Dancing with the Stars is heading into overdrive for the second week of competition on season 25. There are two nights, two routines, two eliminations, and four hours to fill.
For Monday, it’s all about classic ballroom styles with Waltzes, Tangos, Quicksteps, and Foxtrots. And by the end of the night, one pair will be going home and denied the opportunity to perform their Tuesday night Latin routine that they’ve been preparing for all week.
LIVE…from Hollywood…this is my Dancing with the Stars live blog.
Debbie Gibson and Alan Bersten: Quickstep
She was very nervous and emotional last week. Now she’s more confident and she has great energy, but her legs and feet are rather sloppy. Len Goodman says she had the speed, but not the control. The other judges agree that she was fun, but lacked some technique.
Judges’ Scores: 7+6+7=20
She’s up 3 points from last week and the judges are clearly going to be more generous tonight.
Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev: Waltz
This week she wants to channel her elegant and classy nana to show a different side of herself. She succeeds with a slow and sensitive routine that flows beautifully but seems a little light on the content. The judges love this new version of her and the trust she showed in her partner. Len wanted more in hold, but he liked the lyrical lines.
Judges’ Scores: 7+7+7=21
She’s up 1 point.
Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: Quickstep
The concept is that they start as caterpillars and turn into butterflies. It’s good to have Mark back because we get this kind of imagination, and the judges all agree. The dancing is speedy and fine, but she seems a little more stiff than last week and she’s a tad hunched over. Len doesn’t like that they didn’t maintain the hold.
Judges’ Scores: 7+7+7=21
They’re actually down 1 point.
Barbara Corcoran and Keo Motsepe: Tango
Barbara opens up about being dyslexic as a child and she’s used to being at the bottom. She’s driven to prove that she’s not stupid. She doesn’t have any real musicality and her huge smile doesn’t quite fit the routine. It’s just not very good. The judges think she’s better than last week, but I kind of disagree. Barbara continues to talk back to the judges, which is not a good look.
Judges’ Scores: 6+5+6=17
She’s up 3 points.
Nick Lachey and Peta Murgatroyd: Foxtrot
The married couples have a foot rubbing bet over who does better, and Nick an Peta want to beat Vanessa and Maks. It’s sweet, but Nick is still kind of boxy. He dances more like a football player than a boy band singer. Peta had a wardrobe issue halfway through with her dress getting caught, and that threw off the second half. Carrie Ann Inaba thinks he’s a little too tight and needs to loosen up. Len continues to hate benches and thought it was too fragile.
Judges’ Scores: 7+6+6=19
He’s up 1 point.
Drew Scott and Emma Slater: Quickstep
On Sunday he pulled his hamstring, which cut into their rehearsal time. He’s much better than last week with energy and lots of delightful flailing. His limbs are still way too long, but they made it work in this routine. The judges think he’s lanky and gangly, but they like his enthusiasm.
Judges’ Scores: 7+6+7=20
He’s up 4 points, the best improvement so far.
Vanessa Lachey and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: Foxtrot
Maks is very intense, but her dad was in the military, so she’s used to it. Her heel cut her toe in rehearsals. She’s good and has great sass, but too much of the start is her with some back-up guys. The judges really love it, with Carrie Ann calling her liquid gold. Vanessa continues to be totally insane in her interviews, in the best possible way, referring to her partner as “Maks Daddy.”
Judges’ Scores: 8+8+8=24
She’s up 3 points and gets the highest score of the season so far, plus Bruno’s first 8.
Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: Tango
Witney the drill sergeant now expects more from him, but he broke his back 8 years ago and it makes it hard. It’s an awesome and intense routine with lots of precision. Bruno loves that he didn’t miss a step with a crazy song. Carrie Ann agrees that it was powerful and fiery. Len thought it was too aggressive.
Judges’ Scores: 8+7+8=23
He’s also up 4 points.
Terrell Owens and Cheryl Burke: Foxtrot
He says that he knows he’s more than 1 point better than Barbara, and he’s not wrong. He gets frustrated in rehearsals very easily. Their dance is very sexy, but I find him kind of “meh” as a dancer. Len thought it was too raunchy, more bedroom than ballroom. Bruno calls it a Sextrot. Tom Bergeron voices the concern that he was underscored last week because he was first.
Judges’ Scores: 7+6+7=20
He’s up 5 points, the new biggest improvement.
Sasha Pieterse and Gleb Savchenko: Viennese Waltz
They work on her ballroom face and her parents show up in rehearsals, which adds even more criticism on her technique. I hope her parents get to perform a routine this season, maybe in the finale. The routine is thoroughly mediocre and forgettable. Len complains about all of the swooshy ballroom routines. Bruno didn’t like her arms, but Carrie Ann did.
Judges’ Scores: 8+8+7=23
WTF? She’s up 5 points too.
Victoria Arlen and Val Chmerkovskiy: Tango
She’s so positive and joyful about everything. Their dance is intense and powerful with strong moves and a bad-ass routine. It’s the polar opposite of her light and fun dance from last week, which is great. She’s definitely becoming a huge threat to win. The judges love her technique.
Judges’ Scores: 8+8+8=24
She’s also up by 5 points, making it three in a row. The judges are getting very generous as the night goes on.
Derek Fisher and Sharna Burgess: Foxtrot
Derek’s mom is here and Mama Fish has more charisma than most of these stars, including Derek. The dance is very quaint and he has a lot of fun with it. Sometimes he cuts his extensions too short. Carrie Ann points out that he dances too small and needs to spread it out more.
Judges’ Scores: 6+6+7=19
He’s up 1 point.
Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: Viennese Waltz
They know that the bar is high for them, but they want to do even better. It’s a very Contemporary-style dance, but absolutely beautiful. He moves so smoothly and effortlessly, and it’s just fun to watch him. The judges love his lyricism, but they want more ballroom nuance.
Judges’ Scores: 8+8+8=24
He’s up 2 points and tied for the top of the leaderboard once again.
THE RESULTS
It’s time to send one couple home.
The first couple IN JEOPARDY is…Terrell and Cheryl
The second couple IN JEOPARDY is…Barbara and Keo
That’s no surprise since they were the bottom two last week.
Barbara Corcoran and Keo Motsepe ARE ELIMINATED!
Poor Keo, this is the third time he’s been the first one eliminated out of six times as a pro. And two other times he was the second one eliminated. What does this hottie need to do to be given a partner with some actual potential?
THE LEADERBOARD
24: Vanessa Lachey, Victoria Arlen, Jordan Fisher
23: Frankie Muniz, Sasha Pieterse
21: Nikki Bella, Lindsey Stirling
20: Debbie Gibson, Drew Scott, Terrell Owens
19: Nick Lachey, Derek Fisher
Dancing with the Stars returns for a special episode Tuesday at 9/8c on ABC.
(Image courtesy of ABC)
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
John watches nearly every show on TV, but he specializes in sci-fi/fantasy like The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural and True Blood. However, he can also be found writing about everything from Survivor and Glee to One Tree Hill and Smallville.
