Tuesday night’s episode of Dancing With the Stars brought the heat!
On October 3, DWTS judges, dancers and viewers settled in for Latin Night – an evening that featured great improvement and much more confidence on the dance floor. Tuesday’s scores only had a 12 point gap from highest to lowest couple, ranging from 24 points to 12.
Social media personality Lele Pons and her partner Brandon Armstrong were the first dance of the night with their Samba. Pons not only danced to one of her favorite songs “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee, but also earned 21 points, tying her for second place on this week’s leaderboard.
Model Tyson Beckford and his partner Jenna Johnson danced a Salsa to “Aguanile” by Willie Colón & Héctor Levoe. The dance earned the couple a 18 out of 30, a six-point jump from last week. Next up, The Brady Bunch star Barry Williams danced a Cha Cha with his partner Peta Murgatroyd to “Oye Como Va” by Tito Puente. Williams’ package revealed that he celebrated his 69th birthday leading up to week two, and his wish was for high scores. Unfortunately, his birthday wish didn’t come true – his performance only earned a score of 15. Hopefully, Williams will have a better week three!
Football star Adrian Peterson and Britt Stewart danced a Samba to “Taki Taki” by DJ Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna and Cardi B. The dance earned them a 15 out of 30, a three-point drop from last week. Academy-award winner Mira Sorvino and Gleb Savchenko danced a Salsa to “Bailando” by Enrique Iglesias, earning them an 18 out of 30. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba encouraged Sorvino to be more confident and Derek Hough agreed, telling her “to unleash it.” Hopefully Sorvino will break out of her shell in week three.
Marvel actress Xochitl Gomez and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy showed great improvement this week with their Salsa to “Don’t Go Yet” by Camila Cabello. Their dance earned a 24. Further, Gomez’s dance not only earned the first three “8’s” of the season, but also the season’s highest score so far. But there was still plenty of dancing to come!
Vanderpump Rules reality star Ariana Madix shared with her partner Pasha Pashkov that her goal for the week was to earn an “8.” The couple danced a Samba to “Me Porto Bonito” by Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone. After earning a score of 20 out of 30, Madix unfortunately didn’t earn an “8,” but we’re rooting for her next week!
Real estate broker and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills husband Mauricio Umansky and his partner Emma Slater danced a Salsa to “Quimbara” by Celia Cruz, Willie Colón, Johnny Pacheco Y Su Charanga. Despite Umansky’s efforts to earn higher scores for week two, a few mishaps on the dance floor landed him at the bottom of the leaderboard with a 12 out of 30. The judges commended his efforts and Hough even reassured him, “A setback sets you up for a comeback.”
Actress Alyson Hannigan performed a Tango with her partner Sasha Farber to “Can’t Remember to Forget You” by Shakira featuring Rihanna. The dance earned them a 19 out of 30, a six-point jump from last week.
Heading into their weekend rehearsals, Bachelorette star Charity Lawson’s partner Artem Chigvintsev unexpectedly tested positive for COVID-19. Troupe member Ezra Sosa stepped in to dance with Lawson for her Cha Cha to “She Bangs” by Ricky Martin. Despite the partner setback, the couple earned a 21 out of 30 and lived to see another week. Hopefully Chigvintsev recovers quickly and returns to the ballroom next week!
Too Hot To Handle star Harry Jowsey danced a Salsa to “Arranca” by Becky G ft. Omega with his partner Rylee Arnold. The dance earned the couple a 15 out of 30, a three-point jump from the first week. Actress Jamie Lynn Spears and her partner Alan Bersten danced a Cha Cha to “Shake Senora” by Pitbull featuring T-Pain & Sean Paul, scoring a 16 out of 30.
Finally, Grammy winner Jason Mraz and his partner Daniella Karagach danced a Rumba to “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás” by Andrea Bocelli featuring Jennifer Lopez. Mraz shared the pressure he felt because, “we set this expectation [week one] that I’m great and I don’t know if I am,” Mraz admitted. Despite his doubts, the couple scored a 24 out of 30, landing them atop the leaderboard – tied with Gomez and Chmerkovskiy.
Dances complete, the group prepared for the second elimination of the season which came with its share of surprises. Despite Umansky and Slater’s Salsa mishaps, not only were the couple not eliminated, they surprisingly weren’t even among the bottom two couples for the night.
Rather it was Peterson and Stewart and Spears and Bersten that fell to the bottom. With no “Judge’s Save” option this season, fans’ votes are more important than ever. After lingering suspense, in yet an additional surprise, Spears and Bersten were shockingly voted off.
Night three, which premieres Tuesday, October 10, will be Motown Night. To add to the fun, television personality and former NFL defensive end Michael Strahan will be in the ballroom as guest judge. It will be exciting to see our first guest judge of the season and see what performances the couples have in store.
See you in the ballroom!