Dancing With The Stars 34 Recap: 2025 20th Anniversary Birthday Party Week 9 Live Blog
Hey All :)
Welcome to week nine of season thirty-four of Dancing with the Stars. Tonight, we celebrate the 20th birthday of our little reality-competition show. For twenty years and thirty-four seasons, Dancing with the Stars has entertained audiences with dazzling ballroom routines, incredible partnerships, and more spray tans and sequins than one can count! Sometimes frustrating but always exhilarating, DWTS has been appointment television for two decades. Who could have imagined twenty years ago that a show pairing a celebrity with a ballroom dancer would survive this long? This evening should be a wonderful bash to honor the program.
Seven couples remain this season and in only two weeks, a new champion will be crowned. In round one, each pair will reinterpret a memorable freestyle performance from a past contestant by showcasing an unlearned dance style. In round two, a dance relay will commence but with a twist. Instead of performing with their partners, the quarter-finalists will dance with a past mirrorball champion. Extra points will be awarded before audience votes are added in and another couple is eliminated.
Joining the judging panel tonight will be Tom Bergeron, who hosted this show for twenty-eight seasons. Tom was an exceptional host and his presence has been missed. There hasn’t been a host for this show that has been up to Tom’s standards. It will be fun to see him back in the ballroom sharing his thoughts on the performances. We will also see special routines tonight such as an opening featuring pros from season one and a dance that will honor those who have passed on over the years.
Last week, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame night was interesting to say the least. At the top of the leaderboard once the team dance scores were added in was Whitney Leavitt and Mark. Andy Richter and Emma were once again the lowest scoring couple. Danielle Fishel and Pasha became the seventh pair eliminated. At this point, it is hard to watch better dancers being given the boot while Andy keeps surviving. It is more discouraging because Andy really hasn’t improved and the judges have not given him accurate scores or critiques.
We all know and understand that this show is somewhat of a popularity contest. The best dancers do not always win and the weakest dancers are not always eliminated when they should be. I am not a fan of sympathy voting or of grading someone on a curve because they are trying hard or are sweet to root for. How quickly people forget season twenty-seven when Bobby Bones was crowned champion despite being one of the weakest dancers of the whole season. And even Bobby was arguably a better dancer than Andy. I want to say tonight will be the end of the road for Andy but I don’t feel comfortable predicting that. It could very well end up being Dylan or Elaine.
Your votes will be combined with the judges scores to determine which couple will be eliminated. Remember, VOTING begins at the top of the show and concludes after the final dance of the evening.
We begin with a joyous opening number first showcasing the original six pros to dance on the inaugural season of DWTS. And then we get some gorgeous showcases for our other pros and troupe as Tom arrives to officially welcome us. Aww, I miss Tom so much. What a great opening number, choreographed by Derek Hough.
I see so many familiar faces in the audiences. It looks like they invited many of the show’s former celebrity contestants.
Elaine Hendrix & Alan – Salsa
What a fun opening routine. I love the mix of the technical salsa steps with some modern choreography. I was a tad worried about Elaine in the first thirty seconds or so because that first lift was a little sketchy but then it all came together. She looked strong and was in-sync with Alan for the side by side content. That’s a good way to remind audiences that she can both perform from a technical standpoint and with high entertainment value.
Tom gets up from his seat to hug Elaine and tell her it was really good. Bruno says Elaine is like the best champagne. She goes down like a treat. Carrie Ann is impressed because Elaine was injured weeks ago and is dancing now. Derek was very happy with the spins and reminds us we have two weeks left.
Carrie Ann- 9, Derek- 9, Tom- 9, Bruno- 9 = 36/40
VOTE for Elaine & Alan at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting ELAINE to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Robert Irwin & Witney – Foxtrot
Gorgeous routine! Wow at Prince William calling into rehearsal. And aww, Bindi comes in at the end for a moment with her brother. What an elegant foxtrot. Lovely rise and fall, great hold, and a great story told through dance. I love the way Robert commits to making the dance mean more than just steps because he is honoring so much of his family history by dancing.
Bruno calls it a beautiful poetic tribute. Carrie Ann mentions some ridiculousness about a foot coming off the ground but then she says who cares and that the lift police is gone. Derek is near tears and tells Robert that he is this generations beacon of joy. Tom doesn’t want to cry and tells Robert he has grown into a star.
Carrie Ann- 10, Derek- 10, Tom- 10, Bruno- 10 = 40/40
VOTE for Robert & Witney at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting ROBERT to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Oh. The confetti rains down after Robert gets his scores. Was that his crowning moment? He may have won the show just now on the strength of that dance even though we have a lot of dancing left in the next two weeks.
Andy Richter & Emma – Quickstep
Oh goodness. A quickstep that was a slow step. That was probably the easiest quickstep routine this show has produced. It was so limited in actual technical steps and relied mostly on entertainment. Emma was marvelous but once again, Andy was relegated to a very supporting role. He has been doing the same basic steps with varying degrees of success for a long time now. I wish I could be more positive but it is what it is at this point.
Carrie Ann loves that Andy shows up week after week. She says that Andy is turning into a dancer. Derek congratulates Andy on doing a dance he didn’t want to do. Tom says Len Goodman would have loved that. Bruno says he did it. Okay. It is like the judges are grading a child who gets participation points.
Carrie Ann- 8, Derek- 7, Tom- 7, Bruno- 7 = 29/40
VOTE for Andy & Emma at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting ANDY to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
A tribute to all those we have lost airs with Rylee & Ezra dancing in remembrance of them. Wow. So many celebrities have passed that made an undeniable mark on this show through the years. That was very touching to watch.
Dylan Efron & Daniella – Argentine Tango
Wow. That was sexy. I just adore Daniella’s choreography. She knows how to make special moments happen. Some really intricate footwork there and Dylan kept up with it. The lifts were cool and the tricks at the beginning were sharp. I would have liked to see Dylan a bit stronger with his frame and to ease more into the performance part of the routine. His face sometimes shows that he is overthinking about what is coming next. But that was a really solid Argentine tango.
Derek says that was Dylan’s breakthrough moment by a longshot. He compliments Daniella. Tom says Dylan is a leading man. Bruno says Dylan was starring tonight, not just dancing. Carrie Ann says Dylan’s journey has been outstanding.
Carrie Ann- 10, Derek- 10, Tom- 10, Bruno- 10 = 40/40
VOTE for Dylan & Daniella at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting DYLAN to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Jordan Chiles & Ezra – Cha-Cha-Cha
Hmm. That hit me weirdly. I don’t know if it was the music or some of the steps that Ezra put in but it didn’t really land for me. Jordan did all the steps and I did see some classic cha-cha-cha but I could have done without that final move on the floor and a little less of the hip-hope lite infused moments. It might just come down to personal taste though. In dance, sometimes, you just feel a dance and other times, you do not.
Tom wants the AC turned up because it got hot. Bruno says Jordan is a bad girl. Carrie Ann calls it a strong dance but a little wild at times. She wants her to work on her shoulders. Derek compliments the small things he sees as a dancer that he appreciates in Jordan.
Carrie Ann- 9, Derek- 10,Tom- 9, Bruno- 9 = 37/40
VOTE for Jordan & Ezra at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting JORDAN to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Alix Earle & Val – Foxtrot
How very old school Hollywood. That was so very classy and elegant. Alix looks like a movie star from the 1950’s. It was loaded with foxtrot content and had a high performance value to it. It just all came together there and was so filled with happiness and joy. One of my favorite routines that Alix and Val have done and they really paid great tribute to that particular style of dance.
Bruno has entered ballroom heaven. He says they really captured the golden age of Hollywood. Carrie Ann notices Alix letting go now. And she is thrilled to see it. Derek calls it clean, classic, and smooth. He also dubs it flawless. Tom had goosebumps and says it was a chemistry class.
Carrie Ann- 10, Derek- 10, Tom- 10, Bruno- 10 = 40/40
VOTE for Alix & Val at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting ALIX to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Whitney Leavitt & Mark – Argentine Tango
OH YES. Having Cell Block Tango from Chicago as music immediately makes me happy and then when you nail a routine like that…. chef’s kiss. That was brilliant. That footwork- stellar. Those looks coming from Whitney- ferocious. I just love the way Mark gave Whitney everything she needed to completely own an Argentine Tango. That reminded me of some of Derek’s past dances in this style. And that’s the biggest compliment.
Carrie Ann will follow Whitney wherever she goes. She compliments Whitney on sticking the landing. Derek says it was silky and smooth. He says that it had it all. Tom was swept away and forgot to enter his score. Tom wants to remind people to vote since they aren’t dancing in the relay. Bruno says it was driven by passion and that was the best dance tonight.
Carrie Ann- 10, Derek- 10, Tom- 10, Bruno- 10 = 40/40
VOTE for Whitney & Mark at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting WHITNEY to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
We get a recorded package of the judges talking about their memories of the show and what it has meant to judge. Derek was such a baby when this show started. Carrie Ann has fallen out of her chair quite a few times, which is always hysterical to watch. The judges explain how they lock in the scores before doing commentary. And of course, they talk about what Len meant to them and to the show.
Dance Relay Round
Jordan & Apolo Anton Ohno Vs. Elaine & Rashad Jennings – Quickstep
Surprisingly for me, Elaine’s portion was actually cleaner than Jordan’s. I want to place some of the blame for that on Apolo, who seemed really rusty. It is unfortunate because Jordan is very game for a quickstep but it had sloppy moments. Elaine’s dance had a little less material to work with but again, it was clean besides a little hiccup at the very end.
Derek compliments Apolo and says they were elegant while Elaine brough the fun. Tom says it was evenly matched and tells everyone they did a nice job. Bruno compliments the footwork. Carrie Ann gives kudos to the returning celebs for not missing a step.
Jordan & Apolo are declared the winner and get the 2 bonus points.
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Dylan & Rumer Willis Vs. Andy & Kaitlyn Bristowe – Viennese Waltz
Good lord. So, Andy comes out and they rip his shirt to reveal a fake shirt that has abs. That’s the highlight of his portion of the dance. Don’t ask too much about the waltz because it was the same thing we see from Andy all the time- limited movement that isn’t done very well. Dylan was fabulous. He had a great leading man energy and I was impressed by that frame. He and Rumer compliment one another very well and look good dancing. This was an easy one and it wasn’t even close.
Tom says he loved meeting Rumer’s dad and sends his best wishes to him. Bruno says Dylan and Rumer were making music. Andy, he says, will go viral. Carrie Ann calls Dylan and Rumer magic. She says Andy was giving sexy tonight. Derek says Dylan and Rumer look like they have been dancing forever and he says Andy was good.
Dylan & Rumer are declared the winner and get the 2 bonus points.
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Alix & Joey Graziadei Vs. Robert & Xochitl Gomez – Jive
Hmm. That was probably the closest matchup in terms of quality. Both pairs had those kicks and flicks down and brough a lot of energy and fun. If I had to give the edge to someone, I may give it to Robert for having a touch more content. But it is really close. Everyone looked great dancing together and this was the best matchup to see how one contestant truly is up against another in the same style. This could be two of the final three contestants after all.
Bruno says the standard this season has been great. He says he cannot fault anything and it is a question of taste. Carrie Ann loves the relay challenge. She says both did great and says it is really hard. Derek loves how Val trained both the ladies. He agrees with his co-judges. Tom tells ABC to bring back the results show and let everyone vote the way it used to be. That’s not happening Tom. The ratings are good this season but we aren’t getting a separate results show.
Robert & Xochitl are declared the winner and get the 2 bonus points.
Judges Scores For Week 9 (Out Of 42 – 2 points for winning relay dance)
Dylan & Daniella – 42
Robert & Witney – 42
Whitney & Mark – 42
Alix & Val – 40
Jordan & Ezra – 39
Elaine & Alan – 36
Andy & Emma – 29
ELIMINATION TIME!
Tonight was really good. It was, for me, the strongest overall night of dancing of the season. And with the exception of one dancer, everyone brought it. I really enjoyed both rounds of competition and the next two weeks are going to be extraordinary because everyone is going to want to bring greatness to try and get the win. Let’s get to the results…
America voted and it was the most votes EVER! They don’t say how many though.
The couples who are safe are– Whitney & Mark, Dylan & Daniella, Alix & Val, Robert & Witney, Elaine & Alan, and Jordan & Ezra.
Tonight’s eliminated couple is Andy & Emma.
Andy comments that the show changed his life and he is a different person. He gives his kudos to Emma for all she did for him. Emma hugs him as Alfonso thanks Tom for returning to the ballroom.
Well…. FINALLY. This needed to happen quite a few weeks back but at least the semi-finals next week will be a real competition now. Andy should be very proud of himself and very thankful that the judges and America gave him so much time on the show. It was getting increasingly difficult for me to judge Andy’s dances and I was seriously getting nervous that he was heading for the finale. I wish him well but I am glad he met his end tonight.
Next week is PRINCE night. All of the dances will be done to songs from his very large and eclectic catalogue. They didn’t mention a guest judge or the type of competition next week will be. Last season, everyone had to dance twice- one ballroom and one Latin. We shall see if they do the same this season or switch it up.
Tonight was a great celebration of the show’s 20th birthday. Personally, I would have done two episodes this week. One actual competition and one celebration so we could have had even more returning stars and a bigger bash. But that’s just me being a brat and wanting as much DWTS as possible.
I thank you all for watching with me tonight and I’ll see you in a week for the SEMI-FINALS. :)