DWTS has yet to post videos or photos from this week’s episode, so I’ll post as-is and put in photos tomorrow.
This week, it’s getting spooky in the ballroom as our celebs tackle dark and delicious dances when DWTS gives us Halloween tricks and treats. The eight remaining couples will each perform a Halloween-themed dance and then the couples will be divided into two teams for the group dance. Who will pick up the most bonus points: team #Nightmare, or team #WhoYouGonnaCall?
Season 17 semi-finalist Leah Rimini is still filling in for Erin Andrews while she covers the World Series, and at the end of the night, we’ll say goodbye to another couple based on the combined judges’ scores and viewer’s votes from last week’s “Famous Dances” performances.
Nick Carter & Sharna Burgess 1-855-234-5610
Dancing Argentine Tango to “Bring Me To Life” from Evanescence.
Nick’s taking Carrie Ann’s comments to heart. Last week, she said, “It was good, but it wasn’t perfect,” he took that as a challenge to be perfect and earn perfection. This week’s dance is done to a song that is both haunting and powerful and is well suited to an Argentine Tango. (Sadly, the singer butchered it!)
Julianne: I love your attitude and your commitment in everything you do.
Bruno: Bewitched by the creature of your own creation…but it did lose the flavor of Argentine Tango, it looked a little like a Paso Doble.
Carrie Ann: I think you were a bit nervous in the first half, but then you were Franken-sexy!
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8, total: 24 out of 30.
Hayes Grier & Emma Slater 1-855-234-5608
Dancing a Waltz to “Once Upon a Dream” by Lana Del Rey
This week, Hayes is a werewolf, and he gets to sprout facialhair for the first time in his baby-faced life. Hayes is putting a lot of pressure on himself this week and is struggling to portray an adult man at the age of 15. Emma is trying to maintain his energy and confidence. The song was spooky and really haunting and Emma had a really beautiful fall into Hayes’ arms, but it’s hard to compare this slow and restrained dance to home of the night’s higher-octane dances.
Bruno: You must be the most charming teen wolf since Jacob in Twilight.
Carrie Ann: Your chemistry together is something so sweet.
Julianne: You actually game me chills at the beginning … Tonight, you’re a leading man.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Julianne: 9, Bruno: 9, total: 28 out of 30.
Alexa PenaVega & Mark Ballas 1-855-234-5602
Dancing a Paso Doble to “Hora Zero” by Rodrigo y Gabriela
Last week, Alexa found herself in jeopardy and it seemed like a heartbreaking blow to her confidence. But it’s a new week, and another crazy costume for Mark. And dancing shrubbery. The end of the performance features an incredible lift/spin.
Carrie Ann: The best think about that was for the first time it seemed like you chopped off your head and danced like there was no tomorrow.
Julianne: Tonight there was a moment when I thought you might have messed up but you went, “Not tonight!”
Bruno: You really captured Tim Burton’s imagination and genius.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 9, Julianne: 9, Bruno: 9, total: 27 out of 30.
Tamar Braxton & Val Chmerkovskiy 1-855-234-5612
Dancing a Foxtrot to “People Are Strange” by The Doors
Last week, Tamar knocked it out of the park with a perfect re-imagination of Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation,” and this week, Val has challenged his partner to give 100% in practice so they can find a new level in the performance. And Tamar throws down the gauntlet, calling herself “the best dancer in the competition.” I love the creepy carnival feeling of this dance, and Tamar looks awesome in her costume.
Julianne: When you’re separate, you’re this woman, but when you’re together, there is a disconnect.
Bruno: You did miss a new passes…you were almost over-driven but I like the voodoo you do!
Carrie Ann: You are the most-natural mover, by far.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8, total: 24 out of 30.
After Tamar and Val danced, the best moment of the season occurred when Sasha Farber surprised Leah Remini with the world’s creepiest clown mask. Leah was so frightened that she fell to the floor. Look for a GIF of this LOLment to be posted post-haste.
Andy Grammer & Allison Holker 1-855-234-5603
Dancing a Paso Doble to “The Beautiful People” by Marilyn Manson
Last week, Andy and Allison wowed with once of the most creative performances in DWTS history. And it’s hard to top perfection, so this week has been a struggle as Andy ups the intensity. My favorite part of the performance was the traditional Paso moves, and I was really uncomfortable when Andy spun Allison around. All I could think of was her tiny baby sloshing around in her belly.
Bruno: Full, blood, full bite and full spunk. But you lost the shaping of the Paso Doble.
Carrie Ann: I thought it worked because it was a twisted Paso.
Julianne: I’m extremely turned on right now.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 9, Julianne: 9, Bruno: 8, total: 26 out of 30.
Bindi Irwin & Derek Hough 1-855-234-5604
Dancing an Argentine Tango to “Cry Little Sister” by Gerald McMann
Sweet Bindi is having a hard time finding “Scary Bindi.” This week she’s a vampire queen and he’s upping the ferocity. And somewhere, inside that sweet heart of hers, she unleashed a cold-blooded queen.
Carrie Ann: All hail the queen of darkness!
Julianne: You are on a whole other level and then you added this performance that was unleashed!
Bruno: That was an Argentine Tango master class.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10, total: 30 out of 30.
Alek Skarlatos & Lindsay Arnold 1-855-234-5601
Dancing a Viennese Waltz to “Haunted” by Beyoncé
Alek had a rough week last week and that frustration is and this week — as Carrie suggested — Artem came in in to give Alek a slap of reality and a lesson in “manning up.”
Julianne: Thank you for working on your facial expressions.
Bruno: The woman in back has done the trick… You were giving me a character.
Carrie Ann: The hero has returned, and now you’re a contender.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 9, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8, total: 30 out of 40.
Carlos PenaVega & Witney Carson 1-855-234-5605
Dancing a Paso Doble to “O Fortuna” from Carmina Burana
This is Carlos’ first time using a cape and he thinks that Witney has crated a dance that may be too difficult. I love Phantom of the Opera, so this dance is right in my wheelhouse, and “O Fortuna” is a fantastic song that is instantly recognizable, so I guess you can mix the two. But why was there so much smoke?
Bruno: You were almost perfect.
Carrie Ann: When most people put on a mask, their performance goes way down, but you excelled.
Julianne: This is the style that I want to see and you nailed it.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 9, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 9, total: 28 out of 30.
After a break, Derek tries to keep his unbeaten streak alive in the team dance. After last week’s performances, the teams split into two teams. And the pressure is on because as Hayes pointed out, “if you screw up, you’re not only messing up for yourself.”
Team #Nightmare
Nick Carter (Team Captain) / Sharna Burgess
Tamar Braxton/ Valentin Chmerkovskiy
Andy Grammer/ Allison Holker
Hayes Grier/ Emma Slater
Dancing to “This is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas. A great and inventive dance with amazing costuming.
Julianne: I want to see that again! It was one of the best team dances ever!
Bruno: That was a monster smash!
Carrie Ann: If I was the other team, I’d be pooping in my pants right now.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10, total: 30 out of 30.
Team #WhoYouGonnaCall
Bindi Irwin (Team Captain) / Derek Hough
Alexa PenaVega/ Mark Ballas
Carlos PenaVega/ Witney Carson
Alek Skarlatos / Lindsay Arnold
Dancing to “Ghostbusters” from Ghostbusters.
Carlos and Witney are doing a lift on an IO Hawk-like device. This could either be very good, or very bad. But it was great! Here’s my beef about this dance — why do the guys get to be the Ghostbusters? And FYI- Alek is stinking. He’s not a bad dancer, but the other men in his group are so great! And Alexa gets big props for a really brave toss!
Bruno: You killed that number. You captured the fun of the movie.
Carrie Ann: I thought the energy was fantastic; but the girls were out of sync at the beginning.
Julianne: This was a group coming together and having a good time.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 9, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 9, total: 28 out of 30.
After the team dances, and Tom teases Derek that this is the first team dance that he’s lost, and then announces that Hayes & Emma, Tamar & Val and Alexa & Mark are in jeopardy. After tense seconds, Hayes and Emma are revealed as the team going home. I’ll miss our sweet boy, but it was great to meet and get to know him.
How to Vote
This week (week seven), viewers may cast their votes for their favorite couples via phone on Monday during and up to 60 minutes after the end of the Dancing with the Stars broadcast in each time zone. Online voting at www.ABC.com and on Facebook at https://apps.facebook.com/votedwts/ is open for 24 hours, beginning from the start of each episode on the East Coast at 8:00pm, ET/5:00pm, PT and closing at 8:00pm, ET/5:00pm, PT on Tuesday evenings.
Find Season 21 voting phone numbers here!
Dancing With The Stars > ABC > Mondays at 8pm ET/PT
Tamar, I love the confidence that you show the youths. You let them know always be a winner at anything you do in life. That it is not arrogant but determination to finish something you have started. You are my winner. I’m very proud of you. You have worked hard and I know it was taught by good God fearing parents. And this message is for all kids of every races to read. Keep doing what you are doing until you win in the eyes of God.