Along with spooky dances full of theatrics, Halloween Night on “Dancing with the Stars” featured a special guest judge and a dance marathon, while one contestant was absent from the live show due to an injury.
Tuesday’s episode ended with a surprising elimination that sent home Utah influencer and “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Jen Affleck. Affleck had been paired with Jan Ravnik as her pro partner.
For their Halloween Night performance, the pair did a contemporary number to “Look What You Made Me Do” by Taylor Swift. The dance earned them a total score of 32/40.
After the elimination was announced, host Alfonso Ribeiro asked Affleck what her experience on “Dancing with the Stars” has meant to her.
“This experience has meant everything to me,” she responded. “I cannot wait to talk about this in the future with my kids. I did this for my kids, and I’m so grateful for the experience.”
“Thank you for everyone rooting for me at home. I can’t tell you how much it meant to me,” she added.
Ravnik was then asked what he wanted to say to Affleck, to which he responded, “She’s a rock star.”
Former pro Cheryl Burke returns as guest judge for Halloween Night
Once again, the show’s regular panel of three judges was joined by a fourth guest judge, and this week it was former pro Cheryl Burke. The show’s three regular judges are Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.
Burke competed on the show for 26 seasons before making an exit from “Dancing with the Stars” in 2022.
Returning to the show for the first time in three years, Burke said she wanted to be a “constructive and encouraging judge,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
During her time on “Dancing with the Stars,” Burke won the mirrorball trophy twice, in Season 2 and Season 3. She was the first female pro on the show to win the trophy and the first pro to win the competition in back-to-back seasons.
Elaine Hendrix misses live show due to injury
During Tuesday’s episode, it was announced that film and TV actress Elaine Hendrix wouldn’t be present during the live show after suffering an injury earlier in the day during rehearsals.
Hendrix’s partner Alan Bersten shared what had happened during morning rehearsal.
“Elaine and I were dancing, then all of a sudden, Elaine kind of froze and said she can’t move and she can’t breathe, and something happened with her rib,” he said. “She’s in so much pain. I just hope this isn’t the end of Elaine’s dream to dance again.”
Ribeiro shared that she had been taken to the hospital, but that she had been cleared to compete next week.
Hendrix and Bersten were slated to perform an Argentine tango to “Bad to the Bone” by 2WEI and Bri Bryant.
Due to her absence, the show played a recording of Hendrix and Bersten’s last full rehearsal of their dance in lieu of a live performance and they were judged based on that rehearsal.
The pair received a score of 32/40.
How did everyone else do?
Along with their individual performances, each couple participated in a dance marathon, or “Dance Monster-thon.”
During the dance marathon, all of the couples were on the ballroom floor at the same time. As the contestants danced, they were tapped out of the dance marathon one by one.
They first danced a hustle to “Murder On The Dancefloor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and then they did the Lindy Hop to “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)” by Fergie, Q-Tip and GoonRock.
Couples earned additional bonus points based on how long they remained in the dance marathon, and the last couple standing was crowned the king and queen of “Dance Monster-thon.”
Here’s a look at each couple’s individual performances, as well as the bonus points they earned from the “Dance Monster-thon.”
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy
Social media personality Alix Earle and her pro partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, performed a tango to the song “Bury a Friend” by Billie Eilish.
Score: 39/40
Bonus points: 4
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson
Australian wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and his partner, Utah native Witney Carson, performed an Argentine tango to “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” by The Hampton String Quartet.
Score: 38/40
Bonus points: 3
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas
Utah influencer and “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Whitney Leavitt and her partner, Mark Ballas, performed a jazz dance to “Brain Stew” by Green Day.
Ballas and Leavitt were also crowned the winners of the “Dance Monster-thon,” earning them five bonus points, which put them at the top of the leaderboard.
Score: 37/40
Bonus points: 5
Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach
Reality TV star Dylan Efron and his partner, Daniella Karagach, danced a Viennese waltz to “Can’t Help Falling In Love (DARK)” by Tommee Profitt and Brooke.
Score: 35/40
Bonus points: 3
Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa
Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and her pro partner from Utah, Ezra Sosa, performed a contemporary dance to “Elastic Heart” by Sia.
Score: 34/40
Bonus points: 4
Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov
Actress Danielle Fishel, known for her role as Topanga in “Boy Meets World,” performed a Viennese waltz to “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars with her pro partner, Pasha Pashkov.
Score: 33/40
Bonus points: 2
Andy Richter and Emma Slater
Comedian Andy Richter and his pro partner, Emma Slater, performed a paso doble to “Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67: I. Allegro con brio” by Ludwig van Beethoven.
Score: 28/40
Bonus points: 1