'Dancing with the Stars' Recap: A 'Jam'-Packed Night

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes Dancing with the Stars scoop to start off the recap: I understand our stars learned as early as Friday when they would be dancing during “My Jam Monday.”

So, for example, Prince Farming Chris Soules knew before the weekend that he’d get to kick off tonight’s show while Lady Marmalade herself (a.k.a. Patti LaBelle ) was rewarded the last dance of the evening well in advance of tonight’s performance.

Now put the shoe on the other foot: What could be more disheartening than knowing that you aren’t strong enough to open or close the night – and realizing how your middle-of-the-show positioning brings you closer to the ol’ heave-ho?

So, which dancers proved they might be worthy of prime placement next week? And what about the contestants whose so-so performance last week put them at risk of elimination? Read on for the night’s highlights and to see who came close to leaving DWTS first.

Chris Soules and Witney Carson
The newly engaged Bachelor star seemed pretty loose at the beginning of his cha cha but ended up looking as stiff as a cornstalk while dancing to Pitbull‘s “Time of Our Lives.” “Your Monday jam got in a little bit of a pickle,” said judge Len Goodman. “That was some intricate choreography for the second week!” added judge Julianne Hough.
Score: 21/40

Suzanne Somers and Tony Dovolani
How nice for Somers to have the camera start on her booty! Fortunately, the 68-year-old’s junk in the trunk looked just as impressive as her fancy footwork as she jived to “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” “Very good job, my darling,” said judge Bruno Tonioli. “Never sleazy.” “It totally showcased your vitality,” added judge Carrie Ann Inaba, as if she were shilling for Centrum Silver vitamins. But, after a poor showing last week, would it be enough?
Score: 28/40

Rumer Willis and Valentin Chmerkovskiy
She was the gal to beat last week – and absolutely nothing changed Monday night. Her cha cha to Adele‘s “Rumour Has It” was perfection. (What wasn’t? All the painful Rumer puns. Enough already!) “Your legs are super sharp and super quick,” said Hough. “What I like about you is that you have a sharp sense of purpose,” said Tonioli. “You have the attack of a warrior on a mission. And mission accomplished.”
Score: 32/40

Redfoo and Emma Slater
His jive to “My Sharona” started weak, but he picked up the heat and the bounce by dance’s end. “You killed it! Last week you were all over the place!” said Inaba. “What it lacked in technique it made up in energy,” added Goodman.
Score: 31/40

Nastia Liukin and Derek Hough
The ringer delivered again with an exquisite rumba to Ed Sheeran‘s “Thinking Out Loud.” “That was so beautifully executed,” said Hough. “Marvelous motion,” added Tonioli.
Score: 34/40

Patti LaBelle and Artem Chigvintsev
50 Cent would be proud of the injured Lady Marmalade’s salsa to “In Da Club.” “So Cookie! So Empire!” raved Tonioli. Wha?
Score: 28/40

By night’s end, the dishonor of first eliminated was down to last week’s clear underperformers Redfoo and Somers. So who lost their chance to win the coveted mirror ball? And how did the other dancers fare?

Read the full recap over at EW.com!

Dancing with the Stars airs Mondays (8 p.m. ET) on ABC.

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