Table of Contents
On an enchanting evening, Dancing with the Stars transformed into a theatrical spectacle with its Wicked Night. This special episode featured guest judge John M. Chu, known for his remarkable direction, as contestants performed to beloved songs from the hit musical Wicked.
Couples channeled the powerful characters of Elphaba and Glinda, creating an atmosphere buzzing with excitement and anticipation.
This week’s scores reflected a combination of performances from both the current and previous episodes. Following some criticisms directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba during the dedication night, she redeemed herself by awarding the first perfect score of the season—a coveted 10—to Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas for their lively quickstep.
While Derek Hough opted for a 9, the rest of the panel unanimously supported Inaba’s decision.
Highlight performances of the week
As the evening progressed, other couples made notable impressions. Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sousa showcased a stunning rumba, earning them three 10s and a 9 from Hough, who appeared to be reserving his perfect score for a special moment.
After witnessing Andy Richter and Emma Slater’s jazz routine, Hough remarked on the significance of the week, ultimately scoring them a 6, while other judges rated them higher.
Judges’ feedback and scores
Inaba had previously critiqued Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov, suggesting that their performances lacked distinction.
However, this week was different; Inaba praised Fishel’s bravery, deeming it her breakthrough dance. Bruno Tonioli chimed in, describing it as the most challenging song to choreograph, while Hough admired the complexity of their routine, calling it magnificent. Their hard work paid off with an impressive total of four 9s, propelling them up the leaderboard.
The emotional highlight of the episode was undoubtedly Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten’s contemporary piece set to the powerful anthem Defying Gravity. The performance resonated with both the audience and the judges, leaving Hendrix in tears as she expressed disbelief at her accomplishment, especially given her age and injuries.
Their routine earned them four 9s—a testament to its impact.
Final standings and elimination
As the night drew to a close, the cumulative scores from the past two weeks revealed a tense leaderboard. Scott Hoying remained at the bottom, while Whitney Leavitt took the lead. After an astonishing total of 100 million votes cast by viewers, the results brought about an emotional elimination—Hoying was sent home, adding a touch of sadness to an otherwise celebratory night.
Scores recap from wicked night
Here’s a quick overview of the scores from the Wicked Night episode:
- Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold: Contemporary toThe Wizard And I– Score: 28/40
- Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy: Jazz toWhat Is This Feeling?– Score: 35/40
- Robert Irwin and Witney Carson: Jazz toDancing Through Life– Score: 36/40
- Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas: Quickstep toPopular– Score: 39/40
- Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach: Rumba toI’m Not That Girl– Score: 32/40
- Andy Richter and Emma Slater: Jazz toOne Short Day– Score: 27/40
- Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten: Contemporary toDefying Gravity– Score: 36/40
- Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik: Foxtrot toAs Long as You’re Mine– Score: 32/40
- Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov: Argentine Tango toNo Good Deed– Score: 36/40
- Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa: Rumba toFor Good– Score: 39/40
Looking ahead, viewers can anticipate the next episode set to air on Halloween night, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. The excitement continues as the competition heats up.
