Shawn Johnson Source

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Posted By: admin November 1, 2012 Leave A Comment

Shawn Johnson: ‘We’re not trying to backstab people’ on ‘Dancing With the Stars’

Shawn Johnson and pro partner Derek Hough danced a romantic rumba to the “Titanic” theme song last week.
By Michael Maloney, TODAY contributor

Each week, Olympian and season eight “Dancing With the Stars” champ Shawn Johnson will be sharing her experiences on “All-Stars” with The Clicker! Look for Q&As, exclusive photos and more from the gold medalist throughout the season as she competes to win her second mirror ball trophy, this time alongside pro Derek Hough.

You can follow us on Twitter @TODAY_Clicker to get all the latest updates on Shawn’s quest for ballroom glory. Shawn is also on Twitter @ShawnJohnson.

The Clicker: How did it feel not having anyone be eliminated last week?
Shawn: I think since we weren’t there the week didn’t feel that different. We shot two shows last Monday and the second one aired on Tuesday. We rehearsed all day on Tuesday. The scores will transfer over to (this) week. The tension was still there. We were still trying to give our best performances!

The Clicker: What reaction did you get to your ‘Titanic’ themed rumba with Derek?
Shawn: It’s been nothing but positive. I couldn’t have been prouder of the dance. And Derek couldn’t have been prouder of what we did. Even though the judges didn’t necessarily love it, we did.

The Clicker: That seems to be Derek’s philosophy – do the best dance that will please you and the audience and then let the chips fall where they may with the judges.
Shawn: Definitely; this was about showing the world a different side of me. This wasn’t what people are used to seeing. I stepped out of my comfort zone.

The Clicker: Derek looked like Jack from ‘Titanic.’
Shawn: It was scary how similar he looked to Leonardo DiCaprio!

The Clicker: It was great to see how everyone rallied around Melissa Rycroft after her injury last week.
Shawn: Yes. It’s not a cutthroat show. We’re not trying to backstab people or get them off the show. We genuinely get along. We’re cheering and screaming when someone else is out there dancing. We don’t wish any harm to anyone. When Melissa went down it was like a family member being injured.

The Clicker: When you and Gilles Marini chose the songs you’d do group dances to, Gilles was very excited to get ‘Gangnam Style’ and Derek appeared less than thrilled to get ‘Call Me Maybe.’ But you guys ended up doing better.
Shawn: At first, yeah, we wanted “Gangnam Style” because it’s the craze right now. It’s the modern day “Macarena.” Ours may not have had the same energy, but once we put it together things started to fall into place. We may not have captured the audience as much, but it was clean and the judges liked it.

The Clicker: Do you agree with Kelly Monaco’s post-dance comments recently where she said the “DWTS” is not really about dancing but about the emotional journey you go on with your partner as you step outside your comfort zone?
Shawn: Yes, definitely. She summed it up the best. It’s not about dancing. It’s about everything else. We all come in here with different career paths looking to find confidence in a world that we’re not comfortable with and finding trust in your partner to take you somewhere you’ve never gone before.

The Clicker: How would you describe the journey you took the first time to the one you’ve had so far this time?
Shawn: I was a lot more reserved the first time mostly because of my age. I hadn’t stepped out into the world that much beyond gymnastics. I was shy and afraid to take risks. I kept to myself more. I wasn’t able to relate to as many people, again, because of my age. This time, I’m letting myself go more. It’s been the most liberating experience I ever had. I give so much of the credit to Derek. I don’t think anyone else could have brought this out of me. Derek is phenomenal. He’s the best out there. His talent is ridiculous. He takes everything so seriously and turns it into a masterpiece.

The Clicker: What’s the theme/dance for tonight?
Shawn: Country, which I’m happy about. I love the Zac Brown Band. All I listen to is country music. We’re doing the cha cha. My last one was great. It was my best dance.

The Clicker: Does that make it easier?
Shawn: Not really. It’s a completely different season. Tonight’s more of a theme. It’s not even relatable but hopefully it will go well!

Shawn Johnson: Strategically, Derek’s the smartest pro on ‘Dancing With the Stars’

“Dancing” pro Derek Hough is the brightest in the ballroom when it comes to strategy, according to all-star Shawn Johnson.

Each week, Olympian and season eight “Dancing With the Stars” champ Shawn Johnson will be sharing her experiences on “All-Stars” with The Clicker! Look for Q&As, exclusive photos and more from the gold medalist throughout the season as she competes to win her second mirror ball trophy, this time alongside pro Derek Hough.

The Clicker: How’s your injured knee?
Shawn: It’s okay. I’m doing therapy each day trying to make it a little better.

The Clicker: It looked so scary when we saw it all swollen. Has the swelling gone down?
Shawn: Yeah. I’ve dealt with injuries for the last two years on and off. I’ve been through it all. I think I was more emotionally distraught than physically. I felt better once I got the pass from the doctor that it was just a sprain and I needed therapy.

The Clicker: How does it feel to be in fourth place with 84.5 points? Do you feel safe going into tonight?
Shawn: I know that I was happy with the dance. I think that for a “country cha cha” we did pretty well. Derek was struggling with his neck today. I was struggling with my knee. I was happy we got through.

The Clicker: Derek said he was going to do next week’s dance especially for judge Len Goodman instead of tailoring it to what the viewers might like to see, but that’s also the week there are no fan votes! The judges’ feelings will be even more vital.
Shawn: Yes, but I think any couple would do that.

The Clicker: Oh, yes. It’s a very smart, strategic move.
Shawn: Yes, strategically, Derek’s the smartest one out there.

(Note: ABC has since announced that plans have changed for next week’s show. The judges will not eliminate a contestant next week. There will be a double elimination the following week with viewer votes factored in.)

The Clicker: Len doesn’t care for all the extras, but when your song has the word “tractor” in the title … well, you bring a tractor!
Shawn: Yes, I thought bringing a tractor suited our dance (on Monday). It’s country week. The song is “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.” If we’d gone for just a traditional cha cha I don’t think that it would have gone over well. We had to spice it up and have fun…and we did!

The Clicker: The video segments featuring the dancers and the stars have been less about doing activities and more about just showing you guys talk. Which do you prefer?
Shawn: They packages capture the genuine moments we have during conversations where we just talk about things. It’s more real than if something is staged, but we are still going places. This week, we’re going to the CMAs. I’m presenting the award to best vocal group of the year. It’s a dream come true!

Catch more from Shawn on Tuesday night’s “Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars” results show at 8 p.m. on ABC. And see her at the CMA Awards Thursday night at 8p.m. on the same network.

DWTS – Week 6 – “Cha Cha”

Posted By: admin October 31, 2012 Leave A Comment

Dancing With the Stars > Season 15 – Allstars > Week 5 – Rumba – October 23, 2012

‘Dancing With the Stars’: Partners Derek Hough and Shawn Johnson both injured

Shawn Johnson’s knee sprain was a major storyline on “Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars” — especially since a knee injury ended her gymnastics career.

What the show didn’t reveal, however, is that her pro partner, Derek Hough, was also dancing through pain. While icing his neck backstage after Monday night’s (Oct. 29) country-themed performance, the three-time champ revealed that he suffers from a bulging disc in his vertebrae, which flared up earlier that day.

“I’ve had it for a couple years,” he told us, “but once it flares up — like it did today — it sort of immobilizes me.”

“I saw him today turn his head and I was like, Uh-oh,” added Shawn, who could immediately tell something was wrong. “I was like, What did you do? It slowly got worse.”

“I danced through it,” Hough said, holding a bag of ice under the back of his shirt collar. “A little adrenaline helps out, [but now I have] to figure out how to get through it.”

He’s not just talking about himself: his partner suffered a sprained knee, which Shawn told us is “unfortunately something I’ll have to deal with for the rest of the season.”

The pair are confident they can “push through it,” and Shawn insists that her injury was “more emotionally overwhelming than physically painful or demanding.”

“Reliving the whole knee pain took me back to the Olympics and retiring and everything I had to go through.” (The gold medalist’s knee injury ended her comeback before the 2012 London Games.) “The idea that that would take me out of ["Dancing With the Stars"] just devastated me.”

For now, Shawn says, “my knee’s doing OK.”

Maybe judge Len Goodman picked the best time to complain about Hough’s “frippery”: In response, the ballroom pro said, “I’ll do this for you, Len: I’ll keep it simple.”

“I’ll go back to Season 6 choreography if that’s what you want,” he quipped.

Here’s hoping the couple — serious contenders for the disco-ball trophy since the judges called their quickstep in Week 3 the best dance in “DWTS” history — aren’t derailed by their injuries.

Fellow Season 15 dancer Melissa Rycroft suffered a herniated disc Oct. 22, but waltzed her way to a nearly perfect score (29.5/30) this week with partner Tony Dovolani. {zap2it.com}

‘Dancing With the Stars’: Shawn Johnson doesn’t let knee injury slow her down

“Dancing With the Stars” is always fraught with injuries to the amateurs and pros alike — ballroom dancing can be dangerous. And Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson already has a bum knee, which actually kept her from making a serious run at the 2012 Olympic women’s gymnastics team.

This week in the group dance rehearsal, she re-injured her knee while horsing around with Sabrina Bryan and it wasn’t look for very good for her country cha-cha with partner Derek Hough, but she muscled up and pulled through like a champ.

The judges liked the routine, especially praising the seamless fusion of country steps with cha-cha steps. Carrie Ann’s big criticism was that Shawn’s solo was a bit stiff — “You’re better than that solo” — and we can’t argue.

But Shawn received a 9.5 from Carrie Ann, an 8.5 from Len and a 10 from Bruno for a grand total of 84.5 (when last week’s scores were added in), which is good for fourth place on the leadboard. What did you think of Shawn’s dance?

DWTS Week 5 – “Rumba”

Posted By: admin October 24, 2012 Leave A Comment

Shawn and Derek danced the rumba beautifully to Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go on”. It got mixed reactions from the judges, but they all seemed to love it!

Dancing With the Stars > Season 15 – Allstars > Week 5 – Rumba – October 23, 2012

Did Shawn Johnson Survive to Dance Another Week?

After a near perfect score Monday for her spicy mambo on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars: All Stars,” it was no surprise that West Des Moines and her professional dance partner, survived to dance another week.

Instead, Alaskan Bristol Palin, the daughter of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, got the boot.

“It isn’t only that Bristol is a mediocre dancer,” CBS reported. “There have been other performers with her lack of skills or even worse, who were immensely more fun to watch. She’s just very young and a little boring.”

Johnson danced a spicy mambo Monday night, and she did it with a broken heel on her shoe, according to her professional dance partner Derek Hough’s Twitter feed.

Match that, Ginger Rogers.

“Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did backwards and in high heels — but did she do it on a broken heel?” noted the blog “Wet Paint” offering commentary on the “Dancing With the Stars” program.

Johnson, who had to retire from gymnastics competition this summer because of a knee injury, has her eyes on another glitter ball trophy in the 15th season of the ABC network’s show.

Tune in again Monday to watch the fifth week of “Dancing With the Stars.” The show enters its fifth week. Locally, it airs at 7 p.m. on WOI-TV, Channel 5, on both Mondays and Tuesdays.

The 20-year-old gymnast claimed the Season 8 title in 2009.

Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough Take Criticism for Rumba

Nobody’s routine on Tuesday’s Dancing with the Stars caused any judges to fall out of their chair this time, but there was certainly no lack of emotion during the second round of guilty pleasure night critiques.

The evening began with a tango from Tony Dovolani and his partner Melissa Rycroft, who was recovering from a herniated disk neck injury.

The pair, who danced to “Toxic,” by Britney Spears, was given a 27 for their performance, which judge Bruno Tonioli called “intoxicating” and Len Goodman called “crisp” and “sharp.”

Next came a dreamlike rumba to Céline Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” from regularly high-scoring duo Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough, whose 27-point routine wowed only Bruno this week.

“[You were] emotionally connected like I’ve never seen you before,” the judge said of the ballroom pro and Shawn, who admitted in a video package that she has trouble acting vulnerable. “[It was] touching and romantic.”

But fellow critic Carrie Ann Inaba knocked the pair for adding a lift to their number, and Len argued, “There was no hip action.”

Apolo Ohno and Karina Smirnoff’s high-energy samba to Rick James’s “Give It to Me” also scored 27 points, but the routine didn’t impress Carrie Ann.

“I think your legwork is fantastic, but I’m going to say something is not right,” she said. “It’s good, but it’s not where Apolo should be, I think.”

The best couples’ dance was saved for last.

Sabrina Bryan and Louis Van Amstel, who are typically in the middle of the leader board, ended up on top at the end of the night, for their Cinderella-themed waltz to “This Is Love.”

“I think it was elegance personified,” Carrie Ann said, giving out her only 10 of the night. “I think you’re in for a happy ending.”

Added Len, “Cinderella, I think you’re going to the ball.”

Last up was a goofy, 27-point group dance by “Team Gangnam Style,” made up of Gilles Marini and Peta Murgatroyd; Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy; Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerkovskiy; and Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke.

Calling the dance the “craziest number I’ve ever seen,” Len, who gave the group a 9 for performing Psy’s South Korean hip-hop song, went on to say, “It wasn’t tidy, it wasn’t together … but it was fun.”

Added Carrie Ann, “You guys are a hot mess … Crazy, fun, insanity.”

‘DWTS’ Recap: Shawn Johnson, Derek Hough Led Team ‘Call Me Maybe’ to Victory

On DWTS on Monday, Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough were the team leaders for a freestyle group dance that had them calling themselves Team “Call Me Maybe.” That tune was the Carly Rae Jepsen song used to move these performers through their daring routine.

Speaking of daring, this routine was so risky that Melissa Rycroft hurt herself during rehearsal while trying to execute a certain intricate maneuver. She was so badly hurt that she was taken away to the hospital on a stretcher much to the horror of her teammates. The verdict? A herniated disc.

After that malady was established, the big question everyone wondered before Dancing with the Stars aired on Monday was whether or not Rycroft would be well enough to dance when the show went live. Would she be able to join Shawn and Derek, her partner Tony Dovolani, and her teammates Sabrina Bryan, Louis Van Amstel, Apolo Anton Ohno, and Karina Smirnoff on the DWTS dance floor for the actual performance?

After much anticipation, the answer to that question was “yes,” although when she hit the floor, Rycroft was heavily medicated, as she readily admitted before this fun-filled routine started.

As for what Melissa and the others were wearing, all the girls were dressed in skimpy cheerleading outfits while the guys were garbed in football attire, making the audience feel as if they were attending a game instead of a dance.

But a dance it was. A wild and crazy dance with lots of tricky moves, crazy footwork, and gymnastic-like jumps and spins. It was a sight to behold with balloons falling from the ceiling as Team “Call Me Maybe” ended their extremely rah rah routine.

So, did you catch this clever number on DWTS on Monday? Did you like what you saw? Did you think that the team Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough led to victory on 10/22/2012 deserved to earn an almost perfect score? Please weigh in.

DWTS Week 4 – Mambo – October 16, 2012

Posted By: admin October 17, 2012 Leave A Comment

Dancing With the Stars > Season 15 – Allstars > Week 4 – Mambo – October 16, 2012

Dancing With the Stars > Season 15 – Allstars > Week 4 – Mambo – October 16, 2012 – Eliminations

Shawn Johnson pulled off near-perfect ‘Dancing With the Stars’ performance with broken shoe

Each week, Olympian and season eight “Dancing With the Stars” champ Shawn Johnson will be sharing her experiences on “All-Stars” with The Clicker! Look for Q&As, exclusive photos and more from the gold medalist throughout the season as she competes to win her second mirror ball trophy, this time alongside pro Derek Hough.

The Clicker: What happened with your right shoe (during your leaderboard topping routine on Monday night’s show)?
Shawn: Right before I went out on stage I noticed people in the wardrobe department were looking at my shoes, but I didn’t know why. When I came off stage, they said, ‘Oh, my goodness! Your shoe was broken the entire time you were dancing!’ I looked down and saw that the heel on my left shoe goes straight down. The one on my right shoe is bent and is snapped in half on the inside. The only thing that’s keeping it intact is the (exterior) fabric.

The Clicker: So how were you able to not only dance, but dance so well?
Shawn: I have no idea. Someone’s watching out for me.

The Clicker: Melissa Rycroft kept talking about all the great lifts you do. Had she seen your routine ahead of time?
Shawn: I don’t think so. We’ve all been playing around with lifts this week. We’ve been doing them in previous dances, too. I think that’s where that came from.

The Clicker: What challenges went into doing the mambo?
Shawn: This week was hard. I was really stressing about doing the dance, getting into character and getting it all right. I didn’t feel I was ready. Derek told me to put all my inhibitions aside, just go for it and have fun. I did and I loved every second of it.

The Clicker: What do you think it’s going to take to survive? Chemistry? Fan bases?
Shawn: No. I think it’s the comfort zone thing.

The Clicker: You mean the comfort you have with your partner?
Shawn: With everything. Kelly (Monaco) and Val (Chmerkovskiy) did something different completely different this week. They went way out of their comfort zone, but it blew everybody’s socks off. It really connected with people. I think people saw that I was also out of my comfort zone, but because I was having fun then the audience connected with it, too.

The Clicker: What did you think of guest judge Paula Abdul?
Shawn: She was great. Her comments and enthusiasm were great. We’d love to have her as a permanent judge.

The Clicker: How is your partnership with Derek going?
Shawn: I’m biased, of course, but Derek is phenomenal. He has a vision. He works with the band. He’ll change the music. He designs props and has input into the sets and lighting. Also, he works with me on my confidence.

The Clicker: How does he help you with your confidence?
Shawn: I come from (gymnastics) is where if it’s not perfect then it’s not good enough. I won’t ever be perfect (as a dancer), but it’s not my profession. Derek re-iterates to me every day that I can make mistakes, have fun and be silly. People love that. It’s taken a bit for that to sink in, but each day he breaks down my walls and barriers a little bit more. It’s what Kelly said after her dance with Val. The show is about finding trust in someone who can take you outside your comfort zone. Our (dance) partners do things for us that people never realize.

Shawn Johnson: Nobody’s safe with tonight’s double elimination on ‘Dancing With the Stars’

Shawn Johnson (with “Dancing” partner Derek Hough) says emotions can run high during rehearsals.

Each week, Olympian and season eight “Dancing With the Stars” champ Shawn Johnson will be sharing her experiences on “All-Stars” with The Clicker! Look for Q&As, exclusive photos and more from the gold medalist throughout the season as she competes to win her second mirror ball trophy, this time alongside pro Derek Hough.

You can follow us on Twitter@TODAY_Clicker to get all the latest updates on Shawn’s quest for ballroom glory. Shawn is also on Twitter @ShawnJohnson

The Clicker: You took a higher plunge off the stairs at the end of your dance than you did in rehearsal.

Shawn: I did. It was the adrenaline. It wasn’t really more dangerous. Where we were originally was pretty high. I just went a little higher.

The Clicker: Is Derek open to your ideas when it comes to pushing the envelope?

Shawn: Yes, definitely. Derek is extremely respectful. He asks for different ideas and opinions. I’ll give them. He loved the different ideas that I brought this week.

The Clicker: When they saved you for the last dance of the night did you think the judges thought it would make for a great show stopper?

Shawn: It kind of is a known thing that they like to save a decent one for last.

The Clicker: “Decent?” You got 26.5, a solid third place. You’re being modest!

Shawn: (Beat) I’m a modest person. When I found out we were going last I became very excited. Even in competition being last is the best place to be in. You end with a bang. The crowd’s really into it. We didn’t care what they judges felt (about our breaking the rules.) We did it for the crowd. People loved it and they were on their feet. That meant the world to us.

The Clicker: Judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli were on their feet! But (host) Tom Bergeron joked that Len Goodman would have, too, but he gets tired if he does that.

Shawn: I love Tom. He’s almost been like the “dad” around here. I thought that when I was here the first time. He’s so quick-witted.

The Clicker: You’re going to pick dances for your competitors for next week’s dances. Will you choose ones to challenge them or so they won’t succeed?

Shawn: I don’t know exactly how it’s going to be done. We’re not out to (sabotage). People may look at me and think, “Oh, she’s the cute, bubbly one. So we’ll give her a serious dance because we know that she’ll struggle with that more.” But I actually don’t think that’s being cutthroat. It’s just being strategic and a good competitor.

The Clicker: How did you do on, say, your Argentine Tango when you competed the first time?

Shawn: (Smiles) It was my first perfect “30!”

The Clicker: Bristol (Palin) said in her package that she thinks that Mark (Ballas, her pro partner) would prefer to have you or Sabrina Ryan instead of her. Do you have any thoughts on that?

Shawn: People get heated in practice. Emotions run high. Everybody has fights. I think Bristol is voicing an opinion and sticking up for herself. She was the creative director this week and she took over. I was proud of her for that.

The Clicker: You’re in third place. How do you feel about going into tonight’s double elimination?

Shawn: Nobody is safe with the double elimination. I’m going to be nervous. Anyone can go. If I do, then going out on a high note with (Monday’s) performance is the way to go!

DWTS All Stars – Week 3 – Quickstep

Posted By: admin October 8, 2012 Leave A Comment

Shawn and Derek performed the quickstep last night in what was deemed by the judges as “by far the best routing on Dancing with the Stars history”!!! It really is jaw dropping perfection, and the audience – and even the other contestants – had to give an uproarious standing ovation!

Dancing With the Stars > Season 15 – Allstars > Week 3 – Quickstep – October 08, 2012

Dancing With the Stars > Season 15 – Allstars > Week 3 – Quickstep – October 09, 2012 – Eliminations

Shawn Johnson & Derek Hough – Quickstep on Dancing With The Stars: All-Stars

Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough leap high in the air while performing a quickstep on Monday night’s (October 8) Dancing With The Stars: All-Stars in Los Angeles.

The two re-created a former dance on the show and chose “Hey Pachuco” from The Mask for their high-energy dance.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Shawn Johnson

“Here we go!! SHOW DAY!! Couldn’t be more excited for this quickstep!! Hope you all love it as much as we do!! keep VOTING! #DWTS” Shawn tweeted before the show yesterday.

Shawn and Derek even got picked for the encore on tonight’s results show!

One Pair Performs ‘Best Dance’ ‘Ever’ On Dancing With The Stars: All-Stars

Credit: ABC CaptionLOS ANGELES, Calif. — They didn’t get a perfect score, or anywhere close to it, but one couple on “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars” gave the judges their biggest thrill in fifteen seasons.

Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough performed an intensely acrobatic quickstep that caught judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and even Len Goodman, by surprise.

It was iconic dance night on “DWTS,” and the returning competing celebrities picked numbers from the past to redo, with inspired twists, of course, and Shawn decided she and Derek had the drive to redo Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough’s famed banana dance quickstep from Season 5.

It began with the pair flipping off trampolines, before they quickstepped wildly across the floor, flipping each other around, kicking like crazy. And it ended when the duo fell off the stairs (on purpose) on to safety mats.

“This is a classic, one of the best dances, if not the best dance I’ve seen in 15 seasons in America,” Bruno exclaimed. “You broke the rules, but my God, I’m never gonna forget this.”

Carrie Ann too was totally floored.

“That was by far the best dance we have ever seen on ‘Dancing with the Stars,’” she said.

All of the judges said they had to deduct points for the pair breaking the rules, but they did not specify which rule the couple trampled over. (It may have had to do with the flips.)

As a result, Derek and Shawn earned 26.5 out of 30 points – 9 from Carrie Ann, 8 from Len and 9.5 from Bruno.

While Shawn and Derek were high-flying, it was a rougher road for Bristol Palin and partner Mark Ballas, who were the other big headline of the night after “DWTS” showed their emotional argument, which happened as they rehearsed for their Week 3 dance (Derek Hough and Joanna Krupa’s paso doble from Season 9).

Bristol told Mark she thought he was “bummed” because he didn’t “have Sabrina [Bryan] or Shawn” as his partner.

Mark insisted that was not the case.

“I’ve been on this show 11 seasons now. And I don’t always get a Shawn or Sabrina,” Mark said, referring to the two women (who are back this season), who are very strong dancers. “I’ve had those [type of] girls twice. It has nothing to do with it. Absolutely noting.”

Bristol’s emotions appeared to stem from Mark missing one practice and her believing his heart wasn’t in it.

“You’re not there. Like I swear to God, I feel like you wanna go home,” she said.

The two patched things up and managed to compete, tackling the paso doble with a chess theme.

The dance was an improvement for the pair and they earned their best score of the competition – 22.5 out of 30 – but it still put them at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Over at the top of the leaderboard for Week 3 was a place shared by two couples – original “DWTS” winner Kelly Monaco and partner Valentin Chmerkvosky (aka Val), and Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani.

Kelly and Valentin (Val) took on Mel B and Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s paso doble from Season 5 and gave a stunning performance of the number that had the crowd screaming.

“I’m tingling with pleasure. Wonderful darling,” Bruno said.

“You guys are the couple to watch!” Carrie Ann added as the pair earned 27 out of 30.

Also earning 27 out of 30 was Melissa and Tony’s rendition of J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff’s sexy samba from Season 13.

Carrie Ann called it a “superstar samba,” and Len said it was a “knockout.”

Two celebs will go home on Tuesday’s elimination show.

In addition, on the elimination night, the remaining couples will pick dances for their fellow competitors to do in Week 4.

Paula Abdul will also serve as a guest judge on Oct. 15.

The Leaderboard for Week 3:

Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani’s samba earned 27/30

Kelly Monaco & Valentin Chmerkovskiy’s paso doble earned 27/30

Shawn Johnson & Derek Hough’s quickstep earned 26.5/30

Apolo Anton Ohno & Karina Smirnoff’s foxtrot earned 25.5/30

Gilles Marini & Peta Murgatroyd tried the tango and earned 25.5/30

Sabrina Bryan and Louis van Amstel’s paso doble earned 25.5/30

Helio Castroneves & Chelsie Hightower’s quickstep earned 25.5/30

Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke’s paso doble earned 25/30

Kirstie Alley & Maksim Chmerkovsky’s cha cha earned 24/30

Drew Lachey & Anna Trebunskay cha cha’d their way to 24/30

Bristol Palin & Mark Ballas’ paso doble earned 22.5/30

‘Best dance in 15 seasons!’ Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough steal the show on DWTS

Last week judge Len Goodman issued a challenge to the stars who perform their most eye-popping routines ever: ‘Push the boundaries! Show me something amazing.’

And this week the All Stars recreated an iconic dance from past Dancing With the Stars seasons.

With creative direction left to the non-professionals, the third week of competition had many highs and a few lows for the contestants.

But the best was saved for last when Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough pulled off a high-powered acrobatic quick step, dubbed the ‘Best Dance in 15 seasons’ by Bruno Tonioli.

Best for last: Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough were the stars of the night and the season with their quick step

But first up 8 Degrees singer Drew Lachey and Anna Trebunskaya delved into the archives for a dance from season one: fellow boy band member New Kids On The Block Joey McIntyre’s cha-cha set to Beyonce’s Crazy.

The opening number was a hit with the judges and Drew is praised for his ‘power drill booty’.

‘It worked for Channing Tatum, it’s going to work for you,’ purred Bruno. While Brooke says:
‘You took her out of her comfort zone, you brought out the sexy Anna.’

The pair scored eights all round.

Sex and the City actor Gilles Marini was not keen on the idea of having to reinterpret an old dance.

‘I’ve always been told to be original,’ he explained, adding: ‘Do not repaint Picasso.’

Gilles and partner Peta Murgatroyd settle on a tango from season 10, but he warned: ‘I want to do something that’s never been done before. I want to fly.’

The sexy Frenchman started the number seeming asleep on a bed before he ‘flew’ across the floor in a harness rigged to wires attached to the ceiling to the sound of The Eurythmics Sweet Dreams.

‘I think you can fly in and out of any bed you want after that performance,’ gushed Bruno, ‘It was strong, powerful, erotic… 50 shades of Gilles.’

Carrie Ann Inaba added: ‘If Peter Pan looked that like when I was a kid – whew!’

The pair got an 8 from Bruno and 8.5 from the other two judges totalling 25.5, surprising Gilles who expected the worst.
Dancing his a** pff: The Frenchman’s antics impressed the judges

Dancing his a** off: The Frenchman’s antics impressed the judges

Next up, dressed in all pink in honour of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani took on JR Martinez’s Samba to Gloria Estefan’s Conga.

‘That was like a can of cola!’ said Len. ‘Fizzy, refreshing and satisfying.’

The pair became the first to earn a score of 27 this season but as the night continued, they wouldn’t be the last.
Risky: Former Bachelor contestant Rycroft and Tony Dovolani pulled off a dangerous move where Dovolani caught Rycroft, by her neck, on his foot

Risky: Former Bachelor contestant Rycroft and Tony Dovolani pulled off a dangerous move where Dovolani caught Rycroft, by her neck, on his foot

Karina Smirnoff and Olympic skater Apolo Ohno decide to tackle a current cast-member’s past performance and go for Marini’s legendary Foxtrot to Fever from season eight.

Set to You Give Me Fever by Nina Simone, Smirnoff plays the role of a statue come to life.

Their sexy performance wowed the judges. ‘It was sensual and classy and classic, said Bruno, while Carrie Ann praised Apolo’s artistic direction and Len applauded the fluidity of the dance.

The pair achieve their personal best with a score of 25.5.
Feverish: The pair got their highest score of the season

Feverish: The pair got their highest score of the season

Val Chmerkovskiy and Kelly Monaco opted to keep it in the family by taking on Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s Paso Doble.

Kelly has had the week off from General Hospital so she throws herself into her artistic direction and doubles down on practice time with her partner.

The number opened with a bare chested Val emerging from under a large red piece of fabric to evoke a matador’s cape and ends with some dramatic pyrotechnics.
Chemistry: The couple to watch are using their chemistry to their advantage

Chemistry: The couple to watch are using their chemistry to their advantage

‘That was for your defining performance Kelly! I am tingling with pleasure,’ said Bruno after watching the sultry performance from the former Playboy Playmate.

‘You guys are the couple to watch,’ said Carrie, playing on rumours of the couple’s possible romance.

‘That’s chemistry you are developing… there is something magical happening between you.’

The pair scored nines across the board, finishing at 27 and tying with Rycroft and Dovolani in first.

Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy put on a real show with Carson Kressly’s Cha Cha Cha set to Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera’s Moves Like Jagger.

Maksim took on the role of the British rock and roll legend jumping out of a union jack-emblazoned Mini while Alley, at 61 the oldest contestant in the competition, played a groupie.

‘This is my dance, my week, my cha cha cha and Max is going to be in tight pants,’ Kirsty joked.

‘That was the most fun I’ve had all night so far,’ said Carrie Ann at the end of the dance giving an 8 to the couple, who received 24 points overall.

Disney starlet Sabrina Bryan and Louis Van Amstel chose a rendition of Maksim and Mel B’s Paso Doble from season five to En Vogue’s Free Your Mind.

Before they took to the stage, Bryan confessed having creative control of this week’s routine was worrying Sabrina.

The dance inspired both raves and rants from the judges: ‘You’re such a good dancer my darling!’ Tonioli said, but Inaba wasn’t as impressed.

‘I don’t feel like you brought anything new,’ she says over a booing audience.

‘To win this competition, you have need to bring elements of surprise and I think we have seen Sabrina do this kind of thing a lot of times before.’

The couple dropped half a point from last week from 26 to 25.5.
Paso Doble: Dressed in deep purple and black spandex they did a racy Paso Doble with a series of complex twist turn moves

Paso Doble: Dressed in deep purple and black spandex they did a racy Paso Doble with a series of complex twist turn moves

Retired NFL legend Emmitt Smith, 43, choreographs an aggressive paso doble inspired by his season three rival Mario Lopez and employs an unexpected prop – a donkey.

The performance earns the duo a 25 and although judge Len Goodman comments that Smith ‘dominated the floor’ he adds that the whole routine lacked a little finesse.

At one point Smith charges at his partner Cheryl Burke like a human-torpedo: ‘I thought you were going to kill her,’ says Bruno after Smith, who weighs around 200lbs, launched himself under Burke’s legs. ‘You were like a demon.’

Their striking performance with black and gold costumes and Mariachi-style backing dancers earns them 25 points in total – up three from last week.
Human torpoedo: Emmitt Smith charged at his partner Cheryl Burke

Human torpedo: Emmitt Smith charged at his partner Cheryl Burke

After being close to elimination last week, racing car driver Helio Castroneves went to town in a bold zoot suit for a quickstep with Chelsie Hightower.

But during the routine, Castroneves stepped on Hightower’s dress, shaking his confidence.

‘The wardrobe department did an amazing job making me look like a pimp,’ joked Helio after the pair reenacted Ohno’s quickstep from season four.

Still, the couple managed a score of 25.5, ‘You’re the quickstep king!’ praised Carrie Ann.

‘You deserve to be back next week,’ added Len.

It was also stressful week for Bristol Palin.

The teen-mother barely scraped though last week’s round with a meager score of 18 leading to a bust-up with partner Mark Ballas, where she sobbed on the studio floor and marched off in a huff.

The argument exploded after Bristol accused Mark of wishing he was competing with one of the stronger female competitor like DVD fitness queen Sabrina or Olympian Shawn.
Insecure: Bristol accuses Mark of wishing he had a more athletic partner

Insecure: Bristol accuses Mark of wishing he had a more athletic partner
Abandoned: After Bristol storms out of rehearsal Mark is left confused

Abandoned: After Bristol storms out of rehearsal Mark is left confused

‘I know you are bummed to have me as a partner,’ she said during rehearsal, bursting into tears.

‘I have been on the show eleven seasons now and I don’t always have a Shawn or a Sabrina,’ replied Ballas. ‘I have always supported you and been at your side.’

But Palin was inconsolable, sobbing: ‘You are not even there, you didn’t turn up to rehearsal. I feel like you want to go home,’ before she stormed out of the studio.

Despite the row, Bristol and Mark kept it professional on the floor, performing a Paso Doble on a set made to look like a giant chess board.

The pair earned a 22.5, their highest score yet.
Evil witch: The pair achieved their highest score of the season with a paso doble

Evil witch: The pair achieved their highest score of the season with a paso doble

Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough closed out the night by bringing the judges – and the audience – to their feet with a high energy quickstep.

The athletic duo incorporated front flips and splits before leaping off the staircases at the end of the dance.

Tonioli couldn’t hide his excitement as he exclaimed: ‘This is incredible. This is a classic. One of the best if not the best dance I’ve seen in 15 seasons… I’m never going to forget this!’

Len and Carrie concurred saying that while it was the best dance they were going to have to deduct points.

‘I’m going to have to slam you for the breakage of the rule-age but you blew-age my mind-age,’ gushed Carrie Ann Inaba.

Johnson and Hough would have topped the chart – but were marked down by half a point for breaking a minor rule ending up with 26.5.