Dancing with the Stars delivered a night of spectacular performances, tough technical critiques and an emotional elimination as the competition entered its fifth week. During the October 13, 2026, Super Bowl-themed episode, 11 remaining contestants took on routines inspired by memorable halftime show performances, but Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson ultimately saw their journey come to an end.

The episode also featured a tense exchange involving judge Carrie Ann Inaba and professional dancer Jenna Johnson, who appeared frustrated when Carrie Ann explained the rules surrounding lifts during Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna’s samba. Meanwhile, several contestants earned some of their strongest scores yet, giving the competition another shake-up.

Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson Are Eliminated

The night’s biggest disappointment came when Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson were announced as the eliminated couple. After the judges combined their scores with viewer votes, the pair found themselves competing for safety against Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess.

Guillermo thanked the audience and the show for the experience, expressing particular gratitude to Witney for teaching him how to dance. Witney also reflected warmly on their partnership, describing the season as enjoyable and empowering and saying Guillermo had taken care of her throughout their time together.

Their elimination came after a spirited salsa to Bad Bunny’s “Tití Me Preguntó.” Drawing inspiration from Bad Bunny and Rihanna’s Super Bowl appearance, the performance began with Guillermo sitting on a couch as troupe members fanned him. He then lip-synced to the song before making a dramatic entrance beneath Witney, who performed a split while being held in the air by backup dancers.

Guillermo also executed a knee slide on his own, helping ignite the ballroom crowd.

Derek Hough praised the routine’s entertainment value and Witney’s clever choreography. Guest judge Joe Buck joked about the pair continuing to make it through each week, while Bruno Tonioli said their performance gave the judges plenty to consider.

Carrie Ann, who had criticized Guillermo the previous week for losing his joy, acknowledged that he had brought it back. She also playfully challenged him to deliver if he was calling her out over her earlier comments.

The couple earned 22 out of 40 points. Although their performance showed renewed energy, it wasn’t enough to keep them in the competition.

Carrie Ann Inaba Pulls Out the Rulebook During Harry Shum Jr.’s Samba

 

One of the episode’s most talked-about exchanges followed Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson’s samba to Usher’s “Yeah!” featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris.

Harry said he had looked up to Usher since his teenage years, making the song a fitting choice for the Super Bowl-themed night. Jenna wanted to push him to his limits during rehearsals, and the finished routine featured Usher-inspired leg kicks, a drumline and backup dancers.

The spectacle impressed the judges, but Bruno Tonioli pointed out that Harry repeatedly used heel leads, a technical issue in samba.

Carrie Ann agreed with Bruno and said she wanted Harry to challenge himself further. She also questioned a lift during the routine, prompting Jenna to respond, “A lift?”

Carrie Ann proceeded to explain the rule, defining a lift as a movement in which one dancer has both feet off the floor with assistance or support from their partner.

The correction created an awkward moment at the judges’ table. Derek remarked that he felt as though he had been told off, before describing the performance as fantastic and expressing hope that Harry would return the following week.

Jenna later addressed the criticism in the skybox, explaining that she had thought a lift meant she had to physically raise her partner. She acknowledged Carrie Ann’s point, although her reaction suggested she wasn’t entirely pleased with the exchange.

Harry and Jenna still received 33 out of 40 points. During the scoring, Jenna rolled her eyes when Carrie Ann awarded an eight. The pair subsequently hugged and celebrated after Joe Buck gave them their first nine of the season.

Ezra Frech and Jenna Dewan Tie for the Night’s Top Score

Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach delivered one of the evening’s standout performances with a fiery salsa to Nelly’s “Hot in Herre.”

Daniella wanted the routine to feel like the biggest party in the ballroom, even asking Ezra whether he went to parties often. He admitted that he didn’t, explaining that much of his time was spent training in track and field.

Nevertheless, Ezra brought plenty of energy to the dance. He began with body rolls in front of a wall of flames before taking over the floor with Daniella, finishing the performance by ripping off his shirt as the audience rose to its feet.

Carrie Ann praised his interpretation of the choreography, while Derek said Ezra commanded the performance and noted that his facial expressions were becoming more expressive. Joe Buck described Ezra’s presence as a bright light, and Bruno called the performance smoldering.

The pair earned 36 out of 40 points.

Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy matched that score with a dramatic paso doble to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.”

After calling the previous week a breakthrough, Jenna wanted to bring more passion to the ballroom. During practice at the set of her ABC series The Rookie, she focused on channeling the energy of her character, Bailey.

Her routine began with a dramatic floor sequence before building into fierce movements throughout the dance.

Joe Buck admitted he didn’t know much about the paso doble but praised Jenna’s performance, saying he sometimes forgot which dancer was the professional. Bruno described the routine as thrilling, while Carrie Ann called it the first touchdown of the night.

Derek wrapped up his assessment with a series of football references before declaring it a Super Bowl-worthy performance.

Julia Stiles Gets Her Long-Awaited Dance Do-Over

Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa brought a nostalgic twist to the ballroom with a jazz routine set to Jennifer Lopez’s “Jenny From the Block” (Track Masters Remix), featuring Jadakiss and Styles P.

The performance incorporated chairs, hip-hop movements and ballet elements inspired by Stiles’ memorable dance scenes in Save the Last Dance. Ezra explained that the routine was intended to give the millennial audience a familiar reference, while Julia described it as the do-over she had always wanted.

She began the dance seated in a chair before moving into a blend of hip-hop and ballet. Although the choreography recalled her iconic movie character, the attitude and confidence belonged to Julia herself.

Bruno praised her ability to get into the groove and said he hadn’t realized she had such a strong hip-hop side. Carrie Ann celebrated the confidence she brought to the floor, while Derek hugged Julia and assured her that she had not disappointed.

Joe Buck even suggested she could have performed alongside Jennifer Lopez during a Super Bowl halftime show.

Julia and Ezra earned 33 out of 40 points, marking a satisfying moment in her competition journey.

Amber Glenn Brings Her Spiciest Performance Yet

Figure skater Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov turned up the heat with a samba to “Mi Gente” by J Balvin and Willy William.

Amber began with solo body rolls before joining Pasha for a lively routine featuring scarf props, splits and energetic choreography. The performance followed an upside-down split from the previous week that had gone viral, prompting Pasha to remind fans to be careful.

Carrie Ann enthusiastically praised Amber, while Derek highlighted her fierce presence and the splits in the middle of the routine. Joe Buck described the performance as hot.

Bruno offered a different kind of advice, encouraging Amber to play with the music instead of attacking every movement with the same force. He wanted her to carry that more relaxed approach into future dances.

The pair scored 34 out of 40 points.

Tyler Cameron Earns His First Eights of the Season

Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess made progress with a jazz routine to “The Time (Dirty Bit)” by the Black Eyed Peas, earning 30 out of 40 points.

Tyler joked that his college decisions might have prevented him from reaching the Super Bowl as an athlete. Sharna, however, remained focused on helping him reach the Dancing with the Stars finale.

Their routine included several lifts, culminating in an overhead move inspired by Dirty Dancing. Derek praised Tyler’s jazz technique, while Joe Buck acknowledged the effort involved in dancing with Tyler’s tall, athletic build.

Bruno noticed improvements in Tyler’s timing and lines, and Carrie Ann said he was becoming a dancer. The scores marked Tyler’s first eights of the season, providing an encouraging sign after a difficult stretch in the competition.

Jackson Olson Impresses the Judges With Salsa

Jackson Olson and Emma Slater performed a high-energy salsa to “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, earning 31 out of 40 points.

Jackson entered the week nervous after finishing in the bottom three the previous week. His schedule was also unusually demanding: he traveled to Washington, D.C., to play in the Banana Bowl while continuing to rehearse.

After his team lost, Jackson said he needed to switch gears and focus on the competition. His routine featured a band, backup dancers and a series of spins that ended with Emma twirling across the ballroom.

Carrie Ann praised Jackson’s growing confidence, becoming so enthusiastic that she accidentally swore on television before acknowledging she wasn’t supposed to use that language. She also said he still had a few details to refine.

Derek called it Jackson’s best dance yet, while Bruno encouraged him to improve his lifts and transitions.

Connor Wood’s Costume Reveal Can’t Hide the Technical Issues

Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold took on Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie,” featuring Wyclef Jean, with a samba that combined humor and spectacle.

Two troupe members ripped away Connor’s black trousers to reveal bright orange, fringe-covered pants, creating one of the night’s most memorable costume moments.

Joe Buck said audiences appreciated Connor because he was relatable. Bruno joked that the unusual trousers could help Connor find work at a car wash, but he also pointed out weaknesses in the contestant’s hip movement and footwork.

Carrie Ann felt the routine contained too many movements that weren’t technically correct, drawing boos from the audience. Derek praised Connor’s energy but said his technique, weight transfers and timing needed work.

Connor and Rylee finished with 25 out of 40 points.

Tatyana Ali Shows Improvement, While Maura Higgins Dances Through Pain

Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik performed a salsa to Kendrick Lamar’s “Squabble Up” after Tatyana admitted that receiving a six the previous week had hurt her feelings.

She explained that her mother’s family is from Panama, where salsa is part of their lives. The routine reflected that connection with sultry movements and plenty of attitude.

Carrie Ann acknowledged the improvement, while Derek said the performance felt too laid-back and urged Tatyana to finish her steps more precisely. Joe Buck called it his favorite of the night, and Bruno encouraged her to channel the intensity of performers such as Angela Bassett and Tina Turner.

The pair earned 29 out of 40 points.

Meanwhile, Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas faced a more difficult rehearsal week before their tango to Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In the World).”

Maura revealed that she had been experiencing a worsening twinge on the left side of her neck. During practice, the pain became so intense that she broke down and crumpled to the floor.

Despite the setback, she managed to perform with her signature elegance. Joe Buck praised her posture, and Bruno noted how effortlessly she made the routine look. Carrie Ann wanted sharper movements, while Derek praised her overall line but said her neck and head position disrupted the alignment of her spine.

Maura and Mark received 33 out of 40 points.

Joe Buck Joins the Judges for Super Bowl Night

The episode welcomed Joe Buck, the Monday Night Football sportscaster, as a guest judge alongside Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.

Buck acknowledged that he knew very little about dancing when he introduced himself, bringing a different perspective to the ballroom as contestants performed routines inspired by Super Bowl halftime history.

The episode also featured former Dancing with the Stars contestants and Super Bowl champions DeMarcus Ware, Danny Amendola, Emmitt Smith and Donald Driver. They joined troupe members for a performance of Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight.”

With Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson eliminated, the remaining couples now have to turn the judges’ critiques into progress. Super Bowl night rewarded showmanship and memorable moments, but the technical standards of the competition remained firmly in the spotlight.

Source: Compiled from various sources.