’20th Birthday Party’ welcomes back Tom Bergeron, who urges ABC to bring back results show

Last week’s “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night” on Dancing With the Stars didn’t rock for Boy Meets World actress Danielle Fishel, who was eliminated in eighth place despite an emotional contemporary routine and a rollicking team dance where she was a team captain. That leaves seven celebrities on the dance floor competing for the Len Goodman Mirror Ball Trophy. So, what will happen when DWTS celebrates its landmark anniversary during the “20th Birthday Party” night?

Still battling it out in the ballroom are Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, social media personality Alix Earle, reality star Dylan Efron, actress Elaine Hendrix, wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt, and comedian Andy Richter. They will perform the usual individual dances to earn points from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli, with Emmy-winning former DWTS host Tom Bergeron joining the panel as this week’s special guest judge.

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But then will come the relay dances. In each head-to-head match-up, one couple will dance the first half of a song, and then another couple will dance the second half. The judges will decide who danced it best and give the winning duo two bonus points. But there’s a twist! The celebrities won’t be dancing the relays with their usual professional partners. Instead, they will each be teamed up with a returning Mirror Ball champion from the past. Not all of the celebrities will have to go through this gauntlet, though. Thanks to her high score last week and cumulative high scores throughout the season, Leavitt is exempt from the relay dances and will receive two bonus points automatically.

In addition, Derek Hough has choreographed a number that will be performed by the current pros and troupe dancers as well as the six pros who started it all when the show premiered in 2005: Alec Mazo, Ashly DelGrosso, Louis van Amstel, Jonathan Roberts, Charlotte Jorgensen, and Edyta Śliwińska. DWTS will also commemorate the performers who have been lost over the years with a dance to “Always Remember Us This Way” by Lady Gaga, choreographed and performed by Ezra Sosa and Rylee Arnold. What else do you think the producers have up their sleeves?

Elaine Hendrix and pro Alan Bersten

Performance: Inspired by Mario Lopez‘s freestyle from Season 3, the recently injured Hendrix danced a salsa to “It Takes Two” by Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “That was a fantastic way to start this night,” she credits Hendrix’s “resilience” following her hospitalization two weeks ago.
Derek’s comments: “You’re just a sizzling, salsa queen,” and he loved the continuous spin.
Tom’s comments: “That was really good,” he said to his friend Hendrix.
Bruno’s comments: She has “something very special,” like “champagne.
Scores: Carrie Ann (9), Derek (9), Tom (9), Bruno (9) = 36 out of 40

Robert Irwin and pro Witney Carson

Performance: The wildlife conservationist’s foxtrot was set to “Footprints in the Sand” by Leona Lewis, the same song his sister performed a freestyle to in Season 21 that won her the Mirror Ball Trophy.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “This dance was so powerful and so profound” that she’s going to ignore the lift she saw. No more lift police!
Derek’s comments: “You’re this generation’s beacon of joy,”
Tom’s comments: “You have grown into a star.”
Bruno’s comments: “That was so beautiful, it was a poetic and touching tribute. I could not take my eyes off of you.” He’s got “America’s seal of approval
Scores: Carrie Ann (10), Derek (10), Tom (10), Bruno (10) = 40 out of 40

Andy Richter and pro Emma Slater

Performance: This quickstep to “Puttin’ on the Ritz” by Robbie Williams is a tribute to Jordan Fisher‘s Season 25 freestyle that helped win him that season’s grand title.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “There is no greater honor or privilege” than to watch someone come out and do his best.
Derek’s comments: “You did it, man. You did it.”
Tom’s comments: “[Len Goodman] would have loved your [quickstep].”
Bruno’s comments: He said that it was quick and it had steps.
Scores: Carrie Ann (8), Derek (7), Tom (7), Bruno (7) = 29 out of 40

Dylan Efron and pro Daniella Karagach

Performance: Milo Manheim’s Season 27 freestyle inspired this Argentine Tango to “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers
Carrie Ann’s comments: This exceeded Gilles Marini‘s Argentine tango, which was formly her favorite Argentine tango.
Derek’s comments: “That was your breakthrough moment by a longshot.” His improvement has been “astonishing,” and the lifts were “effortless.”
Tom’s comments: He says they looked like two pros danicng together.
Bruno’s comments: “You were not dancing tonight, you were starring.” He adds, “It’s not what you do but the way you do it,” and he did it “perfectly.”
Scores: Carrie Ann (10), Derek (10), Tom (10), Bruno (10) = 40 out of 40

In Memoriam

Remembered celebs who competed on DWTS but have since passed away were Jerry Springer, Cloris Leachgman, Aaron Carter, Shannen Doherty, Florence Henderson, Kirstie Alley Jacoby Jones, Valerie Harper, Suzanne Somers, Mary Wilson, Anne Heche, and, of course, longtime judge Len Goodman.

Jordan Chiles and pro Ezra Sosa

Performance: They danced a cha cha to “Get Up” by Ciara featuring Chamillionaire, which was inspired by Wayne Brady‘s Season 31 freestyle routine.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “Strong dance, a little bit wild at times,” and her shoulders are “coming up” when she turns.
Derek’s comments: “You had texture in your body,” he appreciated the subtle details of the routine as opposed to the more
Tom’s comments: “It got really hot in here.”
Bruno’s comments: “You definitely brought sexy back into the cha cha cha.”
Scores: Carrie Ann (9), Derek (10), Tom (9), Bruno (9) = 37 out of 40

Alix Earle and pro Val Chmerkovskiy

Performance: This foxtrot to “Singin’ in the Rain” by Matthew Morrison took inspiration from Nev Schulman‘s freestyle from Season 29.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “You’re letting go completely now,” so her performance showed her increased confidence and sense of fun on the dance floor.
Derek’s comments: “Clean, classic, smooth, sophisticated, stylish.” It was “flawless.”
Tom’s comments: “It was more than a dance, it was a chemistry class.”
Bruno’s comments: “I think I’ve entered ballroom heaven. This is how you do it.” She captured the “class” and “sophistication of Hollywood’s golden age.”
Scores: Carrie Ann (10), Derek (10), Tom (10), Bruno (10) = 40 out of 40

Whitney Leavitt and pro Mark Ballas

Performance: The reality TV personality performed an Argentine tango to “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago: The Musical, the same music Gabby Windey used in their Season 31 freestyle.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “I’m going to follow you wherever you go,” it was a “passionate and precise” dance.
Derek’s comments: “It was just dripping in elegance and control.” It was full of “artistry” and “musicality.”
Tom’s comments: He was “swept away.”
Bruno’s comments: “I knew you were a ruthless killer. Razor-sharp focus.” Her leg work was worthy of Cyd Charisse. “Best dancer tonight.”
Scores: Carrie Ann (10), Derek (10), Tom (10), Bruno (10) = 40 out of 40

Relay Dances

Round One:
Jordan Chiles and Apolo Anton Ohno vs. Elaine Hendrix and Rashad Jennings

Performance: They performed a quickstep to “I Get a Kick Out of You” by Michael Bublé.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “Very impressive” former champions, both celebs were strong.
Derek’s comments: Elaine had “bounciness, brightness, and fun.”
Tom’s comments: “We had athleticism and elegance … Nice job everybody.”
Bruno’s comments: “Dexterous footwork, wonderful movement.”
WINNER: Jordan Chiles

Round Two:
Dylan Efron and Rumer Willis vs. Andy Richter and Kaitlyn Bristowe

Performance: They all danced a Viennese waltz to “Earned It” by The Weeknd.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “You were sexy tonight” to Andy.
Derek’s comments: Dylan and Rumer looked like they’ve been dancing together for years. Andy and Kaitlyn were “good.”
Tom’s comments: “Andy, that was ab fab,” overall it was “a massive entertainment experience.”
Bruno’s comments: “You were making music,” Dylan and Rumer “were in perfect harmony.”
WINNER: Dylan Efron

Round Three:
Alix Earle and Joey Graziadei vs. Robert Irwin and Xochitl Gomez

Performance: They performed a jive to “Dance With Me Tonight” by Olly Murs.
Carrie Ann’s comments: “You both did great, this is a really hard one.” It’s “hard to compare.”
Derek’s comments: Robert and Xochitl had great “chemistry.” “This is a hard one.”
Tom’s comments: He talks to ABC and encourages them to let the whole country vote on the dances and bring back the results show.
Bruno’s comments: “Everything you did was very good in very different ways.” He can’t fault anything, so it’s “a question of taste.”
WINNER: Robert Irwin

Judges’ Leaderboard

1. Dylan Efron — 40 + 2 = 42
1. Whitney Leavitt — 40 + 2 = 42
1. Robert Irwin — 40 + 2 = 42
4. Alix Earle — 40
5. Jordan Chiles — 37 + 2 = 39
6. Elaine Hendrix — 36
7. Andy Richter — 29