DWTS 25 Week 8 Live Blog and Performance Videos

Last week, it was “Halloween Night” and just like a shocking twist in a horror movie, it was a surprising double elimination. We lost both Vanessa & Maks and Nikki & Artem. I was a bit more surprised by Vanessa’s exit than Nikki’s. Nikki was a decent dancer but was completely lost in the shuffle and just couldn’t make her mark on the competition. Vanessa however was seeing an upswing in her performances and I figured she had a little more time in her, especially with her husbands boot the week before. It really surprised me that she wasn’t able to outlast Drew and to some extent, Terrell.

With the two of them out, only Victoria and Lindsey remain for the females, with Jordan, Frankie, Terrell, and Drew as the final four guys standing. With Lindsey hopefully on the mend, I still think we are heading right for a nailbiter between her and Jordan, with Frankie as the only one I can legitimately see making the finale with them. Stranger things have happened though, so tonight’s quaterfinal performances are very important. How did you guys vote after last week’s show? Let’s take a look at those poll results.

The top three favorite couples remain the same. Jordan & Lindsay are on top with 41% followed by Lindsey & Mark with 23% and Frankie & Witney at 22%. The favorite round one routine last week went Jordan & Lindsay, earning 36% of the vote. Frankie & Witney scored high with 31% and Lindsey & Mark made their mark with 20%. The other three couples all shared votes in the least favorite poll. 39% voted for Terrell & Cheryl, 27% for Victoria & Val, and 21% for Drew & Emma. Team “Phantom” dominated the group dance poll with 68% compared to the 32% for Team “Monster Mash.” It was a divisive elimination last week, with 47% voting that you were fine with both boots while 20% wanted Nikki to stay, 17% wanted Vanessa, and 16% didn’t want either lady to leave the competition.

The episode itself also ran a wide range in scores- 44% giving the show a “B,” 33% opting for an “A” and even a grade of “C” earned a nice amount of votes with 18%. How about tonight’s elimination and who misses out on the Semifinals? 56% believe Terrell is toast, while 21% went to Drew and 15% believe that Victoria is going.

I’ll agree it is one of those three but I haven’t a clue which. I could really make a case for all three, with Victoria being the safest but who knows? Perhaps Terrell and Drew have acquired more casual fans and Victoria has underperformed in votes. Looking at the scoring for last week, Terrell needs a strong viewer vote. We will see if he was able to get it. With all that being said, let’s see who comes out swinging during these Quaterfinals and who makes it one step closer to fighting for a shot at the championship. Here we go…

We start out with our pros and troupe members dancing to “Runaway Baby”. But they aren’t alone for long. Here comes tonight’s special past season guests. And they look like they haven’t lost a step. Here comes the current season stars. Fun opening. They got everyone in there. Mandy Moore, of course, responsible for the choreography. Time for round one (the individual routines)… – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO

Terrell & Cheryl – Charleston
I loved the production value on that. That was perhaps the most charleston charleston we have seen on the show in a very long time. Cheryl kept right to what makes the dance special and it felt old school but special at the same time. If I am honest, the backup dancers and Cheryl shined more than Terrell did a bit but he kept up as best as possible. I saw just one moment of sloppy movement but it didn’t derail anything. A nice and fast paced dance to start the evening. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO

Len loved the different styles in that and he feels no one has improved since week one more than Terrell. Bruno enjoyed how the time and place was captured. He called it priceless. Carrie Ann enjoyed how light on his feet Terrell was. She felt he is peaking at the right moment.
Carrie Ann- 9
Len- 9
Bruno- 9
You can vote for Terrell by calling 1 800 868 3411 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.

Drew & Emma – Waltz
So pretty! Emma got Drew to do exactly what she wanted- pull out his vulnerable side. Nothing fancy or exceptionally difficult here, just a gorgeous flowing waltz. Kudos to Drew on keeping his frame excellent throughout that despite the height difference and kudos to Emma for some really lovely choreography. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO

Bruno enjoyed the romance in the dance. But he felt the hold was too stiff and lost a bit of flow. Carrie Ann says the bottom half of Drew’s body was not keeping the tempo. She felt it didn’t get off to a strong start. Len agrees the frame needs to be constant and it wasn’t. He enjoyed the emotional journey though.
Carrie Ann- 7
Len- 7
Bruno- 8
You can vote for Drew by calling 1 800 868 3404 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.

Victoria & Val – Argentine Tango
Hmm. Not a bad routine but I wanted more argentine tango steps. I wanted to see more of those staccato foot action where the lady is wrapped around the man doing kicks. Val went for a more sultry routine here with Victoria actually doing quite a bit of solo work. It was nice to see her take on a new challenge in terms of performance quality. I just don’t think the mark was one hundred percent hit in terms of the dance but there was no glaring issues to speak of. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO

Carrie Ann notes Victoria dropped her eyes a lot and it made it look like Victoria was uncomfortable. Len didn’t get transported to Argentina but he did enjoy things about it. Bruno agrees that the dance was good but wanted more acting on Victoria’s part to sell the dance.
Carrie Ann- 8
Len- 8
Bruno- 8
You can vote for Victoria by calling 1 800 868 3413 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.

Head on over to DWTSTour.com for tickets/information on the upcoming tour.

Lindsey & Mark – Samba
YES! That was stellar. Okay, so I wanted some samba rolls but I always want samba rolls. Mark’s choreography, even in a short routine, is just so amazing. He took what could have been a generic samba and made it memorable. I loved the constant movement here, Lindsey just owning the floor from all sides and totally in sync with Mark. I hope Len doesn’t get too mean about the hoop at the beginning. Strong dance. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO

Len thought Lindsey didn’t look as sure footed in one part. He saw rhythm and imagination but found some stuff irksome. Bruno says it wasn’t a standard samba but he actually liked it. Carrie Ann loved the creativity. She does agree with Len that Lindsey didn’t look as sure on her feet.
Carrie Ann- 9
Len- 8
Bruno- 9
You can vote for Lindsey by calling 1 800 868 3407 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.

Frankie & Witney – Viennese Waltz
Very pretty. Similar to Drew in elegance and flow, but faster and more spins because it was a viennese waltz as opposed to a standard waltz. I only saw one moment where Frankie was sloppy but he quickly recovered and Witney was steady as a rock to help him out. It was a solid routine and continues Frankie’s resurgence after the mess from Movie night a few weeks back. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO

Bruno loved the elegance and flow of movement. He wants him to be careful of his shoulders sometimes. Carrie Ann was close to perfection but he did almost lose control of Witney. That’s the moment I mentioned in my critique. Len says it was far from perfection. He says the legs were not straightened. It lacked rise and fall and not enough in hold.
Carrie Ann- 9
Len- 8
Bruno- 9
You can vote for Frankie by calling 1 800 868 3405 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.

Jordan & Lindsay – Quickstep
Haha. How cheeky. Again, great choreography by Lindsay. Fast, proper footwork, good frame, high energy, lots of performance quality. Jordan always gives one hundred percent in hid dances and it shows from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet. And Linds always gives him pitch perfect choreo to work with. Love this pairing so much. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO

Carrie Ann calls it incredible. She also says brilliant and sassy. Len gets up to clap. Bruno says it was a quickstep like he has never seen. Bruno is all compliments, calling it absolutely outstanding.
Carrie Ann- 10
Len- 10
Bruno- 10
You can vote for Jordan by calling 1 800 868 3406 (toll free). You can also vote online at ABC.COM and/or on FACEBOOK (voting is combined via this method when using the same email). Voting begins right at the start of each performance show on Monday nights. Check ABC.COM for details regarding voting window time and information about registering to cast your vote online.

Trio Dances

Terrell & Cheryl – Rumba Trio with Kelly
Hmm. I’m not so sure the rumba lends itself well to a trio. It is such a sensual dance between two that when you add a third party, it is tricky. I saw decent hip action and I enjoyed the play hard to get type choreography here but other parts seemed a bit awkward and out of place. I am on the fence with this one. I enjoyed it yet I didn’t. I don’t know. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO

Len didn’t feel the dance suited Terrell’s personality. He thought Terrell did a good job and says well done. Bruno says the sexy was definitely brought back. He says it was so sexy but needed more rumba. Carrie Ann says she wanted to see more choreography. It wasn’t as challenging as it could have been for Terrell.
Carrie Ann- 8
Len- 8
Bruno- 8

Drew & Emma – Cha-Cha-Cha Trio with Rashad
A valiant and commendable effort by Drew. Let’s be honest- Rashad is more of a natural dancer so many of these steps sit more comfortably with him. But Drew kept up (minus one little part he wasn’t in-sync with his two partners) and he was having a blast, which made watching this a lot of fun. As opposed to a rumba, a cha-cha-cha does indeed lend itself well to a trio dance. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO

Bruno loved the funky disco feel. He says Drew’s timing was not quite on it but just in parts. He said the disco sections were good. Carrie Ann saw the soul and enjoyed it. Len liked how everyone contributed to the performance. He felt it was a little wooden in places.
Carrie Ann- 9
Len- 8
Bruno- 8

Victoria & Val – Jive Trio with Laurie
Okay. That was not as strong as it could have been. First, Victoria needed more energy. I saw her be so sluggish in parts as compared to Val and Laurie. The kicks and flicks needed to be stronger (by Victoria). It almost felt as though it was their routine as Victoria was just a prop added in at the last minute. Now on the positive side, no mistakes and they all seemed to be in sync and rhythm with the music. It just wanted an overall strong effort. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO

Carrie Ann again says the acting was the weakest. She felt when Victoria was alone, she fell behind in the kicks and flicks. Len liked the way the dance built up. He felt it needed to be more sharp and clear. Bruno felt the accuracy in the legs was indeed lacking.
Carrie Ann- 8
Len- 8
Bruno- 8

Lindsey & Mark – Jazz Trio with Kristi
Wow. That was the first trio tonight where I felt all three participants were really in the dance. It felt like a number choreographed for three people, not two plus an add on. It was stylish, fun, and encompassed many jazzy elements. Loved it. I actually felt Lindsey was better here than even Kristi. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO

Len says it was terrific. Bruno calls it classic and everything he loves. Carrie Ann says the three of them together was spot on and fantastic.
Carrie Ann- 10
Len- 9
Bruno- 9

Frankie & Witney – Jive Trio with Alfonso
I will say a similar thing as I said during a few other trios tonight. Good job but my eyes went to the pro and former celeb more than the current one. I’m not gonna harp too much on Frankie here because he was decent but Witney and Alfosno just schooled that jive. On the plus side, Frankie was able to keep up the pace and only had one real moment of apprehension which translated on television. So all in all, good job. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO

Bruno says it was so well balanced. He said no one was overshadowed. Carrie Ann called it a strong performance but she saw nerves from Frankie and pulled back a bit. Some tempo was lost she says. Len thought it was full of content, energy, and fun. He wants Frankie to stop being unsure of himself.
Carrie Ann- 9
Len- 9
Bruno- 9

Jordan & Lindsay – Salsa Trio with Corbin
I have no words. Perfection. Best trio of the night. Three stars out there dancing in unison to a well choreographed and memorable salsa. Just awesome. – Click to Watch Performance VIDEO

Carrie Ann is up with tons of comments- all positive and almost impossible to make out. LOL. She calls it absolutely amazing. Len feels the three were perfect. Bruno says it was phenomenal. He says the dance will go down in DWTS history.
Carrie Ann- 10
Len- 10
Bruno- 10

Week 8 Leaderboard (Out Of A Possible 60)
Jordan- 60
Lindsey- 54
Frankie- 53
Terrell- 51
Victoria- 48
Drew- 47

Elimination Time!!!

In Jeopardy- Frankie & Witney, Terrell & Cheryl (though to be fair, Tom did not say if Frankie was in the bottom though one of these couples is about to leave)
Safe- Jordan & Lindsay, Lindsey & Mark, Victoria & Val, Drew & Emma

The couple going home tonight, one week away from the semi-finals are…

Terrell & Cheryl

Terrell had a great time. He compliments Cheryl. Erin tells him she has known him a long time but never saw him like this. Cheryl is very proud. She is proud of the dancer he has become and the person he is. The two go to the center of the ballroom as they will appear tomorrow on GMA. – Click to Watch Elimination VIDEO

The couples who survive next week’s show will be in the finals. Yep, next week is the semi-finals and we are just two weeks away from crowning new champs.

Polls are minutes away. Thanks y’all for watching along with me as always. :D