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'Dancing With the Stars' Finale Night Two Recap: Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold Take Home the Mirrorball Trophy


If it wasn’t obvious from night one of Dancing With the Stars, then it is now: Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold are your new DWTS champions. The Hamilton star succeeds reigning season 24 champ Rashad Jennings as the latest celebrity to get a new door stop Mirrorball. Len Goodman said Jordan is “the most complete male celebrity ever on Dancing With the Stars,” while Bruno Tonioli praised him as being “right up there with the best we’ve ever seen on this show.” The win also marks Lindsay’s first Mirrorball trophy in six seasons. She previously came in fourth with Wanya Morris, third with Calvin Johnson, Jr., and second with David Ross.

Following their victory, Jordan and Lindsay didn’t get to say anything, because, well, the show ran out of time. It was perhaps the biggest misstep of the entire season, especially for fans who propelled Jordan to victory and would have loved to have heard his reaction instead of just seeing it. Apparently, that’s what Good Morning America is for. Still, not cool you guys.

As expected, Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas came in second place, with Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson taking third. All three couples will now head to New York to appear on GMA and act as if they’re thrilled to to have to dance again on an hour of sleep.

In other news, both Jordan and Frankie were announced as the celebrity guests joining Dancing With the Stars Live!: Light Up the Night this winter. It’s the first time since the tour began that two contestants will go on the road.

In case you only turned in for the last five minutes, or want to relive the last dances, here’s what happened during the final episode…

Favorites Dance:

Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: Dancing to Wham! has never looked so good. Mark and Lindsey scored a perfect 30 to “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” but perhaps most impressive was the rehearsal package that aired right before that detailed Lindsey’s journey. Not only did she detail her struggle with anorexia, but she opened up about how the criticism from the judges on America’s Got Talent propelled her to a career she never could have dreamed of. If there’s a Mirrorball for that, this girl deserves it. Score: 30/30

Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: Len Goodman called Frankie and Witney’s Argentine Tango fantastic, and Carrie Ann said it was a “bigger and better performance” than when they performed it the first time. I’m glad he’s on the DWTS tour this winter. America needs this. Score: 30/30

Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: In Jordan’s rehearsal package, he and his parents talked about how Jordan came in second place so many times in his career before he got his first big break with the Secret Life of the American Teenager. That’s code for: Don’t let second place happen on DWTS, voters. Even Lin-Manuel Miranda makes a cameo telling him to “go get ’em!” Jordan, of course, did just that, performing a flawless Samba that Carrie Ann Inaba called “much, much, much improved.” (Side note to Carrie Ann: This is Jordan we are talking about. One “much improved” is one too many. The guy has always been stellar.) Score: 30/30

Fusion Dances:

Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: I’ve never been a huge fan of the 24-hour fusion dances, but apparently they’re popular enough to keep doing for added “suspense” each finale. Lindsey and Mark killed it, and Len Goodman told Lindsey she’s a fantastic dancer. No kidding. Score: 30/30

Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: Frankie started off by saying, “If I don’t win, this is still the most amazing experience of my life.” Seriously, someone cast him on This Is Us next…the guy knows how to bring the waterworks. He also knows how to bring the dance moves, courtesy of the Foxtrot/Tango fusion, which Bruno goes crazy for until he says Frankie lost a little bit of a control. Carrie Ann told Frankie he’s what this show is about, and she’s right. Perhaps he deserves the Mirrorball more than anyone (even Len said he’s the people’s champion). Score: 28/30

Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: Surprise, surprise, only Jordan could make a Salsa and Paso Doble fusion look like a walk in the park. Carrie Ann summed it up: “There’s not much else to say. Your skills are out of this world.” Yep. The End. Score: 30/30



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'Dancing With the Stars' Season 25 Finale Night 1 Recap: Jordan Fisher and Lindsey Stirling Dominate Their Freestyle


This season of Dancing with the Stars might go down as one of the most predictable in the show’s history, unless the last woman standing has something to say about it. Violinist Lindsey Stirling—the only female still in the competition—pulled out all the stops in her stunning freestyle (complete with a violin performance while doing jumps and twirls!) and tied for first with Broadway star Jordan Fisher. While Jordan has been the front-runner since day one, it isn’t lost on the audience that he’s a trained dancer. The Hamilton star will probably win the Mirrorball on Tuesday night, but it’s Lindsey who deserves it.

Meanwhile, Frankie Muniz continued to impress; as a result, he rounded out the third and final spot in the finale. That meant that Drew Scott and Emma Slater were sent home, which came as a shock to almost no one. “There’s no way I could have done anything I did out here without [Emma],” he said following his elimination. “I can’t even believe I’m here…you’ve made this a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Until tomorrow’s grand finale, it’s time to break down the redemption and freestyle dances! Let’s get to it.

The Redemption Dances

Drew Scott and Emma Slater: Drew said he couldn’t believe he’s in the finals, but maybe Drew doesn’t know what he’s talking about. After all, only a few weeks ago he said he had a good chance to win the Mirrorball. So which is it, Drew? Perhaps I’m being too hard on him, but I’m still shocked he’s lasted this long. Fan voting will do that for you. The judges gushed over his Paso Doble, but he’s still going home. Score: 36/40

Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: The former child star performed his week one Foxtrot and completely slayed it. Guest judge Julianne Hough said there was something different about tonight, starting with the pivots and how he made Witney move. I didn’t know pivots were anything other than something Ross Gellar screams on Friends, but that’s why I’m not a judge. Score: 38/40

Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: The last time Jordan and Lindsay performed the Charleston, Lindsay hadn’t hurt her knee, Jordan’s cornea wasn’t scratched, and Len had some harsh criticism about their lack of Charleston in the Charleston. This time around, Team FishUponAStar were not 100% physically, but they sure were there technically—and the judges rewarded them with a perfect score. Rightfully so, as the dance was brilliant. Score: 40/40

Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: Carrie Ann Inaba said Lindsey is the most improved contestant, which shocked the hell out of me considering she’s been pretty great since day one. She also poses the biggest threat to Jordan, who seems to have had this competition locked up since the premiere. Halfway through tonight’s show, she and Jordan were the only ones with perfect scores. Score: 40/40

The Freestyle Dances

Drew Scott and Emma Slater: Carrie Ann said Drew and Emma’s freestyle wasn’t entirely in sync, but the audience wasn’t having it. For the first time, I agreed with them. While Drew and Emma won’t win the Mirrorball, their freestyle was everything you could have hoped for from “a couple of quirky weirdos.” It was energetic, joyous, and the best note to go out on. Score: 39/40

Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: In an emotional rehearsal package, Frankie broke down while talking about how thankful he is for Witney and what the experience has meant to him. Their freestyle was dark and intense, or as Bruno praised, a bit of “Janet Jackson and Rhythm Nation.” It’s a departure from previous, more light-hearted freestyles, but the audience loved it. Score: 38/40

Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: “The freestyle is everything when winning the Mirrorball,” Lindsay said in her rehearsal package. Considering every dance of theirs has freestyle elements mixed in, they were probably under the most pressure of the remaining couples to knock it out of the park. And spoiler alert: They absolutely did. Give ’em the Mirrorball now? Score: 40/40

Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: Want to know how good Lindsey and Mark’s freestyle was? So good that it made me forget about Jordan and Lindsay’s freestyle. Between the violin playing and the acrobatics, the whole thing was off the charts. While I still think Jordan will win the Mirrorball, I will go on the record saying that Lindsey deserves it. Score: 40/40

See you tomorrow night for the season 25 finale!



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'Dancing With the Stars' Season 25 Week 8 Recap: Trio Week Sends Home Terrell Owens and Cheryl Burke


After 25 seasons, it turns out Dancing With the Stars still has a few tricks up its sleeve. For the first time in the show’s history, producers brought back past fan favorites and champions to dance as part of trio week instead of previously eliminated pros. Kristi Yamaguchi and Alfonso Ribeiro were among the returning champs to hit the dance floor, which was a nice treat for fans still hoping for another All-Star season.

The biggest surprise, though, may have been that only one of those fan favorites—runner-up Corbin Bleu paired with Lindsay Arnold and Jordan Fisher—got a perfect score on trio week. No one else—including former champs Yamaguchi, Ribeiro, Rashad Jennings, Laurie Hernandez, or Kelly Monaco—managed to get a perfect score with their respective pairings. In their defense, that’s a hard thing to do when you’re dancing with two other people with different skill sets. Still, it’s surprising considering these kinds of dances usually result in more than one perfect score. With two weeks left to go in the competition, it couldn’t be more apparent that season 25 is Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold’s to lose. Anything else will be a surprise.

Meanwhile, it was the end of the road for former NFL player Terrell Owens, who probably deserved to stay in the competition another week. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” he said at the end of the show. Partner Cheryl Burke added, “I’m so proud of the dancer you’ve become and the person you’ve allowed everyone to see.”

And see they will, as Cheryl and Terrell will be back in two weeks for the finale. But first, let’s get to tonight’s dances!

Terrell Owens and Cheryl Burke: “That’s the way we start off!” Len Goodman raved of Terrell and Cheryl’s Charleston. “No one has improved since week one as much as you,” he added. Carrie Ann pointed out that Terrell was peaking at the right moment. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to keep Terrell safe another week. Score: 27/30

Trio Dance with Kelly Monaco: I don’t even know what to say about this, but Kelly clearly brought her soap opera expertise to this sexed-up Rumba. Len said Kelly hasn’t lost a step, but the whole thing didn’t quite work. Bruno thought the whole thing was so sexy that he couldn’t even form words. And Carrie Ann added that she’s never seen so many women lose it (um, have we forgotten about Artem’s abs already?). Anyway, that was probably the most accurate observation of the night. Score: 24/30

Drew Scott and Emma Slater: Drew said he thinks he really could be a Mirrorball contender. Aww, isn’t that cute? I love the confidence, especially because Drew has really improved since week one, but Emma should be pointing out that the key to this show is taking it week by week. The judges told Drew they like his charm, but technically it wasn’t his strongest dance. Score: 22/30

Trio Dance with Rashad Jennings: Can Rashad come back to all future seasons of DWTS as a pro? I can’t get enough of this guy, and neither can the dance floor. As Bruno pointed out, keeping up with Rashad is a very, very hard thing to do. Drew did a great job, but there’s no one like Rashad. Score: 25/30

Victoria Arlen and Val Chmerkovskiy: Victoria said they were going to bring sexy back with their Argentine Tango, and they certainly did. Carrie Ann, meanwhile, said she dropped her eyes a lot, which meant she didn’t feel comfortable. Len thought they did a good job, but Bruno said she needs to act the part next time. Score: 24/30

Trio Dance with Laurie Hernandez: Can Laurie and Victoria be BFFs in everyday life? Their rehearsal package is the cutest. But their dance? Well, the judges thought it needed to be sharper and wasn’t quite up to the level they hoped for. Score: 24/30

Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: Lindsey said that now that she knows she’s not broken anymore, she can do this. (Raise of hands for anyone who doubted her, especially after last week. No one? As I thought.) For their Samba this week, Lindsey and Mark put on a routine that belongs in the new live-action Lion King. Len called some parts “too funky,” but Bruno liked it. Carrie Ann said Lindsey brought out her inner Beyoncé, even though she may not have looked as sure on her feet as she normally does. Score: 26/30

Trio Dance with Kristi Yamaguchi: Dancing with Kristi Yamaguchi was a total thrill for Lindsey—a sentiment that is likely echoed by probably every young girl who watched her capture gold in the ’92 Olympics. Their Jazz trio dance didn’t disappoint (Len called it terrific), and Carrie Ann said she would have paid money to see it. Somehow, Bruno and Len still find a point to dock off, robbing them of a perfect score. Score: 28/30

Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: Carrie Ann called Frankie and Witney’s Viennese Waltz lose to perfection, except for almost losing control of Witney at one point. Tom Bergeron—with the line of the night—said he’s sure that’s not the first time someone’s almost lost control of Witney. Meanwhile, Len thought last week was all scary, but this week was all fairy (oddly, I know what he means, even though the audience boos). Tom’s response? “Thanks for taking the heat off of me.” He should thank Erin as well, who added her two cents at the end that “we all know [Witney’s] had some doozy’s, but we love her anyway.” What’s going on with this show?
Score: 26/30

Trio Dance with Alfonso Ribeiro: You know Alfonso’s been dreaming of this moment ever since he won season 19 with Witney. I’ve never seen anyone so happy to be on a dance floor. We should all be so lucky to be that passionate about something. Carrie Ann noted that Frankie seemed a bit intimidated, which I guess is easy to do when THE Carlton is dancing with you. I couldn’t care less, though, because these trio dances were everything. Who needs scores? Score: 27/30

Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: I’ve been looking forward to Jordan and Lindsay’s Quickstep all season, and while it didn’t disappoint, those rotating circles straight out of the swinging ’60s took me out of the dance. I sound like Len. What is wrong with me? As for Len, he gave them a standing ovation, and he—along with Carrie Ann and Bruno—a perfect score. Score: 30/30

Trio Dance with Corbin Bleu: I mean, what can I say? Jordan and Lindsay are already perfection. Add Corbin to the mix, and it’s like adding more icing to the already decadent cake. Even Carrie Ann said it was sick AF, and well, that about sums up their Salsa. Score: 30/30



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'Dancing With the Stars' Season 25 Week 7 Recap: Vanessa Lachey and Nikki Bella Go Home on Halloween Week


For weeks, Dancing With the Stars fans have known that a double elimination was right around the corner, especially considering the large number of contestants still competing with three more weeks to go. That’s why it was especially odd during tonight’s Halloween show that Erin Andrews and Tom Bergeron never mentioned it was coming, even though it was a known thing on social media.

And during the last two minutes of the show—after an unusually large number of couples were declared in jeopardy (four over the typical two)—a crew member dressed as the Grim Reaper handed Tom and Erin two cards with their names printed on them. Tom and Erin declared Drew Scott and Terrell Owens safe, leaving Vanessa Lachey and Nikki Bella as the final two celebs in jeopardy. For the sake of logic, that would mean Vanessa’s name was on one, while Nikki’s name was on the other. Perhaps as a fake out, Tom and Erin made it seem as though they’d only announce one contestant’s name but instead said, “You’re both going home.” It was so awkward and bizarre that Maks (partnered with Vanessa) actually started to laugh, and the entire moment became comical. Vanessa and Nikki didn’t even get to have their moment to say goodbye (or thank their partners), which added to the randomness of the whole thing.

I didn’t expect Vanessa or Nikki to make it to the finals, so their elimination wasn’t really that much of a shocker. Still, it was weird to treat it as such. The bottom line is, the cast had to be trimmed this far into the competition—tonight’s double elimination was the only way to do it. So who has the best change of making it? Check out the dances below.

Victoria Arlen and Val Chmerkovskiy: In rehearsal, Val told Victoria that she’s holding back, which was a hard thing for her to hear given that she’s always had to remain strong in the face of numerous physical challenges. I’m all for Val encouraging his partners to push their limits, but sometimes it feels like he says things just to get an emotional reaction. Anyway, the actual performance went much better than the difficult week in rehearsal, and their Viennese Waltz got three 9s. Score: 27/30

Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: Lindsay revealed that Mark Ballas taught her as a kid (oh, he’s gotta love that), which felt like the producers’ way of trying to make a potential Mark Ballas (with Lindsey Stirling) vs. Lindsay Arnold (with Jordan Fisher) finale. It’s still too early for that because there’s like, what, 52 contestants still in this competition? As for the actual dance, Jordan and Lindsay performed a flawless Paso Doble, but considering I feel like I’m watching two professional dancers each week, I’m actually starting to lose interest. Score: 30/30

Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev: The hot biker dude (Artem) and the flirty dancer (Nikki) did a fun Jive, but Len Goodman said it lacked punch, though it was “clean and precise.” Bruno said he’s almost positive they’ll be back next week, which was a bold statement to make on the verge of a double elimination. I didn’t expect Nikki to end up in the semi-finals, but I was hoping she stuck around a while longer. Score: 24/30

Vanessa Lachey and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: Maks’ goal for this week was to get 10s, while Vanessa wanted to get to the finals and win the Mirror Ball. They attempted to do this by putting on a frightening zombie-filled Paso Doble, but the judges weren’t wowed. In fact, they were downright disappointed given how strong and talented Vanessa has proven herself to be in past dances. I’m completely over all these fake zombie attack routines, too. Score: 24/30

Terrell Owens and Cheryl Burke: To be honest, I never expected Terrell to still be in this competition. And yet, here he is, and this show is better off for it. Bruno praised their “correct” Tango, which is pretty impressive given Cheryl and Terrell’s difference in height. Len mumbled something, but he must have liked the dance because he gave them an 8. Score: 25/30

Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: Lindsey displaced a rib last week, which made training this week nearly impossible. The injury left her in tears, and Mark worried that they’d have to forfeit. Two seconds later, cut to the ballroom: Lindsey and Mark danced their hearts out to a stunning Paso Doble. Lindsey was clearly in pain, and Carrie Ann said that was the fastest Paso ever. Len thought the fantastic twists and turns saved the dance, and Bruno praised the ambitious nature of the routine. She deserved a 10 just for powering through the thing. Score: 27/30

Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: The judges praised Witney and Frankie’s “spine-tingling good” Contemporary dance, but no one mentioned the stalker element of the routine that had Frankie playing a creepy predator outside of Witney’s window. Yikes. The whole thing was disturbing, even though it was masked as art. The judges gave it a perfect score; technically, it was flawless, but I wish we would have seen a different visual narrative. Score: 30/30

Drew Scott and Emma Slater: Drew continued to surprise, thanks to an energized Charleston that drew raves from the judges. Carrie Ann called it one of Drew’s best dances so far, and Len loved every minute of it. Usually that’s code for “you’ll be eliminated by the end of the night,” but in this case—as we now know—Drew’s safe for another week. Score: 27/30



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'Dancing With the Stars' Season 25 Week 6 Recap: Peta Murgatroyd and Nick Lachey Eliminated


It might have been obvious that Nick Lachey was nearing the end of his run on Dancing With the Stars, but that doesn’t mean his departure tonight is any less disappointing. The singer/host was one of the rare former boy-banders not to have been born with lightening fast moves, but that didn’t stop him from trying his hardest every week—and usually delivering. (Don’t worry, Drew Lachey, you won’t have to share that Mirrorball champion title.)

Following his elimination, Nick praised his partner, Peta Murgatroyd—”I can’t say enough wonderful things about this woman”—and said the ballroom hasn’t seen the last of him (or his biceps). “I’m most proud of the fact that we laid it all out there every week. I’m proud of the effort we gave. It was a blast, and I’ll be here to support my wife.”

Speaking of Mrs. Lachey, Vanessa had one of her best dances yet, which should keep her in the competition at least for the near future. Mark Ballas and Lindsey Stirling got their first perfect score this season, while Jordan Fisher continued to slay every move that Lindsay Arnold taught him. What else happened? Read on for the recap!

Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev: Nikki said she’s not used to being vulnerable, but she has to start letting her guard down if she’s going to go far in the second half of the competition. So far, she’s off to a good start with a strong Argentine Tango, minus a wobble during the routine. Len loved it, guest-judge Shania Twain said it was romantic, and Bruno said Nikki presented a different side of herself. In other words, she nailed the vulnerable part. Score: 36/40

Drew Scott and Emma Slater: Drew adorably thinks he’s got a good chance to win the Mirrorball because he’s putting in nearly double the hours of rehearsal time compared to other couples. Emma, meanwhile, thought that because Drew and guest-judge Shania Twain are Canadian that would help their scores. And I think both of them need to stop drinking whatever nonsense they’re being fed. But hey, whatever works. Len called their Paso Doble an “awkward-looking routine” lacking in finesse. Keep putting in those rehearsal hours, Drew. And hoping for Canadian guest-judges (A ‘9’ Shania? Really?). Score: 30/40

Nick Lachey and Peta Murgatroyd: Nick said he felt like a buffoon, which made me sad because he’s my favorite dancer to watch this season. Sure, he won’t win the Mirrorball, but does anyone really remember who takes home that shiny trophy each season anyway? As for their Samba, Nick seemed stiff with Peta, especially compared to the last few weeks. Still, he was out there giving it his all, and really, that’s all that matters. Score: 26/40

Victoria Arlen and Val Chmerkovskiy: Team ViVa danced the Paso Doble to The Mighty Ducks, but if DWTS is going to create an ice rink on the stage, I’d much prefer a routine to The Cutting Edge. I’m not getting that, but at least Victoria and Val didn’t disappoint. Carrie Ann loved it, and Len liked the concept. Score one for the home team! Score: 31/40

Terrell Owens and Cheryl Burke: Terrell called himself the black James Bond. Actually, he should add “dancing” James Bond to his new persona, because he rocked the hell out of his Jive tonight. For whatever reason though, Len wasn’t feeling it. Still, he said it was Terrell’s best dance of the season. So, uh…? Meanwhile, Shania said the attention to detail was so gorgeous she forgot where she was during the dance. I don’t know what that means, but I like it better than Len’s critique. Score: 37/40

Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: Candyland come to life! Frankie and Witney put on a kaleidoscope of colors performance that looks like The Trolls and The Flintstones collided, and it was pure magic. Unfortunately, the judges were watching through colorless lenses, because they point out plenty of missteps that resulted in Frankie’s lowest score in weeks. Score: 31/40

Vanessa Lachey and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: Vanessa said this week has been the most work they’ve done, but it was also the most fun. The verdict? It showed. Bruno thought they killed their Quickstep, and Carrie Ann called it Vanessa’s best performance. Len commented on Vanessa’s not-quite-so-perfect posture, but Shania loved the dance. Score: 36/40

Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: A Rumba has never looked so good, and Carrie Ann couldn’t stop raving about “the wave of gorgeousness” she just witnessed. Len liked all that stuff that Carrie Ann mentioned, but he didn’t understand why Jordan did this one move with his hands, which I’m not talented enough to describe in writing. Shania said it didn’t distract her; if anything, it felt like Jordan had Lindsay with him, even when there was distance. Either way, it was beautiful. Score: 39/40

Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: Leave it to Mark to come up with the most innovative Argentine Tango this show has ever seen. It was a stunning sci-fi interpretation that drew a standing ovation from the audience and accolades from Len (“the choreography was phenomenal and the dancing was brilliant”). Bruno called it the best dance of the season, and Carrie Ann said it’s a side of Mark she’s never seen before. Is the show now a three-way race between Stirling, Fisher, and Muniz? Score: 40/40



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'Dancing With the Stars' Season 25 Week 5: Sasha Pieterse and Gleb Savchenko Go Home on Disney Night


Last week’s Dancing With the Stars was all about tears, emotion, and more tears, so naturally the follow-up to that would be sparkles, dreams, and smiles in the form of Disney night. Truthfully, I’m here for it. But unfortunately, Sasha Pieterse and Gleb Savchenko aren’t—they’re the latest pair to get eliminated in season 25. I can’t say I’m shocked—I mean, this is DWTS after all; just because you have a built-in audience from a popular show doesn’t guarantee anything—but I also thought they’d last a few weeks longer. Sasha is a beautiful dancer and showed growth each week, which usually is the perfect formula for this show. Furthermore, she had been extremely open about her battle with Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome and learning to love her body. Regardless, she admitted it was hard to say goodbye, adding, “this is such a sad moment for me, but I’m grateful for the experience and to share my story.”

Fortunately, that was the only sad moment on Disney night, as everything else was pretty much rainbows and magic. Let’s get to the dances!

Victoria Arlen and Val Chmerkovskiy: Len Goodman said Victoria and Val’s jazz routine was “fabulous” and “just like a Disney movie.” But seriously, their Steamboat Willie routine was pretty adorable, even if I found myself a little bored. Score: 27/30

Vanessa Lachey and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: Sleeping Beauty and her Prince did a French-themed Waltz, but I was bored again. Bruno said it was “simply beautiful,” but Carrie Ann said there were moments where Vanessa “stopped herself mid-movement.” Maybe she fell asleep. I almost did. Score: 24/30

Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: “When You Wish Upon a Star” gets the Foxtrot treatment from Lindsey and Mark, and once again—as beautiful as it was—I was bored. Maybe it’s because the press room didn’t get the Mickey Mouse ears treatment like the rest of the audience did, but I just wanted to be wowed. Or maybe I’m just out of emotion after last week. Anyway, Carrie Ann said the dance featured one of the “best holds I’ve ever seen,” and Len called it “delightful.” Score: 28/30

Nick Lachey and Peta Murgatroyd: Guess what, you guys? I won’t be using “bored” to describe this routine! The Jungle Book‘s been done before on DWTS, but it was nice to see a faster-paced dance this episode (the Quickstep pretty much ensures that). We may not have seen the best hold like Lindsey and Mark, or the smoothness of Victoria and Val, but it was fun and loose, and that’s worth a few votes in my book. Score: 22/30

Drew Scott and Emma Slater: OK, just so you guys don’t think I’m against all slow dances tonight, I was fully on board with Drew and Emma’s Viennese Waltz to “The Rainbow Connection.” (Extra points for Emma’s kaleidoscope of colors dress). The dance was creative, beautiful, and mesmerizing. I’m awake! Score: 25/30

Sasha Pieterse and Gleb Savchenko: If ABC ever wants to resurrect their idea to do a live-action Little Mermaid, they should look to Sasha and Gleb as Eric and Ariel because they nailed it. Carrie Ann praised Sasha for her “mesmerizing” movement, while Len told Gleb it was a “well-crafted routine.” Unfortunately, it’s now the last we’ll see of these two until the finale next month. Score: 24/30

Terrell Owens and Cheryl Burke: Has there ever been a better Simba than Terrell Owens? Len agreed with me—finally!—and said, “for a big guy, you danced with speed and control.” Bruno said the footwork was better than usual, while Carrie Ann noted that something has shifted and there’s a new connectedness between him and Cheryl. I think it’s safe to say that Terrell is now the biggest surprise of the season. Score: 25/30

Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: Frankie said being sexy has never really been his thing, but Witney brought out his inner swagger and he dominated as Captain Jack Sparrow in his Pirates of the Caribbean routine. “There was so much intensity, and you nailed it,” Carrie Ann said of their Argentine Tango. Len couldn’t stop raving either. Suddenly, Frankie has all the momentum in this competition. Score: 29/30

Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: Jordan and Lindsay danced a stellar Foxtrot to Moana, and Bruno said the technique was absolutely perfect. Len added that the dance was so good he’s willing to overlook any slight mistake (I’m not sure there even was one to begin with). Their hard work paid off, because they get the first perfect score of the season. Score: 30/30

Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev: Nikki said she couldn’t wait to connect to her Mexican roots by dancing a Jazz routine to the new Pixar movie, Coco. She proved this by speaking Spanish to Artem and said that all her nieces and nephews call her Coco, so this was a perfect match. Len said the dance summed up the entire night: It was joyous, fun, and all the flavors of Mexico. Score: 27/30



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