“Dancing with the Stars” Recap: Aly Raisman Takes Lead

ABC/Craig Sjodin(LOS ANGELES) — Celebrity dancers on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars Monday night each had to perform a 15-second solo during ballroom routines that recalled “The Best Year of Their Life.”

At the end of the show, gymnast Aly Raisman was in the lead with 27 points, while boxer Victor Ortiz and reality TV star Lisa Vanderpump were tied for last place with 18 points each.

The star with the lowest combined tally of viewer votes and judges’ scores will leave the competition during Tuesday night’s results show.

Country music legend Wynonna Judd, who was on hand Monday night, was eliminated from the competition last week.

Here’s a rundown of Monday’s routines:

Sean Lowe: The reality TV star’s Viennese waltz with partner Peta Murgatroyd represented 2012, the year he met his fiancée, Catherine Giudici, on The Bachelor. Head judge Len Goodman approved of the routine, saying, “That was a pretty good effort at a difficult dance…[Y]our footwork was a little bit haphazard sometimes, but overall I thought you did a very good job.” Judge Bruno Tonioli noted Lowe stumbled at times, but said the performance was sweet and tender. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba also thought Lowe did well, but pointed out that he and Peta performed two prohibited lifts. Total score: 20 out of a possible 30 points.

Victor Ortiz: The boxer’s paso doble with pro partner Lindsay Arnold recalled the highlight of his boxing career, when he won the World Boxing Council championship in 2011. While his technique was less than stellar, the judges applauded Ortiz’s spirit. “Victor, you definitely punched the living daylights out of the paso doble, but the thing is darling, you’re supposed to dance it, not destroy it,” Tonioli said, adding that Ortiz had missed some of the footwork. Inaba gave the round to the paso doble, but Goodman said he admired Ortiz’s determination, particularly in the face of judges’ criticism. “You came out and gave your all. Well done to you,” Goodman said. Total score: 18/30.

Jacoby Jones: The NFL player said his son’s birth in 2012 marked the best year of his life, and he dedicated his foxtrot with pro partner Karina Smirnoff to his son. Judges had high praise for his performance. “That dance was just phenomenal,” Inaba declared. She told him she thought he had a “real shot at winning” the competition, and cautioned him to keep his buttocks tucked in. Tonioli said he loved Jones’ exuberance. Goodman told Jones: “Well I know you’re not a fan of the foxtrot, but I’ll tell you this: I was a fan of that foxtrot tonight.” Total score: 24/30.

Aly Raisman: The gymnast said 2012 was the best year of her life because she got to represent the United States at the Summer Olympic Games in London. Her athletic contemporary dance with partner Mark Ballas won rave reviews from the judges. Goodman said it was a dance “worthy of an Olympic champion,” while Tonioli said it was emotionally intense, dramatic and deeply felt. Inaba was moved. “You were completely in the moment and I was mesmerized by you,” she told Raisman. “It’s the beauty of the perfect movement and the perfect emotional connection, it was just profound. Good job.” Judges awarded Raisman the highest score in the competition so far. Total score: 27/30.

Andy Dick: The comedian said being sober and able to get “another chance” with his children made 2013 the best year of his life, and his tender Viennese waltz with partner Sharna Burgess — which he dedicated to his daughter — brought Inaba to tears. She sobbed as she prepared to review Dick’s routine, then called him for a hug. She told him that his routine was like “the simplest poem” that created beauty with the smallest vocabulary. “Thank you for those beautiful movements,” she said. Tonioli agreed, saying the performance was “simple, effective, straight from the heart,” adding that delivery had a “wonderful fragile quality.” Goodman said that no matter what happened, Dick would leave the show “a hero.” Total score: 21/30.

Zendaya: The Disney star chose 2009 — the year she said her career took off — as the best year of her life. Her samba with pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy, performed to Beyonce’s “Love On Top,” had Inaba praising Zendaya’s interpretation and declaring, “Beyonce better watch her back!” Even though Goodman wanted more samba content in the solo, he said there was no question Zendaya was a fantastic dancer. Tonioli said Zendaya had true star power, adding that her samba was fearless, cool, hip and slick. “Every kid that watches you wants to go out and dance like you do,” he said. Total score: 26/30.

Ingo Rademacher: The soap opera star said his best year was 2009, when he got married. All three judges commended Rademacher for his improvement, saying his Viennese waltz with pro partner Kym Johnson showed that he had taken their advice from last week and work hard. Tonioli called the performance “elegant, dashing, deeply romantic,” and said Rademacher did a fantastic job. Goodman commended the actor’s footwork and his solo, and while he pointed out a few flaws, said “overall I enjoyed it very much, it’s a great effort. Well done.” Total score: 23/30.

D.L. Hughley: Hughley’s fox trot with partner Cheryl Burke harked back to the fun and the innocence of his years in eighth and ninth grade, and the judges — who’ve been extremely critical of his performances throughout the competition — declared him much improved this week. “Obviously tough love works for you,” Tonioli said, pointing out that Hughley’s routine had more dance content than he’s had before. Inaba cheered. “Hallelujah! That’s a real breakthrough, my friend,” she said. Goodman agreed that the routine had more dance content, was smoother and had elements of fun. Total score: 21/30.

Kellie Pickler: The country music singer’s rumba — danced with pro partner Derek Hough to a song her husband Kyle Jacobs performed live in the ballroom — recalled their wedding day in 2011. Inaba said she thought the singer’s movements “were a little clipped” even though she said Pickler created “beautiful pictures” with her body. Goodman agreed that Pickler’s movement was “a tad staccato” and needed more fluidity, but he appreciated her dancing to her husband’s singing. Tonioli gave his enthusiastic approval. “Darling, it was like watching a sequence of magical images underscored by the soundtrack of love,” he said. “Beautiful.” Total score: 26/30.

Lisa Vanderpump: The reality TV star passed out during rehearsals and a doctor told her she had a fever and flu-like symptoms. Even though there was some doubt about whether she would perform Monday night, she showed up and danced a cha cha cha with pro partner Gleb Savchenko that recalled the day her daughter got married.  Judges acknowledged that she made several mistakes, but attributed it to her being under-rehearsed because she wasn’t feeling well. “I think there was so much potential there,” Inaba said. Goodman said that Vanderpump did her best given the circumstances, adding that what she was able to do was good. Total score: 18/30.

The Scores:

Aly Raisman and Mark Ballas:  27
Zendaya and Val Chmerkovskiy: 26
Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough: 26
Jacoby Jones and Karina Smirnoff:  24
Ingo Rademacher and Kym Johnson: 23  
Andy Dick and Sharna Burgess: 21
D.L. Hughley and Cheryl Burke: 21
Sean Lowe and Peta Murgatroyd: 20
Victor Ortiz and Lindsey Arnold:  18
Lisa Vanderpump and Gleb Savchenko: 18

One couple will be sent home on Tuesday’s Dancing with the Stars results show.  The show will also feature performances by Brad Paisley, Andrea Bocelli and Jennifer Lopez.

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