Season 28, Week 11, the Finale Full of Freestyles and another Bachelorette win

Kelsey McNeal/Getty Images

Ladies and gentlemen, we have our final four for the Finale. The couple I’m really rooting for at this point is Ally and Sasha, though the fact that they keep ending up in the Bottom Two despite consistent perfect scores really boggles my mind. (What is up with that, America? They are fantastic.) To my eyes, they are far and above all the other couples.

We have an opening dance to Donna Summer’s “Last Dance,” then Ally and Sasha kick off the night.

Sasha and Ally, jive

So, forgive me, but LAST WEEK they did “Redemption Dances” where they revisited a dance they had done earlier and tried to do it better. What, pray tell, is the bloody difference with in this episode starting with another dance from earlier in the season? #Lame. 

And, as I remarked in Week 4, when they did “Proud Mary” previously, it just doesn’t/didn’t match up to the Mark Ballas version (the gold standard). Great song, but jeez.

JUDGES: 30 (out of 30)

Gleb and Lauren, foxtrot

Lauren and Gleb revisit “Jolene,” another great song, but jeez.

Also, this song is directed at a woman who’s her rival, but only she and Gleb are dancing. Is this supposed to be her inner dialogue? I hate dances that don’t make sense.

JUDGES: 27 (out of 30)

Witney and Kel, jazz

Witney and Kel revisit their High School Musical thing, which I hated the first time.

JUDGES: 30 (out of 30)

Alan and Hannah, Viennese waltz

Alan and Hannah redo the Taylor Swift song in a Viennese waltz.

JUDGES: 28 (out of 30)

OK, recaps over. Now we have an all-cast (from Season 28) dance with Pitbull (a #DWTS favorite), then on to the Freestyles! What we’ve been waiting for!

Sasha and Ally, Freestyle: Miami Sound Machine, “Conga”

This was such a perfect song for her to do. She enters out of a giant egg, and first dances with the women of the troupe. 

There was one lift that looked like it went wrong. It was quickly followed up by a signature Sasha Farber move, where he is holding her and beating on her butt like it’s a conga drum. It was truly awesome.

This was a great Freestyle. (Not influenced at all by Sasha removing his shirt at the end, and throwing it into the crowd.) Heh ;-)

JUDGES: 30 (out of 30) Once again making it a perfect score of 60 for the night. Why aren’t they winning this? DAMMIT. ;-/

Gleb and Lauren, Freestyle: Luke Bryan’s “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)”

(L-R): Jenna, Lauren, Emma; Val, Gleb, Brandon. Courtesy of ABC.

Oh, man! Do I love this song! And since it’s ABC, it’s actually Luke Bryan singing it (although I do love their singers who do covers, but it sure is nice to hear the Luke Bryan version tonight). 

And Lauren was indeed in her element with this one. It was also great to see the other dancers (like Val and Jenna) do a country line dance thing. Fun times!

JUDGES: 30 (out of 30)

The pro dancers announce their upcoming tour, and dance to Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know?”

(How will they know that  COVID will derail the tour?) I didn’t say that…

Alan and Hannah, Freestyle: Alicia Keyes, “Girl on Fire”/Gwen Stefani, “Hollaback Girl”

This looked similar to some of the other Freestyles, but it did suit Hannah and Alan.

JUDGES: 30 (out of 30)

Witney and Kel, Freestyle: Kriss Kris’s’ “Jump”

Len compares it to “the first number you did,” and since I didn’t like either one, I have to agree.

JUDGES: 29 (out of 30) Rare for anyone to get less than 30 on a Freestyle, I must say.

MICHE’s Favorite Freestyles

1. Sasha and Ally

2. Gleb and Lauren

3. Alan and Hannah

(And this order is how I would rate them in the finals.)

Cher is here to sing “The Beat Goes On,” with backing track by Sonny Bono.

Sadly, it’s Gleb and Lauren who get booted out as 4th. :-(

Third place: (completely unjustly) Sasha and Ally

Second place: (also unjustly) Witney and Kel

And the Season 28 winner is Alan Bersten and Hannah Brown.

Ugh. So glad this season is over.

But congrats to Alan. He has put in a lot of work over many seasons, so it was nice to see him win his first Mirror Ball. And may Hannah Brown never cross my vision ever ever again.

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DTWS S028 Premiere Night: New Season, Big Changes

There are many things to love about Season 28 of Dancing with the Stars. There are also many things to hate.  

A thing to love? The first thing you see, the amazing set! And the colors! Just deeper and bolder somehow. Gorgeous.

A thing to hate? The voting. The judges, apparently peeved by last season’s win by fan favorites Bobby Bones and Sharna, switched the voting around, so the judges’ votes held more sway. Worst of all, the fan votes (always so crucial) this time only counted the East Coast viewers. If you were in the rest of the country, you were either out of luck, or you voted (as I did) just for your fan favorites, without really weighing in the quality of their dance. Man, did I hate all that. So very unfair.

Another thing I really and I mean really hated this season was that they somehow felt the need to get writers. WRITERS! FOR A DANCE SHOW. So they have these super annoying lame skits at the beginning of each episode. Man, did I hate that, too. UGH. It’s dance, people. Just let them dance.

(Although, in this first episode, this also meant that Tom Bergeron got to show us some acting chops, which was just awesome.) Which brings us to:

(SIDE NOTE: I am writing this after the fact, which explains all the tears on my keyboard right now. Let’s just say: enjoy the hell out of Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews this season.)

Another thing that I hate about this season is that they announced earlier that there would be no troupe this season. Which meant, in reality, that they would start with no troupe, and then work them in throughout the season, but not announce them as such. Lame and disrespectful.

Brutally for me, this meant that there was no Britt. No Hayley. :-(

So we begin, with the opening dance (to “Higher Love”). We revel in our favorites returning: Jenna and Val, Sasha and Emma (with dark hair), Peta, Alan, Brandon, Lindsay, Witney, Keo and new pro Pasha. With no troupe to flesh it out.

But let’s take a quick look at this season’s competitors, shall we?

We also have a thing that we didn’t have previously, where each competitor’s name is wrapped in some spiffy graphics at the beginning and end of each song. It’s pretty at first, but after FIFTEEN TIMES, lemme tell ya, it gets tiresome. And it takes minutes. Each time. UGH.

Luckily, our lovely judges are back (thank goodness).

Let me also say this. When this season aired, The Bachelorette had just finished. I was so done with Hannah Brown by this point. I really didn’t want to see one minute more of her. Alas, she and Alan were first up with their cha cha.

Well, first first, we get to see how each star met their partner. Hannah’s journey (predictably) begins at Bachelor Mansion. “I’ve been through a lot,” moans she, as I fight the urge to turn it off. Again, too much writing and malarky. She talks to Chris Harrison (although it is nice to have him finally on DWTS).  A limo pulls up.  Alan gets out. Blah blah blah.

Their first dance, the cha cha to “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” is very perky and light.  Hannah seems a bit ahead of the music sometimes, but her pageant smile does her in good stead.

HANNAH AND ALAN: cha cha

JUDGES: 20 (out of 30)



I’ve never heard of Kel Mitchell, but he was in Good Burger, and Witney says that was “her favorite movie growing up.” Um... ok...

So, he’s a comedian, and if you didn’t get that from the Good Burger reference, surely the massive Kel face, where he slides down the huge pink tongue to start the dance will clue you in.

Kel and Witney do the tango, an ambitious first dance. They are dancing to the Jonas Brothers’ “Sucker.” Fun stuff.

KEL AND WITNEY: tango

JUDGES: 16 (out of 30)

Oh, this pairing. LOVE Kate Flannery. Was very anxious to see this new pro, Pasha Peskov. After this dance, they became one of my favorites this season.

Their package starts off with Kate as her Office character, walking around behind the scenes at DWTS. I don’t know how much of this is true, but Kate says that she used to be a waitress, and she “kept (her) waitress uniform for the first season of The Office... I didn’t know what was going to happen.”

The dance starts out with Kate in a waitress outfit, polishing a table at which Bobby Bones and Tom  Bergeron are sitting. She’s singing (quite good a capella) “She Works Hard for the Money,” Pasha grabs her, and she rips the outfit off.

Loved that sooooo much. Loved both of these two.

KATE AND PASHA: cha cha

JUDGES: 15 (out of 30)

The other thing that is both love and hate this season: the cool-down room where Erin does interviews. In past seasons, the poor, tired dancers had to schlep up a massive flight of stairs to Erin. This season, they just walked across the floor to something on the main stage area. (I liked that it was closer for them, but it got mighty crowded in there.)

Lamar Odom, all 6'10" of him, is paired with 5'7" Peta Murgatroyd for this foxtrot.

It just continues to amaze me how this show always finds new ways to shoot this incredible set. The initial overhead shots were just stunning. There, on the steps, is a wonderful jazz band. The costumes, as usual, are fantastic. But the dancing? Peta is stunning, but Lamar is kinda walking through it.

LAMAR AND PETA: foxtrot

Carrie Ann, totally smitten with Lamar, thought he did a great job. The audience boos.

JUDGES: 11 (out of 30)

Can’t remember the last time I saw threes. Wow.

Our beloved Bobby Bones, the reigning DWTS champion, believes he’s responsible for Lauren agreeing to participate in the show this season.

Pretty sure that was Shaina Twain’s “Feel Like a Woman” they were dancing that cha cha to. Love the costume on Lauren Alaina. She looks fabulous. Like most of the competitors, they haven’t quite gelled together yet, but it was a fun dance.

LAUREN AND GLEB: cha cha

JUDGES: 19 (out of 30)

Then, there was this. Christie Brinkley was supposed to be Val C.’s dance partner this season. And he had planned (as one does) to dance to “Uptown Girl,” because of Christie. She says in the package: “It’s my theme song!” (Do you remember her being in the video? Yeah. That.)

She says: “And you can foxtrot to it?” Val: “We will.”

(Plus, Val had already danced to this song, so he might’ve had some moves already.)

During rehearsals, Christie broke her arm. “Sailor, you’ve gotta go on for me!” (And so she does, with only three days of rehearsal.) “This is for you, Mom,” she says.

And of course, she’s fantastic. (And OMG, that CAR! *swoon*) To say nothing of the luscious NY backdrop behind the car. Stunning.

SAILOR AND VAL: foxtrot

JUDGES: 18 (out of 30)

Val’s wife Jenna is next. And dig these funky costumes. LOVE them. They are doing a salsa.

Early on, the camera person has an issue. :-(  It happens right when Jenna is doing a cartwheel, sadly.

Karamo (of course) is from the newly redesigned Queer Eye. He said that he begged to be on the show. He seems a bit stilted, but like he’s having fun.

Both Len and Bruno comment that he doesn’t “have enough hip action,” which is key in the salsa.

KARAMO AND JENNA: salsa

JUDGES: 17 (out of 30)

How much do we love Cheryl Burke? The one who almost won last season (IMHO). She is fantastic. Such a pro.

She is paired with Ray Lewis (I just don’t know these sports figures at all, sorry), and they are doing a salsa. Cheryl’s hair is black, and shorter than it was last season.

Got some pretty spectacular fire effects on the stage. Very nice. That switches to a football stadium, as he waves to the crowd. OK, football guy. Yep. Football numbers on the dance floor. They are dancing to “It’s Getting Hot in Here” (or whatever it’s called).

But once again, we have no hip action from Ray.

RAY AND CHERYL: salsa

JUDGES: 15 (out of 30)

Mary Wilson. Stunning. Founding member of The Supremes, who should’ve been just as famous as Diana Ross (IMHO). So beautiful. Regal.

Mary is paired with Brandon, for this foxtrot. Look at that set! And the costumes are great.

Of course, she is dancing to a Supremes song (“Baby Love”). The opening formation has HER at the center, with two backup “singers” behind her. Very nice. Loved that.

She’s trying. Oh, she’s trying so hard. But man, she’s just terrible. But, unlike many of the folks on here, ladies and gentlemen, she IS A STAR. She really is.

Len mentions that they are the same age! (WOW)

MARY AND BRANDON: foxtrot

JUDGES: 17 (out of 30). (overscored)

Ally Brooke was in Destiny’s Child... no, wait... what was it? Oh, right... Fifth Harmony. Which is harmonious no longer, because she is now on her own. Of course, Dancing with the Stars is a good stop on that journey. And lucky for her, she got the BEST partner to be with: the man who so deserves a Mirror Ball, but astoundingly doesn’t have one yet (how is that POSSIBLE?) Sasha Farber.

I just love everything that Sasha does. I love his choreography, I love his style. And Ally looks pretty damn good in this number, although, like every competitor so far tonight, there were misses and mistakes. But I liked watching that.

He said in the package that he “hit the jackpot” getting Ally as a partner. Nope. I respectfully disagree. He hit the jackpot when he walked into Terra Jolé’s living room. THAT was the jackpot. Ally’s just beautiful. Terra had it ALL... But I digress.

(I had to take a quick break just there to watch Terra and Sasha’s Charleston again... Yeah. That was the best...)

Len thinks that it needed more cha cha content.

ALLY AND SASHA: cha cha

JUDGES: 16 (out of 30)

At this point, I’m thinking what a lot of people are probably thinking... usually by this point, there is one couple that you just think: this person! they’ve got it all. And no one in this set so far has stood out like that... and the next one won’t either.

Oh my. Let me preface this, since we are all so political now (and divided). As with Bristol Palin, I had friends up and down declaring that they weren’t going to watch because she was on. And they are saying that now about this next guy (whom I can’t stand either): Sean Spicer.

However, those people who storm around about that are usually people who don’t watch DWTS anyway. So the heck with them. As someone who DOES watch DWTS all the time, I have to say that I try to give each contestant (whoever they are) a fair chance from the beginning, to watch with no preconceptions or judgment... WAIT, holy crap... what the HELL is that? hahahahahahahaha

I love you, DWTS costumers. hahahahaha

Now, in fairness to Sean, everyone is wearing brighter colors this season. And this does look very salsa-like. But still, it makes me laugh. (I’ve been watching this show for 28 seasons, I have never seen anything so gaudy.)

OK, I guess I can sit through this.

The number starts with Sean’s hands on the bongos. Oh my.

The camera person tonight seems to have issues every time someone does a major spin. I think Lindsay did a fantastic twirl, but the camera messed it up, so I’m not sure.

And, as far as Sean... well, he’s not the worst person who’s ever danced on this stage. He is really putting his all into it, and I have to give him credit for that.

Right after he did this move, tons of bright green and pink confetti dropped on his head.
 
SEAN AND LINDSAY: salsa

JUDGES: 12 (out of 30)

So, we get to this point in the evening, and I’m really thinking about how in previous seasons (like the last seven or eight, for sure) there was always someone by this point in the evening of the first night who stood out, who made you go: Oh! This person! But no, nothing like that...

But wait... one more couple yet to go.

Let me say first that I watched very episode of Dawson’s Creek, back in the day. That’s how I knew James Van Der Beek, and how I remember him. Not even sure what he was doing between then and now, but it turns out it was a lot.

So his first image on this first show, is a stark one. Him in a porkpie hat, and gray flannel vest, taking a tango turn center stage. Out comes the gorgeous Emma, all sparkly in a black slinky tango dress. 

Doing the tango on the first night of Dancing with the Stars is a REALLY bold move. It shows you’re really sure of yourself and your partner, and this dance just had my jaw dropping. (Look at how he’s already got the hold thing down! Incredible.)

 

This, then, my friends, THIS is the couple we were waiting for. HOT DAMN was this amazing. So stunning.

As they come off the floor, Tom Bergeron had to utter: “Holy crap!” Indeed. Clearly the dance of the night. And the couple to beat.

 

JAMES AND EMMA: tango

JUDGES: 21 (out of 30)



There are no eliminations tonight, because it is the Premiere. Look forward to wonky unfair voting next week! Woo hoo.

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MICHE’S FAVORITES OF PREMIERE WEEK

1. James and Emma (tango) (OMG)

2. Kate and Pasha (cha cha)

3. Sailor and Val (foxtrot)

4. Ally and Sasha (cha cha)

5. Lauren and  Gleb (cha cha)

6. Karamo and Jenna (salsa)

7. Hannah and Alan (cha cha)

8. Ray and Cheryl (salsa)

9. Kel and Witney (tango)

10. Mary and Brandon (foxtrot)

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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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