‘Dancing With The Stars’ Week 5: See Who Earned Season’s First 10 On Len Goodman Tribute Night

It’s been six months beloved judge Len Goodman passed, but Dancing with the Stars isn’t ready to say goodbye just yet.

Though Tuesday’s theme was Most Memorable Year, the Week 5 episode was really meant to honor Goodman, who died from prostate cancer in April at the age of 78. After airing a sentimental package featuring past pros talking about what an honor it was to be both complimented and criticized by Goodman, the episode then featured a dance tribute to “Moon River” that was waltzed to perfection by current pros and past faves Kym Johnson, Anna Trebunskaya, Karina Smirnoff, Edyta Sliwinska, Tony Dovolani, Louis van Amstel, Maks Chmerkovskiy and Mark Ballas. 

It ended with the troupe gesturing to an empty middle chair on the judges’ dais. Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli wept.

Reality TV star Harry Jowsey (Too Hot to Handle) with partner Rylee Arnold. 2020 was quite the year for Jowsey; that’s when his celebrity exploded to the point that he questioned whether it was all worth it. His contemporary wasn’t a sad affair, though. Hoofing it to “Keep Your Head Up,” Jowsey’s cheerful performance lacked proper form but his obvious chemistry with Arnold helped to make it sexy. “Very, very good, but musicality!” said Tonioli. “We talked about it. You’ve got to be musical, not stiff.” Score: 18 out of 30

Actress Alyson Hannigan (American Pie) with partner Sasha Farber. The actress dedicated her Viennese waltz to her husband, whom she married in 2003. Resplendent in her turquoise gown, it was Hannigan’s best performance yet (and it also brought her other half to tears). “Such a difference from last week,” said judge Derek Hough. “It’s amazing when you approach a dance with the intention of love. The frame was better!” Score: 21 out of 30

Actress Mira Sorvino with partner Gleb Savchenko. No, Sorvino’s incredible year wasn’t when she won that 1996 Oscar for Mighty Aphrodite. It was 2004, when she gave birth to the “incredible” Mattea Backus, who’s now a ballet-trained teen who got to dance contemporary with her mom at the top of the show to “Time After Time.” Having her kid close by definitely helped to loosen up mama. “I am so excited about tonight’s theme, our emotions and dance share a profound connections to one another,” said Hough. “That was so joyful to watch.” Score: 22 out of 30

Social media star/Latin music artist Lele Pons with partner Brandon Armstrong. Pons choose 2020, when she released a docuseries about mental health because of her own experience with severe social anxiety. She also got married by year’s end, so she and Armstrong chose to dance a contemporary to “Stand By You” that featured a dazzling over-the-head lift and a hug from her hubby at the end. “You have been progressing every single week,” said Hough. “I felt that dance from the beginning. It was a beautiful tribute to your husband.” Score: 24 out of 30

Actor Barry Williams (The Brady Bunch) with partner Peta Murgatroyd Williams picked 1966 when he first joined The Brady Bunch and was being “groomed as a teen idol.” Because he loved riding that motorcycle back in the day, Williams chose to perform his Paso doble to “Born to be Wild.” The juxtaposition of those authentic Spanish costumes to the Easy Rider tune was more than a little nutty, but his performance was dynamic enough to end the show. “You got their motors running,” said Hough of the audience. “Len would have loved that dance. There was no riff-raff, no messing about. It was a Paso doble filled with content.” Score: 24 out of 30

Real estate mogul Mauricio Umansky with partner Emma Slater: 1996 was a year of change for the reality star. He had two small kids, he got fired, and his wife Kyle was clipping coupons. Time to sell real estate! The rest was history for Umansky, who performed a contemporary number with his shirt open and emotions laid bare. It ended with both Umansky and Slater on the floor, looking spent but nonetheless triumphant. “That was beautiful,” said Inaba. “With contemporary, everyone thinks it’s so easy. When you fake it, we feel it. That was the furthest thing from making my skin crawl.” Okay sure, Carrie Ann. Score: 24 out of 30

Ariana Madix (Vanderpump Rules) with partner Pasha Pashkov. If you know anything about reality TV, you should know that 2023 was Madix’s horrific year of “scream crying in the car” after learning her Vanderpump Rules boyfriend had publicly betrayed her. The audience was treated to one last look of that lingering anger when she ended her non-traditional Viennese waltz with a cold stare into the camera. “Never ever feel the defeated,” said Tonioli. “Use any adversity to make you stronger because in the end, you win.” Score: 24 out of 30

Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz with partner Daniella Karagach. In 1999, Mraz was working as a janitor in a school when he realized he simply had to pursue a career in music, so he drove across the country while finding inspiration from listening to Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again.” He chose that tune to perform his technically proficient quickstep. “You two make such beautiful music together,” said Inaba. “You are superior in this competition.” Score: 27 out of 30

Charity Lawson (The Bachelorette) with partner Artem Chigvintsev. Naturally, Lawson chose 2022 as her year, because of her decision to appear on ABC’s dating show after leaving a very toxic relationship back home. To demonstrate “that painful journey,” she began her contemporary dance on a set of parallel bars she hung on, climbed around and — oh boy — fell off of into Chigvintsev’s arms. That’s a first for the ballroom! “Every season of DWTS, there is a dance that everybody remembers,” said Inaba. “What you just did, is what everybody will remember from this season. Artem, the choreography was amazing.” Score: 28 out of 30

Actress Xochitl Gomez (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) with partner Val Chmerkovskiy. In 2021, Gomez was cast as the first-ever Latina superhero. So many people were screaming her name! But her insta-fame prevented her from having her quinceañera, so Chermkovskiy staged one, of sorts, for Gomez by giving her a crown and choreographing her a sublime Viennese waltz.  “I think we got ballroom royalty here!” said Tonioli. Score: 28 out of 30

Apparently Tuesday’s votes were the closest yet this season. Bottom three were Hannigan, Jowsey and Sorvino.

The Oscar winner was sent home.

Next week is Monster night. You know, for Halloween.