Kaitlyn Bristowe and Johnny Weir earned perfect scores for their flawless routines on Monday’s episode of Dancing With The Stars.
Despite that, Johnny, 36, wound up in the bottom two, and was saved at the last minute by Carrie Ann Inaba, 52, who praised him for bringing ‘something new’ to the show.
Backstreet Boy AJ McLean, 42, and his partner Cheryl Burke, 36, were voted off, leaving just six dancers vying for the top spot in next week’s semifinals.
Perfect score: Kaitlyn Bristowe and pro partner Artem Chigvintsev earned a perfect score on Monday’s episode of Dancing With The Stars on ABC
The two-hour episode was dubbed Icons Night, and found everyone dressing up as legendary musicians, not least the judges themselves.
New host Tyra Banks, 46, came out looking like Jennifer Lopez in the tropical Versace dress she sported at the 2000 Grammys, only Tyra’s wasn’t split to the navel.
Halfway through the show, the former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover girl switched into a silver geometric Nicki Minaj costume with a pink wig.
Judge Derek Hough, 36, dressed as the Thin White Duke, David Bowie, while Bruno Toniolo. 64, played George Michael, and Carrie Ann was Mariah Carey.
Also perfect: Johnny Weir and his pro partner Britt Stewart also earned a perfect score of 30 during the Icons Night episode
All eyes, however, were on two of the episode’s best performances, by Kaitlyn, 35, and Johnny, who made it to the top of the leaderboard.
Kaitlyn and Artem Chigvintsev, 38, first turned out a flawless Argentine tango to Britney Spears’ Toxic, garnering a perfect score with 30 points.
The judges called her dance ‘a star performance,’ with Bruno admiring its ‘luscious shapes and lines stretched to infinity,’ and comparing it to a painting in a museum.
Toxic performance: Kaitlyn and Artem Chigvintsev, 38, first turned out a flawless Argentine tango to Britney Spears’ Toxic, garnering a perfect score with 30 points
High praise: The judges called her dance ‘a star performance,’ with Bruno admiring its ‘luscious shapes and lines stretched to infinity,’ and comparing it to a painting in a museum
‘Everything we’ve been wanting from you was in this routine,’ cheered Carrie Ann, who like Derek gave them a standing ovation and clapped wildly.
Kaitlyn and Artem hugged Carrie Ann, who cracked, ‘We may get arrested for COVID!’
Johnny and Britt Stewart, 31, then showcased their quickstep to Amy Winehouse’s Valerie, which also earned them 30 points.
Big hug: Kaitlyn and Artem hugged Carrie Ann Inaba, who cracked, ‘We may get arrested for COVID!’
‘Amy would have loved that!’ Bruno told Johnny, who wore Amy’s beehive. ‘Unique, groundbreaking—forget about all perceptions, ”I’ll do it the way I want to’!’
It was a triumph for Johnny, who’d understood the scrutiny Amy had withstood as a celebrity as he’d stumbled under the spotlight at the 2006 Olympics.
His dance was ‘about loving yourself enough to love yourself at your worst,’ he said.
Quickstep dance: Johnny and Britt Stewart, 31, showcased their quickstep to Amy Winehouse’s Valerie, which also earned them 30 points
Beehive hairdo: The Olympics figure skater wore Amy’s beehive while performing with Britt
AJ and Cheryl notched just 23 points for their Viennese waltz to Queen’s Somebody To Love.
Derek observed AJ stumble a bit and offered, ‘My heart bleeds for you, because I know you’ve nailed that 100 times, but sometimes on show night it happens.’
Justina Machado, 48, and Sasha Farber, 36, kicked the show with a rumba to Madonna’s Crazy For You, earning 24 points for a routine that Bruno said showed ‘the gentle side of Madonna… nothing shocking, nothing controversial.’
Queen song: AJ McClean and Cheryl notched just 23 points for their Viennese waltz to Queen’s Somebody To Love
Big finish: Derek observed AJ stumble a bit and offered, ‘My heart bleeds for you, because I know you’ve nailed that 100 times, but sometimes on show night it happens’
Rapper Nelly, 45, and partner Daniella Karagach, 28, scored 24 points for their jazz dance to Tupac Shakur’s California Love, which Nelly re-recorded for the show.
‘Jazz Nelly-style makes me smile,’ Bruno told the artist, who beamed the whole time. ‘You were cool, confident, in your element.’
Skai Jackson, 18, and Alan Bersten, 26, turned out a ‘fierce’ paso doble to Janet Jackson’s If, which won them 27 points and had Bruno praising its power.
New recording: Rapper Nelly, 45, and partner Daniella Karagach, 28, scored 24 points for their jazz dance to Tupac Shakur’s California Love, which Nelly re-recorded for the show
Cool jazz: ‘Jazz Nelly-style makes me smile,’ Bruno told the artist, who beamed the whole time. ‘You were cool, confident, in your element’
The Disney Channel star said she’d experienced a lot of racism in her career, from girls in ballet school refusing to touch her skin, to fighting for acting roles after being deemed ‘too dark.’
‘Going home is not an option for me,’ she vowed. ‘I wanna fight to the end.’
Catfish host Nev Schulman, 35, and Jenna Johnson, 26, picked up 27 points for their joyous jive to Elton John’s Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting.
Teenage contestant: Skai Jackson, 18, and Alan Bersten, 26, turned out a ‘fierce’ paso doble to Janet Jackson’s If, which won them 27 points and had Bruno praising its power
A fighter; ‘Going home is not an option for me,’ Skai owed. ‘I wanna fight to the end’
‘You are an entertainer,’ Bruno told Nev. ‘You bring characters to life!’
‘Something’s changed and shifted inside of me,’ agreed Nev, who dreamed of scoring a Broadway gig. ‘Now, I’m not just the Catfish guy. I’m also the dancer guy.’
Because Nev and Jenna had received the top score on last week’s leaderboard, and got the highest cumulative scores all season, they were safe from elimination.
Jive dance: Catfish host Nev Schulman, 35, and Jenna Johnson, 26, picked up 27 points for their joyous jive to Elton John’s Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting
They didn’t have to dance in the show’s second round but got two bonus points anyway.
Those that did dance again were required to do the same style as another couple, with both pairs onstage at the same time and vying for two points from the judges.
Justina beat Kaitlyn with her cha cha to Lady Gaga and Beyoncé’s Telephone, while Skai outdid Nelly with her salsa to Ricky Martin’s Cup of Life, and AJ trounced Johnny on a jive to Wham’s Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.
At the end of the evening, AJ and Johnny landed in the bottom two with their partners.
Derek wanted to save AJ, but Bruno voted to keep Johnny, as did Carrie Ann.
Deciding vote: Carrie Ann cast the deciding vote to keep Johnny on the show
‘You are both icons,’ she told the men, emphasizing that they were equally incredible performers while noting that Johnny brought something newer and more ”artistic”.’
As he and Cheryl said goodbye, AJ admitted, ‘You know what? This has been a hell of a ride, and I could not have picked a better partner to go on this journey with.’
‘AJ, AJ, AJ!’ the room chanted.
Dancing With The Stars will return next week on ABC.
Great ride: As AJ and Cheryl said goodbye, he admitted, ‘You know what? This has been a hell of a ride, and I could not have picked a better partner to go on this journey with’