America’s Choice Dance Offs – Season 21, Week 08

DWTS’ Always Exciting

Dance Offs Gets a

Red, White and Blue Makeover!

S21, Wk08

DWTS’ staple, Dancing Duels returned to the Glitter Dome Monday night, with a never-before seen, patriotic twist! …

Ladies and Gentlemen, sitting in as Head Judge for this enthralling Round was … YOU, the Viewer!

That’s right, folks, in a brilliant, judging change-up, America was allowed to temporarily “sit in” with the show’s Panel Judges as “Head Judge” via votes which were displayed live in the Ballroom whilst each Dance Off was performed!

Furthermore, as “Head Judge”, should a Tie have resulted following any Dance Off, America’s vote would automatically carry more weight, and therefore its chosen Couple would be named the event’s Winners!!

It was an all-new, thrilling game changer; and, it all happened live, for the night’s second Round of competition! ...
 

Bindi & Derek, Carlos & Witney:
 
“Who wants to Jive?” an excited Derek asked when selecting his and partner Bindi’s dancing opposition.

As the Night’s second highest scoring Couple, Bindi & Derek had earned the strategic right to choose any Couple from the remaining six, to Dance Off against.

Immediately raising their hand in the affirmative, Carlos &Witney deftly accepted Hough’s challenge right before an anxious Host, Tom Bergeron, stepped in vocally and reminded the Ballroom at large that, while it was certainly Bindi & Derek’s right to choose their opposition, the right to choose a Dance style (of the pre-selected, offered three:  Jive, Cha-Cha, and Samba) remained with Carlos & Witney.

“Trying to use Jedi mind tricks, Derek?” an amused Tom playfully reprimanded.

Bindi & Derek

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After officially settling on Carlos & Witney as their dancing opponents, a laughing Bindi & Derek quieted in anticipation of that Couple’s response.

Carlos & Witney

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Following a brief conference,

Carlos & Witney

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a grinning Witney turned round again from facing her partner and boldly announced “The Jive!”

Opening up the exciting, “dueling” Round of competition with a Jive to “Travelin’ Band” by Creedance Clearwater Revival, high-scoring pairs Bindi Irwin & Derek Hough and Carlos PenaVega & Witney Carson, took to the dance floor! …
 

Bindi & Derek vs. Carlos & Witney

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Wow!!  Talk about your shucking and jiving, that Dance Off was an absolute amazing Flurry of Fast and Furious, quick-Flicking Fun; and, that Bindi/Carlos Lift at end was just all too cute!

Bindi & Derek vs. Carlos & Witney

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Both Couples jived so brilliantly, it really would be impossible for me to choose which performed their routine better!!

Bindi & Derek

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Carlos & Witney

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“Nice strategy,” An impressed Judge Julianne Hough informed her big brother, before addressing Carlos & Witney with, “but also, interesting that you gave into that strategy!”

“…I’m just saying!” she continued, teasing both Couples, “I’m just saying did that pay off? Because, I gotta be honest, this is probably the closest I’ve ever seen! …”

Bindi & Derek vs. Carlos & Witney

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“It was so unexpected!” Judge Bruno Tonioli chimed in. “You've really got to wait to see what happens [With the Scoring] … because it’s so unpredictable!”

“I was really impressed!” concluded Judge Carrie Ann Inaba “…And I loved the comradery at the end, with the Lift! …” she added with a smile.  

In the end, the show’s three Panel Judges voted in favor of Carlos & Witney’ Jive, while America chose Bindi & Derek’s!
 

Bindi & Derek vs. Carlos & Witney
"Good game."
"Good game."

 
Tamar & Val, Alexa & Mark:

Challenging “the beautiful Alexa”, Tamar & Val quickly settled on their opposition, while Alexa & Mark swiftly decided on their Dance style of choice:  The Cha-Cha.
 
Dancing the Cha-Cha to “Fun” by Pitbull, featuring Chris Brown, Tamar Braxton & Val Chmerkovskiy, and Alexa PenaVega & Mark Ballas all stepped down onto the Ballroom’s dance floor …

Tamar & Val vs. Alexa & Mark

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Well, for me, it was certainly no contest … Alexa & Mark just completely owned that dance floor!

Heavily-peppered with difficult Cha-Cha content, Alexa’s dance took on a distinct, authentic flavor,

Alexa & Mark

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while Tamar’s efforts leaned far more towards the “Contemporary take” side of the Latin Classic.

In addition, Alexa’s performance as a whole sparkled with delighted enthusiasim, affording it that much-needed edge of some having “Umph!” to it, while Tamar’s stereotypically-relaxed approach once again lent itself unto a sloppy Frame and lazy, unfinished Lines.

Tamar & Val

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“ … Those girls are hot! … You have to wait and see!” began Bruno Tonioli as he opened the Judges comments, following the routines.

“One of you had more ‘flavor’, one of you had more … ‘traditional’ …” teased Carrie Ann Inaba, “So, depends on what I like!”

“ … I definitely preferred one over the other, so you’re gonna have to wait and see!” added Julianne Hough, much to the anticipatory agony of the two ecstatic Couples.

The Couples didn’t have to wait for long, however, as Carrie Ann voted for Alexa & Mark, Julianne for Tamar & Val, Bruno for Tamar & Val, and America for Alexa & Mark.

As “Head Judge” America’s choice was counted as the “Deciding Factor”, and the Win was awarded to Alexa & Mark.
 

Andy & Allison, Alek & Lindsay:

With little choice in the matter, as there were no more Couples or Dance styles left to “choose” from, Andy Grammer & Allison Holker and Alek Skarlatos & Lindsay Arnold descended onto the show’s dance floor, more or less resigned to their respective fates as they prepared to perform a Samba - For each of the Couple’s first time of the competition - to “Lean On” by Major Lazer and DJ Snake, featuring MO.
 

Andy & Allison vs. Alek & Lindsay

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Well, to be completely, albeit brutally, honest neither one of these efforts were very good, with both failing to meet an even “Half-way Decent” standard.

Andy & Allison vs. Alek & Lindsay

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It does seem worth mentioning; however, that Alek’s Samba was far more traditional,

Alek & Lindsay

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while poor Andy’s leaned toward … well, “leapt into” is more like it! … much more of a Freestyle-type performance.

“Andy breaking out the rarely seen ‘Samba Worm’!” Joked Tom. 

Andy & Allison

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Carrie Ann began the Judges critiques with, “Okay, first of all, BOTH of you need to go work on your Sambas! … Okay, Andy, impressive: You said, ‘You know what?  I’m not doing this, so I’m going to Flip! … Well done!”

“… Andy, I actually think you did a really good job with the Samba!” countered Julianne, “…if you’re back next Week, you should maybe do the Samba! … That Hand-spring … We got tricks, guys! …”

“Andy, you put the Bounce in there,” finished Bruno, “… Alek, as always, you Present the girl so well! … Samba:  incredibly hard!  Just doing it like this, off the gate, is really, really [Broke into an appreciative applause]”.

Despite Alek’s admirable efforts, the voting against him was shown to be frightfully unanimous with every Panel Judge being joined by America in the choosing of Andy’s Samba, an outcome most unfair I thought, as I’m sure Alek (or most anyone, for that matter!) could have performed better if they had been made aware of the freedom to leave the selected style of dance altogether and simply “wing it”.