October 29 was Country Night on "Dancing with the Stars" and the all-stars hit the stage with their own personal interpretations of country classics. If you were expecting to see a hoe down or square dance, think again. "DWTS" decided to stick with more traditional ballroom routines but set them to country songs, creating some slightly confused performances and interesting genre fusions. And in case you were wondering, yes, there was a foxtrot set to Dolly Parton, which isn't something you see everyday.
Additionally, each all-star got the chance to shine with a brief solo in their performance that showcased their personal talent and growth. But all 8 couples came together for a group routine that not only showed off their skills as a group, but also created a little friendly competition. The judges awarded the couple who they found the most entertaining with two extra points, and with the competition getting more and more heated by the day, all of the pairs were desperate for those extra points. So who were the standouts of the night? And who faded into the background? Find out below.
THE DANCES OF THE NIGHT:
Sabrina Bryan and Louis Van Amstel: Things got emotional for Sabrina this week when she performed a routine about drug addiction that hit close to home. Sabrina, whose ex-boyfriend was addicted to drugs, emotionally connected with the piece and the judges loved her vulnerability and awarded her with the first perfect score of the season! Bruno thought it was absolutely stunning and Carrie Ann gave Sabrina a big hug at the end. Score: 30
Apolo Ohno and Karina Smirnoff: Apolo and Karina also tapped into their emotional side with a Viennese waltz about cancer. Carrie Ann thought it was poetry and Bruno called it weightless. Score: 30
THE STANDOUTS:
Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani: Melissa's neck injury continued to be an issue for the couple, but they pulled through with their graceful Viennese waltz. Bruno thought it was exquisite and even Len, who seemed to be in a particularly grumpy mood, gave them a standing ovation. Score: 29.5
Kirstie Alley and Maks Chmerkovskiy: Kirstie and Maks continued to step things up with their rumba that left Carrie Ann calling Kirstie the "queen of sexy". Kirstie rocked her solo and the judges praised her for her constant improvement. Score: 27.5 (+2 points for the Group Dance, total = 29.5)
Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough: Shawn feared the worst when she fell on her injured knee that kept her from competing in the 2012 Olympics. This time, she didn't let the injury hold her back and delivered a cha cha that left the judges split. Bruno loved it, calling Shawn "the sexy one", but Len continued to be unimpressed with Shawn and Derek, telling them they use too many gimmicks. Score: 28
THE GOOD:
Gilles Marini and Peta Murgatroyd: Gilles took on his "Country Cha Cha" in a sheer v-neck and tight black pleather pants, giving a new meaning to his song choice "Man, I Feel Like a Woman". The couple managed to pull off the confused genre, with Len commenting on the way he always gives his performance a hundred percent and Bruno saying he totally sold it. Carrie Ann's only negative comment was that he can get "T-Rex hands". Score: 27.5
Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerkovskiy: After landing in the bottom last week, Kelly and Val were desperate for a comeback. The pair gave it their all with their country-inspired tango, which of course ended with an unnecessary makeout session. Carrie Ann thought they made a great comeback and Bruno felt they were "engulfed by the flames of passion". Score: 27
THE MEDIOCRE:
Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke: Emmitt wasn't exactly excited to tackle a country routine and his slow, Dolly Parton foxtrot was difficult to master. Though the couple got off to a rough start, the NFL star committed to his performance and delivered a charismatic solo. Score: 26.5
THE GROUP DANCE:
Group Dance: All eight couples came together for a real country style dance set to the classic, "Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy". All of the couples were given the chance to shine and the most entertaining couple was awarded two extra points to their overall score. After Kirstie used her time in the spotlight to slap Maks on the butt, it was apparent that she was the clear winner of the challenge. Way to go Kirstie!
"Dancing with the Stars" airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8pm E.T. on ABC.
What was your favorite performance of the night? Who do you think will get eliminated on Tuesday night? Sound off in the comments.
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