Apparently tonight is "America's Choice" night. I forgot to vote - I hope this doesn't mean I'm in danger of losing my citizenship. Tomorrow night is results night with a double elimination.
"America's Choice" Round
Noah Galloway & Sharna Burgess
Tango
The viewers wanted a military theme, but Noah nixes wearing a costume that looks like a military uniform. He says if he wears a uniform, it has to meet military regulations, so they go with a suit instead. And, America, really, we wanted to hear Noah dance to a song with "bombs away" repeated? And a line that says, "I stand here a broken man"? We're kind of jerks, America.
Len Goodman says it's difficult to judge Noah because one of the things he would normally look for in a tango is flexed knees. So he's looking to the performance and says he did well on that front. Julianne Hough compliments America on their choices. Julianne and I have very different taste. Carrie Ann Inaba says there was a bit of blockiness.
Oh, hey, it's Erin Andrews' birthday. Happy birthday to her!
Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Len: 7, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8
Chris Soules & Witney Carson
Contemporary
America wants Chris to show his sensitive side. Blargh. Contemporary is running a close second to rumba these days for my least favorite style on this show. I think in this case, it means mostly lifts.
Julianne says Chris wins the award for "most improved" this season. She also gives some specific criticism on his arms. Bruno Tonioli also gives some specific criticism about engaging the core in contemporary. Carrie Ann hollers and likes it.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 9, Len: 8, Julianne: 9, Bruno: 8
Riker Lynch & Allison Holker
Viennese Waltz
Because America chose a ballad by Rihanna, Allison wants Riker to show his vulnerable, emotional side. He's struggling with that.
Riker looks sharp in his tuxedo with his hair slicked back. Good gracious, he does the ballroom dance frame so well. This is a FAST Viennese waltz.
Bruno gushes about Riker's intensity and control and his frame. Carrie Ann says he's semi-final worthy. Len says it was big and bold with good clarity of movement, but he would've liked more dancing in hold. Then he has a geezer moment about how all the dances are just contemporary and show dances and where's the ballroom gone. I feel you, Len.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: 9, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10
Robert Herjavec & Kym Johnson
Contemporary
There's a ton of build-up in the rehearsal footage about whether Robert & Kym will kiss. From grown adults who should know better. Robert's wearing an open shirt, and there's a wind machine. Contemporary is indeed the new rumba. For the record they do kiss.
Carrie Ann says tonight had a special sense of magic.Len says, "You didn't need a wind machine, you've got a big fan in me." Julianne says Robert upped his game tonight. Bruno says it was like watching a deodorant commercial - he means it as a compliment.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Len: 8, Julianne: 9, Bruno: 8
Nastia Liukin & Sasha Farber
Paso Doble
Derek is still injured, I guess, so Sasha is back to dance with Nastia. They're still keeping Derek involved in the background, though, this time as the emperor on the throne during a gladiator battle between Nastia and Sasha.
Len says the dance had passion and drama, but he'd have liked a little more recognizable Paso Doble content. Julianne says they were out of sync in a couple of spots but it was really fun to watch. Bruno likes the performance but thinks they may have lost the artistry at times.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 9, Len: 9, Julianne: 9, Bruno: 9
Rumer Willis & Val Chmerkovskiy
Rumba
America, you're killing me. Val feels like he's letting Rumer down but she assures him he's not. Rumer's kept the extensions she had last week and I'm bummed - I liked her short hair.
They're doing a "classic rumba" to "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" and inded, they're both wearing shoes and real clothes - Val's wearing his shirt tucked in, even if it's unbuttoned. This is the most real, honest to goodness ballroom dancing we've seen all night.
Julianne says they're back on track and calls it their best dance. She then throws out a lot of dance terms which confirms my thinking that they brought ballroom dancing back to the ballroom. Carrie Ann says it wasn't about anything other than this wonderful partnership. Len says it was a simple, beautiful rumba and is clearly excited to get some straight-up, no-gimmicks ballroom dancing.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: 10; Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10
That's the first perfect score of the season. Take note, other couples: It came with a dance with no set pieces, no props, no background dancers and classic costuming.
Trio Round
Noah Galloway & Sharna Burgess, with Emma Slater
Salsa
Noah's worried about the trio dance because each week, "Sharna comes up with a routine that works just for us." Sharna's thinking out loud in rehearsal, "Between us, we have five arms - there's got to be something we can do." She's excited that with "all the extra limbs around" there are more possibilities.
And they start the routine backlit, making an interesting pose. They go back to that later in the routine and it doesn't work quite as well. It is amazing how well Sharna's choreographed how a man with only one arm dances with a woman on each arm. She's done such amazing, creative work all season for Noah.
Len says trio round is all about fun and incorporating all three dancers while still staying true to the style and character of the dance and that's what they just did. Julianne says if anybody can handle both Sharna and Emma it's Noah. Bruno coins the term "arm-ography" to compliment their poses.
Then Bruno gets so excited mimicking the drumming he falls out of his chair. Tom goes over to help him back up and shouts, "I've been waiting 10 seasons for this!"
Tom prompts Carrie Ann to talk noting that she's usually the one falling out of her chair. She replies, "Not anymore. I have a seatbelt." Ha! She says she wishes she could change the score she already submitted after hearing all the other comments.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Len: 8, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8
Huh. For all the effusiveness, I expected higher scores.
Chris Soules & Witney Carson, with Lindsey Arnold
Paso Doble
It cracks me up during rehearsal when Witney's trying to bring out Chris' anger and she taunts him with, "I just burned all your crops. I burned your corn and soybeans."
Episode 7 and we still haven't gotten rid of Chris' pancake hands. Julianne says the intensity was there but his butt was going in the wrong direction. Bruno says he appreciates the hard work Chris puts in. Carrie Ann thinks Chris was overwhelmed by the two girls and his timing was off. Len says it was OK, but not great.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Len: 7, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8
Riker Lynch & Allison Holker, with Brittany Cherry
Jazz
During the rehearsal package we get a brief clip of Riker with his brothers in their "breakdance/hip-hop" crew. It's so dorky looking. Then he drops Brittany when trying a lift and it looks really painful.
It's impressive how much Riker stands out in this routine. Allison gets credit for putting the spotlight on her partner. It's fast and has tons of synchronization and he nails it. Although he's still pigeon-toed.
Bruno and then Carrie Ann both yell a lot so they clearly like it. Len even yells nonsensically. Julianne points out that Riker was leading that routine, out in front of the two women.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: 9, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10
Robert Herjavec & Kym Johnson, with Jenna Johnson
Samba
During rehearsal there's a moment where Kym is slithering down one of Robert's legs and Jenna the other - he mouths to the camera, "This is so great!" I'm really warming up to his sense of humor.
I gotta say, though, Kym didn't do a great job with the choreography. Jenna feels like an afterthought or an intrusion. It's a two person dance with a third person squashed in rather than a trio number.
Carrie Ann says he forgot the steps in some places. Len says it was a little bit on the messy side. Julianne is impressed that he was able to pick up the dance after forgetting his footing.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Len: 7, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 7
Nastia Liukin & Sasha Farber, with Derek Hough
Jive
They're planning the choreography so that Sasha will dance with Nastia during the fast parts and Derek during the slow parts. Nastia's having a hard time with the jive and she's fatigued which is making her cranky.
It's a cute concept they've set up with Derek and Sasha in adjoining "rooms" and Nastia going back and forth between the two. It could've just been a gimmick, but Derek's choreography is great at making the movement between the two part of the story and the jive itself.
Len stands up to tell them it was fantastic. Julianne says it was the most creative trio she's ever seen. Bruno says it was total genius from the first to the last frame. Carrie Ann calls it "beyond brilliant."
Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: 10, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10
Rumer Willis & Val Chmerkovskiy, with Artem Chigvintsev
Paso Doble
There's a lot of discussion about whether or not Artem or Val will go shirtless. Val pouts about how he and Artem are exploited sexually on the show and chides that they are more than just "pecs." Rumer patiently explains that she just wants America to enjoy what she gets to enjoy. Rumer loves America, y'all.
Oh, good - they're getting real Paso music instead of a pop song. I always think it's harder to incorporate two men than two women in these trio dances and Val's done a great job of it. Rumer is also seamlessly switching between the two partners.
Julianne says gimmicks are outweighed by pure, beautiful dancing and that's what they did. Carrie Ann says they were superior. Len says they were brilliant.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: 10; Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10
At the perfect score, Artem and Val sweep up Rumer and start bouncing her in the air. Tom cautions, "Don't break her!" Rumer kisses Val on the cheek and then wipes off the lipstick left on his cheek. So cute.
Scoreboard
Rumer & Val: 40 + 40 = 80
Riker & Allison: 39 + 39 = 78
Nastia & Sasha: 36 + 40 = 76
Chris & Witney: 34 + 30 = 64
Noah & Sharna: 31 + 32 = 63
Robert & Kym: 33 + 29 = 62
Predictions
I can't imagine Noah & Sharna not having less audience support than Robert & Kym or Chris & Witney, so I'm picking the latter two couples as the goners. Although if Willow & Mark could be near the top of the leaderboard and go home last week, who knows? If anyone in that top tier is vulnerable, I'd say it's Nastia, for having a less relatable personality than Riker or Rumer.