‘Dancing With the Stars’ Week 7: Shangela’s Killer Doll Routine Slays as [Spoiler] Goes Home
(SPOILER ALERT: This article reveals the team that was sent home on Monday, Oct. 31)
The remaining nine couples channeled classic horror characters for Halloween, which saw Shangela “snapping” partner Gleb Savchenko’s neck in the final move of their creepy doll Jazz routine. The number earned them their first perfect score of the season.
Len Goodman, who was dressed as a vampire, said the routine “scared the pants off of me” after Bruno Tonioli dubbed Shangela “the psycho killer queen of the night,” raving, “you make the Bride of Chucky look like a saint.”
The dancers later formed two teams as “Team Wicked” and “Team Scream” for a group number that changed the standings on the evening’s leaderboard: Trevor Donovan, who feared he’d be in the bottom two for the second time, tied for first place with frontrunner Charli D’Amelio after Team Scream’s murder-mystery routine earned 39 points to top Team Wicked’s 33.
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Jordin Sparks and Brandon Armstrong kicked off the evening with a Tango to “Oogie Boogie’s Song” from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” It drew restrained praise from the judges, who handed out four 9s and requests for more “consistency” from the singer. It was not enough to save her from the bottom two or being sent home.
In her farewell speech, she said the competition was “life-changing,” and promised she was going to continue dancing. “I can’t wait to keep doing more.”
Heidi D’Amelio wanted partner Artem Chigvintsev to give her a more challenging routine like daughter Charli has been doing with Mark Ballas. Their powerful dominatrix-themed Tango wowed Derek and Bruno, but the couple ended up in the bottom two again. They were saved by the judges’ votes.
As previously reported, Val Chmerkovskiy was out with COVID, so pro dancer Alan Bersten stepped in to partner with Gabby Windey. Their vampiric Argentine Tango had the judges gushing, with Derek Hough calling it “bloody brilliant.”
Tyra Banks gave an update on Val’s health: He’s still quarantining and everyone around him has tested negative, but just to be “super, super safe,” some of the dancers wore masks in rehearsal.
Daniel Durant was also out sick and missed a few days of rehearsal; and, after a back injury flare-up, Mark Ballas brought in Pasha Pashkov for rehearsals with partner Charli D’Amelio; but both were able to perform live Monday night.
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Mark and Charli’s sexy, spooky tango earned a near-perfect 39 out of 40, with the YouTube star’s impressively impossible “Exorcist”-inspired backwalk on her hands. Bruno gushed, “My head is spinning like Linda Blair,” and declared the dance “genius.”
Trevor Donovan and Emma Slater’s ghostly Contemporary literally gave Bruno goosebumps while Carrie Ann called it “amazing.” Trevor got choked up and admitted he was thinking of friends he’d recently lost during the routine, in which Emma played a ghost.
Daniel and Britt Stewart’s video-game-inspired Paso Doble received mixed reviews, but they survived for another week.
Vinny Guadagnino and Koko Iwasaki were “zombie chemical plant people” for their Paso Doble, but Carrie Ann Inaba asked Koko to give the “Jersey Shore” star more momentum and less “blocky” choreography next time. And there will be a next time, as viewers voted to save him again.
Wayne Brady and Witney Carson became cyborgs for a Contemporary routine set to a techno version of the “Halloween” theme. It had the audience on its feet and earned a solid 37 out of 40, but drew some nitpicks from judges Len and Carrie Ann.
Leaderboard for Week 7
Shangela and Gleb Savchenko – Jazz – 40/40
Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas – Argentine Tango – 39/40
Trevor Donovan and Emma Slater – Contemporary – 39/40
Gabby Windey and Alan Bersten – Argentine Tango – 38/40
Heidi D’Amelio and Artem Chigvintsev – Tango – 37/40
Wayne Brady and Witney Carson – Contemporary – 37/40
Jordin Sparks and Brandon Armstrong – Tango – 36/40
Daniel Durant and Britt Stewart – Paso Doble – 34/40
Vinny Guadagnino and Koko Iwasaki – Paso Doble – 30/40
Leaderboard for Week 7 (With Team Dance)
Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas – 78/80
Trevor Donovan and Emma Slater – 78/80
Wayne Brady and Witney Carson – 76/80
Shangela and Gleb Savchenko – 73/80
Jordin Sparks and Brandon Armstrong – 73/80
Daniel Durant and Britt Stewart – 73/80
Gabby Windey and Alan Bersten – 71/80
Heidi D’Amelio and Artem Chigvintsev – 70/80
Vinny Guadagnino and Koko Iwasaki – 63/80