Dancing with the Stars delivered a surprise in week three, eliminating a celebrity contestant who appeared to be gaining momentum in the competition.
Taylor Hanson, the 43-year-old Hanson frontman, became the fourth celebrity sent home. His elimination came alongside professional partner Britt Stewart, following celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis’s departure the previous week.
The pair landed in a three-way tie at the bottom of the leaderboard with Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson, as well as Jackson Olson and Emma Slater. The results arrived during a show centered on 1980s yacht-rock favorites.
“This has been everything. This has been incredible,” Hanson said, attempting to remain positive even as Stewart visibly struggled with the disappointment.
Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn topped the judges’ leaderboard after a dramatic week that saw her accidentally give dance partner Pasha Pashkov a bloody nose during rehearsals.
Glenn and Pashkov shared the top score with Harry Shum Jr., known for Glee and Grey’s Anatomy, and his professional partner Jenna Johnson.
Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn led the week-three rankings on Dancing with the Stars season 35 after accidentally giving partner Pasha Pashkov a bloody nose during rehearsals.
Glenn tied for first place with Glee and Grey’s Anatomy actor Harry Shum Jr., who danced with Jenna Johnson.
Hanson frontman Taylor Hanson, 43, was the fourth celebrity eliminated from the competition, alongside professional partner Britt Stewart.
Hanson and Stewart took on a foxtrot set to The Doobie Brothers’ “What a Fool Believes.”
The song held special meaning for Hanson. He had previously performed it with his brothers in front of The Doobie Brothers at the group’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
Still, the singer appeared anxious. After receiving significant criticism the week before, he was determined to show the judges that he had worked to improve.
“I want to show the judges that I was paying attention to the notes,” Hanson said during rehearsals, where he struggled to find a smooth, fluid movement.
Carrie Ann Inaba praised the “lyrical” and “poetic” quality Hanson could bring to the dance, but said she was disappointed overall. She encouraged him to build greater core strength and resilience.
Derek Hough offered a more favorable assessment, calling it Hanson’s strongest performance of the season and saying it was clear he had been “taking notes.”
Bruno Tonioli, however, remained critical. He told Hanson to avoid breaking up the musical phrases during his performance.
“You’re a musician; you understand what I’m talking about,” Tonioli added.
Hanson and Stewart earned three sixes—their highest score of the season—but the improvement was not enough to lift them above the elimination zone with viewers voting at home.
Hanson and Stewart performed a foxtrot to “What a Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers.
The song was meaningful to Hanson, who had performed it with his brothers for The Doobie Brothers during the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
But the singer also seemed nervous, as he and Stewart had received a fair amount of criticism the week before, and he wanted to make it clear that he was trying to improve
Inaba appreciated how ‘lyrical’ and ‘poetic’ Hanson could be when he danced, but she was also disappointed and suggested he try to strengthen his core to become more resilient
On the other hand, Hough called it his best dance of the season, while Tonioli urged Hanson not to interrupt the phrases of the music
They were in a three-way tie for the bottom spot with Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson and Jackson Olson and Emma Slater before being eliminated
First up in this week’s competition were Glenn and her dance partner Pashkov.
The Olympic figure skater and her partner performed a Foxtrot that was set to Toto’s Hold the Line.
‘And the ice queen does it again!’ shouted Hough as he jumped to his feet after the performance.
Tonioli called them the ‘top of the class,’ while Inaba called their dance ‘beautiful,’ ‘poetic’ and ‘mesmerizing.’
The judges awarded Glenn and Pashkov straight eights, for a total of 24.
Glenn said she felt incredible after co-host Julianna Hough informed her that they had received the first eights of the season.
But things got off to a rough start in behind-the-scenes footage from their rehearsals when Glenn accidentally swiped her partner in the nose with her elbow.
Pashkov was bent over and rushed to grab a tissue as drops of blood could be seen dripping from his nose.
Glenn teared up in rehearsals after accidentally giving Pasha Paskov a bloody nose
The Olympic figure skater and her partner performed a Foxtrot that was set to Toto’s Hold the Line. They received straight eights, the best score to date
He said he felt light-headed after the impact, and Glenn teared up as she recounted the collision afterward, but there wasn’t any hint of the trauma when the two made it to the dance floor.
Next up was the team of Julia Styles and her partner Ezra Sosa, who did a salsa dance to Hall & Oates’s I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do).
‘You awakened the Spice Girl within!’ Tonioli joked as he said they ‘didn’t make any errors.’
‘You looked like you were having fun,’ he added.
Inaba said that Styles had finally given herself ‘permission to let go.’ Derek was also complimentary, though he did give her feedback on how to improve her turns.
He ended up giving Styles and Sosa their best score, a seven, while Tonioli and Inaba both awarded them respectable sixes.
Guillermo Rodriguez and his pro partner Witney Carson were next up on deck.
They danced a foxtrot and honed in on the yacht rock theme by performing to Escape (The Piña Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes.
Next up was the team of Julia Styles and her partner Ezra Sosa, who did a salsa dance to Hall & Oates’s I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do). In rehearsals, Julia hurt her ribs after a lift
‘You awakened the Spice Girl within!’ Tonioli joked as he said they ‘didn’t make any errors.’ ‘You looked like you were having fun,’ he added
Inaba said that Styles had finally given herself ‘permission to let go.’ Derek was also complimentary, though he did give her feedback on how to improve her turns
Guillermo Rodriguez and his pro partner Witney Carson were next up on deck. They danced a foxtrot and honed in on the yacht rock theme by performing to Escape (The Piña Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes
Rodriguez stripped down to give the audience a laugh as he waited for his score
In rehearsals, Carson had to put a brace on Rodriguez’s shoulders to hold his arms up and keep him ‘in frame.’
The duo ended up getting straight fives, which they seemed happy about.
Tatyana Ali and partner Jan Ravnik danced a quickstep set to another yacht rock classic, Hall & Oates’s Maneater.
‘Tatyana, hold my gaze. That was your best dance,’ Hough said afterward.
Inaba said that Tatyana may have had a misstep, but she said her footstep was otherwise phenomenal.
Tonioli joked, ‘When you’re bad, you’re so good,’ and said he appreciated the Cosby Show actress’s more aggressive tone.
The actress and her partner received straight sevens, which elicited a scream of joy from Tatyana.
Harry Shum Jr. and his partner Jenna Johnson followed up with a jive to another Hall & Oates tune, You Make My Dreams Come True.
Tatyana Ali and partner Jan Ravnik danced a quickstep set to another yacht rock classic, Hall & Oates’s Maneater
‘Tatiana, hold my gaze. That was your best dance,’ Hough said afterward
Harry Shum Jr. and his partner Jenna Johnson followed up with a jive to another Hall & Oates tune, You Make My Dreams Come True
They received a trio of eights from the judges, tying Amber Glenn’s score from the start of the show for the top spot
Tonioli called it theatrical in the best possible way.
‘You’re heading right up to Broadway with that!’ he gushed.
Inaba cheered and said the two were ‘so in sync’ and ‘so powerful.’
Derek praised Jenna for being so versatile and complimented Harry’s athleticism – and his theme-appropriate mustache.
They received a trio of eights from the judges, tying Amber Glenn’s score from the start of the show.
