Most Memorable Year Night on Dancing With the Stars was filled with high emotions and close scoring! But were the scores fair?
It has been a crazy week for Angelina Mikheeva, Fangirl, and Katie Henry this week, but Paul Bentley and Julia Delbel are still here to give our thoughts on the dances this week!
[Order of the Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann Inaba, Julianne Hough, Bruno Tonioli]
Maureen McCormick and Artem Chigvintsev
Foxtrot: From the Ground Up by Dan + Shay
The Judges’ Scores: 8, 8, 8 (24/30) Tied for Lowest Score of the Night
Maureen’s Most Memorable Year: 1985, when she and her husband got married
#TeamMaureen 1(800)868-3409
Julia: I was disappointed to see Maureen and Artem dance so early in the show again, because that often leads to being forgotten by many people after two hours of dancing. It was especially disappointing in this case because this was a very nice dance from them that Maureen executed very well, despite the song not being particularly fitting for a Foxtrot. There were a couple of very brief awkward moments but this was a beautiful performance. But I’m still worried for these two regarding next week’s elimination because they’re tied with some lesser performances for some reason and were first up this week.
Julia’s Score: 8
Paul Bentley: Maureen has recovered from a lot, and I think that this Foxtrot was a way of rising up for her. Maureen seemed comfortable on the dance floor for once, even though she might have spaced out at two parts. Maureen’s bottom half was tremendously better this week, but in her top and frame, she was chasing the music and curving her back. I finally saw Maureen and Artem as a couple this week, with their movements finally connecting with each other. Maureen had a good week this week, but being at the bottom of the leaderboard could spell trouble for her.
Bentley’s Score: 8
Calvin Johnson and Lindsay Arnold
Jazz: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
The Judges’ Scores: 8, 8, 8 (24/30) Tied for Lowest Score of the Night
Calvin’s Most Memorable Year: 2012, when he broke Jerry Rice’s football record
#TeamLindsatron 1(800)868-3403
Paul Bentley: I loved Calvin’s story. There is a sparkle in Calvin that makes me really like him, and his clear dedication and compassion showed through his choice of words in his pre-dance interview and his actions that he has taken before. His dance made me smile, especially with his father the football at the end, but it just left me wanting more. . . and I unfortunately think Lindsay had a big part in that. There were too many lifts that didn’t quite mesh well, and there was just not enough content overall. Most of the dance felt like it was going to lead into a bigger dance, but it didn’t. Nevertheless, Calvin demonstrated great strength and ease in movement, despite his clunky pattern of movement and awkward moments. I know that Calvin can do so much more, and I think he and Lindsay are holding back on us!
Bentley’s Score: 8
Julia: It was great to see Calvin celebrate this special moment in his life in such a fun way! However, I do feel that this Jazz was kind of a retread of previous performances from this couple. It had the same tone and energy, and I’m a little disappointed that Lindsay didn’t decide to use the freedom of the style to show another side to Calvin’s abilities. It wasn’t a bad dance, it just didn’t seem like anything new from Team Lindsatron.
Julia’s Score: 8
Jana Kramer and Gleb Savchenko
Contemporary: In My Daughter’s Eyes by Martina McBride
The Judges’ Scores: 9, 8, 9 (26/30)
Jana’s Most Memorable Year: 2016, when her daughter was born
#TeamGlamer 1(800)868-3406
Paul Bentley: I love how real Jana is. I also love how instead of using a past situation she was in to get votes, she uses it to inform others and empower so many people to prevent horrible things from happening to them. And also, she had real tears, so you know that she is actually passionate about what she talks about. And, just to throw it out there, her baby is adorable! I can tell that Jana was really pushing herself this week, and it all payed off. The drop she did into Gleb’s arms takes a whole lot of trust, confidence, and precision, and I have to give her props for mastering it so beautifully. I thought the lifts were absolutely stunning, and I thought the emotion was authentic. To me, it was perfect.
Bentley’s Score: 10
Julia: I was very happy Jana made it to Most Memorable Year Week because I knew this would be the time for her to break out from the pack and show the audience her true self, and it was! I agree with basically everything Bentley said except I noticed a mistake with one of the lifts. Excited to see more from Jana and Gleb!
Julia’s Score: 9
Ryan Lochte and Cheryl Burke
Contemporary: A Song for You by Leon Russell
The Judges’ Scores: 8, 8, 8 (24/30) Tied for Lowest Score of the Night
Ryan’s Most Memorable Year: 2008, when he won his first gold medal in the Olympics
#TeamCherloch 1(800)868-3411
Paul Bentley: Ryan’s story shows me how family-oriented and homely he really is. It also shows that he does not give up, not matter what. His Contemporary dance this week was relatively simple, but it really showcased his athleticism. I would have like for there to be more moments where is was more emotion through arms and lines, rather than through lifts and pauses. I want to see Ryan dance more from his core as well, because a lot of his movements this week were too harsh and choppy for the style. But he really immersed himself into the dance well, and became a unit with Cheryl as one. Ryan’s dedication is there, and I have an inkling that he has the votes to make it to at least week 10, despite many theories that his time is limited!
Bentley’s Score: 8
Julia: I liked that Cheryl’s choreography for this dance was something we don’t often see in DWTS Contemporaries. This is a style that gives couples a lot of freedom and yet I notice we see the same few moves in most of the Contemporary routines done on the show. Some of it was executed very well but other parts were just awkward. And I agree with Bentley that Ryan might just make it further than many believe he will (I’m guessing maybe 5th or 6th place at the moment).
Julia’s Score: 8
Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy
Paso Doble: Rise by Katy Perry
The Judges’ Scores: 8, 9, 8 (25/30)
Laurie’s Most Memorable Year: 2016, when she won her first gold medal in the Olympics
#TeamValaur 1(800)868-3407
Bentley: It was nice to see a change in pace with both Laurie’s upbeat story and her intense Paso Doble with Val. I cannot see how either Carrie Ann or Bruno can justify their 8s for Laurie, even with the nitpicking that they did to her. I think that the judges were just so set on not giving her yet another high score that they convinced themselves that the dance deserved an 8. But if she’s good, she’s good! She shouldn’t be scored any differently from anyone else (unless you are comparing her to herself in terms of capability, in which that case, I still think she danced to her full capabilities). I enjoyed everything from the box in the beginning to the flaring on the skirt. She conquered the Paso Doble with a strength that only an Olympian could have, and she added little touches that only a pro could perfect.
Bentley’s Score: 10
Julia: I agree with Bentley that the judges wanted to knock Laurie down a few pegs this week but I don’t think this was a perfect routine; her footing was a little awkward in some places. That said, I enjoyed this number much more than the perfect-scoring Michael Jackson dance from the previous week, and thought that this was some of Val’s best choreography in years.
Julia’s Score: 9
Marilu Henner and Derek Hough
Viennese Waltz: Surprise Yourself by Jack Garratt
The Judges’ Scores: 9, 9, 9 (27/30)
Marilu’s Most Memorable Year: 1978, when she was casted for Taxi
#TeamHennergy 1(800)868-3408
Julia: I’m glad Marilu and Derek talked out their issues so they could move forward in the competition with that stress behind them. I think Marilu is very good in Ballroom dances but she appeared to be kind of shaky and rocky throughout this performance. But since she seems to be in such a good place now I’m guessing she’ll improve a lot in the coming weeks.
Julia’s Score: 8
Paul Bentley: Color me impressed. That Viennese Waltz was so much better from last week’s Paso Doble, and actually built on their Foxtrot from week 2. I am so glad that Marilu was able to do a dance dedicated to her mother, especially with the heartbreaking story she shared with us. Marilu found an ease that flowed naturally throughout her body, drifting across the floor as one with Derek. Marilu’s stability when traveling needs to be improved upon, but she improved in every other way this week, especially with her connection with Derek.
Bentley’s Score: 9
Amber Rose and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Samba: Woman Up by Meghan Trainor
The Judges’ Scores: 8, 8, 8 (24/30) Tied for Lowest Score of the Night
Amber’s Most Memorable Year: 2013, when her daughter was born
#TeamSpicySalsa 1(800)868-3401
Paul Bentley: This Samba was way too careful for me to feel the upbeat emotions of the Latin style. Amber was very timid, and it was very obvious in her routine this week. While Amber was very clean and brought tons of heat as she usually does, she seems to still have not broken out of her shell yet, which could be the downfall of her time on this show. Amber is very inconsistent with her performances, going from really spectacular one week, and having somewhat of a downfall the next. I’m glad that Amber was able to do this dance for herself, but it is time for dance for an audience as well.
Bentley’s Score: 7
Julia: Samba is the most difficult dance for a lot of people to master but a key part in doing so is going full-out with it and not holding back. Unfortunately, Amber moved very timidly throughout this performance and it suffered as a result. The dance would have probably looked a lot better had she put more energy into her movements because this Samba lacked bounce and Latin flare.
Julia’s Score: 7
James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess
Tango: The Right Time by Yves V featuring Mike James
The Judges’ Scores: 10, 9, 10 (29/30) Highest Score of the Night
James’s Most Memorable Year: 2015, when he got in a near fatal car crash
#TeamStopAndGo 1(800)868-3405
Julia: This story had my attention more than any other this week. After so many Most Memorable Year nights some of the recurring themes have become less impactful for me, but I was amazed at how quickly James was able to recover from his racetrack injury last year. He executed the Tango steps wonderfully but it seemed to take at least half the dance for he and Sharna to even get into hold. I wish Sharna had put more content into this routine because I know James could have handled it.
Julia’s Score: 9
Paul Bentley: James always brings so much to the table every week, and this time, he made me smile with all of the positivity he drew this week, even though the background of his story is very touching. He gave that Tango his all this week, just like he does with everything else in his life.James made everything look easy, including his superb synchronicity with Sharna! The only flaw I saw in this routine was how bent James’s knees were. . . he needs to straighten them out! James is one of the best dancers this season, and I think his amazing personality and dancing ability are reflective of what he is capable of as a human being, being able to achieve big things.
Bentley’s Score: 9
Terra Jolé and Sasha Farber
Contemporary: Stand by Me by Florence + The Machine
The Judges’ Scores: 9, 9, 9 (27/30)
Terra’s Most Memorable Year: 2013, when her father passed away
#TeamXL 1(800)868-3412
Julia: This Contemporary was a nice way to end off the evening. It did feel a little simple, but it was very well-executed by Terra. I could see she was extending her arms and accentuating her movements as skillfully as possible given her short limbs. The best aspect of the performance was the emotion Terra showed while dancing. I’m loving seeing Terra and Sasha come out and give us great performances like this every week and am excited to see what’s in store from them next!
Julia’s Score: 9
Paul Bentley: This was one of the saddest stories of the night, which is probably why the producers put this dance last on Monday, but it also had the most impactful choreography to go along with it. I found myself really enjoying the concept and costumes of this dance, allowing me to admire the unique choreographical moments that were able to be included because of Terra’s height even more. Sasha is always very creative, but this Contemporary really makes that stand out. Terra was fully immersed in this dance, but all of her emotion came off as a bit too harsh at parts, and she could have braced herself some more for those lifts with Sasha. But that didn’t take away from the significance of the dance. . . It still had an impact on me, and had me rooting for Team XL even more than I already was!
Bentley’s Score: 8
Rankings of the Week 5 Performances
Julia
1. Laurie & Val
2. James & Sharna
3. Terra & Sasha
4. Jana & Gleb
5. Maureen & Artem
6. Calvin & Lindsay
7. Marilu & Derek
8. Ryan & Cheryl
9. Amber & Maks
Paul Bentley
1. Jana & Gleb
2. Laurie & Val
3. James & Sharna
4. Marilu & Derek
5. Terra & Sasha
6. Calvin & Lindsay
7. Ryan & Cheryl
8. Maureen & Artem
9. Amber & Maks
Predictions for Elimination
Bentley: I feel pretty confident in saying that I think Amber and Maks are next to go. If not her, I think maybe it would be Maureen. I have been keeping my eyes of Jana for a while now simply because I’ve noticed that she is not talked about as much as some of the other contestants, and that could be a sign that she might not be getting enough votes to survive an elimination in the near future.
Julia: The general consensus seems to be that Amber is leaving on Monday and while I do think she’s the one who should go and if anyone else leaves next week I’m gonna be annoyed but unfortunately, as I said before, Maureen going first and (ridiculously) getting the same score as her this week makes me worried for her. And I do think that Jana is veering into the danger zone and they’re going to paint her as this season’s “shocking elimination” but I don’t think her time is up this coming Monday. I was thinking maybe Week 7 or 8 for that.
MVP (Most Valuable Pro) Picks for Week 5
Julia: I noticed that several of the contestants and pros were beginning to feel the pressure this week, resulting in some drama during rehearsals. Some of the pros handled it better than others, but I thought it was great that Derek Hough managed to restrain his frustration and took some time out to have a discussion about things with Marilu before a blow-up happened.
Paul Bentley: At the beginning of the season, I wasn’t too fond of the lack of content that Gleb Savchenko put into his routines with Jana, but this week, his Contemporary was like no other. It really shows me something when a pro is able to create a unique dance to a dance style that might seem limited on the outside, and only with two bodies interacting with each other acting as props.
Additional Comments
Julia: Well, it’s official: Maks is NOT returning for Season 24 (has the show even been renewed yet?). In a new interview he stated that he wants to be a stay-at-home dad to his son-to-be. I wonder what the male pro lineup will look like next season since he and presumably Derek won’t be there? Maybe it’ll be the same group as Season 22, or maybe some surprises are in store!
Julia: Next week is Latin Night which I was super excited about until I found out that Pitbull was going to be guest judging and the dance lineup would include an Argentine Tango to “Hotel California”. I wish the producers would choose all Latin songs for Latin Night to give it that extra sparkle.
Paul Bentley: I am pumped for Latin Night! I’m glad that DWTS has not been considering the Jive aa a Latin dance style for the past few seasons because, well, it’s not really Latin!
Paul Bentley: Oh, and that opening number?! BEAUTIFUL!
Paul Bentley: Oh, and that opening number?! BEAUTIFUL!
Follow Us on Twitter! (links)
Paul Bentley: @TheBentleyNinja
Julia Delbel: @juliadelbel
Fangirl: @24_7dwts
Katie Henry: @katiegotbandzz
Angelina Mikheeva: @angelinarose42
The DWTS 2016 Social Square (run by Paul Bentley): @DWTS2016
What did you think of Most Memorable Year Night on Dancing With the Stars? Which story do you think was the emotional Monday night? Which couple do you think had the best dance to match their most memorable year? Who do you think will be eliminated next week, coming in ninth place?
Next week is Latin Night on DWTS with guest judge Pitbull! The couples will all dance to different Latin dance styles, and then one couple will be eliminated! Pitbull, Flo Rida, and LunchMoney Lewis will also perform!
Link to the Playlist of the week 5 dances: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK1f1bOs9XyeaivLn5Bsjl9Gr32jLL-mE
#DWTS #DWTS23
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