DTWS S027, Week Seven, Country Night: Make That a Double... Elimination

Opening number for Country Night, again choreographed by the wondrous Mandy Moore. Everybody gets a moment, and it ends with Hayley motioning to us. Wonderful.

Our host Erin’s hair looks amazing. Oh. I just noticed that last week, during Halloween, there were no Team Dances. :-(  But, not to worry. They are going to have some tonight! Woo hoo!

And as everyone is talking and clapping and not noticing, Tom and Erin whisper that tonight is a double elimination. :-0  Oh my. Which of our favorites will get the axe? Will Joe and Jenna manage to hang on?

Look at Brit's face in this picture. hahahahaha

John lays on us in the package that he’s not just a recognizable actor, but he’s got a boatload of country music songs. WHAT? “I’ve recorded over 200 songs. Four number-one songs and ten Top Ten songs.” (WOW!)

So, Emma tells him they are doing a jazz dance to John Denver’s “Thank God, I’m a Country Boy,” which it sure sounds like he’s got the cred for. “What country music means to me is: three chords and the truth. It shines a light on things that happen in everyday life that are: wonderful, that are not so wonderful, that are heartwrenching.” John talks about the divorce he’s been going through for years, and about how the show “gives me great joy, at a time when I desperately need it.”

Tom tells him: “You’re in your element, my friend.”

John thanks Emma profusely, and says that he “couldn’t have made it without her,” and someone in the audience.

Len: “That’s the way to open a show. Full of fun, full of energy, and I’m full of admiration.” Bruno: “Country brought the best out of you. It was custom-made to make you shine. It was witty, it was inventive.” Carrie Ann: “Tonight, you did your best. It was such a joy to watch you. John Denver, c’mon. You gotta be good, if you’re gonna do John Denver.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 25 (out of 30)

Evanna and Keo are doing a rumba. Some chick is singing her song. “Every Little Thing” by Carly Pierce (?) Keo knows nothing about country music. Neither does Evanna. She asks him about it, and he’s really insulting. She cries out: “I think we need Bobby.” Indeed.

But in the dance, Evanna continues to be the one to watch, so elegant and graceful. It wasn’t really sexual, as a rumba is supposed to be, but Evanna gave it a lot of that acting thing to compensate.

And the costumes are just gorgeous. Not to mention the million little lights they have all around the set.

Bruno: “What a transformation. You really have shape-shifted into this irresistible woman. That was a pure, proper rumba. How you hit every accent.” Carrie Ann: “Listen. What you’re doing is so good. You are making the true transformation I haven’t seen since Kelly Osborne. Watch out! This girl is on fire.” Len: “There was lovely articulation through the feet. Your hands. Oooh. Gorgeous. I try to look at every little thing, and there was nothing in there I didn’t like.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 30 (out of 30)

Keo runs down to give a kiss to Len. I think that’s his first 10 from Len on this show (ever).

After commercials, a beautiful bumper with Artem and Witney, Gleb and Hayley and Val and Jenna. Gorgeous. Sad. Beautifully choreographed.

Cheryl takes Juan Pablo line dancing, so he can absorb the country vibe.

They do a good chunk of their dance on the back of a flatbed truck. Cause why not? Great dance. Great mix with the troupe. Tons of fun to watch, really playful. So good.

Carrie Ann: “Is there anything you can’t do? You make everything look so effortless and so easy. You hit everything so perfectly.” Len: “It’s about 500 miles from Charleston, South Carolina to Nashville, Tennessee.” (This prompts Tom to say: “You’re like Google Maps tonight.”) Len: “You turned those two cities so close they are neighbors. It was a great mix of Charleston and country. Well-done, Cheryl. You hit it spot-on.” Bruno: “You two are still flying high. They are better than FedEx. They always deliver. The timing of this song was insane. It kept changing every four bars. You never missed a beat, and it looked effortless.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 30 (out of 30)

Then some country guy sings, while Artem and Hayley dance. (Cole Swindell, “Love You Too Late.”)

Joe and Jenna dance to some country song (sorry, but I know nothing about country music) about Burning Man. They are steampunk-attired, as one often is for Burning Man. And they do a steampunk tango. I liked it. I suspect the judges will not.

Tom says: “Now you’re Dance School Joe. No more Grocery Store Joe.”



Len: “It was a little bit unstable in places, Joe, if I’m gonna be honest. Your feet are a long way from your heart, and you always come out and really attack the dance.” Bruno: “Imagine if Mad Max had to tango, across bumpy roads, into the wilderness... it’d look exactly like that.” Carrie Ann: “I saw some familiar moves from last week. So I’m glad that you put them in, Jenna. I really appreciate the way you don’t give up. You’re such an anomaly to me. It’s fascinating. You’ve captured the hearts of our audience at home, and I think it’s well-deserved.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 21 (out of 30)  Joe says: “Blackjack!”

Milo and Witney, also one of the couples to beat, dance a foxtrot to a country song. Witney “loves country music SOOO MUCH,” she says. Which is weird, cause she’s always picking rap songs to dance to. In their package, Milo writes (and performs) a country song for Witney. Very nice.

They are dancing to some band who is CMA nominated. I think Tom said Glencoe? They perform onstage, as Milo and Witney dance.

Lanco? Well, Milo and Witney look great together. Fun dance.

Tom: “You guys look like you’re having pure fun out there.” Milo: “Absolutely.”

Bruno: “I loved it. No messing around. No ifs, no buts. A boy and a girl come out there, and dance beautifully. Proper classy, classic foxtrot. You have not just talent, you have range and versatility. You surprise me every week. Every week, a different character. Always 100% believable.” (Milo and Witney both smile huge.) Carrie Ann: “Milo, when I watch you, all I can think of is: you’re the one to beat. You’re just so spectacular. Everything that Bruno says, I agree with. But what makes you so special is that the height difference makes these ballroom dances so difficult. That is a real challenge, and you handled it beautifully.” Len: “You dance with a maturity that belies your years. I like the amount of foxtrot content that was in there. I admire your pluck and your dedication. I would’ve liked a slightly stronger leg action. I thought you did a great job. I loved watching you dance. You’re so talented.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 29 (out of 30)  (The 10 paddles are blinking.)

So... after the break, all the hot guys of #DWTS came out and danced with their shirts off to some country song. Whew! Bruno flashed his light-up 10 paddle at them. LOL

DeMarcus and Lindsay dance a Viennese waltz to Chris Stapleton (“Tennessee Whiskey”). DeMarcus used to work on a chicken farm, apparently. What that has to do with dancing, I’m not sure...

Carrie Ann: “I have so much to say about that. That was... dancing is about creating a world, and all of us want to join in that world. You dance with full expression. You use the space. There was love oozing from you. It was so dynamic, and so poetic. It was stunning.” Len: “It is great when you get a great big guy, and he dances with a softness, and an elegance. And a sort of gentleness. It had great light and shape. Lindsay, you gotta give it a little bit more content.” Bruno: “That Southern charm is irresistible. Your dancing! Extremely smooth. Your partnering was right on it. You really danced like a true gentleman.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 27 (out of 30)

Val, Artem and Gleb (with their shirts back on) brought three women out of the audience to do this bumper.

(I love how Tom and Erin crack each other up.)

Alexis and Alan are dancing to a Lauren Alaina song (who? ;-) heh) And she’s there, performing it, in the middle of a big blue heart. Awww. They are doing a samba. In their package... after last week, she told him she had feelings for him, this week, they are sitting together, and it seems like he’s going to say he doesn’t, but nope! He has feelings for her too. And they kiss. Awwwww.

They are so cute together. And it’s a pretty decent samba too.

Len: “There was so much great samba content in there. The list was incredible. So many of my favorite steps. For me, that was the best routine of the night. Beautifully done. It was fantastic. That’s knockout.” Bruno: “You two are a match made in samba heaven. Even when you were bouncing, you were bouncing to the same heartbeat. Very few people do it that well.” Carrie Ann: “First of all, you guys are just the sweetest sambaing couple in the world. It’s not even Candy Week, and you’re acting like there’s candy everywhere.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 29 (out of 30)

Bobby Bones (if you don’t already know this) has the top radio program on a country station in the country. So OF COURSE, his country friends are gonna wish him well on Country Night. Kelsea Ballerini. Dolly Parton. Dustin Lynch.

And, after the commercial, Luke Bryan.

Bobby and Sharna are dancing a Viennese waltz to an Elvis Presley hit, performed by Chris Jansen. Bobby says in the package that he’s “a country music superfan. For me, it’s just a thrill to spread country music. I have the biggest country radio show in the history of the format. A real thrill is cultivating new artists.” Cut to Dan and Shay, talking about how Bobby does that.

Bobby talks about how Chris Jansen emailed him a song, and did not have a record label. Bobby played it on the air. “He’s now a superstar. It’s really amazing. All of the artists playing on the show are my personal friends. It’s not like going home, it’s like home is coming to me. Tonight, I’m going to make country music proud.”

They dance this Viennese waltz to “Can’t Help Falling in Love (With You).” Sharna is just gorgeous, the costumes are stunning. And the dance is just beautiful. Wondrous. #Swoon I loved it.

Standing O from the audience.

Bruno: “It was sweet and romantic, and I loved it. Top marks for effort. You delivered what we asked of you.” Carrie Ann: “I really appreciate how you were trying to attain correct body contact, and working on your frame.” Len: “One of the things when you’re scared, you lift your shoulders. Relax more. It’s the quarterfinal. What a great time to do your best dance.” Bobby tells Len: “If I ever get an 8 from you, I’m gonna come around and kiss your face.” Tom: “Oh, I hope there’s an 8!” 

JUDGES’ SCORES: 24 (out of 30)

Bobby lives up to his promise, and kisses both Len and Bruno, who both gave him 8s.

Then, we have the Team Dances.

Carrie Ann had mistakenly called this team: Team Ho Now. They are, in fact, Team Hay Now. They are dancing to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.”

Sharna: “Team Joe Down Is Goin’ Down.”

That was a fun dance. I especially liked how Evanna, dancing with all pros, seemed just like one of them. Judges liked the choreography.

JUDGES’ SCORES: 29 (out of 30)

Team Joe Down are dancing to Luke Bryan’s hit “Country Girl.” And who doesn’t love that crotch-thrusting move into camera from Juan Pablo? 10 points, just for that! C’mon!

Len talks about what a great time he had tonight. (Aka, he hated that dance.)

JUDGES’ SCORES: 26 (out of 30)

Who goes home? Double elimination time. :-(

DeMarcus and Lindsay and John and Emma are going home. :-(. (For those keeping score, that means one team from each of the Team Dances.)

Miche’s Favorites on Country Night
1. Bobby Bones and Sharna (Viennese waltz)
2. Juan Pablo and Cheryl (Charleston)
3. Milo and Witney (foxtrot)
4. John and Emma (jazz)
5. Evanna and Keo (rumba)
6. DeMarcus and Lindsay (Viennese waltz)

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