It was a fab-boo-lous night on Dancing with the Stars for Monster Night!
Tuesday’s Halloween festivities kicked off with co-hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro introducing guest judge, Niecy Nash Betts, who competed on season 10 of DWTS. Nash Betts said she was “excited to be back in the ballroom” but glad to be “on this side” of the judges’ panel instead.
Then, Alfonso and Julianne explained the night’s breakdown: each celebrity and their partner would perform an individual routine, followed by a second round “dance monster-thon” where they would have to out-dance their fellow competitors in order to earn extra points on the leaderboard.
With no time to waste, Monster Night kicked off!
Jason Mraz and Daniella Karagach
Coming off another strong week, singer Jason Mraz said he felt “amazing to get all 9s,” and hopes to get a 10 “sooner rather than later.” However, he recognized the stakes were getting higher as they were halfway through the competition.
“It’s a reminder that its anyone’s competition,” he said, emphasizing how he wants to “grow” because “anyone can be sent home.”
Jason then said of his upcoming contemporary to “Zombie” by The Cranberries: “I’ve never played a zombie before but I feel like a zombie, especially when I’m doing this show.”
Speaking to cameras, Daniella revealed their routine would consist of Jason lifting her for the first time and “require a lot of physical strength.” In turn, Jason joked that he was nervous because “the only thing I’ve lifted in awhile is my guitar or my cat.”
After the duo performed their routine, judge Derek Hough said he “loved the intro” but pointed out that the “side-by-side [part] dropped a little bit of energy.” He added, “A fantastic way to start night.”
Niecy was impressed with the routine, noting, “The minute your zombie came to life, I believed it. You did a beautiful job carrying her around all this floor.”
Bruno Tonioli called the dance “so haunting” and praised Jason for performing the “mini gothic drama,” while Carrie Ann Inaba said it was “amazing” but felt Jason wasn’t “as grounded” tonight.
Score: 36/40
Alyson Hannigan and Sasha Farber
Alyson Hannigan celebrated last week, calling it a “great night all around” after getting three 7’s. Pro partner Sasha Farber then warned Alyson that the competition will “start to get tougher.”
The American Pie actress took the challenge in stride, noting that she loves celebrating Halloween and being in the spooky spirit.
As they rehearsed their Paso Doble to “Supermassive Black Hole” by Muse, Alyson emphasized how “last week’s performance was a real improvement for me” and she wants to keep up that momentum “because the competition is getting more intense.” She also said she was pushing herself for her loyal fanbase, who has gotten her this far.
Following their dance, Niecy kicked off the judges’ feedback by saying she thought Alyson could’ve had “a little more grace coming down the steps” but praised her for the “energy” she brought to the dance floor.
Bruno called it a “paso with a fight” and commended her for putting more content into the dance than normal. Carrie Ann celebrated Alyson and Sasha for being “so in sync,” and declared it “the best” she had seen Alyson dance.
Derek concluded the feedback by praising Alyson’s determination, commitment, power and attack. “There were a few mistakes there but my dear, well done. That was really good,” he said.
Speaking to Julianne afterwards, Alyson admitted she “still has a lot of work to do,” but she wants to stick around so she has a chance “to do that work.”
Score: 29/40
Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy
Marvel star Xochitl Gomez celebrated last week’s success after getting the first 10, recalling how she was “jumping for joy” and “so excited.”
With her sights set on this week, Xochitl admitted Monster Night was a “little out of my comfort zone” because she gets frightened very easily.
As she rehearsed her contemporary to “Game of Survival” by Ruelle, Xochitl found comfort in tapping into her acting skills, but admitted there was “a lot of pressure to live up to the standard we set last week.”
Though their dance was solid, it appeared Xochitl suffered an ankle injury midway through the routine as pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy had to carry her down the stairs to receive the judges’ feedback once they had finished.
After checking on her, Bruno praised Xochitl for “creating a monster” throughout her dance, while Carrie Ann commended Xochitl’s “storytelling” ability. “It was really powerful… you were like an aerialist,” she said.
Derek said Xochitl sends “shivers down my spine” and called her routine “captivating.” Niecy echoed his sentiments, calling her a “perfect example of the show must go on.”
Despite being unable to walk on her own and having to be carried up to the skybox, Xochitl insisted she was fine and would be able to dance in the second round.
Score: 37/40
Harry Jowsey and Rylee Arnold
Too Hot to Handle star Harry Jowsey admitted he was feeling “deflated” after “giving it his all” and still ending up at the bottom of the leaderboard last week. “It just feels humiliating because I’m doing my best and it’s never enough,” he said.
He also opened up about getting “laughed at” online and how the negative comments online have impacted him, which pro Rylee Arnold urged him to block out. To lift their spirits, Rylee invited her older sister and former pro Lindsay Arnold into rehearsals.
Lindsay offered some helpful tips about the Argentine Tango as well as some advice for the pair. “Being in the bottom sucks but it’s an opportunity to have a freaking comeback,” she told them.
Before taking the ballroom floor, Harry vowed he would perform an “ambitious” routine, adding, “It might not be perfect but I really wanna be here and I’m not gonna give up without a fight.”
After their dance to “Blinding Lights” by District 78, Carrie Ann said she was “proud” of Harry but urged him to “give a full body dance experience,” especially with his 6'4" stature. Derek reminded him to focus on what’s good, including their “legion of fans,” and echoed Carrie Ann’s point about Harry owning the space.
Niecy told Harry that “not everybody is going to like you, but I like you, and I thought you moved around this floor tonight beautifully.”
Bruno said it “worked very, very well,” and praised Harry for working hard, applying himself and adding content. “Focus on what you want to do and make it happen,” he said.
Score: 28/40
Barry Williams and Peta Murgatroyd
The Brady Bunch star Barry Williams said “this team went home happy” after he earned his best scores so far and he made no mistakes in his routine last week.
Recognizing that they were midway through the competition, Barry said he desperately wanted to stick around because he is genuinely enjoying himself. “I feel like I’m just hitting my stride and I’m having the time of my life, I don’t want to miss any part of it,” he explained.
As he and pro Peta Murgatroyd rehearsed their Viennese Waltz to “It’s A Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World” by James Brown, Barry insisted to cameras, “I’m trying hard to nail this choreography… it’s crucial to deliver a good performance so the judges know I’m a real contender.”
Afterwards, Derek said he “loves” Barry but felt the “character of the dance took over a little bit and the dance suffered.” He suggested the actor focus on “a little more content” next time.
Niecy raved about Barry, saying his “footwork was gorgeous, [and] I loved the passion of the dance.”
Bruno commended him for staying on beat but pointed out that Barry “lost his shoulders,” and Carrie Ann called the routine “incredible” and celebrated his ability to “connect.”
Score: 31/40
Ariana Madix and Pasha Pashkov
Ariana Madix reflected on last week’s success and getting a 9, noting that she “cannot slip” and has “to keep getting better.”
With Monster Night on her mind, Ariana was pumped. “Halloween is my Christmas, I love scary stuff!” the Vanderpump Rules star said, showing off some of her previous costumes through the years.
As she rehearsed her Argentine Tango to “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish, Ariana vowed to focus on what she could control.
“My goal this week is go out there and do my personal best,” she said, emphasizing how she would not focus on other people’s scores. “I’m gonna leave everything all out there on the dance floor because if I don’t kill this dance, it’s gonna kill me, literally.”
She certainly did that — and more. After her routine, Ariana had the judges and crowd on their feet.
Niecy said “everything you did was so beautiful, I am obsessed with it!” Bruno called it “terrific, thrilling” and thanked them for doing an “authentic, pure, real Argentine Tango.”
Carrie Ann said it was “so great” and added, “I think you have what it takes to win it… you have something spectacular.” Derek concluded their praise by calling it “so beautiful” and celebrating her “flawless” execution of the dance.
As a result, Bruno ended up giving Ariana her first 10 of the season.
Score: 37/40
Lele Pons and Brandon Armstrong
The YouTuber and singer was thrilled to get her highest score of the season last week, especially because she was simply being herself.
Recalling her passion for Halloween this week, Lele Pons told pro partner Brandon Armstrong about the time she had a Halloween party, which ended up hosting 350 people, including Diplo, and the cops came.
Vowing to “get the best scores” this week, Lele said she wants to “show the judges I’m up for a big challenge” but hoped she could nail the routine in time. The two then took the ballroom floor, dancing a Paso Doble to “Bloody Mary” (Wednesday dance TikTok version) by Lady Gaga.
Bruno was all about the routine, calling it a “lethal Paso Doble.” He pointed out that Lele is “now in control,” while Carrie Ann offered more critical feedback. “You’re not finishing your moves, hit the shapes… there’s just a little bit of sloppiness,” she said, urging Lele to “take that fire and dump it into the dance.”
“We love your power and attack, and you always perform at 10,” Derek added, before agreeing with Carrie Ann’s feedback. “We’ve got to be a little stronger [with our feedback].”
Niecy also agreed and said Lele needed “a little work in the arms,” but emphasized that her “footwork was beautiful.”
Despite the more critical feedback, Bruno gave Lele a 9 — her first of the season.
Score: 33/40
Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater
Real estate mogul Mauricio Umansky said “it felt great” to get triple 8’s last week, and was going into this week “feeling energized and confident.”
With Halloween on the brain, Mauricio said he “definitely” believes in spooky stuff, even recalling a creepy moment after he sold the house that Michael Jackson died in. According to Mauricio, he would always ensure everything was locked up and shut off before leaving, but the next morning he came back, the windows were open and music was on.
Spirits aside, Mauricio vowed in his pre-dance package: “I wanna prove to everyone and especially the judges that I am a serious contender.”
Then, he and pro partner Emma Slater hit the dance floor, dancing an Argentine Tango to “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell.
Carrie Ann celebrated Mauricio for “coming so far from week one” but suggested to see a “hair more” in the strength of his core. Derek agreed about how far Mauricio has come and praised his upper body, but suggested the real estate mogul focus a bit more on his legs.
Niecy loved the routine, even joking about the way he “manhandled” Emma, and Bruno commended him for going “for the power.”
Score: 31/40
Charity Lawson and Artem Chigvintsev
Coming off a high from last week, where she got her first 10 — and the first 10 — of the season, Charity Lawson said, “I am feeling so, so good.”
“I am excited to see how much further we can keep growing,” Charity told cameras before kicking off rehearsals, where Artem embraced his “trainer” persona to push her. Though Charity recognized the Jive routine was difficult to master, the Bachelorette star didn’t back away from the challenge.
After dancing to “Skeleton Sam” by LVCRFT on Tuesday night, Derek said he loved the “concept” of the routine but urged Charity to improve her “power and attack.” Niecy noted that Charity’s slide through Artem’s legs was “clunky” and echoed Derek’s suggestion about owning her power and attack in the routine.
Bruno had nothing bad to say, simply calling it “deliciously spooky” and a “Halloween treat for all of us to enjoy.” Meanwhile, Carrie Ann said it was “beautifully executed” but pointed out that Charity’s legs don’t “always feel like they’re sharp” and “that’s what was missing.”
After their dance, Charity told Julianne she’s glad “trainer Artem” is over for now because “it’s been a lot, the Jive is no joke.”
Score: 35/40
Dance Monster-Thon
After all of the couples danced their individual routines, the stars and their pro partners returned to the ballroom for the Dance Monster-Thon. Heading into it, Ariana and Pasha and Xochitl and Val were tied at the top with 37/40, while Harry and Rylee were at the bottom with a 28/40.
As Julianne and Alfonso explained, the marathon would offer extra points to the couples depending on how long they dance. Beginning with the hustle, the couples would all take the floor and dance in their designated space. As the song goes on, the judges would slowly eliminate each pairing. The longer a couple stays on the dance floor, the more points they can earn.
Midway through the marathon, the dance style would change to Charleston, which would allow the remaining four couples to move out of their designated space and dance all over the floor.
As it turned out, Barry and Peta and Harry and Rylee were eliminated first, which gave them 1 extra point each. Alyson and Sasha and Mauricio and Emma were next, each earning 2 extra points. Charity and Artem and Jason and Daniella then followed with 3 points each.
This left three remaining couples: Lele and Brandon, Ariana and Pasha, and Xochitl and Val. Ultimately, Lele and Brandon and Ariana and Pasha were eliminated, giving them 4 bonus points each.
In the winner’s spot was Xochitl and Val, with a whopping 5 extra points — and putting them in the top spot on the leaderboard. Harry and Rylee remained at the bottom with 29 total points.
After an eventful night of Halloween festivities, Alfonso and Julianne revealed who would be moving into next week. Charity and Artem, Xochitl and Val, Ariana and Pasha, Jason and Daniella, Lele and Brandon, and Barry and Peta nabbed those safe spots.
This left Alyson and Sasha, Mauricio and Emma and Harry and Rylee as the remaining three couples, though not necessarily the bottom three. Then, it was revealed that Mauricio and Emma were being eliminated.
“It’s been amazing, it’s been so much fun, it’s been an incredible journey. It’s something I never would’ve done in my entire life,” Mauricio said afterwards. “It’s been extraordinary.”
Emma also teared up reflecting on their partnership, saying they had an “amazing” bond and it came at a time that “meant a lot” to each of them.
Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
