“Dancing With the Stars” celebrated a significant milestone on November 12, marking the airing of its 500th episode. The special episode featured an opening number titled “Crazy in Love,” originally performed during the show’s premiere in 2005, and showcased returning pros, including fan favorite Sharna Burgess. The ballroom was also filled with familiar faces from past seasons, such as Adam Rippon, Ginger Zee, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Alyson Hannigan, AJ McLean, and Simone Biles, enhancing the celebratory mood.
This week, the six remaining couples took to the stage to pay homage to previous standout performances. Last week had concluded with a tie on the leaderboard, with both Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson, along with Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong, each scoring 32 points, setting the stage for an intense competition.
Joey and Jenna channeled Riker Lynch and Allison Holker’s memorable Season 20 routine in their contemporary performance. While judge Carrie Ann Inaba felt it was a bit lacking in emotional depth, Derek Hough saw potential and gave them a higher score than the previous week, awarding them a perfect 10.
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong’s Argentine Tango, inspired by Derek and Kellie Pickler’s performance from Season 16, earned them the first perfect score of the season. Derek expressed his admiration, stating he preferred their rendition over his own.
In contrast, Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach honored James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess’ Season 23 performance with their Argentine Tango but did not impress Carrie Ann, who gave them an 8, remarking that she missed the energetic Dwight from earlier in the competition.
Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten, who had struggled in the previous week, made a striking comeback with a Quickstep, inspired by Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold’s performance from Season 25, earning a perfect score of 10 from Carrie Ann.
After showcasing their individual dances, couples faced the ultimate test of learning a new dance style and song just five minutes before performing live. While all pairs impressed the judges, Chandler and Brandon managed to secure another perfect score for their challenge performance.
Ultimately, following the integration of audience votes, Dwight and Daniella were eliminated from the competition.
This episode not only highlighted the growth of “Dancing With the Stars” over the years but also demonstrated the excitement and emotional investment that both the contestants and fans bring to the show. With each week, viewers are treated to thrilling performances and surprises, making the journey to the finals all the more thrilling as the competition narrows down. As we look ahead, the remaining couples are bound to bring their best to clinch the coveted title.