The latest episode of Dancing with the Stars was a tribute to the legendary singer Whitney Houston, whose songs provided the soundtrack for the night. The contestants had to perform routines inspired by some of her most iconic hits, such as I Will Always Love You, How Will I Know, and I Have Nothing. Among the eight remaining couples, one stood out with a flawless performance that earned them the first perfect score of the season: Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy.
The 16-year-old actress, who is best known for her role in the Netflix series The Baby-Sitters Club, showed off her skills and passion in a tango to I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me). The judges were blown away by her technique, timing, and expression, and praised her for dancing side by side with her professional partner. Bruno Tonioli called it “dancing at its best”, Carrie Ann Inaba called it “flawless”, and guest judge Paula Abdul, who joined the panel for the night, called it “perfection”. They all gave her 10 points, resulting in a total of 40 out of 40.
Xochitl was overjoyed by the feedback and the score and thanked Val for his guidance and support. She also dedicated her performance to her grandmother, who passed away recently. She said that her grandmother loved Whitney Houston and that she felt her presence on the dance floor.
The other couples also delivered impressive performances, but some fell short of the judges’ expectations
The Whitney Houston night was not easy for the other contestants, who had to live up to the high standards set by the music icon. Some of them managed to impress the judges with their creativity, energy, and emotion, while others struggled with their technique, choreography, or connection.
One of the highlights of the night was the contemporary routine by Charity Anderson and Artem Chigvintsev, who danced to I Will Always Love You. The pair showcased their amazing lifts, spins, and flexibility, and moved the judges to tears with their heartfelt interpretation of the song. They received a standing ovation from the audience and a score of 39 out of 40 from the judges.
Another standout performance was the jive by Jason Derulo and Daniella Karagach, who rocked the stage with their rendition of How Will I Know? The singer and dancer displayed their charisma, synchronization, and stamina, and earned rave reviews from the judges. They also scored 39 out of 40, tying with Charity and Artem for second place.
On the other hand, some couples failed to impress the judges with their routines. Harry Jowsey and Rylee Arnold, who danced a rumba to I Have Nothing, received harsh criticism for their lack of chemistry, fluidity, and musicality. The judges said that they looked uncomfortable and disconnected and that their movements were stiff and choppy. They only got 28 out of 40, the lowest score of the night.
Another disappointing performance was the quickstep by Barry Zito and Peta Murgatroyd, who danced to Queen of the Night. The former baseball player and his partner had trouble keeping up with the fast pace of the song and made several mistakes in their footwork, posture, and frame. The judges said that they looked tense and nervous and that their routine lacked elegance and finesse. They scored 31 out of 40, the second-lowest score of the night.
The group dances added more excitement and drama to the night and resulted in a shocking elimination
The night also featured two group dances, in which the couples were divided into two teams: Team Young’n Style and Team 4 Everybody. The teams had to perform freestyle routines to popular songs from different genres and compete for extra points from the judges.
Team Young’n Style, composed of Harry and Rylee, Charity and Artem, Lele Pons and Brandon Armstrong, and Xochitl and Val, performed a fun and energetic dance to Gangnam Style by Psy. The team showed off their coordination, humor, and personality, and entertained the judges and the audience with their quirky moves. They received a perfect score of 40 out of 40, the second perfect score of the night.
Team 4 Everybody, composed of Alyson Stoner and Sasha Farber, Ariana Madix and Pasha Pashkov, Barry and Peta, and Jason and Daniella, performed a cool and slick dance to Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) by Backstreet Boys. The team displayed their groove, style, and attitude, and paid homage to the boy band with their costumes and choreography. They received a score of 37 out of 40, slightly lower than the other team.
The group dance scores were added to the individual scores, resulting in the final leaderboard for the night. Xochitl and Val topped the list with 80 out of 80, followed by Jason and Daniella, and Charity and Artem, both with 79 out of 80. Ariana and Pasha came in fourth with 78 out of 80, Alyson and Sasha in fifth with 76 out of 80, Lele and Brandon in sixth with 75 out of 80, Barry and Peta in seventh with 68 out of 80, and Harry and Rylee in eighth with 64 out of 80.
The bottom two couples, based on the judges’ scores and the viewers’ votes, were Harry and Rylee, and Lele and Brandon. The judges had to decide which couple to save and which couple to eliminate. Bruno and Carrie Ann chose to save Lele and Brandon, while Paula chose to save Harry and Rylee. The tie-breaker was up to the head judge, Derek Hough, who also chose to save Lele and Brandon, sending Harry and Rylee home.
The elimination was shocking for many fans, who expected Harry and Rylee to stay longer in the competition. The social media star and the dancer thanked the show and their fans for their support and said that they had a great time on the show.
The next episode of Dancing with the Stars will air on November 21, 2023, and will feature the semi-finals, where the remaining seven couples will compete for a spot in the finale.
