Dancing With the Stars returned on Monday with special guest judge, DWTS alum Julianne Hough, seated between Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli for the dancing competition’s “Switch-Up” week in which no one faced elimination.
Candace Cameron Bure, now paired up with Tony Dovolani, took on a quickstep. Bure’s experience as an actress definitely allowed her to really play up the character in the routine. However, she’s looked better in past weeks with Mark Ballas. Her poor footwork in the ballroom dance was glaring. Score: 7+7+7+7 = 28
James Maslow, separated from Peta Murgatroyd, danced a tango with Cheryl Burke. Maslow wasn’t set back at all by the switch-up, giving another solid performance in the Latin dance routine in which he played a suitor to Burke’s queen. All of the judges – save Goodman – gave him a 9. Score: 9+8+9+9=35
Drew Carey, partnered with the young Witney Carson, had to learn a cha-cha routine this week. In a gold suit, Carey fully committed to the gimmicky routine Carson choreographed for him. It was easily the best the comedian and actor has looked all competition. Score: 8+8+9+8=33
Danica McKellar went from one Chmerkovskiy brother to the other on Dancing With the Stars this week, dancing a jive with Maksim Chmerkovskiy. There’s a palpable lack of chemistry between the two, and McKellar clearly wishes she was back working with Val. The awkwardness from the rehearsals made it’s way onto the ballroom. Julianne Hough, never one to be easy with her fellow professionals, accused Maksim of phoning it in and making it all about himself. Score: 8+8+8+8=32
Dancing the rumba was Charlie White and Peta Murgatroyd. Partnered with the male front-runner, Murgatroyd tried to break him out of his structured way of taking on dance. She even tried to up his sex appeal with some slicked back hair. The judges, however, felt the choreography wasn’t “rumba” enough and criticized the lack of hip movement. Score: 7+8+9+9=33
Amy Purdy took on a salsa with Mark Ballas, who struggled to choreograph a dance with Purdy’s prosthetics. In the end, he called up his friend Derek Hough to help him figure something out that would work. Ultimately, the pair put together a solid performance that once again impressed the panel of judges. Score: 9+8+8+9=34
Cody Simpson and Sharna Burgess, who both happen to hail from Australia, were partnered this week for a Foxtrot. Simpson once again infused his pop dance moves into the routine, which the judges have tired of. They want him to fully commit to dancing ballroom, which includes stiffening up his movements and working on his hold. Score: 8+7+8+8=31
Taking on jazz last night was NeNe Leakes, who got to dance with Derek Hough for switch-up week. Jazz suits Leakes' personality better, which Hough took full advantage of. The audience ate up the routine and actually booed the judges scores. Score: 8+8+8+8=32
Last up Monday night were Meryl Davis and Val Chmerkovskiy dancing an Argentine tango. Once again, Davis proved she was the one to beat in the competition, dancing just as well with Val as she has week after week with Maks. Their tango was almost entirely flawless and completely engaging. Score: 10+9+10+10=39
After all of the routines, Meryl Davis topped the leaderboard, seven points ahead of second-place James Maslow. At the bottom, are Drew Carey, NeNe Leakes and Candace Cameron Bure.
Next week, the celebrities will be dancing to classic Disney songs.
Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays on ABC at 8/7c.
– Chelsea Regan
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