‘Dancing With the Stars’ 2016: Mischa Barton Gets the Boot, Nyle DiMarco Earns Season’s Highest Score

— -- Actress Mischa Barton got the boot tonight on “Dancing With the Stars” in an episode during which the stars channeled their deepest emotions into routines that were dedicated to the most memorable year of their lives.

Barton, who is best known for having starred in “The O.C.,” actress Jodie Sweetin and football legend Doug Flutie were all in jeopardy of going home tonight, based on their judges’ scores combined with viewer votes from their performances on last week’s show, but Barton ended up having the lowest overall total.

She had received poor reviews from judges for her performances in the previous two weeks of the competition. Despite that, Barton said she was glad she had participated.

“It’s been a wonderful experience, it really has,” Barton, 30, said after learning that she was leaving the competition.

Before the eliminations were announced, the 11 competitors performed dances that highlighted their most memorable years. Highlights of the night included Antonio Brown taking to the ballroom floor with his young son, Antonio, Jr., Doug Flutie’s performance dedicated to his mother and father -- who died within an hour of each other in 2015 after 56 years of marriage and Wanya Morris’ waltz set to his group Boyz II Men’s a capella rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Tonight’s top scorer: Nyle DiMarco’s fast-paced tango – which recalled the year he traveled the world without his American Sign Language interpreter -- earned him the highest score of the season and high praise from judges. Head judge Len Goodman said that although DiMarco lost his frame on occasion “due to the speed of the dance,” DiMarco was “proof that anyone can do anything if they want to.” Bruno Tonioli was thrilled, exclaiming: “That was what I was waiting for! Finally!” Carrie Ann Inaba said DiMarco was with the music tonight more than he had been last week, adding that he was “better than Superman.” Judges gave DiMarco 25 out of a possible 30 points.
Tonight’s standout moment: Actress Jodie Sweetin tugged at heartstrings with her elegant foxtrot celebrating her triumph over addiction and being back in the “Full House” fold with the new spinoff, “Fuller House.” Goodman called it an emotional story that was portrayed well but which got “a bit overdramatic” at the end. Inaba called the routine the “most authentic” performance of the night, and she thanked Sweetin for sharing her story with everyone. Tonioli said Andra Day’s live performance of “Rise Up” appeared to give Sweetin extra impetus for her “best performance to date.” She earned 23 points.
Judges’ Scores (out of a possible 30 points)
Nyle DiMarco and Peta Murgatroyd: 25
Wanya Morris and Lindsay Arnold: 24
Jodie Sweetin and Keo Motsepe: 23
Paige VanZant and Mark Ballas: 23
Kim Fields and Sasha Farber: 22
Marla Maples and Tony Dovolani: 21
Ginger Zee and Val Chmerkovskiy: 21
Von Miller and Witney Carson: 20
Doug Flutie and Karina Smirnoff: 20
Antonio Brown and Sharna Burgess: 20
Mischa Barton and Artem Chigvintsev: 18 (They were eliminated tonight.)