‘Dancing With The Stars’ Recap: Heather Morris Sent Home After First Perfect Score

This week’s episode of Dancing with the Stars has many wondering how accurate the ruling process could be, after Heather Morris was eliminated.

DANCING WITH THE STARS RECAP

It was Boy Band vs. Girl Group week on DWTS, and Morris and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy danced a wonderful rumba to TLC’s “Chasing Waterfalls.” In doing so, they scored the first perfect score of the season, getting a 40/40 from the judges. This was Chmerkovskiy’s first week back since his injury, and the pair showed what could have been by dancing perfectly together. Unfortunately, Maks returned and had to leave in the same week, as Morris got sent home.

The first couple up this week was Simone Biles and Sasha Farber for a change, who are usually scheduled for the coveted show ending spot. This week though they seemed to struggle slightly, earning just a 35/40 for their samba to “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child. While Biles nailed the movies, she still lacks the emotional connection that the judges are looking for.

Next up was Bonner Bolton and partner Sharna Burgess, who did a rumba routine to the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.” Not only is Bolton not as fluid as the dance requires, but he is also under the pressure of having the one and only Nick Carter at the judges’ table. They get themselves a 30/40.

Then Nancy Kerrigan and Artem Chigvintsev dance a sexy paso doblé to “Free Your Mind” by En Vogue. Unfortunately for Kerrigan, this type of dance has been done to this song on the show before – by Mel B in season 5, who killed it. Kerrigan and the judges know she won’t be able to live up to that performance. They do, however, eke out with a 33/40.

Next up we have Nick Viall and Peta Murgatroyd dancing a jive to the Beach Boys’ “Fun, Fun, Fun.” The complicated dance proves just a bit too quick for the Bachelor, whose feet are just a little out of his control. They score a measly 28/40.

Normani Kordei and Val Chmerkovskiy followed up with a strong performance of their own – a salsa to “When I Grow Up” by the Pussycat Dolls. The judges mostly agree that Kordei is the real deal after she hits all her moves, and the pair earns an impressive 38/40.

Then we see David Ross and Lindsay Arnold struggle through an Argentine tango to NSYNC’s “I Want You Back.” Guest judge Carter asks the all-important question, “NSYNC or Backstreet?” to which Ross replies with the obvious correct answer (Backstreet). But this doesn’t help the dance, which garnered just a 29/40.

Next up were Rashad Jennings and Emma Slater, who danced a tango to “(Reach Out) I’ll Be There” by the Four Tops. Jennings rocked his moves and the judges were impressed, though only enough to give out a 37/40.

Morris and Chmerkovskiy ended the partner dances with their show-stopping rumba, and the show ended with two group numbers – one just the guys, and one just the girls. The girls just beat out the boys with a 34/40 vs. 33/40.

“I’m pissed,” Chmerkovskiy said after the fact. “We’ve had a few [surprising upsets] in 24 seasons of the show [but] I just never thought that that one of my [partners] was going to be a part of that shock. Brandy [Norwood] and I didn’t make the final [in season 11] when I thought she was one of the best dancers that season, but [that] wasn’t as shocking as this. This is crazy.”