Dancing With the Stars S29E10: Semi-Finals

DWTS' Six Semi-Finalists Faced a Heartbreaking Double Elimination
by Kim Krober

It's hard to believe it, but we've reached the Semi-Finals of this season of Dancing with the Stars. The remaining six couples were tasked with learning a new dance and revising a dance they didn't excel at previously in the Redemption Round. With the promise of a heartbreaking double elimination, it was a good week to pull out all the stops. Many of the couples had saved the best for last. Contemporary routines almost always guarantee high judges' scores and sympathetic viewers' votes as they pour out their heart and soul on the dance floor. The ones who had already played their Contemporary card early still had some of the best surprises saved for last, including the Jive, Jazz, and Viennese Waltz. Unsurprisingly, most of the redemption dances were Latin dances, as those are among the most difficult for competitors to nail because they often take people so outside of their comfort zones.

Let's take a look at how your favorites did on this tenth week of competition:

Redemption Round

Skai Jackson & Alan Bersten, Cha Cha

Bruno asked Skai and Alan for a redemption Cha Cha set to "Move Your Feet" by Junior Senior. It was a good opening to the Redemption Round, setting a funky spirit for the evening. Bruno looked like he was going to bust a gut, calling it 24-karat hip action with sharp, precise movements. Carrie Ann called it amazing, crisp, and on point. Derek thought it was relaxed and he admired her gold dress, citing it as his favorite costume this season.

Score: 27

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Justina Machado & Sasha Farber, Tango

Justina and Sasha were tasked by Derek with a redemption Tango to "El Tango de Roxanne" from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack. Derek loved the steamy intro, the attack, the exquisite framing, and the passion. Bruno said she was on top of it with a total change of direction from her last Tango. Carrie Ann said she was on fire with oozing sensuality. Derek awarded her her first 10 of the season for her redemption Tango!

Score: 28

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Johnny Weir & Britt Stewart, Salsa

Carrie Ann called upon a redemption Salsa from Johnny and Britt. Set to "X" by The Jonas Brothers, it was full of sass and sequins. Carrie Ann felt it was stronger and more in control, although she noticed a couple of missteps when they were side-by-side. Derek admired the toughness and intricacy of the routine and the fact that Johnny was wearing Cuban heels. Bruno could tell he worked hard to maintain the rhythmical fluidity of the Salsa this time.

Score: 27

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Nelly & Daniella Karagach, Paso Doble

Nelly and Daniella's redemption Paso Doble to Woodkid's "Run Boy Run" was chosen by Bruno. Nelly looked large and in charge. Bruno complimented the artistry, shapes, and restrained power of his movements. Carrie Ann loved seeing him dance with a regality and tight control of his body, but she thought it was still a little flat-footed. Derek said his focus was captivating and thanked him for the reminder that he needs to hit the gym ASAP.

Score: 26

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Nev Schulman & Jenna Johnson, Foxtrot

Derek asked Nev and Jenna for a redemption Foxtrot to Harry Styles' "Sign of the Times." Derek loved the classic purity of this Foxtrot. Bruno called him a class act, saying he never lost control of his bum. Carrie Ann thought it was perfection from the first heel lead, saying Nev has become a true ballroom artist and master of the dance.

Score: 30

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Kaitlyn Bristowe & Artem Chigvintsev, Paso Doble

Carrie Ann tasked Kaitlyn and Artem to redeem their Paso Doble to "Hanuman" by Rodrigo Y Gabriela. I didn't want to like her, but she has been winning me over the past few weeks. Carrie Ann loved the passion and nuance of the dance. Derek admired the attack and character. Bruno called her the beautiful temptress and praised the 100% Paso Doble content and choreography from Artem.

Score: 30

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New Dances 

Justina Machado & Sasha Farber, Contemporary

Justina and Sasha's Contemporary to Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero" was soft and sensual. Derek said the emotions of the season coming to a close were starting to get to him, as he praised her smile and dance. Bruno likened it to watching a child run free, saying it had a pureness of heart about it. Carrie Ann called it magic on the dance floor, commending it for being authentic and beautiful. Was that her first perfect score of the season?!

Score: 30

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Skai Jackson & Alan Bersten, Viennese Waltz

Skai and Alan's Viennese Waltz to "Lonely" by Noah Cyrus showed a sophisticated, mature side of her personality. Bruno was enchanted with the storytelling, elegance, and poise, likening it to a cover of En Vogue. Carrie Ann called her an exceptional young woman full of grace and thanked her for expressing her vulnerability. Derek felt it was beautiful and full of emotion, which made it easy for others to connect with her. It was another perfect score!

Score: 30

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Johnny Weir & Britt Stewart, Jazz

Johnny and Britt's Jazz routine to OneRepublic's "I Lived" was like watching him skate on bare feet, and I loved it. Carrie Ann could tell he felt like he was on Cloud 9, saying it had a feeling of hope from start to end. Derek thought it was a beautiful routine and a perfect representation of their genuine partnership. Bruno called it clean, clear, and pure with inspiring dynamics. My heart soared to see Johnny get a perfect score for his final dance of the night.

Score: 30

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Nev Schulman & Jenna Johnson, Contemporary

Nev and Jenna's Contemporary to "If the World Was Ending" by JP Saxe and Julia Michaels felt like what many have been feeling throughout 2020. It was powerful and pure, down to the snowy white costumes. Derek said he forgot to judge because he was so captivated by the fluidity, creativity, and choreography. Bruno was also totally engrossed, teasing Nev that he has to have done this before because nobody can be that good while being an amateur. Carrie Ann complimented Jenna for the complexity of the choreography and Nev for rising to the challenge with a smile. Contemporary is Jenna's strongest style, and it shows. Unsurprisingly, it was another perfect score for this couple!

Score: 30

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Nelly & Daniella Karagach, Jive

The pressure was starting to visibly break Nelly during his rehearsal package. However, you couldn't tell when they took to the dance floor for their Jive to The Brian Setzer Orchestra's "Jump Jive an' Wail." He looked like he was in his element - I enjoyed seeing this playful, almost nerdy side of him! Nelly got a standing ovation from the judges. Bruno said he nailed it, praising it for being miraculous (I think all of America was incredulous to see Nelly move like that). Carrie Ann called it his breakthrough performance with a skyrocketing momentum. Derek said it went beyond his high-octane energy, citing the drama this week as being the necessary fuel for his fire.

Score: 30

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Kaitlyn Bristowe & Artem Chigvintsev, Contemporary

Kaitlyn and Artem's Contemporary to "Cowboy Take Me Away" by The Chicks was the perfect ending to the night. The dance was dedicated to the death of one of Kaitlyn's closest childhood friends who was tragically taken too soon. I loved their energy and costumes. Carrie Ann said it was an incredible night and told Kaitlyn that her friend was smiling down at her because they came together as a beautiful team. Derek admired seeing their storytelling through such special movements. Bruno called it powerful and fantastic, also giving a shout-out to the crew behind the scenes for making the show come together week after week this season.

Score: 30

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It's never easy to say goodbye to anyone on this program, but especially with the finale so close in sight. The couple with the lowest combined judges' scores and viewers' votes facing automatic elimination was Johnny and Britt. WHAT?! It was then revealed that Skai & Alan and Justina & Sasha were both in jeopardy of elimination. The judges unanimously voted to save Justina & Sasha, sending Skai & Alan home with only one week left in the competition. Do you think America and the judges made good decisions? Are your favorites headed to the finale? Were you as heartbroken as I was to see Johnny go home short of the gold?

Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8:00 PM on ABC.

Dancing With the Stars S29E09: Icons Night

DWTS' Icons Night Celebrates Larger-Than-Life Musical Icons
by Kim Krober

It was Icons Night on Dancing with the Stars, with tributes to some of the biggest names in pop, rock, and hip-hop. The best part was seeing the judges channel their favorite icons. Bruno brought out his inner George Michael, Derek was a sexy David Bowie with eyeliner and accent, Tyra looked like Jenny from the Block (J-Lo) and Nicki Minaj in more flattering outfits, and Carrie Ann claimed she wasn't anyone specific but Tyra thought she looked like Mariah Carey.
It's hard to believe we're down to just six couples after this episode with the finale close in sight. Since Nev and Jenna were at the top of last week's leader board and have the highest cumulative score all season, they were granted immunity from participating in the Dance-Off Round. During this secondary round of competition, couples were pitted against each other for the opportunity to earn two bonus points to their scores. In a week in which every point matters because nobody wants to go home just short of Semi-Finals, every dance-off was fierce. Let's take a look at how your favorites did on this ninth week of competition:

Justina Machado & Sasha Farber, Rumba

Justina and Sasha danced a Rumba to one of my favorite Madonna songs - "Crazy For You." I loved her outfit - she totally nailed the Madonna vibes! Derek wanted to see more dynamics, saying he wasn't engaged the entire time. Bruno thought it brought out the softer side of Madonna and Justina, but he agreed with Derek that her hips could've been more engaged with the dance. Carrie Ann concurred but told her she's still a dynamic performer.

Score: 24

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Nelly & Daniella Karagach, Jazz

In what was likely a first for this program, Nelly and Daniella mixed it up with a Jazz routine to 2Pac's "California Love." I absolutely loved it - Nelly looked like he was letting loose and having so much fun this week! Bruno said Jazz Nelly style makes him smile because he enjoyed seeing his ease. Carrie Ann complimented him for being on the track and bringing them along on his personal journey with the dance. Derek loved the elements, the joy, and celebratory fun, even though he had to note there were a few mistakes.

Score: 24

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AJ McLean & Cheryl Burke, Viennese Waltz

AJ and Cheryl's Viennese Waltz to Queen's "Somebody to Love" was lovely and regal, but he's running out of time to have his breakthrough performance. Carrie Ann said it started strong with him in the zone, but then he quickly forgot the choreography and it showed. Derek could tell he had improved in frame, but he cautioned him about channeling strength in his movements and not always on his face. Bruno said when he tensed he looked like an airplane wing, but he knows he'll be back to keep improving.

Score: 23

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Kaitlyn Bristowe & Artem Chigvintsev, Argentine Tango

Kaitlyn and Artem danced a shiny Argentine Tango to "Toxic" by Britney Spears. Derek gave her a slow clap, admiring the impact, exquisite lines, and well-done choreography. Bruno declared now she's in business, admiring her luscious shapes and beautiful images, saying they rival those of a painting in a museum. Carrie Ann gave her a standing ovation, saying it was elegant, passionate, and everything the judges have been wanting from her all season. She earned a perfect score from the judges, but was it enough to keep her around in the competition?

Score: 30

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Johnny Weir & Britt Stewart, Quickstep

I enjoyed hearing Johnny's story of redemption at the Olympics and it was obvious how much icon Amy Winehouse and her music meant to him. Johnny and Britt's Quickstep to Winehouse's "Valerie" was a delight to watch. Bruno called it unique and ground-breaking with a spot-on impersonation of the character and a precise, perfect Quickstep. Carrie Ann commended him for pulling off a creative Quickstep the likes of which has never been seen on this program. Derek admired the footwork, technique, and Johnny for being himself. It was another perfect judges' score!

Score: 30

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Skai Jackson & Alan Bersten, Paso Doble

Skai and Alan's Paso Doble to Janet Jackson's "If" showed a different facet to her personality. She looked fierce and confident on the dance floor. Carrie Ann thanked her for sharing her story and for such an iconic dance. Derek told her she's bold, brave, strong, and confident but also said she needs to watch the tension in her arms. Bruno noted it was one of the most grown-up dances yet with plenty of beauty, strength, and passion. She was almost unrecognizable while channeling her inner Janet. I was more impressed by her this week than any other.

Score: 27

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Nev Schulman & Jenna Johnson, Jive

Nev and Jenna's Jive to Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" was a great way to end the first round. It was exuberant from start to finish and so much fun to watch him bring out even more of his inner ham. Derek loved seeing his growth and passion, complimenting the charisma and content. Bruno called him Rocket Man at his most entertaining, saying the characterization was delicious. Carrie Ann told him he's a pleasure to watch and praised him for stylizing his routine a little more and more each week.

Score: 27

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Dance-Off Round

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Justina and Sasha Vs. Kaitlyn and Artem, Cha Cha

Justina and Sasha faced off against Kaitlyn and Artem for a Cha Cha dance-off set to Lady Gaga and Beyonce's "Telephone." Derek felt like one couple stood out. Bruno felt plenty of Latin fire and passion from one and elegance and precision from the other. Carrie Ann said it was like comparing sugar and spice. It was a lot closer than I thought.

Winner: Justina and Sasha

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Nelly and Daniella Vs. Skai and Alan, Salsa

Nelly and Daniella faced off against Skai and Alan in a hip-shaking Salsa dance-off to "Cup of Life" by Ricky Martin. I see you with your shirt off, Nelly! Bruno was distracted by Nelly's muscles too. Carrie Ann admired the non-stop action from both couples, but she called it old school vs. new school groove. Derek likened it to a boxing match, noting both couples were on fire and it could go either way. That was my sentiment while watching.

Winner: Skai and Alan

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AJ and Cheryl Vs. Johnny and Britt, Jive

AJ and Cheryl faced off against Johnny and Britt in a spirited Jive dance-off set to "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" by Wham! Carrie Ann thought both were great, complimenting AJ for his stamina and Johnny for his technique. Derek gave a shout out to all of the pros for coming up with creative choreography for both dances and week after week. Bruno felt one had more pumping action, but the other had more musicality. The judges seemed really split.

Winner: AJ & Cheryl

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It was revealed AJ and Cheryl and Johnny and Britt were in jeopardy in the most shocking elimination of the season. Bruno saved Johnny. Derek saved AJ. Carrie Ann was the tie-breaker, choosing to save Johnny and Britt for their unique artistry. I know it was the toughest decision yet, but it would have broken my heart if Johnny didn't make it to the Semi-Finals. He's worked so hard and brings so much to this competition that I can't put into words. And it will break my heart if he doesn't get to do a freestyle. Do you think the judges made the right decision this week?

Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8:00 PM on ABC.

Box Office Report :: November 6•8

© Focus Features

Note: Highlighted links will take you to Apple TV or FandangoNow for title rental or purchase information.

It was a slow weekend at the box office as Americans had more on their minds besides going to the movies, but while it wasn't gangbuster business Focus Features did have a good weekend with two films in the top two spots. The studio's Come Play opened at Number 1 last weekend, and this weekend the Kevin Costner-led drama Let Him Go took the top spot. The film made its debut with $4 million. Come Play dropped to second place with $1.79 million, a 42.5% decline, bringing the two week domestic total to $5.72 million. The film has also earned $1.36 million from foreign markets giving it a worldwide gross of $7.08 million.

Disney placed another reissue in the Top Ten this week as the original Toy Story returned to the charts at Number 6 with $505,000.

Two films in the Top Ten actually saw an uptick in their fortunes. The War With Grandpa held on to the Number 3 spot, earning $1.5 million, up 19% from last weekend. That brings the film's domestic five week total to $13.4 million. Tenet also saw a slight boost of 2%, but still moved down one spot to Number 5 with $905,000. That brings the domestic ten week total to $55.1 million. Overseas, the film's cumulative total has reached $295.6 million, for a worldwide gross of $350.7 million.

Two previous Top Ten films reentered the charts this weekend, even with a deficit at the box office from the previous weekend. The New Mutants dropped 14% of its box office but moved up two spots to Number 9 with $127,720. That puts the domestic total at $23.58 million after 11 weeks of release. Love and Monsters rebounded with a 16% decline, moving from 13 to 10 with $107,674, bringing its four week domestic total to $927,825 (this total does not include digital sales).

One other new release just missed hitting the Top Ten. The Dark and the Wicked opened at Number 12 on 68 screens with $65,000. The film is also available on digital streaming services.

The weekend of November 13 has nothing but limited releases (and some that may also be making digital debuts): Echo Boomers, Chick Fight, Dreamland, Ammonite, Freaky and The Climb. Freaky is the most high profile of the new titles and may end up being a wider release than expected.

Below are the Top Ten grosses for the weekend of November 6-8.

1. [N] Let Him Go - $4,000,470 [NEW]
2. [1] Come Play - $1,793,080 [$5,724,905]
3. [3] The War with Grandpa - $1,506,484 [$13,409,093]
4. [2] Honest Thief - $1,141,091 [$11,177,613]
5. [4] Tenet - $905,000 [$55,100,000]
6. [N] Toy Story - $505,000 [NEW]
7. [5] The Empty Man - $294,350 [$2,741,827]
8. [9] Spell - $135,151 [$390,514]
9. [11] The New Mutants - $127,720 [$23,585,119]
10. [13] Love and Monsters - $107,674 [$927,825]

Source: Box Office Mojo

Dancing With the Stars S29E08: Week #8

DWTS Experiences an Emergency Withdrawal and a Painful Elimination
by Kim Krober

I was sad to hear Jeannie Mai was forced to withdraw from the competition due to an emergency throat surgery. I may not have known who she was prior to Dancing with the Stars, but her enthusiasm quickly won me over week after week. She was easily in my top five to win this season. We're down to eight couples and I hate to see anybody go at this stage, but I fear difficult decisions are on the horizon. At least we didn't have to worry about a double elimination due to Jeannie's surprising news. In the continued "what was she thinking" category, Tyra Banks came out looking like a hideous bath loofah this week. Was her dress lime green or canary yellow? All I know is it burned my retinas, and I had to look away. She's a beautiful, glamorous woman ... why don't they dress her like one? 

Let's take a look at how your favorites did on this eighth week of competition:

Kaitlyn Bristowe & Artem Chigvintsev, Jive

Kaitlyn is my least favorite of those left standing, although I did enjoy their spirited Jive to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now." Derek loved the jam-packed content and kicks, though he thinks her attack could be sharper. Bruno told her she has what it takes in this competition, although approaching the finals will require more attack and finesse. Carrie Ann felt torn about a lift, but she did note Kaitlyn looked looser and more at ease. Was it too little, too late?

Score: 25

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Nev Schulman & Jenna Johnson, Viennese Waltz

After receiving the first perfect score of the season last week, the pressure was on Nev and Jenna. Their Viennese Waltz to "Stuck with U" by Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande was nothing short of perfection. Bruno enjoyed the oozed charm and charisma, complimenting Nev for being in control and light on his feet. Carrie Ann thought it was elegant and beautiful, while Derek admired the clarity of movement and smoothness of the dance.

Score: 27

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Justina Machado & Sasha Farber, Samba

Justina and Sasha danced a vibrant, hip-shaking Samba to "Magalenha" by Sergio Mendes. Carrie Ann admires her fierceness, although she detected a bit of a stumble in the dance. Derek told her she looked absolutely beautiful and he loved the Samba rolls. However, he thought her feet could have used a little more articulation. Bruno called her a tangerine dream with an exuberant, joyful presence that makes it always feel like Happy Hour. I would concur.

Score: 27

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Nelly & Daniella Karagach, Rumba

Nelly sharing his sister's story brought tears to my eyes. Nelly and Daniella's Rumba to "Nobody Knows" by The Tony Rich Project was a fitting tribute to her memory. His versatility continues to amaze me week after week. Derek felt it was a transcendental moment and thanked him for the performance even if it wasn't perfect. Bruno thought it lacked the necessary hip action required of the Rumba, but he appreciated his effort. Carrie Ann told him his sister would be proud of the way he dances from his heart, but she wants to see more from him. Aww, happy birthday, Nelly! I thought he deserved 8's, not 7's, but I'm also not a formal ballroom dancing judge.

Score: 21

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Chrishell Stause & Gleb Savchenko, Viennese Waltz

Chrishell and Gleb showed off their amazing chemistry to a steamy Viennese Waltz set to Rihanna's "Love on the Brain." Carrie Ann called it sexy and elegant, but she cautioned her about her arm and neck movements. Derek said his heart was beating fast and praised her for improving every week. Bruno looked like he needed a cigarette afterward, telling them they had some great movements but they need to work on sustaining the momentum.

Score: 24

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Skai Jackson & Alan Bersten, Salsa

Skai and Alan continued their rise to the top with a hip, action-packed Salsa to Missy Elliott's "Work It." Carrie Ann enjoyed seeing Skai be aggressive but she didn't think she nailed every lift's landing. Derek liked seeing her more grounded even though she had more lifts, but he thought there were a bit too many tricks. Bruno was on pins and needles thinking Alan was going to drop her at times, joking he must be training her for the Cirque du Soleil.

Score: 25

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Johnny Weir & Britt Stewart, Foxtrot

I loved Johnny and Britt's Foxtrot to "Wonder" by Shawn Mendes. Johnny looked so sweet in his mock tux and curls. It was also adorable to see him geek out about his crush on Shawn Mendes. Derek said Shawn would be proud, praising him for his wonderful frame. Bruno admired his sweeping movement, while Carrie Ann enjoyed the emotion and artistry with jerky, stylized movements. She thought it was an interesting choice they've never seen done before.

Score: 27

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AJ McLean & Cheryl Burke, Rumba

AJ and Cheryl's Rumba to KALEO's "Way Down We Go" was an emotionally charged ending dance, especially after listening to his struggle for sobriety story. Bruno was captivated by the intensity and storytelling though he thought it lacked Rumba movement. Carrie Ann agreed, saying there wasn't enough hip action or content. Derek called him a hero for sharing his pain, noting that the dance was for his personal healing journey and not necessarily the content.

Score: 24

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Relay Dance Round

For the first time this season, each couple was tasked with learning a second dance during the Relay Dance Round. Couples were placed in groups dancing a secondary Cha Cha, Samba, or Viennese Waltz. One judge was appointed to each relay group and asked to rank the couples based on their improvement for the chance to earn much-needed bonus points (up to 3) to heat up this competition. While it lacked some of the fun of the team dances and side-by-side competitions of the past, it was good to see them dance multiple times. Let's take a look at how the couples did:

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Cha Cha Relay Judged By Carrie Ann

Nev & Jenna, Chrishell & Gleb, and Nelly & Daniella each danced the Cha Cha (in that order) to Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande's "Rain on Me." All three couples seemed to be pretty evenly matched - I didn't envy Carrie Ann. She said it was a lot of fun, although she thought Nev was off to a slow start. She admired the content Chrishell & Gleb gave it, but she felt the most improved award went to Nelly & Daniella. It was interesting she awarded Nev more points than either of the other two after those comments.

Nev & Jenna: 3
Chrishell & Gleb: 2
Nelly & Daniella: 2

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Viennese Waltz Relay Judged By Derek

Justina & Sasha, Johnny & Britt, and Jeannie & Brandon (who withdrew) were in Derek's Viennese Waltz relay group, dancing to "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston. Derek thought Justina & Sasha danced a proper Viennese Waltz, but told Johnny & Britt their frame was perfection. They did manage to look more graceful.

Justina & Sasha: 2
Johnny & Britt: 3

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Samba Relay Judged By Bruno

AJ & Cheryl, Kaitlyn & Artem, and Skai & Alan made up Bruno's Samba relay group, dancing to "Levitating" by Dua Lipa. Bruno praised the couples for their improvements. I loved their colorful costumes.

AJ & Cheryl: 3
Kaitlyn & Artem: 3
Skai & Alan: 2

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After the fun and fancy-free Dance Relay Round, it was revealed Chrishell & Gleb and Skai & Alan were in jeopardy of elimination. It felt like the judges could go either way on this one, but they voted unanimously to save Skai & Alan. I think they made the right decision, although Chrishell & Gleb did win me over the past few weeks. Next week is Icons Night, with tributes to some of rock, hip hop, and pop's biggest icons of all time. Who do you think has what it takes to make it to the finale?

Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8:00 PM on ABC.

Box Office Report :: October 30•November 1

© Focus Features

It was another spooky weekend at the box office. Not just because it was Halloween weekend, but because there were only three new releases that managed to hit the charts, with two of the three entering the Top Ten.

The biggest surprise was the Number 1 debut for Come Play, a film that was expected to open in limited release but ended up with 2,183 screens, and a per screen average of $1,429 which gave it an opening weekend of $3.11 million, about a third of the film's budget. It did not get an international release.

Keeping with the horror theme, Appalachian Hoodoo thriller Spell opened at Number 9 on just 369 screens with an estimated $210,000. That film also did not have an international opening. The film did, however, also make its digital debut this weekend, placing in FandangoNow's Top Ten for the weekend. Outside of the Top Ten, the only other "new" release was actually a re-release of the Nicolas Cage thriller Mandy, which landed at Number 19 with $19,169 from 29 screens.

With just two new releases hitting the Top Ten, only 2 Hearts and After We Collided were knocked out. In its second week, The Empty Man wasn't able to offer many scares, dropping 56% and falling two spots to Number 5 with $577,351 from 2,051 screens. The Monsters, Inc. re-release saw a 53% decline but slipped just one spot to Number 8 with an estimated $232,000. Hocus Pocus had the smallest decline of the weekend at 14%, remaining at Number 6 with an estimated $456,000.

With Come Play taking over the top spot, Honest Thief slipped to Number 2 in its fourth week of release with $1.37 million, down 42%, bringing the domestic total to $9.55 million. The film's international cumulative gross has risen to $8.58 million, for a global tally of $18.14 million.

The War With Grandpa was also knocked down a notch to Number 3 with an estimated $1.27 million, a decline of 34%, bringing its domestic total to an estimated $11.47 million after five weeks of release. Internationally the film has earned $5.56 million giving it a worldwide total of $17.03 million. Tenet saw a 32% decline but held on to Number 4 with $885,000 after nine weeks, the first time the film has earned less than $1 million domestically. Overseas the film's cumulative total has risen to an estimated $293.3 million, with a global gross estimated at $347.1 million.

The weekend of November 6 has one wide release currently scheduled, Let Him Go, with four films set for limited release: True to the Game 2, Jungleland, The Informer and Kindred. What eventually ends up at Number 1 next week is anyone's guess.

Below are the Top Ten grosses for the weekend of October 30-November 1.

1. [N] Come Play - $3,119,875 [NEW]
2. [1] Honest Thief - $1,373,079 [$9,558,341]
3. [2] The War with Grandpa - $1,270,720 [$11,478,925]
4. [4] Tenet - $885,000 [$53,800,000]
5. [3] The Empty Man - $577,351 [$2,285,028]
6. [6] Hocus Pocus - $456,000 [$4,828,000]
7. [4] The Nightmare Before Christmas - $386,000 [$2,286,000]
8. [7] Monsters, Inc. - $232,000 [$726,000]
9. [N] Spell - $210,000 [NEW]
10. [10] The Addams Family - $186,960 [$585,537]

Source: Box Office Mojo

Nehama tells a complex tale of a family in trouble in parts both comic and tragic

© Topic

 

The Israeli show ‘Nehama’ offers a look in a world where things are falling apart even with people come together.
by Jeremy Fogelman

This is a review for the debut season of Nehama, which touches on some of the spoilery ideas of the season, but not all of them.

Nehama is a show about a family, with the main figure the father Guy Nehama (Reshef Levi) -- Guy works in a high-paying tech job but he once had a dream of being a stand up comic. And he wasn’t bad either. But he left that world to marry his dream girl Tamar (Liron Vaisman) and have five kids, the eldest two girls, then two boys, and a new baby. It’s a difficult balance of a life, but Tamar helps keep it together.

But it all changes when Tamar dies in an auto accident, and the family begins to fall into disarray. Guy, whose caustic humor and joking delivery worked great to sell tech services, often ends up offending people in normal conversation. He decides that given everything, he needs to become a success like he’d always wanted -- a stand-up. This also introduces Guy’s old friend and rival Asi (Yuval Segal), who is now a very famous comedian and media personality.

Throughout the show, Guy struggles with his jealousy and issues with Asi, as we learn more and more about their complicated past. The kids all have their own crazy problems; the eldest daughter has an affair with her high school teacher, the next one is caught stealing money to support her family, the one after that works in a grocery and hurts his grandfather while illegally driving, and the youngest (other than the baby) nurses a completely unrequited crush on a classmate.

But they are all a mess and varying degrees of depressed, trying to keep their family together despite social workers coming by and threatening to break them apart. One of the helpful people is Guy’s brother Oren (Shalom Michaelswilli), a policeman with his own personal problems, and an arc about the right romantic relationship to pursue -- his wife or his one time mistress.

Another help is Guy’s younger coworker Dana (Gala Kogan), who is frequently described as very beautiful, and seems to be romantically interested -- but Guy is obsessed about his late wife. He wonders about her secrets, and even hires a private detective to see if she had been cheating (the detective is a pretty fun, blunt character who shows up a bunch of times throughout the first season).

Guy is a fairly frustrating character to watch, because he is not a bad person, although he seems misguided and out of control. His need to know what happened to his wife and become the next great comedian directly hurt his family and himself, and it’s hard to know whether you should root for him simply because he’s engaging and deeply hurt.

One of the things that really works with Nehama is the nature of the ensemble, building up backstories and complexities as it all comes together in the finale. The secrets revealed are meaningful and painful at times, but there’s a feeling underlying it all of a family devoted to each other, despite their own protests at it.

Writing a funny character that’s supposed to be funny is a tricky thing, but Nehama pulls this off almost every time, and Reshef Levi is really great in his complex, messed up role. Although his wife dies in the first episode, she keeps showing up in flashbacks throughout the first season, letting us see and understand more about her and giving Liron Vaisman a chance to really shine.

Nehama is a show that really can be very funny one moment and then suddenly swerve into a heartbreaking moment the next. Although it takes place in Israel, it really feels like it could be any random modern city, with only a few little notes if you’re really paying attention to show off the background world. It’s not a political show about the government or any policies, just a random family and their own problems in their own world.

There’s an ongoing tension as you desperately begin to hope simultaneously for Guy to become a huge success so he can save his family, while hoping for the family to keep itself from falling apart until then. From the first moments of dark humor to the final bittersweet resolution, Nehama really works as a great season of TV -- it’s a very strong entry to the foreign “TV genre” that always feels in the world of real.

Nehama is available to stream on Topic with a subscription through Apple TV. Try Topic for one week free!

Dancing With the Stars S29E07: Villains Night

DWTS' Halloween Villains Night Was Full of Tricks and Treats
by Kim Krober

My mom and I look forward to Halloween Night on Dancing with the Stars every year. This year's Halloween Villains theme did not disappoint. From the "found footage" spoof to Tyra Banks' entrance to Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me" to seeing the judges go all out with their costumes, the opening was bizarre but attention-getting. I loved seeing Bruno as Beetlejuice (or Brunojuice as Tyra called him), Carrie Ann as Pennywise the Dancing Clown from It, and Derek as Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (two Dereks are better than one). The fact they also got so much into character almost made up for the fact that we didn't get any elaborate team dances due to social distancing.

Let's take a look at how your favorites did on this seventh week of competition:

Jeannie Mai & Brandon Armstrong, Paso Doble

Jeannie and Brandon's Paso Doble to Nelly Furtado's "Maneater" was brilliantly paired with costumes inspired by The Silence of the Lambs. What a fun opening dance! Derek proclaimed she absolutely ate up that Paso with proper shaping and framing. Bruno said she made a meal out of the dance, admiring her gusto and attack. Carrie Ann called it an explosive way to open the show, saying it was full of powerful attack and excitement.

Score: 25

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Johnny Weir & Britt Stewart, Viennese Waltz

After being in the bottom two last week, Johnny and Britt came back with a vengeance with a steamy Viennese Waltz to Radiohead's "Creep." I loved their theatrical Dracula theme - Johnny made a great vampire. Bruno was bitterly disappointed that it wasn't bad at all with wonderful sweeping motion and all the qualities of a Gothic romance. Carrie Ann said he floated through it like a rock star with powerful storytelling elements. Derek enjoyed seeing his redemption from last week, calling it a perfect formula for success.

Score: 27

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Chrishell Stause & Gleb Savchenko, Paso Doble

Chrishell and Gleb's Paso Doble to "In the Air Tonight" with Maleficent costumes was magnificent. Carrie Ann told her she was in her element with storytelling at its finest and beautifully executed moves. Derek called it cinematic, admiring the way she tapped into the villainess' spirit. Bruno felt the dance was mesmerizing, although he noted that she lost the fluidity of the Paso Doble at times. Kudos to the costume department for nailing that killer outfit!

Score: 26

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Monica Aldama & Val Chmerkovskiy, Jazz

I haven't watched Netflix's Nurse Ratched series yet, but Monica and Val were clearly channeling it with their costumes and a Jazz routine set to "Fever." Derek complimented the musicality, lifts, and seductive energy of the character. Bruno got more of a mild chill than a fever from the performance because he didn't see enough Jazz body movement. Carrie Ann agreed with Bruno, noting it was lacking some of the intention behind the movements. It's good to see Monica feeling more confident and having fun. She received two 7's, and an 8 from Derek for her efforts.

Score: 22

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AJ McLean & Cheryl Burke, Tango

A few hours before the show, it was revealed that Cheryl sustained a head injury during Sunday's rehearsal. It was unknown whether she was going to be able to dance. Cheryl was cleared to perform, and she and AJ danced an adrenaline-filled Tango to the Psycho theme with AJ channeling his best Norman Bates. Carrie Ann was impressed, praising him for nailing such a challenging routine. Derek loved the intro and intricate footwork, but he took off a point due to issues with AJ's frame. Bruno admired the way he translated the neurosis of the character into the dance.

Score: 26

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Nelly & Daniella Karagach, Argentine Tango

Nelly and Daniella's Argentine Tango to The Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face" was nightmarishly good with a nod to one of the best horror villains of all time: Freddy Kruger from A Nightmare on Elm Street. Carrie Ann called it his best dance to date with a sense of urgency to his movements and fancy footwork. Derek could tell how great their partnership is, commending him for being sturdy on his feet. Bruno said he killed the Argentine Tango, admiring the way he handled himself on the floor. I loved that he dedicated the dance to his horror-obsessed girlfriend. Cute!

Score: 27

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Justina Machado & Sasha Farber, Tango

Justina and Sasha's Tango set to "Take Me to Church" by MILCK was perfect, although I didn't really care for their Carrie-inspired costumes. Justina channeled her best spurned prom queen, but Sasha looked like a generic zombie quarterback. Maybe I'm a bit too sympathetic of the Carrie character, but was she really a villain? The choreography was as incredible as ever. It really looked like she was jerking Sasha all over that dance floor. Derek told her she set the place on fire with an exquisite frame. Bruno said she stormed through it like a woman possessed but thought she was a little hoppy for the Tango. Carrie Ann agreed with Bruno, telling her she needs to listen to their critiques because she owns the ballroom floor and she's a serious contender this season.

Score: 26

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Nev Schulman & Jenna Johnson, Paso Doble

The Black Swan on Villains Night, really? Nev and Jenna's Paso Doble set to "Swan Lake Remix" was eerily captivating even if it was a non-traditional choice to set the fear factor. It ended up being an epic showdown of light vs. dark and Nev managed to make that look far way creepier than it had any right to be. Bruno called it perfect, saying he loved this piece. Carrie Ann had high expectations but said he exceeded them with a breathtaking job. Derek thought it was gorgeous with beautiful shaping. It was the first perfect score of the season. Was it worthy?

Score: 30

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Skai Jackson & Alan Bersten, Argentine Tango

Skai and Alan were tasked with dancing an Argentine Tango to "Everything I Wanted" by Billie Eilish while wearing costumes inspired by Bride of Chucky. It was a tremendous improvement from last week's chaos, but I'm not sure how I felt about seeing a grown-up Chucky. Carrie Ann was proud of Skai for coming back stronger than ever. Derek could tell she was on a mission to kill the routine with her determined focus and gorgeous lifts. Bruno said there wasn't a bad step in the Tango or a bad bone in this sweet girl's body. It was a trio of 9's from the judges.

Score: 27

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Kaitlyn Bristowe & Artem Chigvintsev, Paso Doble

I love Cruella de Vil and cannot wait to see her backstory from Disney hopefully next year. Kaitlyn and Artem's Paso Doble set to Rihanna's "Disturbia" was full of attack. Derek wants to adopt Artem because he's so cute (haha, you and half of America!). He also complimented them for the challenging choreography. Bruno loved the character but thought it felt slightly rushed and the timing could have been crisper at this stage in the competition. Carrie Ann could tell she was struggling a bit this week because her elbows give out and her spirit drops. It did feel a bit forced.

Score: 24

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I didn't want the Halloween Villains party to ever end, but it was revealed Jeannie & Brandon and Monica & Val were in jeopardy of going home this week. Bruno saved Jeannie and Brandon, while Derek saved Monica and Val based on her continued improvements. Carrie Ann was the tie-breaker, choosing to save Jeannie and Brandon. I was supportive of the judges' decision, though I didn't agree with the bottom two. How did your favorites fare this week? Are you nervous about the impending double elimination?

Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8:00 PM on ABC.

Box Office Report :: October 23•25

© 20th Century Studios

It was a soft weekend at the box office with two new releases and two re-releases cracking the Top Ten, while the top two films remained firmly in place.

At Number 1 again was Liam Neeson's thriller Honest Thief which added 77 screens (mainly due to New York allowing cinemas outside of the city to reopen) -- 2,502 total now -- but saw a 43% decline from its opening weekend, earning $2.35 million. That brings its domestic total to $7.48 million. Overseas the film has amassed $4.2 million, bringing the global total to $11.68 million. Holding down second place for a second week, The War With Grandpa added 85 screens (2,345 total) and experienced a 24% decline, earning $1.91 million. That brings its three week domestic total to $9.75 million. The film has also earned a cumulative $4.1 million from foreign markets, bringing its global total to $13.85 million.

The New York theater openings didn't help Tenet, which shed 200 screens, now down to 1,801 total, but saw just a 19% decline, moving down one spot to Number 4 with an estimated $1.3 million (Warner Bros. is still not providing actual numbers), bringing its eight week domestic total to an estimated $52.5 million. Overseas, the film's cumulative total is an estimated $289.1 million, with a worldwide gross now at an estimated $341.6 million.

As far as the Top Ten newcomers -- which pushed The New Mutants, Unhinged, Love and Monsters, and The Kid Detective off the chart -- 20th Century Studios' The Empty Man scared up $1.31 million from 2,027 screens which put it in third place for the week. The film had a small foreign opening with $118,376 in the till. The studio is obviously hoping the coming Halloween weekend will give the film a boost as it's currently not available even for pre-order on sights like Apple TV and FandangoNow. After We Collided opened at Number 8 with $422,899, and is also available to stream (click our links to see it from the comfort and safety of your living room). The film has been playing in international markets since September and has a cumulative total of $45.6 million. With the domestic debut, the film's global total stands at $47.67 million.

On the re-release front, Monsters, Inc. and The Addams Family join The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus in the Top Ten. Monsters, Inc. landed at Number 7 with an estimated $494,000, while the animated The Addams Family just barely squeaked into the Number 10 spot with $282,841, beating The New Mutants by just $439.00.

The Halloween weekend is really going to be a weekend to stay home and watch your favorite horror movies with just The Donut King and Come Play slated for limited release. The next wide release comes November 6 with Let Him Go starring Kevin Costner.

Below are the Top Ten grosses for the weekend of October 9-11.

1. [1] Honest Thief - $2,354,022 [$7,480,296]
2. [1] The War with Grandpa - $1,913,169 [$9,750,216]
3. [N] The Empty Man - $1,310,326 [NEW]
4. [3] Tenet - $1,300,000 [$52,500,000]
5. [4] The Nightmare Before Christmas - $577,000 [$1,900,000]
6. [5] Hocus Pocus - $530,000 [$4,372,000]
7. [N] Monsters, Inc. - $494,000 [NEW]
8. [N] After We Collided - $422,899 [NEW]
9. [6] 2 Hearts - $319,010 [$988,832]
10. [N] The Addams Family - $282,841 [NEW]

Source: Box Office Mojo

Tehran S01E05: The Other Iran

© Apple TV+

‘Tehran’ accelerates with desperate acts in ‘The Other Iran’
by Jeremy Fogelman

The latest episode of Tehran was called “The Other Iran”, which is sort of an ongoing theme of the show, the different aspects of the country apart from the mainstream or party line. The reveal in the last episode that Faraz’s wife was clearly kidnapped by the Israelis is not a huge surprise, although it’s quite a moral boundary to cross as she’s certainly not part of the security services herself, just an innocent connected to Faraz.

But Faraz, under the wire when confronted by his superior, dissembles effectively and seemingly comes up with a new plan on the spot, realizing (probably correctly) that the Israelis threat to his wife is likely an empty one. It’s a clever turn, one I didn’t consider, and Faraz attempts to turn Masoud into a triple agent, although obviously that doesn’t end up working out for either of them.

Masoud seems to be aware that his days are numbered, leading to a pretty tense scene where we aren’t sure exactly what will happen -- but it’s pretty reasonable from the Israelis’ perspective to kill him (in the morals of tradecraft anyway), as he is already compromised and could easily reveal sensitive information (even though he hadn’t broken yet).

Although now Masoud is obviously off the show, and while it’s good for the show to establish such high stakes in the game, I’ll miss Navid Negahban in the role, who was always a great presence here -- it just goes to show how much they screwed up using him in the Aladdin remake (along with all the other mistakes they made there). Now you do wonder the next move on both sides, as Faraz is still hunting for Tamar, while the Israelis have lost their vitally connected asset there.

But Tamar plots to return to the city soon, with the aid of her new lover Milad, who is ethically compromised in different ways. Although Milad represents a more progressive, freer perspective pushing against the legal restrictions of Iran, he’s also a drug dealer of ecstasy (at least), not exactly the most angelic job. It’s a good sort of twist on the idea, because Milad seems decent enough, although we really know very little about him.

© Apple TV+

 

Tamar has to go through her own little adventure, where we see her fail and succeed in useful ways to establish her character better. She may be well trained and fluent in Farsi, but she doesn’t know the culture perfectly, as she uses a “thumbs up” sign which is benign in many countries including Israel and the US, but in Iran (among a few other countries) it’s basically the middle finger.

She might even have realized that after the fact but was a bit too stressed at the moment -- but then again, Tamar was never meant to stay in the country this long. The rave presented some additional pushes against her, with her desire to always stay in control -- she had to sell drugs and even imbibe them under peer pressure from Milad.

Although at least we get to see her fight back against some big dudes as they “test” her for trust. It’s not the smartest plan to test her, but then again, these guys are drug dealers -- although we do see the leader spot Tamar hacking into Milad’s phone.

It’s a good way to setup the next episode, because there are a lot of threads left to unravel and a lot of unknowns -- Faraz might be an antagonist, but he’s not a monster, and Milad might be a romantic partner, but he also seems to be a bad influence. It’s a good way to keep us interested in the story, which is ultimately so far about the spy vs spy stuff, humanizing both sides instead of making it purely a “good guys vs terrorist” thing. I mean it’s no Ted Lasso, but Tehran has been pretty entertaining so far.

Tehran is available to stream on Apple TV+

Box Office Report :: October 16•18

© Open Road Films

It was a short tenure at Number 1 for The War With Grandpa as Robert De Niro was no match for Liam Neeson whose new action thriller Honest Thief unsurprisingly took the top spot. The film opened on 2,425 screens with $4.11 million, giving it a per screen average of $1,697, not the highest per screen average on the charts this week. The film's international opening scored an additional $1.39 million, giving it a worldwide total of $5.5 million. For now the film's distributor, Open Road, is keeping the budget numbers under wraps.

Surprisingly, there were four other new releases hitting the Top Ten this week (three new films and one re-release). At Number 4, Disney got more mileage out of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, which seems to have become a Halloween tradition now (even though everyone involved has admitted it's actually a Christmas movie), which earned an estimated $1.32 million. At Number 6, the based on a true story 2 Hearts earned $522,937 from 1,683 screens, a per screen average of $310. The film also debuted on PVOD services.

At Number 9, one of the few Paramount Pictures titles to not be sold off to Amazon or Netflix, the long-delayed Dylan O'Brien comedy-adventure Love and Monsters earned an estimated $255,000 on 387 screens, an average of $658. The film also debuted on pay streaming services where it landed at the Number 1 spot on FandangoNow and Apple TV. The Adam Brody comedy-drama The Kid Detective opened at Number 10 with $140,218 from 865 screens, an average of $162. Neither film has any international reporting.

In its second week of release, The War With Grandpa saw just a 31% decline and moved down one spot to Number 2 with $2.5 million, bringing its domestic total to $7.26 million. Tenet saw a 24% decline from last week moving down one spot to Number 3 with an estimated $1.6 million, bringing the domestic total to $50.6 million. Overseas, the film has climbed to $283.4 million, bringing the cumulative global total to an estimated $334 million.

Outside of the Top Ten, two films had some impressive per screen averages. At Number 41, The Bra earned $4,472 from two screens, an average of $2,236. At Number 28, She Dies Tomorrow moved up two spots to Number 28 in its 12th week of release, earning $11,471 on two screens, an average of $5,735.

The coming weekend of October 23 will see 20th Century Studios' crime-horror The Empty Man in wide release (the animated Connected was previously scheduled for this weekend but has moved to a date to be announced), with Bang! Bang!, Synchronic, Coming Home Again, and After We Collided in limited release. Can The Empty Man snag audiences craving some big screen horror or will Liam Neeson dig his heels in at Number 1 next week? Stay tuned.

Below are the Top Ten grosses for the weekend of October 9-11.

1. [N] Honest Thief - $4,115,249 [NEW]
2. [1] The War with Grandpa - $2,506,523 [$7,260,855]
3. [2] Tenet - $1,600,000 [$50,600,000]
4. [-] The Nightmare Before Christmas - $1,323,000 [NEW]
5. [3] Hocus Pocus - $756,000 [$3,842,000]
6. [N] 2 Hearts - $522,937 [NEW]
7. [4] The New Mutants - $468,278 [$22,724,804]
8. [5] Unhinged - $424,213 [$20,037,513]
9. [N] Love and Monsters - $255,000 [NEW]
10. [N] The Kid Detective - $140,218 [NEW]

Source: Box Office Mojo

Dancing With the Stars S29E06: Top 11

DWTS marks the midway point of the season with a mediocre episode
by Kim Krober

Dancing with the Stars needs to get its act together. This week's episode felt like another ho-hum filler sandwich in between '80s Night' and 'Halloween Villains Night' without an obvious theme.

The most exciting thing was a special performance by judge Derek Hough with his girlfriend Hayley Erbert, who used to be a member of the show's dance troupe. The couple danced a mesmerizing Paso Doble to "Uccen" by Taalbi Brothers. I've missed Derek's amazing choreography and unique flair. The competition has felt seriously lacking without him or Mark Ballas competing in recent years.

We've reached the midway mark of the season, and it's getting harder to say goodbye to the couples. Who goes next is really anyone's guess, and this is both exhilarating and frightening with so many of my favorites remaining on the ballroom floor. Let's take a look at how your favorites did on this sixth week of competition:

Johnny Weir & Britt Stewart, Samba

Coming off the heady aroma of a couple of 10s from last week, Johnny and Britt attacked their Samba set to "On the Floor" by Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull. Derek noted a few misses, but said it was a great way to start the show. Bruno loved the costumes but thought it lacked some of the hip action and styling of the Samba. Carrie Ann didn't think it was his best dance, but she enjoyed watching it. I would probably agree with the judges. It lacked a little sizzle.

Score: 22

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Nev Schulman & Jenna Johnson, Jazz

Nev and Jenna got to Jazz it up this week with a fun, spirited routine to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch's "Good Vibrations." Bruno told them they were deliciously bonkers with the feeling of a rave, but it worked. Carrie Ann thought it was amazing with every Jazz step thrown in, while Derek noted it was clean and in sync. Funky good!

Score: 26

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Monica Aldama & Val Chmerkovskiy, Rumba

I'm always fascinated by love stories in which people break up and then get back together because they realize they miss their soul mate. Monica and Val's Rumba to "Have I Told You Lately" by Rod Stewart was dedicated to Monica's husband Chris, whom she divorced and remarried. Carrie Ann was wowed by watching her come into her own with refined, sensual, and radiant movements. Derek complimented her softness and impressive balance, saying he loved the story of her Rumba. Bruno called it a classic Rumba with inspired lines and shapes.

Score: 27

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Skai Jackson & Alan Bersten, Cha-Cha

Skai and Alan danced a Cha-Cha to "Say So" by Dojo Cat and Nicki Minaj. I'd never heard this song, but I enjoyed their hypnotic rhythm and costumes. Derek commended her for carrying on despite some mistakes, saying she had some great Cha-Cha moments. Bruno loved the K-Pop look and praised her for handling challenging choreography the best she could. Carrie Ann said she came back stronger than ever and would give her a 10 for her recoveries.

Score: 18

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Vernon Davis & Peta Murgatroyd, Cha-Cha

I knew Peta looked like she was in pain last week - I read she pulled her neck and had to have therapy. However, you couldn't tell during the couple's Cha-Cha set to Kool & The Gang's "Celebration" this week. Bruno loved the colorfulness and groove, but said Vernon needs to learn to use the balls of his feet. Carrie Ann enjoys watching him because he's so comfortable and at ease on the dance floor. Derek said he would give him a 10 for joy, but from a technical and timing standpoint, he's still having issues. I thought Vernon looked a lot less stiff and more in his element, but was it too little too late? I'd hate to see him go out on such a high note.

Score: 21

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Nelly & Daniella Karagach, Viennese Waltz

Nelly brought out his softer (and country!) side for a gorgeous Viennese Waltz set to Tim McGraw's "Humble and Kind." Carrie Ann was at a loss for words, finally saying she loved seeing his many layers and beautiful storytelling. Derek loved the masculine softness but cautioned him about watching his frame. Bruno called him charming and endearing, saying he was turning into a swan before his very eyes. It made me love watching Nelly even more!

Score: 24

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Jeannie Mai & Brandon Armstrong, Rumba

Jeannie and Brandon's Rumba to Des'ree's "You Gotta Be" was dizzying and surprising. Derek admired its sensuality, complimenting her legwork. Bruno said it was right up his alley with a smoldering passion. Carrie Ann called her stunning and sexy, praising her for dancing at her powerful edge, which she noted is difficult for a woman.

Score: 25

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AJ McLean & Cheryl Burke, Samba

AJ and Cheryl looked muy caliente during their Samba set to "Mi Gente" by J Balvin and Willy William. Bruno told him to just do it and not be sorry for dominating Cheryl, saying he always delivers with a strong performance. Carrie Ann called it a breakthrough. Derek said, "when in doubt, shake it out," telling AJ it was really fun and easy to watch.

Score: 27

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Chrishell Stause & Gleb Savchenko, Contemporary

It was a good week for a Contemporary for Chrishell and Gleb, as this type of dance usually elevates scores. Set to "Stars" by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, it was a moving tribute to her parents who both passed away in the past year. Carrie Ann could tell she poured her heart and soul into the dance, but she told her to be careful about pointing her toes. Derek commended her for bringing joy and light to the dance floor every week despite her challenging year. Bruno called it emotionally engaging and irresistible because of its rawness. She earned her highest score from the judges (a trio of 8's) and made me change my number of votes I was casting for her. Powerful peak at the right time.

Score: 24

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Kaitlyn Bristowe & Artem Chigvintsev, Samba

Kaitlyn and Artem's Samba to "Sorry" by Justin Bieber was probably one of her strongest performances to date, but I'm sorry to say it lacked sizzle. Derek thought it was fantastic with proper Samba hip action but told her to work on her attack. Bruno believes in her, calling it a first-class Samba. Carrie Ann felt it was well-executed in its precision and technicality, but it failed to impress her. She deserved the high judges' scores, but it was kinda boring to watch.

Score: 27

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Justina Machado & Sasha Farber, Viennese Waltz

"She's Always a Woman to Me" by Billy Joel is one of my favorites. They saved the best for last with an ethereal Viennese Waltz from Justina and Sasha. Bruno thought it was a fantastic show, complimenting Justina for being light as a feather and filling the floor with joy. Carrie Ann called her elegant and refined, saying she's a beautiful dancer. Derek told her she's a very consistent performer, admiring the way she floats across the floor week after week.

Score: 27

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Johnny & Brit and Vernon & Peta were revealed to be in jeopardy at this critical point in the competition. Derek voted to save Johnny & Brit. Carrie Ann voted to save Vernon & Peta based on this week's performance alone. Bruno cast the tie-breaking vote, choosing to save Johnny & Brit. Vernon may have had a good week, but I 100% think the judges made the right decision. How did your favorites fare this week?

Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8:00 PM on ABC.