“DWTS” Season 35, Episode 10: An Iconic, Chaotic Grammy Night

It’s getting down to the wire! Tuesday’s “Dancing with the Stars” episode, Grammy Night, celebrated award-winning musicians and bands spanning genres from pop to R&B to gothic metal. It was also the last stop before semifinals, so everyone had their game faces on—even pro Jenna Johnson, who broke her nose in rehearsal on Monday night. (We would never have known, Jenna!) Lucky for all of us viewers, the evening’s heightened pressure translated to some truly iconic moments.

The episode began with a fabulously sexy number featuring pro and troupe dancers (plus guest artist Stephani Sosa—yay!), choreographed by Megan Lawson and Matt Cady. The competitors then performed their individual dances as usual before gearing up for the infamous dance-off, in which couples compete simultaneously on either half of the stage to vie for two bonus points. (Reminder: As the highest scorers from last week, Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson were immune from the challenge.) Grammy winners Brandy and Monica, Maren Morris, and Sheryl Crow each performed live for the dance-off. Actress and dance legend Debbie Allen also made an appearance in the audience, which we loved to see.

It didn’t take long for things to get weird, though. Ezra Frech and pro Daniella Karagach kicked off the individual rounds with a smoldering Argentine tango to a slow, sultry cover of Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love (Remix).” (Fun fact: The song was the first to play in the inaugural “DWTS” episode in 2005, for a cha-cha featuring Joey McIntyre and Ashly DelGrosso). Frech had to step out of his comfort zone to adopt that sensuality—he and Karagach often describe their relationship as sibling-like—and the effort paid off. But then judge Carrie Ann Inaba rewarded the duo with this ringer: “The intimacy. Turning your sister into your lover for one night is all good!”

#gagged.

Good thing everyone continued to smash it with their performances. Here are a few more standout moments from the night:

• Amber Glenn got to channel suppressed teenage angst in a striking, full-bodied, and fast paso doble to Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life” with pro Pasha Pashkov. (Those knee spins!)
• Despite intense rib pain, Maura Higgins delivered a refined and slinky Argentine tango to Sisqó’s “Thong Song”—yes, you read that right—with pro Mark Ballas.
• Jenna Dewan, who has performed not only at the Grammys but also with Janet Jackson on tour and in music videos, had the fullest full-circle moment with her jazz piece to the singer’s “It’s All for You” with pro Val Chmerkovskiy. (Who’s the pro in this partnership again?)
• Tatyana Ali got to reunite with her close friend will.i.am, who cheered her on from the audience, for her tango to the Black Eyed Peas’ “Boom Boom Pow” with pro Jan Ravnik. (Really fun fact: As undergrads at Harvard, Ali and Natalie Portman helped book the Black Eyed Peas and The Roots for the university’s first-ever hip-hop show in 2000. Ali also appeared in will.i.am’s 2008 “Yes We Can” video.)
• As judge Derek Hough pointed out, Connor Wood’s work toward becoming a stronger partner showed in the way pro Rylee Arnold could swivel and twist freely in their Argentine Tango to Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack.”
• Harry Shum Jr., who was born in Costa Rica, had an emotional time tapping into his roots with his and pro Jenna Johnson’s salsa to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile.”

With their rumbas to Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine,” Team USA and the Pashkov household (Glenn and Pashkov vs. Frech and Karagach) created what is possibly the most legendary dance-off in “DWTS” history. Simultaneous arabesque promenades, mirrored reaches across the line, and a historical partner switch to end? Glenn and Pashkov got the bonus points, but, really, everyone won with that performance.

Afterward, Dewan and Chmerkovskiy, then Higgins and Ballas, won in their cha-chas against Ali and Ravnik, and Wood and Arnold, respectively. But remember: This is “DWTS,” and even the strongest dancers can go home. We were sad to see that happen to Dewan on Tuesday. But at the end of the day, we’re grateful to have gotten to see one of our favorite millennial-dance-movie stars reunite with her oldest passion. Thanks for stepping up, Jenna.

Between the three judges’ scores and dance-off bonus points, the highest possible score for Grammy Night was 32. Here are the official standings from Episode 10, along with some quotes of the week:

• Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson: 31/32
• Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov: 30/32
• Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy: 30/32 (ELIMINATED)
• Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas: 29/32
• Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold: 27/32
• Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach: 27/32
• Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik: 27/32

“DWTS” Quotes of the Week

“Power, beauty, passion, and Pasha’s pecs. What more do you want?” —Judge Bruno Tonioli praising Olympian Amber Glenn and pro Pasha Pashkov’s paso doble

“Right now, people of a certain generation are all re-enrolling in jazz classes because of you.” —Judge Carrie Ann Inaba, to actress and dancer Jenna Dewan

“How do you do a tango to ‘Boom Boom Pow’?” —The Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am, to Tatyana Ali and pro Jan Ravnik

“The success of this dance is completely reliant on my confidence. Now that I’ve figured that out, nothing feels impossible.” —Comedian Connor Wood on his Argentine tango with pro Rylee Arnold

“You all look like delicious Skittles!” —Host Julianne Hough to Jenna Dewan, Tatyana Ali, and pros Val Chmerkovskiy and Jan Ravnik, describing their bright cha-cha costumes

Honorable mention: All the words that competitors Tatyana Ali and Harry Shum Jr., pro Jenna Johnson, hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro, and judge Derek Hough couldn’t quite get out. (What was in the water?!)

See you all for next week’s episode!