Dancing with the Stars “Season 21 Week 4” aka My Most Memorable Year 

Tonight there was a notable absence. Host Tom Bergeron was with his family and at his father side. Filling in for Tom, was Alfonso Ribeiro. Good thoughts go out to Tom and his family.

My Most Memorable Year is when the celebrity’s dance is an expression of their most memorable year in life so far. This episode is usually a tearjerker and it did not disappoint.Here are the couples:

Alexa PenaVega and Mark Ballas
Dance: Foxtrot
Phone Number: 855-234-5602

• I thought it was a nice dance but, for some reason, there was something missing for me. She missed a few steps but she is still a great dancer. This was Alexa’s first ballroom dance so she can only get better.

Score: Carrie Ann-7, Julianne-7, Bruno-7- Total: 21

Gary Busey and Anna Trebunskaya
Dance: Jazz
Phone Number: 855-234-5607

• Oh Gary. As entertaining as he is it’s probably getting close for him to leave. But, as the judges say, they love his spirit. Even though Jazz is pretty free form, Gary has issues with the fluidity of the dance.

Score: Carrie Ann-5, Julianne-6, Bruno-5- Total: 16

Tamar Braxton and Val Chmerkovskiy
Dance: Rumba
Phone Number: 855-234-5612

I thought it was a beautiful dance. I thought the judges were going to give her 10s but I think Tamar is on the cusp. It was also a very lovely tribute to her husband, Vince.

Score: Carrie Ann-9, Julianne-9, Bruno-9- Total: 27

Hayes Grier and Emma Slater
Dance: Contemporary
Phone Number: 855-234-5608

• I thought that this was his best dance so far. I do think that he just needs a little bit of softening. Overall, he really does improve every week.

Score: Carrie Ann-9, Julianne-9, Bruno-9- Total: 27

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold
Dance: Paso Doble
Phone Number: 855-234-5601

• Alek had a very scary week. The shootout in Oregon happened at the college he would have been attending had he not been appearing on DWTS. He learned the dance and was able to perform well. He has some posture issues to work on but, overall, he made it through.

Score: Carrie Ann-8, Julianne-8, Bruno-8- Total: 24

Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess
Dance: Jazz
Phone Number: 855-234-5610

• For anyone that loves boy bands (and yes, I am one of those). Nick’s dance was a tribute to us! It honored his fellow bandmates as they helped him become the person that he is.

Score: Carrie Ann-9, Julianne-9, Bruno-9- Total: 27

Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson
Dance: Waltz
Phone Number: 855-234-5605

• I felt the connection that Carlos had with the dance and with Witney. He has small technical things to work on but this was a bit of a breakthrough in my mind.

Score: Carrie Ann-9, Julianne-8, Bruno-8- Total: 25

Paula Deen and Louis van Amstel
Dance: Cha Cha
Phone Number: 855-234-5611

• I didn’t realize just how skinny Miss Paula looks! Paula loses focus a lot but when she is in the moment she does what she has to do. She needs more confidence.

Score: Carrie Ann-6, Julianne-6, Bruno-6- Total: 18

Andy Grammer and Allison Holker
Dance: Cha Cha
Phone Number: 855-234-5603

• Allison announced earlier in the evening that she’s pregnant. She is still totally in it to win it. How can that tiny girl be pregnant? That’s for another blog. Andy talked about how he lost his mom and how his purpose in life was to make her happy. Well Andy, I think you made her happy. The dance was happy and fun.

Score: Carrie Ann-7, Julianne-8, Bruno-8- Total: 23

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough
Dance: Contemporary
Phone Number: 855-234-5604

• As I write this as I am crying because this dance was magic. A tribute to Bindi’s father, the late Steve Irwin, brought the house down. It was the first time that I had seen Bindi open and vulnerable when talking about her father. She is always upbeat but this showed that she has this side that still mourns him til this day.

Score: Carrie Ann-9, Julianne-9, Bruno-10- Total: 28

• After Bindi and Derek got their scores, it was time for elimination. The first couple in jeopardy was Carlos and Witney. The second couple in jeopardy was Gary and Anna.

• It was Gary’s time to go. Kudos to Anna for doing what she did with Gary.

Favorite Quotes

Alfonso: “I hope I don’t black out.”
Gary: “They are judging the dance and we aren’t judging the judging.”
Alfonso: “That was scary. Now it makes sense.”
Andy: “We’re the only trio now.”
Erin: “Well I guess that wasn’t good, Alfonso!”
Alfonso: “And yes there is a fat one in the ballroom.”
Paula: “I want to do my own dance.”
Paula: “I hope they don’t switch me out for good, Erin.”
Alfonso: “I don’t even know where to go with that.”
Gary: “And with Anna, from Russia with Love…. the fact that I was eliminated is false…”

Next week the bad boy of dance is back! Maks returns as a guest judge. Will he be soft like he was when he judged before or will he say what he really feels? Until next week!

Dancing with the Stars Season 21 airs at 8/7c on ABC on Monday nights.