Dancing With The Stars – Most Memorable Year Night

Week three was the DWTS “Most Memorable Year” night, and included singer, Andra Day, as a guest on the show. What follows is designed to spark your memory about the costumes, the dances, the scores, and other noteworthy points about this past week of competition. The celebrity dance order was: Ginger, Doug, Kim, Von, Marla, Antonio, Paige, Jodi, Mischa, Wanya, and Nyle. I have written my recap about the dance teams below in order from highest score to lowest score. In the final moments it was announced that those who voted would be permitted to select switch up partners and their dances for a show that will air two weeks following this episode. Next week will be Disney night with Sandaya as a guest judge. As the final credits rolled, the second celebrity left the ballroom competition. For more details about who left the show, scroll down to the bottom of this post.

Nyle/Peta

Nyle’s most memorable year was 2012. It was the year the DWTS deaf contestant traveled the world without an interpreter. They danced the Tango. He wore a dark blue suit with a high waist vest style jacket, a black shirt, and a royal blue tie. She wore what looked like a dark blue halter bodysuit paired with a pleated pant. Their dance was fast paced and highly entertaining with a nice pose in the middle as well as several kicks and spins. It ended as they walked off hand in hand past a single chair. They also walked away with the highest score of the night.

Their score: 25

Wanya/Lindsay

1996 was the year Wanya marked as most memorable. It was the year when Boys II Men sang the National Anthem after a terrorist attack - in front of their largest audience. They danced the Waltz to the BIIM acapella rendition of the Anthem. He looked handsome in a red three-piece suit with tails and black bow tie. She wore a red cutaway evening gown with a lengthy slit down the leg. Their Waltz was graceful and elegant. Len thought Wanya lost his posture in parts of the dance, but the other judges were complimentary.

Their score: 24

Paige/Mark

2014 was Paige’s memorable year because it was the year of her first UFC fight. Paige was inspired to become a fighter because of being bullied in high school, and she recounted her story about that time as well. They danced the Paso Doble inside the set of a mock octagon, UFC fight ring. She wore a black and gold two-piece costume with a fringe short skirt. He wore embellished boxing shorts with black compression leggings underneath. They were both barefoot. Their Paso routine mimicked a fight with lots of kicks and punches combined with traditional Paso dance moves. It was too contemporary for Len.

Their score: 23

Jodi/Keo

This past year was Jodi’s most memorable year. She tells the story about her fame from Full House ending and how it influenced her ensuing drug and alcohol abuse. This year marked her sobriety for 5 years and a reintroduction to acting in Fuller House, a new Netflix series. She said it was a gift to go back to working at something she loved again. They danced the Foxtrot to a live Andra Day song, Rise Up. The dance was an elegant, emotional, passionate interpretation. She wore a long, mauve colored evening gown. He wore a mauve tuxedo shirt and black pant. All the judges were complimentary.

Their score: 23

Kim/Sasha

1976 was her most memorable year, when she booked and filmed her first television commercial. Kim's family left Harlem for the commercial in Los Angeles. The commercial was the launch of her acting career. They danced the Foxtrot to the Facts of Life theme song, in costumes and on a set that depicted the same theme in red and blue. It was a polished routine, although quite basic. They were trying to get the feel of going back in time, and they achieved that goal. After a complimentary review from Len, Kim jumped for joy.

Their score:  22

Ginger/Val

First to dance tonight were Ginger and Val. They practiced in New York. Her most memorable year was 2013 – when she met her future husband, became engaged, and started her family. They danced to the song, Home, because her family and her home are what’s most important to her. She wore a simple peach dress trimmed in soft flowing lace, and he wore a light blue button up that was partially tucked into khaki colored jeans. They danced a contemporary routine, barefoot, which had two lifts and ended with a moment that implied that she would become pregnant. Her baby was brought in as the judges gave their score, and although she tried to quiet her child, the infant was inconsolable.

Their score: 21

Marla/Tony

1993 was the year she gave birth to her daughter Tiffany, and her most memorable year. She discussed a little about her ex-husband, Donald Trump. They divorced in 2000, and it sounded like she enjoyed being a single mom. She wore a v-neck, drop-waist yellow dress with blue embellishments, and a blue mock petticoat at the hem that flared out when she twirled. He wore a yellow blazer trimmed in blue with a blue puzzle piece on his lapel, blue tie, white shirt, and blue pant. They danced the Jive to the Pharrell Williams song, Happy. It was an athletic routine that had a flip/roll over Tony’s back, as well as other lively Jive moves. 

Their score: 21

Doug/Karina – Best Costumes of the Night

In 2015, on the day his father passed away, Doug’s mom kissed his father on the forehead, and then she passed away – on the same day. This family tragedy was his most memorable year. They danced the Waltz in what I thought was the best costumed pair of the night. He looked dapper in a gray vest and suit pant ensemble. She wore a sheer white nightgown with sheer parts that were accented by a row of buttons down her back. She also had a beautiful hair fascinator that accented the adorned bodice of the front of her dress. Their routine was an emotional romantic twirl of a waltz that stunned the audience and judges alike. Doug unfortunately ends up in the bottom three at the end of this show. If he goes home next week, it will be a shame.

Their score: 20

Von/Whitney

2016 was his most memorable year because his NFL football team, the Denver Broncos, won the Super Bowl. They danced a Contemporary routine to a song by Phil Collins, In The Air Tonight, because he would listen to that song before every game. He wore charcoal gray sweatpants and went shirtless, except for a gold cross on a chain showing off his tattooed torso. She wore a dark blue bodysuit with a long, sheer wrap skirt. Their routine contained many lifts, one with a throw, and another while she posed on his shoulders as he twirled. This routine looked challenging and graceful at the same time. Carrie Ann gave the harshest criticism of the judges, although Len gave the lowest score. This couple deserved a higher score because of the difficulty of the choreography.

Their score: 20

Antonio/Sharna

Antonio’s most memorable year was 2007.  He was a freshman in college, and he broke a record the same day his son was born. They danced the Foxtrot with his son, Antonio Jr., in mauve colored costumes to the song, 7 Years, by Lukas Graham. Antonio and son wore matching three-piece suits, and his son joined into the dance at the end of the dance at a poignant moment in the song. Her floor length gown was backless and embellished on the bodice. The judges weren’t critical, but also not very complimentary. His daughter also made an appearance on the show as Antonio and Sharna received their scores.

Their score: 20

Mischa/Artem

Her year was 2008 when the OC was “at its prime.” She discussed how she left the show that year to recover the turmoil she felt that stemmed from her overnight success. They danced the Samba and she ran onto the dance floor taking off her long sparkle coat to reveal a sparkle tee and short costume. He wore a black casual outfit with a denim jacket. Their dance came across fun and happy. The judge’s reviews were positive, but they all gave the dance a 6.

Their score: 18

The Conclusion/Elimination

The conclusion of the show was the elimination portion that placed Doug, Mischa, and Jodi in the bottom three. Mischa left the show this week. She was poised while delivering her final words, saying that it was a “wonderful experience.”