Dancing With The Stars is back tonight with a whole new episode of glitz and glitter and we are in the finales. On tonight’s episode, part 1 of the finales one couple is eliminated after several rounds of dancing, including a freestyle performances featuring special effects.
On last week’s episode Emmy Award winning director and choreographer Kenny Ortega made his “Dancing With The Stars” debut as a guest judge on American Icons Night when he sat alongside Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba, on the ABC Television Network. The semi-finals began as the five remaining couples must rise to the challenge of performing two different routines to music by legendary and modern American Icons. The couples performed a variety of dance styles including Foxtrot, Rumba, Jazz, Viennese Waltz, Quickstep, Samba, Cha Cha, and Jive. At the end of the night, one couple faced elimination and that was Charlie White leaving only four couples to move on to the Finals. Did you watch last week’s episode? If you missed it we have a fool and detailed recap, right here for you.
On tonight’s episode after nine weeks of competitive dancing spanning a variety of styles from the Cha Cha to the Foxtrot to the Viennese Waltz and beyond, Amy Purdy & Derek Hough, Meryl Davis & Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Candace Cameron Bure & Mark Ballas, and James Maslow & Peta Murgatroyd remain in the competition, but only one couple will be crowned “Dancing With The Stars” champion. These four remaining couples will have one last opportunity to impress the judges and the viewers. They will compete in two rounds of dance. In the first round, each couple will take on the “Judges Pick” and repeat the same dance style they did the week of the “Switch-Up.” In the second round, one of the biggest competitive dances of the season, the couples take on a supersized Freestyle featuring special effects, additional dancers and unexpected surprises.
Tune in tonight at 8 PM EST on ABC to watch the stars all hit the ball room. We’ll be recapping it for you live right here. In the meantime hit up our comments section and tell us who you are already rooting for!
Tonight’s episode begins now – Refresh Page for Updates
The first up tonight it the judge’s pick week. The couples are going to perform dances that they danced the week of the Swich-up.
ROUND 1 – Judges Picks
James Maslow and Peta Murgatroyd dancing the Tango [VIDEO HERE]
Judge’s comments: Len: “Sharp as a razor, clean as a whistle. You came out and you gave it your all and that is what we expected.” Bruno: “Dominant, passionate you really want it badly. Don’t you? and you got a great kiss from her too. I thought you were going to kill her in the good way.” Carrie Ann: “I have to say you have to be careful you are a bit uptight, you have to breath. But I liked it.”
SCORES: Carrie Ann: 9 Len: 10 Bruno: 10 TOTAL: 29/30
Meryl Davis and Maksim Chmerkovskiy dancing the Argentine Tango [VIDEO HERE]
Judge’s comment: Bruno: “That was scrumptiously seductive. There is a point that you dance is evolving into a storyline beautifully. It really is incredible.” Carrie Ann: “Meryl last time you performed with Val it was perfection but this time the incredible chemistry and performance it was amazing. more perfection.” Len: “Last time I saw you it was the dance of the night and there is nothing that I see that will change that opinion.”
SCORES: Carrie Ann: 10 Len: 10 Bruno: 10 TOTAL: 30/30
Candace Cameron Bure and Mark Ballas dancing the quickstep [VIDEO HERE]
Judge’s comments: Carrie Ann: “First of all Mark are you okay. We have all watched you struggle. I am surprised and totally impressed you came out and made it look like a walk in the part. Your shoulders were a bit up. But well done.” Len: “You got the toughest dance, when you think of all the pressure you were under, well done.” Bruno: “Much improved! You portrayed the dance very well, you went for the classic. You did it very, very well.”
SCORES: Carrie Ann: 9 Len: 9 Bruno: 9 TOTAL: 27/30
Amy Purdy and Derek Hough dancing the salsa [VIDEO HERE]
Judge’s comments: Len: “It was bright and colorful it was fantastic, well done.” Bruno: “This girl is on fire, flamboyant. You were so in-tune with the music. Great!.” Carrie Ann: “It was ridiculous, you know every week you blow my mind. Tonight you did again everything I did not think possible. I have seen great improvement.”
SCORES: Carrie Ann: 10 Len: 10 Bruno: 10 TOTAL: 30/30
ROUND 2 – FREESTYLE
James Maslow and Peta Murgatroyd dancing the Freestyle [VIDEO HERE]
Judge’s comments: Bruno: “I like the concept, I liked the energy. You came out and gave it everything.” Bruno: “We have a new post apocalyptic man. I love it Mad Men and the Hunger Games. I have point out you had 2 professional dancers with you and you were right there with them.” Carrie Ann: “You are a star. You killed it tonight. You are an action star.”
SCORES: Carrie Ann: 10 Len: 9 Bruno: 10 TOTAL: 29/30
Meryl Davis and Maksim Chmerkovskiy dancing the Freestyle [VIDEO HERE]
Judge’s comments: Carrie Ann: “First of all I think you guys should get married. Okay I love gimmicks, its fun. You just got real, it is the soulful expression of your true self. Stunning.” Bruno: “And it keeps getting better. What you two have create is as close as it gets to a flawless piece of art.” Len: “It was flawless, not mistakes. It was great, it was fantastic, it was Meryl.”
SCORES: Carrie Ann: 10 Len: 10 Bruno: 10 TOTAL: 30/30
Candace Cameron Bure and Mark Ballas dancing the Freestyle [VIDEO HERE]
Judge’s comments: Carrie Ann: “You go girl, you went for all, you went for all the lifts. I don’t feel like you quite hit it. You went for it.” Len: “I admire your tenacity, you came out full on and won the battle.” Bruno: “I love the disco diva and you were for it all. But you have to be on the beat. Still great job, well done.”
SCORES: Carrie Ann: 8 Len: 8 Bruno: 8 TOTAL: 24/30
Amy Purdy and Derek Hough dancing the freestyle [VIDEO HERE]
Judge’s comments: Len: “I got what I always get with you, a very poliched performance. Well done to you both.” Bruno: “Talk about flying high you were orbit tonight. You just redefined what is possible.” Carrie Ann: “At first I thought why so many dances, and then when the part kicked in with the emotions. I did not care if you danced. It was so profound.”
SCORE: Carrie Ann: 10 Len: 9 Bruno: 10 TOTAL: 29/30
RESULTS
Meryl Davis and Maksim Chmerkovskiy SAFE
Amy Purdy and Derek Hough SAFE
Candace Cameron Bure and Mark Ballas SAFE
James Maslow and Peta Murgatroyd ELIMINATED FROM THE COMPETITION
What do you think of the elimination, are you as shocked as I am. Hit the comments and let us know your thought below!
Don’t forget to join us tomorrow for the DWTS Finale Part 2 where we will be covering the show LIVE!