Dancing with the Stars “Season 22 Week 9” aka the Semifinals 

We’re in the home stretch, people! Yes, the Semifinals reigned supreme on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars this week. There was an added challenge: the couples had to perform a Trio dance. Doing well was essential because the scores help determine who will take home the Mirror Ball Trophy. It’s really anyone’s game. Who crumbled under the pressure? Who rocked their routines? What’s really important here is if the audience will be happy with the finalists. Let’s see how the couples did:

Round #1- Trios

Paige VanZant and Mark Ballas (with Alan Bersten)
Dance: Samba
Phone Number: 800-868-3410

• This was a fantastic dance. They were in sync with each other and had serious chemistry. It seems that Paige and Alan might be a “thing” but they wouldn’t come out and say it. Besides the “heat,” Len said it best: this was a showstopper. Paige threw down the gauntlet.

Score: Carrie Ann-10, Len-10, Bruno-10; Total: 30

Antonio Brown and Sharna Burgess (with Hayley Erbert)
Dance: Argentine Tango
Phone Number: 800-868-3401

• Antonio got all the steps but I felt like he was a bit detached. He was determined and he attacked it, well enough. But was it good enough?

Score: Carrie Ann-9, Len-9, Bruno-9; Total: 27

Wanya Morris and Lindsay Arnold (with Witney Carson)
Dance: Paso Doble
Phone Number: 800-868-3412

• After last week’s stumble, I was worried that it would be hard on Wanya’s confidence. But the man is a professional and the show must go on. I think the best dance to perform as a trio is the Paso Doble. (Alfonso did a Paso with Witney & Lindsay and he won the Mirror Ball. Just saying!) Wanya killed it! The three of them were one unit. You could see every nuance and it was perfection. And, clearly, the judges agreed with me. (Which they really should do more often!)

Score: Carrie Ann-10, Len-10, Bruno-10; Total: 30

Nyle DiMarco and Peta Murgatroyd (with Jenna Johnson)
Dance: Jive
Phone Number: 800-868-3409

• For the first time, Nyle lost his timing. Regardless, it was fun and it still amazes me how well he can stay with the beat. But the judges have to treat him the same as everyone else. I agreed with Carrie Ann that the Jive is the hardest dance to do as a trio. Even though it wasn’t his best dance, Nyle has been astounding everyone since the beginning of the season.

Score: Carrie Ann-9, Len-9, Bruno-9; Total: 27

Ginger Zee and Val Chmerkovskiy (with Artem Chigventsev)
Dance: Paso Doble
Phone Number: 800-868-3404

• Okay, I have to admit I am getting the Ginger effect. This was really well done and she looked like a professional out there. I guess she slipped a little bit but I didn’t see it. The judges did see the slip up and it cost her points

Score: Carrie Ann-9, Len-9, Bruno-9; Total: 27

Round 2

Paige VanZant and Mark Ballas
Dance: Argentine Tango
Phone Number: 800-868-3410

• This Tango was intense. It was very sexy and it almost went over the line. But the choreography and technique were flawless. This girl has to make it to the finals not because she is so great, but because if she doesn’t, Bruno will wear a speedo. And we can’t have that.

Score: Carrie Ann-10, Len-9, Bruno-10; Total: 29

Total for both dances: 59

Antonio Brown and Sharna Burgess
Dance: Contemporary
Phone Number: 800-868-3401

• Because of Antonio’s physical strength, the lifts were incredible. The connection between Antonio and Sharna was solidified during this dance. I agree with Carrie Ann and Len that he is not the strongest dancer but he definitely deserves to be in the semifinals.

Score: Carrie Ann-9, Len-9, Bruno-10; Total: 28

Total for both dances: 55

Wanya Morris and Lindsay Arnold
Dance: Charleston
Phone Number: 800-868-3412

• I heart Wanya! He really stepped up this week and put last week’s trip up behind him. He and Lindsay mixed similar styles to the Charleston like Jive and the Quickstep, which was fabulous. The man got a perfect score, the number one spot. But after last week, would this propel him into the Finals?

Score: Carrie Ann-10, Len-10, Bruno-10; Total: 30

Total for both dances: 60

Nyle DiMarco and Peta Murgatroyd
Dance: Argentine Tango
Phone Number: 800-868-3409

• Wow. Peta blindfolded Nyle for a small part of the dance and he didn’t miss a beat. He has proven that you can do anything if you set your mind to it. You have to acknowledge Peta, as well, because she is probably one of the strongest teachers of the professional dancers.

Score: Carrie Ann-10, Len-10, Bruno-10; Total: 30

Total for both dances: 57

Ginger Zee and Val Chmerkovskiy
Dance: Quickstep
Phone Number: 800-868-3404

• There was a little misstep but, overall, it was smooth and in time. Clearly Len and Bruno didn’t agree. I don’t know how she is handling everything, with being on GMA, having a baby and dealing with a Chmerkovskiy brother!

Score: Carrie Ann-9, Len-10, Bruno-10; Total: 29

Total for the night: 57

The moment of truth: Three teams were going to the finals. Two couples would fall short.

The first couple going to the finals: Ginger & Val. The second couple going to the finals: Nyle & Peta. The final couple in the running for the Mirror Ball Trophy: Paige & Mark.

That means Wanya & Lindsay and Sharna & Antonio are eliminated. Everyone deserved to be there and it was not an easy choice. I am really sad about Wanya but sometimes the best dancers do not get the Mirror Ball.

Favorite Quotes

Erin: “Your peacock feathers are much bigger.”
Tom: “I tell ya, usually to get that awkward suggestive conversation, you have to be watching a Presidential debate.”
Len: “I can’t argue with my wife so I have to argue with you.”
Len: “Thank god the music stopped when it did because I didn’t know where you were going.”
Len: “Come on yourself.”
Tom: “Well clearly it got a rise out of him.”
Bruno: “If you don’t get into the final I will judge in a speedo.”
Tom: America should feel threatened right now.”
Tom: “How about the dance?”

Next week is the two-night finale of Season 22! Didn’t we just begin? Who will be the champions of Season 22? Anything can happen. Remember to vote.

Next week Dancing with the Stars airs Monday night at 8/7c. The finale is set to air Tuesday night at 9/8c on ABC.