He says it's hard to watch. They're practicing some intense flips and lifts that Kym says she's never done or tried on the show. They're trying a flip when Kym lands on her neck and Hines falls over on her. She says she can't feel her arms. Hines feels terrible and and responsible while Kym is worried that they're losing valuable time. Hines says he's not even worried about the competition, but Kym is on the floor for their Argentine tango. The crowd erupts and Hines has tears in his eyes. Kym soon does, as well. Len says he was "there in the club" watching the whole story unfold. Len shouts, "That is a tango!" Bruno does one of his classic miming a strip tease commentaries. Carrie Ann is crying, too, and says she's so happy Kym is OK because of the seriousness of her injury. Carrie Ann says "the connection was just beyond what we ask for in a dance team." Scores: 10, 10, 10. Total: 30 Ralph & Karina, Part 2: Ralph's parents and his wife talk about how grounded the actor has been through the highest highs of teen idol stardom to the times when acting dried up and the roles weren't coming. He and Karina dance a salsa. Len didn't like it. He says it was "all too wild" and there was no real rhythm. He didn't like Ralph's hip-thrusting ways. Bruno goes off and says Ralph was "too rough on your ----" and gets bleeped before explaining, "No, a pussycat!" Karina is shocked. Carrie Ann requests a muzzle for Bruno and says, "Oddly, I liked it." She agrees that his technique "went out," but it was the most fun she's seen him have. Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total: 23 Kirstine & Maks, Part 2: Kirstie opens up about having been addicted to cocaine early in her life before moving to Hollywood to become an actress. She says that her "Cheers" experience was the greatest time in her life, and she spent the next several years being a great mom, cooking, baking and getting fat. She's since embraced it all and that's what her friends say people are relating to. She and Maks dance a paso doble. Bruno says Kirstie was really moving like a force of nature. Carrie Ann calls Kirstie "the queen of the paso doble." Len says Kirstie had the toughest two dances of the night and she's done "fabulous." Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Chelsea & Mark, Part 2: "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks talks about how she met Chelsea in youth theater in Scottsdale, Ariz. She opens up about having been scammed by a supposed talent scout, but after landing in L.A. she went for a Disney Channel audition on a show with the Jonas Brothers and got the part. She and Mark dance the rumba. Carrie Ann is pleased and says, "That was a nice rumba." Len says it had mood, was expressive and adds, "Tonight, you have fulfilled your potential. You're there." Bruno says it was romantic and erotic "but perfectly pitched." Scores: 10, 10, 10. Total: 30 Hines & Kym, Part 2: Hines talks about how his mother moved from South Korea to the U.S. because of the extreme discrimination he would face there being of mixed race. Things weren't much easier here, though, as he says he was teased and shunned by white and black kids. He talks about having to push harder at every turn. He and Kym dance the salsa. Len says he loved it and calls it a "joyful experience." Bruno says it was beautiful and "supremely watchable." Carrie Ann says she can't even explain how much joy she gets from watching him dance." Scores: 10, 10, 10. Total: 30 Winner-take-all cha cha: As a way to give a talented couple a ticket to the final, this season introduces a winner-take-all cha cha where the couple deemed best at the cha cha will get 15 bonus points. In the first round, Hines & Kym square off again Ralph & Karina. In a clean sweep, Hines & Kym win the round. In the next round, Chelsea & Mark take on Kirstie & Maks. In another unanimous decision, the judges prefer Chelsea & Mark. In the final showdown, Hines & Kym will dance first, followed by Chelsea & Mark. They've gotten their music just four minutes before taking to the dance floor. Len says the two couples have totally different styles and it's "really, really difficult to decide." Bruno says he's also stumped and they "both did fantastically well." Carrie Ann says this kind of a challenge proves whether you're a dancer or just learning choreography, and they both proved themselves. The vote is again unanimous as Chelsea & Mark win the 15 points. LEADER BOARD: Chelsea & Mark: 28 + 30 = 58 (plus 15-point bonus) = 73 Hines & Kym: 30 + 30 = 60 Kirstie & Maks: 27 + 27 = 54 Ralph & Karina: 25 + 23 = 48
- With everything on the line, the remaining three couples on "Dancing with the Stars" -- "the Disney princess, the TV icon and the hero of the gridiron," as Tom Bergeron puts it -- have to perform two dances, including the freestyle. The first dance for each couple, though, will be the "judges' choice," a dance chosen by the judges to accentuate the dancers' best moves. Chelsea & Mark: Carrie Ann Inaba picks the samba and helps Chelsea make her samba less perky and more sensual. She's excited to do it again with a different vibe and says she's going "all out." Len Goodman quotes Sting and tells Chelsea that every step she takes and every move he makes, he'll be watching her. Bruno Tonioli says Chelsea is "like an ultra-sexy bombshell" and adds that the rhythm was "flowing through" her body. Carrie Ann says Chelsea was "hot, hot, hot" and that she got sensual and dirty, doing exactly what she'd hoped Chelsea would do. Scores: 10, 9, 10. Total: 29 Kirstie & Maks: Bruno pays a visit to Kirstie and has some tips for Kirstie's use of her hands in the samba. Kirstie says she wants three 10s. Bruno says Kirstie's dance was "softer, rich, full of lively pleasures, full of womanhood," but adds she still needs to play to the arena. Carrie Ann says Kirstie is clearly different from Chelsea, but she loves what Kirstie did. Len says it was appealing and was "less aggressive, less full-on." He admits it could have been crisper but it was a "lovely job and deserving of being in this final." Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Hines & Kym: After a scary neck injury to Kym, Len picked the quickstep for Hines and Kym. He wants to see Hines go from a 7 to a 10 on the dance by helping him get his feet sharper. (Kym is wearing a neck brace in rehearsal). Carrie Ann says it was "so much fun" and says Hines is able to make the audience feel like he's running for a touchdown. Len says it was a vast improvement on the last time, but "it's not quite there yet." He says the competition is still anyone's to win or lose. Bruno says it "was like watching a mega-production on Broadway. Scores: 10, 9, 10. Total: 29 Chelsea & Mark freestyle: Chelsea is scared of Mark's freestyle choreography. He wants to showcase their youth and energy. Their high-energy routine is accompanied by flashing lights on their hands and shoes, and Chelsea's lights went out about halfway through the light show. Len says it still showcased her talent. He says the routine was "so full-on, so much attack, it was fantastic." Bruno says it's "electrifying." He liked the incorporation of classic Latin moves. Carrie Ann says she can't find the words to describe what she watched, so she stands up and shimmies a little to explain. Scores: 10, 10, 10. Total: 30 Kirstie & Maks freestyle: Maks somehow manages to describe Kirstie as neither young or athletic without sounding like a jerk, and she vows to make the dance "spectacular." Bruno says that 10 weeks ago he would not have thought of Kirstie "even attempting" to do lifts and other moves she did. He says some of it could have been smoother, but "respect, girl -- respect." Carrie Ann says the dance embodied Kirstie's role as "the new poster child for life as it should be lived at 60 years old." Len liked the elements of rumba and cha cha cha he saw. Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Hines & Kym freestyle: Using a football halftime show as the inspiration for his routine, which is based on a drumline. Carrie Ann says it was risky and "wasn't really halftime show -- that was the whole damn Super Bowl." She loves that they were "still going for it." Len says the competition is "about give and take -- the more you give, the more points you take; you've just given your all." Bruno says they pulled all the stops "and created a crowd-pleasing event!" Scores: 10, 10, 10. Total: 30 LEADER BOARD: Chelsea & Mark: 29 + 30 = 59 Hines & Kym: 29 + 30 = 59 Kirstie & Maks: 27 + 27 = 54
- The 12 remaining couples move and groove on the ballroom floor with all-new dances showing off their soulful side; "Good Morning America" co-anchor Michael Strahan sits in at the judges table.
- The eight remaining couples prepare for an electrifying night as they perform dances to songs behind the most iconic music videos; guest judge Paula Abdul.
- The six remaining couples perform a regular couples dance and a special trio dance, in which a past season's winner or finalist is paired with each couple to compete; a couple is eliminated.
- All of the stars returned for the season finale of "Dancing with the Stars" as the Super Bowl champ, the "magnificent model" and the "ballroom rebel" vied for the title. It was going to be a long two hours as all of the stars from this season returned to contribute to the big send-off. Each of the couples talked about wanting to do their best to impress the judges by reproducing their favorite dance of the season. Then, there was a Cloris Leachman sighting as they had the elder stateswoman of the season do a man-on-the-street poll of "Dancing" voters, one of whom was a young woman who said she couldn't vote because she wasn't a citizen. Now, I haven't read -- as host Tom Bergeron suggested on a weekly basis that I do -- all of the details of the voting process on abc.com, but I can't imagine citizenship is one of the voter requirements. Recent American Music Award winner Alicia Keys stopped by to perform her single "I Need You." Miley Cyrus would swing by later to sing "Fly on the Wall." Memory Lane: Comedian Jeffrey Ross, the first star eliminated this season, returned with partner Edyta Sliwinska to perform the quickstep. The next two eliminated couples followed, with Ted McGinley and partner Inna Brayer doing the foxtrot, and Kim Kardashian and partner Mark Ballas performing the mambo. Misty May-Treanor and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy returned, with Misty saying her Achilles tendon was healing well and she was walking again. Misty said she was looking forward to returning to the dance floor because she had some business to finish. Rocco DiSpirito and partner Karina Smirnoff came back to dance the mambo. Toni Braxton and her partner Alec Mazo returned, but Toni was unable to dance, having recently undergone an undisclosed minor surgery. But she did announce she would participate in the tour. Cloris and her partner Corky Ballas came back to dance the tango. Cloris received one last standing ovation from the grateful crowd. Susan Lucci and partner Tony Dovolani returned to dance the paso doble. Olympic sprinter Maurice Greene and partner Cheryl Burke came back to offer up a little salsa. Skewered Stars: Jeffrey Ross, the "Roast Master General," took a hand at poking some fun at the three finalists, Cloris, and himself. The best line: Brooke "gave birth to her 15th child three hours ago, backstage. And, congratulations, I hear Lance is the father. Hey, maybe the baby will come out of the womb and the closet on the same day!" Back to Memory Lane: Cody Linley and Julianne Hough provided the final returnee performance of the night their Lucy & Ricky inspired jitterbug. One last dance: The couples danced for the judges' scores one last time. The judges' scores from Monday and Tuesday would make up half of the scoring total, with America's vote making the other half. Warren & Kym: Warren talked about times when he didn't think he could make it through the competition. Warren said he was nothing without Kym in this competition and told her he loves her. The performed The Hustle. Len Goodman said Warren "may not be the judges' champion, but you are the public's champion." Bruno Tonioli said Warren was "the craftiest" of all the hustlers he's come across. Carrie Ann Inaba said Warren & Kym make people want to dance, "and that's hot." Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27 Lance & Lacey: Lance said the show helped him get over being self-confident and Lacey thanked him for the entire season, saying she didn't want it to end. Lance & Lacey gave their World War II-era jitterbug, which included what looked like an incomplete cartwheel. Lance kept both shoes this time. Bruno said, "no doubt about it, you have become a great showman." Carrie Ann said she noticed the struggle with the lift, but praised the couple for never taking the safe road. Len said he wouldn't have believed Lance would be in the final if someone asked him after the first couple of weeks, but said he deserved to be in the final. Scores: 9, 9, and 10. Total: 28 Brooke & Derek: Brooke talked about some of the intensity of the experience and some of the bumps along the way with her partner Derek Hough. They danced the Viennese waltz as their sendoff. Carrie Ann said "Brooke, you are a star." She was a little emotional and said, "You guys deserve that trophy more than anyone else." Len said when he first saw their Viennese waltz he thought it was the best dance of the season, "and nothing I've seen tonight has made me change my mind about that." Bruno said Brooke truly was "the jewel in the crown of this really grand finale." Brooke's finance was shown tearing up as he watched in the audience. Scores: 10, 10 and 10. Total: 30 SCOREBOARD (total from Monday and Tuesday): Brooke & Derek: 88 Lance & Lacey: 81 Warren & Kym: 80 To the results: Tom revealed the couple that finished in third place. That couple was ... Lance & Lacey. Lance said, "Joey will never let me live it down that I came in third, not second," about his former NSync bandmate Joey Fatone, who took second place on the show. Lacey said she "couldn't be more proud" of Lance. And the winner is...: With Warren & Kym and Brooke & Derek anxiously awaiting the result, Tom finally announced that the winners of the seventh season of "Dancing with the Stars" were ... BROOKE & DEREK! Brooke said it felt "unbelievable!" Warren said he felt absolutely wonderful, "I didn't do any disrespect to the football guys." The confetti fell from the rafters and Derek and Brooke took their places atop the shoulders of Mark and Corky Ballas to celebrate and hold up the mirror ball trophy.
- It's classical week on "Dancing with the Stars," and things are starting to get heated as just five points last week separated the top from the bottom (among the remaining couples). The pros talk about how much bigger and more dramatic the musical performances will be, and wonder if it will impact the dancers' ability to focus. Romeo & Chelsie: After a demonstration of the paso doble by the "DWTS Troupe," Romeo is excited to do the dramatic dance and bounce back from the criticism of last week. Head judge Len Goodman says it was full of passion and intensity. He says Romeo is "like a young colt" and tells Chelsie to get the whip out and work on Romeo's technique. Bruno Tonioli points out that the musical phrasing was difficult and Romeo managed to get it right. Carrie Ann Inaba says she had to deduct for a lift, but it was the first time she's seen "a paso with swagger." Scores: 7, 8, 8. Total: 23 Kendra & Louis: Coming off a solid rumba, Kendra is feeling like her hard work is paying off, but she's now faced with a "proper, very ladylike Viennese waltz to classical music -- yeah, I'm screwed." She decides that her Viennese waltz is now "Mafia Waltz," because the classical music is Italian. From the moment she finishes, Kendra is disappointed because she messed up. Bruno reinforces this, but tells her that she should transform into the character. Carrie Ann says she sees that Kendra is trying really hard, but tells Kendra shouldn't be afraid of elegance. Len says it had flow and movement, and tells Bruno not to be cruel to the dancers because they're beginners. Scores: 6, 6, 6. Total: 18 Sugar Ray & Anna: Anna pulls Sugar Ray into her world of Russian ballet when they draw Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers." She takes him to a ballet class so he can get familiar with the movents. They dance the Viennese waltz. Carrie Ann says it was "like watching a sixth-grade performance" and it made her smile. She says she fell in love with the dance because he's so entertaining. Len says "Sugar Ray Leonard turns into the Sugar Plum Ferry." He says that as much as technique and performance are important, so is entertainment. Bruno says "it had a wonderful cartoonish charm." He says it was perfect, as entertainment. Scores: 7, 7, 7. Total 21. Petra & Dmitry: Dmitry explains to Petra in rehearsal that the challenge with the classical music is that it doesn't have a defined beat. He struggles to get her to tap into her aggressive side. He sets up a photo shoot so she can strike the paso poses and remember those feelings to translate them to the dance floor. Len says he would have liked more authority through Petra's feet and legs, but overall he's more impressed than depressed. He didn't expect it to work for her, but turned out alright. Bruno does a dramatic striptease as he explains that Petra embodied "Carmen," who knows what she wants and goes and gets it. Carrie Ann says Petra is "on a roll." She says it was "absolutely gorgeous," but tells Petra to work a little more on her core strength. Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total: 23 Ralph & Karina: Ralph vows to come up with a sexy waltz that will make the judges rave and help him get his mojo back. After weeks of comments about his hands being weird and out of place, he's focusing on them. The dramatic dance earns a roaring standing ovation from the crowd, and Bruno rises to his feet to say it was "totally hot" and romantic. Carrie Ann says there's an honest connection to the emotions when Ralph dances. Len says that Ralph has "been in the wilderness for two weeks -- you're back." Scores: 8, 8, 9. Total: 25 Hines & Kym: Hines is worried about the lack of lyrics in the music because he usually times all of his steps to the lyrics. He's nervous about surviving the paso doble. Carrie Ann, after finally getting a chance to talk over the roaring crowd, says Hines is "in the zone." Len says Hines is the most determined of all the celebrities and adds that he's "really doing great." Bruno says Hines has a killer instinct and is "truly explosive." Scores: 9, 8, 8. Total: 25 Chelsea & Mark: Chelsea wants the world to know that she and Mark are a force, so she's determined to make the most of her Viennese waltz. Len says there is no doubt that Mark is a marvelous teacher and Chelsea is a fantastic dancer. "So why is it that every time I see you, there's something I don't like?" The question enrages Bruno, but Len explains that the dance is 300 years old and is the most traditional of all. Mark defends the choreography, saying Chelsea is 22, but Len insists that her job is to interpret the dance that is 300 years old. He says Mark distracted her with all the other stuff, but he liked it anyway. Bruno says it was the best dance of the night, calling it magical. Carrie Ann says sometimes she agrees with Len, "but tonight, I agree with Bruno!" Scores: 9, 8, 9. Total: 26 Chris & Cheryl: A week after letting his personal side show, Chris declares that "Chris Jericho is back," and he's arrived just in time for the paso doble. Cheryl hopes to draw on Chris' wrestling persona to get him into character. Bruno is impressed that Chris hit all the accents in the music so well and says it was "excellent." Carrie Ann praises Chris' technique and form, adding, "Watch out for this guy." Len says the dance wasn't bad, and it started well. But as the music grew and got more powerful, Chris didn't. But he liked it. Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total: 23 Kristie & Maks: A week after a shocking tumble on the dance floor, Kirstie is ready for redemption. But she runs into trouble in rehearsal when she does something to her hip. It's a muscular injury, but she can't push it too much. She powers through to perform the waltz. Kirstie makes it through another mishap when her shoe falls off, but Carrie Ann praises her for not missing a beat. But she says this dance was strange, but she seemed to get jolted back into it when her shoe fell off. Len says everything was "OK" but everything needs to improve. Bruno says she did "amazingly well." He adds that he's proud of her. Scores: 7, 7, 8. Total: 22 LEADER BOARD: Chelsea & Mark: 26 Ralph & Karina: 25 Hines & Kym: 25 Romeo & Chelsie: 23 Petra & Dmitry: 23 Chris & Cheryl: 23 Kristie & Maks: 22 Sugar Ray & Anna: 21 Kendra & Louis: 18
- Talk about your guilty pleasures. "Dancing with the Stars" kicks off its results show on "Guilty Pleasures Week" with a performance from the combined forces of New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys, who sing and dance to their new song, "Don't Turn Out the Lights." Afterward, Tom Bergeron warns us -- er, teases us! -- that "they'll be back." To the results: The youngest couples just happened to have landed on the top of the leader board Monday night, and they're the first to learn their fates. Backstage, Romeo was ready to strip after getting the first 10 of the season. The first couple definitely safe is Romeo & Chelsie. Chelsea & Mark are safe, too. Play it again...: Len Goodman asks to see Kendra & Louis' samba one more time, and we're supposed to believe this has nothing to do with the fact that routine ends with Kendra shaking her assets while standing in front of Len on the judges' table. Back to the results: Hines & Kym and Kirstie & Maks are the next to learn where they stand. The next couple still in the competition is Hines & Kym. Kirstie & Maks are also safe. Be our guests: As promised, Backstreet Boys and the New Kids are back with a medley of "I Want It that Way" and "Step By Step." Next, "American Idol" eliminee Pia Toscano performs "I'll Stand By You." Afterward, Tom asks, "How the hell did you get voted off?" More results: Kendra & Louis, Chris & Cheryl and Ralph & Karina get their verdicts next. Two of them are safe, but the other is going home. The next couple safe is Kendra & Louis, leaving Chris & Cheryl and Ralph & Karina. And the couple with the lowest overall total and leaving the show is Chris & Cheryl.
- Host Tom Bergeron kicks off the "Dancing with the Stars" finale with a dramatic introduction to the three finalists: Hines Ward, Chelsea Kane and Kirstie Alley. The pros get the dancing started with a group routine that rolls into an introduction of all the couples that came and went this season. To the recap: Chelsea & Mark ripped up the night despite a technical malfunction of Chelsea's lighting apparatus. They finished with 59 judges' points. Maks & Kirstie surprised everyone with acrobatics and finished with 54 points. Len Goodman reacted to the crowd's boos by saying, "If they don't like our scores, then vote for them. That's the deal." Hines & Kym made it a near-perfect night again and wound up with 59 points. The finalists will dance one last time for judges' scores before it's all done tonight. Be our guest: The first guest of the night are the Black Eyed Peas, who perform their new single, "Don't Stop the Party." Now, the finalists: The judges praise Chelsea's technique and precision. Len says Hines Ward has established himself as the best of the "footballers" the show has welcomed. Bruno says Kirstie is like a phoenix rising from her own establish and being reborn every week. They agree that not one clear leader as emerged this season. This leads into the introductions of the three finalists. Memory Lane: We get to the recap of the dancers who were eliminated this season with Mike Catherwood starting things off. In a pre-recorded bit, he auditions for the "DWTS" Troupe. Then he performs live with Lacey Schwimmer. We see more highlights from the season before Petra Nemcova takes the stage with Dmitry Chaplin to perform her watlz from "You Raise Me Up." We then see Josh Groban is singing live. Kendra Wilkinson takes the floor to perform with Louis and a few other guys, which leads into more highlights. This, in turn, leads to a head-to-head showdown between wrestling champion Chris Jericho and legendary boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, who perform a paso doble dance-off. Chris then provides one of the more memorable moments of the night: an impression of Bruno that Carrie Ann gives a 10. Wendy Williams interviews herself and Bruno. She gets in a dig at Mark Ballas, saying she isn't sure if he or Chelsea wears more eyeliner. The rest of the segment is, well, it happened. Audience's choice dance: Maks, Lacey, Cheryl and Chelsie perform the fans' choice dance for the season to the Go-Gos' "We Got the Beat." Back to the memories: Romeo and his story of wanting to inspire kids through his dancing, returns to the stage to perform to Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All." The song is backed by a children's choir and Romeo later talks about his charity, Urban Born. A recap of some of the tense, dramatic and touching moments of the season follows, and this leads into a performance from Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff. Chelsea & Mark: Asked to choose their favorite dance of the season for their final performance for the judges, Chelsea and Mark quickly agree on doing their "Wizard Waltz," the Viennese waltz that Len thought wasn't traditional enough. Mark vows to make some adjustments to show Len that the young kids can learn. Len admits they've had their ups and downs this season, but tells Chelsea, "Bottom line, you are a fantastic dancer." Bruno says they're all under her spell and says he loves her. Carrie Ann says a lot of people may not have known helsea before this show, but now they know her as an "artistic, beautiful, graceful woman." Scores: 10, 10, 10. Total: 30 (Combined from both nights: 89) Kirstie & Maks: Kirstie wants to do the cha cha from Week 1 because it's sentimental. She also wants to show the fans and the judges that her dress is "half the size it was in Week 1." She realizes she has more strength and stamina than she did just 10 weeks ago. As the crowd chants her name, Bruno tells Kirstie she's "never danced better" and calls it "brilliant!" Carrie Ann salutes her and says she loves Kirstie for being her. Len says Kirstie's shown great resilience and overcome setbacks, and now produced her best dance. Scores: 10, 10, 10. Total: 30 (Combined: 84) Hines & Kym: In deciding their final dance, Hines & Kym kind of rub in the fact that they had so many great ones to choose from. But they settle on the samba that Hines dedicated to his mom. Carrie Ann can't even speak over the cheering crowd, but eventually gets to tell Hines that he's the "MVP of 'Dancing with the Stars' Season 12." She says she's "so impressed" with him. Len tells Hines that dance is the product, but his "packaging" brings it all to life. Bruno calls Hines a "charming dazzler" and says "we all fall in love" when Hines is on the floor. Scores: 10, 10, 10. Total: 30 (Combined: 89) The final guest: Sara Evans performs her song, "A Little Bit Stronger" while the three finalists' memorable moments flash on screens above the stage. To the results: After nearly two hours of build-up, the third-place finisher is revealed. It's Chelsea & Mark. Finally, after 10 weeks of competition, the winners of "Dancing with the Stars" are ... Hines & Kym.
- For guilty pleasures week the stars perform to their musical favorites. Then the first team chosen last week competes in the team dance.
- For fusion dance week contestants combine two dances into one performance. Most contestant perform the one quick and one slow dance sequentially while a few accept the challenge to merge the two. Then couples have a chance to win extra points in a dance marathon. Due to the November 6 election there is no elimination this week.
- Season 27 opens with thirteen contestants from the worlds of entertainment, sports and social media, variously performing the cha cha, foxtrot, jive, salsa and quickstep.
- Tuesday's elimination show would decide which three couples would vie for the ugliest trophy in television. Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi's dominance was waning a bit, while actor Cristian de la Fuente had come on strong since his arm injury. NFL star Jason Taylor was still a favorite, but had slipped down the leader board, while Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur found herself at the bottom of the judges' scoreboard for the second consecutive week. To the tape: Going back over Monday's performances, the highlight reel showed Len calling Jason's foxtrot "brilliant" after giving him a 10. "Thank you, Len! I love you ... like a play cousin." Jason exclaimed backstage. Cristian rejoiced in his "wow" from judge Bruno Tonioli, but expressed nervousness about the samba. "I didn't finish in the ER," Cristian said backstage. Kristi thanks Bruno and Carrie Ann for their 10's on her first dance. Marissa said she couldn't believe she missed the leap on their quickstep. Marissa decided she'd be around next week, regardless of whether it was in a seat in the audience. Once more, with feeling: Len asked Kristi and her partner Mark Ballas Jr. to perform their tango for the encore performance. So they did. Kidding around:Viewers were going to be allowed to vote for the kids in the Ballroom Kids' competition, and first up were Rashell and Aaron. They danced the cha cha cha. Len said he thought it was fantastic and that their "little bums were flying around all over the place." Bruno loved their arm movements. Carrie Ann Inaba said they looked like little munchkins. Later, Jaryd and Cara danced the samba. Carrie Ann wanted to put the kids in her pocket and said it was the perfect blend of entertainment and technique. Len said he'd rather watch the two of them than "those big ones" backstage. Brandon and Brittany, the oldest dancers in the kids' competition, were darn near amazing with their paso doble. Bruno said it was incredible and said it was worthy of the final. Carrie Ann said she was "seriously impressed" with the couple and thanked them for their performance. Len said to see two kids come out live and dance to that standard. He said, "I know the other two were cute and everything else, but these two are the real deal. This was fantastic." Backstage check-in: Marissa said she was shocked that she was still there and that she was so thankful to the fans for keeping her in it. Cristian said he, too, was happy and surprised to be there. He said he'd love to get into the finals, even if it meant suspending his budding romance with Jason. Wanna Be Startin' Something? R&B singer Omarion and a 19-member dance troupe performed a tribute to Michael Jackson's "Thriller," in honor of the album's 25th anniversary. On that note, I ran to double check my and calendar and realized that, yes, it has been that long. i kind of blacked out for the next several minutes. To the results: The first couple, in no particular order, to land a spot in the final was ... Kristi and Mark. After a commercial break, the next couple advancing to the finals was revealed to be ... Jason and Edyta. With the two athletes in the final, that left Cristian and Cheryl, and Marissa and Tony vying for the third and final spot in the final. The couple going home was ... Marissa and Tony. "So close!" Marissa exclaimed after the result was announced. On her way out, Marissa took the microphone and said, "I want everyone to just go out and do something fun, and do something that makes you feel sexy, and shake what your momma gave you!"
- The battle for the hideous mirror ball trophy came down to the two-day finale that kicked off with an hour on Monday night that would see the final three couples dancing a cha cha cha in a dance off for the first time and a freestyle performance "where the rules are: there are no rules." Host Tom Bergeron read off the totals for the season: He tallied 2,857 combined hours of training, 89 competitive routines, 2,125 judges' points, several gallons of spray tan and three trips to the emergency room. Face off! Each couple would dance for one minute to the same song and they randomly drew numbers to determine the order. It came down to Cristian de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke; Jason Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska; and Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas Jr., in that order. They practiced their routines individually, then had to rehearse them together, where the couples all got to see each others' moves. Cristian and Cheryl started the routine with Cristian bravely wearing a hot pick vest over hot pick spandex pants. They were upbeat and energetic, but didn't do much in the way of spectacular moves until then when they slid in tandem. Jason and Edyta worked things out in a style of dance that wasn't Jason's forte. They pulled off some acrobatic moves, though, with Jason launching himself over Edyta, then sliding on his stomach back through her legs. Kristi and Mark burst onto the floor, though, with Kristi running to the judges' table and planting a big kiss on judge Bruno Tonioli before stealing the show with high energy and fancy footwork. The routine ended with a pretty awesome finishing pose in which Jason and Cristian lifted Kristi into the air with her back parallel to the floor, with Jason holding her outstretched arms, Cristian holding one leg and Kristi kicking her other leg straight up. Judge Len Goodman said the routine "really got me going." He told Cristian he had great hips, great rhythm and "all the gear in the rear." He told Jason he had great elegance, but that he would have done better with a foxtrot and that Latin dancing wasn't really his thing. He told Kristi she had the technique and the style that Jason had, plus the hips and the rhythm that Cristian had, and called her "the complete package." Bruno, who still had Kristi's lipstick on his upper lip, said it was so exciting and they all did well. He told Cristian he really showed improvement, called Jason's routine very athletic, and said Kristi was in a class of her own. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said it was a nice format to be able to see the differences between the couples. She told Cristian his injury might have affected his posture a bit. She told Jason he pulled it off but that his "awkward arms" were still presence. She told Kristi, "I'm sorry, it's ladies' night, you won that, hands down." Scores: Cristian and Cheryl scored 8, 9 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Jason and Edyta scored 8, 8 and 8. Kristi and Mark scored 10, 10 and 10. To the freestyle: Kristi and Mark weren't looking to hold anything back as they rehearsed for the freestyle. Mark wanted Kristi to boost him at one point so that he could do a backflip, but she wasn't feeling too confident. Mark called in "Dancing" pro Julianne Hough, who was formerly his competitive dancing partner. Julianne showed Kristi some moves and Kristi heeded her advice since Julianne has won the show the past two seasons. The backflip provided for brilliant drama as viewers waited to see if they could pull it off. Of course, they did, and filled the room with electricity with an inspired fusion of mambo and hip hop. The sparkly costumes didn't hurt, either. Bruno said it was very demanding and told Kristi she "did not miss a beat." He said it was worthy of the championship. Carrie Ann said the men have an easier tendency to be crowd pleasers, "but not tonight." She called Kristi the big crowd pleaser. Len said he's not a lover of hip hop but said their dance held his attention from start to finish. "I absolutely loved it," he said. Scores: 10, 10 and 10. That's a perfect 60 out of 60. Jason and Edyta knew they had to make the freestyle "out of control" and do something special. Edyta wanted to take advantage of Jason's height and strength, but as they practiced lifts, Edyta was continually crashing and tumbling to the ground. Could they get it together for the performance? As Jason said, "This is finals, so it's either go big or go home." The performance lacked a bit in terms of flashiness, but there was a lot of ripping off of clothes, and that never hurts. First, Jason ripped Edyta's skirt off to reveal her more traditional skimpy shorts. At the end, Edyta tore off Jason's tank top to show off his ripped physique. Carrie Ann said she was glad to see Edyta in the finale, and said the lifts were the most ambitious she'd ever seen. Len said he liked the humor they brought to the performance and said he could see it on South beach. Bruno said "it was like watching centerfolds, and the dance wasn't bad, either." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. That's 51 out of 60. Cristian and Cheryl prayed before the commercial break heading into their freestyle. He said, "The freestyle can either make you or break you, and I'm already broken. So, bring it on!" In rehearsal, he fell during a slide and landed on his bad arm, letting out a big yell. He said he didn't want any sympathy, though, and persevered through practice with one of Cheryl's past trophies sitting nearby for inspiration. Len said he liked the Latin flavor they brought to the dance. He had to compared the couple to the others and said some of the lifts weren't quite up to the standard of the other two. Bruno said, "for one arm, you did bloody well." Carrie Ann said they were looking for who is going to win it, and she didn't see that in anyone but Kristi, but she said Cristian is a winner in so many other ways. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. That's 52 out of 60.
- After weeks of competition, it was down to the finals on "Dancing with the Stars" as the remaining three couples got some tips from the judges and offered their best for the big finish. We saw way too much of Bruno Tonioli, who was sunning poolside in a Speedo when head judge Len Goodman called and gave him his assignment -- to advise Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas on their paso doble. Bruno told Shawn she had to show something she hadn't shown before. Carrie Ann Inaba set out on a visit to Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani, where she gave Melissa some tips on how to move with intention. Len stopped by to see Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke and worked with Gilles on his arms and tried to get the dance to be a little less hectic than last time. It was all in preparation for a paso doble face-off, a group dance that put all three couples together, but in competition. All three couples took part in a flashy intro before coming out in order: Shawn & Mark, Melissa & Tony, and Gilles & Cheryl. Len said Shawn's performance was full of excitement. He said Melissa's previous paso was "riddled with problems," and despite a slight mistake this one was more convincing. He told Gilles his performance was also much better than last time. Bruno congratulated all three couples for competing as a team. He said Shawn was strong and a great technician. Bruno said Melissa's confidence has grown leaps and bounds, and called Gilles "a leading man." Carrie Ann said this has been her favorite season and said all three dancers are incredible. She said watching them side by side pointed out weaknesses and strengths. She said Shawn lacked the emotional commitment that the others possess. Carrie Ann told Melissa she nailed her moves, and said she always expects perfection from Gilles in the Latin dances, "and, once again, there it was." Scores: Shawn & Mark: 9, 9 and 10. Total: 28 Melissa & Tony: 10, 9 and 10. Total: 29 Gilles & Cheryl: 10 10, and 10. Total: 30 To the freestyle: All three couples got a little taste of freedom with the freestyle dance. What would they do? Shawn & Mark: Shawn didn't want her freestyle to be infused with too many gymnastics moves, and she got a visit from fellow Olympian and former "Dancing" winner Apolo Anton Ohno, who tried to get some of that Olympic fire out of her. The performance was a little sloppy. It started with Shawn and Mark in some odd masks, but they soon got rid of those. Tony said Shawn was "going for gold" and called it an explosive performance. Carrie Ann said it was "exactly what I wanted to see." Len said he loved the jive elements, the speed, the precision, "I loved it." Scores: 10, 10, and 10. Total: 30. Melissa & Tony: Melissa said she was going for the audience vote this week and that she and Tony would be "going all out." Tony said he was holding nothing back because "with no risk, there's no reward." With risk came a pretty nice shiner for Tony, who took an elbow to the eye while tossing Melissa in the air. Carrie Ann loved Melissa's new attitude, but "something about the choreography just felt a little bit disjointed." Len said he didn't get it, and would've like to have seen more of Melissa's elegance. Bruno agreed with Carrie Ann on the disjointed aspect, and said "it wasn't as perfect as we would like to see" at this point in the competition. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27 Gilles & Cheryl: Gilles tried to play the part of the underdog when it came to the freestyle. He also called in his doctor because his shoulder injury flared up during rehearsals. They did a frenetic freestyle to Irene Cara's "What a Feeling" from the movie, "Flashdance." Len said it was high-energy and slick, and it proved to him that Gilles is a real dancer. Bruno called it a great performance, but he wanted "more actual dancing" from Gilles. Carrie Ann agreed and said it was an odd choice because "Flashdance" is about the female dancer. Scores: 9, 10 and 9. Total: 28. LEADER BOARD: Gilles & Cheryl: 58 Shawn & Mark: 58 Melissa & Tony: 56
- A new cast of 15 celebrities and their pro dance partners compete in a variety of dances; host Tyra Banks.
- 2005– 1h 59mTV-PG7.5 (31)TV EpisodeFinalists Kelly Osbourne, Mya and Donny Osmond compete in their last dance to capture the mirrorball trophy. The season's eliminated contestants and some past inept favorites return with additional dances, Whitney Houston performs, Jeffrey Ross welcomes a new member to the Losers Club, and Jerry Rice has a dance-off against Michael Irvin.
- It's the Fourth of July in April as "Dancing with the Stars" decides to honor America with performances set to songs that pay tribute to America. With no clear leader in sight, it's anybody's game. Ralph & Karina: After scoring his best results yet, Ralph says he's focused because there's no clear front runner. The couple, a New Yorker and Russian, draw the song "Sweet Home Alabama," and have to dance a samba. Head judge Len Goodman says that Ralph is "there" some weeks, then at other times it's "not working." He finally tells Ralph he's "not consistent" and lacked hip action and rhythm. Bruno Tonioli says Ralph needed to "emit fire down below," and stands up and swivels his hips. He finally says, "Sex! Give me sex, man." Carrie Ann Inaba says that, considering the crazy concoction of the song and the dance and the theme, they did a good job. Scores: 8, 7, 7. Total: 22 Chris & Cheryl: Chris' paso doble split the judges last week, but left Chris wanting to get more than a 7 from Len. Cheryl says the way to achieve that is to stay traditional. They get the Viennese waltz and have to dance it to "America the Beautiful," which Chris says is a good bit of pressure. Bruno calls it "big yet graceful, strong yet delicate of touch, elegant with a sweet sense of romance." Carrie Ann says she feels the judges have underestimated him. She says Chris is a contender. Len tells Chris that when he deserves an 8, he'll give him one. He says it was a little flat-footed. He reiterates, "You'll get an 8 when you deserve an 8." Scores: 9, 8, 9. Total: 26 Petra & Dmitry: Petra is surprised she's still there halfway through the competition. They have to dance to Elvis Presley's "Viva Las Vegas," and she admits she didn't know Elvis when she was a child in the Czech Republic. They dance the quickstep. Carrie Ann tells Petra she took "a bit of a step back" because of some stumbles in the choreography. Len says it's a fast dance and she coped well with the speed of the music. He says she just has to work on little things to make it better. Bruno disagrees with the two of them, calling her "the golden goddess of speed." He acknowledges "a couple of foot faults, but the quality was very good." Scores: 7, 7, 8. Total: 22 Romeo & Chelsie: A week after wowing the judges with an intense paso doble he's fired up to win the whole thing. He's looking to bring some swagger to the foxtrot on "New York, New York." He wants to prove he's serious. Len says the parts had control and parts had flair. He says there are still some pieces he's not happy with, but they're headed in the right direction. Bruno enjoyed the cheekiness of the foxtrot while still maintaining the integrity of the dance. Carrie Ann praises Romeo for changing his approach to the ballroom dance. Scores: 9, 8, 9. Total: 26 Hines & Kym: The couple that leads the pack in total judges' points is ready to dance the rumba to "Proud to Be an American." Kym says they're going to make it more romantic than sexy. Bruno calls Hines "an officer and a gentleman" (referring to his costume Navy whites). Carrie Ann says Hines is making it look easy and has the best hip action she's seen in a long time. Len says he likes that Hines' dancing has a naturalness about it, and then says that it was HInes' best dance so far. Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Kirstie & Maks: After losing her shoe a week ago, Kirstie wants it to be clear she's serious about the competition. She's taken the liberty of bringing in a dance doctor: It's John Travolta. He wants to know what's going on between them romantically and when they say nothing, he says that's the problem. They dance the foxtrot to "American Woman." Carrie Ann says the different take on the foxtrot suited her and says it was her "best dance ever." Len says it had attitude and had basic steps, which he likes, but the overall feel wasn't his "cup of tea." Bruno says the Cold War is definitely over after watching the American woman and the Russian gigolo. Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total: 23 Kendra & Louis: After losing her confidence last week in an overall disappointing performance, Kendra is still upset about Carrie Ann's comment about her being "afraid of elegance." Louis tries to help her understand what Carrie Ann meant, and that it wasn't a personal attack. She decides to leave the past behind her and bounce back with the foxtrot to "Yankee Doodle." This also just happens to be the 1,000th competitive dance in the show's history. Len calls it "much better than last week," and adds it was fun and entertaining. Bruno says it was sweeter than apple pie and in better character, but says he's still seeing her thinking about her steps too much. Carrie Ann says it was Kendra's best dance and the most confident she's seen her perform. Scores: 8, 7, 7. Total: 22 Chelsea & Mark: After landing at the top of the leader board last week, Chelsea wants to stay there. She's going to dance to Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A." and says she's willing to bend and break every rule this week, but Mark wants to play it straight. Over the roaring crowd, Bruno shouts that Chelsea combined the positive energy of America with the sizzle and party vibe of Brazil. Carrie Ann says the couple matches its performances so well. Len says, "Yum, yum, what a bum!" He's talking about their rears. He loves it and tells them, "Well done." Scores: 9, 8, 9. Total: 26 LEADER BOARD: Hines & Kym: 27 Chris & Cheryl: 26 Romeo & Chelsie: 26 Chelsea & Mark: 26 Kristie & Maks: 23 Ralph & Karina: 22 Petra & Dmitry: 22 Kendra & Louis: 22
- The 15 remaining couples perform dances celebrating The King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley.
- The remaining 10 celebrity and pro-dancer couples dance to a variety of hit and well-known songs; guest judge Leah Remini.
- The couples perform terrifying dances set to Halloween themes.
- After a first-round dance to a style they have not yet performed, seven couples compete, with two couples dancing at the same time in the same style in a Dance-Off challenge.
- With just six couples left, another wrinkle was thrown into the mix on "Dancing with the Stars." The team dance would put competitors on the same side for the first time this season. "Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft was not among the dancers included in the introduction and host Tom Bergeron explained -- or teased -- that she suffered an injury that made her unable to dance tonight. He promised an explanation later of what that would mean for her standing in the competition. In the team competition, Team Mambo and Team Tango would compete to earn team points, which will be added to their individual scores. Gilles & Cheryl: Actor Gilles Marini had yet to return to the top of the leader after spending the first several weeks of the season there. A separated shoulder was preventing Gilles from doing some of the tricks called for in their choreography on the Lindy Hop. It was energetic, and Gilles successfully completed a flip of partner Cheryl Burke that gave them trouble in rehearsal. Judge Len Goodman said Gilles could add the Lindy Hop to the things the French are famous for. Bruno Tonioli said "happy days are here again." Carrie Ann Inaba said it was good to see a new side of Gilles, beyond just the slow, romantic stuff. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27 Lil' Kim & Derek: Lil' Kim was looking to bounce from slipping to fifth place after having owned the top spot. She and partner Derek Hough promised to bring her personality back into the dance for her paso doble. It was fierce, and earned a deserved standing ovation from the crowd. Bruno stood and shouted, "The bitch is back, and she means business!" Carrie Ann said the paso was a great showcase for Lil' Kim and it showed how much she'd grown. Len said the competition isn't about mastering about the dances that you're good at, it's coping with the dances you're not so good at it. He said he wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. Scores: 9, 9, and 10. Total: 28 Chuck & Julianne: Country singer Chuck Wicks put himself among the leaders last week, so it was time to see whether it was a fluke. His partner Julianne Hough hoped to bring the same flirtatious vibe they had in the samba to their cha cha cha. They earned a standing ovation. Carrie Ann said Chuck was "definitely in the game." She told him to watch his chin. Len said "this is turning into a fantastic competition" because Chuck was getting stronger and stronger. Bruno felt Chuck's arms were thrown away for the cha cha. Scores: Scores: 9, 9, and 8. Total: 26 Shawn & Mark: A week after getting her first 10 of the season, Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson was hungry for another one with the samba. Her partner Mark Ballas brought in his mom, Shirley Ballas, a three-time Latin dance world champion, to come in and give Shawn some tips. Len said Shawn wouldn't ever dance bad, but "good isn't good enough." He said it lacked hip action and said "it was OK but it wasn't your best job." Bruno seemed to agree, but said it was a good samba. Carrie Ann said Shawn nailed every step and got everything technically right, which is what she was looking for. Scores: 10, 8, and 9. Total: 27 Melissa's situation: Tom explained that Melissa suffered aggravated the painful rib injury she hinted at last week. Tom said she was seeing a doctor as the show was being taped, and would be able to continue in the competition, then rolled into Melissa's rehearsal footage with partner Tony Dovolani. They showed the moment when she hurt the rib again and it seemed like she was having difficulty breathing. The doctor said it was likely a hairline fracture of the rib. Tom said Melissa was able to rehearse earlier in the morning, in keeping with the precedent that was set earlier in the season set by Steve-O. Tony stood alone to take the judges' comments. Bruno said it was unfortunate they had to judge on a rehearsal tape, which lacks the performance power. Bruno and Carrie Ann said it was unfortunate that Tony and Melissa were "marking," which means they were essentially going through the motions for camera positions and not going 100 percent because there was no audience. Len said it was like judging a race-car driver on a warm-up lap. Scores: 7, 7, and 7. Total: 21 Ty & Chelsie: Rodeo champ Ty Murray was coming off one of his best weeks, but knew he had to prove he could handle a Latin dance with the salsa. His partner Chelsie Hightower brought in Dmitry Martin to help Ty get the Latin grooves down. Then Ty got a spray tan, saying, "We'd better get at least a 7." Carrie Ann gave whoops of approval. She loved it. Len said that Ty, more than the others, had the biggest ups and downs. He said Ty improved a lot, but said, depending on what happened with the group dance, it was probably time he "hit the trail." Bruno said it was wild, but he enjoyed watching. Scores: 9, 7, and 8. Total: 24 Team Mambo: Pro Lacey Schwimmer filled in for the injured Melissa Rycroft. The team included Lacey & Tony, Shawn & Mark, and Chuck & Julianne. The judges would give their scores solely based on the performances of Chuck & Julianne and Shawn & Mark, and Melissa & Tony would receive the same score as their team. The routine included a funny moment where, after the guys ripped off the skirts of the ladies to reveal short-cut body suits, they went and stood on the judges' table and stripped down to leotards. Len said it was fun and said they did a good job. Bruno pointed out how the guys were brave enough to shop in the women's department and wear it with pride. Carrie Ann said it was all fun, but the ending was a little distracting. She also said the music overpowered the group. Scores: 8, 8 and 9. Total: 25 Team Tango: Lil' Kim & Derek, Ty & Chelsie, and Gilles & Cheryl set out to beat Team Mambo, and kicked it off with a shirtless Ty and Gilles catching Lil' Kim, who let herself fall backward off the judges' table into their arms. Bruno said it was a powerful attack and said the end sequence gave him goose bumps. Carrie Ann said "Team Tango takes it!" She said their unison work at the end was great. Len noted a slip on Lil' Kim's part and said Gilles' footwork was atrocious. Len reminded Ty about what he said earlier, about Ty needing to nail it in the group dance. Then he said Ty nailed it. Scores: 9, 9, and 10. Total: 28 LEADERBOARD (individual + team score = total): Lil' Kim & Derek: 28 + 28 = 56 Gilles & Cheryl: 27 + 28 = 55 Shawn & Mark: 27 + 25 = 52 Ty & Chelsie: 24 + 28 = 52 Chuck & Julianne: 26 + 25 = 51 Melissa & Tony: 21 + 25 = 46
- The top six on "Dancing with the Stars" was set on Tuesday to become a top five after one of the most competitive nights of the season. Only five judges' points separated the top five couples, while Melissa Rycroft and her partner Tony Dovolani suffered an inordinately low score due to the fact that Melissa's rib injury forced the judges to use a taped rehearsal performance. The encore performance was the team tango, which featured Lil' Kim & Derek Hough, Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke, and Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower. Here's a look at the leader board after the judges gave their scores on Monday, showing the individual score plus the team score to make a total for each couple: Lil' Kim & Derek: 28 + 28 = 56 Gilles & Cheryl: 27 + 28 = 55 Shawn & Mark: 27 + 25 = 52 Ty & Chelsie: 24 + 28 = 52 Chuck & Julianne: 26 + 25 = 51 Melissa & Tony: 21 + 25 = 46 Be our guest: Robin Thicke stopped by to perform his hit single, "When I Get You Alone." He returned later to perform a newer song, "Sidestep." Melissa speaks: Melissa was backstage and said it broke her heart that she couldn't compete Monday night. To the results: In no particular order, host Tom Bergeron announced that the first couple safe to dance another week was Lil' Kim & Derek. Another couple was sent to safety after a little featurette about each of the stars' strengths. It was Ty & Chelsie. The third couple safe for at least another week was ... Gilles & Cheryl. That's all of Team Tango, leaving the three couples that made up Team Mambo to wait and see which of them would be gone. Pro competition: The mini-competition where viewers will choose a new "Dancing" pro to take part in the show next season returned. This time, Genya Mazo (Alec's brother) was paired with Afton DelGrosso (Ashley's sister), while Anna Demidova and Mayo Alanen were again paired together. Brent Borbon and Snow Urbin were eliminated after last week's voting. Genya & Afton: The couple was newly partnered for the quickstep. Afton was nervous with her new partner, and Genya admitted he hadn't danced ballroom "for ages." Afton said she liked to incorporate different techniques she knows to create an original style. Len said said they did a great job. Bruno said they had the characterization of the dance down. Carrie Ann said she couldn't tell that Genya hadn't danced ballroom in a while. Mayo & Anna: Anna and Mayo were a little worried about trying a Latin dance, because they were both more adept at classic ballroom. They took on the jive. Carrie Ann said she expected Anna to be good at it, but was surprised at how good Mayo was at it. Len recalled that he wanted to see them do a Latin dance, and said he'd been wrong twice (because he's also said Ty should hit the trail). Bruno praised Mayo and wondered if there was anything Anna couldn't do. Back to the results: Tom announced that the next couple returning next week was Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas. That left Chuck Wicks & Julianne Hough and Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani waiting to see who'd go home. Chuck had a five-point lead over Melissa in the judges' scores, but could the voters have closed the gap? Carrie Ann said she didn't want to lose anybody, but would hate to see Chuck & Julianne leave because they'd just found their stride and become contenders. Bruno said it would be "nuts" if Melissa went home because she was one of the best dancers the show has ever had. Len said based on last night, Melissa should go and Chuck stay. But based on seven weeks of competition, Melissa should stay and Chuck should go. Julianne grudgingly nodded in agreement. The couple going home with the lowest combined total was ... Chuck & Julianne.
- Following a (of course) tearful good-by from Kate Gosselin last week, seven couples remain. They'll be dancing the Argetine Tango or the samba and will then compete in the swing dance marathon. The couples come out (and as a side note, Pamela Anderson has brown hair for the night). Jake and Chelsie are first with the samba. We see a video of Jake in a Carmen Miranda top (big sleeves, nearly bikini top). He worries because he's not as good a dancer as Evan or Nicole and is trying to catch up. "But, go-oolly, the samba's tough," he says. They dance (not a single button on Jake's shirt is being used). Len thinks Jake is showing more confidence (even though he calls him Jack), but lacks rhythm. Bruno thinks it lacked "bounce," although Jake nailed the pelvic gyrations. Carrie Ann says he needs to connect to the music. Backstage, Jake discusses his slight stumble by the steps (when his pivot whacked the stair) and he just needs to put in the work. They get 7s across the board for 21. Next up, Evan and Anna, following their 9s last week. Anna tries to get him to use more hips for the samba and they practice lifts for the marathon -- including one attempt that ends up with Evan landing on his head. He goes to urgent care and is diagnosed with a mild concussion. They dance. Bruno says he's going to be hard on them because Evan's "lyrical lines" don't work for samba. (He gets booed.) Carrie Ann says he lost the battle of the samba and it never came together. Len says it was his worst dance and was far too balletic, and didn't suit him. Evan promises Brooke he'll work on his hips. He gets 7s for 21, his lowest score. Neicy and Louis are up next and plan for a "funny Argentine tango." She keeps kicking him as they practice and she vows to control her feet. They dance. She takes the rose from his teeth and nibbles a petal. She mock kicks him in the junk and even manages a foot on his shoulder at one point. For the grand finally, he pulls a cookie out of his pocket and she slides out his body grabbing for it. And that is what constitutes a funny tango. Carrie Ann says it was nice to see her dancing and she improved a ton and went for a lift. Neicy interrupts: "Can you believe he picked all this up, girl?!" She didn't like the comedy but Len did, noting that Neicy lusting after a cookie made sense. "It's obvious you're an enthusiastic eater." (Neicy manages not to flinch.) Backstage, Neicy is finishing her cookie. They get all 7s for 21. Erin and Maks are up next. She worries about keeping up with him and he calls her an over-thinker. "I'm going to get institutionalized after this season is over, without a doubt," he says. They dance, and in the process Maks' shirt comes off piece by piece. Len tells Erin upfront she's getting a 7 because she didn't give him a "proper dance" and he's fed up with shirts coming off. Bruno points out she didn't choreograph the routine and she danced like a "girl who likes to be on top." Carrie Ann says she nailed it. Erin tells Brooke she needs to work on her nerves. Carrie Ann and Bruno give her 9s to go with Len's 7 for 25. Chad and Cheryl are next following Chad's bad quick step last week. They took a trip back to Cincinnati for a Bengals draft party, where he makes a pitch for votes and big dudes in jerseys say Chad's the best dancer. "The Argentine Tango is all about chest and hips pressed together," he says. "I have a feeling I'm going to like that." Cheryl wants Chad to focus on leading her, and not fake it like they have been doing. They dance. Bruno calls it "strong, powerful" and says he proved he could actually dance. "You were like a prowling panther out there," Bruno says. Carrie Ann says they nailed it and Len says Chad grew tonight. They get straight 8s for 24, his highest score ever. Nicole and Derek are next. She's disappointed to learn the samba is not the salsa and "not the Brazilian dance party" she wanted it to be. Derek worries she over-analyzing and she even stresses about the camera angles in rehearsal. Their dance is fierce and fast. Carrie Ann struggles for something constructive to say and can only come up with Nicole's weird facial expression. Len thinks the dance lacked key elements and was just a "hodge podge of sexy moves and gyrations." Bruno stands up and sings "One singular sensation" at her. Carrie Ann gives a 9, Len a 7 and Bruno a 10 for 26. Pamela and Damian are next, following a week in the bottom. In rehearsal, Pam struggles with the lifts but says she's up for the challenge. Pam (and her wig) and Damian dance. Len notes that Pam is good at the seduction of the dance, Bruno thinks she played the part well. Carrie Ann wanted a little more technique in her legs. They get 7s from Len and Carrie Ann and an 8 from Bruno for 22. Then it's time for the swing dance marathon, in which couples will be knocked out one by one by the judges and get points based on where they go. It's the first dance allowing lifts and last twice as long as a regular dance. They show some rehearsal footage with Jake doing lifts with no problem and everyone angling for the max 10 points. The dancing begins with lots of lifting and swinging and scooting. Jake and Chelsie are the first out. Chad leapfrogs Cheryl, Neicy does a drop and roll and she and Louis are the next out. Erin ends up upside down for a few very long seconds that will certainly be on Youtube soon. Evan and Anna are out next. Four couples remain and the dance floor opens up. Chad and Cheryl are out next. Pam shows off her bouncy skills, but she and Damian are the next. Erin and Maks are next, leaving Nicole and Derek as the winners. Len says he got outvoted on many eliminations and Bruno says they all did great. Nicole and Derek are at the top with 36 and Chelsie and Jake are at the bottom with 25.
- Seven pairs remain. The first safe couple is: Erin and Maks. It's recap time. Len thought there were great performances and great technique, but nothing that combined both. He particularly thought Nicole was disappointing, with all shimmy and no dance. And then there was Evan, who got dinged for being too "lyrical" for the samba. Jake, Niecy and Pam are at the bottom. Len likes Jake's commitment and will forgive him kicking the stairs. Len thought Pam's tango had passion but imprecise footwork. Len didn't mind Niecy's funny tango. He says Chad and Erin were the breakthroughs of the night. Chad, especially, he says, had the best dance of the night. Chad says he's trying to be more of the showman people in the world of football are used to. Len calls Erin a fantastic dancer but says that Maks and his shirt-ripping routine were a distraction. It's time for the repeat dance: Chad and Cheryl, who are also safe. They do their routine again. Melissa Etheridge is the guest of the night. She's there to perform her new song "Fearless Love." Anna and Maks, Tony and Chelsie dance. Up next is a salsa dance. They have some fun with computers next, turning to ESPN's Sports Science to test dancer's strength on Demetri and balance on Edyta. They find she spins faster than the pedals on Lance Armstrong's bike at top speed. Finally, they find they are coordinated within one degree on kicks and in sync with .002 milliseconds. Melissa Etheridge is back to sing "Come to My Window." Alec and Edyta dance. (Side note: Sam Neill is in the audience.) Brooke talks to Erin and Maks, who promises to be fully covered from now on. (No one's buying it.) Chad enjoys getting some love from the judges, and calls it extra motivation. Cheryl says Chad needs to work on embracing each dance. More results... Nicole and Derek (tops), Jake and Chelsie (bottom) are called out. Not surprisingly, Nicole and Derek are the next couple safe. As for Jake and Chelsie, they get to wait. Brooke talks to them, asking if Jake still feels confident. He admits to being nervous. Niecy says the atmosphere is still like a family and "we love each other enough not to tell each other the truth. Even if we have a bad performance, we're like 'woo, you rock!'" (Which causes Brooke to awkwardly note how funny Niecy is.) Tom explains what Sam Neill is doing there: he's in the new ABC show "Happy Town." They roll a video package of the stars talking about how it feels to be halfway there. Evan is surprised by the concentration it takes, Jake talks about the long practice hours. Chad calls it "super hard" and "very humbling." Nicole is surprised by how much she ended up caring. Pam says it's nerve-racking, but she thinks you should do things that make you nervous sometimes. Evan can't predict who's going to win at this point. Time for more news... The next safe couple is: Pam and Damian. We review the dances by the bottom couples: Jake and Chelsie, Niecy and Louis and Evan and Anna. The first couple in the bottom two is: Jake and Chelsie (round of boos). The final safe couple is Evan and Anna, which means Niecy and Louis are in the bottom two. Len says he'd miss Niecy's bubbly personality and Jake's enthusiasm. He suggests whoever stays refine their dances. And the couple who is done dancing is: Jake and Chelsie. The announcement gets a round of boos, then supportive applause. Brooke asks Jake if he's surprised to get cut. Instead, he says it was the best season of the show and thanks Texas and Maverick's fans and Canada. He thanks Chelsie and gets choked up, calling her one of his best friends and saying he's loved every second of competing. They show his greatest moments, including him saying he and Chelsie treat each other like brother and sister. They start their final dance as we hear the Cha-cha challenge is coming next week.
- With just a couple of weeks remaining in the competition, it was time to see who would make it to the semifinals in Season 10 of "Dancing with the Stars." Head judge Len Goodman started the night with his recap of Monday's performances, and he said Evan & Anna were split over the course of the night. He called Chad & Cheryl the "pretenders" of the competition, at this point. He loved Erin & Maks' Argentine tango, but wasn't wild about the rumba. He said it was time for Niecy to turn it up, and used words like "mesmerized" and "genius" to describe Nicole & Derek's two dances. Play it again...: Len asked to see the 1950s-inspired paso doble from Nicole & Derek, which he called the "dance of the season and possibly the dance of all 10 seasons." Be our guests: Gipsy Kings performed their Spanish version of "You've Got a Friend in Me," which will be featured in the upcoming animated movie, "Toy Story 3." The band returned later to perform its best-known hit, "Bamboleo." Later, the show kicked off its first-ever college dance competition that pitted UC San Diego against Purdue University. UCSD went first and scored 24 points, earning positive comments from the judges for their group samba. Purdue's team mambo wasn't quite as polished and earned a 22 from the judges. This is 'DanceCenter': Kenny Mayne, Jerry Rice and Len were back for this season's segment of "DanceCenter." The only decent highlight was a rundown of the beautiful ladies Derek Hough has gotten a chance to dance with in recent seasons: Shannon Elizabeth, Brooke Burke, Joanna Krupa, Mark Ballas. In the second half of "DanceCenter," Jerry, Kenny and Len fell asleep during a clip of Evan's monotone speech about how excited he was. Kenny also took a little shot at his ESPN colleague Erin Andrews for always referring to Maks' "Russian." He's from Ukraine. "Next time you visit one of those college campuses there," he said to the college sports sideline reporter, "stop by a geography hall." Finally, some results: The couple revealed to have made it into next week's semifinals was ... Nicole & Derek. The first couple in the bottom two was Chad & Cheryl. The next couple in the semifinals was ... Evan & Anna. That left Erin & Maks and Niecy & Louis waiting to see which of them was safe and which would join Chad & Cheryl in the bottom two. The next couple moving into next week's semifinals was Erin & Maks, which meant Niecy & Louis were in the bottom two with Chad & Cheryl. Finally, the couple with the lowest overall total, and therefore leaving the show was ... Niecy & Louis.
- Ten weeks of competition in Season 10 of "Dancing with the Stars" came down to one final night of performances, and the three remaining stars -- Erin Andrews, Evan Lysacek and Nicole Scherzinger -- were out to make their bids for the coveted mirror-ball trophy. The dancers would be asked to perform a "redemption dance," chosen by the judges and based on a style the judges believed the stars should have excelled in, but didn't. Erin & Maks: For her redemption dance, Bruno asked Erin to take on the samba, and gave her some pointers in rehearsal. The uptempo performance ended with both dancers planting a kiss on each of Len Goodman's cheeks. Len told Maks he'd always wanted to be kissed by a man with a beard. He said the improvement from the last time Erin danced the samba was fantastic. Bruno Tonioli said he couldn't believe the results and said they got the fun they wanted. Carrie Ann Inaba said Erin moved herself up three notches compared to the last time. Scores: 10, 10 and 9. Total: 29 Evan & Anna: Len brought the Viennese waltz back for Evan and Anna, and told Evan to think more about his connection with Anna when he's performing. Bruno said it was very good and whole, and he liked the connection between the dancers. Carrie Ann said all the problems Evan had with the dance last time were gone and she loved it. Len said it had grace, elegance and a lot of movement, and that created some slight problems. Overall, though, he thought they did a wonderful job. Scores; 10, 9, and 9. Total: 28 Nicole & Derek: Carrie Ann wanted to give Nicole another shot at the rumba, which she fumbled through a bit last time. Carrie Ann gave Nicole the encouragement to let go and have fun with the dance. Carrie Ann called it mesmerizing, but called out a lift at the end and Derek argued that it was part of the finish but Carrie Ann said the song wasn't done. Len said he again felt a little lack of confidence, but it was great. Bruno said there was "eroticism, sensuality and romance, seamlessly moving into something of extreme beauty." Scores: 9, 9, and 10. Total: 28 FREESTYLES: The final performance show tradition called for a freestyle that tosses the rules out the window and gives the dancers complete creative control. Erin & Maks: Looking to really step out and take a risk, Erin and Maks went with a contemporary dance and called on choreographer Mandy Moore (of "So You Think You Can Dance" fame) for assistance. The crowd was wowed by their stunning lifts and throws, greeting them with a standing ovation. Len said freestyle was about risk and reward, but it was pulled off only "in part." He said he liked it, but didn't love it. Bruno said Erin took a huge risk and some of the steps she pulled off "were quite incredible." Carrie Ann said she loved the choice and commended even Maks for taking a risk by trying something out of his own expertise. Scores: 9, 8 and 9. Total: 26 Evan & Anna: Evan and Anna were worried about their routine looking too haphazard and argued in rehearsal about how to go about it. Evan didn't want it to look the same as anything they'd done all season. Anna said there was so much pressure on the freestyle that she'd rather do 100 paso dobles and jives than one freestyle. Choreographer Bobby Newberry helped them pull something together. Bruno said Evan looked demented and warned him to make sure he was careful because he lost some precision. Carrie Ann called it "odd." She said their lines were off when they danced side by side. Len said they took the path of least resistance, doing something neither of them wanted to do, and something he didn't really want to see. Scores: 8, 8, and 8. Total: 24 Nicole & Derek: Derek wanted to bring something "high-octane" and non-stop excitement for their freestyle. He said he was pushing himself to the limit. They brought the energy, but stumbled over a big finishing trick as Derek tried to lift Nicole and couldn't. Carrie Ann called it the freestyle they were all waiting for, and called out the last lift, saying it killed her. Len liked seeing all the different types of dances Derek mixed in. Bruno called it dazzling creativity and said there was a slip at the end but it was because what they were trying to do had never been done. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27 LEADER BOARD: Erin & Maks: 29 + 26 = 55 Nicole & Derek: 28 + 27 = 55 Evan & Anna: 28 + 24 = 52
- It's TV theme week on "Dancing with the Stars," and, of course, that means the judges are going to assess the season-long success of each remaining couple. (This is what happens when the show continues to be two hours long despite the fact that half the competitors are gone). The judges' rundown: Audrina impressed Len Goodman from Day 1, when she started her first performance with a solo in the middle of the floor. He loves the improvement her posture, but she has to work on her toes in the ballroom dances and her edginess in the Latin dances. He wants Tony to push her in the choreography. Len says, "There is no reason why she shouldn't win." He says the waltz was her best dance. Kyle impresses Bruno Tonioli with his musicality and his energy, but he needs to learn how to control it in different situations. He says the Latin dances come naturally to Kyle, but he has to work on the ballroom. He needs to work on his feet, Bruno says. He says Kyle's cha cha cha was the best. Carrie Ann Inaba says Brandy has all the ingredients that make a great dancer. She says Brandy has been working hard on her technique. She sees insecurity in Brandy's performances and needs to become more confident. "If Brandy starts to believe in herself more, she could go straight to the top of the leader board," Carrie Ann says. She says Brandy's rumba was her best. Len goes on to review Kurt, who, he says, "shows us that dancing can look macho." Len says he thought "no way" when he saw Kurt in Week 1. "Hands like frying pans," and no musicality. Len says he needs to see more musicality in his upper body and better footwork. He says Kurt can "go on and on" if he keeps bringing the enthusiasm. He says the jive was Kurt's best dance. Bruno reviews Bristol, who he says has "got guts" for coming from the middle of nowhere in Alaska. He says Bristol seems "to be a natural mover." He says she has great coordination, musicality and is light on her feet, but she's not a performer. "She has to learn how to become a character." He says her face sometimes "goes vacant" while she's dancing. "Bristol has to believe she belongs here," he says, adding that he wants to see her explode. "Open that door, let the minx out!" He says the quickstep, when she let go of her inhibitions, was one of her best. Len calls Florence a "great entertainer." He says she has improved on so many levels, but her biggest trouble is that "she can't compete with some of these young people, physically, especially in some of these faster dances." He says she has to up the ante on her own level of skills. He says the one dance that sums her up is the rumba. Len says Rick is "not just eye candy -- this guy can dance." He says he thought Rick would be clumsy and awkward at 6-foot-7, and now says he was wrong on every count. He says Rick needs to work on his posture, and that RIck needs to dance to his height. He says "anything is possible" with Rick, especially if he can continue to pull off dances like his samba. Carrie Ann says Jennifer is one to watch because she's "hot, hot, hot." She says Jennifer is 50 "but she has got the energy and the sex appeal of a 26-year-old." She says Jennifer touched everyone with her first dance, a waltz she dedicated to Patrick Swayze. She says Jennifer's emotions are good for performance, but she has to keep her nerves in check. She worries that if Jennifer pushes herself too hard, she might get injured. She singles out Jennifer's Argentine tango as her best dance so far. Nearly 30 minutes into the show, it's almost time for dancing. First, the introductions. And a commercial break. Brandy & Maks: A week after pulling a couple of 9s, Brandy and Maks pulled "the 'Friends' song," as Maks calls it, for their TV theme. Brandy says she loves that song because it's all about being a friend. They danced the quickstep. Len says he's "so impressed" and that Brandy brought energy, sass, and says, "It was, without a doubt, your best dance. Well done." Bruno says they found the right formula and that they were "on it." Carrie Ann says the couple has been through a lot, and Brandy is trusting Maks more. She says they're "at a whole other level now." Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Florence & Corky: After sizzling up the dance floor with her rumba last week, Florence shockingly drew "The Brady Bunch" theme song for her TV theme week performance. Florence texts Barry Williams (Greg Brady) to have him come visit the rehearsal studio. Florence says Barry always had a crush on her and she would neither confirm or deny any relationship. They danced a tango. Bruno says the beginning, when it was classic and straight, it was "a beautiful tango," but then it went into "rag-doll mode." Carrie Ann says she liked it and calls it one of Florence's best, saying it shows off her elegance, calling her a "sexy senior." She says some of the moves got her off on her timing. Len says he wishes he was a sexy senior, and Florence gives him a kiss. He says parts of the tango were excellent and others needed work, but it was possible her best dance, so far. Scores 7, 7, 7. Total: 21 Kurt & Anna: A week after getting his lowest scores of the season, Kurt attempts to bounce back with the theme from "Bewitched." He's hoping to bounce back in the competition the way he came back in the NFL. They go through some cultural background fun, as Anna knows nothing about football and Kurt knows nothing about a couple of Russian dogs who went into outer space. They danced the quickstep. They earned a standing ovation from the crowd. Carrie Ann says she just saw the spirit of Gene Kelly enter Kurt's body, as he made it look easy. Len says, "After last week, the only way is up, and up you have gone." He calls it a "vast improvement and a great performance." Bruno says Kurt was in sparkling form and he was impressed with the timing. Scores: 8, 8, 8. Total: 24 Audrina & Tony: Oddly enough, Audrina pulled the legendary, iconic, unforgettable theme from "The Hills." (It's probably better known to the mass audience as Natasha Bedingfield's first hit, "Unwritten." They prepared to do the rumba, which Audrina found a little awkward after Tony described it as "making love on the dance floor." He gave her a tip that Richard Gere once told him -- eat some garlic and onions to lessen the intensity of an intimate performance. She bit into an onion and said it helped. Len calls it excellent, notes there was a connection and chemistry, but tells Audrina to open up a little more. Bruno says Audrina has improved, technically, but he was it pulsating with passion. "Don't be plastic, be fantastic," he tells her. Carrie Ann says she saw Audrina go "leaps and bounds into a whole new level," from the hips down. But up above, it was "still and dead" compared. Then she says there was a lift. Tony denies it, but the damage has already been done. Scores: 7, 8, 8. Total: 23 Kyle & Lacey: Kyle took more shots for his technique last week and has a foxtrot to the theme of "Charlie's Angels." He wants to stop his slide down the leader board. Lacey decides to bring Kym and Chelsie -- his "Angels," apparently -- to help him in rehearsal. It was quite the mix of foxtrot and '70s disco stylings. Bruno says Kyle brings the entertainment factor. He says it was al crazy and not a proper foxtrot. He says it looked like "Richard Pryor kind of gone mad," and Lacey asks, "Who's Richard Pryor," launching boos from the crowd. Carrie Ann says she liked it all, and said Kyle's technique has improved. Len says it started bad and it just got worse. He says it was "a joke." Scores: 8, 5, 7. Total: 20 Rick & Cheryl: After hitting some rough spots in rehearsal, Rick randomly suggests to Cheryl that she meet some of the basketball players he's played with so she can learn more about him. Cue: Kobe Bryant cameo. They danced the rumba to the "Hill Street Blues" theme. Carrie Ann wants to report a crime: That Rick could "look that good, and rumba so well." She says it just "got hotter and hotter." Len says he liked it, but he didn't get the feeling of a developing romance, "it was more like a couple staying together for the sake of the children." Bruno says Rick went "from Megatron to being mega-smooth." Scores: 8, 8, 8. Total: 24 Bristol & Mark: Bristol tells Mark she's surprised to still be in the competition, and that she only hoped to last through the first week. Their dance is a jive to the "Monkees" theme song. Mark brings clowns into the rehearsal to help loosen her up a bit and says he's pulling out all the stops to get attention in this performance. They come out in gorilla suits, which seem to trip Bristol up a bit as she misses several steps -- possibly because she can't see Mark. Len says he liked the monkey suits and wishes they would have kept them on. He says he saw a "higher degree of performance" from Bristol. Bruno says she tried to perform and it worked, but she lost technique. Carrie Ann says she's happy for Bristol for making a transformation and trying something new. She points out that Bristol forgot a lot of the steps. Scores: 6, 6, 6. Total: 18 Jennifer & Derek: Derek assures Jennifer that their foxtrot will be a little easier on her body. There's some tension and Derek becomes frustrated with Jennifer not picking everything up. She tells him to control his temper, then leaves the room to go for a walk. He apologizes for letting his frustration spill over toward her. They dance to the "Married ... With Children" theme song, "Love and Marriage." Bruno starts by saying, "It was like watching the perfect housewife," saying it was "pristene, elegant, beautifully danced." Carrie Ann says it was good but "wasn't nearly your best." Len says the dance was lovely, but was "all a bit too theatrical." He says she didn't need to waste 12 bars of the song with a feather duster (playing her housewife role). Scores: 8, 8, 9. Total: 25 LEADER BOARD: Brandy & Maks: 27 Jennifer & Derek: 25 Kurt & Anna: 24 Rick & Cheryl: 24 Audrina & Tony: 23 Florence & Corky: 21 Kyle & Lacey: 20 Bristol & Mark : 18
- 2005– TV-PG7.4 (15)TV Episode
- Monday was a spooky, scary night of performances on "Dancing with the Stars," but someone's going to get the most frightening news of all with Tuesday's elimination. No segue here, just noting that Justin Bieber kicked off the show with a performance of his single, "Never Say Never." Bieber returns later to perform "Fa La La" with Boyz II Men, from his new Christmas album. Play it again...: Team Paso is called to the dance floor to perform the encore. To the results: Rob & Cheryl and Nancy & Tristan are the first to get their results. We see that after his critiques, Bruno gave Rob some additional pointers on what to do with his "bum." Nancy & Tristan were worried after getting low scores from the judges, with Nancy telling her partner, "You know we're toast, right?" The first couple into the bottom two -- which are being revealed tonight -- is Nancy & Tristan. Rob & Cheryl are safe. Before getting to the next set of results, we meet Victoria, a teenage dancer who suffered a brain tumor that required surgery. She had to relearn how to walk and do many other basic functions. Two months after her surgery, however, Victoria was back on stage dancing. And now, she's dancing to "Arms," performed live by Christina Perri. Derek Hough was inspired to put together a results-show performance with Allison Holker, previously of "So You Think You Can Dance" fame. They perform a pretty intense flamenco. Back to the results: J.R. seemed a bit shaky heading into his performance. and was bummed afterward. Carrie Ann gave him a 9, but, as Bruno noted, she gave Nancy a 9 last week. Ricki seemed to have some pain in her ribs during her performance, and afterward when Derek gave her a bear hug that lifted her off the floor. The next couple definitely safe is Ricki & Derek. J.R. & Karina are also safe. Hope & Maks raised the eyebrows of the judges because Hope actually seemed to be enjoying herself and it made a difference. We also get a glimpse at David's last-minute scramble to find his magic-trick cane before his performance. He never found it, but it didn't shake his enthusiasm. The next couple safe is ... Hope & Maks. That leaves David & Kym in the bottom two with Nancy & Tristan. After much hype, the couple with the lowest combined total of judges points and viewer votes, and therefore leaving the show is ... David & Kym! The crowd boos and even Tristan seems a bit shocked, but David keeps smiling. On his way out, he pokes a little fun at Maks' mini-tirade last week, saying, "There must be some mistake because this is my show!"
- It's Week 2 on "Dancing with the Stars," and this time it's for real. The couples' scores from last week's performances will be combined with Monday night's scores and -- in conjunction with America's votes -- will determine the first couple eliminated on Tuesday night. Roshon & Chelsie: After a cha cha that wowed the judges, Roshon is getting a serious ballroom challenge with the quickstep. Len Goodman says he liked it. He praises Roshon for taking the slows on his heel, which hardly anyone does correctly. Bruno Tonioli says Roshon has "more sparks than a bolt of lightning." Carrie Ann Inaba says Roshon turned his swagger "into sophistication and elegance," and she calls him a little prince. Scores: 9, 8, 9. Total: 26 Sherri & Val: Sherri draws the jive to "Proud Mary," and she's not really looking forward to the stamina test. "My equipment is way to heavy for all fo that bouncing around," she says. She's having tons of fun, but appears to skip a slide between Val's legs at one point. Sherri holds up quite well throughout, then collapses to the floor. Bruno shouts that Sherri knows "how to work all that magnificent equipment." Carrie Ann is screaming, too, and says she's "in love" with Sherri. "This is where confidence can take you past mistakes," she says. Len says Sherri, the audience and he felt good. "I love watching you," he tells her. Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total: 23 Melissa & Maks: After a cha cha that had Carrie seeing "great potential," Melissa is looking to rise up from the bottom of the rankings. Melissa gets emotional during rehearsal when Maks tells her she's done well, which makes him feel like he can't win. They dance a quickstep to Billy Idol's "Dancing with Myself," and Melissa reminds us that she dated Mr. Idol in the '80s. Carrie Ann points out a slip, but says she liked the performance better after that because Melissa started to let go of some tension at that point. Len says Melissa started with good posture and energy, but once she lost energy, the posture went with it. Bruno agrees, telling Melissa that when she's enjoying it she dances better, but when she over-thinks it, she gets tense. Scores: 7, 6, 7. Total: 20 Jack & Anna: Jack found himself near the top of the leader board after the first performance, and wants to keep his comfortable position after a tricky jive. Len says he liked the content, attitude and energy, but Jack lost a little control. Still, he thinks Jack's two dances are "acceptable" to get him through another week. Bruno says the kicks and flicks have to be right on in the jive, and Jack lost them at times. Carrie Ann says Jack's a really good dancer, but he "over-danced" this one, and she wants him to have a little more ease. Scores: 7, 7, 7. Total: 21 Gladys & Tristan: Gladys is giddy from her "extraordinary night" the week before, but the quickstep is going to bring a new challenge. She gets the crowd on its feet again after a nicely paced performance to Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke." Bruno loves Gladys' natural connection to the music and to Tristan. He reminds her to be careful about her frame. Carrie Ann agrees, saying Gladys is "extremely light" on her feet, but agrees that the frame was a little off. Len congratulates Gladys on getting through the dance because there's "a lot of technique." He says that as much as he admires Gladys, he didn't really enjoy the performance. Scores: 7, 5, 7. Total: 19 Katherine & Mark: The unknown star roared to the top of the pack last week, and she's ready to bring it. But she's not so sure she's ready to shake her "naughty bits" the way Mark wants her to. Carrie Ann is "all hot and bothered," and says she's never seen the speed and the leg extension Katherine brought. Len says the middle section wasn't really his cup of tea, but he liked it. Bruno declares, "the blonde bombshell is unleashed!" Bruno also tells everyone to take note that Katherine just showed "how you do flicks." Scores: 9, 8, 9. Total: 26 Jaleel & Kym: Jaleel was "over the moon" after last week's tie-for-the-top score. This week, they're dancing a jive that Kym keeps making more difficult because she sees Jaleel's potential. Len says it lacked a little attack and speed. There were moments he enjoyed, he says, but it wasn't crisp and sharp. Bruno likes that it was quirky, slightly different, but Jaleel also needs to be sharper with his kicks and flicks. Carrie Ann says Jaleel was dancing a little flat-footed. Scores: 7, 7, 8. Total: 22 Maria & Derek: After Bruno called upon Maria to unleash her sexy side, she's going to perform a quickstep that has a "Bonnie & Clyde" theme. She hurts a rib in rehearsal, but says she's going to be a tough Greek and power through it. Maria says Maria had "a frame you can frame." He says it was nearly spotless except for one step they lost in a run. He calls it brilliant. Carrie Ann says "that is what we're looking for when we talk about frame and hold." She's also bothered by one bit where they got out of sync, but says it's a "huge improvement" from last week to this week. Len says the quickstep is about speed and control, and they had plenty of both. He says he wouldn't have been as harsh on the slip-up as the others. Scores: 8, 8, 9. Total: 25 Martina & Tony: Looking to bounce back after playing it too safe last week, Martina wants to step it up during the jive. She re-injures a problematic toe in rehearsal. Carrie Ann says it was "sad" because she loved the approach to the routine, but there were several steps complete missed. Len says it was too neat and too precise, and a bit careful. He says he didn't see her attack the dance the way she should have. Bruno says "that serve went into the net." He hopes she'll get a chance to come back and hit it harder. Scores: 6, 5, 6. Total: 17 Donald & Peta: After some disappointment last week, Peta is pushing Donald to his limits this week because she knows he can handle it. They dance a quickstep. Len says "that performance was up there with the best I've seen tonight." Len also says he re-watched last week's show and admits he "undermarked" Donald. He apologizes, and asks Donald to understand how even the referees in football games have the luxury of on-the-spot instant replay and sometimes still get the calls wrong. Donald thanks him. Bruno says it was "spot-on," and "refined and elegant." Carrie Ann tells Donald that "all those years of watching 'Dancing with the Stars' paid off." Scores: 8, 8, 8. Total: 24 Gavin & Karina: After landing tied for last, Gavin wants to climb back but has a lot of trouble picking up the jive. He's ready to quit after getting the first round of pointers from Karina. But he pulls through with a smile. Bruno says Gavin messed up a lot of his kicks and flicks, and they were not that good. Carrie Ann says Gavin was definitely on the edge and pushing his boundaries. She enjoyed hi "animated and lively performance," and admired that he went way past what he's used to. Len liked the energy and attitude, and says this was an improvement over last week. Scores: 7, 7, 7. Total: 21 William & Cheryl: The squeals you heard from pretty much wherever you were on Earth on Monday night could only mean William was on the dance floor. Indeed, Cheryl tells the voters that the more votes they get, the more of William's clothes will come off. They dance a quickstep. Carrie Ann says the quickstep is not just about sexy and heat, it's about technique, and he's "like the Harry Connick Jr. of the ballroom." Len says he liked the mix of steps, movement and posture, but says William needed cleaner footwork, lacked body contact and even though his frame started great, he lost it. Bruno says Williams has the ability to dazzle. He says William reminded him of "The Artist" with his sparkle. Scores: 9, 7, 9. Total: 25 LEADER BOARD: Katherine & Mark: 26 + 26 = 52 Roshon & Chelsie: 23 + 26 = 49 William & Cheryl: 24 + 25 = 49 Jaleel & Kym: 26 + 22 = 48 Sherri & Val: 23 + 23 = 46 Maria & Derek: 21 + 25 = 46 Donald & Peta: 21 + 24 = 45 Jack & Anna: 23 + 21 = 44 Gladys & Tristan: 23 + 19 = 42 Gavin & Karina: 20 + 21 = 41 Melissa & Maks: 20 + 20 = 40 Martina & Tony: 20 + 17 = 37
- Apolo and Karina perform their Viennese Waltz for the judges' request dance. Then contestants choose the dance combinations for their competitors in next weeks fusion dance. Finally, the judges and audience are shocked as one of the leaders is eliminated from the competition.
- All the pros including some returning from prior years open this 300th show with a sizzling number. The judges request an encore of Kellie and Derek's Argentine tango. Sophia Lucia a ten year old girl who set the world record for the most continuous pirouettes make a guest appearance and dances with her idol Chelsea Hightower. Avril Levine and The Wanted perform their hit songs.
- The celebs face their greatest challenge with their partners. Getting new ones!
- The three finalists have one last chance to impress the judges in the fusion dance before the Season 17 champion is announced. All the season 17 couples have a last opportunity to perform. Elvis an the season's contestants perform to "What Does the Fox Say?." Guest performers include Enrique Iglesias, Paula Calais and Lady Antebellum.
- Following a group dance by the entire cast James and Peta reprise last night's freestyle at the request of the Twitter audience. Iggy Azalea, NeNe Leakes, Code Simpson, Ariana Grande and Christina Perry perform. Each couple performs one of their memorable dances leading up to the finalists final competitive dance; the "24 Hours Fusion Challenge."
- The eight remaining celebrities dance to songs from iconic boy bands and girl groups; the Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter serves as guest judge.
- Judge Len Goodman joins the entire cast for an opening number choreographed by Emmy-winner Mandy Moore.
- 2005– TV-PG7.4 (26)TV EpisodeThe celebrities dance to celebrate things in life that give them pleasure; one couple is sent home.
- The couples attempt to capture the spirit of a specific movie genre, performing a paso doblé, jazz, rumba, Argentine tango, samba, jive or quickstep; a couple is eliminated.
- The ten couples each perform with a third dancer, most of them past finalists, with one couple eliminated.
- Last week, it was Priscilla Presley who said goodbye on "Dancing with the Stars," and the remaining celebrities would perform two dances for the first time. The dancers will perf--whoa, check out Marlee Matlin's outfit! On to the dance floor: Jason & Edyta: NFL star Jason Taylor was planning on dancing a bit more to impress the judges. His partner Edyta Sliwinska took him to a freestyle dancing class to learn some moves. Jason and Edyta danced the cha cha cha to The Emotions' "Best of My Love." Judge Len Goodman said Jason had "lots of content" and said he could see Jason counting a little bit, but that he did a nice job. Bruno Tonioli said it was good that we saw Jason get a little cheeky, but he did mess up the timing a bit. Carrie Ann Inaba said nobody can touch Jason when he hits his lines, but that there was still awkwardness with his arms when he was out of the holds. Scores: 8, 8 and 8. Shannon & Derek: Actress Shannon Elizabeth had a rough go the previous week, taking some harsh criticism from the judges. Her partner Derek Hough brought her some flowers and then they went and made out on the beach. Shannon and Derek danced the rumba to Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors." It ended with the couple walking off the stage together. Bruno said the romantic interplay definitely worked, but that the rumba aspect didn't work because of the placement of the foot. Carrie Ann said now the judges are looking beyond potential. Len said they were "all over each other like a rash," but that was a good thing. He said overall it was good. Scores: 8, 8 and 8. Marlee & Fabian: Actress Marlee Matlin was still reeling from her slip the previous week, so she called on The Fonz to give her a pep talk. Henry Winkler became her own personal guru, telling her he knows her spirit is intense and "on fire." Her partner, mambo world champion Fabian Sanchez, promised her she was in good hands. Marlee and Fabian danced the mambo to Gloria Estefan's "La Tierra," which Marlee sporting a little tiger-print/bikini top. The dance was a little less than fluid. Carrie Ann opened with, "you look amazing," which is Paula Abdul speak for "it didn't go so well." She said the mambo was a dance that relied on connection to the music and that it would be the most challenging to Marlee, who is deaf. The judges agreed that it looked awkward and uncomfortable but praised her for being an inspiration. Scores: 7, 7 and 7. Cristian & Cheryl: Actor Cristian de la Fuente sought to bounce back from a bottom-two finish. He focused in rehearsal on maintaining his straight arms to keep Len happy. They practiced in a swimming pool, which gave him the perfect chance to pull his partner Cheryl Burke into the water -- he did. Cristian and Cheryl maintained a nice rat pack vibe dancing the foxtrot to "Come Fly with Me." Len said that "if you're in the bottom two tomorrow, I'll show my bum in the supermarket." Cristian shook his hand on that guarantee. Bruno said it was "Cristian at his dashing best" and said his footwork was excellent. Carrie Ann, at a loss for words, said Cristian "passed right into refined." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur had a big night the previous week with a sassy samba. In rehearsal, she got dizzy with the spins in the Viennese walts, so her partner Tony Davolani took her to an aerial acrobatics class to help. Marissa and Tony dance the Viennese waltz to Tom Jones' "Delillah." Bruno complimented her on attempting some very technical moves. Carrie Ann said she is "definitely on the Winokur wave" because she loved it. Len said what pleased him the most was seeing Marissa's confidence grow and said she looked "like a true princess." Marissa screamed when she saw her scores. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Kristi & Mark: Apparently Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi's domination has become so apparent that the only thing host Tom Bergeron had left to point out before her performance was that she has yet to score a perfect 30. She revealed that she was born with a clubbed foot and needed casts as a toddler to overcome it. It hasn't appeared to hold her back much. Kristi and her partner Mark Ballas Jr. danced the jive to "Rip It Up" with a sock-hop kind of vibe. It was high energy and basically flawless. Carrie Ann said it was the best dance performed this season. Len said it was like being at a buffet and called it "a smorgaboard of dance, and I loved it." Bruno said she performed the best she ever has. Scores: 10, 10 and 10. Perfection, for the first time all season. Mario & Karina: R&B singer Mario found his mojo the previous and scored 9's across the board and he had his sights set on Kristi. He said he wanted to bring sexy back with the rumba. He dedicated his dance to his little brother, who we saw Mario talk to back in Baltimore thanks to his AT&T cell phone (that wasn't intentional product placement, was it?). Mario and Karina danced the rumba to Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" with a super hot and steamy twist. Len said they did a good job, but that the rumba "is the story of a developing romance, it's not the story of a strumpet and a gigolo." Bruno said he thought it was fabulous. Carrie Ann said it was "better than good sex." But she pointed out a lift and said she was going dock him for it. Scores: 9, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Hoedown! Umm... this one you kinda had to see. The first group dance of the season, strictly for the viewers' enjoyment, was full of flips, spins, twirls and general excitement abounded as the stars looked to impress the fans with their solo moments. It was a fun display, highlighted by some pretty tremendous lifts by Jason and Mario. Scoreboard: Kristi & Mark: 30 Mario & Karina: 28 Cristian & Cheryl: 27 Marissa & Tony: 26 Jason & Edyta: 24 Shannon & Derek: 24 Marlee & Fabian: 21
- Three months can fly by when you're having fun. Host Tom Bergeron reminded viewers of the journey that led them to the 90-minute semifinal round where four couples would compete for three spots in the final. Random draws decided which dances each couple would perform. The one-week pass on lifts was rescinded, so the dancers would be penalized for lifts. Judge Len Goodman told all the dancers that because they were performing dances they'd done before, so they were really expected to step up their games. Jason & Edyta: NFL star Jason Taylor was up first, looking to bounce back from his samba he previous week. Jason pulled the foxtrot and the paso doble from the random drawing. Those are both dances he's performed well, but this round would require new music and choreography. To get Jason back in competitive mode, his partner Edyta Sliwinska gave him a classic chalkboard coach's pep talk. She also got Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino to give Jason a boost, via video. Jason and Edyta performed a foxtrot to "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off." Len said Jason glided around the ballroom and said it was "fantastic." Judge Bruno Tonioli praised Jason and Edyta's choreography. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said Jason had a lot of content and a lot of charisma and said, "good job." Scores: 9, 10 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Marissa & Tony: Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur and her partner Tony Davolani landed at the bottom of the judges' scoreboard the previous week. She drew the rumba and quickstep for her semifinal dances. Marissa got a visit from Stacy Kiebler, who was paired with Tony in the past. Marissa and Tony danced the quickstep "for everyone who believed in us," Marissa said. Bruno pointed out that Marissa missed a move and Marissa said, "you noticed." Carrie Ann thought Marissa did "a great classic quickstep." Len said that for a dance so technical and so fast, "I thought you did a great job." Scores: 9, 9 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Cristian & Cheryl: Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente and his partner Cheryl Burke drew the samba and the Viennese waltz. The samba was the dance they were performing when Cristian injured his arm two weeks earlier. He had to overcome some mental anxiety. But that would wait until after they performed a Viennese waltz to Dave Matthews Band's "Satellite." Carrie Ann said it was enjoyable to watch. Len said everything was better than the last time. Bruno said it was a Viennese waltz "with a wow factor." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Kristi & Mark: Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi was looking to regain her place at the top of the leaderboard after two weeks out of first place. Her partner Mark Ballas Jr. took her to a professional ballroom class to get some feedback on their routine. She was once again reminded to show some more passion during her dance, especially on the tango, which was what the couple would have to be performing, in addition to the jive. Len said everything technically fine and said "sometimes, for me, it was a little bit hectic." Bruno said a bunch of stuff very loudly that made it sound like he enjoyed the performance very much. Carrie Ann nearly had a wardrobe malfunction while rising to give Kristi a standing ovation. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. At the half: Kristi and Mark led the scoreboard with 29 points; followed by Jason and Edyta with 28; Cristian and Cheryl with 27; and Marissa and Tony with 26. Len's pointers: Len visited each of the dancers and gave them each a specific step that he wanted to see in their Latin dances. Jason & Edyta: Jason and Edyta performed the paso doble. Jason got through the dance with far fewer poses than he did last time and brought a great amount of intensity. Bruno said Jason had "the strength and momentum of 'Ironman.'" Carrie Ann said the judges have knocked him before for not having enough content in his routines but this one had way more choreography, way more difficult steps and said he did a great job, "nice execution." Len said Jason was a bit like the price of gas, "you're going up." Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Total: 55 out of 60. Marissa & Tony: Marissa and Tony performed a sultry rumba to "Just the Two of Us." Carrie Ann said she "wasn't excited by that." She didn't feel like it was a semifinal dance. Len said the rumba doesn't have the wow factor of the other Latin dances, it is a precise dance, "it has got to be right on the money with the technique and the choreography. I thought you did a very, very good job." Bruno said the last time he told her it wasn't sexy enough, but this time she pulled it off. Carrie Ann jumped back in and blasted the judges, suggesting they weren't holding Marissa to as high of a standard as they were holding the other dancers. Scores: 8, 9 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Total: 52 out of 60. Cristian and Cheryl: Cristian and Cheryl took on the samba for the first since the injury. It was an intense and fun display. Len said it was "hotter than a chili pepper." He said he thought Cristian's arm injury made him focus and come out stronger than he'd ever been before. He did criticize Cristian for being a bit flat footed at times. Bruno said it was the rematch of the century. Carrie Ann said Cristian reminded her of Emmitt Smith, who won this whole thing not long ago. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Total: 56 out of 60. Kristi & Mark: Kristi and Mark danced a new jive, a dance that scored them a perfect 30 a few weeks back. This one seemed to lack a little bit of the style and performance of the first. Bruno said it was the cherry on the icing on the cake of a sweet, delicious jive. Carrie Ann said it was an extremely difficult routine and said Mark throws more difficulty at Kristi than any other dancer in the competition. Len said there was great rhythm, but said it was just a little bit stiff at times. Scores: 9, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Total: 57 out of 60. Scoreboard: Kristi & Mark: 57 Cristian & Cheryl: 56 Jason & Edyta: 55 Marissa & Tony: 52
- Four celebrity and pro-dancer couples dance and compete to win the coveted mirrorball trophy; Nelly performs.
- Chuck & Julianne: Chuck Wicks was trying to get out of the middle of the pack with his Viennese waltz after weeks of playing it safe. His partner Julianne Hough tried to get him to loosen up in rehearsals. Did it work? Judge Len Goodman said Chuck finally came out of hibernation. Bruno Tonioli said Chuck was "emerging from the shadows" of Julianne. He said Chuck "still got a little bit shaky" at times. Carrie Ann Inaba disagreed with both judges and said Chuck was still holding back and lost his focus at times. She said "it's a little irritating" to her that Chuck hadn't pulled it all together yet, prompting a mini-scuffle between the judges. Scores: 7, 8, and 8. Total: 23 Lawrence & Edyta: NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor was still trying to squeeze an 8 out of the judges. He had trouble nailing the rhythm of the paso doble, saying it felt like watching TV with no sound on. Edyta tried to get Lawrence to tap into the intensity he had playing football. Bruno called Lawrence "the prince of darkness," and said that he got his feet moving after a rough start. Carrie Ann said Lawrence had a limited range of music, but commended him for working with a difficult type of music. Len liked the intensity that Lawrence showed, but said it was "much better" overall. Scores: 6, 7, and 7. Total: 20 Shawn & Mark: Shawn Johnson's overly acrobatic Lindy Hop was too full of tricks last week, so she wanted to get back to the dancing with a Viennese waltz. She was ready to make a comeback after getting stuck in the middle of the pack and her partner Mark Ballas was ready to make it happen. Carrie Ann said they proved that simplicity is the best route to success. Len said they showed the romantic side of the dance but criticized her footwork. Bruno said it had great flow and musicality and advised Shawn not to press her shoulders up when she dances. Scores: 9, 8, and 9. Total: 26 Melissa & Tony: After scoring two 10s last week, "Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft had to get serious for the paso doble. She had trouble not smiling through the serious dance in rehearsal. She managed to avoid smiling during the performance, but was that enough? Len said Melissa coped with the dance very well, but pointed out a couple of blunders. He also said it lacked a bit of the aggression she was trying to capture. Bruno said most of it was very beautiful, but she did make mistakes. Carrie Ann said she felt Melissa was off balance. Scores: 8, 8, and 9. Total: 25. David & Kym: Comedian David Alan Grier was stuck in the middle of the pack last week and planned on bribing the judges to fix it. In reality, he worked hard during rehearsal. Bruno said it started well and that when David kept it classic, it worked. Carrie Ann thought she figured out what's disconnected, and she said it was a lack of connection between David and Kym. Len said it was a "very, very good performance" of a very difficult dance. Scores: 7, 8, and 7. Total: 22 Gilles & Cheryl: Actor Gilles Marini was overwhelmed by his perfect score last week and said the pressure was enormous. His partner Cheryl Burke took him to a martial arts studio to tap into some of the aggression needed for his paso doble. They gave an intense performance Carrie Ann said she felt like she was watching someone taking things back to the heart and the core of the dance. Len said it was a little hectic at times. Bruno said Gilles was going in for the kill and "nailed it." Scores. 10, 9, and 10. Total: 29 Steve-O & Lacey: Steve-O and his partner Lacey Schwimmer got a visit during rehearsals, which helped lift Steve-O's spirit. They did a Parisien-inspired Viennese waltz. Len told Steve-O not to get over-excited but it was his best dance. Bruno said Steve-O's timing was on tonight. Carrie Ann liked it and just told Steve-O to watch his posture. Scores: 6, 6, and 6. Total: 18 Ty & Chelsie: Rodeo champion Ty Murray was coming off his best week, so far, and looking forward to using his rodeo skills on the paso doble. He took his partner Chelsie Hightower to hang out with some bulls to give her a sense of his world, then went off to do his dance. He left us with one final thought: "Chelsie says in this dance, she's the bull. If all bulls were like that, there'd be a lot more bull riders in this world." Bruno said it was so robotic and metallic he thought he was watching a Transformer. Carrie Ann wondered, "Where did my little dancer go?" Len said that after two great dances, this one was not quite to that standard. Scores: 7, 7, and 7. Total: 21 Lil Kim & Derek: After scoring the first 10 of the season, Lil Kim was all business. She had a music video to film and a magazine photo shoot in addition to learning the Viennese waltz. On a short time schedule, Lil Kim and Derek took to the dance floor. Carrie Ann said Lil Kim "brought every moment to life." Len praised the musicality but noted the footwork errors from Lil Kim. Bruno said Lil Kim managed to make the Viennese waltz look sassy. He said, "It takes two people to win, and what you do is the right way of doing it." Scores: 9, 8, and 9. Total: 26 LEADERBOARD: Gilles & Cheryl: 29 Shawn & Mark: 26 Lil Kim & Derek: 26 Melissa & Tony: 25 Chuck &Julianne: 23 David & Kym: 22 Ty & Chelsie: 21 Lawrence & Edyta: 20 Steve-O & Lacey: 18
- The semifinalists on "Dancing with the Stars" by the end of the night, but first we get treated to a routine from the female pros and troupe members, dancing to "I Am Woman." To the results: We first see Rob & Cheryl's night recapped, and Rob was pleased with his 51 out of 60. He and Cheryl allow themselves a moment to dream about making it to the semifinals. Hope & Maks did so well, Len was thinking of asking Maks for a hug. Len then went in for a kiss on the cheek for Maks after an impressive instant jive. J.R. was fired up after his waltz, which scored a perfect 30. He nailed a second perfect 30 and he and Karina wanted to do it all over again. The first of the three couples into the semifinals is ... J.R. & Karina. Hope & Maks are also in the semifinals. That leaves Rob & Cheryl, who are in jeopardy. 'Dance Center': Kenny Mayne and Jerry Rice join Len for what Kenny thinks is the 12th edition of "Dance Center." The first solid line comes when Kenny says Derek Hough is "a lot like Mark Ballas, except that he's blonde and not nearly as creepy." Kenny harps on the fact that Ricki is old enough to be Derek's mom, and then takes some suggestive comments in rehearsal. Kenny makes a quip about J.R.'s love for musical theater, and Jerry gives a "lips-sealed" gesture to the camera, whispering, "Don't ask, don't tell." Rob's state sheet lists his occupation as "Brother of Kim Kardashian." One of his strengths is "he's a Kardashian," but a weakness is "has that Kardashian ass." They finish the first half by poking some fun at Rob's constant repeating of the fact that he went to USC. "Smart kid," Jerry says. Later, Nancy's stat sheet lists her height as "taller on TV." Referring to Nancy's past life as a high school cheerleader, Jerry Rice says he would never have won three Super Bowls with Nancy on the sidelines -- "I would've been too distracted." Hope Solo is listed as "Han" Solo, of course, and her occupation is "Millennium Falcon Pilot." They air a bit of video from Hope's nude photo shoot for ESPN the Magazine, and then Len shares some of his own video of a nude photo shoot on a suburban street. They end the whole segment with a riff on Maks' "this is my show" by showing the (altered, of course) credits from that night, which are revised to list Maks as the host, executive producer, and everything else, up to and including "Owner of the Whole Show." Be our guest: Andrea Boccelli stops by to perform a song from his new live album, "Concerto: One Night in Central Park." The cast from Cirque du Soleil's tribute to Michael Jackson rocks some iconic moves on the dance floor. Later, Flo Rida performs "Love Can't Handle Me" and his new song, "Good Feeling." Back to the results: We see that Nancy was worried about how she and Tristan were "going to be beat those nines." We also see Tristan trying to coach Nancy through all the steps in her jive. After her performance, Ricki was worried she doesn't have what it takes to perform multiple times on Monday nights, and Derek warns her, "Next week's harder." The next couple safe and into the semifinals is ... Ricki & Derek. That leaves Nancy & Tristan in jeopardy. The final two couples, Rob & Cheryl and Nancy & Tristan, await their fates. We learn that these are not necessarily the bottom two couples, but the couple falling just short of the semifinals is ... Nancy & Tristan.
- It's down to the top four on "Dancing with the Stars," and the remaining contestants will have to perform three dances, including two individual rounds. They will all dance an Argentine tango and be allowed to do lifts, and take part in a cha cha relay. Hope & Maks: After racking up her biggest scores of the season, Hope is looking to wow the judges in the Argentine tango. She has serious shoulder issues that are making the dance very painful and her doctors comes to give her what's apparently a cortizone injection. Head judge Len Goodman starts by noting it's amazing to do three dances in one week. He liked her attitude and aggression, but that cost some precision. Bruno Tonioli agrees, saying it lacked artistry and reminds her that "control is as important as energy." Carrie Ann Inaba says she nailed the character, but the grace was missing from the holds. Scores: 7, 7, 7. Total: 21 J.R. & Karina: A week after achieving "DWTS" perfection with two 30-point performances, J.R. can only hope to maintain that level. He knows the bar is that much higher. J.R. says he has no prior dance experience, contrary to what some people seem to think, then promptly rolls his ankle in rehearsal. He dances the paso doble. Tom Bergeron confirms with J.R. that he twisted his ankle again during the performance. Bruno says the role play was great, but the posture was not quite there. Carrie Ann credits J.R. for attacking the performance with his hurt ankle, but his posture really suffered and she says there were some "unsure pauses." Len says "this dance didn't suit you at all." He says "it was more zero than Zorro," referring to the costumes and theme. Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total: 23 Rob & Cheryl: Rob is making his move at the right time, and Cheryl wants him to do particularly well in the Argentine tango, because she says it is her dance. First up, though, the samba. Carrie Ann's reaction: "Who are you?" She says "it was amazing," and he didn't miss anything. Len says he thought it would be a nightmare when it started, and he was "saying, 'Oh, yes!'" Bruno tells Rob "that's how you turn a handicap into an asset," in praising Rob's hip action on the samba. Scores: 10, 9, 9. Total: 28 Ricki & Derek: Ricki won't get a 10 from Len until she nails her footwork, and she'll have three chances tonight. Ricki is anxious about being lifted in the Argentine tango, feeling like she's too heavy and will crush Derek. First, though, she tries her feet at the samba. Len appreciates that there were no props and says it was "fabulous, fabulous, fabulous," and adds that Ricki just took a giant step into the finals. Bruno says it was brilliant from the beginning to the end. Carrie Ann praises Ricki's posture, even poking some fun about how hard she was working to keep her shoulders down and head up. Scores: 10, 10, 10. Total: 30 Hope & Maks: Before her second dance, Hope shares a bit about her childhood and a traumatic experience growing up when her father -- after a divorce -- effectively kidnapped her and her brother. He was arrested and imprisoned for a while, and when he got out, he started attending Hope's college soccer games. He died just before the 2007 Women's World Cup and Hope was benched in favor of another goalie -- and kicked off the team for a while after speaking out about the benching to the press. Len thought it was "far, far better than the paso doble." Bruno says it was a full-on display of athleticism. Carrie Ann says there was more fluidity to the movement, but that the movements into and out of the lifts needed to be cleaner. Scores: 8, 8, 8. Total 24 J.R. & Karina: J.R. recalls his childhood with a single mother in Louisiana and he enlisted in the Army on Sept. 12, 2002, in an effort to serve the country and get money for college. "I didn't process, exactly, that I could actually be at war at 19 years old," he says. J.R. looks pretty angry after the Argentine tango. Bruno says it was "absolutely beautiful to watch." Carrie Ann says there was a true fire burning between them, and she notes the very difficult lifts he was able to accomplishes. Len says he was "transported to the dark streets of Buenos Aires." Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Rob & Cheryl: Rob's childhood story was about having his dad as a best pal, and he passed away when Rob was 16. His goal in life was to graduate form USC like his dad did. Once he did that, he was still a bit lost as to where to go next. His mother says that Rob entered this competition as a boy and is now a man. After the Argentine tango, Carrie says "there's no way to fake good dancing," and she says "that was good, strong dancing." Len tells Rob it's not where you start, it's where you finish "and you're finishing strong." Bruno says Rob now looks like a leading man and he's doing great. Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Ricki & Derek: Ricki shares her story of being molested in her own home and says she turned to food. She landed a dream role in the movie "Hairspray," and hit rock bottom afterward. She was reinvented with her TV talk show and set herself on a new path. And now she's dancing the Argentine tango with Derek. Len calls it a lovely contrast of movement and tells Ricki, "I don't think you know how good that was." Bruno says the mood was spot on and the dancing was "peerless." Carrie Ann says Ricki now has the "pop." Scores: 9, 10, 10. Total: 29 Cha cha relay: All four couples are going to dance a relay format of the cha cha, giving the judges and viewers a chance to see them all side by side on the same dance. The couples will be ranked, from best to last, and points will be distributed, 10 for first place, 8 for second, 6 for third and 4 for last. In fourth place are Hope & Maks, getting 4 points. In third place are J.R. & Karina, getting 6 points. The winners are Rob & Cheryl, getting 10 points, meaning Ricki & Derek came in second and got 8 points. LEADER BOARD: Ricki & Derek: 30 + 29 + 8 = 67 Rob & Cheryl: 28 + 27 + 10 = 65 J.R. & Karina: 23 + 27 + 6 = 56 Hope & Maks: 21 + 24 + 4 = 49
- The four finalists perform their final two routines in hopes of winning the mirrorball trophy.
- This week DWTS celebrates Michael Jackson's music on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his "Bad" album. In this semifinal round couples begin performing dances new to DWTS to the odd themes chosen last week. Then the couples dance to Michael Jackson favorites.
- Guest performer Michael Bublé opens this show. Then Aly and Mark reprise last night's dance at the judges request. And later the Camden Sophisticated Sisters appear as the guest dance troupe. Kellie and Derek get to relax this night as they are immune from elimination having received the highest score from the judges last night. But it doesn't look good for Andy and Sharna with by far the lowest judges' scores.
- The 13 remaining couples heat up the ballroom floor with dances performed to music celebrating Latin heritage; featuring a fiery opening number to "Despechá" by Rosalía.
- Julianne Hough returns to the show as a forth judge and four new pros join the cast. But the new quirky stars steal the show.
- The six remaining couples each perform a dedication dance, then a dance selected by the judges, after which two couples are eliminated before the finals.
- There were some interesting costume choices revealed as the stars were introduced on "Dancing With the Stars" on Monday, including a bullfighter-looking outfit worn by dancing pro Mark Ballas Jr. and a penciled in mustache above Adam Carolla's upper lip. Kristi & Mark: Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi said that after last week she learned that the emotional component of dancing is as important as, if not more important than, the technical side, which she's already mastered. She practiced giving some expression. Kristi and Mark danced the Paso Doble to New Order's "Blue Monday." It was filled with another round of impressive spins from Kristi. Judge Len Goodman said Kristi "can't dance bad," but he said every dance has a sameness to it. Judge Bruno Tonioli said she unleashed the power, and judge Carrie Ann Inaba said that Kristi and Mark set the standard in this competition. After getting nothing but 9's all season, so far, and holding the highest score at the point in the competition in the show's history, Kristi and Mark pulled in the first two 10's of the year. Scores: 10, 9 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Priscilla & Louis: Actress and former first lady of rock Priscilla Presley was trying to keep pace with Kristi. Priscilla and Louis danced the Viennese Waltz and it was another solid outing with some graceful movements from Priscilla. Bruno said it was a great interpretation, but advised her to watch her shoulder and neck line. Carrie Ann said Priscilla's facial expressions were mesmerizing, but maybe Carrie Ann hasn't heard about the whole silicone situation. Carrie Ann and Len both told Priscilla they had to penalize her one point for doing a lift. Bruno Scores: 7, 7 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Adam & Julianne: We were reminded of radio personality Adam Carolla's faux-offensive comments the week before. Adam said he's been bitten by the dancing bug. He said he's dropped 10 pounds and is now "in it not to lose it." He said his partner Julianne Hough is stepping up the difficulty level by giving him some tougher moves. Adam and Julianne danced the Paso Doble, with Julianne starting the performance on her own before Adam rolled onto the dance floor in a Zorro mask and cape and riding a unicycle. it was a very entertaining display. Carrie Ann said, "it was smooth, it was dramatic, your turns were fantastic, and then you got off the unicycle." Len said that Adam is such a lovable character and people will want him to do well, but he's not much of a dancer. Bruno said Adam is a classic example that genius and insanity go hand in hand. Scores: 6, 7 and 6, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Marlee & Fabian: Deaf actress Marlee Matlin vowed to make a run this week at Kristi Yamaguchi, and she'd do it with the Viennese Waltz. In rehearsal, she had trouble with the dance's movements, which call for lots of rotation and that was difficult because her deafness causes Marlee problems with balance. Marlee and Fabian danced the Viennese Waltz to Billy Joel's "She Always a Woman to Me." Len said it was "very, very good" and was impressed that she did a particularly difficult step that he hadn't seen. Bruno said she interprets the music well, and reiterated a comment by Len that she needs to work on her posture. Carrie Ann was crying and said something about Marlee's performance really touched her, "and for that, I am grateful." Scores: 8, 8 and 8. Mario & Karina: R&B singer Mario was looking to bounce back from his lowest score this season. He called it a wake-up call and his partner Karina Smirnoff emphasized that he needs to show some intensity to secure his place in the competition. Mario and Karina danced the Paso Doble to Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground." Mario wore a white puffy shirt under a gold bullfighter jacket. Bruno called it "strong, powerful" and said he liked it very, very much. Carrie Ann said she could tell he rehearsed the moves. Len said he liked it, but worried that Mario only has one style of dancing. Scores: 8, 7 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Jason & Edyta: NFL star Jason Taylor wanted to become a rooster again after Len called him a "feather duster." As he prepared to dance the Viennese Waltz, Edyta took him to Medieval Times to learn chivalry from a knight. After being dubbed "Sir Dance-a-Lot," he took to the dance floor to dance the Viennese Waltz with Edyta to James Brown's "This Is a Man's World." Jason stumbled just a bit during a series of turns. Carrie Ann was moved again, not quite to tears, and even forgave him on the stumble because she enjoyed the rest of the dance. Len said it was "a wow of a Waltz." Bruno said they managed to make the Viennese Waltz "sexy, sensual, erotic." Scores: 10, 9 and 10, respectively from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno. Cristian & Cheryl: Actor Cristian de la Fuente got back in the game last week with his energetic Jive. His partner Cheryl Burke got impatient with Cristian in rehearsal, eventually telling him, "when you listen to me, it's good. When you don't listen to me, it's bad." Cheryl took Cristian to meet Drew Lachey, who she partnered with to the title a few seasons back to motivate him to listen to her. Would it work? Cristian and Cheryl danced the Paso Doble, with Cristian dressed in a long-tailed black coat over a waxed chest. Cristian grunted a few times to emphasize the drama. Len said it was a powerful tune he danced to and said, "I think the music conquered you." But he still liked the performance. Bruno said it was very convincing. Carrie Ann disagreed with Len, saying that Cristian did keep up with the music. Scores: 9, 8 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Shannon & Derek: The show followed up the big news from last week's behind-the-scenes drama as actress Shannon Elizabeth's partner Derek Hough, who had something snap in his neck during rehearsal on Tuesday. He came to practice with a neck brace and handed Shannon off to pro Jonathan Roberts. Derek tried to stay on the sidelines to avoid reinjuring himself, but got more involved that he should have. Shannon and Derek danced the Viennese Waltz as everyone waited to see if Derek's neck would hold up. Bruno said is was elegant, had a beautiful sense of movement, good musicality. Carrie Ann said "something's definitely happening" as she's watching Shannon's growth as a dancer. Len said it was the best dance he saw all night. Scores: 9, 10 and 9, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Marissa & Tony: Marissa was hoping to bounce back from the lowest-scored performance of the week, which Carrie Ann called "boring." Her partner, Tony Dovolani, promised to give Marissa a Paso Doble that the judges would not forget. He said he was going to give her steps he would normally only give to pros. Marissa said that the audience fought for her to stay last week, so she had to fight for herself this week. Marissa and Tony danced the Paso Doble. Carrie Ann said it was "fantastic." Len said "the true Marissa is coming out." Bruno said that's the way to go. He praised her for taking risks, and Marissa jumped and laughed hysterically. Scores: 8, 8 and 8. The Scoreboard: Kristi & Mark: 29 Jason & Edyta: 29 Shannon & Derek: 28 Cristian & Cheryl: 26 Mario & Karina: 24 Marissa & Tony: 24 Marlee & Fabian: 24 Priscilla & Louis: 22 Adam & Julianne: 19
- We can assume there will be no more unicycle shenanigans or religious commentary now that Adam Carolla and partner Julianne Hough are no longer on the show. Host Tom Bergeron promised "the sexiest show of the season" as the dancers take on "Latin Night," when Bergeron said, "We've double up on the sequins and cut back on the fabric." This is still a family show, right?! It's the halfway point in the competition as the dancers performed the Samba and the Rumba. Mario & Karina: R&B singer Mario was still reeling from the judge Len Goodman's harsh criticism last week, and he went to Stevie Wonder for inspiration. Stevie told him to let his spirit dance, and let his soul dance. Marion and his partner Karina Smirnoff danced the Samba with Karina appropriately wearing a skimpy yellow number (as was spray-tanned beyond belief!) as they performed to Ella Fitzgerald's "A-Tisket A-Tasket." Some fancy footwork from both dancers earned smiles from the judges' table. Len said the dance suited Mario and he called it his "best dance so far." Judge Bruno Tonioli said that if Mario's hips could talk "we'd be censored tonight." Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said she enjoyed that it was nice and to the point. Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Priscilla & Louis: Actress Priscilla Presley said that going from second place to second-to-last was "a wake-up call." We got a peek at the tension between teacher and student, but Priscilla was talking comeback as they took to to the dance floor. Priscilla and partner Louis Van Amstel to "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" while Priscilla draped a sparkly crab net over herself. The routine got a little "Cirque du Soleil" toward the end. Bruno said that the slow dance exposed a lot of flaws. Carrie Ann said Priscilla appeared to be concentrating too much on her technique and it was clear she was thinking too much. Len said he was disappointed because the dance lacked spontenaeity. Scores: 7, 7 and 7. Marissa & Tony: After a big bounce-back performance last week, Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur said the higher scores just make her want to harder. Her partner Tony Dovolani suggested she do something to get herself into the Brazilian "Carnivale" spirit, so she got herself a headdress and did it up right. Marissa and Tony danced the Samba with Marissa sporting a sparkly purple tassel skirt and shaking everything her momma gave her. She kept shaking even after the song ended. Carrie Ann said it was Marissa's best routine by far. Len enjoyed the mix of steps in the dance and said it was "more bounce to the ounce" than he's ever seen. Bruno said everybody loved it and said that despite a hiccup at the start, once she got into it, "there was no stopping you!" Scores: 8, 8 and 8. Cristian & Cheryl: Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente was coming off his best performance ever and said his Latin blood is finally starting to dance through his veins. He found it. Their rehearsal video included a funny little dream-sequence skit in which he played the Spanish-speaking leading man trying to seduce his partner Cheryl Burke, and it worked even though she had no idea what he was saying to her and simply answered, "Si" to everything. Cristian and Cheryl danced the Rumba to some hyper-cheesy love song. Len said it was a "competent" performance but it didn't blow him away. Bruno said the chemistry between Cristian and Cheryl is good, but the slow walks in the dance exposed flaws again. Carrie Ann disagreed with Bruno and said the chemistry wasn't there and that the dance wasn't "super-erotic." Scores: 7, 8 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Marlee & Fabian: Last week, Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin brought Carrie Ann to tears with her Viennese Waltz. Marlee and partner Fabian Sanchez's video showed them taking a trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, where they helped fit deaf children with hearing aids that helped some of them hear for the first time. It was quite moving. Back to business, Marlee had some trouble picking up the steps to the Samba, which has a lot of challenging off-beat movements. Marlee and Fabian danced the Samba and there appeared to be a few missteps and Marlee looked a little disappointed at the end. Bruno said it was very, very hot and sexy, but noticed that a lot of times she lost the timing and stumbled. Carrie Ann noticed a few slips and stumbles, but that she saw a couple of moments when she could have given up or kept going, and Marlee kept going. Len said it is the most difficult Latin dance and she pulled it off considering that she can't hear anything. Scores: 7, 7 and 8, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Kristi & Mark: Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi is still dominating, but is feeling the pressure coming up behind her. Her partner Mark Ballas Jr. said the Rumba is "a vertical expression of a horizontal design." Kristi suggested, essentially, role playing with Mark in order to pull off the seduction of the dance without being uncomfortable. Just as she settled into her sexy new role, her kids burst into the rehearsal room shouting, "Surprise!" Kristi and Mark danced the Rumba. Carrie Ann said Kristi really did take a risk, but that she gave up some movements to get some of the emotion. Len gave her "three words: Fab-U-Lous." Bruno said the chemistry was great and called the dance "stupendous." Scores: 9, 10 and 10, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Shannon & Derek: Actress Shannon Elizabeth's partner Derek Hough continues his health struggles. Two weeks after being rushed to the hospital with a neck strain, Derek went to the hospital on show day with a bout of food poisoning. He was back and Bergeron kept a bucket handy. Shannon and Derek danced the Samba. Len said that halfway through we should be down to the best, but "as good as that was, it wasn't, for me, really good enough." Bruno said she has to go out there and "shake those maracas." He said she messed up the timing a few times and that maybe it was too hard for her. Carrie Ann admired her attitude and effort to try a difficult routine, but agreed that it wasn't the best. Scores: 8, 8 and 7, from Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno, respectively. Jason & Edyta: Coming off a 29-point performance, NFL star Jason Taylor had to prove it wasn't a fluke. Jason struggled with some of the more sensual, graceful movements in rehearsal. Could he handle it on the dance floor? Jason and Edyta danced the Rumba. Bruno said he had the look of a love god and asked Jason how he can be so light and so big at the same time, and said it was "another incredible job." Carrie Ann said the couple has the "most insane chemistry" on the dance floor. Len said Jason has a naturalness about him and called him a "bloke," which is a good thing. Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Scoreboard: Kristi & Mark: 29 Mario & Karina: 27 Jason & Edyta: 27 Marissa & Tony: 24 Shannon & Derek: 23 Cristian & Cheryl: 23 Marlee & Fabian: 22 Priscilla & Louis: 21
- In the first part of the season premiere, the male celebrities -- Penn Jillette, Jason Taylor, Cristian de la Fuente, Adam Carolla, Mario and Steve Guttenberg -- and their dancing pro partners, took their turns.
- After a wild semifinal, it was time to determine which three couples would be vying for the glitter ball trophy on "Dancing with the Stars." In next week's season finale. But first, Aretha Franklin took the stage to offer up her classic, "Chain of Fools." Aretha returned later to perform "Respect" with current champions Mark Ballas and Kristi Yamaguchi dancing along. Leona Lewis stopped by to perform her hit single, "Bleeding Love," with a dance accompaniment from Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff. Julianne Hough also performed her single, "My Hallelujah Song," with Derek Hough, Mark Ballas and Lacey Schwimmer dancing along. John Legend also performed "Green Light." To the highlights: Brooke Burke was still reeling from her messed up jive. "I screwed up the very beginning, and then it just went downhill from there," she said. Lance Bass was still rejoicing over his 10, "and a 9 from Len," Lance said. "That's like a 12 for us." Family matters: A fun little feature about halfway through the night showed Cody's mom, Warren's mom, Lance's grandfather and Brooke's fiancé talking about the experience of watching their loved ones participate and grow throughout the competition. To the results: After what seemed like an eternity, host Tom Bergeron finally announced that Lance & Lacey and Brooke & Derek had secured spots in the finals. That left Cody & Julianne and Warren & Kym to wait and wonder. After another commercial break, Tom announced that Cody & Julianne were leaving.
- With a double elimination on the horizon, some of the stars shined on Monday night while others faltered. Who would go home? It was time to find out on Tuesday. Highlights from the highlight reel: Lawrence Taylor, after getting a "5" from judge Len Goodman, wondered what he's have to do to get a decent score from the judges. Gymnast Shawn Johnson wasn't fazed by Len's criticism that her routine had too many tricks and not enough dancing. She was just thrilled they got another standing ovation. And pro Cheryl Burke, celebrating the perfect "30" she and partner GillesMarini nailed, said she'd never had this kind of chemistry with a dancing partner before. He said, "Thank you, babe," and planted a big kiss on her cheek. Play it again: Len asked for the first encore of the season from Gilles and Cheryl, who gave another rendition of their steamy Argentine Tango. A quick check of the leaderboard: Gilles & Cheryl: 30 Melissa & Tony: 29 Lil Kim & Derek: 27 Ty & Chelsie: 25 Shawn & Mark: 25 David & Kym: 22 Chuck & Julianne: 22 Lawrence & Edyta: 19 Holly & Dmitry: 16 Steve-O & Lacey: 15 Steve & Karina: 12 To the results: With a double elimination in the works, there would be no dance-off. Host Tom Bergeron let two couples off the hook: Gilles & Cheryl and Lawrence Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska. Then he put one couple into the bottom three: Holly Madison & Dmitry Chaplin. 'Let It Rock': Pros Julianne Hough, Chelsie Hightower and Lacey Schwimmer led an edgy and sensual group performance while Kevin Rudolph performed his hit single "Let It Rock." Later, some international champions showed how the Viennese Waltz should be done with a routine choreographed by "Dancing" pro Louis VanAmstel. Finally, Boyz II Men came out to perform a medley of classic Motown hits. More results: The next couple set free were Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas. Later, Tom revealed that Chuck Wicks & Julianne Hough were safe. But the second couple dropped into the bottom three was Steve-O & Lacey Schwimmer. Backstage, Steve-O told Samantha Harris, "I'm not used to dealing with high-pressure situations without the help of drugs and alcohol, and this is a lot of pressure. I've been under an incredible amount of stress and pressure and I've made it through, so far, without getting loaded, so I feel a complete champion." Tom said, "That may be the finest tribute to this show in eight seasons." Judges' insight: The judges took an opportunity to fill some time -- er, give their insight on the dancers, so far. Some of the highlights: Carrie Ann and Len agreed that David Alan Grier needs to relax. Len summed it all up by saying, "Show me great dancing, I'll show you great marks." More results: Tom revealed two more safe couples: Lil Kim & Derek Hough and Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani. Later, Tom announced that Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower were safe, and put Steve Wozniak & Karina Smirnoff into the bottom three. That meant David Alan Grier & Kym Johnson were safe. The bottom three: Holly & Dmitry, Steve-O & Lacey and Steve & Karina waited to find out which one of them would stick around and which two were going home. The first couple out was ... Holly & Dmitry. The next couple going home was ... Steve & Karina. That meant Steve-O & Lacey were safe and would be back next week.
- With Buzz Aldrin gone, it was time for things to get serious on "Dancing with the Stars," and, for the first time, the dancers were going to be given two scores: one for technique and another for performance. From the tango, the judges wanted to see passion, drama and precision. They pointed out specifics that they'd be looking for from the dancers who'd be doing the tango. Pros Jonathan Roberts and Anna Demidova showed what a good tango should look like. The judges later said they wanted to see the raunchiness that the rumba demands. Pros Kym Johnson and Dmitry Chaplin put on a steamy exhibition. Erin & Maks: ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was told by Len that she had to do better with her footwork. Maks' first message to Erin regarding their tango was that it was going to have a lot of footwork. She was very nervous about it. Erin was struggling with back issues but said she'd take some pain relief to deal with it and not complain. Len said they did a "full-on tango" and most of the dance was very good. He did say she took too many steps on the toe. Bruno Tonioli said she started well but went wrong and didn't quite catch up again. Carrie Ann Inaba said Erin's performance seemed to suffer because she was so focused on technique. Scores: Technical: 6, 6, and 6; 18. Performance: 7, 7, and 7; 21. Total: 39 Evan & Anna: Olympic figure skater Evan Lysacek was at the top of the leader board, but he knew that he had to work on his footwork. He and partner Anna Trebunskaya focused on details in their rehearsal. They danced the tango. Bruno said they had the details spot on. Carrie Ann said they were a great example of how working on technique boosts performance. Len pointed out their Viennese crosses and said they were impressive. Scores: Technical: 9, 8, and 9; 26. Performance: 9, 8, and 9; 26. Total: 52 Niecy & Louis: After being told to work on pulling her whole performance together (not letting her bottom half suffer when the top half is right, and vice versa), comedian Niecy Nash set off to learn the rumba. Her partner Louis Van Amstel said the rumba was a spiritual dance, and he asked her to remember 17 years earlier, when her brother's life was cut short. They danced the rumba. Len praised her opening out but wanted to see more hip action. He said there were no highlights and it was all a bit boring. Bruno agreed and said Niecy looked like she was in a trance. He said it didn't jell. Carrie Ann said she felt the emotional connection, but it didn't read well in the dance. Scores: Technical: 6, 6, and 6; 18. Performance: 6, 6, and 6; 18. Total: 36. Aiden & Edyta: Soap opera star Aiden Turner has been struggling to really let loose and perform on stage, and Len asked him to really bring it this time. In practice, he got shy and nervous about feeling up his partner Edyta Sliwinska, and said he'd feel awkward doing such moves in front of a large audience. They danced the rumba. Carrie Ann said Aiden seemed more comfortable, but criticized Aiden for having his movements start from the wrong place. Len said there was no flow or musicality. He added, "Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, you come out and did that." Bruno said it looked like stop-motion animation. Scores: Technical: 5, 5, and 5; 15. Performance: 6, 6, and 6; 18. Total: 33 Nicole & Derek: Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger got on Len's bad side by doing their dance so technically off the mark. This time, she was striving for balance between performance and technique. They practiced the rumba but Nicole was having trouble taking Derek's romantic side seriously. Bruno said it was beautiful to watch, but there were a few stumbles that surprised him. "Give me a little bit more sex," he said. Carrie Ann could tell Nicole was nervous and her ankles were quivering, but she liked seeing Nicole hit the more traditional lines. Len said they got the technique and performance balance correct. He criticized her sliding doors -- one of the technical moves the judges wanted to see. Scores: Technical: 9, 8, and 8; 25. Performance: 8, 8, and 9; 25. Total: 50. Jake & Chelsie: "Bachelor" star Jake Pavelka got a scare after landing in the bottom two last week and showed up promising a renewed focus on listening to Chelsie and opening himself up more. He struggled with some critical steps in rehearsal, but they went through with their tango. They pulled off an impressive spin in hold up and down the stairs, but Jake later twisted an ankle and nearly fell over. Len loved it, but said it fell apart after the "incident." Bruno said it was "very, very, very messy" and said Jake has to get it together. Carrie Ann agreed that Jake's biggest problem is the way he holds Chelsie, because he's not quite connected emotionally and physically. Scores: Technical: 6, 7, and 6; 19. Performance: 7, 6, and 6; 19. Total: 38. Kate & Tony: Reality TV stay Kate Gosselin took the judges' criticism from last week in stride, saying they were right. She said her public custody battle was weighing on her. Tony used the incident to motivate her, saying that if she failed at her dance, "he wins." She called this "the do or die" week but she was struggling with believing in herself. They danced the tango. Bruno said it was "a mini-breakthrough" and that "at moments, I thought you were really dancing." He said the technique was still really bad, but she's starting to move. Carrie Ann said she was proud of Kate and had "so much respect" for her for the performance. Len praised Tony for getting Kate to give her best performance so far. Scores: Technical: 4, 5, and 5; 14. Performance: 6, 6, and 6; 18. Total: 32 Chad & Cheryl: Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco was feeling good after a solid week, but was struggling to tap into a romantic side during their rumba rehearsals. They pulled it together for the performance, though, and got a big ovation from the crowd. Carrie Ann said it was Chad's best dance, so far. Len said there was improvement in the posture and performance and agreed it was Chad's best dance. Chad responded by approaching Len and doing something that shocked the crowd (with laughter), but the cameras cut away, perhaps intentionally. Bruno said Chad was fluid and sustained his lines. Scores: Technical: 7, 6, and 8; 21. Performance: 8, 7, and 8; 23. Total: 44. Pam & Damian: Actress Pam Anderson was coming off of a good week, but got a warning from Len that her rumba shouldn't be too raunchy. "It's a dance for the ballroom, not the bedroom," he told her. She really concentrated on her footwork and timing in rehearsals. Len said it was understated, sophisticated, and said Pam was even a little bit overdressed. Bruno said it was refined and elegant and still "drop dead sexy." He called it, technically, the best dance she's done. Carrie Ann agreed there was something profound and magical happening, even if something a little strange was happening with her arms. Scores: Technical: 7, 8, and 8; 23. Performance: 8, 7, and 9; 24. Total: 47. LEADER BOARD: Evan & Anna: 52 Nicole & Derek: 50 Pamela & Damian: 47 Chad & Cheryl: 44 Erin & Maks: 39 Jake & Chelsie: 38 Niecy & Louis: 36 Aiden & Edyta: 33 Kate & Tony: 32
- After the first "double-score showdown," the hosts got to the results quickly. They first reveals that Chad & Cheryl were the first couple safe for another week. The next couple back for at least another week was Jake & Chelsie. After a recap of the previous night's events, head judge Len Goodman asked Pam & Damian for an encore performance of their rumba. Be our guest: Sade stopped by to perform "Baby Father." Later, in a bit of hip-hop fusion, dancer Tiler Peck performed to the live music of urban violinists Nuttin' But Stringz (who you might remember from the last season of "America's Got Talent"). After that, Sade returned to perform "Sweetest Taboo." Back to the results: A bit more recappery and a glance at the leader board was followed by another round of results. The next couple saved was Evan & Anna. Later, two more couples were learned their fate. Nicole & Derek learned they were safe. Then, Pam & Damian got some good news, as well. 'The future of ballroom dancing' A group of young dancers choreographed by Mark Ballas took to the 'DWTS' dance floor to demonstrate what the future of ballroom competition has in store. Back to the results: One more couple that was sent off to safety was Erin & Maks. Finally, with three couples remaining, it was time to see which two were safe and who was going home. The first couple safe was Kate & Tony. That left Niecy & Louis and Aiden & Edyta awaiting their fate, but Tom Bergeron noted they weren't necessarily the bottom two. But the couple going home this week was ... Aiden & Edyta.
- The final of the "Big Dance" was happening on another network, but "Dancing with the Stars" was just getting started. After a surprising elimination in which Shannen Doherty was 9021-out, head judge Len Goodman laid out a challenge last week to all the dancers to come up with a performance that would tell a story, but without props or gimmicks. How would they respond? Monday it was time to find out. The pros demonstrated the waltz, paso doble and quickstep in a performance meant to convey a story of "a tempestuous relationship that ends in true love." Evan & Anna: Figure skating champ Evan Lysacek found himself near the top of the leader board last week. He and partner Anna Trebunskaya worked on a story of a husband and wife who are at odds because the wife is late to arrive for their quickstep. Len loved the story and said it cheered him up. Bruno Tonioli said Evan gave Anna "the ride of her life." Carrie Ann Inaba called it "great," and said it had all the right parts. Evan told Brook Burke afterward about "a couple broken toes" he had, but he pushed through. Scores: 9, 8, and 9. Total: 26. Buzz & Ashly: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin was looking to rebound from low judges' scores, even though his fans pulled him through. His partner Ashly Costa gave him a story of him playing a man coming home from the war and she was his daughter. They danced a waltz. Bruno said it was more like the return of the king, but said Buzz's movement "didn't really go anywhere." Carrie Ann said that in the week about storytelling, she enjoyed the story and wanted to know more. Len said it had an "innocent charm" that he liked, but the technique was poor, the routine was over-simplified and there wasn't much performance. Scores: 5, 4, and 4. Total: 13. Jake & Chelsie: "Bachelor" star Jake Pavelka was in the middle of the pack last week, but the judges could feel his determination. Jake got upset in rehearsal because he said Chelsie was talking to him in a "disrespectful" way. They did a quickstep in which Jake was an explorer who found Cleopatra (Chelsie) in her tomb, and they danced. Carrie Ann thought it was nice storytelling, but that it kept in line with the quickstep. Len said Jake's legs were messed up, but called the dance "great entertainment." Bruno agreed with Len that Jake at times lost his steps, but he enjoyed the performance. Scores: 7, 7, and 7. Total: 21. Niecy & Louis: Comedian Niecy Nash got on Len's good side last week with her second performance. They took on a story of being an interracial couple in the 1960s, when such a love would have been forbidden. Niecy cried when she thought about it, and her partner Louis Van Amstel asked her to help him fight his battle, too. She said she hoped America would see the story. Len said it was brave to attempt the story with no props, and he saw all the emotion. He told Louis to work with Niecy on better technique. Bruno said they acted their tale of love very well, but there was a stumble at the beginning and Niecy had to work on her feet. Carrie Ann said it was an important story to tell, but she didn't understand the ending. Scores: 7, 7, and 7. Total: 21. Chad & Cheryl: NFL wide receiver Chad Ochocinco did alright in his first performance, but tripped up in his second dance. He and partner Cheryl Burke were focused on bouncing back and refocusing. Cheryl told Chad their paso doble would be about him trying to seduce her despite her rejections. He said art was imitating life. Bruno said the power and presence were back for Chad, but at times he still veers off course. Carrie Ann said Chad used the energy of "wanting the girl" to his advantage. Len enjoyed Chad's determination, but told him to work on his posture. Scores: 7, 6, and 7. Total: 20. Pamela & Damian: Pamela Anderson admitted she didn't worry much about the voting, but after finishing in the bottom two she was going to take it more seriously. Pam, an animal rights activist, incorporated some of her beliefs into her routine, and she got some tips on the performance from Charo. Carrie Ann said she got the story that Pam didn't like the bullfighter, but she threw herself off a few times. Len said Pam had an intensity about her, but needed refinement in the dance. Bruno said that under the sexpot surface, there is a good performer in Pamela. Scores: 7, 7, and 7. Total: 21 Aiden & Edyta: Soap star Aiden Turner threw up after last week's performance, and was hoping things would go a little more smoothly this time around. His family, including his wife and 7-month-old daughter, came to visit on his birthday, and he said it made his quickstep a little quicker. Len said the quickstep was a little careful and said he'd like to see Aiden just go for it. Bruno thought Aiden looked happier than he did last week. Carrie Ann agreed that she saw some improvement in Aiden, but he was a little too light on his feet. Scores: 7, 6, and 7. Total: 20. Erin & Maks: ESPN host Erin Andrews, who's had some issues this week with e-mail death threats surfacing and has had bouts with the paparazzi and a man who videotaped her nude through a peephole in a hotel room, turned over all her trust and faith into her partner Maks by dancing most of the performance blindfolded. Bruno said her dancing in hold was fantastic, but when they danced side by side she lost it a bit. Carrie Ann said the prop added dimension and a sense of danger. She called it "breath-takingly artistic." Len said the dance had the most boring start he'd ever seen. He said the waltz they did was good, but there wasn't enough of it. Scores: 8, 7, and 8. Total: 23. Kate & Tony: TLC star Kate Gosselin apparently believed she's had bigger issues with cameras and the paparazzi, so she did a dance about her trials with photographers. Her partner Tony Dovolani brought in an acting coach to help Kate get outside of herself. Kate said her icy exterior was because she's had a hard year and was protecting herself. They danced a paso doble. Carrie Ann called it "odd," and "hard to watch." She said she didn't feel like the emotion got to Kate's face. Len it was "too pedestrian." Bruno said she did play a character, but it didn't translate into movement and she looked like she was walking. Scores: 5, 5, and 5. Total: 15 Nicole & Derek: Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger landed the first two 10s of the season last week and was nervous about how to top it. She and partner Derek Hough came up with a quickstep in which they played sailors who take a break from mopping the deck to dance. Len said it was beautifully danced, but it was "just a load of Vaudeville." Bruno said it was like seeing Anne Meara and Gene Kelly back in Hollywood after 50 years, but Len was right about breaking too many rules with it. Carrie Ann also called out a lift and broken holds, then said, "but when you guys take that act on the road, I want a front row seat." Scores: 8, 6, and 9. Total: 23 LEADER BOARD: Evan & Anna: 26 Erin & Maks: 23 Nicole & Derek: 23 Jake & Chelsie: 21 Niecy & Louis: 21 Pamela & Damian: 21 Chad & Cheryl: 20 Aiden & Edyta: 20 Kate & Tony: 15 Buzz & Ashly: 13
- After a night in which virtually every couple gave its best performance of the season, the stage might have been set for a big upset. Hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke called the first two couples to center stage immediately for results: Nicole & Derek and Erin & Maks. The first couple to land in the bottom two was Erin & Maks. Nicole & Derek were safe. Len's take: Head judge Len Goodman was still excited after Monday's performances, calling it the best week of the competition. He called Erin's quickstep "fabulous." He included Chad among the group of dancers who have upped their games and said his waltz was "absolutely lovely." Nicole lamented slipping during a dramatic turn in her waltz. Pam was full of grace, Len said, and she was hoping to continue pulling it all together. Len said Niecy produced "a knockout quickstep." He wrapped up his summary by reminding us that Evan "blew everyone out of the water" with his Argentine tango, which earned the first 30 of the season. Len was giddy about Team Gaga's cha cha cha, and it was the encore performance of the night. Pam sat out this time, though, having suffered an injury on Tuesday. Chelsie Hightower took her place. Be our guest: Train paid a visit to perform their latest single, "Hey Soul Sister." Later, members of Cirque de Soleil's new Vegas show, "Viva Elvis," stopped by to perform to some Elvis tunes. Train then returned to perform their best known song, "Drops of Jupiter." Leader board check: (individual scores plus team scores): Evan & Anna: 30 + 24 = 54 Nicole & Derek: 27 + 27 = 54 Chad & Cheryl: 25 +27 = 52 Erin & Maks: 27 + 24 = 51 Pam & Damian: 24 + 27 = 51 Niecy & Louis: 25 + 24 = 49 Back to the results: Tom called Chad & Cheryl and Evan & Anna to center stage to learn their fate. Evan & Anna were declared safe. Chad & Cheryl were "still in jeopardy." In some quick backstage interviews, Pam said her leg injury wasn't serious and she'd be able to perform next week if she makes it through. Niecy, meanwhile, lamented landing at the bottom and said that it might take "a wardrobe malfunction" for her to win this thing. The two remaining couples, Pam & Damian and Niecy & Louis, were called to center stage for results. The next couple safe was -- "get ready for a wardrobe malfunction," Tom said, before the announcement -- Niecy & Louis. Pam & Damian were still in jeopardy. Finally, with Chad & Cheryl and Pam & Damian waiting to learn which couple was in the bottom two, Tom revealed that the next couple safe was ... Chad & Cheryl. That meant Pam & Damian were in the bottom two with Erin & Maks. Bruno said Pam "brings life to every character she plays" and that Erin has done "incredible work all the way through," adding that he was surprised to see her in trouble. Carrie Ann echoed that she was "truly shocked" to see Erin in the bottom two. Len called it "nonsensical" that one of the couples would be leaving this week. Finally, Tom announced that the couple with the lowest combined total and leaving the show was ... Pamela & Damian.
- The Season 10 finale night began with a big group dance to "I'm So Excited." Chad Ochocinco was the only star who didn't participate, due to a football-related injury. The couples still had two dances to perform for the judges -- their favorite routine of the season and a knockout dance in which they chose their own dance style and music. For their favorite dance, each couple would be placed first, second or third by the judges, with the top couple getting 30 points, the next couple getting 28 points, and the third couple getting 26. Nicole & Derek: The couple struggled to figure out which of their many "favorite" dances to do from throughout the season, and they settled on the Argentine tango. Len Goodman said it had passion and artistry and said their moves were sharp and precise. "This is Argentine tango," he said. Bruno said he was happy to see that the magic continues. He said the glory that is the Argentine tango was "embodied in the two of you." Carrie Ann Inaba said they were "truly artistry in motion." Evan & Anna: Looking to bounce back from the bottom of Monday's leader board, Evan and Anna had to do something special to get back in it. They decided to do their Argentine tango, as well. Bruno said Evan danced "like a real lady killer," and kept it "slick and stylish." Carrie Ann said his dance "was true redemption." Len said this was the most fantastic season and reminded us that Evan is the only male star left in the competition and said he "did a fantastic job." Erin & Maks: Erin and Maks decided to do the Argentine tango after much debate and discussion and arguing. Maks figured it was Erin's best chance to show off her ability. Carrie Ann said they weren't making the judges' decision easy. Len said judging these three tangos was the hardest job the judges have ever had. He said Erin was in the final on merit and has "danced brilliantly." Bruno pointed out that Erin had the most spectacular road to the final and said he didn't know what the judges were going to do. The rankings: First place was Nicole & Derek (30 points), second was Evan & Anna (28), and third was Erin & Maks (26). The judges' scores would be factored in with America's vote from Monday night to determine the final two dancers. LEADER BOARD: Nicole & Derek: 55 + 30 = 85 Erin & Maks: 55 + 26 = 81 Evan & Anna: 52 + 28 = 80 Memory Lane: After a recap of the highlights from the 10th season, Shannen Doherty & Mark Ballas and Aiden Turner & Edyta Sliwinska performed a quick medley, leading into a "Star Wars"-themed dance from Buzz Aldrin & Ashley Costa. Jake Pavelka & Chelsie Hightower then were joined by Dmitry Chaplin and Jake's fiancee Vienna Girardi, and Jake and Vienna finished the dance together. The big fights: The top dramatic showdowns were ranked: 5. Nicole & Derek arguing over which side she was going to stand on, or something, and ending with her saying, "Sometimes I just want to 'OHHH!'" (which may become a lyric to a Pussycat Dolls song, assuming it isn't one already). 4. Aiden & Edyta arguing in rehearsal and Aiden threatening to leave and saying he had his feelings hurt. 3. Jake refusing to do something Chelsie wanted him to do in the routine, and him saying, "I'm not asking you, I'm more telling you." 2. Erin & Maks fighting over Maks wanting Erin to do something she was apparently already doing. 1. Kate telling Tony how he should be teaching her how to dance, which is something he's only been doing on a world-class level for about 20 years. Tony said he was quitting, but he came back. To the results: The first of the three finalists was eliminated, based on the judges' scores combined with the audience vote. The couple that finished third was ... Erin & Maks. Erin said the experience meant the world to her. "I knew that these two were going to go head-to-head in this, but I came here under real crummy circumstances, and I just wanted to get my life back together and my smile back." She thanked Maks for helping her put her life back together. They danced a final cha cha cha. College competition: The odd and inexplicable college formation dance competition ended with a battle between Purdue and Utah Valley University, with Utah Valley taking the mini-mirrorball trophy. Back to Memory Lane: Kate Gosselin returned and has, in the time she's been off the show, been working on two different TV shows. She's also convinced herself that 90 percent of her audience hates her because she's so controversial (yes, she called herself "controversial") and that even if she didn't a dance like Nicole & Derek, she'd get ripped apart. Without casting doubt on either statement, we'll just move on. Kate did her "Paparazzi" dance again, this time without the haunting, outstretched-arms walk down the steps of the stage. She then did a little bit to "I Will Survive," which ended with her being lifted to the rafters of the studio in a cherry picker, sparing Tom Bergeron (and us) the awkward post-dance interview. Then, in "a celebration of all things jiggly," according to Tom, Pamela Anderson and Niecy Nash put on some impressive displays of sultry dancing. Back to the competition: The final two couples had to pick their own style and music for their final dance and would be given a score by the judges. Nicole & Derek: Nicole and Derek chose a jive inspired by Tina Turner's version of "Proud Mary," which included Nicole donning a shimmery gold tasseled miniskirt, a la Tina. The choice seemed a little odd in that it reminded us one last time that Nicole is, in fact, a professional singer and dancer, but the crowd and the judges loved it nonetheless. Len said Nicole deserved to be the winner. Bruno said Derek and Nicole had produced some of the most creative and stunning dances he's ever seen. Carrie Ann echoed the sentiment and said she comes to the show every day looking forward to what Nicole and Derek were going to do. Scores: 10, 10 and 10. Total: 30 Evan & Anna: Evan and Anna decided to do the quickstep as the final performance of Season 10. Bruno said Evan has always been a good dancer, but his performance level has improved dramatically. Carrie Ann told Evan that he'd won the hearts of her and the audience, and added that he took and flew with any criticism the judges gave him. Len said Evan has been a joy to watch and had done a fantastic job. Scores: 10, 9, and 9. Total: 28 LEADER BOARD: Nicole & Derek: 115 Evan & Anna: 108 The decision: After combining the judges' scores and the audience vote, Tom and Brooke finally revealed the winner of Season 10 of "Dancing with the Stars." And the winner is ... Nicole & Derek.
- It's guilty pleasure night on "Dancing with the Stars," which just kind of feels like it was 10 seasons in the making. Even before the formal introductions, the guilty pleasures begin with Hanson stopping by to perform "MmmBop," with Tony and Lacey joining members of the "DWTS Troupe." Kirstie & Maks: Kirstie had a moment last week, but still landed in the middle of the pack. She's dancing a samba to Britney Spears' "Hit Me Baby One More Time." Maks assures us this will be the beginning of their push to the final. Kirstie is worried during the week that she's over-thinking each dance. With a little more confidence, Kirstie says she's aiming for 9s. Head judge Len Goodman says Kirstie hasn't fulfilled the potential he saw in her from Week 1, until now. Bruno Tonioli asks her to hit him one more time, and that she made a difficult dance look easy. He says her "wiggly bum sent shockwaves through the airwaves." Carrie Ann Inaba agrees that Kirstie is back and she wants to see more of this kind of dancing from her. Scores: 8, 9, 9. Total: 26 Chris & Cheryl: Chris lands Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" as his guilty pleasure song, and he has to dance a tango. Cheryl says during the week that she isn't going to take it easy on him now because they're so close to the final. Bruno knocks Chris for losing timing "so many times" and being unable to perform after a couple of critical slip-ups. Carrie Ann, who thinks Bruno was being harsh, says she agrees and that it seemed like the pressure got to Chris this week. "It wasn't exciting and it wasn't passionate," she says. Len disagrees that Chris was having an off night, but does go along with it lacking "a bit of intensity, but overall I think you did an excellent job." Scores: 7, 8, 7. Total: 22 Romeo & Chelsie: After a solid week, Romeo gets "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion for his guilty pleasure song. He says he was 8 when he saw "Titanic" and that after seeing it he became "a hopeless romantic." Romeo wants a spot on top of the leader board, and Chelsie is going to make him work for it. Carrie Ann says that "magic happens" every once in a while in a season and notes, "That was magical." Len says Romeo dances with great maturity for such a young man. He calls it "a very, very touching and poignant performance." Bruno says Romeo achieved a new level of poise and finesse. Scores: 10, 9, 9. Total: 28 Chelsea & Mark: Mark is struggling to get Chelsea to tap into a competitive side. She says she just wants everybody to get along. So he engages her in a water fight and she finally gets into winning. She gets "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves, and they have to dance a quickstep. Len says it was "high energy, with control," and despite a couple of minor issues he thinks it was "full on and great fun." Bruno also points out a very minor flaw, but agrees it was a great performance. Carrie then says, "Sometimes magic happens -- twice!" Scores: 10, 9, 9. Total: 28 Kendra & Louis: After bouncing back from a poor week, Kendra is ready to shake everyone thing God (and maybe a plastic surgeon) gave her with a samba to Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca." Her performance tested Len's heart condition as she ended by jumping up onto the judges' table to shake everything a bit more. Carrie Ann was still trying to recover after seeing "lots of information." She says Kendra can "shake it like no other." Len says she fulfilled one of his guilty pleasures and finally says, "last week we had a spark, this week we had a fire." Bruno calls it the revenge of the stripper, then lays down on the table and invites Kendra to lay on top of him. Scores: 8, 8, 9. Total: 25 Hines & Kym: The reigning "DWTS" MVP gets Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" for guilty pleasures week and admits that he loves singing to the song. He says he sings it in the shower and pretends the sound of the water rushing around him is the sound of his fans. Len tells Hines he's becoming the "most valued partner" and despite being a bit flat footed, he's "second to none." Bruno calls the dance "pure pleasure from start to finish." He says Hines' chemistry with Kym is amazing. Carrie Ann says it was amazing, but she thought she saw Hines thinking a little too much about the dance as it was happening. Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Ralph & Karina: After landing in a three-way tie for the bottom, Ralph is ready to move up with a paso doble set to the music of C&C Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat." In an attempt to help Ralph tap into feeling sexy, Karina works in a little "wax on, wax off" pose. Karina slips during the early part of the routine and they both seem to have a little trouble getting back into it. Tom tells them they made a great recovery. Bruno says he "started to feel the fire" despite the "incident." "Once you got back on it, there was no stopping you," he adds. Carrie Ann says Mr. Myagi would be proud of him. She says it's tough to get back up and she did it well. Len congratulates Ralph on pulling Karina up and getting her back into the routine. "I'm proud of you, and you should be proud of yourself," he says. Scores: 8, 8, 8. Total: 24 LEADER BOARD: Romeo & Chelsie: 28 Chelsea & Mark: 28 Hines & Kym: 27 Kirstie & Maks: 26 Kendra & Louis: 25 Ralph & Cheryl: 24 Chris & Cheryl: 22
- After a rush of emotions, tears and expectations exceeded, it's time to eliminate one more couple from the competition. Chaz & Lacey landed firmly at the bottom of the leader board and will have some significant ground to make up with America's votes to escape elimination. Mary J. Blige kicks off the night with a performance of her hit single, "Real Love." She returns later to perform her new song, "25/8." To the results: Host Tom Bergeron wastes little time getting to some results and we get a recap of Chaz & Lacey's night, in which Chaz found himself at the bottom despite his best score of the season. We see Ricki & Derek's night, in which they landed at the top. We also saw the beginning of J.R. & Karina's performance, when they both struggled to contain their emotions while the taped footage played in the ballroom. The first couple safe is ... J.R. & Karina. The next couple safe is ... Ricki & Derek. Chaz & Lacey ... are also safe. Lacey is shocked and Chaz is suddenly in the center of a group hug. Play it again...: Head judge Len Goodman says Monday night's performances were "fantastic," and the judges struggled to pick an encore performance. In the end, they selected Chynna & Tony's rumba. Back to the results: Nancy & Tristan's night is recapped, and Nancy was overcome with emotion after seeing her her children watch her dance. Hope & Maks struggled to get the sexy walk down. Carson & Anna was over the moon and kissed Bruno's cheek so hard he was sure he's injured one or the other of them. Rob & Cheryl stirred some uplifting emotions with a tribute to his late father. The next couple safe is ... Rob & Cheryl. Carson & Anna are in jeopardy. Nancy & Tristan are safe. Hope & Maks are in jeopardy. A fun time-filling feature shows how all the members of the cast this season are coincidentally connected, then, in advance of next week's movie songs night, we see a performance by the troupe to "Tera's Theme" from "Gone with the Wind." Estelle and Chubby Checker team up on a performance of "The Twist" and "Let's Twist Again." Chynna was feeling good about scoring a 26 after having given the judges the "more" they had asked for. David was emotional dancing for his daughter and got some congratulatory hugs afterward from his daughter and his wife Courteney Cox. Kristin was nervous dancing in front of her ex-fiance, Jay Cutler. The next couple definitely coming back next week is ... Chynna & Tony. David & Kym ... are also safe. That leaves Kristin & Mark, who are in jeopardy. The first of the three couples in jeopardy to be declared safe is ... Carson & Anna. That leaves Kristin & Mark and Hope & Maks. Brooke reveals that they are "not necessarily the bottom two" this week. Asked for his thoughts, Len says, "This is truly crazy." He said he expected these two couples to fight for the final. "It's madness," he says. "It's just madness." The couple going home is ... Kristin & Mark. They're both stunned and Kristin admits she's "shocked."
- It's Halloween night, and "Dancing with the Stars" is really getting into it. Host Tom Bergeron warns us early on, "It's going to be one of those nights," after the umpteenth Halloween pun in the first two minutes. David & Kym: After getting mixed reviews for his "Grease"-inspired quickstep, David knew he messed some things up. Kym's decided to hypnotize him in preparation for his cha cha. His Halloween theme has him playing the role of a Dracula-esque magician. David tells us that if Kym can get him to swivel his hips, she's the real magician. Head judge Len Goodman says there were "lots of tricks and lots of treats," and says David turned himself into a dancer. Bruno Tonioli tells David he's "a natural at turning tricks." Bruno rambles on a bit before turning it over to Carrie Ann Inaba, who says David's "improvement is phenomenal." She says he could use a little more technique on his holds and more hip action. Scores: 8, 8, 8. Total: 24 J.R. & Karina: A quickstep that impressed the judges put J.R. on top of the leader board. This week, they have to dance to "Ghostbusters." The timing is going to be tricky. We see some atypical conflict in rehearsal between J.R. and Karina. They hug it out and they set out to dance a tango. The audience loves it, but Bruno says the timing was very hard and J.R. lost it a couple of times. Carrie Ann agrees but thinks the couple handled the tone of the song just fine. Len says it was "substandard" to what he expects from J.R. He says J.R. has set such a high standard for himself that Len expects more. Scores: 9, 8, 8. Total: 25 Nancy & Tristan: Coming off her first 9 of the season, Nancy is still celebrating but Tristan is ready to get to work on the next dance: the jive. Nancy thinks the judges are going to be waiting for her to mess up her footwork. Carrie says there are good days and not-so-good days, and this is one of the latter. She noticed Nancy lost her choreography several times. Len says "certain dances suit you and certain dances don't," and this "wasn't a good dance for you." It says it was a disappointment for him and he'd guess it was for her, too. Bruno says she was "suitably devilish, but the footwork was devilish, as well." Scores: 7, 7, 7. Total: 21 Rob & Cheryl: The couple wasn't happy with the scores last week, but intends to turn things around with a tango to the music of "The Addams Family." Rob says it's going to be "so fantastic that it's going to scare the living 10s out of the judges." The crowd gives a huge ovation. Len says they did "a terrific job." He praises the footwork, attack and staccato. Bruno says Rob has never been so "manly and in control," but reminds him to keep his "bum" under him. Cheryl reminds him that Rob has quite a "bum," and Bruno tells her, "There's nothing wrong with a bum, as long as you know what to do with it." Carrie Ann tells Rob this was his "best dance so far." Scores: 9, 8, 8. Total: 25 Ricki & Derek: Ricki redeemed herself last week after tumbling to fifth place the week before. This week, they get a paso doble that's giving Ricki a bit of discomfort in her ribs. A doctor says she has an inflamed nerve that needs time and rest to heal. He tells her it will get worse but since she can't stop dancing, she has to just get bandaged up and keep pushing. Bruno says it "was like a blizzard of passion and fear." That probably was a good thing. Carrie Ann praises her shapes are great, but she has to be careful of her shoulders. Len says he loved the shapes Ricki made, calling them "fantastic," and her precise footwork. He says that's what he loves about paso, the whipping and waning. Scores: 9, 9, 9. Total: 27 Hope & Maks: Hope's rumba lacked sizzle last week, Tom reminds us, and it set off a firestorm from Maks, who is fed up with the judges going around judging people all the time. Like they're judges. Maks injured himself the previous week, so he's brought Teddy in from the troupe to help Hope. Hope is happy dancing with Teddy, saying she's learned the dance quicker than ever, but Maks shows up to tell them they're both doing everything wrong. They dance a samba. Carrie Ann says Hope's lightness made this better than her "Toy Story" dance, which she loved. Len says the samba "can be the celebrity's graveyard," and gives her a "well done." He then praises the hair and makeup and costume department. Bruno says she had better timing, placement and finish, so she should be proud. Scores: 8, 8, 8. Total: 24 Team performances: The six couples are going to be broken into two teams. The team scores will be added to each couple's individual point totals. Team Tango: J.R. & Karina, David & Kym, and Nancy & Tristan make up Team Tango. Len says all their group dancing parts were good, "they were tight and together." He says "each one of the individual performances was a disaster." Bruno agrees, saying that once they took their individual turns, "everybody had a mistake." Carrie Ann says it "started out extremely well," but things fell apart when each couple hit the floor alone. Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total 23 Team Paso: The friction between Hope & Maks boils over at one point during the team rehearsal and Maks leaves the room with all the other couples around. Derek takes the moment to give Hope pointers on what Maks was trying to show her before he stormed out. The team pulls it together on the real stage. Bruno says it was "powerful" and had a "fantastic ending." Carrie Ann says everything about it was great, including the guys' individual cape work. Len says their individual parts were fantastic and he praises Rob, in particular, for keeping up with Derek and Maks. Scores: 9, 8, 9. Total: 26 LEADER BOARD: Ricki & Derek: 27 + 26 = 53 Rob & Cheryl: 25 + 26 = 51 Hope & Maks: 24 + 26 = 50 J.R. & Karina: 25 + 23 = 48 David & Kym: 24 + 23 = 47 Nancy & Tristan: 21 + 23 = 44
- Someone's going home on "Dancing with the Stars," but not before an hour of dazzling entertainment. Things start with head judge Len Goodman calling for an encore performance of a samba by Rob & Cheryl. They were chosen partly because Carrie Ann Inaba wanted to see all the booty shaking, Len says. To the results: The recaps of the previous night start with Rob & Cheryl, and Rob did not expect the 10 he received from Carrie Ann. We also see that Rob had to pee before his Argentine tango. Rob was spreading the love by the end of the night, telling Brooke Burke Charvet that voters should keep him around because he loves to dance, and later telling J.R., for no apparent reason, "I love you." Brooke delivers the news that Rob & Cheryl are safely into the finals. Be our guest: Cobra Starship and Sabi stop by to perform their hit single, "You Make Me Feel." Back to the results: Hope & Maks finished at the bottom of the leader board and we see Hope's less-then-favorable reaction to the judges' scores. She said they could kiss her back side after getting her first set of scores, then later said the judges mean nothing to her. After her Argentine tango, she didn't even want to look at the judges, somehow convinced they have it out for her. Afterward, a baffled Len wondered aloud, "The thing is ... we were nice." Brooke announces that Hope & Maks are still in jeopardy. Design-a-dance: After a season worth of voting and hype, Derek and Anna combine for a paso doble to Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance," using moves and costumes voted on by fans of the show online. Back to the results: Ricki & Derek were fired up after their opening routine, and they came just one point short of a perfect on their first two dances. J.R. struggled with pain in his ankle and tweaked it on the last life of their Argentine tango. J.R. & Karina are still in jeopardy, which means Ricki & Derek are going to the finals. Brooke says they're not necessarily the bottom two couples, which almost ensures that Hope & Maks are out. And ... Tom quickly confirms this.
- The show opens with lengthy intros of our three finalists: Ricki Lake, Rob Kardashian and J.R. Martinez. A large dance number featuring all of the season's voted-off start follows. Tom and Brooke introduce the three finalists. Again. And Tom tell us that the winner will be decided by combining the scores from last night, with two dances from tonight and the viewer voting. Rob is in the lead right now followed by J.R. and Ricki who are tied in second. We see a vignette of last night's competition with some off-camera audio. Lady Antebellum performs. Tom tells us the three couples are each going to perform a dance from earlier in the season. This will help determine which two will make it to the final dance. We see Ricki and Derek discussing which dance they want to pick. Ultimately they go back to the second tango, which earned her a 29 the first time around. The performance seems to go well based on the crowd's (and Tom's) reaction. Len loved it the second time around. Bruno calls is a "grand cinematic extravaganza." Carrie Ann thought it was "beyond perfect." Rob and Cheryl end up deciding the foxtrot is their best option, particularly because it was dedicated to Rob's father the first time. Cheryl tells Rob how proud of him she is. The reaction to the foxtrot is also positive. Bruno talks about how much Rob has improved "beyond expectations." Carrie Ann calls it elegant and Len says Rob might have the best footwork of anybody he's seen on the show. We watch J.R. and Karina decide that the jive was their favorite, even though it earned a 22. They work to remove a lift for which they were penalized the first time around. Carrie Ann mentions J.R. having a "rough time" during the performance and says she missed the lift (zing!). Len talks about the band and Bruno stands up and bangs on the table for some reason. Tom reminds us of the rules and kicks it to Brooke who interviews the finalists. Ricki says she did the best she could do tonight. Rob admits to never thinking he'd still be around at this point. J.R. is confident in their choice of dance. Score time: In third place with 26 points is Rob & Cheryl. J.R. & Karina finish second with 28 points, meaning Ricki & Derek win round 3 with a perfect score of 30. The updated overall scores have Ricki & Derek in first with 84 points, followed by Rob & Cheryl (83) and J.R. & Karina (82). The judges' scores are combined with audience votes and we find out who finishes in third and will miss out on dancing in the final. The couple in third is . . . Ricki & Derek. The crowd groans and they speak with Brooke. Ricki says she loved "every minute of this." We see a vignette of her entire season. The finalists are reintroduced to us for the 15th time, with judges talking about each dancer and his strengths. Brooke reveals that the finalists will be dancing their Instant Samba to Ricky Martin's "Shake Your Bon-Bon." J.R. and Karina will dance first. We see a full season-wrap vignette as the finalists prepare for the dance. We begin taking a look back at the dancers from throughout the season. Ron Artest (er-Metta World Peace) and Peta dance, followed by Elisabetta Canalis and Valentin. After the break we see Kristin Cavallari and Mark, followed by Chynna Phillips and Tony. Following another break we check-in with J.R. and Karina who are practicing backstage. And sweating. Carson Phillips dances to "Vogue" with a half dozen different dancers. We flashback to the movie episode, followed by a dance from Nancy Grace and Tristan. Brooke checks-in backstage with Rob and Cheryl. They both sound confident. Chaz Bono, Lacey, and Lacey's father perform a dance routine. Afterwards Tom noted that Chaz has stuck around the set even after being voted off. Next we see David Arquette, Kym and the show's dance troupe perform. Lady Antebellum sing again, followed by another vignette. Hope Solo and Maksim dance. Finally J.R. & Karina take the stage for their Instant Samba. They leave and Rob & Cheryl follow them for the rest of the song. Rob and J.R. give each other a hug after the dance. Len gives both couples a standing ovation. Bruno said J.R. was "full-out party time" and mentions Rob has "learned how to use his bon-bon." Carrie Ann thinks both men were winners. Tom speaks with a few of the stars from the season sitting in the crowd. Brooke asks the finalists what they'll miss from the season. Time for scores: J.R. & Karina get a 10 from all three judges, giving them a score of 112 for all four rounds. Rob & Cheryl also get a 30, meaning they have a 113 for four rounds. The viewer votes are pretty much going to decide this thing. Three months of dancing comes down to this, the announcement of our champion: The winners are . . . J.R. & Karina! J.R. is happy he was able to get Karina her first win on DWTS. Rob and Cheryl say they will be friends forever.
- 'Paula Abdul' joins the show as a guest judge for this episode in which the contestants perform dances chosen for them by their competitors. This format introduces several new dance styles to the show and to the pros who find they need help with the choreography.
- Kylie Minogue opens this double elimination show. Then the cast of Newsies performs a number from this hit Broadway show. In preparation for next week couples choose from dances that are new to DWTS complete with some strange themes that their competitors will perform.
- As the judges choice Jacoby and Karina reprise their jive opposite Max and Anna. The stars re-experience some embarrassing moments with behind the scenes video clips. The Band Perry and Selena Gomez perform their hit songs.
- After performing the traditional pairs dances each couple chooses a second pro to perform with them in the trio dance. Leah, Tony and Henry parody the judges; Carrie Ann, Bruno and Len.
- This episode presents an A to Z of DWTS featurette and Mark Ballas's DWTS audition tape. Janel and Val per fore in the audience encore dance.
- The dancing couples dance to their favorite songs.
- 2005– 1h 26mTV-PG7.2 (31)TV EpisodeThe twelve remaining couples dance to songs related to New York City.
- The couples dance to a variety of songs inspired by the celebrities' favorite movies; a behind-the-scenes look at the studio's backlot; special "Star Wars" moment.
- Latin night turned up the heat on the dance floor and among the competitors. Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi continued her domination, but the rest of the pack closed in with some highly praised performances. Actress Priscilla Presley went into Tuesday's results show with the lowest score from the judges, but could the voters save her? To the tape: Kristi said she looked judge Len Goodman right in the eye while doing her dance and wondered if that was why they scored a "10" from him. NFL star Jason Taylor earned a new nickname, "Love God," after judge Bruno Tonioli's comments. Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur shook and shimmied to some big comments from the judges, and she rejoiced afterward and said she "felt sexy" and "it was amazing." R&B singer Mario basked in the glory Len's praise and said if he scores a "30," he'll weep. Actor Cristian de la Fuente was confused by judge Carrie Ann Inaba's comments about expecting more chemistry, saying "more chemistry would be illegal." Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin was still reeling from her bad performance and was inconsolable as her partner Fabian Sanchez tried to make her feel better. Also disconsolate was actress Shannon Elizabeth, who took some heat for not using her hips more. In tears backstage, she said, "I did what I thought I was taught to do, so I don't know what else to do." Finally, Presley was frustrated with herself at missing a turn that proved to be a critical mistake. Encore! Len asked to see Kristi and her partner Mark Ballas Jr. perform their steamy Rumba again. So they did it. An Ozomatli Crew: The pros danced a group Samba to the live music of Ozomatli in a rousing bit of turns, shakes and gyrations. Good news, bad news: Host Tom Bergeron revealed that the first couple definitely continuing -- in no particular order -- was Kristi & Mark. Co-host Samantha Harris had the privilege of giving the bad news to one couple that landed in the bottom two: Cristian & Cheryl. Child's Play: Dmitriy & Michelle, both 10, offered up a Jive as part of the Dancing Juniors competition. They danced to "You Can't Stop the Beat" from the "Hairspray" soundtrack. The judges loved it. Jaryd & Cara, 10 and 8, have been ballroom partners for about a year. They danced the Cha Cha Cha to Bruce Channel's "Hey! Baby" The judges loved it. The judges decided to ask Jaryd & Cara. Show Day Stress: A background video about how the stars deal with the stress of show day gave a little insight on what seems to be a budding romance between Shannon and her partner Derek Hough. There have been signs before, but Shannon revealed that Derek serenades her with some guitar playing and singing about an hour before the show to help calm her nerves. Another couple safe: It's Jason and his partner Edyta Sliwinska. Pass the Blunt: Singer songwriter James Blunt performed his new single "Carry You Home," accompanied by dancing champions Eric Luna and Georgia Ambarian. 'It feels bad': Backstage, Cristian said "it feels bad" to be in the bottom two and feel the weight of possibly going home. He said challenges are very important in life, and that's why he wants to stay on the show. Two more safe: The next couple continuing was Mario & Karina and Marissa & Tony. That left Priscilla & Louis, Marlee & Fabian, and Shannon & Derek waiting to see who would be the second couple in the bottom two. The verdict is...: Shannon had a look of sheer disappointment on her face as the three couples were reminded of the judges' comments about them. Shannon & Derek were the first of the remaining three sent to safety. Also back to dance again were Marlee & Fabian. That left Priscilla & Louis and Cristian & Cheryl in the bottom two, and Len said it proves that at that this stage in the competition, "one false move, one bad performance, one ill-advised routine, and you are in jeopardy." Len said his heart wants Priscilla to come back, but his brain wants Cristian to come back. The loser is: Priscilla. Priscilla called it a life-changing experience and said, "I did things that I thought I couldn't do."
- Honoring their favorite musical icons, seven celebrity and pro-dancer couples dance to the famous artists' songs and face elimination.
- The "Dancing with the Stars" drama kicked off even before the season began, with everyone wondering and speculating which two female stars would replace Jewel and Nancy O'Dell, two stars who fell victim to injury while rehearsing for the show. The producers weren't so quick to reveal anything, either, as 11 of the 13 couples were introduced at the start of the show, with the promise from host Tom Bergeron that the "two brave stars" who would replace Jewel and Nancy, "having had the shortest training time in the history of 'Dancing with the Stars.'" The season offered up several fun stories, including newly engaged pros, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff, competing against each other; the youngest competitor in the history of the show (Shawn Johnson), and the first official "Jackass," Steve-O. Lil Kim & Derek Hough: But the best line of the night came from Lil Kim, who said, "The first time I ever watched 'Dancing with the Stars' was when I was in prison." Derek Hough was happy to come into this season as the reigning champion. He wanted to work some of Lil Kim's hip-hop "swagger" into their routines. She dedicated her first dance "to all my girls in the federal detention center." The couple danced the cha cha cha to Janet Jackson's "Nasty Boys." Judge Len Goodman praised the first dance, calling it "first class." He said it needed some more refining, "but overall, good job, well done." Bruno Tonioli said Lil Kim could "work wonders with that tooshy," but noted that she stumbled a few times. Carrie Ann Inaba said Lil Kim had great potential, but advised her to just let it out rather than thinking of ballroom as another type of dance from what she's used to. Scores: 7, 7, and 7. Total: 21 Belinda & Jonathan: Former Go-Gos lead singer Belinda Carlile said she was "fanatical" about the show. Her partner Jonathan Roberts said he wanted to prove "that nice guys can finish first. Belinda was having trouble with the spinning in the waltz, which made her dizzy. Jonathan worried that would be a problem throughout the season if she couldn't get a handle on it. Bruno said Belinda went from looking like Julie Andrews at the start, to Cloris Leachman. He told her to work on his footwork. Carrie Ann said it "wasn't great, but it certainly wasn't Cloris Leachman," and told Belinda to trust her partner and let him lead. Len said there was some grace and elegance about it, but "overall I thought you did a good job on a very difficult dance." Scores: 6, 6, and 5. Total: 17 Lawrence & Edyta: NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor was hoping he wouldn't break the dance floor. His partner Edyta Sliwinska reintroduced herself by reminded us, "I always bring seduction to the dance floor." Lawrence was nervous about looking uncoordinated on the dance floor. They danced the cha cha cha. It was a little clunky, but he more or less held his own. Carrie Ann told him to get "a little more on the offense." Len said he liked Lawrence's naturalness and said he enjoyed watching it. Bruno said "that was so laid back it was thrown away." He told Lawrence to attack the dance and go out and perform next time. Scores: 6, 5, and 5. Total: 16 Steve-O & Lacey: A more perfect match might not have been possible as "Jackass" star Steve-O met up with "Dancing's" new rebel Lacey Schwimmer. Lacey said she had the biggest job of transforming her star partner this season. They danced the waltz, during which Steve-O he hoped "this 'Jackass' can look like a gentleman." Len said he admired that Steve-O came out fully committed, "but technically there was a lot going on that wasn't quite the ticket. But, I've gotta say, I expected much, much worse." Bruno called it "a big pile of slapstick," but praised him for having fun with it. Carrie Ann said she had mixed emotions about the beauty and the weirdness and awkwardness. Scores: 6, 5, and 6. Total: 17 Gilles & Cheryl: Gilles Marini, the "naked guy" from the "Sex and the City" movie was teamed up with Cheryl Burke, who was hoping to become the first three-time champion on "Dancing with the Stars." Gilles and Cheryl were both worried about his lack of a fan base. They danced a steamy cha cha cha. Carrie Ann gave a "woo hoo!" and was nothing but complimentary about Gilles. Bruno said, "clothes on or clothes, you certainly know how to strut your stuff." Len praised Cheryl for her choreography and said it was "absolutely fabulous." Scores: 8, 8, and 8. Total: 24. Chuck & Julianne: Real-life couple Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough found that being a real-life couple might complicate the teaching the process. During rehearsals, Julianne told him he was the worst student she's had. They took on a romantic waltz. Bruno said it was looking good at times, "but at times it looked like you were chasing her," and said that he thought Chuck was going to strangle Julianne at the end. Len agreed that it was a bit hectic, but praised Chuck's footwork. Carrie Ann said Chuck might be one of the most graceful men that has been on the show, but she pointed out that Julianne's foot came off the ground. Scores: 6, 7, and 7. Total: 20. Injury timeout: Tom took a moment to chat with Jewel an Nancy O'Dell about their injuries. They were both disappointed they wouldn't be ale to compete, due to their injuries. O'Dell said she was having surgery next week. Holly & Dmitri: Playboy Playmate and former "Girl Next Door" Holly Madison stepped in for the injured Jewel and had just one week to prepare with brand new dancing pro Dmitry Chapman. Len said "it wasn't bad," and acknowledged they only had a short time to practice and said he was sure they would be fabulous next week. Carrie Ann agreed that she'd be better next week, saying she was "really like a newborn deer right now, a little wobbly on the legs." Bruno noted that Holly lost her timing quite a few times, but told her to keep hope. Scores: 6, 6, and 6. Total: 18. Ty & Chelsie: Rodeo champion Ty Murray met up with new dancing pro Chelsie Hightower, a contestant on the last season of "So You Think You Can Dance?" Ty said Chelsie was going to have her work cut out for her trying to teach him how to dance. He missed a couple of steps on his cha cha cha. Bruno said "it looked more like an Army drill than a cha cha cha." Len said that part of the charm of the show is seeing people come out and try something outside their comfort level, and he praised Ty for doing that. Carrie said Ty was "one cute cowboy." "Your dancing, we're going to work on that," Carrie Ann said. Scores: 5, 4, and 5. Total: 14. Shawn & Mark: Olympic gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson warned us not to underestimate her, and her partner Mark Ballas said he wanted his trophy back. The 17-year-old Olympian was struggling to show emotion on the dance floor, but Mark encouraged her to embrace it. They danced a nice waltz. Carrie Ann said she was "truly moved," watching Shawn's dancing and praised her dynamism. Bruno called it "surprisingly refined for somebody so young." Len said he "found the whole thing very appealing." Scores: 8, 8, and 7. Total: 23. Steve & Karina: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak rode in on his segue to meet with partner Karina Smirnoff, who vowed that she could bring the sexy side out of anyone. Good luck with that, Karina! "The Woz" stumbled through their early rehearsals in black shorts with black dress socks and black shoes. He came out wearing a pink feather boa. It was a bit clunky, but Tom called out, "Take that, Bill Gates!" Len said it held his attention and called out some parts he liked, "but overall it was a disaster." Bruno said "it was like watching a Teletubby going mad at a gay pride parade." Carrie Ann said Steve was what the competition was all about and said he made viewers want to cheer for her. Scores: 5, 4, and 4. Total: 13. David & Kym: Comedian David Alan Grier threw off his partner Kym Johnson at their first meeting, telling her he wanted to lose weight and wanted "a swimmer's body." They danced the waltz. Bruno said there were "some good lines at times," but said he was leaning too far into Kym on the holds. He also told David to stick to one character during the course of a dance. Carrie Ann agreed that David's face was a little distracting at times. Len said "there was far more good in that performance than there was bad," and he said that "overall, it was very commendable." Scores: 6, 7, and 6. Total: 19. Denise & Maks: Actress Denise Richards met up with "Dancing's" bad boy Maksim Chmerkovskiy. There were some tense moments during rehearsals, but the couple got through their "differences" and went out to do their cha cha cha. Carrie Ann said Denise looked terrified, but that she showed potential. Len said it was "all a little bit loose" and told her to dance herself without Maks pulling her around. Bruno said "there were some moments" when he could see it the right way, but it collapsed in other parts. Scores: 6, 6, and 6. Total: 18. Melissa & Tony: After just two days of practice, Melissa Rycroft of sudden "Bachelor" fame teamed up with partner Tony Dovolani, as a replacement for Nancy O'Dell. They held it together without any major flubs. Len said "'The Bachelor's' loss is 'Dancing with the Stars'' gain." Len said it was obvious she'd had ballet experience and said she had to get lower on her feet. Bruno called "the 'Bachelor' guy" and loser. He said she was a revelation and said "it was like watching a beautiful bird just about ready to take flight." Carrie Ann said she looked forward to seeing how it worked out, but said she didn't want Melissa to take it too lightly. Scores: 8, 7, and 8. Total: 23. SCOREBOARD: Gilles & Cheryl: 24 Shawn & Mark: 23 Melissa & Tony: 23 Lil Kim & Derek: 21 Chuck & Julianne: 20 David & Kym: 19 Holly & Dmitry: 18 Denise & Maks: 18 Belinda & Jonathan: 17 Steve-O & Lacey: 17 Larence & Edyta: 16 Ty & Chelsie: 14 Steve & Karina: 13
- For the first time, Monday night's "Dancing with the Stars" required each of the remaining five couples take on two individual dances -- one Latin and one ballroom. The Latin dances would each reflect a style of a different decade. The judges' take: The judges provided some insight into each of the couples and what they were looking for out of them. Up first was Donny Osmond, who Len Goodman and Carrie Ann Inaba agreed had to focus on posture in the Viennese Waltz. Carrie Ann noted that Joanna Krupa had lost her balance in ballroom before, so she needed to put her best foot forward in the quickstep. Bruno Tonioli also noted that Joanna had to watch her tempo. Len said he was looking for grace and elegance from Kelly Osbourne in the foxtrot. Carrie Ann said the ballroom was Kelly's strength, so it was a crucial round for her. Len said Kelly had to "grow or go." Mya would have to be sharp and precise in her quickstep, Len said. Carrie Ann noted that Mya tries to avoid being as technical as possible and opts for the showy moves. Carrie Ann said the foxtrot is about "rise and fall and light and shade," and that Aaron Carter has a tendency to be "over-exuberant." Bruno said he'd have to stay under control to succeed. Mya & Dmitry: Mya's foxtrot last week was again too showy for Len, but Mya didn't want to risk losing "the wow factor" just to please Len. They went to ride horses to relax a bit. It might have worked. Len said there was again some disappointment for him -- pausing for effect as the crowd groaned -- because he "couldn't find anything to criticize." Bruno said, "This is quality." He said "after you taste it, nothing else will do." Carrie Ann said Mya made something very difficult look like it flowed right out of her body. Scores: 9, 10, and 10. Total: 29 Aaron & Karina: Aaron earned his highest score of the season, but still had to dance for his life. He called it an emotional coaster and said he didn't think he had shown the world what they could do. He confessed to Karina that he'd never won anything in his life. Karina was sick much of the week, but powered through for their foxtrot. Bruno said he could see how much work went into it, but said it "was a little bit tense" and didn't have the smoothness of a foxtrot. Carrie Ann agreed, saying every detail was important at this stage. She said Karina's foot came off the ground. Len said watching Aaron was like watching his son in a toy shop because of all the emotions Aaron tends to show. He said that regardless of what happened, he was proud of Aaron. Scores: 7, 8, and 8. Total: 23 Joanna & Derek: Joanna was at the top of the pack last week, but the quickstep presented a whole new challenge. Derek showed Joanna some footage of Mya's previous performances to see her competitor's strengths and give Joanna some ideas of how to hold her own. Carrie Ann noted the routines were longer than normal and spotted a couple of out of sync moments. She said Joanna's bottom half was "a little bit of an eyesore." Len said the performance was "not the standard for the quarterfinal." Bruno said it looked like Joanna was "running away from the scene of a crime." He said it was "not one of your best performances." Scores: 8, 7, and 8. Total: 23 Kelly & Louis: After an emotional week, Kelly Osbourne had Bruno dancing on the judges' table and said she was no longer afraid, but excited. She and Louis were taking on a ballroom dance for the first time since the first part of the season. Kelly was distracted during rehearsal so Louis took all of her things away and locked them in a box. She was focused on doing a foxtrot that would prove she belongs in the competition. Len said he'd forgotten how much grace and elegance Kelly brings to the dance floor and said that despite some distracting footwork, it was "fantastic." Bruno said Kelly was weightless and said she stayed in the performance. Carrie Ann said Kelly's secret weapon was that the moment she has a breakthrough, the audience goes wild. She noted Kelly needed to work on her extension. Scores: 8, 8, and 9. Total: 25 Donny & Kym: Donny succeeded at covering up mistakes in his quickstep last week. He confided in Kym that he was burned out last week and wasn't having any fun. He said he had to "reset everything" and start over in enjoying the competition more. He and Kym put on an elegant Viennese waltz that earned a standing ovation from the crowd. Bruno said it was like "watching a Lifetime movie." He wondered how could Donny help but be an entertainer. Carrie Ann called it "mesmerizing." She said Donny didn't over-perform it and looked at ease with his posture. Len said it was nice, but a little "arty-farty" for him. Scores: 9, 8, and 9. Total: 26 The judges' take, Part 2: Len said Donny's paso doble had to show "an action hero." He said Donny has what it takes, "but he makes mistakes" and "he's gotta get it right." Len said Mya had to be groovy with a '70s samba. Carrie Ann said Mya likes to play it safe. Bruno agreed and said Mya needed to let her hair down. Carrie Ann she still didn't believe that Mya wanted to win it. Bruno wondered whether Joanna would be aggressive enough to nail a futuristic paso doble. Carrie Ann said if Joanna nailed it the way she knew Joanna could, she saw 10s in her future. Bruno said Kelly is always better in hold than she is on her own, "and that won't cut it for the jive." Len wanted to see bounce, fun and bongos from Aaron's samba. Carrie Ann said the dance is "totally Aaron." Len encouraged him to "shake what your momma gives you." Mya & Dmitry: Mya was excited to have pulled the '70s samba. Dmitry said they would incorporate some disco moves into a traditional samba to match the decade. Dmitry was having a difficult time coming up with choreography. The crowd stood in appreciation. Carrie Ann said, "I believe it!" She suddenly believed Mya wanted to win. Len said Mya was "absolutely on fire" and her hips were "hypnotic." He was glad she produced two dances Monday of the highest standard with no gimmicks. Bruno got all hysterical and sang a couple of lines from Diana Ross' "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Scores: 10, 10, and 10. Total: 30 Aaron & Karina: Aaron said the '90s samba was perfect for him because it was what he grew up with. He showed Karina a move he called "The Rodeo," which he said was popular in the '90s. Len said it was tough for Aaron to follow a samba that earned a perfect 30, but said Aaron sold and nearly nailed it. Bruno said it was good to see the mix of the '90s and the samba. Carrie Ann said Aaron had grown into "truly a great performer" and said he was "hitting it." Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27 Joanna & Derek: Derek wanted to create a paso doble that people had never seen before as their decade was "the future." He said it was one of the most unique dances he'd ever done on the show. Bruno called it a masterful reinvention of a classic and called Derek a "genius." Carrie Ann called it outstanding execution of the theme and praised Joanna for not missing a step. She pointed out one little misstep. Len said Bruno had taken his word -- "genius." He said not only was the theme great, but the content of paso doble was great. He called it fantastic. Scores: 9, 10, and 10. Total: 29 Kelly & Louis: Louis wanted to design something really fun for a '60s jive. Kelly's first music video was set in the '60s, so she was glad to be able to bring something to the table for the choreography. Len said Kelly had been "an absolutely revelation" to him by coming in week after week, "stronger and stronger." Bruno called it "groovy, baby." Carrie Ann said it was definitely one of Kelly's best performances, but there were some hiccups but it was really good. Scores: 8, 9, and 9. Total: 26 Donny & Kym: Kym wanted to do an '80s, rock n roll glam paso doble. Donny channeled Adam Ant (and maybe a bit of Pat Benatar) and recalled the mullet that he wore back in the day. Len called it the most scary, bizarre paso doble he'd ever seen, but he liked it. Bruno said it was like watching "Donny doing Marie doing Donny doing Marie." Carrie Ann said it was fun, but it went kind of over the line for her. Scores: 8, 8, and 8. Total: 24 LEADER BOARD: Mya & Dmitry, 29 + 30 = 59 Joanna & Derek, 23 + 29 = 52 Kelly & Louis, 25 + 26 = 51 Aaron & Karina, 23 + 27 = 50 Donny & Kym, 26 + 24 = 50
- All of the couples return to dance their second routines.
- A week after soap star Aiden Turner was gone, it was movie night on "Dancing with the Stars" as the couples performed to music from big-screen classics. Niecy & Louis: Comedian Niecy Nash was trying to bounce back from a rumba the judges though was boring. Louis wanted to make the judges "eat it." They rehearsed a jive and Louis wanted Niecy to slide between his legs. She didn't think she could fit. She said "the jive is probably the fastest I've ever moved -- well, dancing ... this is a family show." They performed to "La Bamba." Niecy shook all kinds of stuff, and capped the dance by planting a big, red-lipstick kiss on Len Goodman's head. Len said Niecy got her personality into the dance, which was great. He said there shouldn't been "more bounce in the feet -- there was plenty of bounce in your bazookas." Bruno Tonioli agreed, saying the dance had to be accurate, sharp and precise, and Louis admitted he went wrong. Carrie Ann Inaba called Niecy the "shimmy queen," but her bottom half didn't do enough. She said it was great to see Niecy having fun on the dance floor. Niecy later pleaded to all the "big girls" watching that they needed to vote for her because she was "tired and hungry." Scores: 6, 6, and 7. Total: 18 Chad & Cheryl: NFL wide receiver Chad Ochocinco held a sign proclaiming his love for his former teammate Chris Henry, who died late last year after falling out of a moving truck during an argument with his girlfriend. Last week, Chad had what the judges called his best performance. Chad knew his quickstep had to be "on point." Chad thought something was off with Cheryl during rehearsal, but she said it was only because they were under a lot of pressure. They danced the quickstep to "Bare Necessities" from "The Jungle Book." Bruno, in the most uncomfortable yet predictable way, made a "jungle fever" reference, but said the whole thing was a bit off. Carrie Ann said it was very uneven and was lacking body contact. Chad said they had plenty of contact, making for another awkward moment. Len backed Chad a bit and said he posture was better than previous ballroom dances he'd done. Scores: 6, 6, and 6. Total: 18 Erin & Maks: ESPN reporter Erin Andrews admitted she took a step back last week with her tango, and her partner Maks told her she had to take his direction completely. They proceeded to argue over pretty much everything, from dance moves to which shoes Erin was wearing. They danced a jive to Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell" from the movie "Pulp Fiction." Carrie Ann said she liked it, but Erin was a bit ahead of Maks at times. Len said he really enjoyed it, but that it was a little hectic at times. Bruno told Erin she had the Uma magic just right. He said he counted all the way through and it was the best timing Erin had all season. Scores: 7, 7, and 8. Total: 22 Jake & Chelsie: "Bachelor" star Jake Pavelka had a messy tango last week and was looking to bounce back with some Tom Cruise-inspired charm. Chelsie tried to get Jake out of his analytical mindset as they rehearsed the cha cha cha. They performed to Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock n Roll" from the movie "Risky Business." Len said it was fun and Jake full-on tried, but pointed out a little "incident" in which Jake tripped up a bit. Bruno said it was so exciting and great, except for the one mistake. Carrie Ann said Jake had guts and told him to "enjoy the glory." She loved the "whole package," and we don't think she was talking about the fact that Jake started the dance in his underwear. Scores: 8, 7, and 8. Total: 23 Pamela & Damian: Pamela Anderson was coming off what the judges felt was her best dance. Pam had to channel her inner Dolly Parton (the outer one is pretty much taken care of) as they rehearsed the quickstep to "9 to 5." After some exhausting practices, it was time to take the floor for real. Bruno praised Pam for her characterization, which was "always spot on." He also liked the dancing, but would have preferred a little more movement. Carrie Ann agreed, saying her posture and grace were great but her hold was not great. Len thought there was too much "messing around" because the routine started slowly. Scores: 7, 6, and 8. Total: 21 Kate & Tony: Reality star Kate Gosselin finally had a little breakthrough last week when the judges thought she was actually dancing a little. In rehearsal, she questioned virtually everything Tony instructed her to do. They did a fox trot to "Don't Forget About Me" from "The Breakfast Club." Carrie Ann said there were "itty-bitty bits" of grace developing in Kate's performance. Len said it was neat and precise, "but it wasn't really a dance -- it was a stroll." He asked her to dance out more. Bruno said he thought Tony could have gotten more life out of a frock on a coat hanger. He said that after feeling like something had happened well last week, this was like starting all over. Scores: 5, 5, and 5. Total: 15 Nicole & Derek: Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger was upset with herself for stumbling last week and getting nervous. She wanted to bounce back and remember to enjoy the process. They were given a tango from the music of "Pretty Woman." They wanted to pull in some of the story of the film, so Derek paid Nicole for sex. No, no, that's not right. He took her on a Beverly Hills shopping spree. (We remember that part of the movie, too, right?). They did a high-intensity tango to "Pretty Woman" that included some fierce leg kicks and more. Len called it Nicole's best dance, and the best dance of the season. Bruno said it was "two players playing at the top of their game." He said it was "the pride and the passion of tango portrayed to perfection." Carrie Ann also jumped out of her chair, quoting one of her favorite movies and bowing down to the couple, calling them "Superstars!" She said every moment, you could have taken a snapshot and it would've been art. Scores: 10, 9 and 10. Total: 29 Evan & Anna: Olympic figure skater Evan Lysacek had to work dancing practice into a hectic travel and performance schedule because he's now on the "Stars on Ice" tour. They practice the rumba to Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" from the movie "Armageddon." Evan struggled with his hip action, but he pulled it together when it came time to perform. Bruno said Evan's performance was superb. Carrie Ann said the lyricism was "ridiculous" (in a good way), and that the movement was creating the chemistry. Len said it artistry, musicality and it was just wonderful. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27 LEADER BOARD: Nicole & Derek: 29 Evan & Anna: 27 Jake & Chelsie: 23 Erin & Maks: 22 Pamela & Damian: 21 Niecy & Louis: 18 Chad & Cheryl: 18 Kate & Tony: 15
- The scrutiny and the spotlight intensifies as the dancers are asked to perform in the round and will receiver two scores: one for performance and another for technical. The round stage is raised a bit, exposing the dancers' footwork more. The dancers will also have to perform to acoustic music, which will make the musicality more difficult. Kurt & Anna: Rehearsing their sensual rumba, Kurt struggles a bit with the more intimate aspects of the dance, saying that "as a Christian" he's uneasy about it and wonders what his wife will think. Kurt's wife and Anna's husband pay a visit to the practice space and when Anna explains the dance is a "will they or won't they" type of drama, Kurt's wife says it's like when they were dating and Kurt thought "the grass would be greener" with someone else, presumably, and then he wanted her back. He claims he doesn't know what she's talking about. She encourages him to get into it. Len Goodman praises Kurt's hip action, but says some of his footwork is lacking. He says Kurt pitches the romantic side of it "just right." Bruno Tonioli points out that his movement has to flow and be continuous, and says the performance was "more like brothers and sisters, rather than raunchy lovers in the nght." Carrie Ann Inaba says she "really loved the performance." She says it was a good balance between performance with the audience and his partner, but agrees with Bruno on the movements. Technical: 5, 5, 5 = 15. Performance: 7, 6, 6 = 19. Total: 34 Brandy & Maks: Brandy has trouble feeling sexy for the Argentine tango, saying she hasn't been with anybody in six years. Maks figures she's being too rigid and technical, so he takes her out to a bar to loosen her up. She suggests he taker her out more often. Bruno loves the mood of "soft sensuality" and says it was like watching two lovers stealing a moment. Carrie Ann rejoices in the appearance of "the real Brandy," calling it her "comeback night." She agrees with Bruno on some pointers about her legwork. Len says the technique was good, as well as the performance, saying it "was a little bit hot and spicy" for his taste, but he enjoyed it. Technical: 7, 8, 7 = 22. Performance: 9, 8, 9 = 26. Total: 48 Rick & Cheryl: A week after ripping his shirt off, Rick jokes that this time Cheryl will take one for the team and remove her shirt. She says she went to Argentina over the summer and learned the Argentine tango from scratch and she's hoping to bring what she learned to the dance floor. Despite huge cheers from the crowd, Carrie Ann says the dance was "one-dimensional." She says the dance was lacking passion and the size of the stage was difficult for them. Len says the lifts were excellent and suited the dance. He says the legs could have been crisper and sharper. He says it started strong and lost some edge as it progressed. Bruno agrees and says it started like Clark Gable but didn't maintain all the way through. Technical: 6, 7, 6 = 19. Performance: 6, 7, 7 = 20. Total: 39 Kyle & Lacey: A week after getting ripped for his footwork, Kyle has trouble tapping into some sexiness for the rumba. He makes fart sounds in rehearsal. He vows that the judges will be "getting what they asked for," given the constant calls for better technique. Len says Kyle's footwork was much better, but says it was a bit too sharp. Still, he enjoyed it. Bruno says Kyle always plays it well, but agrees with Len that some of it was too sharp and that rumba needs a continuous flow to work. Carrie Ann says she appreciated the tone of the performance. Technical: 6, 6, 6 = 18. Performance: 8, 7, 7 = 22. Total: 40 "The Situation" & Karina: Mike is pretty worried about the steps and timing on the Argentine tango. He wants to prove everyone wrong about him. Karina is looking to up the stakes on the performance side, which will include some big lifts and throws. Bruno says it "was a terrible mess," and adds that it was like watching someone put together a puzzle never quite getting it. Bruno says the mistakes didn't allow Mike to get into a real performance and that although he did the best he could, he "did a really, really, really, really, really terrible, terrible situation." Carrie Ann, "on behalf of all the women," welcomes The Situation's abs to the show. She says she saw improvement, but that Mike's most difficult thing was the walking. Len says, "It was consistent; it was bad throughout." He congratulates Karina, saying she's doing a great job with "The Situation." Technical: 4, 4, 4 = 12. Performance: 6, 5, 5 = 16. Total: 28 Florence & Corky: Florence was intrigued by the sexiness of the rumba, which Corky describes as "a vertical expression of a horizontal desire." Florence says she has no fear of being sexy. They invite Florence's daughter and Corky's son (a guy named Mark), to determine what is appropriate and not appropriate. It makes for some fun moments. The crowd roared at the many steamy moments. Carrie Ann, embarrassed, says, "What just happened? You're Mrs. Brady!" Carrie Ann says Florence proved that "age has no relationship to how sexy and raunchy and dirty you can make a dance," but she thought it went a little too far and she got a little uncomfortable. Len says it "was much better than I expected -- well done." Bruno says they hit all the aspects of performance, but, all told, he's "seen better." Technical: 6, 6, 5 = 17. Performance: 6, 6, 6 = 18. Total: 35 Jennifer & Derek: Jennifer looks to bounce back from a mistake last week and is focusing on technique. She says each dance brings a new set of pain, and her back and foot are feeling the effects of the lifts. "I'm sorry I'm so old," she tells Derek, who brushes the comment aside. They dance the Argentine tango. Their precise moves drive the crowd crazy, and the judges join in. Len says it combined excellent technique and performance, calling it one of his favorite tangos. Bruno calls it "prime time delight," and says they've "done an incredible job." Carrie Ann praises the precision and passion, calling it "a-ma-zing." Technical: 9, 9, 9 = 27. Performance: 10, 9, 10 = 29. Total: 56 Bristol & Mark: A week after now showing she felt it, Bristol is handed the rumba. The 19-year-old mom says she's uncomfortable with it because it's "sexy and stuff." Mark says, "The rumba and Bristol have absolutely zero in common." Bruno says Bristol is technically always kind of clean. She does her moves, but those moves never go anywhere. He tells her to sustain the moves all the way through. Carrie Ann says Bristol has all the makings of being a dancer, "but there's no effort" and she feels like Bristol is dancing only for Mark. Len chides Mark for having Bristol rip his shirt off during the dance. Len says he wants to see "more we and less me" in their routines. Technical: 6, 6, 6 = 18. Performance: 4, 5, 5 = 14. Total: 32 Audrina & Tony: After moving to the top of the leader board, Audrina sets out to prove it was no fluke. Audrina struggles in rehearsal with the space limitations of the small, round stage. Tony works her through some acting drills to nail the role of the seductress in the Argentine tango. Carrie Ann says she enjoyed it, but points out some lack of energy at Audrina's ankle. She also says Audrina's dismounts were sloppy on some of the lifts. Len says the routine and lifts were good and clever. He says he didn't get the feel of the Argentine nightclub rawness. Bruno says it wasn't bad, technically, but she didn't point her feet, which took away from sharpness. Technical: 8, 8, 8 = 24. Performance: 8, 7, 7 = 22. Total: 46 LEADER BOARD: Jennifer & Derek: 56 Brandy & Maks: 48 Audrina & Tony: 46 Kyle & Lacey: 40 Rick & Cheryl: 39 Florence & Corky: 35 Kurt & Anna: 34 Bristol & Mark: 32 "The Situation" & Karina: 28
- Head judge Len Goodman says Monday night's performances brought the entire competition to a whole new level, but he wants to start this results show with an encore from Chelsea & Mark, who perform their rumba. To the highlight reel: Hines was emotional even before he started his memorable, perfect-30 performance with Kym. She told him not to watch the replay of her injury, but he couldn't stop himself. Hines & Kym are the first to learn their fate. After a commercial break, Tom Bergeron reveals that they have, indeed, advanced to the finals. Be our guest: Stevie Nicks shows up to perform her new single, "Secret Love." Afterward, Pitbull and Ne-Yo perform their club hit, "Give Me Everything." Later, Stevie returns to perform "Landslide." Back to the highlights: Chelsea reveals a wedgie she had to deal with before hitting the dance floor. After a dance that fell a bit flat, she landed her perfect 30 before moving on to get a bonus 15 points. She says that after a successful night she can "start to rebuild" her relationship with Mark, because she hated him during rehearsal week. Did the 15 bonus points help them stay in the competition? Yes, they did. They're in the finals. Inspirational story: Continuing the series of inspirational stories of how dance has helped get people through hardship, we learn about Tayla Kelley, a 13-year-old ballet dance who has Primary Immunodeficiency. Despite risking illness at a much higher rate than most people whenever she's exposed to viruses, Tayla ventures into the world and focuses on dancing to get through. Back to the highlights: Kirstie didn't trust Maks' math when he tried to add up their scores backstage. But 54 out of 60 isn't bad. Ralph was surprised he got low scores. Down to just two couples, it's finally time to learn who will dance for the title and who came just one week short. The couple going home is ... Ralph & Karina.
- After a "Manic Monday," as host Tom Bergeron calls it, '80s week is coming to a close on "Dancing with the Stars" as the results show means another couple is going home. To the results: Ricki & Derek and Hope & Maks are the first two couples called to the stage. They tied with 24 points from the judges. Ricki blew her "Roger Rabbit" portion of the dance, and Hope got emotional after her performance, saying she "got eight seconds of the dance right." Later, she told Maks, "I don't think I can do this anymore." Hope's smiling now, as Tom is about to announce the results. The first couple safe is ... Ricki & Derek. Brooke then tells Hope & Maks they're in jeopardy. Be our guest: After a little feature about how much the partners each mean to each other, Kelly Clarkson performs her new single, "Mr. Know It All." Kelly returns later to perform her hit, "Walk Away." In a new feature, we meet a dancer named Charm LaDonna, who grew up in Compton and whose mother scraped together the money to send her to dance classes, and eventually earned a spot on tour with Madonna. She used the money from the tour to pay her own way through college and now hopes to inspire young dancers. Next, The Band Perry performs its song "If I Die Young." Back to the results: Rob & Cheryl, J.R. & Karina and David & Kym are called out next. Rob impressed the judges and got the 9, which was all he wanted. J.R. got a 10 from Bruno. David was so excited about his results, he spent much of the rest of the night speaking in a British accent. The couple safe is ... J.R. & Karina. David & Kym are in jeopardy, while Rob & Cheryl are safe. Nancy & Tristan, Chaz & Lacey, and Carson & Anna are called to the stage next. Nancy pulled off what Bruno called "one of (her) best performances." Chaz realized after dancing that his fly was open the whole time. Carson was excited, but a bit disappointed in his low scores. The next couple definitely coming back next week is ... Chaz & Lacey. Nancy & Tristan are also safe. That leaves Carson & Anna, who are in jeopardy. Of the three couples in jeopardy, the first to be declared safe is ... David & Kym. Brooke tells us that they're not necessarily the bottom two, but it's now down to Hope & Maks and Carson & Anna. Tom announces that the couple with the lowest combined total of judges' scores and votes is ... Carson & Anna.
- The remaining four couples perform their dances and the second team performs Gangnam style. There is no elimination, so scores carry over to next week.
- One couple starts the show safe this week but the rest face a double elimination. Couples perform dances secretly chosen by the stars.
- Couples dance routines reminiscent of the stars' most memorable years. The television audience serves as the fourth judge in Len's absence.
- DWTS is back with a new set of celebs.
- The stars dance to music inspired by spring break.
- Contestants are welcomed onto the show to perform their first dance, get to know their partner and go after the mirrorball trophy.
- Contestants dance to some of Disney's most memorable songs, with fun costumes and animation.