Dancing with the Stars Season 32 Episode 8 Recap: Whitney Houston Night
The competition is getting fierce. On Dancing with the Stars Season 32 Episode 8, “Whitney Houston Night,” the remaining seven couples danced to hit songs from Whitney Houston.
Joining the judges table this week was actor and singer (and Whitney Houston superfan) Billy Porter.
Here are a few of the highlights from the competition this week:
Harry and Rylee started the night with a Viennese Waltz to “I Have Nothing.” It was an improvement for Harry, which the judges noted, but they still had plenty of notes.
Still, Carrie Ann noted how far he’s come since the beginning of the competition. They earned a 28/40.
Jason and Daniella followed that up with a Samba that was a little more challenging — based on a note from the judges last week. Jason had so much energy (as usual), and it was just an incredibly fun dance to watch.
Bruno praised how much content was in the dance and its quality overall but also noted that there were several mistakes. They earned a score of 33/40.
Next up was Alyson and Sasha. Alyson and Sasha’s contemporary routine provided an opportunity for more emotion. The song is one that carried personal meaning to Alyson, and that was clear in the dance.
It was visceral and emotional, and it brought me to tears. Carrie Ann shared the same sentiment, and the judges praised the dance overall. They earned a 33/40.
Then, Xochitl and Val danced a tango to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” It was sharp and gorgeous, and Carrie Ann called it “flawless.” Billy Porter called it “magical,” and Derek said, “That is how you do a Tango!”
They earned a perfect score of 40/40 — the first perfect score from an individual dance this season.
Barry and Peta’s routine this week was a beautiful Rumba that received a standing ovation from the crowd. Bruno praised Barry for the fact that the dance was sustained with no mistakes.
Billy Porter said it was maybe too easy for him, and Carrie Ann said it was one of his best dances. They earned a score of 32/40.
Charity and Artem danced a Viennese Waltz to the iconic song, “I Will Always Love You.” It was an excellent dance, but not without its flaws, and the judges had plenty of constructive criticism. They earned a score of 36/40.
Finally, Ariana and Pasha finished off the first round with a Paso Doble that was, by far, my favorite dance of the night. It was powerful, full of energy, and entirely captivating.
The judges praised the dance in a big way, though Carrie Ann noted there were some awkward moments. They earned a score of 39/40.
Additionally, because Ariana and Pasha were at the top of the leaderboard last week, they are immune from the dance-off this week and automatically receive three extra points from the judges.
The dance-off round had two couples at a time dance the same style of dance side by side. While I enjoy this concept, it’s hard to watch because you can’t focus on just one dance.
What I like about it is that it allows the judges to weigh in just a little more, almost with the same sentiment as the judges’ saves that the show used to use.
The couples who won their dance-offs were Alyson and Sasha, Barry and Peta, and Charity and Artem.
The elimination for this week was perhaps the most heartbreaking of the season. The couple eliminated this week was Barry and Peta.
The crowd booed his elimination and sent him off with a chant. In the last few minutes, Barry was able to talk about his time on the show. He said it was, “the most wonderful experience of my life.”
Here are this week’s final scores, which include bonus points from the dance-off round:
- Ariana Madix and Pasha: 42
- Xochitl Gomez and Val: 40
- Charity Lawson and Artem: 39
- Alyson Hannigan and Sasha: 36
- Barry Williams and Peta: 35 — ELIMINATED
- Jason Mraz and Daniella: 33
- Harry Jowsey and Rylee: 28
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.