‘Dancing with the Stars’ Disney Night recap: Who went home after team dances? [Live Blog]
Last week’s “Dedication Night” on “Dancing with the Stars” was a tough night of competition in which almost all of the celebrities stepped up their game and improved their scores, just as you’d hope for at this stage of the competition. Unfortunately, that also means the show is starting to send people home despite good dances. So who will be on the chopping block tonight on “Disney Night,” when the celebs and their professional partners will perform routines inspired by Disney properties as wide-ranging as “Encanto” and “Deadpool and Wolverine”? Scroll down for our minute-by-minute live blog with all the developments and commentary throughout the night.
With last week’s elimination of model Brooks Nader and her partner Gleb Savchenko, there are eight couples remaining in contention for the Len Goodman Mirror Ball Trophy: Super Bowl champion Danny Amendola and pro Witney Carson, “The Bachelor” star Joey Graziadei and pro Jenna Johnson, NBA champion Dwight Howard and pro Daniella Karagach, TV star Chandler Kinney and pro Brandon Armstrong, Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher and pro Alan Bersten, Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik and pro Rylee Arnold, reality star Phaedra Parks and pro Val Chmerkovskiy, and “The Bachelorette” star Jenn Tran and pro Sasha Farber.
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“Disney Night” includes not only the individual routines from each of the eight couples, but also team dances in which four couples join forces against the other four couples in dueling group numbers. There will also be an “Aladdin” themed opening dance choreographed by Emmy winner Mandy Moore. And a special “Moana 2” sneak preview song, “We’re Back,” will be accompanied by a dance choreographed by pro Britt Stewart. Follow along below starting at 8:00pm (times listed are Eastern).
Jeffrey Kare, 8:03pm — What an exciting opening!
Cordell Martin, 8:04pm — Great opening
Daniel Montgomery, 8:04pm — It never ceases to amaze me when the pros have to learn these opening numbers in addition to their competitive routines. They’re incredible athletes
CM, 8:05pm — Loving the stars costumes
DM, 8:05pm — Is Joey ever gonna wear a shirt though? LOL
DM, 8:05pm — Look a brother is trying to win the mirrorball lol
Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold (Charleston)
DM, 8:06pm — He’s been showing more control lately, but I think he can let loose on a dance as fast as the Charleston.
JUDGES — Carrie Ann Inaba thought it was a fantastic performance, danced like a hero, but a little off time. He stayed ahead of the music the whole time. Derek Hough loved the athleticism, but yes the timing still needs work. Bruno Tonioli appreciated the attack of the dance, but yet again, he was racing and needs to work on timing.
DM, 8:10pm — Loved his spirit, don’t think that was his strongest dance though. I didn’t love all the choreo.
CM, 8:11pm — Yeah I agree. Definitely not his strongest but fun nonetheless.
JK, 8:11pm — I at least appreciated the energy he brought to it.
CM, 8:12pm — I think he’s getting all 7’s
SCORES — Carrie Ann (8), Derek (8), Bruno (8) = 24 out of 30
JK, 8:13pm — Better than expected
CM, 8:13pm — Now I love Stephen but let’s be real judges lol
DM, 8:13pm — I thought the 8s were alright. I think 7s are too low. I’d maybe have given it 7.75 LOL
DM, 8:14pm — Stephen needs a rumba. That’ll really teach him how to slow it down.
Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber will (Rumba)
DM, 8:15pm — “The Little Mermaid” is a little done to death on “DWTS.” Hopefully the rumba will stand out compared to past seasons’ routines.
JUDGES — Derek sees her improving every week, but she needs more fluidity through the rib cage. Bruno liked the soft, romantic, sophisticated style, but she messed up an overhead turn and lost balance. Carrie Ann thinks it was her best dance so far because she’s learning the technique
DM, 8:19pm — Excellent rumba, beautiful arm movements. One or two little wonky bits, but strong. I’d give an 8.
JK, 8:21pm — Very emotional!
CM, 8:21pm — Another great performance by Jenn. I love how she’s coming into her own as a dancer.
DM, 8:22pm — Ugh, they’re trying to showmance Sasha and Jenn now.
CM, 8:22pm — No! Don’t do it Jenn and Sasha lol
SCORES — Carrie Ann (8), Derek (8), Bruno (8) = 24 out of 30
JK, 8:23pm — Well deserved
Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson (Samba)
CM, 8:25pm — Joey and Jenna looks like siblings now lol
DM, 8:26pm — I hate Joey’s wig. It’s not really giving Tarzan LOL
JK, 8:26pm — He looks more like a supermodel playing Tarzan.
JUDGES — Bruno said he made it look natural, but he needs to work on the bounce. Carrie Ann thought he was exactly like a Disney character brought to life. But the bounce was lacking and his steps were a little big. Derek loved all the content in it, but he needs to work on his arms a little.
DM, 8:31pm — Wow, great choreo, captured the spirit of the movie and the song, well executed throughout. Don’t know about 10s, I think at least 9s
JK, 8:32pm — PERFECTION!
CM, 8:32pm — Another fun routine. I agree Daniel that this is a 9 dance
DM, 8:32pm — I don’t like the audience sexism. They literally only boo Carrie Ann when she gives criticism. All three judges had constructive criticism.
CM, 8:32pm — I agree.
SCORES — Carrie Ann (8), Derek (8), Bruno (9) = 25 out of 30
DM, 8:36pm — Not as high as I expected, but he survived the samba, and that’s enough of a win.
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong (Paso Doble)
DM, 8:36pm — If the judges wanted her to dig deeper last week, she can definitely show that on a paso doble. And she’s got Milo Manheim visiting her during rehearsal as a good luck charm. Milo was dynamite during his season.
JUDGES — Carrie Ann thought it was a passionate, powerful performance that proved them wrong from last week. Derek thought it was fierce, strong, and confident. Bruno thought it had bite from the queen of the night, with power, strength, and attitude. Spot-on, and the artistry was there.
DM, 8:40pm — Dynamit job from Chandler. I’d say 9s unless there were mistakes I missed.
JK, 8:41pm — In terms of both visuals and moves, it was INCREDIBLE!
CM, 8:41pm — Let’s go Chandler! That’s how you bounce back.
SCORES — Carrie Ann (9), Derek (9), Bruno (9) = 27 out of 30
JK, 8:44pm — Look out Joey, there’s a new top of the leaderboard this week.
DM, 8:44pm — Joey and Chandler are on the same dance team later, so he can’t get ahead of her on the leaderboard. Chandler’s back!
CM, 8:46pm — Will Danny get the first 10?
DM, 8:46pm — If a 10 comes tonight, it’ll pobably be during the team dances
Phaedra Parks and Val Chmerkovskiy (Jazz)
DM, 8:47pm — I think it’s do or die for Phaedra tonight. She’s a good dancer, but Val’s right. She’s in a traffic jam in the middle of the leaderboard and needs a breakthrough moment or she’s gonna get lost in the shuffle and maybe even be eliminated tonight.
JUDGES — Derek thought it felt like a Broadway show, and she’s confident, though there were times she seemed to be waiting for him. Bruno thought the slow sections were great, but she needs to not anticipate her partner, she needs to trust him. Carrie Ann wants to see her exaggerate the movements, so they fill the space.
DM, 8:53pm — That was kinda weak sauce from Phaedra. She was off a couple of times, and the choreo didn’t really give her moments to shine.
JK, 8:53pm — Had some interesting (and seductive) ideas. I’d say she’s getting somewhere in getting back on track.
CM, 8:54pm — Yeah I think it might be Phadera’s time to go
SCORES — Carrie Ann (8), Derek (8), Bruno (8) = 24 out of 30
DM, 8:55pm — Those 8s were generous to me. For me, this was more of a 7 dance.
JK, 8:55pm — I agree.
Danny Amendola and Witney Carson (Jazz)
DM, 8:57pm — He got to the top of the leaderboard with a contemporary. The real test is if he can keep up the momentum in a different style. Before last week he was kind of a middle-of-the-pack dancer
JUDGES — Bruno appreciated they incorporated the opening of the movie. It was strong and right on it. Carrie Ann thought it had everything, and he has developed confidence. Derek thought it was a viral hit, beautiful.
DM, 9:02pm — I appreciated the clever fight choreography. Solid work, might be back down to 8s?
JK, 9:02pm — They felt like a pair of dynamic dynamites.
SCORES — Carrie Ann (9), Derek (9), Bruno (9) = 27 out of 30
DM, 9:04pm — 9s were a little high for me. I feel like they were tougher on Stephen and Joey at the beginning of the night than they’ve been on anyone since
CM, 9:04pm — Fun routine. A bit over-scored IMO
Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach (Tango)
DM, 9:08pm — It might be tough for him to escape the bottom of the leaderboard. He needs to dance clean. Daniella chalks it up to anxiety and stage fright, but she’s glad because it means he cares about the competition.
JUDGES — Carrie Ann thinks he’s an artist, but there were a lot of mistakes and she went off time a lot. Derek is hypnotized by his smile, and the frame was good considering the height difference. Bruno thought it was fun, and he appreciates how much work he’s put in. He has improved on every level after she gave him a lot of proper tango steps.
DM, 9:14pm — Dwight was just aight for me. DIdn’t love it. He seemed to walk through some of his steps instead of dancing them
JK, 9:14pm — Colorful visuals, decent performance.
SCORES — Carrie Ann (8), Derek (8), Bruno (8) = 24 out of 30
DM, 9:15pm — Another dance that felt like it should have been 7s to me.
JK, 9:16pm — Yeah, that was so over-scored.
CM, 9:17pm — Yeah he was overscored as well
Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten (Jazz)
DM, 9:20pm — This is the routine I was most looking forward to, and the show is wisely closing out this round with it. Ilona doing “Surface Pressure” from “Encanto” is the best marriage of star and song of the night.
CM, 9:21pm — I’m ready for this performance. I can see a 9 or two
CM, 9:25pm — Nevermind lol
DM, 9:26pm — LOL, I thought it was fun, but probably more 8s
JK, 9:26pm — Fittingly enough, it was kind of ‘strong.’
JUDGES — Derek thinks she embodied the character, but he would have liked to see more dance. Bruno also thought it was true to character, but she could accomplish more on the dance floor. Carrie Ann thinks she’s changing the narrative about womanhood and strength, but she also thinks the routine could have used more.
CM, 9:27pm — I agree with Derek about it not having a lot of dancing.
DM, 9:27pm — I think the pros struggle with choreographing jazz sometimes.
JK, 9:27pm — Choreographing jazz in particular is never easy.
SCORES — Carrie Ann (9), Derek (8), Bruno (8) = 25 out of 30
TEAM DANCES
TEAM ROAR
DM, 9:35pm — I like that Dwight seemed to pick partners based on who would be the most fun to be around.
JUDGES — Bruno thought it was great fun with great pictures and images, but the sync wasn’t entirely there. Carrie Ann thought the camaraderie stood out, but the celeb section was kinda off. Derek enjoyed the team dynamic as well.
DM, 9:39pm — Loved Dwight lifting Stephen in the end. Would have liked to see more of that creative interplay. otherwise the routine was fun, if a little messy.
JK, 9:39pm — Not great, but it was still a lot of fun.
CM, 9:40pm — That was messy lol. They definitely should’ve kept Phaedra in the back.
SCORES — Carrie Ann (8), Derek (8), Bruno (8) = 24 out of 30
CM, 9:41pm — 8s were generous lol. I would’ve given them a 7
DM, 9:42pm — Yeah, I thought they missed a lot of opportunities for tricks and acrobatics and strength moves given the people on their team.
TEAM GOOFS
DM, 9:45pm — Okay, Team Roar left the door wide open. If they can be mostly clean they have this in the bag.
JUDGES — Carrie Ann thought it was brilliant and took advantage to everyone moment. Derek loved it too. Bruno thought it was slick and he couldn’t tell which woman was the pro.
DM, 9:51pm — Easily the better team dance from Team Goofs. Better sync, cleaner, stronger choreo in the celeb section. And Ilona lifting Jenna was a highlight.
JK, 9:51pm — They’re clearly no goofs when it comes to this round.
CM, 9:51pm — Yes! Loved it
SCORES — Carrie Ann (9), Derek (9), Bruno (9) = 27 out of 30
JUDGES’ LEADERBOARD
1. Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong (Paso Doble) — 27 + 27 = 54
2. Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson (Samba) — 25 + 27 = 52
2. Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten (Jazz) — 25 + 27 = 52
4. Danny Amendola and Witney Carson (Jazz) — 27 + 24 = 51
4. Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber will (Rumba) — 24 + 27 = 51
6. Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach (Tango) — 24 + 24 = 48
6. Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold (Charleston) — 24 + 24 = 48
6. Phaedra Parks and Val Chmerkovskiy (Jazz) — 24 + 24 = 48
RESULTS
CM, 9:54pm — Bottom 3 predictions? I think Dwight, Phaedra and possibly Stephen with Phaedra eliminated.
JK, 9:55pm — Sounds plausible. Although I can see Ilona also being a possibility.
DM, 9:56pm — Yeah, I think Phaedra’s out. She didn’t have a standout moment tonight.
DM, 9:57pm — Safe from elimination are Chandler (duh), Ilona (I was a little worried there), Danny (no surprise), Joey (duh), Dwight (he has a fan base). Bottom three are Stephen, Jenn, and Phaedra.
DM, 9:59pm — Phaedra is eliminated.
DM, 10:01pm — I was a little scared for Stephen, though.
JK, 10:01pm — So was I.
CM, 10:02pm — You can’t have an off week. And if Dwight gets a contemporary or jazz next week!
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