Dancing with the Stars “Season 18 Week 8” 

Abby Lee Miller was in the ballroom and I was scared and ready for something to go down. If you don’t know her, she’s from this Lifetime show called Dance Moms and to say she is critical is an understatement.

But before we get to that, the professionals did a big number to Mark Ballas’ new song, “Get My Name.” Not only did he dance but he sang the song live!

On this episode, the couples would be performing two dances. The second being with another couple. The two celebrities had to dance together at some point during the combined dance. This is something the show has never done before so it was either going to go well or not so much.  

Let’s see how everyone did:

The first couple to find out if they were safe was Charlie & Sharna. They also got to dance first.

Charlie White and Sharna Burgess 

Dance:  Quickstep

• Last week Charlie wanted those 10s really bad and he was thinking about that too much which put him off his game.  But like a true champion he came back and got what he wanted:  a perfect score.  Now Abby was already being nitpicky with her comments but she obviously still liked what he did.

Score: 10-Carrie Ann, 10- Len, 10- Abby, 10-Bruno; Total: 40

Voting number: 800-868-3412

Then the Brothers C and their partners found out where they stood:

• Meryl & Maks – Safe
• Danica & Val – In Jeopardy.

Danica and Val then had to dance.

Danica McKellar and Valentin Chmerkovskiy 

Dance:  Tango

• All the judges were impressed but Carrie Ann probably expressed it the best by saying how proud she was of her.  Having a broken rib did not look like it hindered her at all.

Score: 10-Carrie Ann, 9- Len, 9- Abby, 10-Bruno; Total: 38

Voting number: 800-868-3403

Meryl Davis and Maksim Chmerkovskiy  

Dance: Rhumba

• We know they have chemistry and dance like no one is watching.  As Bruno said, “it was like watching a play with no words.” I couldn’t describe it any better than that. Of course, Abby was being picky again about Meryl’s feet and Maks made it clear he didn’t care what Miss Abby had to say. (See favorite quotes below)

Score: 9-Carrie Ann, 9- Len, 8- Abby, 10-Bruno; Total: 36

Voting number: 800-868-3406

The remaining couples then found out if they were safe or in jeopardy:

• Amy & Derek -Safe
• James & Peta – in Jeopardy
• Candace & Mark – in Jeopardy.

Candace and Mark would dance first out of the three couples.

Candace Cameron Bure and Mark Ballas: 

Dance:  Foxtrot

• The judges discussed how her confidence has grown so much, even in the last two weeks. Not my favorite dance of the night but they are correct that she seems to be more relaxed and confident.

Score: 9-Carrie Ann, 9- Len, 9-Abby, 9-Bruno; Total: 36

Voting number: 800-868-3407

James Maslow and Peta Murgatroyd  

Dance: Viennese Waltz

• I think James is a great dancer and he and Peta have great chemistry. I did agree with the judges that his hold seems a little off but he just has to work on his posture. And Abby liked him a little too much because I don’t think she was watching his technique.

Score: 8-Carrie Ann, 9- Len, 10- Abby, 9-Bruno; Total: 36

Voting number: 800-868-3402

Amy Purdy and Derek Hough 

Dance:  Argentine Tango

• Last week Amy had gotten seriously hurt and taken to the hospital during the show. But she was cleared to dance by her doctor after taking it easy for a couple of days. We all say it every week but the girl is amazing. And Derek is a great teacher.

Score: 10-Carrie Ann, 10- Len, 10- Abby, 10-Bruno; Total: 40

Voting number: 800-868-3410

Round 2- Celebrity Dance Duel

Meryl & Maks and Danica & Val

Dance: Samba

• During rehearsal there was some tension and at one point the brothers’ grandmother showed up to make sure they were behaving themselves. It was pretty funny. The dance was well choreographed but the girls were a little out of sync when they danced without the boys. But it still was a great little dance.

Score: 8-Carrie Ann, 9- Len, 8- Abby, 9-Bruno; Total: 34

Candace & Mark and Charlie & Sharna

Dance: Contemporary

• The cool thing about this dance was that Charlie did lifts during the whole time that it was just him and Candace and it was lovely. I think this is Candace’s dance. Remember her first contemporary and how good that one ways? The group was attuned to each other which made it so poetic.

Score: 9-Carrie Ann, 9- Len, 10- Abby, 10-Bruno; Total: 38

Amy & Derek and James & Peta

Dance: Jive

• James was a bit nervous to dance with Amy, just because he wanted to make sure she was comfortable. Even with that, he still dropped her in rehearsal but it didn’t matter because they worked so well together.

Score: 9-Carrie Ann, 10- Len, 10- Abby, 10-Bruno; Total: 39

I have to say this dance duel turned out so well. I hope they do it again next season.

So it came down to three couples in jeopardy: James & Peta, Danica & Val and Candace & Mark. The first couple that was safe was Candace and Mark. It came down to James & Peta and Danica & Val.

But it was the end of the road for Danica & Val. I think for a girl that had broken a rib she worked her but off.  

Favorite Quotes

Tom: “Just don’t be bashful like you usually are.”

Tom: “It’s only a two hour show, you will have to move it along.”

Bruno: “He was off the starting block like a thoroughbred at the Kentucky Derby.”

Tom: “Welcome to this is your life.”

Maks: “I really don’t care with anything she has to say.”

Tom: “I smell some spray tan wrestling coming on.”

Tom: “I just thought we had a big youtube moment.”

One of James’ bandmates: “You guys have chemistry like a married couple. Are you guys dating or something?”

Tom: “You’re such a giver.”

Amy: “In order to get through this I have to really dig deep.”

Maddie from “Dance Mom”: “She’s being really nice, I thought she was going to be a little bit ruder.”

Tom: “It’s a hard knock life.”

Grandma Chmerkovskiy: “This is not a good question.”

Can you believe it?  Next week is the Semi-Finals!  Time really does fly when you are having fun. There will be a celebration of American Icons. The guest judge will be famous choreographer, Kenny Ortega (Dirty Dancing, High School Musical, anyone?). See you next week.

Dancing with the Stars airs on Mondays at 8pm on ABC.