(Spoiler alert: Please do not read on if you haven’t watched Monday’s “Dancing With the Stars”)
“Dancing With the Stars” traveled to the magical world of Cirque du Soleil on Monday, as the contestants faced the added risk of a double elimination this week.
With judge Len Goodman out to film “Strictly Come Dancing” in the U.K. and Julianne Hough sitting in for him, there was even more pressure on everyone involved.
First up was former NFL star and current leader Calvin Johnson Jr., who kicked up his heels in a lively number that included his partner flying high above the stage. “You are turning into a Marvel Agent of Fun,” Bruno Tonioli strangely commented, while co-host Erin Andrews described him as “lean, mean Megatron.”
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It wasn’t a love fest for everyone, however, as Maureen McCormick bickered with pro-partner Artem Chigvintsev during rehearsals. “I feel like a failure,” the “Brady Bunch” actress sobbed. Thankfully they pulled it together for their performance, reaping praise from the judges for their intense dance.
“You maintained the focus for all of us,” Carrie-Ann Inaba marveled. “I felt like you were moving in another world … everything about that was dreamy.” Of course, all of this made McCormick cry again.
Country singer Jana Kramer tapped into the Fab Four to take on The Beatles LOVE to the tune of “Here Comes the Sun,” but rather than wowing everyone, Hough said they were “firmly stuck in the middle.”
Marilu Henner heading to KÀ for a dramatic Paso Doble that Tonioli described as “like stopping the four horsemen of the apocalypse … that is a very, very hard and difficult routine.”
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After narrowly avoiding elimination last week and getting into a body shaming scuffle with Julianne Hough, Amber Rose was back — and vowed to “embrace her sexuality and not feel ashamed about it” … which she most certainly did.
Hough and Rose had an uncomfortable peace pact, without either of them actually apologizing or backing down. Moving on … Julianne said tonight’s dance was “authentically you, this is your essence.”
“I would have plenty more of that dish,” Tonioli gushed.
Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte got his feet wet in a massive pool to recreate “O” in an attempt to redeem his poor performance last week.
How graceful were @RyanLochte and @CherylBurke in their #O show on #DWTS? pic.twitter.com/qeKAv9jmHL
— Cirque du Soleil (@Cirque) October 4, 2016
“You really were dancing tonight … your best performance to date,” Tonioli said, despite being interrupted by a heckler, as the watery dance earned Lochte his highest score of the season.
Later in the night, gymnast Laurie Hernandez nailed a perfect score by channeling the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, and Vanilla Ice vowed with a Viennese Waltz.
Hernandez was called “Queen of the Ballroom,” while Ice “brought his A game.”
“Dancing With the Stars” airs on ABC Mondays at 8 p.m.
See video of Rose’s sultry performance below.
