"DWTS" Week 2 Recap: The First Cut is the Deepest

September 22, 2020

Well, we’ve officially made it to week two of “Dancing with the Stars,” pandemic edition! And with no bedazzled face masks in sight, we can only assume that the “DWTS” team’s #SocialDisDancing protocol is holding up. Pause for (pre-recorded, because there isn’t a live audience) applause.

But even a pandemic isn’t going to stop the “DWTS” judges from sending someone home, because well, this is a competition, after all, and Carrie Ann Inaba doesn’t have time for tears. In case you missed last night’s episode (or in case you were too busy trying to figure out exactly who Dixie D’Amelio is dating now), we rounded up some of the highlights—and who was this season’s first cut.

Nev Schulman and Jenna Johnson: Cha Cha

We have to be honest—our hopes weren’t too high for “Catfish” king Nev Schulman when we heard he’d be joining this season of “DWTS.” But whew, were we wrong. Schulman’s cha cha with partner Jenna Johnson was absolutely “Dynamite” (hello, BTS Army!), with all the hip action we ever could have dreamed of. The judges gave Schulman and Johnson three 7s, for a total 21.

Jeannie Mai and Brandon Armstrong: Cha Cha

Hello, Jeannie Mai, bringing us all of the energy we need in 2020. TBH, watching this performance is better than drinking a triple shot of espresso. Miss Mai was out there mugging with the best of them, and we couldn’t get enough. The judges gave Jeannie and her partner, Brandon Armstrong, three 6s for a total score of 18, advising Jeannie to reign her dancing in a bit—but honestly, we only want *more* from this couple.

Kaitlyn Bristowe and Artem Chigvintsev: Foxtrot

We’re just gonna say it: Former Bachelorettes make the best “DWTS” contestants, send tweet. Following in former champ Hannah Brown’s footsteps, Kaitlyn Bristowe absolutely dazzled last night with the dreamiest of foxtrots. Bristowe managed to overcome an ankle injury (and uncertainty as to whether or not she’d even be able to perform) and received the highest score of the night: two 7s and an 8, for a total 22.

Sadly, with the second week of the season came the first elimination. And with Charles Oakley and Carole Baskin in jeopardy, the judges chose to save Baskin and partner Pasha Pashkov. We guess cat-itude really is everything! (And yes, the cat puns are here to stay.)