Which Celebrity Was Sent Home During 'Halloween Nightmares' on Dancing With The Stars?

It’s the spookiest night on the dance floor for the cast of Season 33 of Dancing With The Stars, as the remaining contestants take to the stage to prove their mettle in the latest ballroom showdown. The reality competition is down to just seven contestants, and while we’ve yet to see a couple earn a 10 (despite Gene Simmons’ scoring faux pas back in Episode 5), it’s that time in the competition where the best must rise to the top or risk elimination. A very scary thought indeed.

Tonight’s episode is themed “Halloween Nightmares,” and it’s a favorite amongst DWTS fans, often yielding some of the most visually stunning dances, effects and costumes of the season. There is no guest judge tonight, meaning judges Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba—and, of course, the voting audience—must decide which couples make it and which couples break it.

Hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough explain that tonight, things are about to get even scarier because in addition to the standard couples’ dance, each contestant will also compete in a dance-off for bonus points. They also explain that the stars’ dances will be themed on what scares them most, which, at this point, might just be getting eliminated.

Let’s see how good our stars are at scaring up enough votes to dance another day.

This contains spoilers to the results of the Halloween Night elimination of Season 33 of DWTS

Ilona Maher And Alan Bersten

Olympian Ilona Maher has become a breakout star of the season with her relatable dance journey, her witty quips and her willingness to flip the script on what qualifies as strength and beauty. Last week, she and professional dance partner Alan Bersten unintentionally scared audiences with their “Disney Night” dance inspired by the movie Encanto, mostly due to Alan’s prosthetic donkey costume. Despite that, they ended up tied for second on the dance floor.

This week, they’re hoping to intentionally scare the audience with their Halloween-themed tango to “Psycho Killer” by Miley Cyrus. Ilona explains that her biggest fear is scary movies, and she even says she isn’t the biggest fan of Halloween, so she’s really facing her fears this week. Last week, the judges said Ilona needs to dance more, so she and Alan are really focused on her footwork this week.

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Their tango is sultry and sharp, and they glide around the dance floor with ease. Ilona gets into her role as a murderer stalking Alan, but at this point in the competition, is it enough to keep them in the running?

Bruno Tonioli says it’s clear she listened to their critiques and he can see improvement. Carrie Ann Inaba says she is getting better and better each week, although she points out there were some balance issues during this performance. Still, Ilona was all smiles as she received her scores.

Final scores: 8/8/8

Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach

At 6’10”, NBA star Dwight Howard probably doesn’t scare easily. But after his partner Daniella Karagach tells him that up until this point in the competition, he’s yet to do a dance from beginning to end correctly, Dwight vows that they will make it to the finale. He’s going to be embodying a creepy character for their contemporary dance to “Ring Around The Rosie” by District 78 featuring Natalia Lillee.

Dwight says his plan is to go out there and put on a good show. And put on a good show they do, as their height difference makes the dance extra chilling. Dwight picks up Daniella throughout the performance, spinning her around and tossing her into the air like she’s a rag doll. The improvement Dwight has made since week 1 is truly incredible, and he and Daniella are a joy to watch.

Carrie Ann Inaba says tonight is the night Dwight went there, and his artistry and commitment to every single move made the routine “spectacular.” Derek Hough stands up and cheers for them, calling it “downright creepy in the best way.” Bruno Tonioli says he’s never seen Dwight more focused than tonight, and he compliments Daniella’s choregraphy as well. Both Dwight and Daniella are in tears as they hear the judges rave reviews.

Could it really be Dwight Howard who earns the first 10 of the season? Never say never.

Final scores: 10/9/9

Danny Amendola And Witney Carson

NFL star Danny Amendola has been a real dark horse this season. After starting off with so-so scores, he and partner Witney Carson turned the corner with their stunning contemporary dance during week 5, which earned them straight nines from the judges.

Since then, Danny and Witney have continued to dominate, often finding themselves towards the top of the leaderboard. Danny says that he’s always been an underdog, and that is what drives him to succeed both on the field and on the dance floor.

Danny says his worst nightmare involves running through a field being surrounded by snakes, which is oddly specific. Tonight, they are doing an Argentine tango to “Poison” by RAVN, and to help Danny conquer his snake fears, Witney brings in a real snake during rehearsals. After holding the snake and not running screaming from the studio, Danny says he handled the snake, and he can handle the Argentine tango, too.

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Danny Amendola earned decent scores for his first dance, but the real buzz was who was in the audience supporting him during the premiere of DWTS.

Danny and Witney’s dance is magnetic, seductive and acrobatic, truly one of their best. The judges agree, showering them with praise. Derek Hough says that Danny is a fantastic partner to Witney, always stepping up to make the dance work. Bruno Tonioli says Danny is a true dance, but notes that he missed a couple heel leads, which made him lose time. Carrie Ann Inaba says Danny embodied the character and that the pair are on top of the world.

Final scores: 10/9/9

Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber

Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber haven’t managed to make much headway on the leaderboard, consistently landing in the middle. While they’d hoped for nines during last week’s Little Mermaid inspired performance, Jenn says this week, she wants to prove she’s a competitor.

Sasha and Jenn are dancing a contemporary routine to “vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo, which is fitting since Jenn says vampires are one of her biggest fears. But is she talking about the sharp-fanged creatures or her past relationships?

To help Jenn channel the energy of a vampire, Sasha brings back an old friend: his former DWTS partner, Alyson Hannigan. They competed together on Season 32 and came in fifth. Alyson is, of course, also known for her role on the cult classic TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so she’s the perfect person to come in and inspire Jenn. Alyson advises Jenn to think of someone she despises during her performance, and one can’t help but think that Devin Strader, Jenn’s former love interest on The Bachelorette, might come to her mind.

And if that’s the case, Jenn must really dislike Devin, because the dance was fierce and intensely passionate. Bruno Tonioli said Jenn “really got [her] teeth into that performance,” and that she remained in control the entire time. Carrie Ann Inaba gives away her score (or did she?) by telling Jenn she can’t just get a 9, she needs to earn a 9, which Jenn did tonight. Derek Hough says the dance was impressive and that he loves their partnership.

Final scores: 10/9/9

Joey Graziadei And Jenna Johnson

The Bachelor‘s Joey Graziadei has been a front-runner since the season started, but last week, he and pro partner Jenna Johnson went down a bit in their scores. This week, Joey is brave enough to admit that he’s scared of puppets, and even more specifically, he’s afraid of puppets who come to life.

So based on Joey’s bizarre fear, Jenna suggests that during their Argentine tango to “Ramalama (Bang Bang)” by Róisín Murphy, Joey will portray a creepy ventriloquist who is in love with his puppet. Sounds like a plan, Jenna.

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The hair, makeup and costume team for this performance deserve an Emmy because Joey and Jenna truly look like spooky dolls come to life. Their dance is creepy,

yet sexy, if that’s possible. Joey has already proved he’s a good dancer, but he continues to prove he might actually be the season’s winner.

Derek Hough says Joey is the “ultimate puppet master” because he’s always in control, but he does mention that some of their lifts felt unstable. Bruno Tonioli calls it a “spine-chilling thriller of a tango.” Carrie Ann Inaba says Joey has been so consistent, but tonight, he “took it up a notch.”

Final scores: 10/9/10

Stephen Nedoroscik And Rylee Arnold

Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik and his partner, Rylee Arnold, are a bit down during rehearsals this week. They were off-beat in their dance last week, and it resulted in them dropping to the bottom of the leaderboard. This week, they want to make a triumphant return to the top.

When Rylee asks Stephen what his biggest fear, Stephen says that, due to an eye disorder which renders him unable to see clearly without his glasses, his biggest fear is being in the dark and not knowing where he is. Stephen is so sweet, it’s obvious why the fans find him so endearing.

Stephen points out that his vision problems didn’t hold him back during the Paris Summer Olympics, and it won’t hold him back tonight. Rylee says she wants Stephen to get into character and be creepy, which is tough for a sweetie like Stephen.

Rylee puts Stephen’s gymnastic abilities to good use during this contemporary to “I Ran (So Far Away)” by Hidden Citizens. Stephen and Rylee are all over the floor, rolling and crawling, hand walking and leaping over each other. It’s a spectacular comeback for Stephen, and we’ll no doubt be seeing another 10 scored tonight. Carrie Ann Inaba calls it the best performance of the night. Derek Hough says that for such a joyful person, it’s nice to see Stephen in this creepy role. Bruno Tonioli says Stephen found his dramatic persona tonight.

Final scores: 10/9/9

Chandler Kinney And Brandon Armstrong

Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong got the highest judges’ scores last week, which means they earned immunity for tonight’s dance-off. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have to nail their Viennese waltz to “Secret” by Denmark + Winter to remain this season’s darlings.

Their song is the theme song from Pretty Little Liars, which Chandler starred on. She says the song is creepy, eerie and “makes you feel on edge,” which is perfect for their dance, which sees Chandler portraying a creepy doll. While Brandon says the Viennese waltz is normally dream-like, tonight, they’re making it more nightmare.

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Let’s face it, we’ve known from the beginning that Chandler Kinney was likely to make it to the final three in this competition. And she’s such a strong dancer, she makes it look effortless. Bruno Tonioli says he’s “spellbound” by Chandler, and calls the dance “exquisite.” Derek Hough says the dance was “perfection.” But Carrie Ann Inaba throws a curveball, saying that this dance is so technical, she needs to judge it to a higher standard, and it wasn’t perfection. From the queen of giving out tens tonight, it’s a strange critique that earns boos from the audience.

Final scores: 9/10/10

Who Won The Dance-Off?

Now, it’s time for the dance-off. Ah, the dance-off. It’s Dancing With The Stars’ way of testing out the couples against each other, in real time, to the same song. Winners get three extra points, which could make a real difference for some couples. Tonight, Daniella Karagach and Dwight Howard will compete against Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten, Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber will try to out-dance Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold, and Danny Amendola and Witney Carson will throw down against Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson.

After the dances, the winners are Dwight and Daniella, Jenn and Sasha, and Joey and Jenna. All three couples added three extra points to their score, leaving Chandler and Jenna and Joey tied for first, Jenn and Sasha and Dwight and Daniella tied for second, Stephen and Rylee and Danny and Witney tied for third, and Ilona and Alan at the bottom.

Ilona fans, rise up!

Who Went Home During Dancing With The Stars‘ Halloween Nightmares Night Elimination?

It’s a particularly strong season for DWTS. All the performances tonight were thrilling to watch, without a dud in the group. And with such a high-caliber group of dancers, any elimination is bound to be shocking.

Tonight is no exception. While beloved Ilona had the lowest scores, sadly, it’s Jenn Tran, who earned her first 10 tonight and won the dance-off, who was sent home after receiving the lowest number of viewer votes. It feels unjust. Not only did she get her first 10 tonight and dominate in the dance-off, she also topped the leaderboard. In the last seven weeks, Jenn was brutally dumped on national television on The Bachelorette, and now she’s been unfairly eliminated mid-season on DWTS. Time to bring back #justiceforjenn.

Here’s hoping her rumored romance with partner Sasha Farber cheers her up. After all, she did thank Sasha for “opening up [her] hips” during the season, wink wink.

While Carrie Ann Inaba doled out the season’s first tens tonight, we’ve yet to see a couple earn a perfect score. But as another celebrity says goodbye and the competition continues, that’s bound to change soon.

With only a few more weeks to go, here’s a look at where the leaderboard stands now:

Season 33 DWTS Couples, Night 7	Place
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong	29/30 + 3 bonus points
Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson	29/30 + 3 bonus points
Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber – ELIMINATED	28/30 + 3 bonus points
Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagech	28/30 + 3 bonus points
Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold	28/30
Danny Amendola and Witney Carson	28/30
Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten	24/30

Tune in next week to see which celebrity is sent home as the competition narrows. Dancing With The Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. (EST/PST) on ABC and Disney+, and streams on Hulu the following day.

Dancing with the Stars is a popular dancing competition reality TV show airing on ABC and Disney+. The series features various celebrities who pair with professional dancers to compete in front of a panel of judges. The US version of the UK TV show Strictly Come Dancing premiered in 2005 and was originally hosted by Tom Bergeron for its first 28 seasons.

Release Date

June 1, 2005

Main Genre

Reality

Cast

Carrie Ann Inaba , Bruno Tonioli , Len Goodman , Tom Bergeron , Cheryl Burke , Tony Dovolani , Derek Hough , Mark Ballas , Karina Smirnoff , Maksim Chmerkovskiy , Kym Johnson , Sasha Farber , Val Chmerkovskiy , Emma Slater , Sharna Burgess

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