Dancing with the Stars Season 32 Episode 5 Recap: Most Memorable Year
While there were plenty of memorable performances on Dancing with the Stars Season 32 Episode 5, “Most Memorable Year,” the highlight of this episode was the tribute to Len Goodman.
From the beginning, Len Goodman was a part of Dancing with the Stars, always sitting in the center as Head Judge. Shortly after he retired from the series, Goodman sadly passed away.
So this season, not only has the Mirrorball Trophy been renamed the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, but several former pros from over the years returned for a breathtaking, profoundly emotional tribute.
The pros who knew him the longest shared memories, including moments from their childhoods as young dancers, watching Len on the dancefloor, and learning from him over the years. They also shared memories of their friendships with him and, of course, what it was like being judged by him on Dancing with the Stars.
Along with this season’s professional dancers, former pros Maks Chmerkovskiy, Kym Johnson-Herjavec, Tony Dovolani, Karina Smirnoff, Anna Trebunskaya, Edyta Śliwińska, Louis van Amstel, Mark Ballas, Derek Hough, and Julianne Hough returned to the dancefloor to pay tribute to Len.
There was, as Len would say “no messing about” with this dance. It was a simple, classic Waltz, chosen because they knew it was the kind of dance he’d enjoy the most. It was the best way to honor him, and it was stunning.
To end the routine, the dancers all gestured toward an empty seat where Len used to be.
DANCING WITH THE STARS
Even watching from home, you could feel the grief in that room, both from the dancers and from Bruno and Carrie Ann.
This wasn’t the only emotional moment, though. The “Most Memorable Year” night is when the contestants perform routines inspired by a pivotal year in their lives. That theme brought out some of the best dances of the season.
Here are a few of the highlights from the competition this week:
Mira and Gleb were first up this week, with a contemporary routine inspired by the year Mira’s daughter was born. To make this dance even more special, they included her daughter, who is part of a contemporary dance company. It was a beautiful, sweet dance to “Time After Time” that earned a score of 22/30.
Later, Charity and Artem performed a contemporary routine that was inspired by Charity leaving a toxic relationship — and eventually winding up in her current one.
They pulled out all the stops, and Artem made this a particularly challenging routine by including a set of poles. It was a powerful routine and one of my favorites of the night.
ARTEM CHIGVINTSEV, CHARITY LAWSON
Carrie Ann even noted that every season, there was one dance that would stand out as the most memorable, and she believed this would be that dance for Season 32. They earned the first 10 of the season, with a total score of 28/30.
It’s really too bad that the actors aren’t able to speak about past projects because Alyson Hannigan’s involved both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and How I Met Your Mother.
Her most memorable year was marrying her husband, Alexis Denisof, whom she met while working on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (though she could only say they met while working together).
And if you’re a fan of How I Met Your Mother, you may have noted that the routine itself included the iconic yellow umbrella. Another nice nod — and, another show that both actors worked on. Alyson and Sasha earned a score of 21/30.
ALYSON HANNIGAN, SASHA FARBER
At the end of the night, Alberto Ribeiro noted at that these results were the closest yet. This week, the couple that was eliminated was Mira and Gleb.
Here are this week’s scores:
- Xochitl Gomez and Val: 28
- Charity Lawson and Ezra: 28
- Jason Mraz and Daniella: 27
- Ariana Madix and Pasha: 24
- Mauricio Umansky and Emma: 24
- Barry Williams and Peta: 24
- Lele Pons and Brandon: 24
- Mira Sorvino and Gleb: 22 — ELIMINATED
- Alyson Hannigan and Sasha: 21
- Harry Jowsey and Rylee: 18
What did you think of this episode of Dancing with the Stars? Who was your favorite dancer? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+. Viewers can stream the series on Hulu the following day.
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Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.