“Dancing with the Stars”: Sadie Robertson Dazzles on Partner Switch Episode, No One Is Eliminated

Adam Taylor/ABC(LOS ANGELES) — The stars switched partners Monday night on Dancing With the Stars, performing their routines with pros chosen for them by viewers who voted on Twitter, and after a tough judges’ panel they all likely breathed a sigh of relief to learn there would be no eliminations in this fifth week of the competition.

The switch was for one night only. Stars will return to their original pro partners next week. The couple with the lowest combined total of judges’ scores and viewer votes then will be eliminated.

With head judge Len Goodman absent from the judges’ panel this week, pop star Jessie J was tonight’s guest judge. The singer opened the show with her hit songs, “Bang Bang” and “Burnin’ Up.”

When the night was over, Duck Dynasty star Sadie Robertson topped the leaderboard with 36 out of a possible 40 points, while NASCAR legend Michael Waltrip brought up the rear with 20 points.

Monday’s Routines

Antonio Sabato Jr.: The actor’s original partner is Cheryl Burke, but he and Allison Holker turned in a rousing, crowd-pleasing Bollywood number that earned him a standing ovation from the ballroom audience. Judges Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Ann Inaba and Julianne Hough said they appreciated his enthusiasm, but faulted him on timing.

“It wasn’t as synchronized as it should have been,” Tonioli said. Inaba felt Sabato danced the song “very well,” but said she saw missteps from both him and Holker. Jessie J offered Sabato “massive congratulations” on his performance, but earned some boos for awarding him only 6 out of 10 points. The other judges gave him two 7s and an 8, for a total of 28 out of a possible 40 points.

Bethany Mota: Mota’s original partner is Derek Hough, but Monday night she danced hip-hop with Hough’s best friend, Mark Ballas, and judges praised the new pairing.

“You have swag,” Inaba told Mota. Julianne Hough –- Derek’s sister –- said Mota “attacked” the performance. “You completely held your own and it was really wonderful,” she added. Jessie J said she really enjoyed the routine, while Tonioli pointed out that Mota was “blossoming in confidence, week after week after week.” Judges gave Mota four 8s for a total of 32 points.

Jonathan Bennett: During the actor’s high-energy jitterbug with Peta Murgatroyd –- his pro partner is Allison Holker –- he had some trouble with timing and appeared to fumble a few moves, including fairly acrobatic landings by Slater. Judges said the routine caused them some anxiety because of those issues.

“It made me feel uncomfortable,” Jessie J said. “I was nervous. I couldn’t relax and enjoy it. … I could feel like you wanted it to be better than it was, and I mean that in the nicest way.” Inaba said she saw “moments of brilliance” but said “so much of it was wrong.” Hough agreed with Jessie J. “It’s true, I was holding my breath, and not in a good way,” she said. Bennett earned 6s across the board, for a total of 24 points.

Alfonso Ribeiro: The actor is normally partnered with Witney Carson, but tonight he and Cheryl Burke danced a passionate flamenco that brought the audience to its feet. Jessie J said she thought it was amazing, saying she was drawn in and “wanted the story to continue.” Hough said the pairing was “the first partnership that I believed tonight,” adding that she found the chemistry amazing. Tonioli agreed that the chemistry was “scorching,” but told Ribeiro that in flamenco it was important to keep a separation between the shoulder and neck. Ribeiro earned two 9s and two 8s for a total of 34 points.

Janel Parrish: The actress is normally partnered with Val Chmerkovskiy but she turned in a sultry burlesque with Artem Chigvintsev that may have been too hot for some judges. Hough pointed out that the dance was sexy verging on raunchy, and said it lacked the cheekiness and humor typical of the style.

“I did not see the burlesque,” Hough said, at which point Tonioli put in: “Don’t worry, love, I saw it! Never too sexy for me!” he said, adding that the dance was so sexy that Parrish had saved many people the need to spend money on Viagra. Inaba shared Hough’s opinion, but Jessie J said she enjoyed the routine. Parrish earned three 8s and a 9 for a total of 33 points.

Michael Waltrip: The NASCAR legend who’s struggled in the competition normally dances with Emma Slater but he was partnered tonight with Witney Carson, and judges found their disco disappointing. Inaba acknowledged that she understood Waltrip’s approach: “When you can’t dance, make us laugh. … Once again, you had me giggling, but I don’t want to giggle anymore,” she said, adding that more was expected from stars at this stage of the competition. Hough agreed, and Tonioli said he didn’t believe any of Waltrip’s movements were in time with the music. Jessie J found it “really consistent,” saying: “It wasn’t amazing but it wasn’t terrible.” Waltrip earned four 5s, for a total of 20 points.

Tommy Chong: The comedian’s original partner is Peta Murgatroyd, but he danced a mambo Monday night with Emma Slater that pleased the audience but drew mixed reviews from the judges. The slow tempo of the song was hard for a mambo, Inaba said, adding that she felt the tempo contributed to a loss of energy in the routine. Hough said the 76-year-old Chong looked tired (and after the routine he addressed her comment, saying he looked tired because he was old.) Jessie J enjoyed the performance. “You were so relaxed. … You did really well,” she said. Tonioli added a driving analogy: “What it was, it was a mambo in the slow lane. You were running on your own time. You hit a few bumps in the road but you got to the end.” Chong earned a 5 and three 6s for a total of 23 points.

Sadie Robertson: The Duck Dynasty star danced a Charleston with Derek Hough, the best friend of her regular pro partner, Mark Ballas. Jessie J told Robertson the routine was “really clean,” while Hough said it was “so great.” She continued: “Every week you come out here and you show us a different side of who you are.” But she noted that Robertson missed a bit of the timing at the beginning of the routine. Tonioli said the timing was “spot on,” and Inaba found it “magnificent.” Robertson earned four 9s for a total of 36 points –- the highest score of the night.

Lea Thompson: The actress has so far danced with Artem Chigvintsev but she was paired tonight with Val Chmerkovskiy and their Broadway routine drew high praise from the judges. Hough called the concept “so fun,” but said she saw uncharacteristic hesitation in Thompson. Jessie J said she enjoyed the character played by Thompson, and Tonioli said he liked the apparent references to the popular musicals, Hairspray and The Producers. “A treat for me,” he said. Inaba, too, was pleased with the routine. “I actually loved it. It was way wackadoodle but everything was executed great. … Well done,” she said. Thompson earned two 8s and two 9s for a total of 34 points.

The Scores

• Sadie Robertson and Derek Hough: 36
• Lea Thompson and Val Chmerkovskiy: 34
• Alfonso Ribeiro and Cheryl Burke: 34
• Janel Parrish and Artem Chigvintsev: 33
• Bethany Mota and Mark Ballas : 32
• Antonio Sabato Jr. and Allison Holker: 28
• Jonathan Bennett and Peta Murgatroyd: 24
• Tommy Chong and Emma Slater: 23
• Michael Waltrip and Witney Carson: 20

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