Surprise! There are no eliminations this week when each celebrity dances with someone different.
There were no perfect scores this week. The top scores of 9s came from "Duck Dynasty' star Sadie Robertson, who continues to shock and awe, with an assist from Derek Hough. She was followed by Lea Thompson and Alfonso Ribeiro, no surprise there. Both Bethany Moto and Janel Parrish have a shot at the finals and landed in the middle.
The other four were effectively also rans, with Michael Waltrip clearly out of step and ready to go home with a really low 20, given its week five. Both Jonathan Bennett and Tommy Chong are showing a lack of versatility as well while Antonio Sabato Jr. yet again, underwhelmed.
Votes from last week and this week will be added together for next week's cut.
Jessie J pops in as a singer and guest judge. For a guest judge with no real dance background, she was adequate but as usual, totally unnecessary. Len Goodman is out for the third week in a row.
Antonio Sabato Jr.
Switched with: Jonathan's partner Allison Holker
Theme: Bollywood
My take: It was okay but he seemed off at times and stiff other moments. He ended strong, twirling into the air.
Judges: Bruno said Antonio's rhythm and timing was off. Carrie said he was most confident she's seen to date.
Scores: 8 (Carrie Ann), 6 (Jessie J), 7s from Julianne and Bruno. Total: 28 (sixth)
Bethany Moto
Switched with: Sadie's partner Mark Ballas
Theme: Hip hop
My take: Bethany showed some swag but it was more "In Living Color" light than real hip hop, with ballroom thrown in.
Judges: Bruno said her confidence and range are growing. Carrie said ballroom parts were weaker than the hip-hop elements.
Scores: 8's across the board. Total: 32 (fifth)
Jonathan Bennett
Switched with: Tommy's partner Peta Murgatroyd
Theme: Jitterbug
My Take: That was an impressively difficult dance with lots of lifts and Jonathan tried so hard to keep up but man, he was out of his league. He did try. I have to give him that.
Judges: Carrie: "Moments of brilliance... but so much of it was wrong. Wrong grips, wrong tosses." Jessie J: "I couldn't relax and enjoy it." Julianna: "There was fear happening in that dance."
Scores: 6s across the board: 24 (seventh)
Alfonso Ribeiro
Switched with: Antonio's partner Cheryl
Theme: Flamenco
My take: Bravura! That was another winning performance by a great dancer. Cheryl did a great job bringing the sexy out of Alfonso.
Judges: Jessie J: "I was so drawn in." Julianne: "The first partnership I believed tonight." Bruno: "Lust in the dust."
Scores: 8s from Carrie and Bruno, 9's from Jessie J and Jillian. Total: 34 (ranked tie for 2nd)
Janel Parrish
Switched with: Lea's partner Artem Chigvintsev
Theme: Burlesque
My take: It felt kind of dirty, which was the point, right? There were quite a few tough lifts there.
Judges: Julianne thought it lacked the cheekiness of burlesque. Bruno said she's never too sexy for him.
Scores: three 8s and a 9 from Bruno Total: 33 (fourth)
Michael Waltrip:
Switched with: Alfonso's partner Witney Carson'
Theme: Disco
My take: This felt campy and oddly entertaining, age difference (51 vs. 20) be danged. It was awful but in a mesmerizing way.
Judges: Bruno said his timing was completely off. Carrie: "If you can't dance, make us laugh." Jessie J said it was consistent (as in consistently bad).
Scores: 5s across the board. Total: 20 (last place)
Tommy Chong
Switched with: Michael's partner Emma Slater
Theme: Mambo
My take: Pleasant but you can see his limitations pulling off the mambo moves.
Judges: Carrie Ann said the slow pace of "Pass the Dutchie" hurt the dance, calling it "lackluster." Jessie J said he looked "relaxed." Julianne said this was the first time that he looked tired and that "we've seen everything."
Scores: 6s from three of the judges, 5 from Julianne. Total: 23 (eighth)
Sadie Robertson
Switched with Bethany's partner Derek Hough
Theme: Charleston
My take: My DVR cut out on 98% of the dance! But from what I read, Derek brought out the best in Sadie, who has all the looks of being a finalist.
Judges: Jessie J: "It was really clean." Julianne: "Your long limbs are perfect for this kind of style." Bruno: "Sadie Sadie shining lady. She could be on the cover of Vogue 1925, The perfect flapper." Carrie says she rushes the music just a hair when solo but overall: "magnificent."
Score: 9s across the board. Total: 36 (ranked 1st)
Lea Thompson
Switched with Janel's partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy
Theme: Broadway
My take: Joyous and fun.
Judges: Julianne said it was the first time she saw her hesitate near the beginning. Bruno: "Off the wall and insanely funny." Carrie Ann: "Way wackadoodle. Everything executed great."
Score: two 9s (Carrie Ann, Bruno) and two 8s (Jessie J, Julianne) Total: 34 (ranked tied for 2nd)
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