'DWTS': Two Stars Sent Home in Surprising Double Elimination After Epic Night of Movie-Inspired Dances
*Caution: Spoilers Ahead!*
Monday's Dancing With the Stars celebrated show business with its fun A Night at the Movies week, where each couple based their solo dances on film genres. However, in the spirit of Hollywood drama, this week also saw the season's first double elimination, meaning two stars and their pro-partners were sent packing.
After all the routines had been danced and all the scores and votes weighed and measured, three couples found themselves in jeopardy: David Ross and Lindsay Arnold, Nick Viall and Peta Murgatroyd, as well as Nancy Kerrigan and Artem Chigvintsev.
Surprisingly, Ross and Arnold were spared from getting the axe, meaning Viall and Kerrigan were cut from the competition. For Viall, the elimination was a long time coming, as he had often expressed his surprise at not getting sent home earlier.
However, Kerrigan's elimination was somewhat surprising, considering her record of solid performances week after week. She was at risk of being eliminated last week and it seems as if her low voter support caught up with her.
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Speaking with co-hosts Erin Andrews and Tom Bergeron after the show, Kerrigan and Viall had nothing but praise for their time on the show and their co-stars.
"The whole experience has been amazing, especially spending it with Artem," Kerrigan said, hugging her handsome dance partner. "This has been fantastic."
"This has been one of the best [experiences] of my life," Viall added, as the cast embraced in a big group hug.
Despite having to say goodbye to two solid performers, the night was filled with fun and excitement as the stars paid tribute to some of their favorite genres of Hollywood escapism. Check out our roundup of the night's awesome movie homages.
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1. Bonner and Sharna's Barroom Brawl
Bonner Bolton and his partner, Sharna Burgess, have consistently delivered performances that put them towards the bottom of the score charts for the last few weeks. In an effort to turn that around, the pair were given something well inside Bolton's wheelhouse: A paso doble set to the theme of an old Hollywood Western.
Their performance was set in a saloon, with Bolton playing a gun slinging card cheat and Burgess playing a sexy poker hustler. The dance involved breakaway chairs, bottles being smashed over people's heads and a some epic leaps.
The intricate set design and impressive costuming --as well as Bolton's enthusiasm -- impressed the judges, but his less-than-perfect footwork earned them a less-than-stellar score of 29 out of 40.
2. Nancy is Artem's Pretty Woman
Kerrigan and Chigvintsev were given the Romance genre as their A Night at the Movies Week theme, and they cute duo pulled off an impressive routine that incorporated a slew of iconic Romance movie tropes.
The pair performed a tango set to Roy Orbison's 1964 single "Oh, Pretty Woman," and the elegant, classy number handily won over the judges, earning the pair 9s across the board for a total score of 36 out of 40.
3. Simone and Sasha Go Silent
Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and her partner, Sasha Farber, paid tribute to the fun and frivolity of classic silent films with their Charleston set to the traditional "Charleston" jazz composition that was originally written to accompany the famous dance.
Biles rocked a super-cute flapper-style wardrobe and was all smiles as she and Farber owned the dance floor. Their adorable routine earned the pair the pair a score of 37 out of 40, and was another example of how Biles has learned to loosen up and lose the rigid severity she's always needed for her flawless gymnastic routines.
4. Nick and Peta Are "Dangerous"
The former Bachelor and his gorgeous partner delivered their best dance in weeks with an Argentine tango set to "Dangerous" by David Guetta. The pair set their routine to the Action movie genre, and delivered a spy-infused extravaganza that that echoed the style and class of James Bond films.
Viall rocked a casual tux look while Murgatroyd looked more stunning than ever in a seductive, curve-hugging black gown and the pair delivered a passionate tango that was the perfect blend of romantic and adversarial. The pair earned a 34 out of 40, making it the highest score of the season, tied with their Pinocchio-themed jazz routine during week 5.
5. Rashad Goes On the Hunt for Emma
NFL star Rashad Jennings and his partner, Emma Slater, were given Horror as their movie genre for the week, and the pair embraced the challenge with open arms. While Slater choreographed a paso doble set to the iconic composition "O Fortuna," Jennings wrote an entire backstory about a serial killer and the magic incantation that summons him.
Rashad's powerful energy and commanding presence made up for the tiny mistakes he made, and the couple earned a 37 out of 40, tying Biles and Farber for the second highest score of the night.
6. David and Lindsay Dance in the Future
The Chicago Cubs star and his partner had to come up with a Science Fiction-themed salsa, and the pair set the neon-colored futuristic routine to "Universal Mind Control" by Common, feat. Pharrell Williams, which was the spot-on perfect choice.
Ross once again relied on his winning charm and his fun, carefree personality to shine through in a dance that, while engaging, was less than flawless. After the lasers settled and the neon glow dimmed, the pair walked away with the second lowest score of the night, 32 out of 40, but clearly it was enough to keep him on for at least another week.
7. Normani and Val Are Just the Best
After two weeks of nearly perfect routines, Normani Kordei and Val Chmerkovskiy pulled off a Argentine tango -- set to "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás," sung by Andrea Bocelli -- that finally earned that elusive '10' from Len Goodman, who had been one the judges who'd been most critical of Kordei in the past.
Their dance, which was an homage to Foreign cinema, saw the pair deliver a flawless performance, and it was hard to tell who was the pro and who was the star. The duo earned the season's second perfect 40 out of 40 and were thus immune from elimination this week.
With this performance, it is tempting to say that the Fifth Harmony singer already has the Mirror Ball Trophy in the bag, but after Heather Morris' shocking elimination last week, it seems as if nothing is certain this season.
Dancing With the Stars returns next Monday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
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