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DANCING WITH THE STARS: Semi-Finals Conclude with A Shocking Twist

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: ABC

Talk about giving people a near heart attack! After a night of high level competition from the remaining celebrity contestants and their pro partners, the ‘semi-finals’ edition of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars featured a jaw-dropping ending.

This week saw each couple tackling two all-new dances; one ballroom-style routine and one Latin-style routine. Marvel star Xochitl Gomez topped the leaderboard after two rounds of competition with pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy. Xochitl and Val scored a perfect 60 points from the judges performing a samba to Gloria Estefan’s “Samba’ and then a stunning waltz to Lady Gaga’s “La Vie en Rose”.

Following the waltz, judge Derek Hough became emotional and was moved to tears telling Xochitl and Val that the late head judge, Len Goodman, would have loved their performance, adding, “That was absolutely perfect.”

Photo: ABC

Going into the semi-finals, the couples were told of the five couples remaining only four would survive and move on the finals. With everything on the line, and through her back pain, Ariana Madix and Pasha Pashkov finally received their first perfect score from the judges performing a foxtrot.

Jason Mraz and Daniella Karagach also received a perfect score in their second round waltz. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said that Jason showed “emotional freedom” in this precise routine.

Charity Lawson and Artem Chigvintsev received 59 out of 60 and a perfect score for their second round performance to the quickstep. The judges commended the former star of The Bachelorette for finally showing some emotion in her performances, instead of just always showing them precision in her dance routines.

Photo: ABC

When it was time to reveal which couple was going home and which couples made it to the finals … in a heart-stopping moment, Alyson Hannigan and Sasha Farber, who believed they would be the couple going home, were first named as “safe!” As each couple learned their fate, the final two couples left  and supposedly in the bottom two were … Ariana and Pasha and Xochitl and Val.  How could this be? Did America vote off the wrong couple?

Then, in a stunning twist, co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough announced that no one was going home meaning all five couples from the semi-finals were moving on to the finals, and their scores for the night would carry over into the final round.

Photo: ABC

Ariana Madix was moved to tears, thinking her time on the show was over.  She later told Page Six (after the episode came to an end), “That pretend elimination was the most terrifying thing. It was sick and twisted. I was like, ‘I love you guys, but also, I hate you guys for that!’”

Photo: ABC

Alyson Hannigan weighed-in on the shocking conclusion as well: “When (Alfonso) called my name, I thought he made a mistake. I was in total disbelief and I was waiting for him to correct himself .. and then he didn’t correct himself and I was like, ‘What universe are we in?’”

The three-hour Season 32 finale kicks off Tuesday, December 5th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.

So, with all five couples moving on to next week’s season 32 finale, who do you think deserves to win the newly-named Len Goodman Mirror Ball Trophy? Share your picks via the comment section below.  But first check out the dance of the night from Xochitl and Val.

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Well, I admit to sitting out the Tyra Banks seasons but am now thoroughly enjoying this one. The finalists, for once, are evenly matched, though Alyson Hannigan may be a bit behind. I love Jason Mraz as a musical artist and now as a great dancer and Ariana Madix has been a consistent, happy revelation. Besides, she has that gorgeous Pasha as her partner. They both get my votes for the finale, though I expect Xochitl will win.

Dancing with the Stars

DANCING WITH THE STARS: Britt Stewart Visibly Upset After Shocking Elimination with Taylor Hanson

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Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart

The September 29 episode of Dancing With the Stars showcased the continued strengths of some couples, but showed the cracks in others, as the 13 remaining duos hit the ballroom dance floor to yacht rock songs in week 3 of the competition.

At the end of the night, the couple with the lowest combined judges’s scores and viewer votes was sent home, and this proved to be a sticking point issue with the voting.

During the results portion at the end of the show, the first five couples who were named safe were: Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy, Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess, Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas, Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong, and Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa.

They were followed by: Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik, Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov, Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, and Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold.

Taylor Hanson, Britt Stewart

Photo: ABC

AN UNEXPECTED TWIST

The remaining three couples awaiting their fate were: Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson, Jackson Olson and Emma Slater, and Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart. The couple sent home was Taylor and Britt.

Taylor and Britt performed a foxtrot to the the Doobie Brothers, “What a Fool Believes” during the night of competition and scored an 18 out of 30 from the judged. While it wasn’t the stand out routine on Yacht Rock night, it certainly wasn’t the worst.

With many expecting Guillermo and Witney to be sent home, when Britt and Taylor’s name was called, Stewart was visibly emotional and upset. After the shocking elimination, several of her pro partners spoke out and rallied around her and Hanson.

DANCING WITH THE STARS PROS SPEAK UP

Pro dancer, Sharna Burgess is hoping that next season, Stewart will make it to the finals. ]It should be noted that Britt is the first Black woman to be in the Dancing with the Stars pro company having joined in season 29 back in 2020, and she has never made it to the finale. Her highest placement was when she came in fifth in season 31 with her now husband, CODA star Daniel Durant.

“Knowing Britt and loving Britt, I just want to see her do a freestyle. I just want to see Britt, next season, get what our fans call a ringer, and we see her get to the end so we can have a Britt freestyle, expressed Burgess to EW.com.

Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong spoke out as being the couple who has spent the most time with Britt and Taylor during competition weeks. “I think Britt is an elite dancer, and an elite pro,” Armstrong continues, explaining that he and Miller were “gutted” when they heard the news. “It’s horrible,” said Armstrong. Miller shared she has chills” over it, and is “processing this elimination.”

Perhaps, Dancing with the Stars pro Jan Ravnik said it best, exclaiming everything is “going to be f—ed from now on” with them gone and more eliminations weekly. “I did love this partnership. I think they were incredible. I love Britt so much. I think she is one of the best dancers that I ever worked with.”

Now below, check out the dance routines from last night of Guillermo and Witney, Jackson and Emma and Taylor and Britt, and let us know if you think the right couple was sent packing via the comment section below.

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Dancing with the Stars

DANCING WITH THE STARS Viral Hits Night: Who Was the Fiercest Couple of Them All?

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Dancing with the Stars Viral Hits Night

In week 2 of ballroom dance floor action on Dancing With the Stars season 35, it was “viral hits night,” which had all the celebrity contestants and their pro partners going head -to-head with each other, unlike last week’s two-night season premiere where the men were solely on night one and the women on night two.

Now, the 14 remaining couples strutted their stuff and their routines on the September 22 episode, where it was clear that paralympian, Ezra Frech and olympian, Amber Glenn showed how balance and athleticism came into play. BUT, there was no one more than Frech, who with one prosthetic leg, just could get down on the dance floor better than the rest of us, anytime anywhere!

When the smoke cleared, three couples had the highest scores from the panel of judges, Carrie Ann, Derek and Bruno. Each received a 21/30 score and were a top the leaderboard ahead of the night’s final results.

Dancing with the Stars Cast

Photo: ABC

The top scores belonged to: Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy who danced a Jive to “Animal” by Katseye, Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach who performed a cha-cha to “Low” by Flo Rida, and Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov who took to the floor performing a tango
to “All the Things She Said” by Harrison, who was in the ballroom DJing the song!

WHO WAS SENT HOME?

At the end of the night, the results were revealed. The first six couples who were announced as safe were: Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik, Jackson Olson and Emma Slater, Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong, Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart, and Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov.

Also safe were: Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas, Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy, Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold, and Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa.

The bottom three were revealed as: Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess, Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten, and Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson. In the end, Giada and Alan who were sent home.

Dancing With the Stars, Season 35, airs Tuesdays, 8pm ET/7pm CT on ABC and Disney+

Take a look at the top three highest scored dances from last night’s Viral Hits Night’s competition below. Then let us know, who you thought was the fiercest couple of them all, via the comment section.

 

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DANCING WITH THE STARS : ‘Viral Hits Night’ Preview; What Song and Dance Did the 14 Remaining Couples Choose?

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Dancing with the Stars

After last week’s two-part season 35 premiere, Dancing with the Stars continues with the 14 remaining couples return to the ballroom for “Viral Hits Night.” For this next step towards the Len Goodman Mirror Ball Trophy, the celebrity contestants and their professional partners will hit the ballroom dance floor and perform routines to some of the biggest musical hits and unforgettable moments that have taken social media by storm.

“Viral Hits Night” airs on Tuesday, September 22 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT/PDT, 7:00-9:00 p.m. CDT), while being simulcast live cross both ABC and Disney+ in local time zones and next day on Hulu.

Previously, Conner Leavitt and pro partner Adele Zaikman were sent home as were the same-sex dancing duo of Sarah Jane Nader and pro partner Hailey Bills. Now below, check out the couples still in the mix along with their dance styles and songs for Tuesday night’s edition of Dancing with the Stars.

Photo: ABC

CELEBRITY AND PRO PARTNERS PLANNED ROUTINES

Amber Glenn and partner Pasha Pashkov will perform a Tango to “All the Things She Said” by Harrison
Taylor Hanson and partner Britt Stewart will perform a Cha Cha to “Cake By the Ocean” by DNCE
Harry Shum Jr. and partner Jenna Johnson will perform a Viennese Waltz to “Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls

Guillermo Rodriguez and partner Witney Carson will perform a Paso Doble to “Where Have You Been” by Rihanna
Jackson Olson and partner Emma Slater will perform a Foxtrot to “That’s So True” by Gracie Abrams
Tatyana Ali and partner Jan Ravnik will perform a Foxtrot to “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish

Ezra Frech and partner Daniella Karagach will perform a Cha Cha to “Low” by Flo Rida
Tyler Cameron and partner Sharna Burgess will perform a Salsa to “Girls” by The Kid LAROI
Connor Wood and partner Rylee Arnold will perform a Tango to “12 to 12” by sombr

Photo: ABC

Maura Higgins and partner Mark Ballas will perform a Cha Cha to “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire
Ciara Miller and partner Brandon Armstrong will perform a Tango to “No Broke Boys” by Disco Lines & Tinashe
Julia Stiles and partner Ezra Sosa will perform a Tango to “The Door” by Teddy Swims

Jenna Dewan and partner Val Chmerkovskiy will perform a Jive to “Animal” by KATSEYE
Giada De Laurentiis and partner Alan Bersten will perform a Salsa to “Bella Ciao” by Becky G

HOW TO CAST YOUR VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES

Fans will be able to vote during the live simulcast of the show in the ET/CT time zones. During this time, online voting will be available to fans in any time zone in the U.S., its territories and Canada via dwtsvote.abc.com, and fans on participating U.S. wireless carriers can also vote via SMS/text (fans in Canada cannot vote via SMS/text). Live viewer votes from the night will be combined with the judges’ scores to determine who may be in jeopardy of elimination.

Dancing with the Stars is co-hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough in which celebrities are paired with trained ballroom dancers to compete in themed choreographed dance routines that are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, including Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.

So, looking at the 14 remaining couples selected dance routines and song choice, combined with what you saw last week, who do you think remains a strong frontrunner as the team to beat? Let us know your picks via the comment section below.

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