'Dancing With The Stars' week 6: Dance-by-dance recap, elimination
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Want to see high energy on your reality TV show? Invite Pitbull! The award-winning performer opened week six of "Dancing With The Stars" with his new hit song, "Fireball." It was one giant party, complete with glow sticks, the audience on their feet, and a super sexy number by the pro dancers.
After the "Fireball" was put out, Pitbull slid over to the judges table where he filled in for Len Goodman. And if that wasn't enough Pitbull for you, the couples danced to either one of his songs or one of his favorite songs.
Pitbull wasn't the only "newbie" in the ballroom this week. Erin Andrews had to fulfill her baseball commentator commitments and was getting ready for the World Series. Filling in: a very funny and very real Leah Remini.
After last week's "switch-up," the celebrities are back with their original partners.
PHOTOS: "Dancing With The Stars" week 6 highlights
Here's a recap of the dances, from highest to lowest score:
ALFONSO RIBEIRO - 39 out of 40
Alfonso's signature dance from his sitcom days, "the Carlton", could be his undoing in the ballroom! He pulled his groin doing that move, and it's causing him some real, visible pain. Alfonso battles his way through rehearsals (and then Witney Carson injures herself during dress rehearsal), but the duo knows when it's time to shine. Julianne Hough started the judging by saying she hopes everyone is OK, and loved the routine. Bruno Tonioli thought their rhythm was infectious and loved the vitality they showed. Carrie Ann Inaba actually spanked Alfonso 10 times as a preview to what her paddle would soon show, and Pitbull got up out of his chair and did a little Salsa himself.
VIDEO: Alfonso Ribeiro, Witney Carson talk Len Goodman's return
BETHANY MOTA - 36 out of 40
Bethany and Derek Hough raced to the airport right after last week's show and boarded a plane for Australia. She had some YouTube commitments and her day job severely cut into their practice time. Even though he said this was the least amount of time he's ever had to prepare for a dance, Derek was able to keep the routine clean and pure. Bruno called it straight down the line ballroom and Julianne offered up her best Len impression and said "no fluff!"
VIDEO: Bethany Mota, Derek Hough talk team dance rehearsal
SADIE ROBERTSON - 35 out of 40
Mark Ballas had his work cut out for him this week! He and Sadie were assigned the Rumba, and he had to find a way to make that sensual romantic dance into something that would be age appropriate for a teenager. She giggled her way through rehearsals. Sadie even invited her grandma in to help judge the appropriateness of the routine! Mark assures the family he doesn't want to step on her values. Julianne thought Mark hit the tone just right, making the dance passionate but not raunchy. Bruno called it tastefully sensual, romantic and lyrical. Pitbull praised Mark's coaching style and said the routine was amazing and believable.
VIDEO: Sadie Robertson, Mark Ballas talk about their Rumba
JANEL PARRISH - 33 out of 40
Are Janel and Val Chmerkovskiy flirting for the cameras and for our votes or is there a real attraction here? They're not saying. It looks like the producers tried their best to get something out of Val about his feelings, but he kept his feelings to himself. Val told Janel he missed her during "switch-up" week, which she loved to hear, but then he got right back into tough teacher mode, which she did not. The duo Sambas to a Celia Cruz classic, and both Julianne and Bruno each gave a "9" for the content. Pitbull was the wet blanket, telling Janel and Val he just didn't feel the passion. Val let us know he was so committed to this sexy shirtless routine that he waxed his chest and stomach for the first time ever!
VIDEO: Janel Parrish, Val Chmerkovskiy dance around rumored romance
JONATHAN BENNETT - 32 out of 40
Jonathan is happy to be back with Allison Holker and brings his goofy self to the rehearsal hall. She immediately sneaks him away and encourages him to just be himself. She thinks he's trying too hard to be "on" all the time. Whatever she said stuck with him, and we saw a much more natural Jonathan this week. Julianne complemented the improvement he showed in this Jazz routine. Bruno thought he had his "mojo" back. Carrie Ann praised his resilience and Pitbull thought JB had a few extraterrestrial dance moves that he might just have to steal.
LEA THOMPSON - 32 out of 40
Artem pushes Lea a bit this week because he sees her hovering around the top of the judges' leaderboard, and he wants her to stay there. The couple has a bit of a spat about coaching style. Artem reinforces that he doesn't just want her to dance, he wants her to be a great dancer. They have the Salsa and they know they aren't the only ones who are doing that style. Lea looks like she had a great time on the dance floor. She is a good actress, too, so even if she's acting like she's having fun, good for her. Bruno and Pitbull liked the Miami influence in the routine, but Carrie Ann and Julianne thought Lea wasn't playing to her strengths. They both advised her to trust herself and her partner and not worry about what other celebrities are doing.
VIDEO: Lea Thompson talks 'Dancing With The Stars' injury
MICHAEL WALTRIP - 30 out of 40
Michael and Emma Slater had a field trip to meet up with the NASCAR nation in Talladega. He was a little dismayed by the "5s" he received last week but his racing buddies, and his fans, offered nothing but encouragement. Emma choreographed a great Argentine Tango to a slowed down version of Pitbull and Ne-Yo's "Give Me Everything," and he did! Carrie Ann thought he looked composed, elegant, and vulnerable. Julianne praised him for being authentic and emotional. Bruno said Michael had dedication, focus, and connection.
ANTONIO SABATO JR - 28 out of 40
It was a rough week for Antonio and Cheryl Burke. Mid-rehearsal, she learned her dad was very ill and had been hospitalized. She powered through but you could tell it was hard for her to focus. Fortunately, her dad texted her the following day and said he would be OK, and said the thing that would make him happiest would be watching her perform. The couple danced a Salsa that Julianne said had a great storyline. Bruno said it took him to the streets of Havana and Carrie Ann told him his growth over the six weeks of the show has been consistent and to keep it up. She also told him to relax and let the music move him! Once upstairs, Leah first begged him to take his shirt off. Then once the scores were lower than they all thought they should be, Leah reminded the audience to vote and said "no one can rely on the judge's scores, thank God!"
VIDEO: Antonio Sabato Jr., Cheryl Burke talk next week's team dance
TOMMY CHONG - 28 out of 40
Tommy felt he needed to recharge his batteries and doing that meant heading out to the desert and into a sweat lodge. Peta Murgatroyd gamely went along with the shtick. (Or maybe because it's Tommy it was real). He dispels his negative thoughts, then does a comedy bit with a "vision" of Cloris Leachman, who wishes him luck. He gets a little lost every so often in their Foxtrot and it often looks like Peta is leading, but no matter, he's completely watchable. Carrie Ann called him debonair with mistakes. Pitbull referred to Tommy as the most interesting man in the world and said though the dance was not perfect, it was fun.
VIDEO: Tommy Chong, Peta Murgatroyd talk upcoming team dance
Michael Waltrip and Emma Slater, Jonathan Bennett and Allison Holker, and Janel Parrish and Val Chmerkovskiy were in jeopardy. In the end, Jonathan and Allison were booted from the dance floor.
VIDEO: Jonathan Bennett, Allison Holker talk 'DWTS' week 6 elimination
"I came here because I was in a really low place with losing my parents and I wanted to do something out of my comfort zone to just kind of break out and try to bring some, like, life back into my life," said the "Mean Girls" actor. "And I did. And that life was Allison Holker and 'Dancing With The Stars.' And now I'm leaving here feeling alive again and that I can take on the world."
Eight couples remain for next week's competition. They'll return to the ballroom Monday to perform two dances -- besides their regular routines, they've also got team dances.
