Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson became the fifth pair eliminated from “Dancing With the Stars” on Tuesday, going home after the show’s first Super Bowl Night.
The “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” personality and his partner finished last on the judges’ board with 22 out of 40, then fell short in the audience vote. They had their best night of the season, with Rodriguez collecting his first 6 from judge Carrie Ann Inaba, but the improvement did not save them. Rodriguez thanked Carson on his way out: “Witney, I love you for teaching me how to dance.” Carson, who is raising a baby, said partnering with him made the season fun.
Eleven couples danced the salsa, samba, tango or jazz to songs from past halftime shows, including numbers by Shakira, Usher, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna. NFL alumni Donald Driver, Emmitt Smith, DeMarcus Ware and Danny Amendola joined the opening routine, set to Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar.
Jenna Dewan with Valentin Chmerkovskiy and Ezra Frech with Daniella Karagach tied for the top score at 36. Dewan and Chmerkovskiy earned all nines, the first perfect-nines panel of the season. Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov followed with 34 for a samba. Glenn collected the first nine of her run, and she received two on the night.
Three couples sat at 33: Maura Higgins with Mark Ballas, Julia Stiles, and Harry Shum Jr. with Jenna Johnson. Jackson Olson scored 31, Tyler Cameron 30, Tatyana Ali 29 and Connor Wood 25.
Joe Buck, host of ABC’s “Monday Night Football,” served as the season’s first guest judge alongside Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough. Buck handed Stiles her first 9 after telling her she could have joined Lopez on stage. He called another performance his favorite of the night and awarded it an 8.
Ten couples remain in the chase for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong left the show a week earlier. Next week’s episode is Dedication Night, when the celebrities honor loved ones through their dances. The show airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.
