Dancing with the Stars “Season 23 The Semifinals” 

It’s semifinals time on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Can you believe it? Come to think of it, I think I say that every season!

Each couple has to perform two dances this week. One is the famous trio round! Everyone brought their A game because all five finalists wanted to go to the finals so badly. Unfortunately, someone was going home. Who was it?

Let’s see how our couples did:

James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess
Dance: Argentine Tango
Phone Number: 1-800-868-3405

Sharna came back which made everyone happy! James blindfolded her at the beginning of the dance. That’s what you call total trust. After last week’s mistake, James wanted to return with a vengeance. And you know what? He did. One thing, though. I happened to agree with Carrie Ann. There were minor (and minute) mistakes, but when he held himself over Carrie on a chair at the end? It was total brilliance.

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

Terra Jolé and Sasha Farber
Dance: Rumba
Phone Number: 1-800-868-3412

What I loved about this dance was it showed her struggle as a little person but how she always overcame everything. She has defied the odds. Once again, I agreed with Carrie Ann. It was beautiful and each movement was perfection.

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

Jana Kramer and Gleb Savchenko
Dance: Quickstep
Phone Number: 1-800-868-3406

As Len would say, this is a proper Quickstep. In the beginning, it was a bit off. But once they got in to it, the two of them were flawless. Jana has been a great dancer from the beginning, but she has improved so much since Week 1. We all know she and Gleb have off-the-charts chemistry. Will it be enough to take them to the Finals?

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

Calvin Johnson Jr. and Lindsay Arnold
Dance: Tango
Phone Number: 1-800-868-3403

I think Calvin is another person who has come so far. Unfortunately, with his Tango, he seemed to make some mistakes and parts of it were a bit awkward, to be honest. I personally didn’t like the beginning with the avant-garde wall and the hands grabbing at them. It just didn’t work. While his lines were very good, the mistakes were too great.

Score: Carrie Ann-8, Julianne-9, Bruno-9; Total: 26

Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy
Dance: Foxtrot
Phone Number: 1-800-868-3407

Laurie’s grandmother passed away this last week so she was dancing for her. They had interviewed Laurie’s grandmother at the beginning of the competition and she was clearly so proud of her granddaughter.

Laurie and Val came out with an explosive, passionate, emotional dance that anyone would have been proud of. She cried her eyes out after it was all over, which made me get teary for her. The content was amazing and the fact she did that dance the way she did it shows the powerhouse that Laurie is.

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

TRIO DANCE

James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess (with Jenna Johnson)
Dance: Jive
Phone Number: 1-800-868-3405

Jenna was the obvious choice to complete the trio since she filled in for Sharna while she was recovering. The partnership that the three of these people have is incredible and it was almost an advantage for them. Considering this man almost died 18 months ago, it is an incredible feat that he dances the way he does.

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

Terra Jolé and Sasha Farber (with Artem Chigvintsev)
Dance: Tango
Phone Number: 1-800-868-3412

Terra makes me so happy. This is a girl that when she dances you forget she is a little person. The reason is because she dances so big and goes for it ever single time. She had fun with this trio that also featured Artem Chigvintsev. I agreed with Carrie Ann (yet again) that Terra slayed the Tango.

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

Jana Kramer and Gleb Savchenko (with Alan Bersten)
Dance: Paso Doble
Phone Number: 1-800-868-3406

Of course, Alan was the best choice for the third dancer since he helped out when Gleb was hurt. There was quite a power that came out of Jana that no one had seen before. Gleb put a lot of content in the choreography. As I was watching, I felt like something was off, but that obviously was just me. Jana has chemistry with both these men and it is hot!

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

Calvin Johnson Jr. and Lindsay Arnold (with Witney Carson)
Dance: Salsa
Phone Number: 1-800-868-3403

Best friends Lindsay and Witney were together again! And they got to do some amazing tricks because of Calvin’s strength. The one with the both of them at the same time — it was pretty fantastic. The routine was fun and you could see the pure joy on Calvin’s face.

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

Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy (with Maks Chmerkovskiy)
Dance: Samba
Phone Number: 1-800-868-3407

Of course when you have the brothers together you can expect magic! And Laurie fit right in with them as the little sister. It was powerful and it told a story. Laurie is in it to win it!

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

Now for the elimination announcement. The couples that were safe: Laurie & Val, James & Sharna, and Jana & Gleb. The two couples in jeopardy were Calvin & Lindsay and Terra & Sasha.

The couple asked to leave the ballroom was Terra & Sasha. And she got two perfect scores tonight! This meant Calvin & Lindsay advance.

I’m sad Terra won’t be there to compete, but at least she ended her Dancing with the Stars run on a high note.

Favorite Quotes

Tom: “Apart from the accent that was a killer Sharna impression.”
Tom: “You are better than him!”
Erin: “Were those fans just in the way?”
Tom: “Carrie Ann did you bring tissues for all of us?”
James: “Welcome to our trio. Wait, what!”
Julianne: “That’s the hottest pit crew, I ever saw!”
Tom: “I’ve never seen tattoos looks so not at home on Sasha.”
Tom: “By the way, for the holidays, a book of metaphors by Bruno will be the perfect stocking stuffers.”
Erin: “Calvin and the double mint twins, give me a break!”

Who will win the Mirror Ball trophy? We’re about to find out next week. And bonus: Len will be back and all will be well with the world! This is a close race and anything can happen. You better vote!

Dancing with the Stars Season 23 airs Monday nights at 8/7c on ABC.