Alright, buckle up, folks! It’s Week 9 of Dancing with the Stars, and boy, oh boy, did we have some surprises in store. Who would have thought that a record number of voters would send someone home on Taylor Swift Night? Let’s dive right in and see what went down on the dance floor.
First up, we had actress Alyson Hannigan from American Pie, busting a move with partner Sasha Farber. Now, she was one of the 2 billion people who attended The Eras Tour with her daughters, so you know she was hyped to dance the cha-cha to “You Belong to Me.” Unfortunately, her achy big toes made it hard to keep on the beat. But judge Derek Hough was quick to acknowledge her improvement from week one, even though her timing was a bit off. Score: 29 out of 40.
Then we had reality TV star Harry Jowsey from Too Hot to Handle, who was determined to stand out in his rumba to “August.” The poor lad had been compared to a tree trunk on the dance floor, but he was a little more fluid this time around. However, judge Carrie Ann Inaba had a lot of feelings about his performance, emphasizing that he had a lot of content and room for improvement. Score: 30 out of 40.
Next up was Ariana Madix from Vanderpump Rules, battling her back pain and softening her spine for a remarkable rumba to “Cruel Summer.” Judge Mandy Moore was impressed by her command of the stage and matching the beautiful melodic quality of the song with her body. Score: 37 out of 40.
Following her was Charity Lawson from The Bachelorette, delivering a lift-a-palooza with her Argentine tango to “Look What You Made Me Do.” With clinical precision and stunning execution, she showcased her best legs and received high praise from the judges. Score: 38 out of 40.
Then we had the stunning Xochitl Gomez from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, who wowed everyone with an impeccable and joyful quickstep to “Paper Rings.” With her mom Jennifer attending every rehearsal, maybe she’s the secret weapon behind the 17-year-old’s success? Judge Mandy Moore described them as poetry in motion and even gave Gomez a friendship bracelet. Score: 38 out of 40.
Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz was feeling vulnerable after his consistently dropping scores but delivered a show-stopping Argentine tango to Swift’s “Don’t Blame Me.” Judge Bruno Tonioli praised his technical prowess and declared it a tour de force. Perfect Score.
Then came the dance relay, pitting the contestants against each other for an additional three points. Ariana Madix went head to head with Xochitl Gomez in a Viennese waltz to “Lover,” with Gomez ultimately emerging victorious. Harry Jowsey and Alyson Hannigan faced off in a jive to “Shake it Off,” with Hannigan stealing the win with her bubbly routine. Jason Mraz and Charity Lawson rounded out the relay with a cha-cha to “Lavender Haze,” and Mraz’s insane cha-cha locks secured his victory.
And finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for; the elimination. Host Alfonso Ribeiro revealed that they had more votes on Tuesday than any other night this season, setting the stage for a nail-biting elimination. In the end, Harry Jowsey bid farewell, acknowledging the surprise of making it this far. And with that, we’re off to the semi-finals next week!
Well, folks, that’s a wrap for Week 9 of Dancing with the Stars. Who would have thought Taylor Swift Night would bring us record-breaking voter participation and a surprising elimination? Join us next week for the semi-finals as the competition heats up!
