The competition continued on the Tuesday, November 4, episode of Dancing With the Stars. With just eight contestants left, the remaining competitors each had to dance twice on during Week 8.
First, they hit the dance floor with their pro partners to perform a previously unlearned dance. Then, the pairs were split into two teams of four for freestyle team dances. Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, Derek Hough, and guest Flavor Flav‘s scores from both dances were combined with viewer votes to determine who will be eliminated at the end of the episode.
Scroll down for a live recap of all the night’s performances and running updates on the night’s leaderboard. Plus, keep checking back to find out who’s eliminated at the end of the show.
Dylan Efron — 36/40
To kick off the night Dylan Efron performed a jive to “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John and it was jam-packed with content and choreography.
“From the floor to the roof, that dance right there was the proof,” Flavor Flav raved. Tonioli told Efron his feet were “very good” and “just missed a pass,” while Inana said, “Jive is all about athleticism and grace, the buoyancy and all that, and I feel like you definitely had all the elements, but there were three moments where you got kind of stuck on the kicks and flicks.”
After getting some boos from the crowd, Inaba also made sure to point out that Efron has come so far in the competition. “It was a great way to start the show,” Hough said, although he agreed that the reality star needed some work on his kicks and flicks. Efron earned an 8 from Inaba, 9s from Tonioli and Hough, and a 10 from Flavor Flav!
Alix Earle — 39/40
Alix Earle was at the top of the leaderboard last week, so she knew she had a lot to prove in order to stay there this week, where she danced a paso doble to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
“The paso doble bombshell! Sexy as hell. I’m telling you, what really worked for me, it was like watching two predators challenging each other every minute,” Tonioli gushed. “That was brilliant.” Inaba told Earle she was in her “fierce girl era” and that she set the standard for the night’s paso doble routines.
“Pure paso power! It was amazing. You were an absolute rock and roll goddess out there. So strong, so powerful, so in control, and so impressive,” Hough raved. Hough, Inaba, and Tonioli gave the dance 10s, while Flavor Flav scored it a 9 for a 39/40.
Andy Richter — 30/40
Andy Richter has been consistently scoring at the bottom, but the fan vote has kept him in the competition. This week, he danced a contemporary to “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys.
“That was a beautiful tribute to this wonderful partnership,” Inaba said. “Something that’s remarkable about you is that you are teaching the people who don’t know how to dance what it actually feels like to learn how to dance.”
Hough thanked Richter for “embracing” the process and Flav said, “You guys were good, you know what I’m saying?” Tonioli closed it out by adding, “It had a kind of childlike honesty. I think that is the secret, your honesty. You do what you can. You are relatable, and that’s why you are becoming a people’s champion.”
All the judges gave Richter 7s, aside from Flavor Flav, who hooked him up with a 9!
Whitney Leavitt — 39/40
Whitney Leavitt hit the dance floor with a paso doble to “No More Tears” by Ozzy Osbourne.
“This ballroom is officially on fire,” Hough insisted. “That rocked. It was classic. It was edgy. It was perfectly entangled and totally metal.” Flav praised the “charisma,” “moves,” and “timing,” which he said was on point.
Tonioli called the routine “intense” but “exquisite” and said Leavitt did the paso doble “perfectly.” Inaba added, “This is game on for tonight. That was sick and amazing and everything they said, but wait. There were a few stumbles with your foot. I gotta call it out, otherwise it wouldn’t be fair.”
With a 9 from Inaba and 10s from the other three judges, Leavitt scored a 39/40 total.
Danielle Fishel — 34/40
Like Richter, Danielle Fishel danced a contemporary this week. She performed a routine to Aerosmith’s “Dream On.”
“Life can be a b**ch sometimes, but you don’t give up. You stay resilient, keep a positive attitude, and it’s not over,” Tonioli said. Although he noted a “tiny mishap” in the routine, he told Fishel she should “be proud” of what she’s achieved on the show.
Inaba apologized for the comments she made about Fishel’s dance last week. “I believe in you,” she added. “You told that story. I felt the chills.” Hough concluded by saying, “You’re somebody that we all root for. You radiate such positive beautiful energy. You glow and you always glow on this dance floor.” He admitted the dance “felt a little disjointed,:” but also told Fishel to be proud.
With 9s from Inaba and Flav, and 8s from Hough and Tonioli, Fishel scored a 34/40 total.
Dancing With the Stars Week 8 leaderboard
The team at the top of this week’s leaderboard after round one will immunity from next week’s relay dance, as well as extra bonus points next week if they make it through the elimination.
Alix Earle & Valentin Chmerkovskiy — 39/40
Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas — 39/40
Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach — 36/40
Danielle Fishel & Pasha Kashkov — 34/40
Andy Richter & Emma Slater — 30/40
Dancing With the Stars, Season 34, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC and Disney+ (Streaming Next Day on Hulu)
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