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Once more for the people in the back: way to go, you!
Your votes — however many you decided to register on Sept. 24– helped Dancing with the Stars to hit a major milestone. More than 14 million votes were tabulated that night, the most received on a single episode in series history! Either that means you really love you some Ilona Maher or you would have done whatever it took to make sure Anna Delvey was given her walking papers.
And it didn’t stop there: a whopping 15 million voted tonight! Clearly, DWTS fans are clearly more engaged than ever, which is a good sign for ABC. That means we’ll have TV’s best variety show for years to come!
Let’s git down to hair metal night with special guest judge and world renowned ballroom expert Gene Simmons. (Scores below include last night’s results from Soul Train night, or what otherwise made my daughter ask, “what is Soul Train?”)
Reginald VelJohnson (Family Matters) with partner Emma Slater. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba did him a dirty on night one by tearfully saying she wanted to give him a 10 but then only mustered up a 6. His motionless cha cha — which was strangely accompanied by two rows of clapping women behind him — didn’t move the needle for her, either. “You blow my mind, there is something about you,” said Inaba. “You are doing the fewest amount of steps of anyone in this competition but we’re all with you!” Score: Night one, foxtrot (21 out of 40); Night two (21 out of 40) Total: 42
Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight) with partner Britt Stewart. Roberts reminded everybody of the car accident that almost killed him as a kid before he tried to use that survival instinct to get through his Paso doble. It didn’t help. “I love your determination and your spirit,” said Judge Derek Hough. “You pour your heart and soul into it.” Score: Night one, foxtrot (24 out of 40); Night two (22 out of 40) Total: 46
NBA Champion Dwight Howard with partner Daniella Karagach. Howard is such a commanding presence, he steals all the attention away from his diminutive partner. This is a good thing; no one could take their eyes of his Paso doble. “You are back in the game,” said Inaba. “The line, the shaping. What’s amazing is I’m not noticing the height difference that much.” Really, though? Score: Night one, cha cha (23 out of 40, boo!); Night two (29 out of 40) Total: 52
Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher with partner Alan Bersten. The super athlete looked plum tired during her jive – she missed more than a few steps — but don’t worry, she’s not going anywhere. She and Bersten are just too damn fun to watch. “You went wrong so many times,” confessed Judge Bruno Tonioli, which caused Maher to cry. She’s a competitor, man! Score: Night one, foxtrot (30 out of 40); Night two (26 out of 40) Total: 56
Phaedra Parks (The Real Housewives of Atlanta) with partner Val Chmerkovskiy: This lady is drama in the best way possible; when she’s not rehearsing, she should give Tran a few lessons on how to give good face during a Paso doble. “There were some mistakes, I could see them,” said Inaba. “I think what’s going to help you for the next segment … you are dancing very square and I know you are dynamic.” Score: Night one, quickstep (30 out of 40); Night two (26 out of 40) Total: 56
Model Brooks Nader with partner Gleb Savchenko. The sexy act didn’t help the duo achieve high scores on night one so they tried a different tactic with their cha cha: they licked each other’s tongues! The judges were impressed — with her improvement over night one, that is. “I’m not the technician here,” said Gene Simmons. “Your vibe, your personality, out of this world.” Score: Night one, rumba (28 out of 40); Night two (32 out of 40) Total: 60
Super Bowl Champion Danny Amendola with partner Witney Carson. The footballer’s ankles and knees were apparently sore but his Paso doble to “Livin’ On a Prayer” rocked hard enough to open Tuesday’s show. “Strong rough and ready! You put everything you got into it,” said Tonioli. “But I told you last week, don’t cut everything short. Keep the power but you have to add artistry, my love.” Score: Night one, foxtrot (30 out of 40); Night two (30 out of 40) Total: 60
Jenn Tran (The Bachelorette) with partner Sasha Farber. Tran lacked the necessary fierceness that’s customary with a Paso doble but her performance was nonetheless crisp. “There was beautiful, strong calmness about you tonight,” Hough said. “And let’s talk about those knee walks across the floor!” Score: Night one, Viennese waltz (31 out of 40); Night two (31 out of 40) Total: 62
Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik with partner Rylee Arnold: The gymnast played his partner like a guitar before turning his foxtrot into an opportunity to show off more of his pommel horse moves on the ground. Special mention to the stage designer, who transformed the upstage screen into an A.I. road trip. “You took the notes, and you followed through,” said Inaba. “I want to see a little more understanding of the movement.” Score: Night one, quickstep (30 out of 40); Night two (32 out of 40) Total: 62
Chandler Kinney (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin) with partner Brandon Armstrong. Where does this kid get her energy? Oh that’s right, she’s a kid. Her jive, along with last night’s cha cha, made me momentarily forget that Brandon is the actual pro here, not her. “You are a league of your own, you really are,” said Hough. “Toward the end you lost a little steam. The jive is about stamina.” Score: Night one, cha cha (36 out of 40); Night two (33 out of 40) Total: 69
The Bachelor‘s Joey Graziadei with partner Jenna Johnson: Johnson complained a lot about his sagging frame in rehearsal but boy, did he spin some gold with his terrific tango. “That was phenomenal, well done,” said Hough. “Clearly, you got the goods inside of you,” said Simmons. “Don’t quit now!” I’m sure that’s not his plan, Gene. Score: Night one, jive (34 out of 40); Night two (36 out of 40) Total: 70
Maher was in the bottom three with Roberts and VelJohnson. Not her time, though: the ‘ol boys were sent home.
15 million votes!
