Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars delivered a rocking night in the ballroom. For Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night, the contestants performed twice. They danced with their partner, as well as participating in a team routine.
Last week, actress Elaine Hendrix suffered a rib injury and couldn’t dance on Halloween Night. Consequently, she was cleared to dance this week. In addition, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jen Affleck and her partner, Jan Ravnik, were sent home. They danced a contemporary number, set to Taylor Swift’s hit Look What You Made Me Do. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to secure their ballroom safety.
Meanwhile, a guest judge grabbed a paddle. This week, Hall of Famer Flavor Flav of Public Enemy joined the judges to share his impression of the performances. He was also looking forward to seeing “grace” and “preciseness” in the dances… Meanwhile, the duo that tops the leaderboard after the first round of competition will be immune from next week’s relay dances. They will also win bonus points for next week.
What happened in Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Episode 8?
The Paso Doble, jive, jazz, contemporary, and Viennese Waltz were the styles on our ticket for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night. Further, the fantastic opening number set to Def Leppard’s Pour Some Sugar On Me was choreographed by Britt Stewart. In addition, I also loved the fun DWTS tour group performance, choreographed by Mandy Moore. They danced to Outkast’s Hey Ya!.
Meanwhile, for the team dances, hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough each joined a team. Plus, Chicago performed 25 or 6 to 4 for Team Chicago’s routine. Team Chicago’s captain Danielle Fishel, along with Alfonso, Jordan Chiles, Dylan Efron, and Whitney Leavitt. killed it. Their routine was Blue Brothers-inspired. Alfonso brought out his Carlton moves, and Jordan performed athletic tricks. It was fun and energetic. Carrie Ann Inaba called the routine “so tight, so clean,” while Flavor Flav declared, “Team Chicago is the bomb diggety, baby!” In the end, Team Chicago scored 40 out of 40 points.
Next up, Team Kool, whose captain was Andy Richter, was joined by Julianne, Elaine, Alix Earle, and Robert Irwin. The group danced to Kool & the Gang’s hit, Celebration. In this routine, Julianne was attempting to rein in a wild graduation. It was fun-filled and entertaining. And loveable Andy even did his version of the Carlton! Judge Derek Hough stated, “The other team was, I think, tighter and more in sync as a group. I loved it from start to finish.” The team scored 38 out of 40 points, with Derek and Flavor Flav flashing their 10 paddles.
Who was eliminated in Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Episode 8?
Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov were eliminated in Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Episode 8!
Whitney and her partner, Mark Ballas, landed in the bottom three along with Andy and Emma Slater and Danielle and her pro, Pasha Paskov. Once again, Andy was saved, and Danielle and Pasha were sent home. The duo came in seventh place. It seems that Danielle had struggled with her emotional contemporary routine to Dream On by Aerosmith. Judge Bruno Tonioli called out a “tiny mishap in the dance.” He added that Danielle “should be proud of yourself and what you have achieved.” Carrie Ann stated, “You told that story. Well done!”
For her part, Danielle said that her DWTS experience “has meant everything. It has truly been life-changing, and every single moment, including this one, has been joyous.” I love Danielle’s positive outlook. In a sweet moment, Pasha told Danielle, “You are now my friend for life.”
Who got the top score of the night in Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Episode 8?
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas had the highest score in Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Episode 8.
Whitney and Mark’s dramatic Paso Doble to Ozzy Osbourne’s No More Tears was fabulous. With the top three couples all dancing the Paso Doble, the pressure was high. In the dance, Whitney portrayed a spider, while Mark was trapped in her web.
“That Paso rocked. It was classic, it was edgy, it was entangled, and totally metal,” Derek stated. “That was perfection.” Flavor Flav added, “You’re timing was on point, you hear me?” Carrie Ann called the routine “sick and amazing.” However, she also pointed out that Whitney had “stumbles” with her foot.
The couple scored 39 out of 40 points, with Carrie Ann the only judge not awarding a 10. Plus, Whitney and Alix and her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, tied at the top of the leaderboard after the first round. Since Whitney and Mark had the highest scores across the season, they won immunity from the dance relay and secured two bonus points for next week. However, this is the second week that Whitney has landed in the bottom three. Could her fan support be slipping?
What were the judge’s scores in DWTS Season 34 Episode 8?
- Whitney and Mark (Paso Doble) – 79 points
- Jordan and Ezra (Jazz) – 78 points
- Alix and Val (Paso Doble) – 77 points
- Dylan and Daniella (Jive) – 76 points
- Robert and Witney (Paso Doble) – 76 points
- Elaine and Alan (Viennese Waltz) – 75 points
- Danielle and Pasha (Contemporary) – 74 points
- Andy and Emma (Contemporary) – 68 points
The ballroom delivered hard-rocking performances. Alix and Val’s Paso Doble to Livin’ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi was sexy and powerful. “Well, well, well. Alix, the Paso Doble bombshell – sexy as hell!” Bruno remarked. “So strong, so grounded, so powerful,” Carrie Ann stated. The duo earned 39 out of 40 points.
Plus, Jordan embodied Tina Turner for her jazz to River Deep – Mountain High by Ike and Tina Turner. Her costume was on point, and her dancing and tricks were killer. Jordan even shook her booty while dancing on the judges’ table. “I’m giving you a 55,” Flavor Flav stated, and he held to his promise. He held up two 5’s to signal giving out a perfect 10.
In addition, I was spellbound by Robert and Whitney’s passionate and seductive Paso Doble to Icky Thump by The White Stripes. “The thunder from Down Under has unleashed a grandiose Paso Doble,” Bruno said. However, Carrie Ann called out some “little wobbles” during the routine.
Final thoughts on Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Episode 8
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night was epic! Elaine and Alan Bersten’s enchanting Viennese Waltz to What the World Needs Now Is Love by Dionne Warwick thrilled me. It was graceful and beautiful. “That really was a sumptuous performance,” Bruno commented. “Extremely elegant, light, flowing, smooth.” Obviously, the duo earned their best scores of the season and a 10 from Flavor Flav. You would never know that she was injured.
Additionally, Dylan and Daniella performed a jive to Elton John’s hit, I’m Still Standing. Let us all take a moment to reflect on Bruno’s epic dance moves in that music video. They incorporated some of Bruno’s moves in the performance, and Dylan showed his abs. “Why you didn’t wear my outfit?” Bruno stated. “I promise you, no one would have looked at your feet.” Oh, Bruno!
And Andy and Emma delivered a heartfelt contemporary routine about their friendship, which focused on emotion, and not Andy’s comedic gifts. Finally, I thought that both teams delivered entertaining routines. Having Alfonso and Julianne join in was a fun twist.
Next week, we will celebrate the 20th birthday of DWTS. And former host Tom Bergeron is returning as a guest judge! I love it!
Dancing with the Stars airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC and Disney+. It will stream on Hulu the next day.
TELL US – WHICH SEASON 34 EPISODE 8 ROUTINE WAS YOUR FAVORITE? DID YOU AGREE WITH TONIGHT’S ELIMINATION?
