‘Dancing with the Stars’ Recap: First Couple Eliminated Amid Covid-19 Scare
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Dancing with the Stars Season 30 returned Monday night for the second week of the competition, as well as the first elimination. Voting was open during the show, and the results were combined with the vote from last week, as well as the judges’ scores, to determine the Bottom Two. Unsurprisingly, 75-year-old Karate Kid legend Martin Kove was the first eliminated this season.
That wasn’t the only notable thing about Monday’s show. Pro dancer Cheryl Burke tested positive for COVID-19, meaning she couldn’t dance with her celebrity partner Cody Rigsby. We expected him to perform with backup dancer Sofia Ghavami, but out of an abundance of caution, Cody stayed out of the ballroom completely this week.
However, that doesn’t mean Cody and Cheryl were eliminated. Fans could still vote for them during the show, and we got to see footage of them training, as well as a taped rehearsal performance from last week. Their Salsa was impressive, even without all the bells and whistles. They received a total score of 24 out of 40 from the judges.
Who Was the First Star Eliminated on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 30?
At the end of the night, host Tyra Banks announced the Bottom Two couples. They were Martin Kove (with partner Britt Stewart) and Christine Chiu (with partner Pasha Pashkov). The judges were able to save one couple to move on to next week’s show.
The first three judges voted to save Christine and Pasha. Len Goodman said he would have voted for them as well, so it would have been unanimous. Last week, Martin earned a score of 13, and this week he received a 15, so this doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
You’ve left your mark on #DWTS Season 2021 already, @MartinKove and @BrittBStewart. 😢 We'll miss you! 💙 pic.twitter.com/AqUJdQHCpL
— Dancing with the Stars #DWTS (@DancingABC) September 28, 2021
Celebrities Deliver Personal Performances in Week Two
Several of the performances on Monday night’s episode of Dancing with the Stars carried personal meaning to the celebrities dancing. Brian Austin Green and his real-life girlfriend Sharna Burgess danced a romantic Rumba to “Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur, which Sharna described as “our song.” They earned a score of 23.
Christina Chiu shared that she’s been a superfan of the show since the very first season, and has even sat in the audience during past shows. She was excited to finally be on the dance floor, joining partner Pasha Pashkov in a fun Salsa to “Despacito.” The judges gave them a score of 24.
Before dancing the Rumba with partner Emma Slater to his own song “Make Me Want To,” Jimmie Allen shared memories of his childhood. He teared up as he talked about his mother’s strength, saying he wanted to channel it into the performance. They received a score of 27, with Carrie Ann Inaba saying he showed “respect for the art form.”
Len Goodman Announces the Best Dances of the Season
Judge Len Goodman had plenty of negative comments about Monday night’s dances. He criticized Matt James for taking his shirt off during his Samba with Lindsay Arnold, adding that his “hips are allergic to music.” Ouch. The couple earned a score of 22.
He also wasn’t moved by the romantic nature of Brian Austin Green’s Rumba with Sharna Burgess. Goodman said there was “very little I liked” about it, adding that it was mostly just a lot of posing. It’s hard to disagree with him there.
SEE ALSO: CARRIE ANN INABA PAYS TRIBUTE TO FELLOW ‘DANCING WITH THE STARS’ JUDGES
However, there were two performances that Goodman gushed about. Amanda Kloots and Alan Bersten danced an elegant Foxtrot to “It Had to Be You,” which was her wedding song with late husband Nick Cordero. It looked straight out of a classic movie. Goodman said it was so good, he wanted it to go on longer. The pair earned a score of 32, the highest of the night.
Next up, JoJo Siwa danced the Cha-Cha to “Rain on Me” with her partner Jenna Johnson. JoJo had so much energy, Derek Hough advised her to dial back a little. However, Goodman was such a fan that he called it his “favorite Latin dance of the season,” retroactively choosing Amanda’s Foxtrot his favorite ballroom dance. JoJo and Jenna earned a score of 31.
Dancing with the Stars will return next Monday night with an episode paying tribute to Britney Spears, and we can’t wait to see what the couples come up with. Let us know in the comments what you thought of tonight’s performances.
