Well lookee here … we have something to celebrate! It’s the 500th episode of Dancing with the Stars, and popular pro Sharna Burgess has returned to help open up the show with a jaunty number to “Crazy in Love” — the same exact song the troupe danced to when the variety show launched in 2005.
To help mark the milestone, the final six couples have been asked to recreate numbers from DWTS‘ deep past. I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that absolutely no one asked to revisit the cha cha performed by Sean Spicer in season 28. Who on earth would want to bring back that neon shirt?
NBA Champion Dwight Howard with partner Daniella Karagach. Flying high off their first 10 from two weeks ago, Howard and Karagach expertly reimagined an Argentine tango performed by season 23’s James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess. To help tackle the height difference, Karagach brought in a platform so she could be on the same plane with her partner. It worked! “Daniella, she was working! I tell ya, that was so clever the way you tackled the height difference,” said Derek Hough. “Dwight, that takes a lot of strength, a lot of trust in your partner. That was captivating.” Score: 26 out of 30
Super Bowl Champion Danny Amendola with partner Witney Carson. Though he started off a bit behind, the footballer looked a heckuva lot more confident recreating the quickstep performed back in season 5 by champs Helio Castronveves and Julianne Hough. “That quickstep was like a busy drink, bubbly refreshing and it put a smile on my face,” said Hough. Score: 27 out of 30
WITNEY CARSON, DANNY AMENDOLA (Disney/Eric McCandless)
Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher with partner Alan Bersten. Done with “being in the bottom,” the athlete and her playful pro performed an energetic rendition of Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold’s quickstep from season 23. Without a doubt, it was her best performance this season. “That was it,” said Carrie Ann Inaba. “That was yours! That was amazing. So clean, so tight. succinct. Everything was great, fantastic!” Score: 28 out of 30
The Bachelor‘s Joey Graziadei with partner Jenna Johnson. The reality star opened the show by recreating a breathtaking contemporary by Riker Lynch and Allison Holker from season 20. Johnson is always such a treat to watch, but she’s taught the viewers this season not to lose sight of how far her handsome partner has come. The bro can move. “That was very powerful, very very deeply felt,” said Bruno Tonioli. “Very well conceived routine, beautifully choreographed and well performed. Score: 28 out of 30
JOEY GRAZIADEI, JENNA JOHNSON (Disney/Eric McCandless)
Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik with partner Rylee Arnold. Arnold admitted that her gymnast partner had big shoes to fill by recreating the Viennese waltz performed by season 32’s Charlie D’Amelio and Mark Ballas. For this performance, he ditched the glasses and donned some tails while the producers filled the stage with dry ice and confetti. Precious! “For me the dance has to elicit some sort of reaction,” said Inaba. “I never lost track of watching this beautiful celebration. The world needed that at this moment.” Score: 29 out of 30
Chandler Kinney (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin) with partner Brandon Armstrong. Kinney nailed the attitude and splits in this intense re-creation of Derek Hough’s Argentine tango with Kelly Pickler from season 16. “Redoing a dance is kinda tricky because comparison is invariable,” said Hough. “I have to say, for me, I preferred this one. I did! I really did. Our approach was sharp. You did it completely different. Smooth as slick.” Score: Perfect 30
Instant Dance Round. Couples randomly select a dance style and must throw together a routine in a matter in minutes while the show breaks to commercial. (Apparently, you can watch their mad dash via the show’s TikTok account). But don’t worry too much for the duos: according to their rehearsal packages, they did have time before Tuesday’s show to work on some specific dance styles; they just didn’t know what their music would be.
Howard & Karagach. The pro moaned when she realized they’d have to dance the Paso doble to the song “Victorious.” He wasn’t able to show his personality because he was too busy focusing on the steps, but the intensity was there. So was the panic; this is a lot to ask of a tall dude who’s partnered with a skinny mini. “That was impressive because again, I can’t believe you guys are doing this. Insane,” said Hough. “There were some timing issues there. Good job.” Score: 22 out of 30
Maher & Bersten. The Olympian didn’t look too happy when she learned they’d have to dance the salsa to “Da’Dip.” At least it wasn’t the jive, girl! But her perceived fear was unwarranted; she had a helluva time twirling with her charismatic partner and having him hoist her on his shoulders. “When in doubt, you just gotta shake it out,” said Hough. “I liked the lift, it was fun! Well done, Ilona.” Score: 24 out of 30
Amendola & Carson. The athlete managed to both leap over his partner and have his shirt ripped open during this fun, instant jive to “Good Golly Miss Molly.” “This is mind blowing. This is tough,” said Inaba. “You had a little bit of slow start. But then you totally got into it and started to shine again.” Score: 24 out of 30
Nedoroscik & Arnold. Arnold was thrilled to learn they’ll have to perform the jive to “Love is Embarrassing.” Hard to understand why; his timing was off and he almost didn’t get over her head in a leap at the end. “I have to say stylistically and technically it was better. But you went wrong,” said Tonioli. “Your timing was better. Then was a mistake but, well done.” Score: 25 out of 30
Graziadei & Johnson. Their rumba to “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish was absolute perfection. If the bachelor doesn’t make it to the top 2, I’ll be both shocked and ridiculously disappointed. “The rumba is so hard for men to do,” said Tonioli. “I like my rumbas hot. That was steamy.” Score: 27 out of 30
Kinney & Armstrong. The actress was relieved that she got the cha cha because “that’s the one I remember the most.” No wonder, then, that she looked confident and downright euphoric while dancing to “Apple.” “You are owning the dance floor tonight! Bravo!” said Inaba. Score: Perfect 30
It’s useless listing who’s on the bottom at this point in competition; they make it random every week, anyway. Sadly, it’s Howard’s time to go home.
Man he and his partner worked their butts off. “I had an amazing experience,” he said at the show’s end. “Daniella is an amazing partner. I’m glad she was here with me. Thank you everyone. Appreciate it!
The semi-finals are next week.
