‘Dancing with the Stars’ recap: Who was Oscar-worthy on ‘Movie Night,’ and who bombed at the ballroom box office? [UPDATING LIVE BLOG]
“Dancing with the Stars” controversially eliminated its first contestant last Monday night — Supremes legend Mary Wilson — leaving 11 celebs to compete for the Mirror Ball Trophy. This week was “Movie Night,” during which the stars danced routines inspired by their favorite films. So which performance were Oscar-worthy successes, and which were Razzie-ready stinkers? Find out below in our live blog with all the minute-by-minute developments has they happen.
Disney owns the ABC network, so there’s no shortage of cross-promotional opportunities for the Mouse House, which has been buying up all the intellectual property it can get its hands on. That includes “Star Wars,” of course, so the episode will include a special “Star Wars” moment. The celebrities will also be dancing to songs including “Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison, “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton, “My Heart Will Go On” be Celine Dion, “Dreaming of You” be Selena, “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, “Here We Go Again” by Abba and “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips. Some of those associated favorite films went without saying.
Lauren Alaina and Sailor Brinkley-Cook took on the tango. Hannah Brown, Ally Brooke, Kel Mitchell and James Van Der Beek all performed the rumba. Kate Flannery had a quickstep. Karamo Brown danced a jive. And previously low-scoring celebs Ray Lewis, Lamar Odom and Sean Spicer all contended with the cha cha. Which performances did you like the best? And who was the second celebrity eliminated as the competition was cut down to the top 10? Find out below starting at 8:00pm (times listed are Eastern).
Jeffrey Kare, 8:02pm — Very fitting to start off with an iconic (Oscar-winning) movie song, “Fame.”
Cordell Martin, 8:03pm — Great opening!
Daniel Montgomery, 8:03pm — Ray Lewis is out of the competition, as was reported earlier today. They’ll give more details late in the evening.
Lauren Alaina and Gleb Savchenko (“Pretty Woman” Tango)
DM, 8:05pm — Lauren is going to channel Julia Roberts in their “Pretty Woman” routine. Gleb is helping her work on her posture with help from some water bottles, a paper towel roll, and a shoe brush. These poor pro dancers have to bring their own teaching supplies.
JK, 8:07pm — Very slick routine!
DM, 8:08pm — “I told my dad not to watch that,” Lauren explains after her routine. I guess the week after Gleb ripped her skirt off on national television, playing cinema’s most famous call girl is a bit much for her dad to take?
JUDGES — Len Goodman thought it was “full of attack, drive and purpose,” but “a little bit stop-and-start” at times. Bruno Tonioli thought it was a “racy,” “full-throttle” tango, and “some of the lines are very good,” but her transitions are a little off and she needs to work on her balance. Carrie Ann Inaba still think Lauren needs to work on her musicality, and she’s leaning on Gleb too much instead of standing on her own, though she loves Lauren’s “confidence.”
CM, 8:12pm — Very entertaining dance. I agree with Carrie Ann and Bruno that she needs to work on her frame and musicality.
SCORES — Carrie Ann (6), Len (7), Bruno (7) — TOTAL: 20 out of 30
DM, 8:13pm — I thought Lauren was pretty good. Every week she’s been solid, but she hasn’t had a breakout moment yet.
Hannah Brown and Alan Bersten (“Bridesmaids” Rumba)
DM, 8:16pm — “Bridesmaids” and rumba don’t really sound like they go together, but Hannah is going to take inspiration from her own life, where she’s soon to be a bridesmaid herself. And the wedding party teases Hannah about her romantic chemistry with Alan, who then strips for her bridal party.
CM, 8:17pm — Oh no, no showmance!
DM, 8:18pm — I know, stop it, “DWTS,” for poor Alan’s sake. He can’t sell another showmance.
JK, 8:18pm — At least the performance was terrific.
DM, 8:19pm — Another solid routine from her, not quite as revelatory as last week’s dance, though.
CM, 8:19pm — Great routine, but I felt it was missing something.
JUDGES — Bruno thinks she’s a “wonderful, lyrical dancer” with great finish and flourish, but she needed to use the floor more with the rumba to get more hip action. Carrie Ann thinks she has “exquisite lines,” but no hip action; it looked to her more like a “cheerleading dance” than a Latin dance. Len compliments her “beautiful musicality,” but he agrees with the rest of the panel that she needed more hip action.
CM, 8:21pm — I agree with Carrie Ann!
DM, 8:22pm — Cordell agrees with Carrie Ann! I thought I saw some pigs flying overhead earlier today.
SCORES — Carrie Ann (7), Len (7), Bruno (7) — TOTAL: 21 out of 30
Karamo Brown and Jenna Johnson (“Rocketman” Jive)
DM, 8:27pm — “I don’t know what I have to do to impress Len!” says Karamo after getting another 5 from the cranky judge. They’re dancing a jive to “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John, and that sounds like a great marriage between song and dance style, and Karamo feels personally connected to Elton as a gay man in showbiz. Karamo could use a breakout moment, so I hope this is it.
CM, 8:30pm — This is much better than Kate Gosselin’s LOL
JK, 8:30pm — I thought that was a fun, energetic routine.
CM, 8:30pm — I’m still missing something from him.
JUDGES — Carrie Ann thought it was “not the greatest,” and there were “a lot of mistakes,” but he’s still entertaining and she wants to see him continue on the show because of his potential. Len admired that the routine was a complete jive without any “messing about,” but he agrees with Carrie Ann that he went wrong a lot. Bruno also noted that he missed his steps, and that’s tough to cover up in this dance style.
CM, 8:31pm — Me and Carrie Ann are seeing eye to eye tonight.
DM, 8:32pm — I agree, Cordell. He’s got great energy and personality and rhythm, but he doesn’t have the technique yet.
SCORES — Carrie Ann (5), Len (5), Bruno (6) — TOTAL: 16 out of 30
DM, 8:34pm — Carrie Ann’s not playing tonight.
CM, 8:34pm — Lordy.
Ally Brooke and Sasha Farber (“Selena” Rumba)
DM, 8:38pm — Ally is paying tribute to “Selena,” her favorite movie and an inspiration to her as a Mexican-American performer. She’ll be dancing to “Dreaming of You,” which sounds like a good song choice for a rumba, but it’s a lot to live up to, both Selena herself and the fact that film starred Jennifer Lopez, herself a professional dancer.
JK, 8:41pm — I thought that was alright at best.
CM, 8:41pm — That was beautiful.
DM, 8:41pm — I think that was Ally’s best work on the show so far.
JUDGES — Len loved how clearly he could see all of the specific rumba details in this performance. Bruno says she “put all of her heart and soul” into that dance. He too loved that it was a true, proper, “correct” rumba. Carrie Ann “had chills the whole time,” and it was all about technique.
DM, 8:44pm — A really great moment for Ally especially because she outdid front-runner Hannah’s performance in the same dance style.
SCORES — Carrie Ann (8), Len (8), Bruno (8) — TOTAL: 24 out of 30
DM, 8:45pm — Highest score of the night, and tied with Hannah’s week two dance as the highest score of the season so far. Well deserved.
JK, 8:46pm — What an adorable appearance from BB-8 from “Star Wars.”
DM, 8:47pm — If their “Star Wars” segment isn’t Adam Driver doing a samba or something, I’m going to be incredibly disappointed.
JK, 8:47pm — That would be helpful for his Oscar campaign for “Marriage Story.”
DM, 8:47pm — I don’t know if “helpful” is the word I’d use, but I would be entertained.
Ray Lewis’s Dramatic Exit
DM, 8:50pm — Ray Lewis was preparing a “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” cha cha when an old injury — torn tendons — started acting up again. He needs surgery. If he keeps dancing, they’ll rupture. “This is probably one of the hardest decisions of my life,” but Ray doesn’t want to hurt himself so badly he won’t be able to walk anymore. “God don’t make no mistakes,” Ray tells Tom Bergeron. But Rashad Jennings is going to take his place performing Ray’s routine even though Ray couldn’t.
DM, 8:54pm — I really like this little Rashad Jennings exhibition. It’s probably at least partly because the producers couldn’t figure out how else to fill that air time, but it’s still a sweet moment.
JK, 8:55pm — That was a nice treat getting to see Rashad giving an encore.
James Van Der Beek and Emma Slater (“A Star is Born” Rumba)
CM, 8:58pm — James is going to kill it!
JK, 8:59pm — It definitely helps that he’ll be diving into the ‘Shallow’.
DM, 8:59pm — I’m a little worried just because a rock ballad like “Shallow” is an odd fit for a Latin dance like the rumba.
DM, 9:00pm — James is dedicating the performance to his wife, who teases him by asking, “Who else would you dedicate it to?” She’s a keeper.
CM, 9:01pm — As predicted, James is killing it. Love how fluid and lyrical his movements are.
DM, 9:02pm — Yeah, this fantastic, and the arrangement of the song makes it a really great, sensual piece for a rumba. Right along with Ally as the best of the night so far.
JK, 9:02pm — That was breathtaking!
JUDGES — Bruno says the audience is “going Gaga for James” and there was “nothing shallow about that performance.” He thinks it’s tougher for a man to dance a rumba because of how he had to complement his partner, and he nailed it. Carrie Ann thought it was “stunning,” and James grabbed her attention in what is usually a showcase dance for women. Len thought James got a little bit wide in his leg action, which hindered his hip action, and it was too “passionate” for him.
CM, 9:04pm — Really, Len?
DM, 9:04pm — “Too passionate” is the night’s weirdest criticism, especially for a rumba.
SCORES — Carrie Ann (8), Len (7), Bruno (8) — TOTAL: 23 out of 30
DM, 9:05pm — Dammit, Len!
JK, 9:06pm — He just came so close to tying with Ally’s score, but at least he can settle on second place.
DM, 9:07pm — I think James is the most consistent this season so far. A lot of the dancers have had good night so far, but he has been consistently at or near the top every time after three weeks.
Kate Flannery and Pasha Pashkov (“9 to 5” Quickstep)
DM, 9:09pm — I was thrilled that Kate got such good scores from the judges last week. She’s a joy to watch. She’s performing a quickstep, which sounds like a good fit for this dance style, though it’s incredibly demanding. But Kate has been performing live shows with Jane Lynch, so she’s an experience live performer.
JK, 9:10pm — An “Office” star dancing to a song from an office-related movie? Sounds fitting.
CM, 9:12pm — That was cute!
JK, 9:12pm — That was kind of entertaining.
DM, 9:12pm — Kate has been one of the big revelations this season. She’s a natural and a charmer.
JUDGES — Carrie Ann thought it was “precise” and “synchronized.” Len loved her sense of character. Bruno called the performance a “big hit.”
SCORES — Carrie Ann (8), Len (8), Bruno (8) — TOTAL: 24 out of 30
JK, 9:15pm — Kate just tying with Ally for such a high score has to be the biggest surprise to me (so far).
DM, 9:15pm — Wow, I loved that performance, but I’m still surprised that those scores were so high. Not complaining, though. She might be this season’s Frankie Muniz, a former TV star who you don’t expect to have such good technique and rhythm.
CM, 9:16pm — It’s also refreshing to a see a mature female celeb just be herself on the dance floor vs. trying to compete with the younger female stars.
Lamar Odom and Peta Murgatroyd (“Risky Business” Cha Cha)
DM, 9:17pm — Lamar really didn’t expect to survive the elimination last week, let alone being completely safe. Peta thinks the cha cha is similar enough to last week’s dance that it’ll be easier for him to learn. But god bless him, “Risky Business” sounds like a good description for a Lamar dance number.
DM, 9:20pm — I mean, Lamar still doesn’t have a lot of grace, but that was probably his best performance so far, and he always looks like he’s having fun, which I appreciate. I hope he can at least eke out a 5 for this one.
JK, 9:21pm — Yeah, I agree with that, though it still looked like Peta was doing the better work than him.
JUDGES — Len thinks he’s a lot of fun, but then “the wheels fell off a bit” when he had to do some basic steps midway through. Bruno thought it “started quite well,” but he “couldn’t quite manage” towards the end. Carrie Ann thought he “channeled the love” he got from the audience; he was “right on beat,” but then he made one wrong move and it kept going wrong.
SCORES — Carrie Ann (4), Len (4), Bruno (4) — TOTAL: 12 out of 30
DM, 9:23pm — Come on, give him like ONE 5. This was better than last week, but he got the exact same score.
Sailor Brinkley-Cook and Val Chmerkovskiy (“Mamma Mia!” Tango)
DM, 9:27pm — Yet another strange marriage of song and dance style. Sailor is dedicating the performance to her mom, Christie Brinkley. Sailor thinks their relationship is a lot like Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried in the film.
DM, 9:30pm — I thought that was a weird song for a tango, but I think Val’s choreography did a great job of capturing the mood of the music, and Sailor was quite good
JK, 9:30pm — She really has been getting better.
DM, 9:30pm — That was good.
JUDGES — Bruno appreciates that Sailor has taken their suggestions and criticisms to heart: it was “a great, feel-good tango.” Carrie Ann thought this performance was a “transformation” for Sailor and a “huge leap forward.” Len loved the “snap, crackle and pop” of the routine, and it was “fantastic.”
SCORES — Carrie Ann (7), Len (8), Bruno (8) — TOTAL: 23 out of 30
DM, 9:33pm — I feel like we’re starting to separate the wheat from the chaff this season. There are s few people I don’t think are ever going to be capable of 8s, so a few of these dancers are pulling away.
DM, 9:34pm — Kel could go either way. He really needs breakout performance soon.
Kel Mitchell and Witney Carson (“Titanic” Rumba)
DM, 9:37pm — Kel Mitchell is a big Leonardo DiCaprio fan, but it doesn’t sound like he’s really that passionate about “Titanic,” per se. What matters is that he’s passionate about the rumba. I think he can pull this off.
DM, 9:39pm — Solid from Kel. Not as good as Ally or James’s rumbas, but on par with Hannah’s at least, so he’s still in this competition.
JK, 9:40pm — I think he’s really starting to find his groove.
JUDGES — Carrie Ann thought it was “really solid dancing,” but she could see how hard he was working and he was “tight.” Len thought he needed more shaping with his hand, but it was a “good, solid performance.” Bruno felt he “completed the sailing without sinking,” but the intensity took away from the fluidity.
DM, 9:42pm — Len complaining about a lack of shaping with Kel’s fingers, but I still remember him criticizing Jordan Fisher‘s “twiddly fiddlies” during his rumba.
SCORES — Carrie Ann (7), Len (6), Bruno (7) — TOTAL: 20 out of 30
DM, 9:43pm — Of course Len had to give one point below the others.
DM, 9:43pm — That’s a bummer, Kel was worth at least straight 7s.
CM, 9:43pm — Oh Len.
Sean Spicer and Lindsay Arnold (“Saturday Night Fever” Cha Cha)
DM, 9:46pm — A “Saturday Night Massacre” dance would have been more appropriate for Sean. Or maybe “All the President’s Men”?
DM, 9:49pm — Ah, Spicey, whose appearance on this show and publication of a book after leaving the White House shows how profitable propaganda can be.
JK, 9:50pm — I must admit, that was pretty laughable.
JUDGES — Bruno thinks Sean is a “genius” for turning “Saturday Night Fever” into a “disaster blockbuster.” Carrie Ann thinks he’s living his “best life” — hey, If I experienced no consequences for months of lying to the American public, I’d be pretty chuffed too.
SCORES — Carrie Ann (5), Len (5), Bruno (5) — TOTAL: 15 out of 30
DM, 9:52pm — On what planet does that score higher than Lamar Odom?
JK, 9:53pm — I’d like to bet that the judges are a little drunk tonight.
CM, 9:54pm — I wonder if they’ll eliminate someone tonight.
DM, 9:54pm — They keep talking about revealing the bottom two, but they’re being pretty coy. I think they may be building up to a “surprise” non-elimination.
RESULTS
DM, 9:56pm — Safe from elimination: Ally Brooke, Sean Spicer, Hannah Brown, Lauren Alaina, Kate Flannery, James Van Der Beek, Sailor Brinkley-Cook, and Karamo Brown.
DM, 9:59pm — Kel Mitchell and Lamar Odom are the bottom two. One of those is surprising, and one of those isn’t. But Len announces that no one is going to be eliminated after Ray’s withdrawal. A little silly for them to draw that out for so long, since it was a logical choice to skip the elimination with Ray dropping out due to injury.
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